Roman Catholic bishops have failed to reach a consensus on opening the Church up to remarried divorcees, and gay people.

There's been a special synod on the family at the Vatican over the past fortnight.

Now a three paragraph statement has been issued, saying the two-thirds majority needed to change the stance of the Church wasn't reached.

Pope Francis has been advocating a more merciful approach to unmarried mothers, remarried divorcees and gay people.