VATICAN CITY, Italy - Catholic bishops from around the
world are convening for a synod starting on Sunday to debate how to
counter rising secularism on the 50th anniversary of the historic but
controversial Second Vatican Council.
The synod will hear a call
from Pope Benedict XVI for a “new evangelisation” drive for the Catholic
Church, which is fast losing followers in Europe and feels increasingly
discriminated against in many parts of the world.
The synod lasts until October 28 and coincides with the announcement on October 11 of a “Year of Faith” to mark the anniversary of the start of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), which changed the face of Catholicism.
The now 85-year-old German pontiff, who was an expert at the council known as “Vatican II” and one of its most reformist voices, has made the new evangelisation a centerpiece of his papacy since being elected in 2005.
The synod will also look at tensions against Christians in some parts of the world including on the part of extremists, as well as increasing competition from evangelical churches particularly in the developing world.
The last synod on
evangelisation was called by Paul VI in 1974 but the crisis of faith in
traditionally Christian countries was not as strong then.
The Vatican earlier this year revealed the answers given by bishops to a questionnaire asking them to identify obstacles in spreading the Gospel.
Some talked about the problem of “excessive bureaucracy in Church structures”, others said “liturgical celebrations were devoid of deep spiritual experience” or that the problem was “an insufficient number of clergy.”
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