VATICAN (CNS): The Vatican announced that Pope Francis will formally launch the process of the Synod of Bishops with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on October 10.
The Mass, which officially opens the synodal process, will be preceded by a day of reflection in the synod hall, the Vatican said in a statement on October 1.
The day of reflection, the statement said, will include “representatives of the people of God, including delegates of the bishops’ conferences and related bodies, members of the Roman Curia, fraternal delegates, delegates of consecrated life and ecclesial lay movements, the youth council, etc.”
According to the schedule released by the Vatican, the day of reflection will begin with a meditation followed by an address by Pope Francis. It will also feature testimonies by people present at the synod hall, including a young woman from South Africa, a bishop from South Korea, and the head of a religious community from France.
Participants will also listen to video testimonies from a nun in the United States, a family in Australia and a priest in Brazil.
The theme chosen by Pope Francis for the 2023 Synod of Bishops is: For a synodal church: communion, participation and mission.
After the pope formally opens the synod process, the bishop of every diocese should open the process in his diocese October 17.
