Synod of Bishops: October 6 roundup

October 07, 2014

On October 6, at the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family:

• Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, discussed what has transpired since the last synod in 2012 and called for free discussion.
• Pope Francis urged the synod fathers to “speak with frankness and listen with humility.”
• Cardinal Lluís Martínez Sistach of Barcelona preached a homily at Terce (Midmorning Prayer) and discussed evangelization, Christian joy, confession, and the Good Samaritan seeking the lost sheep.
• Discussing the family and the new evangelization, Cardinal André Vingt-Trois of Paris expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his decision to hold two synods on the family a year apart; the synod fathers, then, need not solve “serious problems” in two weeks.
• Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdo, the synod’s relator general, called for fidelity to teaching of the Magisterium on marriage and family life and for mercy in addressing difficult pastoral situations.
• Acting as president-delegate (that is, as one who presides in the place of the Holy Father), Cardinal Vingt-Trois opened the synod’s second general congregation (session) and said the discussion would be devoted to communicating the Gospel within the family.
• Ron and Mavis Pirola, an Australian couple married for 55 years, offered their testimony. “We believe that until married couples come to reverence sexual union as an essential part of their spirituality it is extremely hard to appreciate the beauty of teachings such as those of Humanae Vitae,” they said. “We need new ways and relatable language to touch people’s hearts.”
• On October 7, the Holy See Press Office issued a 13-paragraph summary of the debate during the second general congregation. This summary, available in various languages (including English), is found via the bottom link below.

 

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Further information:

• Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office (10/6)
• Addressing Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Baldisseri calls for free discussion (CWN, 10/6)
• Pope Francis urges synod fathers to speak boldly and not fear offending him (CWN, 10/7)
• Cardinal Erdo: affirming magisterial teaching, synod should address difficult pastoral situations (CWN, 10/6)
• Synod14 - 2a Congregazione generale: Sintesi del dibattito generale (6 ottobre, pomeriggio)