Preparatory document for Vatican families meeting released

The meeting, convened by Pope Leo XIV, will be held from the October 7-14 and will mark the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on love in the family.

Earlier this month, the Vatican released a preparatory document for the meeting, which will involve the heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches and the presidents of episcopal conferences. A thematic framework was jointly published by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and the General Secretariat of the Synod.

The Dicastery said: “Acknowledging the profound changes that continue to affect families, the Pope expressed his desire ‘to proceed, in mutual listening, to a synodal discernment on the steps to be taken in order to proclaim the Gospel to families today, in light of Amoris Laetitia and taking into account what is currently being done in the local Churches’.”

In the October meeting, the bishops will use a synodal style to discuss the proposed themes in order to “renew, together with families, a shared pastoral commitment in support of the family, human life and the vocation to marriage”.

Five topics are being proposed for reflection: Families today; Young people and the discovery of the vocation to marriage; Married life and the first years of marriage; Accompanying and supporting on the difficulties of life; Christian families as subjects of the Church’s mission.

The meeting will include prayer, dialogue, listening to families and discussions with pastoral experts.

The preparatory document urges episcopal conferences and Eastern Catholic Churches to begin consultations with families in their local communities before the October meeting, recognising families not only as recipients of pastoral care but also as active participants in the Church’s mission.

FULL STORY

Vatican to revisit Amoris Laetitia a decade after its publication (Catholic Herald – registration required)

Vatican Releases Preparatory Document for Global Meeting on Amoris Laetitia (RV Asia)