Three cardinals among five Indians at Vatican Synod

Five priests from India, including three Cardinals, are participating in the two-week long extraordinary Synod in Vatican on family life that began on Sunday. While the majority of around 200 delegates participating in the Synod are bishops or priests, the historical meet to deliberate issues like use of contraceptives, divorce and family life, is attended by some 12 married couples, a rarity for the Catholic Church.

Mumbai Archbishop Rev Dr Oswald Cardinal Gracias of the Latin Catholic Church, Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Catholic Church Mar George Cardinal Alencherry and Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis Catholicos are attending the Synod as heads of three Catholic rites in India.

Apart from them, Fr Arulraj Gali, national director of Holy Cross Family Ministry in India and Fr Cajetan Menezes, director, Family Apostolate, Mumbai Archdiocese are also participating in the Synod from India which dwells on €˜Pastoral Challenges for the Family in the Context of Evangelization.

Church sources said that only heads of churches and Bishops conferences have been invited for the Synod as regular participants. The priests are attending the Synod to assist in various capacities. The deliberations and findings of the Synod will be put before a General Assembly to be convened by the Vatican in October 2015. The ongoing Synod will conclude on October 19.