Cardinal Nichols reflects on the forthcoming Family Synod

Cardinal Vincent Nichois

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops' Conference, spoke on Tuesday about the forthcoming Extraordinary Synod on the Family, which takes place in Rome between 5-19 October 2014. The Cardinal will play a direct part in proceedings - Extraordinary Synods bring together the presidents of the world's Bishops' Conferences.

The Cardinal explained that next month's meeting is part of a process which began last February. There will be a twelve month gap before the Ordinary Synod in October 2015, after which the Pope may bring out a document such as an Apostolic Exhortation.

Describing the Synod as a 'remarkable moment' in the life of the Church, Cardinal Nichols spoke of how, particularly since the new pontificate, there has been a focus on the gift of God's mercy in the life, language and prayer of the Church.

"I believe Pope Francis is calling for a return to that 'lived sense' of the mercy and compassion of God, who always accompanies us. One of the challenges is to find ways to recreate a 'culture of mercy' in the Church," the Cardinal said.

"We also need to be clear that there is a distinction between that culture of mercy and the acts that are necessary for forgiveness and conversion. Mercy is the air we are to breathe - forgiveness and conversion are the pathway we are to walk."

Cardinal Vincent said: "There is a need to grasp again, refresh and deepen the Church's understanding of marriage as a sacrament. It needs to come back to the fore. A marriage in the Catholic understanding - when it is embraced in the right intention, spirit and form - is an act of God. And the husband and wife become ministers of God's grace to each other.. It is the work of God."

"A marriage that is truly the place of the conscious, willing, acceptance of God's grace can no more be dissolved that the Eucharist can be returned to ordinary bread" he said.

But he explained, the Church is also being asked again and again to look at the reality of marriage today - rather than the idealised vision. In facing the reality we also see and acknowledge that that human relationships break down. The Synod will be looking at ways to support families. There will be a great deal of reflection and discernment at the Synod, Cardinal Nichols said.

Pope Francis has called for a Day of Prayer for the Synod next Sunday 28 September. The Cardinal said: "I hope the people in our parishes this Sunday will pray to the two saints of this synod - Pope Saint John XXIII and Pope Saint John Paul II - and ask for their guidance on the work of the Church in this very important moment of its history."

At the press conference, Elizabeth Davies, Secretary of the Bishops Conference Marriage and Family Life department described new initiatives being introduced in England and Wales to support family life - from courses, conferences and counselling services to work in schools and the involvement of grandparents. For more information see: http://marriageandfamilylifeprojectoffice.blogspot.co.uk/