The General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops met this month in the Vatican to discuss what theme the synod will take up during its next ordinary general assembly, which will be in 2015.
The synod in 2012 considered the theme of the new evangelization.
Proposals for the next theme were submitted by the Synods of Bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches “sui iuris”, the episcopal conferences, the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the Union of Superiors General, and institutional organizations consulted in cooperation with the synod’s activity.
Discussions considered the ongoing Year of Faith, as well as the historic resignation of Benedict XVI and Francis’ election.
Pope Francis received the participants in an audience on 13 June. Their meeting then continued in two language groups, English and Italian, during which the members were able to examine the criteria and rationale for the choice of the next Assembly’s theme with the goal of deciding a few options to be presented to the Holy Father for the final choice.
The group will meet again in October.
