Pope Opens Major Meeting of Bishops
Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated his first major Vatican event since being elected in April, welcoming more than 250 bishops to the Holy See for a meeting to discuss some of the pressing issues facing the Roman Catholic Church.
Benedict celebrated a two-hour Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica to open the three-week synod, during which bishops will make recommendations on such topics as whether Communion should be given to Catholic politicians who back abortion rights or to divorced Catholics who remarry without an annulment.
Among the issues the synod may also consider are the shortage of priests and declining attendance at Mass.
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