At 9:30 this morning in Rome, in the Synod Hall at the Vatican, the Extraordinary Synod which will see the gathering of the College of Cardinals with the Holy Father to reflect on the theme of the family began. The work of this Extraordinary Synod, which also includes the participation of those who will be created Cardinals during this coming Saturday's public Ordinary Synod, will take place during two days of meetings - today and tomorrow. Sessions will take place on both days from 9:30am to 12:30pm and from 4:30pm until 7:00pm.
This morning, following the recitation of Mid-morning Prayer, and a word of introduction spoken by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, His Eminence, Angelo Sodano, and prior to a report presented by His Eminence, Walter Cardinal Kasper, the Holy Father offered a word of greeting to the Cardinals who were present.
Dear brothers,
I extend a warm greeting to you all and, with you, I thank the Lord who has given us these days of meeting and working together. We welcome especially our brothers who will be created Cardinals on Saturday and we accompany them with our prayers and fraternal affection.
During these days, we will reflect in particular on the family, which is the fundamental cell of society. From the beginning, the Creator blessed man and woman so that they might be fruitful and multiply, and so the family then is an image of the Triune God in the world.
Our reflections must keep before us the beauty of the family and marriage, the greatness of this human reality which is so simple and yet so rich, consisting of joys and hopes, of struggles and sufferings, as is the whole of life. We will seek to deepen the theology of the family and discern the pastoral practices which our present situation requires. May we do so thoughtfully and without falling into casuistry, because this would inevitably diminish the quality of our work. Today, the family is looked down upon and mistreated. We are called to acknowledge how beautiful, true and good it is to start a family, to be a family today; and how indispensable the family is for the life of the world and for the future of humanity. We are called to make known God’s magnificent plan for the family and to help spouses joyfully experience this plan in their lives, as we accompany them amidst so many difficulties. And also with a pastoral approach that is intelligent, courageous and full of heart.
We thank Cardinal Walter Kasper for the valuable contribution which he will offer us with his introduction.
Thank you all, and have a good day!
This morning, following the recitation of Mid-morning Prayer, and a word of introduction spoken by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, His Eminence, Angelo Sodano, and prior to a report presented by His Eminence, Walter Cardinal Kasper, the Holy Father offered a word of greeting to the Cardinals who were present.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to the College of Cardinals
gathered for the Extraordinary Synod on the Family
Dear brothers,
I extend a warm greeting to you all and, with you, I thank the Lord who has given us these days of meeting and working together. We welcome especially our brothers who will be created Cardinals on Saturday and we accompany them with our prayers and fraternal affection.
During these days, we will reflect in particular on the family, which is the fundamental cell of society. From the beginning, the Creator blessed man and woman so that they might be fruitful and multiply, and so the family then is an image of the Triune God in the world.
Our reflections must keep before us the beauty of the family and marriage, the greatness of this human reality which is so simple and yet so rich, consisting of joys and hopes, of struggles and sufferings, as is the whole of life. We will seek to deepen the theology of the family and discern the pastoral practices which our present situation requires. May we do so thoughtfully and without falling into casuistry, because this would inevitably diminish the quality of our work. Today, the family is looked down upon and mistreated. We are called to acknowledge how beautiful, true and good it is to start a family, to be a family today; and how indispensable the family is for the life of the world and for the future of humanity. We are called to make known God’s magnificent plan for the family and to help spouses joyfully experience this plan in their lives, as we accompany them amidst so many difficulties. And also with a pastoral approach that is intelligent, courageous and full of heart.
We thank Cardinal Walter Kasper for the valuable contribution which he will offer us with his introduction.
Thank you all, and have a good day!
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