Describing this synod as a “moment of grace for the whole church,” Pope Francis prayed that the Holy Spirit “may help us to preserve the memory of the Lord.”

Before we can accompany young Catholics, we must know where we are taking them. Mary shows the way.

Members of the Synod of Bishops will need to listen to their real-life stories, interpret what they hear in the light of the Gospel and make decisions that will lead to an authentic renewal of the Catholic Church, said Brazilian Cardinal Sergio da Rocha.

The Synod of Bishops on young people opens on Wednesday, and for the first time in history, two bishops from mainland China will be in attendance.

The pope said he knows that young people “are upset by sexual and economic scandals that do not meet with clear condemnation.”

The meeting of the Synod of Bishops on young people is an opportunity for an ongoing conversation between everyday lived experience and church teachings.