Vatican reports 'very high response' to Synod questionnaire on family

There has been a 'very high response' from bishops conferences around the world to the to last year's questionnaire on the family, the Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops learnt during their meeting on 24 and 25 February. Observations from individuals and groups from all over the world have been added.

On the afternoon of 24 February the Council was presided over by Pope Francis, who emphasised the importance he attributes to both the Synod structure as an expression of episcopal collegiality and the theme of the family that will be considered by the upcoming Extraordinary Assembly of 2014 and the Ordinary Assembly of 2015.

A Vatican statement says: "The draft synthesis of the answers received was unanimously appreciated. It enables the voice of the Church to be heard in all her components and in a variety of contexts and situations, both with regard to the urgency of proclaiming the Gospel of the family with renewed zeal, and in relation to the challenges and difficulties connected with family life and the crises it may face.

"The observations made during the discussion will be considered in the drafting of the Instrumentum laboris from which the work of the Synod will proceed. The unitary character of the two stages expected for synodal reflection on the family, so that at the end of the Ordinary Synod proposals will be presented to the Holy Father, on the basis of which he will prepare his Apostolic Exhortation."

The Ordinary Council was attended by the relator general, Cardinal Peter Erdo, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, and the special secretary, Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto.

* The Catholic Bishops Conference of Japan have now published a summary of their questionnaire results on their website. See: www.cbcj.catholic.jp/jpn/doc/pontifical/synodus/synodus14th/res_eng_sp3.pdf

Source: VIS/Bishops Conference of Japan