But one delegate, German cardinal Gerhard Müller, immediately defied the pontiff's request.

Müller, a former head of the Vatican's doctrinal office, is known as a vocal critic of Francis's synod on synodality.

During an Eternal Word Television Network's (EWTN) nightly news programme, the German cardinal presented a more positive attitude, however.

When the interviewer asked him if he was still concerned about the synod being a "hostile takeover" of the Church as he had previously commented, Müller spoke of "a certain form of optimism" and good conversation.

"... but at the end we must wait in what direction it will go and what will be the decisions behind the scenery. That is always the problem," he said.

Müller went on to criticise a fellow delegate - his successor in the Vatican's doctrinal office, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández.

Müller said Fernández had erred when speaking in a recent interview about Francis's "magisterium".

"That doesn't exist," Müller said. "The pope does not have his own doctrine.

"Surely the pope has a special authority in the church according to our Catholic Church, but he is not a person who receives a new revelation."

Vatican media caution

Müller's EWTN interview came one day after the Vatican published its formal set of conduct rules (regolamento) for synod members.

These stated that delegates are bound by "confidentiality and discretion regarding both their own interventions and the interventions of other participants."

In an October 5 press briefing, the head of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communications said synod delegates were encouraged to "take time to discern, take time to listen to each other" rather than speaking to the press about the proceedings.

During his opening remarks on October 4, the Pope also told the 450-plus synod participants to abstain from media interviews.

Past synods have been reduced to one or two hot button issues, he said.

He noted that in anticipation of this synod he had seen press coverage focus on the possibility that the Catholic Church might ordain women as priests.

This synod's rules mark a departure from procedures used at four synods Francis has hosted in the past.

During those gatherings, participants were largely free to give interviews to members of the press.

They were also frequently invited to take part in daily press briefings the synod office had organised. This enabled delegates to give interviews from firsthand experience about their experiences of the synod process.

NCR newspaper claims "multiple sources" say Müller did not attend the September 30 - October 3 spiritual retreat for synod delegates.

Source

• NCR Online

Doctor Paolo Ruffini, the Director of the Catholic television station TV2000, was named by Pope Francis to lead the dicastery.

Ruffini, who has been a professional journalist since 1979, has received numerous awards for journalism.

He has also taken part in numerous conferences on the role of communications ethics, the new media, and the role of Christians in media.

Ruffini is replacing Msgr Dario Edoardo Vigano who was forced to resign earlier this year after the "Lettergate" scandal.

Ruffini is expected to continue the reforms started by Vigano.

The next phase involves amalgamating the four remaining communications entities.

These are the semi-official Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano (which has so far held out against changes to preserve its autonomy), the Vatican's photographic services, its printing press and its publishing house.

Twelve language sections from the former Vatican Radio still have to be merged into the Vatican News website.

This is expected to be completed later this year.

Ruffini's father was a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the Christian Democratic party.

He is a nephew of the late Cardinal Ernesto Ruffini (1888-1967), a former Archbishop of Palermo appointed by Pope Pius XII. Cardinal Ruffini resisted communism and the mafia, and was cautious about Church reform during the Second Vatican Council.

Another of Paolo Ruffini's relations is right-wing Italian politician Enrico la Loggia who served as Minister for Regional Affairs in two Berlusconi administrations and is currently an Italian senator.

Source

• National Catholic Register
• Vatican News
• Image: Crux Now

His resignation comes a week after his department twice omitted information it gave the media about a letter by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

Viganò wrote to Pope Francis on 19 March offering his resignation.

"In recent days many controversies have arisen regarding my work which, beyond my intentions, has destabilised the complex and great work of reform that you entrusted to me in 2015," he wrote.

"For the love of the church and of you, Holy Father, I ask you to welcome my desire to be set aside, leaving myself, if you desire, to be available to collaborate in other ways."

On 21 March Francis replied:

"Following our most recent encounters and after having reflected at length and attentively considered the motivations of your request to ‘make a step backwards' from direct responsibility for the Dicastery for Communications, I respect your decision and I welcome, not without some struggle, your resignation."

Francis has asked Viganò to stay on as an Assessor to the new communications prefect, whose name is yet to be announced.

Viganò had been the Holy See's Prefect of Communications since 2015. He was charged with consolidating and restructuring the Vatican's media entities.

His initiatives have included letting go of the Vatican Radio brand. The Vatican News outlet has replaced it.

Viganò also cancelled the Vatican's radio broadcasts everywhere but in Italy.

Although Bishop Paul Tighe has been picked by one news site as Viganò's likely successor, there has been no official announcement from the Vatican.

Source

• The Tablet
• National Catholic Register
• Image: Crux Now