VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 176
DATE 13-10-2014

Summary:
- Relatio post disceptationem: listen to the family and discuss pastoral
perspectives, with a gaze fixed on Christ
- The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in the
contemporary world: theme of the next Synod
- Consistory for the canonisation of the Blesseds Joseph Vaz and Maria
Cristina of the Immaculate Conception
- Mass of thanks for the new Canadian saints
- Angelus: respond to the Lord's invitation with witness to charity
- Genoa in the Pope's prayers
- Synod Fathers to draw up the Relatio Synodi
- Tenth General Congregation: Fraternal Delegates
- Declaration from the director of the Holy See Press Office
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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 Relatio post disceptationem: listen to the family and discuss pastoral
perspectives, with a gaze fixed on Christ
 Vatican City, 13 October 2014 (VIS) - The "post-discussion report" of the
Extraordinary Synod on the family was presented this morning by the General
Rapporteur of the Assembly, Cardinal Peter Erdo. It summarises the Synod
Fathers' main reflections that have emerged during the General Congregations
during recent days, and forms the basis of the final documents of the Synod.
 The Report sets out three main guidelines: listening to the socio-cultural
context in which families live today; discussing the pastoral perspectives to
be taken, and above all, looking to Christ and to His Gospel of the family.
 The family, therefore, is "decisive and valuable", the "source of joys and
trials, of deep affections and relations, at times wounded", a "school of
humanity", and must first be listened to in its "complexity". Exasperated
individualism, the "great test" of solitude, the "narcissistic affectivity"
linked to the "fragility" of sentiments, the "nightmare" of precariousness in
the workplace, along with war, terrorism and migrations increasingly cause
deterioration in family situations. It is here, according to the Relatio, that
the Church must give "hope and meaning" to the life of modern humanity,
ensuring that "the doctrine of faith" is better known, but proposing it "with
mercy".
 Turning our gaze to Christ "reaffirms the indissoluble union between a man
and a woman", but also allows us to "interpret the nuptial covenant in terms
of continuity and novelty". The principle, explains Cardinal Erdo, must be
that of "gradualness" for couples in failed marriages, with an "inclusive
perspective" for the "imperfect forms" of nuptial reality: "Realizing the
need, therefore, for spiritual discernment with regard to cohabitation, civil
marriages and divorced and remarried persons, it is the task of the Church to
recognise those seeds of the Word that have spread beyond its visible and
sacramental boundaries. ... The Church turns respectfully to those who
participate in her life in an incomplete and imperfect way, appreciating the
positive values they contain rather than their limitations and shortcomings".
 There is a need, therefore, for a "new dimension of family pastoral" able to
nurture seeds in the process of maturation, such as civil marriages
characterised by stability, deep affection, and responsibility in relation to
offspring, and which may lead to a sacramental bond. Frequently cohabitation
or de facto unions are not dictated by a rejection of Christian values, but
rather by practical needs, such as waiting for a stable job. The Church, a
true "House of the Father", a "torch carried among the people", continued the
Cardinal, must accompany "her most fragile sons and daughters, marked by
wounded and lost love, with attention and care", restoring trust and hope to
them.
 In the third part, the "post-discussion Report" goes on to face the "most
urgent pastoral issues", the implementation of which is entrusted to the
individual local Churches, always in communion with the Pope. First, the
"proclamation of the Gospel of the family" is "not to condemn, but to cure
human fragility". This proclamation also involves the faithful: "Evangelising
is the shared responsibility of all God's people, each according to his or her
own ministry and charism. Without the joyous testimony of spouses and
families, the announcement, even if correct, risks being misunderstood or
submerged by the ocean of words that is a characteristic of our society.
Catholic families are themselves called upon to be the active subjects of all
the pastoral of the family".
 The Gospel of the family is "joy", underlined Cardinal Erdo, and therefore
requires "a missionary conversion" so as not to stop at a proclamation that is
"merely theoretical and has nothing to do with people's real problems". At the
same time, it is also necessary to act in relation to language: "Conversion
has, above all, to be that of language so that this might prove to be
effectively meaningful. ... This is not merely about presenting a set of
regulations but about putting forward values, responding to those who find
themselves in need today even in the most secularised countries".
 Adequate preparation for Christian marriage is also essential, as this is not
merely a cultural tradition or a social obligation, but rather a "vocational
decision". Without "complicating the cycles of formation", the aim should be
that of exploring the issue in depth, not limiting the issue merely to
"general orientations" but instead renewing also "the formation of presbyters
and other pastoral operators" on the matter, with the involvement of families
themselves, whose witness is to be privileged. The accompaniment of the Church
is also suggested following marriage, a "vital and delicate" period in which
couples mature their understanding of the sacrament, its meaning and the
challenges that it poses.
 In the same way, the Church, continues the Report, must encourage and support
laypersons occupied with culture, politics and in society, to ensure that
those factors that impede authentic family life, leading to discrimination,
poverty, exclusion and violence, are denounced.
 Moving on to the issue of separated couples, divorced persons, including
those subsequently remarried, Cardinal Erdo underlined that "it is not wise to
think of single solutions or those inspired by a logic of ‘all or nothing'";
dialogue must therefore continue in the local Churches, "with respect and
love" for every wounded family, thinking of those who have unjustly suffered
abandonment by their spouse, avoiding discriminatory attitudes and protecting
children: "It is indispensable to assume in a faithful and constructive way
the consequences of separation or divorce on the children; they must not
become an 'object' to be fought over and the most suitable means need to be
sought so that they can get over the trauma of family break-up and grow up in
the most serene way possible".
 With regard to the streamlining of procedures for the recognition of
matrimonial nullity, the General Rapporteur of the Synod reported the
proposals made by the Assembly: to abandon the need for the double conforming
sentence, to establish an administrative channel at diocesan level, and the
introduction of a summary process in the case of clear nullity, and the
possibility of "giving weight to the faith of those about to be married in
terms of the validity of the sacrament of marriage". The Cardinal emphasised
that this all requires suitably prepared clergy and laypersons and a greater
responsibility on the part of local bishops.
 With regard to access to the sacrament of the Eucharist for divorced and
remarried persons, the Report lists the main suggestions that emerged from the
Synod: maintaining the current discipline; allowing greater openness in
particular cases, that may not be resolved without further injustice or
suffering; or rather, opting for a "penitential" approach: partaking of the
sacraments might occur were it preceded by a penitential path - under the
responsibility of the diocesan bishop -, and with a clear undertaking in
favour of the children. This would not be a general possibility, but the fruit
of a discernment applied on a case-by-case basis, according to a law of
gradualness, that takes into consideration the distinction between state of
sin, state of grace and the attenuating circumstances.
 The question of "spiritual communion", for which a greater theological
examination was called for, remains open; again, further reflection was
required on mixed marriages and "serious problems" linked to the different
nuptial discipline of Orthodox Churches.
 With regard to homosexuals, it was underlined that they have "gifts and
qualities to offer the Christian community": the Church must therefore be, for
them, a "welcoming home". The Church affirms that same-sex unions are not "on
the same footing" as marriage between a man and a woman and stated that it was
unacceptable for international bodies to place pressure on pastors to make
financial aid dependent on the introduction of regulations inspired by gender
ideology. However, "without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual
unions it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the
point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners.
Furthermore, the Church pays special attention to the children who live with
couples of the same sex, emphasising that the needs and rights of the little
ones must always be given priority".
 In the final part, the Report returns to the theme of Pope Paul VI's
Encyclical "Humanae Vitae", and focuses on the question of openness to life,
defining it as an "instrinsic requirement of conjugal love". This gives rise
to the need for a "realistic language" able to explain "the beauty and truth"
of opening oneself to the gift of a child, also thanks to "appropriate
teaching regarding natural methods of fertility control" and a "harmonious and
aware" communication between spouses, in all its dimensions. Furthermore, the
challenge of education is central, in which the Church has a valuable role of
support for families, to support them in their choices and their
responsibilities.
 Finally, Cardinal Erdo underlines that the synodal dialogue took place "in
great freedom and with a spirit of reciprocal listening", and recalls that the
reflections proposed so far do not represent decisions that have already been
taken: indeed, the itinerary will continue with the Ordinary General Synod,
again on the theme of the family, to be held in October 2015.
 The full text of the Relatio post disceptationem may be consulted at:

http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblic
/2014/10/13/0751/03037.html
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 The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in the
contemporary world: theme of the next Synod
 Vatican City, 13 October 2014 (VIS) - During the General Congregation of the
Synod, held this morning, it was announced that Pope Francis has convoked the
14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, on the theme "The
vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary
world", which will be held in the Vatican from 4 to 25 October 2015.

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 Consistory for the canonisation of the Blesseds Joseph Vaz and Maria Cristina
of the Immaculate Conception
 Vatican City, 13 October 2014 (VIS) - On Monday, 20 October, in the New Synod
Hall, the Holy Father Francis will preside at a celebration of Terce and the
Ordinary Public Consistory for the canonisation of the Blesseds Joseph Vaz,
Indian priest of the Oratorians of St. Philip Neri, founder of the Oratory of
the Holy Cross of Miracles in Goa, India, and missionary in Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
and Kanara, India, and Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception, Italian
foundress of the Congregation of the Oblation Sisters of the Blessed
Sacrament. The Pope also informed the members of the College of Cardinals on
the current situation faced by Christians in the Middle Eaast, and the
Church's commitment to peace in the region.

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