TOPSHOTS Pope Francis leads a mass for the opening of the synod on the family on October 4, 2015 at St Peter's basilica in Vatican. Pope Francis opened a gathering of bishops intended to review Catholic teaching on the family against a backdrop of controversy over homosexuality. The church's second synod on the family opened in a tense atmosphere the day after a senior priest announced he was gay and accused the Vatican of "institutionalised homophobia". AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI