Preparing for the Synod

The Ordinary Council for the Synod of Bishops met on May 25 and 26, 2015 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 meeting of the Ordinary Council was presided over by Pope Francis who by his presence, highlighted the importance that he himself places on the preparations for the upcoming Synod which are now in process.

During the mornings of May 25 and 26, the Council closely examined the draft of the Instrumentum laboris which resulted from the minutes of the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod and from numerous contributions which were furnished in response to the Lineamenta which had been submitted by various Episcopal Conferences and other entitled groups as well as numerous contributions from various ecclesial groups and individual believers which have been received by the Secretary General of the Synod.  An extensive and in-depth examination of the text has resulted in proposals and contributions for further integration and improvement.  The text, which has been revised and shared with the members of the Council, has now been entrusted to the Secretary General for final editing, translation into various languages and publication which should take place in a few weeks' time.

Having completed the examination of the Instrumentum laboris, the Secretary General then presented some proposals for the updating and improvement of the methodology which will be followed for the work of the upcoming Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.