The Vatican stated on Saturday that the bread used for the Eucharist could not be entirely gluten free, although “low gluten” bread was allowable.
Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, a conservative theologian, is nearing the end of his five year mandate as the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the department supposed to defend the Catholic doctrine. The Vatican has released a brief statement that Müller’s mandate will not be renewed, and instead, his deputy, Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, who is more liberal.
“The conservatives may have the advantage of playing defense: They simply want the synod and the pope to reaffirm church teachings and practices, or, at worst, to settle for some vague call for mercy.” – RNS