The Synod of Bishops got down to work. In the Thursday morning's session, 25 Synod Fathers participated and each spoke for four minutes.
For the first time, they put into practice the recommendation made by the pope in his inaugural speech: to remain silent for three minutes after every four or five speakers. Pope Francis was present this morning during these first talks.
In a single session, multiple themes were already discussed, from immigration affecting young people, to the credibility of the Church, affectivity and sexuality.
MSGR. CARLOS JOSÉ TISSERA
Bishop of Quilmes (Argentina)
“This synod on young people is to refresh us with the lives of the youth, with their anxieties, with their new things... because youth, for us, is not a threat, but a blessing from God.”
The Synod Fathers, rapporteurs and speakers all worked together to address these themes spoken about for the first time. There has been no minimization, the reality of young people has been confronted head-on.
CHIARA GIACCARDI
Synod Collaborator
“Yesterday, at the opening of the synod, Pope Francis invited everyone to parrhesia and speak freely. I believe that his message has been received. The synod fathers spoke very frankly. There were no rhetoric, minimization or sweeteners. There has been a lot of frankness.”
This Vietnamese man is one of 34 young people from around the world invited to give their testimony at the beginning of each session. He says the young people need the Church to help them.
JOSEPH CAO HUU MINH TRI
Speaker (Vietnam)
“The demand of having an instructive and practical guide to life has become more urgent for young people in today's world. In the light of the Holy Spirit and faith we believe there is a way based on a teaching of the Church that can be able to deal with these issues.”
The Church's attempts to regain its credibility with young people and listening to them is one of the main challenges facing this synod. For this reason, the participants remind themselves that Christ himself was also a young man.
