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The Synod of Bishops on Young People


Source: Vatican media

Pope Francis will celebrate the opening Mass for the Synod of Bishops on "Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment" on Wednesday morning in St Peter's Basilica.

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, briefed the media on Synod proceedings and goals at a press conference on Monday morning. Cardinal Baldisseri carefully explained Synod procedures pointing out that a new Apostolic Constitution signed - significantly - by the Pope just two weeks ago, strengthens the involvement of the "People of God" and further promotes dialogue and collaboration between bishops and between bishops and the Pope.

This, he said will give even more clout to the final document Synod Fathers are called to produce, after listening to the interventions of the Synod Fathers themselves and of the so-called 49 auditors, of whom 36 are young people chosen to represent their peers from the five continents.

All in all some 300 cardinals, bishops, priests, religious and lay experts will be taking part, and for the very first time since Paul VI established the Synod of Bishops in 1965 to collaborate with the Pope, discuss topics and make recommendations, two bishops from mainland China have been able to accept the invitation thanks to last month's landmark agreement between the Holy See and Beijing.

As for communicating to the world what is going on inside the Synod Hall, the Dicastery for Communication will be on hand with reports, videos, daily multi-language briefings and lots of social media activity including a special #synod2018 hashtag on twitter.

Asked whether the latest revelations regarding widespread clerical sex abuse may have spawned a climate of distrust and anger which could lead to a breakdown in communication between young people and the Church, Baldisseri said he is confident the Synod will provide a golden opportunity for exchange on this critical issue as well.

Pope Francis himself is expected to be present for many - if not all - the Synod sessions, but in a clear sign he does not want it to be seen as a closed-doors event for a few privileged invitees, he has asked hundreds of young people to join him and synod participants on Saturday in the Vatican audience hall for an evening of music and some lively exchange.

The Church, Cardinal Baldisseri highlighted again and again, wants to do its part in walking with its people, and that, he said, is what we intend to do in this Synod "with open eyes and ears, but also with open hearts and minds" accepting the challenges put to the Church through the "restlessness of young people".

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