Home
Pope Paul VI established the Synod of Bishops in 1965. The Second Vatican Council had just concluded. Motivated by the experience of the Council itself, Paul VI desired to: “Permanently establish a Council of Bishops, with the aim of providing for a continuance after the Council of the 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”. In the words of Pope Francis, the Synod of Bishops is a body that “manifests the solicitude of the College of Bishops for the needs of the People of God and for communion among the Churches”. The Synod is a means of gathering information on each particular theme from the local Churches. It provides counsel to the Roman Pontiff in the Synodal Assembly. Pope Francis, repeating what his Predecessor, Paul VI said, stated that the Synod has a “consultative role, offering information and counsel to the Roman Pontiff on various ecclesial questions, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit”. Furthermore, the role of the Synod of Bishops is primarily that of “listening to the People of God”. The Synod, therefore, is the “suitable instrument to give voice to the entire People of God”. The XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, commonly referred to as the Synod on Young People, is a Roman Catholic synod that took place in Rome 3 - 28 October 2018 and had as its theme "Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment". Its aim was to "accompany young people on their way of life towards maturity so that, through a process of discernment, they can discover their life project and realize it with joy, opening the encounter with God and with men, and actively participating in the building up of the Church and society". The theme was chosen by Pope Francis after consulting the members of the Synod Council chosen by the previous Ordinary Assembly, regional and national bishops' conferences, the Union of Superiors Generals, the leaders of the Eastern Catholic Churches, and others. The theme, according to Francis, would allow for consideration of the decline in priestly vocations along with the broader question of discerning one's vocation. To commemorate the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the Vatican issued a €1,15 stamp. Pictured on the stamp is Pope Francis and other clergy, along with a group of attendees. Jesus stands behind the group with his arms outstretched showing his support for the group. Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1688 - 1688 Date Issued - 06 September 2018 Face Value - €1,15 Perforations - 13.66x13.77 Printing Process - Offset Printer - Printex (Malta) Max Printed - 80,000 |
| (Source - Vatican Notes: Volume: 66 Issue: 378 Page: 4-7 en.wikipedia.org) |
