Bishops and cardinals should speak boldly during the Vatican's Synod on the Family, Pope Francis said in opening remarks to the gathering’s first session this morning.
“Let no one say ‘this cannot be said,’” the Pope told the participants of the extraordinary synod gathered in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican.
Francis explained that one cardinal had written to him after the consistory gathering in February saying some cardinals had been fearful of speaking in case they said things the Pope didn’t like.
But Francis, who is due to attend the vast majority of the synod sessions, said this should not happen during the current gathering and urged the synod fathers to speak with “parrhesia” – a word from ancient Greek meaning to speak freely or boldly.
The consistory of cardinals in February heard an address from Cardinal Walter Kasper, who put forward for proposals to allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion.
While the synod formally opened yesterday, today is the first time the bishops have gathered for discussion.
The first week of the synod – which runs until the 19 October – will focus on different themes related to the family and today's discussions include contributions on “God’s plan for marriage and the family”.
The Synod Fathers, predominantly presidents of bishops' conferences from across the world and presidents and prefects of departments in the Roman Curia, have all submitted papers to the synod about Church and family life.
Photo: CNS
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