VATICAN CITY, OCT. 17, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The Synod of Bishops spent a day in reflection and Eucharistic adoration before making its key decisions.
There was no general assembly this morning, allowing the relator general, Cardinal Angelo Scola of Venice, and other officials to finish writing the «propositions» that the synod will present to the Pope.
The «unified list of propositions» will be presented Tuesday in the synod hall. The list will be analyzed that day and Wednesday by working groups and submitted for possible amendments.
The final version of the propositions will be presented Friday. The synodal fathers will vote on the list Saturday.
Once the assembly has voted on the propositions, they will become the basis for the Holy Father’s postsynodal apostolic exhortation. In general, it takes at least a year to write the document.
Given that the theme of the synod is «The Eucharist, Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church,» Benedict XVI accepted the proposal of the participants to meet this afternoon for an hour of Eucharistic adoration in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The time spent in adoration included prayer and singing, the proclamation of and listening to the Word of God, the Creed and thanksgiving.
The act of worship was presided over by Cardinal Francis Arinze, president delegate of the synodal assembly and prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
The singing of the «Adoro Te Devote» hymn was alternated with phrases from the Gospel in several languages. The text was read in Arabic by Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly of Baghdad, Iraq, and in Hindi by Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, India.
Benedict XVI participated in the adoration and meditation with the rest of the assembly. The three-week synod closes next Sunday.
