Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) – The
following is the full text of the presentation by Cardinal Lorenzo
Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, of the
participants in the upcoming Synod in October 2014:
“Why are two full pages of names
being published today in the Osservatore Romano? Because these names
correspond to people from all over the world, who will take part in
the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (5-19
October) on the theme: “Pastoral challenges to the family in the
context of evangelisation”. The aim of the meeting is to propose to
today's world the beauty and the values of the family, which emerge
from the proclamation of Jesus Christ Who disperses fear and supports
hope.
Synodus – which means 'taking a path
together' – is the expression that indicates the eccesial space in
which we convene in order to meet and to reflect – in the dual
faith in God and man – before today's challenges to the family. The
list that follows is made up of representatives from the five
continents, subdivided as follows: 114 presidents of Episcopal
Conferences, 13 heads of the 'sui iuris' Eastern Catholic Churches,
25 heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, 9 members of the
Ordinary Council of the Secretariat, the secretary general, the
under-secretary, 3 nominees from the Union of Superior Generals, and
26 pontifical nominees. Other participants include 8 fraternal
delegates, 38 auditors, including 13 married couples, and 16 experts.
The total number of participants in the Synod Assembly is 253.
In the dynamic of the renewal of the
Church ordered by Pope Francis, the updating of the institution of
the Synod is explained in particular in the preparatory process and
in the process of the Assemblies themselves. This project, initiated
with the convocation of the Synod Assembly, is developing in a new
and renewed way, with concrete actions. The criterion for renewal is
that of first painting the picture and then adding the frame. The
rules in force provide the track along which the train of renewal
proceeds. As we go ahead, the steps necessary for changing the rules
or eventually setting about a full reconstruction of the Synod as an
entity will become evident.
The itinerary of the next Synod will be
divided into two phases: the Extraordinary General Assembly of 2014
and the Ordinary General Assembly of 2015. A new working methodology
will be applied, rendering the process more dynamic and
participatory, with speeches and testimonials, always with a view to
continuity towards the second stage, after which the Synod document
will be published”.
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