Pope Francis opens a big Vatican meeting on the church’s future and says ‘everyone’ is welcome

Pope Francis opened a big meeting on the future of the Catholic Church on Wednesday by saying it was in need of repair to make it a place of welcome for “everyone, everyone, everyone”, not a rigid barricade riven by fears and ideology. Francis presided over a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Square to formally open the meeting, which progressives are hoping will lead to more women in leadership roles and conservatives are warning could split the church.