Synod on Family convened to discuss a “particularly urgent” topic for good of Church

Synod on Family convened to discuss a “particularly urgent” topic for good of Church

(Vatican Radio)  The Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops opens on Sunday to discuss the theme “The pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization.” The Synod’s Secretary General Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri said the Extraordinary Synod has been convened “to discuss a particularly urgent topic, using appropriate guidelines for the present time, for the good of the entire Church.”  The cardinal was speaking at a briefing on Friday in the Holy See’s Press Office during which he outlined the main objectives of the Synod, gave details about the participants and the Synod’s proceedings.

Cardinal Baldisseri said right from the start of his pontificate Pope Francis has outlined a pastoral action plan whose aim is to help the Bishops to walk alongside the Pope in “a Church that is increasingly open and missionary” along the streets of the world.

He reminded those present that this 2-week Synod will precede a larger gathering, namely the Ordinary Synod on the family, taking place in the Vatican in October 2015. This month’s Synod concludes on October the 19th with the beatification of Paul VI, the Pope who set up the Synod of Bishops institution during his rule.

A total of 191 synod fathers hailing from all five continents will be attending the two-week gathering.  In addition there will be 16 experts, 38 auditors who are largely married couples and 8 fraternal delegates from other Christian denominations. The couples include one of mixed religion where the husband is Muslim and the wife is Catholic.

Cardinal Baldisseri told journalists that Pope Francis wants the people of God, at every level, to express themselves and this is the true novelty of this Synod.  He explained that the participants will be able to express themselves freely and will even be allowed to change the text of their address that they had previously submitted.   Answering questions about the Church and the Synod, Cardinal Baldisseri said “the Christian vision is based upon history and not ideology and we find ourselves in an historical moment of change.”

He said the Synod will conclude with a document of proposals concerning the family that will be made public in due course.   

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