Vatican begins landmark synod to discuss family life

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, with another meeting next year. No immediate changes are expected.

Opening the gathering, the Pope asked bishops not to impose what he called intolerable moral burdens on believers.

"Synod gatherings are not meant to discuss beautiful and clever ideas, or to see who is more intelligent," Pope Francis said. Rather, it's an opportunity to "work generously with authentic freedom and humble creativity," he said.

Previous synods typically had set agendas with proceedings tightly controlled by the powerful cardinals of the Roman Curia, the central government of the Church, correspondents say.

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.

On Saturday, the Pontiff said he hoped Bishops would respond to the "epochal changes" that families were living through.

As one of the world's oldest religious institutions, the Catholic Church is in no hurry to change its teachings, says the BBC's religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt in Rome.

No-one should expect rapid results from this Synod, but many Catholics are hoping that it will bring some change, our correspondent adds.

After these two weeks of debate, the Synod will gather again in a year's time to continue its review.

The Catholic Church has more than one billion members around the world.


Credit: The BBC