GENERAL SECRETARIAT HOLDS MEETING FOR 2001 SYNOD OF BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 2001 (VIS) - Cardinal Jan Schotte, C.I.C.M., secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, presided at the 10th meeting of the Ninth Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops on April 24-25, in the offices of the General Secretariat, according to a communique released today.

Joining Cardinal Schotte were 7 cardinals, 3 archbishops, 1 bishop and 4 staff members of the Synod of Bishops. Among those in attendance were Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re and Ivan Dias, two of the three presidents delegate and Edward Egan, relator general of the October 2001 synod on the theme "The Bishop, Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World."

The agenda included a study of the "Instrumentum Laboris" for the October synod, which is the 10th ordinary general assembly. The meeting's principal aim was to furnish the relator general and special secretary with useful suggestions for writing the "Relatio ante disceptationem," which will introduce the works of the synod at the start of the assembly. Among the themes contained in the "Instrumentum laboris" are: the scope of the synod, the dedication of the bishop to the particular Church, Gospel hope, communion in the ministry of the bishops, and pastoral charity as service.

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