SUMMARY:
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Twelfth General Congregation: evaluation and suggestions based on the
post-discussion report
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Reports of the Small Groups
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Sistine Chapel: New breath, new light
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Twelfth
General Congregation: evaluation and suggestions based on the
post-discussion report
Vatican
City, 16 October 2014 (VIS) – The twelfth General Congregation
included the presentation, in the Assembly, of the Reports of the ten
Small Groups, divided according to language: two in French, three in
English, three in Italian and two in Spanish. In general, the Small
Groups presented both an evaluation of the “Relatio post
disceptationem” (RPD), a provisional document published at the
midway point during the Synod, as well as proposals to incorporate in
the “Relatio Synodi” (RS), the definitive and conclusive document
of the Assembly.
Firstly,
some perplexity was voiced regarding to the publication, although
legitimate, of the RPD since, it was said, this is a working document
that does not express a univocal opinion shared by all the Synod
Fathers. Therefore, after expressing their appreciation of the work
involved in drawing up the text and regarding its structure, the
Small Groups presented their suggestions.
It
was first underlined that in the RPD there is a focus on the concerns
of families in crisis, without broader reference to the positive
message of the Gospel of the family or to the fact that marriage as a
sacrament, an indissoluble union between man and woman, retains a
very current value in which many couples believe. Therefore, the hope
was expressed that the RS may contain a strong message of
encouragement and support for the Church and for faithful married
couples.
Furthermore,
it was remarked that it is essential to underline more clearly the
doctrine on marriage, emphasising that it is a gift from God. It was
further proposed that elements not contained in the RPD be integrated
in the RS, such as the theme of adoption, expressing the hope that
bureaucratic procedures be streamlined, both at national and
international levels, and also the themes of biotechnology and the
spread of culture via the internet, which may condition family life,
as well as a note regarding the importance of policies in favour of
the family.
In
addition, it was said that greater attention should be paid to the
presence of the elderly within families, and to families who live in
conditions of extreme poverty. The grave problems of prostitution,
female genital mutilation and the exploitation of minors for sexual
purposes and for labour were denounced. It is important, it was said,
to underline the essential role of families in evangelisation and in
the transmission of faith, highlighting their missionary vocation.
Overall, the aim is to offer a balanced and global idea of the
“family” in a Christian sense.
With
regard to difficult family situations, the Small Groups highlighted
that the Church should be a welcoming home for all, in order that
no-one feel refused. However, greater clarity was advocated, to avoid
confusion, hesitation and euphemisms in language, regarding for
example the law of gradualness, so that it does not become
gradualness of the law. Various Groups, furthermore, expressed
perplexity regarding the analogy made with paragraph 8 of “Lumen
Gentium”, inasmuch as this could give the impression of a
willingness on the part of the Church to legitimise irregular family
situations, even though these may represent a phase in the itinerary
towards the sacrament of marriage. Other Groups expressed their hope
for a more in-depth focus on the concept of “spiritual communion”,
so that it may be evaluated and eventually promoted and disseminated.
With
regard to possibility of divorced and remarried persons partaking in
the sacrament of the Eucharist, two main perspectives emerged: on the
one hand, it was suggested that the doctrine not be modified and to
remain as it is at present; on the other, to open up the possibility
of communication, with an approach based on compassion and mercy, but
only under certain conditions. In other cases, furthermore, it was
suggested that the matter be studied by a specific interdisciplinary
Commission. Greater care was suggested in relation to divorced
persons who have not remarried, and who are often heroic witnesses of
conjugal fidelity. At the same time, an acceleration of the
procedures for acknowledging matrimonial nullity and the confirmation
of validity was advocated; furthermore, it was emphasised that
children are not a burden but rather a gift from God, the fruit of
love between spouses.
A
more “Christ-centric” orientation was required, as well as
clearer emphasis of the link between the sacraments of marriage and
baptism. The vision of the world must be one which passes through the
lens of the Gospel, to encourage men and women to the conversion of
the heart.
Furthermore,
it was emphasised that, despite the impossibility of equating
marriage between a man and a woman with homosexual unions, persons of
this orientation must receive pastoral accompaniment and their
dignity must be protected, without however implying that this may
indicate a form of approval, on the part of the Church, of their
orientation and way of life. With regard to the issue of polygamy,
especially polygamists who convert to Catholicism and wish to partake
in the sacraments, thorough study was suggested.
The
Small Groups advocated broader reflection on the figure of Mary and
the Holy Family, to be better promoted as a model for reference for
all family units. Finally, it was asked that it be highlighted that
the RS will in any case be a preparatory document for the Ordinary
Synod scheduled for October 2015.
Reports
of the Small Groups
Vatican
City, 16 October 2014 (VIS) – The texts of the reports by the
twelve Small Groups (Gallicus A and B, French; Anglicus A, B and C,
English; Italicus A, B and C, Italian; Hibericus A and B, Spanish) of
the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops,
presented this morning during the twelfth General Congregation, may
be consulted on the Holy See Press Office Bulletin web page, at:
Sistine
Chapel: New breath, new light
Vatican
City, 16 October 2014 (VIS) – A press conference was held this
morning in the Holy See Press Office during which the director of the
Vatican Museums, Professor Antonio Paolucci, presented the
international congress “The Sistine Chapel, twenty years on: new
breath, new light”, which will take place from 30 to 31 October.
The congress coincides with the twentieth anniversary of the
inauguration of the Sistine Chapel by St. John Paul II following the
restoration of Michelangelo's frescoes by the experts Fabrizio
Mancinelli and Gianluigi Colalucci, and with the 450th anniversary of
the death of celebrated artist.
During
the congress, information will be given on the new air conditioning
and lighting systems in the Sistine Chapel, put into effect during
the last three years. Professor Paolucci explained that the great
influx of visitors – more than six million each year with peaks of
more than twenty thousand each day – necessitated “a radical
intervention guaranteeing the circulation of air, the reduction of
dust and other contaminants, temperature and humidity control and an
acceptable level of carbon dioxide, factors that, in the long term,
may pose a threat to the conservation of mural paintings, in this
case the 2500 square metres that constitute the most important
artistic anthology of the Italian Renaissance”.
A
new lighting system was also necessary, to provide gentle but total
illumination, non-invasive and respecting the complex iconographic,
stylistic and historic reality of the Sistine Chapel. This involved
no special “spotlight” on Michelangelo, but instead providing the
possibility of a calm, objective and at the same time delicate
observation of every detail of “this great catechism that three
popes – Sixtus IV, Julius II and Paul III – wished to display
along the walls and on the ceiling of the 'chapel of the world'”.
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