Sometimes a synod like this is pretty boring, writes Thomas Schwartz. You often hear things that the speaker has probably always wanted to say. Yet it is precisely at the Synod on Synodality that reform proposals should become concrete.

He was considered a critic of a "course of reconciliation" with the Vatican. Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, one of the bishops of the traditionalist Society of St Pius X, has now died. With his death, the society now only has two bishops.

The Synod on Synodality marks the end of a major church project that has been years in the making. However, the result should not just be a change of attitude, comments Christoph Brüwer. This would not only help the faithful, but also bishops and the Pope.

As at party conferences, the motions committee is the most important committee behind the scenes at synods. At the Synod on Synodality in Rome, a colourful team was elected for this purpose, including two women.

Cardinal Odilo Scherer was one of the favourites at the 2013 conclave. As is well known, an Argentinian became Pope at that time in the person of Francis. And he is not allowing the Brazilian archbishop with Saarland roots to retire for the time being.

It stands directly above the tomb of St Peter the Apostle and is considered one of the most famous works of art in the Vatican: it is now known when the restoration work on the baldachin in St Peter's Basilica will be completed. This is not the only reason why the date is special.

The fact that only women are mothers is cited in the Catholic Church as a reason why they cannot be priests – spiritual fathers. But EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has given the Pope food for thought on this topic.

The church must actively reinvent itself and should not limit itself to "managing the decline", says Paul Zulehner. The theologian and author uses a study to describe how this could be done.

The elective subject of religion is to be taught for just one hour per week in Poland in future. The government wants to cancel the second lesson. According to a survey, many citizens are in favour of this.

Did the body of St Francis Xavier, venerated by Indian Catholics, actually come from a Buddhist monk? A Hindu nationalist claims so. Catholics are outraged, the police are investigating.

The fact that Pope Francis attaches great importance to synodality is well received by the Church in Nigeria, says Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama. There, synodality even helps to prevent abuse in the celebration of the Eucharist and other sacraments.

Hildegard von Bingen or Gregor Mendel would certainly have deserved one, but the Nobel Prizes have only existed since 1901. Since then, clergymen and religious have remained the exception among the prize winners – apart from in one area.