Pope Francis’ long awaited post-synodal exhortation on the family was made public today. As he has made clear over the past two years, there was no doctrinal change announced in this document. The document covers a wide range of topics, from the thorny to the common sense. As is his way, Pope Francis includes some frank comments on various issues and directs very clear words to different groups of faithful. Here are some links to intelligent articles explaining what this exhortation is and is not:

• Catholic News Service has this analysis of Amoris Laetitia, picking up on comments made by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia earlier this year. He said the exhortation would be a hymn of love to families.
• Crux has this view on the document, focusing more on what it says about divorced and remarried Catholics.
• Vatican Insider’s Andrea Tornielli has this report on the exhortation.
• America magazine offers this look at the top 10 things to take from Amoris Laetitia, by Fr. James Martin, SJ
• To read what Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri and Cardinal Christoph Schonborn had to say about the papal text at the official launch, take a look at the release on the Vatican’s website.  

Of course there are many other articles out there offering a balanced look at The Joy of Love. These are just a few to start with. Expect more commentary early next week after the bishops of the world have had time to read the nearly 300 page text. Watch this week's Vatican Connections below:

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Every week brings new, exciting, and sometimes juicy headlines from behind Vatican walls and every week Alicia delves deeper into one of those headlines. For a full run down of what’s been happening behind Vatican walls, watch Vatican Connections. Already watch the program? Come back every Friday for an in-depth look at an issue, headline or person. Season 4 of Vatican Connections airs every Friday at 8:00 pm ET.