Pope Francis believes in starting processes that can develop over time, and are not caught in the trap of having to get rapid results or immediate solutions.

The synod’s handbook states that “a strong consensus or at least a two-thirds majority among those voting is required” for the approval of the final text.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl has flatly denied the allegations by some of his fellow cardinals and bishops that the fathers attending the synod are “somehow” being manipulated by the pope

“A synodal church is a listening church … in which each one has something to learn.”

He recalled that “one of the participants said he felt like one of the three kings, he’s going to go back home by a different way. And I think that is true for all of us.” Cupich believes the synod will have been a success if this indeed has been the impact on participants.

Several fathers believe there could be route between the polarized positions on admitting divorced and remarried Catholics to the Eucharist.

"We don’t want an abrupt change that would produce a different type of gold rush: from Communism to consumerism overnight.”

The 318 participants attending the meeting of the Synod of Bishops on the family have raised or discussed a wide range of topics during the first four days of this gathering. Among them are the terrible, destructive impact that war, armed conflict, poverty, unemployment, persecution and violence aga

Over the past few days, the 270 synod fathers and other participants have discussed part 2 of the working document (“Instrumentum Laboris”), which deals with “The Discernment of the Family Vocation.”

“I’d forgotten about it, and I didn’t think it was controversial at all,” Cardinal Dolan said.