Cardinal Baldisseri explained that the Instrumentum Laboris consists of three   
   parts, conforming to the themes of the Documento Preparatorio. "The first,   
   dedicated to the Gospel of the family, relates to God's plan, biblical and   
   magisterial knowledge and their reception, natural law and the vocation of the   
   person in Christ", he said. "The difficulties that arise in relation to   
   natural law can be overcome through more attentive reference to the biblical   
   world, to its language and narrative forms, and to the proposal to thematise   
   and deepen the biblically-inspired concept of the 'order of creation', like   
   the possibility of reinterpreting 'natural law' in a more existentially   
   meaningful way. Furthermore, the role of the family, 'fundamental cell of   
   society, where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to   
   belong to one another', is that of a privileged space for values such as   
   fraternity, love, respect and solidarity between generations, where dignity is   
   promoted, overcoming individualism and contributing to the common good of   
   society".   
    "The second part relates to the pastoral challenges inherent in the family,   
   such as the crisis of faith, critical internal situations, external pressures   
   and other problems. The responsibilities of the pastor include preparation for   
   marriage, increasingly necessary nowadays to enable engaged couples make their   
   decision in terms of their personal adhesion to faith to the Lord, to build   
   their families on solid foundations".   
    He emphasised that special consideration would be given to difficult pastoral   
   situations, such as unmarried couples who live together and de facto unions,   
   separated and divorced couples, remarried divorcees and eventual further   
   children, single mothers, those who are in canonically irregular situations   
   and non-believers or non-practising Catholics who wish to marry". The prelate   
   added that with regard to the phenomenon of unmarried couples who live   
   together and de facto unions, increasingly widespread, "the Church has the   
   duty to accompany these couples in the trust that they are able to bear a   
   responsibility, such as that of marriage, that is not too great for them". In   
   relation to the question of remarried divorcees, whose irregular condition   
   within the Church is a source of suffering, the Instrumentum Laboris "offers   
   real knowledge of their situation, from which the Church is required to find   
   solutions compatible with her teaching and which lead to a serene and   
   reconciled life. In this respect, the need to simplify the judicial procedures   
   for the annulment of marriage would appear relevant".   
    "Regarding same-sex unions, a distinction is made between the contexts in   
   which civil legislation is more or less in favour; there is a need for   
   pastoral care on the part of the particular Churches in these situations,   
   including matters relating to children who may be present".   
    The third part first presents themes linked to openness to life, such as   
   knowledge and difficulties in receiving the Magisterium, pastoral suggestions,   
   sacramental praxis and the promotion of a mentality open to life. ... With   
   regard to the educative responsibility of parents, difficulty emerges in terms   
   of transmitting faith to children, which is then made concrete in Christian   
   initiation; finally, this is a matter of Christian education in difficult   
   family situations, in which the effects on the children extend to the sphere   
   of faith and methods of celebration of the sacraments".   
    Cardinal Baldisseri mentioned that the themes not included in the document   
   will be considered in the Ordinary General Assembly scheduled for 4-25 October   
   2015, based on the theme "Jesus Christ reveals the mystery and vocation of the   
   family". This will be the third stage in the process of reflection on the   
   family, which began with the Consistory held on 20 February 2014.   
    Finally, he explained that the Instrumentum Laboris offers a vision of the   
   reality of the family in the current context, which represents the beginning   
   of a profound reflection, which will take place in the two stages of the   
   Extraordinary General Assembly (2014) and the Ordinary General Assembly   
   (2015), which are closely linked by the theme of the family based on the light   
   of Christ's Gospel. The results of the first, the Extraordinary Assembly, will   
   be used in the preparation of the Instrumentum Laboris of the subsequent   
   Ordinary Assembly, which will be made known only after the publication of the   
   final document, subject to the decision of the Holy Father.   
    Given the importance of the Synod, a Day of Prayer for the Synod will be held   
   on Sunday 28 September, and the Eucharist will be celebrated every day during   
   the work of the Synod in the Salus Populi Romanii Chapel in the Basilica of   
   St. Mary Major in Rome.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    DELEGATION FROM ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE TO VISIT ROME   
    Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Promoting   
   Christian Unity issued a press release today with the information that a   
   delegation sent by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I   
   will visit Rome from 27 to 29 June 2013 as part of the traditional exchange of   
   delegations for their feasts of patron saints: 29 June in Rome for the   
   celebration of the Apostles Peter and Paul and 30 November in Istanbul for the   
   celebration of St. Andrew the Apostle.   
    His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis (Zizioulas) of Pergamo, co-president of the   
   International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic and   
   Orthodox Churches, will head the delegation and will be accompanied by   
   Archbishop Job de Telmissos and Patriarchal Archdeacon John Chryssavgis.   
    On Saturday, 28 June, the Patriarchate's delegation will be received by the   
   Holy Father Francis and then will meet with members of the Pontifical Council   
   for Promoting Christian Unity. On Sunday, 29 June, the members of the   
   delegation will attend a Eucharistic celebration presided by the Holy Father.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    AUDIENCES   
    Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in   
   audience:   
    - Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum".   
    - Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic   
   Education (for Institutes of Study).   
    - Archbishop Alberto Bottari de Castello, apostolic nuncio in Hungary.   
    - Khetevane Bragation de Moukhrani, ambassador of Georgia, on her farewell   
   visit.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:   
   www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va   
      
   Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican   
   Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting   
   the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.   
   http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)