By Phil Lawler, CatholicCulture - "The observation that many churches, which until a few years ago were necessary, are now no longer thus, due to a lack of faithful and clergy, or a different distribution of the population between cities and rural areas, should be welcomed in the Church not with anxiety, but as a sign of the times that invites us to reflection and requires us to adapt".... Those are the words of Pope Francis, as reported by the Vatican press office.