Synod: Cardinal describes objectives, participants and proceedings

Cardinal Baldisseri

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.” This morning 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 outlined the main objectives of the Synod, gave details on the make-up of the participants and described how the Synod’s proceedings will take place.

He said that from the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has presented a pastoral action plan with the aim of helping 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 two-week Synod will precede a larger gathering: the Ordinary Synod on the family, taking place in the Vatican in October 2015. This month’s Synod concludes on 19 October, 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. In addition there will be 16 experts, 38 auditors who are largely married couples and eight fraternal delegates. 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 unique feature of this Synod. He explained that 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 perspective 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.

Source: Vatican Radio