Pope urges permanent media blackout at Synod, saying gossip is ‘anti-Holy Spirit’

Pope Francis has urged members of the Synod on Synodality to abstain from speaking to journalists in order to maintain what he said was the “priority of listening,” and lamented the influence of public opinion on past synod gatherings. The official regolamento, or guidelines, for the synod, published Wednesday, stopped short of pontifical secrecy while still binding participants to a spirit of confidentiality.