Synod on the family
4-25 October 2015
A prayer vigil was held at St. Peter’s Square on Saturday evening October 3, just before the opening of the second session of the Synod of Bishops on the family, that is set to take place in Rome from 4 to 25 October 2015. Maria Voce was among the ones who gave their testimony during this event.
This session of the Synod, as Pope Francis said, is an opportunity “to discover the necessary means to help families face the difficulties and the challenges” in today’s world.
The Focolare Movement’s support to families flows from the life of its communities: giving witness of living successful situations and of facing traumatic ones, care to abandoned children, positive experiences of adoption or of adoption at a distance, support for marriage preparation, which today also includes searching for a home or work, support to integrate in the community life of the new family, embracing irregular situations, etc.
Although this reflection is family centred, yet it involves the whole Church.
Maria Angélica and Luis Rojas, who are members of the Focolare Movement, have been invited to take part in the Synod as auditors. This married couple come from Columbia.
Talk by Maria Voce at the prayer vigil at St. Peter’s Square – October 3, 2015
Press release – Commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops – October 15, 2015
Updated on October 19, 2015
Pope Francis’ words during the Angelus on September 6 shake consciences. He indicated a concrete way by which to support the plight of hundreds of thousands of refugees who are forced to leave their homes.
A high-level meeting with religious leaders will be held on June 16, 2015 at Berlaymont Palace, the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. This meeting will take place within the framework of the ongoing dialogue with churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional organisations, based on Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty.