ROME- The previous reflection originally appeared on Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Facebook page. Follow the Bishop for daily updates from the 2018 Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment.
I arrived in Rome a few hours ago and went immediately to register for the Synod on Youth at the Paul VI Synod Hall. While I was on line to get my materials, it was amazing to see the wonderful diversity that marks our life as a Church. Just among the six bishops on line, the countries they represented were the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Burma, China, and Mexico. In a world that is growing ever more divided and polarized, it is encouraging to see that the Body of Christ continues to bring together the four corners of the world in faith and worship!
After I submitted my intervention (i.e., a four-minute speech that every bishop who attends the Synod is invited to offer), I went into the Great Synod Hall where we will hold our general sessions. There are over 220 seats for the bishops who will be attending the Synod. We will meet each day in general session in this Hall. Bishops of the same language group will also periodically share in smaller group discussions to explore in greater detail the topics raised in the general sessions. One bishop whom I met this morning told me that he has attended six Synods in his ministry and found the small group sessions to be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the different pastoral experiences of bishops and to listen to their concerns. I am looking forward to these discussions.
Tomorrow I will share with you the two topics that I will address in my intervention at the Synod. For now, I am off to pranzo and my mid-day salad.
