Al-Rahi Attends Vatican Synod on Family
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi attended at the Vatican on Sunday a landmark two-week synod of bishops on the family.
Pope Francis opened the synod of bishops from around the world, which will review Church teaching on the family and marriage.
The bishops and a small number of lay figures will spend the next two weeks addressing the gulf between what the Church says about issues such as divorce and cohabitation and what many followers actually do.
Francis made a cameo appearance Saturday at a twilight prayer vigil in St. Peter's Square on the eve of the meeting.
Francis said he wanted the bishops to listen — really listen to what the people of God are saying — and then engage in a "sincere, open and fraternal" debate that will respond to the "epochal changes" that families are living through today.
Source: Agence France Presse, Associated Press, Naharnet
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