VATICAN CITY —The 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelisation was declared open by Pope Benedict XVI during the Mass he presided over at St Peter’s Square on Sunday, 7 October. He also named St John of Avila and St Hildegard of Bingen the “Doctors of the Church” witnessed by thousands who attended the Mass.
The theme of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is “The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.” In his homily, the Pope said that the theme “reflects the programmatic direction for the life of the Church.” It coincides with the beginning of the Year of Faith on 11 October, which is also the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.
The full text of the Pope’s homily can be found HERE.
[Photo: Screenshot from Rome Reports video]
