VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXIV - # 90   
   DATE 16-05-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - THE POPE PRESIDES AT THE MEETING OF THE 13TH ORDINARY COUNCIL OF THE SYNOD   
   - COMMUNIQUE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE   
      
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    THE POPE PRESIDES AT THE MEETING OF THE 13TH ORDINARY COUNCIL OF THE SYNOD   
    Vatican City, 16 May 2014 (VIS) - The Ordinary Council of the Synod of   
   Bishops met on 13 and 14 May to examine the first draft of the "Instrumentum   
   laboris" ahead of the Third Extraordinary General Asembly, to be held in   
   October on the theme: "The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of   
   Evangelisation". The Pope presided at the Council meeting on Thursday 13 May.   
    The secretary general, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, greeted the Holy Father   
   and thanked him for his letter of 14 April, in which he elevated the   
   under-secretary, Msgr. Fabio Fabene, to the rank of bishop, with the aim of   
   further reinforcing the affective and effective collegiality that is a   
   constitutive part of the Synod of Bishops.   
    The draft "Instrumentum laboris" was studied and the suggestions that emerged   
   during the discussions were incorporated. In addition, a new methodology was   
   presented, which will be followed during the Extraordinary General Assembly.   
    The meetings of these two days were attended by the members of the Ordinary   
   Council - including the Relator General, Cardinal Peter Erdo, and the special   
   secretary, Bishop Bruno Forte - and Cardinals Andre Vingt-Trois, archbishop of   
   Paris, and Raymundo Damasceno Assis, archbishop of Aparecida and president of   
   the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, who had been invited to   
   participate in their roles as presidents delegate, along with Cardinal Antonio   
   Tagle, at the Third Extraordinary General Assembly.   
      
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    COMMUNIQUE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE   
    Vatican City, 16 May 2014 (VIS) - In the wake of the postponement of the Holy   
   Father's morning commitments, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr.   
   Federico Lombardi, S.J., made the following communication this morning: "The   
   Pope celebrated Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae with the faithful this   
   morning as usual, but has postponed the audiences scheduled for this morning   
   due to a minor indisposition".   
      
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   Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially quoting the   
   source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.   
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   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)