Vatican Considering Change to Allow Some Married Priests
ANDERSON: Pope Francis there, celebrating mass in the Vatican to kickoff for what is a three-week summit of bishops. Amid all that solemn tradition, they could be about to decide what a change in the rules so significant the word historic barely seems to capture it. There could now be about to end the century's old ban on married men becoming priests for some men, at least. Delia Gallagher knows the holes of the Vatican inside out and is with us now from the eternal city in Rome. Just explain what is being discussed and the significance of this move, should it happen?</s>DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, listen, Becky, this is shaping up to be a really contentious three weeks here at the Vatican. We've already seen some protests in the week leading up to it because of this proposal. They're meeting to discuss issues of the Amazon, so the environmental issues of the indigenous people and so on. But one of the proposals that they're discussing is the question of allowing some married men who are in the Amazon, who are respected elders in their community to become ordained Catholic priests because there's a shortage of priests in the region. Now you can imagine that this would change centuries of tradition of unmarried priests and so it's really created quite a stir, and we've had conservatives out holding prayer vigils trying to pray for the outcome of this meeting. I should say we've also had protests on another side which is that at this meeting, it will be men, 185 bishops and cardinals, who will be voting on these proposals. There are 35 women including nuns who will be at the meeting but they do not have a vote. So we've also been seeing Catholic women's groups and nuns holding signs in front of the Vatican demanding their right to vote. So we've really got a lot going on. The meeting starts tomorrow. It's all behind closed doors, Becky, so we won't actually know the outcome until the final vote. And I should say that even if they do vote to approve this proposal of allowing married men to become a priest in the Amazon, keep in mind, this would only be an exception for the Amazon. But of course, the concern is that if you allow it for the Amazon, you have to allow it in other parts of the world as well. And even if they do vote for that, Becky, it's only a recommendation for the pope and it will be the pope who has to make any final changes.</s>ANDERSON: And just for some context, amongst the faithful, as I understand it, 85 percent of Amazon villages can't actually celebrate mass. That is the sort of context for these Catholic priests shortage. Well, keep your ear to the ground on that because that's absolutely fascinating. The summit now begins a day after the pontiff appointed 13 new cardinals. They hail from a range of different countries. What does that tell us about the legacy that Pope Francis is hoping to create do you think?</s>GALLAGHER: Well, obviously, the appointment of new cardinals, Becky, is one way in which a pope affects the future of decisions in the Catholic Church. And so we've seen that Pope Francis has chosen cardinals. You know, cardinals used to really -- it used to be very European. It has slowly -- and this happened also under John Paul II, but it has slowly branched out to include men from other parts of the world, who of course, bring different perspectives to these issues. And so the Pope has named one cardinal who is very involved with migrants and refugees, for example. And I'll just give you a little story which is, you know, the cardinals choose to wear a cross. And this man, who's a Jesuit called Father Czerny (ph), chose his cross made of wood from one of the boats used by migrants to cross the Mediterranean Sea. And the cross has given that they are normally made of gold or silver, even have jewels in them, that was kind of a huge statement. That's kind of a Francis statement, you know, to choose a cross of wood from a boat. So that gives you an idea of some of the men that Pope Francis is putting in. And, of course, the idea is that even if changes aren't necessarily made under this pontificate with this pope, the men who are cardinals now will be those who are in charge in the future. Obviously one of them will be a future pope as well. Becky?</s>ANDERSON: Absolutely. Thank you for that. Delia is in Rome for you. This is a busy hour and we are not done yet.</s>STEPHEN BARCLAY, BRITISH BREXIT SECRETARY: The backstop is a unicorn that has failed to materialize three times in parliament.</s>ANDREW MARR, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: But it's not a unicorn. It's just been voted down.</s>BARCLAY: Three times. It's been rejected three times in parliament.</s>ANDERSON: Well, if you're a fan of British mythology, you will know that the English lion once defeated the unicorn. But will the U.K. be as lucky with this so-called unicorn? The latest in the Brexit saga in just a moment. And shampoo, rinse, and a deer crashing through the window. Yes. Details on a haircut that got, well, unexpectedly exciting. That's up next.