The second full week of the Synod on Synodality has concluded with the appointment of members to the commission to guide the process for the final synthesis document.  

American Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, recently appointed as a member of the Information Commission, emphasized the importance of avoiding “top-down” themes.   

October 12 was dedicated to discussions on wars. The participants prayed for peace in the Holy Land and also discussed the situation of Christians in Iraq. The main themes addressed included peace, poverty, and migration. The presence of Cardinal Marc Aveline in the commission for the synthesis report indicates a possible focus on the Mediterranean.    

Cardinal Hollerich, the Relator General, concluded the first session with a call for all to be part of the Church, bearing witness to God’s love for the world. He emphasized the importance of starting from concrete, personal, and collective experiences of the people of God, who have spoken through the listening phase of the Synod.   

(Adapted by Jacob Stein)