Synod leaders present details of October General Assembly Cardinals Grech and Hollerich, along with Father Costa and Monsignor Battocchio, outline the details of the October General Assembly of the Synod in a Vatican briefing moderated by the Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication. Sep 17, 2024 Press conference to present the second session of the Synod (Vatican Media) By Tiziana Campisi and Salvatore Cernuzio The Synod is a time of prayer, “it is not a convention,” but an “ecclesial assembly that prays,” a time for listening to the Word of God and the Spirit, and an opportunity to implore forgiveness from God for the Church’s sins. Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod, presented the second session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will be held in Rome from October 2 to 27, during a press conference on Monday, September 16. He recalled that Pope Francis, at the opening of the synodal path on October 9, 2021, emphasized that “the main protagonist of the Synod is the Holy Spirit.”
He highlighted the importance of the synodal process and its role in the Church’s renewal. He emphasized the contributions of the various commissions, highlighting the importance of their work in shaping the Church’s future. The Holy See Press Office released a summary of the contributions made by the various commissions during the synodal assembly.
This vigil will be a time for reflection, prayer, and reconciliation. The theme of this year’s retreat is “The Power of Forgiveness.” The retreat will be held at the Vatican, from September 29th to October 1st, 2023. The retreat will focus on the importance of forgiveness in personal and communal life. The retreat will feature a series of talks and workshops led by renowned speakers and experts in the field of theology and psychology.
This summary outlines a framework for understanding and addressing sin within the Catholic Church. It highlights the specific areas where individuals and communities can fall short of God’s will and how these shortcomings can be addressed. Let’s break down the framework:
**1. Sins against peace:** This category encompasses actions that disrupt or threaten peace, both within and outside the Church.
These fora will be held in different locations across the country, allowing for greater accessibility and participation. These fora will focus on specific theological and pastoral issues, such as the role of women in the church, the relationship between faith and science, and the challenges of pastoral care in a secular society. The theological-pastoral fora will be facilitated by experienced theologians and pastors, and will provide a space for open and honest dialogue.
Synod numbers Cardinal Hollerich explained that the number of participants in this second session is similar to that of the first, with 368 voting members, including 272 bishops and 96 non-bishops. There have been 26 changes, mainly substitutions. There are 8 Special invitees, while the number of fraternal delegates has increased from 12 to 16, reflecting the growing interest of sister Churches in the synodal journey. He also confirmed the presence of two bishops from China.–Vatican News
