Opening the general assembly of the Italian bishops’ conference May 21, the pope said he wanted to highlight three concerns facing the Catholic Church in Italy “not to hit you over the head, but to tell you that these things worry me.” He also said he would give them time to speak freely “to address your questions, anxieties” and even criticisms. “It isn’t a sin to criticize the pope here! It is not a sin, it can be done,” the pope said.