Preparations for the next Synod on the Family

The Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops met this week (November 18-19) to reflect on the outcome of the III Extraordinary General Assembly which took place from October 5 to 19 of this year and to prepare for the XIV Ordinary General Assembly on the theme The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world, which will take place from October 4 to 25, 2015.

This week's meeting was presided on Tuesday by the Holy Father, who through his presence highlighted the importance that he attributes to the Synod, as an expression of episcopal collegiality, and to the family - the theme of the two Assemblies: the Extraordinary Assembly which took place last October and the Ordinary Assembly which will take place next year.

In addition to the Secretary General, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri and the Under-secretary, His Excellency, Fabio Fabene, also present at this week's meeting were Cardinals Christoph Schönborn, Wilfried F. Napier, Peter K.A. Turkson, George Pell, Donald W. Wuerl, Luis A. Tagle; and their Excellencies, Archbishops Bruno Forte and Salvatore Fisichella.  The President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, His Excellency, Vincenzo Paglia was also invited to attend.

In his introduction to the work of this week, the Secretary General highlighted the climate of freedom, sincerity and the spirit of fraternal communion which characterized the Synodal session, so that everyone was able to contribute to the reflection.  In addition, the final document, the Synodal Relation faithfully reflects, including nuances, the results of the synodal discussions and presents a good summary of the process followed during the Assembly.

During this week's meeting, it was agreed that this period between the two Assemblies, which is unprecedented in the history of the Synod is very important.  We should assume that the journey already travelled has furnished yet another starting point and welcome this privileged occasion to study the issues and to promote discussion at the level of the Episcopal Conferences, finding the resources and tools needed to further involve also the various ecclesial realities in the synodal reflection on the family.  Some thoughts were also shared regarding communication, which may be useful in preparation for the upcoming Ordinary Assembly.

The majority of this week's work was dedicated to the preparation of the Lineamenta for the upcoming Ordinary Assembly.  It will include, as was previously noted, the Synodal Relation, as well as a series of points which may be help others to receive and understand it in its proper sense.

It is expected that the Lineamenta will be sent to the Episcopal Conferences at the beginning of December, in order that responses may be returned soon enough to be incorporated in the Insrumentum Laboris before the beginning of Summer 2015.