Pope Francis during the synod of bipos in the Vatican (VEJA.com/Reuters)
Francisco pope defended the indissolubility of marriage, condemned divorce and reiterated that, for the Church, the family consists of a man and a woman to open the synod of bishops on Sunday at the Vatican.
Before 400 cardinals and bishops from around the world - 107 Europeans, 64 Americans, 54 Africans, 36 Asians and nine Oceania - the pontiff acknowledged in his homily during the solemn Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, the Church must defend traditional values in a "social and marital context quite difficult."
One of the main conflicts that bishops will face revolves around the divorced returning to marry. For the Church, marriage is indissoluble and does not recognize civil divorce - why does not allow divorced Catholics returning to marry receive communion.
A petition launched several days ago on Change.org page, at the request of twenty theologians from around the world, asks the pope and the synod to allow communion to divorced and returned to marry.The petition has already surpassed the ten thousand signatures.
After the Mass of inauguration, Francis presided over the recitation of the Sunday Angelus, and from the Apostolic apartment window, asked that "we are not society fortress, but society-family, able to accept with appropriate rules," the suffering or fleeing war.
The Fourteenth Annual General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will end on October 25 and will also have the participation of 24 experts, 51 auditors, 14 fraternal delegates (those of other faiths) 18 couples, and fathers and mothers who expose their everyday experiences.
Each week discussions will be developed under a specific argument: "Listening to the challenges of family," "Discernment of the family vocation" and "The mission of today's family day."
On the other hand, the so-called Minor Circles, groups of participants divided by language, prepare a summary document on each topic with which to prepare a final text of conclusions that will be voted on October 24.
Everything is to offer advice on this matter to the pontiff, who may write a post-synodal document or be inspired directly in the conclusions to govern his Church and promoting measures.
(With EFE)
