Pope Francis 'Phones Divorced Woman' To Say She Can Receive Communion.

Pope Francis has phoned a divorced and remarried Catholic woman in Argentina to tell her that she could "safely receive Communion", according to an extraordinary report in La Stampa.

The woman's husband, writing on Facebook, claims that the Pope – introducing himself as "Father Bergoglio" – spoke to his wife, who'd been divorced before marrying him and told her that men or women who were divorced and received Communion weren't doing anything wrong. He apparently added that this matter is under discussion at the Vatican. (Quick health warning: given the complexity of this subject, we need much more clarity on what Francis reportedly said. I find it hard to believe that he would make such an unqualified statement.)


The conversation with Jacquelina Sabetta is supposed to have taken place on Easter Monday. She had written to the Pope asking if, after 19 years of a marriage that had produced two daughters, she could be readmitted to Communion. He rang her directly – as is his habit – and during a 10-minute conversation apparently gave her a clear "yes".

Or so we're told. This is a developing story  – but, if it's true, the implications are huge. In most cases, divorced and remarried Catholics are currently barred from receiving the Sacrament – but for how much longer?

However in her  reaction today,  Vatican insisted that Pope didnt change church teaching to call Argentine Woman

Vatican Spokesman, Father Lombardi, in his formal statement April 24, said the pope often phones people, but since the calls “do not in any way form part of the pope’s public activities, no information or comments are to be expected” from the Vatican press office.

“That which has been communicated in relation to this matter,” he said, and its “consequent media amplification cannot be confirmed as reliable and is a source of misunderstanding and confusion.”

While Pope Francis has made it clear the church should find a pastoral approach to helping divorced and remarried Catholics, he has said any decisions on how to handle such situations would have to be discussed by the Synod of Bishops, which will meet in October and again in 2015.

“Consequences relating to the teaching of the church are not to be inferred” from anything the pope may have said to Lisbona, Father Lombardi said.