MEETING OF LANGUAGE GROUPS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2005 (VIS) - This morning, the Synod Fathers met in Working Groups, or language groups, in order to prepare the collective amendments to the propositions. Their deliberations will continue this afternoon. At the end of the afternoon session, the groups will consign the propositions to the secretary general of the Synod. After the session, the Synod Fathers will have the opportunity to watch a private showing of the film "St. Peter," by the Italian director Giulio Base, offered in homage by Ettore Bernabei, director of Lux Vide, the company that produced the film. The film will be aired on RAI (Italian State television) in a few weeks time.

  During yesterday's Nineteenth General Congregation, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, presented the Holy Father with the first copy, bound in white, of the first volume of the Enchiridion of the Synod of Bishops, a work published for the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops.

  A note on the Enchiridion made public yesterday explains that it "is a collection of documents regarding the Synod of Bishops, from its origins to 1988, of great interest not only to the members of the episcopal college, but also to researchers, historians and theologians, to whom it furnishes documentation of primary importance for the life and mission of the Church after Vatican Council II.

  "The Holy Father has decided to give this book to the Synod participants, as a sign of gratitude and encouragement in faithfulness, communion and love for the Church centered on the mystery of the Eucharist."
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