His Holiness Pope Francis began the Synod on young people Oct. 3 with a homily calling for the Holy Spirit to renew hope and dynamism in the Church. The Synod of Bishops started its fifteenth ordinary general session with His Holiness Pope Francis asking to begin the assembly “anointed by hope.” In a historic first, two bishops from mainland China are participating in the Synod of Bishops after the Vatican entered in September a provisional agreement with China on the appointment of bishops.
As reported by CNA, The Pontiff remarked that “Hope challenges us, moves us and shatters that conformism which says, ‘it’s always been done like this. Hope asks us to get up and look directly into the eyes of young people and see their situations. This same hope asks us to make efforts to reverse situations of uncertainty, exclusion and violence, to which our young people are exposed.”
The October 3-28 synod will focus on the themes of young people, the faith, and vocational discernment. More than 300 participants are gathered in Rome, they include clerics and religious, as well as 49 auditors, among them 36 young people from five continents.
Source: www.catholicnewsagency.com
