Perspective: As faithful Catholics committed to full equality, we came to speak, to listen, to be seen and to be heard. The buttons we passed out said it best: "It's our church too."
The joyous harmony of people coming together from so many different nations for World Youth Day stands in sharp contrast to today's "sad" situation of confrontational nationalist feelings, Pope Francis said.
At the Intersection: Mary's position at the Annunciation struck me as unfair. She was poor, a teenager and a girl, all together a social position lacking any privilege or authority.
The pope hopes the encounter helps Catholic bishops "take consciousness" of the issue, but says problems of abuse will continue in the church. He also addressed abortion, saying of women who abort, "she needs to be in the confessional."
