Romana

The Fifteenth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on “Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment” was held in Rome October 3 – 28. This assembly followed a long period of listening to and reflecting with thousands of young people, first in dioceses around the world and then also in Rome.

The words of Pope Francis and of the participants in this Church assembly, as well as the testimony of the young people present in the Synod hall, showed the world that “faith is a powerful light, capable of illuminating a person's future and inspiring desires for a fulfilled life,” as Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz said in an article republished in this issue of Romana.

During the month of October, the Church had as its principal prayer intention the present and future of young people. As Pope Francis said when closing this assembly: “May the Lord bless our steps, so that we can listen to young people, be their neighbors, and bear witness before them to Jesus, the joy of our lives.” (Homily, Holy Mass for the Closing of the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, October 28, 2018).