mind that this project is the composition of three texts that have already been   
   received in the Circuli minores - whose reports were read in plenary and   
   published - further interventions must be advanced with regard to the   
   collective   
   work conducted so far.   
    Subsequently, the above Commission oversees the preparation of the final text   
   of the Relatio finalis, to be presented on the morning of Saturday 24 October   
   in   
   plenary session and submitted for approval to the Assembly in the afternoon.   
    In accordance with the nature of the Synod, this document, the result of the   
   collective work of the Fathers (cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 343), will be   
   consigned to the Holy Father (cf. Ordo Synodi Episcoporum, Art. 23 § 4), who is   
   responsible for decisions.   
    4) Given the large number of those entitled to speak (318 Fathers, the   
   fraternal delegates and auditors) and the extra space reserved for Circuli   
   minores (13 sessions), each speaker has the right to speak in the House for   
   three minutes and to intervene extensively in the Circuli. As in the past, the   
   General Congregations are granted one hour each, dedicated to free   
   interventions   
   by the Fathers. In addition, it is always possible to submit other written   
   texts   
   to the General Secretariat, in addition to the texts in paper and electronic   
   formats presented in the Assembly Hall.   
    5) Considering that media communication and information during the last   
   Extraordinary General Assembly was abundant and comprehensive, the same methods   
   will also be used in relation to this General Assembly. In this regard, it is   
   essential to bear in mind the basic criterion mentioned by the Holy Father on a   
   number of occasions: the Synod must be a safe space so that the Holy Spirit can   
   act and so that the Fathers have the freedom to express themselves with   
   parresia.   
    During the three weeks, the briefing will be maintained as the basis for   
   providing information; it will however be expanded, with a greater presence of   
   the Synod Fathers, and using all available means of communication. The Fathers   
   are free to communicate with the media at their own discretion and   
   responsibility. The various stages in the development of the basic document   
   remain confidential, since during the synodal process, the texts are subject to   
   continuous developments right up to the final draft. However, the reports of   
   the   
   Circuli minori on the three aspects of the work of the Synod will be published.   
   A special Commission, together with the Holy See Press Office, will as usual be   
   responsible for providing information on the Synod.   
    Further information   
    On Saturday 17 October from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, the Commemoration of the 50th   
   Anniversary of the Synod of Bishops will take place in the Paul VI Hall. The   
   event is open to all who wish to participate, as well as those attending the   
   Synod. In the mind of Blessed Paul VI, who instituted it on 15 September 1965,   
   the Synod was intended to perpetuate the spirit of Vatican Council II in the   
   Church, so that even after its conclusion, it would continue to receive that   
   'great abundance of benefits that we have been so happy to see flow to the   
   Christian people during the time of the Council as a result of Our close   
   collaboration with the bishops'.   
    After the introduction by the General Secretary, the commemorative report will   
   be entrusted to Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, archbishop of Vienna and   
   president   
   of the Episcopal Conference of Austria. There will then be communications from   
   five prelates representing all continents (Cardinal Gerald Vincent Nichols,   
   archbishop of Westminster and president of the Episcopal Conference of England   
   and Wales, for Europe; Archbishop Francisco Chimoio of Maputo, for Africa;   
   Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, archbishop of Santiago del Chile and   
   president   
   of the Episcopal Conference of Chile, for the Americas; His Beatitude Raphael I   
   Louis Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, and Head of the Synod of the   
   Chaldean Church, for Asia; and Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, bishop of   
   Tonga   
   and president of the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific, for Oceania). Lastly,   
   the Holy Father will give the concluding address.   
    On Sunday 18 October at 10:30 am in the Vatican Basilica, there will be a Mass   
   for the canonisation of, among others, the Blessed spouses Louis Martin and   
   Marie-Azelie Guérin, parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.   
    In the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, the People of God are invited to   
   accompany with prayer the work of the Synod, invoking the protection of the   
   Salus Populi Romani and the Blessed Martin couple, whose relics are exhibited   
   there. Every day the Holy Rosary will be recited at 5 p.m. and Mass will be   
   celebrated at 6. In the first week we will pray for children, in the second for   
   parents, and for grandparents in the third.   
    Near the Synod Hall there will be, as usual, a chapel for prayer for the   
   participants in the Synod, where the relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus,   
   her parents and the Beltrame Quattrocchi spouses will be displayed".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Statement by the Director of the Holy See Press Office   
    Vatican City, 2 October 2015 (VIS) - The director of the Holy See Press   
   Office,   
   Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., today issued the following statement regarding the   
   Pope's meeting with Kim Davis, an American public official who spent five days   
   in prison for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.   
    "The brief meeting between Mrs. Kim Davis and Pope Francis at the Apostolic   
   Nunciature in Washington, D.C. has continued to provoke comments and   
   discussion.   
   In order to contribute to an objective understanding of what transpired I am   
   able to clarify the following points:   
    Pope Francis met with several dozen persons who had been invited by the   
   nunciature to greet him as he prepared to leave Washington D.C. for New York   
   City. Such brief greetings occur on all papal visits and are due to the Pope's   
   characteristic kindness and availability. The only real audience granted by the   
   Pope at the nunciature was with one of his former students and his family.   
    "The Pope did not enter into the details of the situation of Mrs. Davis and   
   his   
   meeting with her should not be considered a form of support of her position in   
   all of its particular and complex aspects".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Cardinals to take possession of their titular churches   
    Vatican City, 2 October 2015 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of   
   the Supreme Pontiff today announced that on Sunday 11 October the following   
   cardinals will take possession of their titular churches.   
    At 11 a.m., Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, archbishop of   
   Bangkok, Thailand, will take possession of the title of Santa Maria Addolorata   
   (Viale della Venezia Giulia, 134).   
    At 11.15 a.m. Cardinal Alberto Suarez Inda, archbishop of Morelia, Mexico,   
   will   
   take possession of the title of San Policarpo (Piazza Aruleno Celio Sabino,   
   50).   
    At 11.30 a.m., Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., archbishop of Yangon,   
   Myanmar, will take possession of the title of Sant'Ireneo a Centocelle (Via dei   
   Castani, 291).   
    At 12.00 p.m., Cardinal Ricardo Blazquez Perez, archbishop of Valladolid,   
   Spain, will take possession of the title of Santa Maria in Vallicella (Via del   
   Governo Vecchio, 134).   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 2 October 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in   
   audience:   
    - Alexandros Couyou, ambassador of Greece, presenting his credential letters;   
    - Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine   
   of the Faith;   
    - Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation   
   of Peoples;   
    - Archbishop Thomas E. Gullickson, apostolic nuncio in Switzerland and in   
   Liechtenstein;   
    - the 200 participants in the meeting organised to commemorate the 150th   
   anniversary of the Servant of God, Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 2 October 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Jan   
   Dubina, Slovakia, as papal master of ceremonies.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   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)