The eyes of the world were on the United States last week, when a group of insurrectionists supporting President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol building as Congress was certifying the results of last year’s presidential election. Pope Francis said he was “astounded” and denounced the violence and the movement that caused it.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell discuss Pope Francis’ challenge to the U.S. to overcome its divisions and how the U.S. bishops will need to step up in order to achieve that. “The church can't be missing in action in such a big crisis,” Gerry said.

Colleen and Gerry also explain this week’s update to canon law which opens the permanent lay liturgical ministries of lector (reader) and acolyte (server) to women for the first time. For a more in-depth look at the change, check out Colleen’s explainer article here.

Links from the show:

Gerard O’Connell | Pope Francis condemns the violence at the U.S. Capitol

Gerard O’Connell | Pope Francis calls on Americans to promote reconciliation and protect democracy after the Capitol attack

The Editors | Impeach. Convict. Now.

Fr. Bryan Massingale | The Racist Attack on Our Nation’s Capitol 

Fr. Bryan Massingale and Fr. Matt Malone, S.J. | Video: How to make spiritual sense of the attack on the Capitol

Archbishop Mark Coleridge | Catholic bishops can’t risk falling back on old tactics of political engagement

Colleen Dulle | Explainer: The history of women lectors and altar servers—and what Pope Francis has changed

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