Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) –
The Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops met on 24 and 25
February to discuss the results of the enquiry opened in November
2013 with the distribution of a questionnaire on themes relating to
the family to episcopal conferences around the world. There has been
a very high percentage of responses, and observations from
individuals and groups from all over the world have been added.
On the afternoon of 24 February the
Council was presided over by the Holy Father Francis, who also
emphasised in this way the importance he attributes to both the Synod
structure as an expression of episcopal collegiality and the theme
that will be considered by the upcoming Extraordinary Assembly of
2014 and the Ordinary Assembly of 2015.
The draft synthesis of the answers
received was unanimously appreciated. It enables the voice of the
Church to be heard in all her components and in a variety of contexts
and situations, both with regard to the urgency of proclaiming the
Gospel of the family with renewed zeal, and in relation to the
challenges and difficulties connected with family life and the crises
it may face.
The observations made during the
discussion will be considered in the drafting of the Instrumentum
laboris from which the work of the Synod will proceed. The unitary
character of the two stages expected for synodal reflection on the
family, so that at the end of the Ordinary Synod proposals will be
presented to the Holy Father, on the basis of which he will prepare
his Apostolic Exhortation.
The Ordinary Council was attended by
the relator general, Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of
Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, and the special secretary, Archbishop
Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto.
During the meeting the Holy Father
blessed the new wing of the seat of the Secretariat General along
with the Chapel and new offices.
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