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.

The publication of the letter from thirteen cardinals to Pope Francis on October 11 by the Italian expert on Vatican affairs Sandro Magister continued to be at the center of discussion in Rome today with various declarations from cardinals and much speculation as to the motive why it was leaked a

In their letter, the cardinals wrote that some consider “the synodal procedures” as “lacking openness and genuine collegiality.”

In a telegram to Turkey's president, he expressed his closeness to all those suffering from the terrible attack and assured them of his prayers.

Working group reports show synod participants adapting to more focus on discussion, looking to the work ahead.

Several groups said the presentation of the family in the first part of the synod's working document is too negative, too bleak, because it “mainly highlights problems.”

This morning Pope Francis urgently appealed to the International Community “to broaden its horizons beyond the immediate interests and use the instruments of international law and diplomacy to resolve the ongoing conflicts.”

The 318 participants attending the synod of bishops on the family have raised or discussed a wide range of topics during the first four days of this gathering nbsp High among them are the terrible destructive impact that war armed conflict poverty unemployment persecution violence against wo

The synod of bishops on the family is now gathering steam.