The Vatican announced today that the Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops completed two days of meetings in preparation for this October’s synod on the family.
The Vatican press office reported Monday that Pope Francis had chaired the meeting, saying that his presence «underlined the importance he attributes to the current Synod path.»</p>
The Oct. 4-25 synod — an ordinary general assembly — will follow up the synod held last year, also on the theme of the family. The upcoming synod’s theme is “The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world.”
The Pope also met last week with Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri and Bishop Fabio Fabene (respectively secretary general and under-secretary of the Synod of Bishops).
Down to work
During the two days of meetings, the council «closely examined the plan» for the synod working document, the instrumentum laboris. The document compiles the results of last year’s synod, integrated with «numerous contributions» sent from episcopal conferences and other groups and individuals who have replied to the questions sent by the Vatican or provided other comments.
«An extensive and detailed study of the text has generated proposals and contributions for its integration and improvement,» the press office statement said.
It has now been given to the secretariat general for final editing and translation. The publication of the document is expected in a few weeks.
Plan
After working on the instrumentum laboris, the council also heard suggestions for how to update the working method for the synod.
