The Vatican has released the framework for a fall meeting with the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches and presidents of bishops’ conferences, marking the 10th anniversary of Amoris Laetitia and focusing on the Church’s pastoral approach to families.
The Oct. 7-14 gathering is intended “to proceed, in mutual listening, to a synodal discernment on the steps to be taken in order to proclaim the Gospel to families today,” not only in light of Amoris Laetitia but also “taking into account what is currently being done in the local Churches.”
The Vatican described the initiative as part of an ongoing process of “pastoral conversion,” emphasizing renewed evangelization rooted in lived experience.
Participants are expected to reflect on how families themselves contribute to the Church’s mission, not only as recipients of pastoral care but as active agents of evangelization. The meeting will include listening sessions, the sharing of concrete pastoral experiences, and dialogue with experts. Its goal is to discern “the direction in which the Holy Spirit is leading us today,” while recognizing and supporting what is already being lived out in families and local Church communities. The themes are divided into five daily sessions by the organizers of the family summit. The first topic discussed will be “Families today: reality, beauty and challenges” – aimed at “discerning the signs of the times through the experience of families and the Church’s pastoral commitment today.” The second day will be focused on the young people “and the discovery of the vocation to marriage” and is aimed at “listening to young people and accompanying them in discovering the value of marriage.” Listening to and accompanying couples “in the early years of married life and at every stage of life” is a third-day topic of the discussion – titled “Married life. The first years of marriage: a decisive time.” “Walking with families in complex situations” is the fourth stage of discussion, titled “In the difficulties of life: accompanying and supporting.” The last day of the discussions will be focused on “Christian families as subjects of the Church’s mission” and will discuss the theme of “Embracing conjugal and family love as an impetus for mission.”
