Pope Francis celebrates a mass to mark the opening of the synod on the family in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican October 5, 2014. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis opened a global Roman Catholic assembly on Sunday showing his apparent irritation with Church leaders who have waged a sometimes bitter public battle between progressives and conservatives on family issues.
The synod is the first since Francis's election 19 months ago with a mandate to turn around an institution hit by declining membership in many countries and scandals including the sexual abuse of children by priests and irregularities in Vatican finances.
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