International
Synod approves women’s access to diaconate, calls for greater inclusion in the church
The final document approved by the Synod on Synodality, a major listening project in the Catholic Church initiated by Pope Francis in 2021, opens the door for women to access the diaconate, an ordained ministry similar to that of priests, which allows, among other things, to baptize, bless marriages, and celebrate the liturgy of the Word. Until now, this ministry has been reserved exclusively for men in the Catholic Church.
Paragraph 60 of this document—which is non-binding and merely reflects the majority opinion of the 368 synod fathers and mothers who participated in the synodal assembly over the past three weeks—states that “the question of women’s access to the diaconal ministry remains open.”
“Greater discernment is necessary in this regard,” the text reads. It also calls for “the full application of all opportunities already provided for in current legislation regarding the role of women, particularly in areas that have yet to be explored.” “There is nothing in women that prevents them from assuming leadership roles in the churches: what comes from the Holy Spirit must not be stopped,” the text continues.
Additionally, the document calls for more attention to be paid to “the language and imagery used in preaching, teaching, catechesis, and the drafting of official church documents, giving more space to the contributions of holy women, theologians, and mystics.”
The Vatican also provided a tally of the votes received for each of the 155 paragraphs that make up this document.
Thus, the aforementioned paragraph 60, which discusses the role of women in the Church and states that they continue to encounter “obstacles to obtaining fuller recognition of their charisms, vocation, and place in the various areas of church life,” was validated with 258 votes in favor and 97 against, making it, by far, the most opposed section.
In fact, the remaining paragraphs, which include other concrete proposals to make the Church a more inclusive and less clerical space, found greater consensus, as only two other proposals faced opposition of more than 40 votes against.
One of these is paragraph 125, which proposes that Episcopal Conferences may have a theological and legal statute, as well as further defining their doctrinal and disciplinary competencies without jeopardizing “the unity and catholicity of the Church.”
Specifically, it notes that this competency “can favor the authentic teaching of the one faith in a contextually appropriate manner, identifying liturgical, catechetical, and disciplinary expressions.”
Paragraph 148 has also faced opposition—it emphasizes the need for the discernment and formation processes for candidates for the priesthood to be configured in a synodal style with greater female presence in the selection process—this proposal was supported by 315 votes in favor and 40 against.
In particular, it calls for a “significant presence of female figures” in the selection process of seminarians, as well as “in the daily life of communities and education to collaborate with all in the Church and practice ecclesial discernment.”
The final document also greenlights the creation of “ministries” specifically for laypeople, which would not necessarily have to be linked to the liturgical sphere. This possibility was already opened by the Second Vatican Council and illustrated in recent years through the establishment of the ministries of catechist, lector, and acolyte.
International
Air Canada suspends JFK flights amid soaring fuel costs linked to Iran conflict
Air Canada announced on Friday that it will suspend its flights from Montreal and Toronto to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport from June through late October, citing rising jet fuel costs driven by the conflict involving Iran.
“Since the beginning of the conflict with Iran, some routes and less profitable flights have become economically unviable, so we are making adjustments accordingly,” the airline said in a statement.
Despite the suspension, the carrier confirmed it will continue operating 34 daily flights from six Canadian cities to New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.
Air Canada expects to resume its JFK operations after October 25.
Meanwhile, Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz amid a temporary ceasefire in the region. However, jet fuel shortages could persist even if the truce holds.
Fuel accounts for between 25% and 30% of operating costs for most airlines, and carriers worldwide have responded to the crisis by raising fares and suspending select routes due to safety and profitability concerns.
International
UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions
The government of United Kingdom is preparing contingency measures amid fears of a potential shortage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could impact the agri-food industry if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, The Times reported on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, officials assessed this scenario during a recent crisis meeting aimed at evaluating the consequences of a prolonged conflict, triggered on February 28 by joint attacks from United States and Israel against Iran.
Under this scenario, CO₂ supplies—primarily a byproduct of fertilizer production using natural gas—could fall by up to 18%, affecting multiple sectors including agriculture and food production.
The gas is widely used in the slaughter of pigs and poultry, as well as in extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Breweries could also face disruptions due to reduced availability.
“I don’t want to comment on a leak, but now that the information is out there, I hope people feel reassured knowing we are working on it,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in remarks to Sky News.
While a drop in CO₂ supply is not expected to cause major shortages in supermarkets, it could limit product variety, The Times noted, citing access to internal government documents.
To mitigate the impact, authorities are considering prioritizing CO₂ supply for critical sectors such as healthcare and civil nuclear energy, where it is used in cooling systems for blood reserves, organs, vaccines, and electricity generation. The government may also request domestic producers to increase output.
Central America
El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program
The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.
Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.
The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.
According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.
In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.
Air Canada suspends JFK flights amid soaring fuel costs linked to Iran conflict
Panama and OECD sign deal to boost investment climate and global integration
UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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