Source: BBC
Pope Francis and more than 200 senior bishops are meeting at the Vatican to discuss some of the most controversial issues affecting the Catholic Church.
They will be joined by lay Catholics to debate abortion, contraception, homosexuality and divorce.
The extraordinary synod lasts two weeks and a follow-up meeting will be held next year.
Pope Francis said on Saturday that he wanted bishops to really listen to the Catholic community.
He said he hoped they would have a “sincere, open and fraternal” discussion that would respond to the “epochal changes” that families were living through.
Last year, a global survey launched by Pope Francis suggested that the majority of Catholics reject Church teaching on issues such as sex and contraception.
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Categories: Catholic Church, Catholicism, Europe, Europe and Australia, Family Corner, Family values