As a follow up, Catholic World News is reporting the following.
An Argentine woman who divorced and then remarried outside the Church claimed that Pope Francis telephoned her and said she was permitted to receive Holy Communion, according to multiple media reports.
A post on her husband’s Facebook page quoted Pope Francis as saying that “it is a concern we are addressing in the Vatican because there is nothing wrong with a divorced person receiving Communion,” according to the ANSA news agency.
Following the media reports, the Holy See Press Office issued a statement.
“Several telephone calls have taken place in the context of Pope Francis’ personal pastoral relationships,” said Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the press office. “Since they do not in any way form part of the Pope’s public activities, no information or comments are to be expected from the Holy See Press Office.”
“That which has been communicated in relation to this matter, outside the scope of personal relationships, and the consequent media amplification, cannot be confirmed as reliable, and is a source of misunderstanding and confusion,” he added.
‘Therefore, consequences relating to the teaching of the Church are not to be inferred from these occurrences.”
‘Therefore, consequences relating to the teaching of the Church are not to be inferred from these occurrences.”
Parse.
The "teaching of the church" has never been in question in this affair.
The question is both pastoral and practical. Even Kasper says that the "teaching of the Church" should remain the same. It's exceptions to that teaching which are the issue. Are there pastoral situations in which divorced and remarried Catholics may receive Communion? And is this one such situation?
Specifically, did the Pope provide such advice to this woman?