Apart from the complex origins of British possession of the Falkland Islands – which he would know by another name – Pope Francis has probably not given British imperial history much thought. But at the Synod on the Family, which is currently the centre of his attention in Rome, one aspect of it is right there in front of him. In 41 of 53 countries in the (British) Common­wealth, homosexual conduct is still regarded as a serious crime. There is a growing feeling that it is the duty of the synod to declare this to be an injustice crying out to be rectified. And it is an injustice very much “made in England”. It would be good to see the English accept their historic responsibility for it.This issue could offer the synod a way out of one of its present predicament