The General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops has presented Pope Francis with a first assessment of the work being done in preparation for the October 2018 synod on young people, the Holy See announced today. The internet consultation with young people has been extended until December 31.
This meeting on November 16 and 17—an important step less than a year before the opening of the Synod—made an initial assessment of the still-ongoing consultations. As a result, the availability of the online questionnaire for young people has been extended until December 31 instead of November 30. As of October, just over 65,000 responses had been tallied.
Preparations for the March 2018 pre-synodal meeting were also discussed. Among the decisions, it was determined that young people not present in Rome from March 19 to 24 will be able to participate by means of social networks. These and other ideas will be included in the instrumentum laboris—the working document—of the Synod Fathers.
Also in recent days, Pope Francis named Brazilian Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha, archbishop of Brasilia and president of his country’s episcopal conference, to be the Relator General of the synod. In an unusual move, two special Secretaries were also appointed: Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa and Salesian Father Rossano Sala.
The American bishops have designated their representatives for the event, according to a November 15 report: Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Archbishop José Gómez of Los Angeles; Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, and Bishop Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles.
The Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment, will take place from October 3 to 28, 2018.
Find the survey here, and more information at the US bishops’ web site.
And today we celebrate...