EIGHTEENTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2005 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican's Synod Hall, the Eighteenth General Congregation was held in the presence of the Holy Father and of 234 Synod Fathers, during which the draft of the final Message of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was presented and discussed. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez.

  At the beginning of the session, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, informed those present that the Holy Father had decided to give all the Synod Fathers of episcopal rank a ring decorated with the image of a pelican. The pelican is a traditional Eucharistic symbol as, by pecking at its breast, it was said to draw blood from its own heart to feed its young. The experts and auditors will be given a Rosary.

  Since no Synod Father received an absolute majority in yesterday's first round of voting to elect the 12 members of the post-synodal council, a second ballot was held and the 12 Synod Fathers with the greatest number of votes were duly elected to form the council. The list of members, with additional members by pontifical appointment, will be made public during the next few days.

  In the afternoon, many of the Synod Fathers participated in the Pope's meeting in St. Peter's Square with children from all over the world who have just received First Communion.
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