Working of Synod on Bible presented at press conference

(October 3, 2008) A new feature of the 12th ordinary general assembly of the Synod of Bishops beginning next week in Rome will be the daily free discussion sessions, said the secretary general of the synod of bishops. Free discussions alongside written speeches by the synod fathers was a feature integrated into the synod rules updated in 2006, Archbishop Nicola Eterović told reporters at a press conference in the Vatican on Friday where he presented the modalities of the sessions. The Oct. 5 – 26 synod has as its theme ‘The Word of God in the Life and mission of the Church.” Pope Benedict XVI will inaugurate the synod on Sunday with a solemn Mass and the working sessions begin on Monday. Since each synod father will be allotted 5 minutes of speech, the synod sessions will have more time for free discussions every evening, Archbishop Eterović said. This feature was tried out during the previous synod in 2005 and had been welcomed by the participants. Archbishop Eterović also furnished several details on the synod. The 253 synod fathers participating in the sessions represent 13 oriental rite Catholic Churches, 113 bishops’ conferences, 25 Vatican curial departments and the Union of Superiors General. 51 of them are from Africa, 62 from America, 41 from Asia, 90 from Europe and 9 from Oceania. The average age of the synod fathers is 63.