During the
Extraordinary Consistory last February, after I greeted the Pope Francis before
the start of the first session, he turned
to me and said: “I have an idea: to come to Cuba”. I shared with him my enthusiasm at the
idea and suggested he add it on to his
visit to Latin America in July. The Holy Father looked a bit perplexed, as Cuba
was out of the way and the extended
journey would already span three countries. But he said: “We shall see”. In the afternoon
session of the second day, Pope Francis motioned for me to come up to his table
and he said, smiling: “I have decided to come to Cuba and I’ve already told Msgr
Angelo Becciu. A visit to Cuba will be
added onto my journey to the United States in September”. I answered him: “Your
Holiness, I am returning to Cuba with tremendous joy!”, and I thanked him. I then heard him say something that touched
me even more deeply: “It’s the least I can do for you all”. I have the good fortune
of being the only Archbishop to receive three Popes in the same See. During
that final afternoon of the Consistory,
many recollections of these three popes flew through my mind in such
rapid succession that I was barely able to follow the speeches of my brother
Cardinals. I recalled with deeply
filial affection St John Paul II’s visit to Cuba — this pope had risen on the
horizon of my vocational discernment like a bright beacon, he had led me to become, first, a
young Bishop of Pinar del Río (1978) and, three years later, to be the Archbishop of Havana (1981). Then, at the Consistory of 1994, it was he
who created me cardinal. What closeness and fatherly affection I always sensed,
what steadfast support at every moment, even when, at the end of his precious
life, all his strength seemed to have left him! For economic and social
reasons, at the start of the 90s, Pope John Paul ii was unable to accept the
Cuban Bishops’ invitation to visit our country, an invitation he very much
wanted to accept due to his interest in the situation of our Church, which had
lived through situations similar to his own Poland. Several years passed
before our invitation was accepted by the Pope. In 1998, nearing the close of
the millennium, weakened in the few years that had passed since we invited him,
Pope John Paul II was finally able to embark on his emotional visit to Cuba. It
would remain a ray of sunshine for the Church in our country and a milestone in
her history and in that of the Cuban people as a whole. In his opening address
to Cuba and the world, he made reference to our country’s isolation from the
American continent and from the world,
calling for this isolation to be
broken — “May Cuba, with all its magnificent potential, open itself up to the
world, and may the world open itself up to Cuba”. This call resounded around
the world; it can still be heard today and it grows stronger with every event
that seems to confirm the hope and prayer of that Holy Shepherd. An example was
last 17 December, when the presidents of Cuba and the United States announced
simultaneously the reinstatement of diplomatic relations between the two
countries with the opening of embassies in their respective capitals. And so began a new phase in diplomacy between
two nations that have been separated for more than 50 years. During that
historic announcement the two presidents thanked Pope Francis for his part in
the process that led to this reconciliation and paved the way for coexistence
and dialogue. Behind this agreement stands Pope Francis’ discrete but effective
and clear conviction: that the creation
and fostering of dialogue is
indispensable in the resolution of
tension and conflict. It’s not the first time he has stood by that conviction
in his pontificate, but perhaps the continuously tense situation between Cuba and the US made it all
the more important for the Holy Father’s silent intervention. The path of dialogue
between religions, of the Church’s dialogue with other Christian confessions
and with Judaism, was significantly strengthened by Pope John XXIII and
his convocation of the Second Vatican
Council, which brought the Church, in a renewed way, into the concrete history
of humanity in the 20th century. This call to dialogue was accepted by Pope
Paul vi, who admirably promoted it throughout his pontificate. The best
expression of that is contained in a few decisive words from Pope Montini:
“Dialogue is the new name of love”. With these words the Pope illustrated how
human beings must relate and the style that must prevail in the Church, among
nations, among different groups in society and between Christians and the the
world. The Pontificate of St
John Paul ii was enveloped in this journey of dialogue. He lived through a difficult dialogue as bishop
in his native Poland, but he nevertheless promoted it, even when it seemed
barren and impossible. His direction and his teachings were faithful to that
fundamental spirit of Vatican II, in which he himself had participated. Seeing these things
close up, I found in Pope Benedict xvi a
clear continuity with the Church’s line of interaction with the modern world,
in her structures, in her political-social function and in the realm of ideas
and conceptions that underlie current thought. In the latter context, Pope
Benedict expressed himself magisterially: in his brilliant contribution to the
style in which the Church dialogues, in his literary and personal contact with
modernity and in the formulation of his thought
regarding dialogue in interreligious, social and political spheres. All
these constitute an inestimable treasure
in the understanding of the fundamental role of dialogue in the life of
the Church and of all Christians. In June 2012, the current Pope emeritus
visited Cuba as a pilgrim during our jubilee
— we were celebrating the 400th anniversary of the rediscovery of the
statue of Our Lady of Charity, Patroness of Cuba, which had been lost at sea. In an unforgettable conversation, the Pope
expressed his happiness about the trip, for which we, the Cuban bishops, were
so grateful. He warmly recalled the official welcome he had received, and the
friendly gestures towards him. It was in that context that he spoke of dialogue
as the rightful path of the Church. On various occasions I have cited these
words from Pope Benedict, who struck me by the conviction with which he spoke
them. He said: “Dialogue is the only path for the Church…. The Church is not
in the world to change governments, but to penetrate the hearts of men and
women with the Gospel”. Pope Benedict XVI said this to me just before stepping down
from the See of Peter. When, some months later, we Cardinals
gathered together for the
conclave that would quickly elect Cardinal Bergoglio as Supreme Pontiff, I had
the opportunity to speak with the future Pope about Latin America and Cuba. At
a certain moment in the conversation, while
alluding to dialogue and its importance in the current climate of grand
transformation in Latin America, I remembered
my last conversation with Pope Benedict. He had said to me that dialogue was the only path for the
Church in her relationship with political structures. Applying his words to the context at hand, I repeated them to the future Pope Francis,
who raising his arms up in the air,
exclaimed: “This should be written on a plaque and placed at the entrance of
every city in the world”, and he repeated it, word for word: “The Church is not
in the world to change governments, but
to penetrate the hearts of men and women with the Gospel”. He then added:
“Every social and political climate should be accompanied in a climate of
dialogue”. Shortly after Cardinal
Bergoglio was elected to the Chair of Peter, we were filled with joy over
having a Latin American Pope. He was someone close to us, who had handed to
the Episcopate of Latin America in
Aparecida, Brazil, the conviction that the Church is Christ’s mission for our
people, that we all, bishops, priests, and lay people, should be conscious of
our being missionaries. Seeing that the new Pope would surely communicate that evangelical
zeal, I could not but ponder what Pope Benedict had said about the Church’s
mission: “The Church is in the world to penetrate the hearts of men and women
with the Gospel”. This is what the new Pope had repeated to me with such
profound conviction, and which fervently inspires his pontificate. This is Pope Francis,
who will soon be with us in Cuba: a
missionary pope who comes to our little country, as he did to Sarajevo, Sri
Lanka or Albania; who comes to a country which has overcome isolation and
distance, thanks also to the dialogue that the Church and the Popes of 20th
century fostered. And it was Pope Francis who spurred and supported dialogue
between the people and the governments of Cuba and the US. He comes among us to reaffirm the missionary
condition of the Church and her preference for the little ones, the poor. He
comes as a missionary of mercy. No other
motto could better describe him in this world of ours laden with hardship,
loneliness, every form of poverty, faded hopes and void of God, where love is
seen as a game in which sad losers and
false victors play for themselves and never manage to find true Love. And this has thrown the family, whose role is
irreplaceable in the formation of new generations, into crisis, which is why it
is at the centre of the Holy Father’s pastoral concern. There is an essential link between the family
and the restlessness and longing of the young people, whom Pope Francis will meet
in Havana on Sunday evening. That meeting will, thus, be a very special moment
during his visit to our country. The God who is Love
will be presented in Cuba by Pope
Francis — to young people, to families, to priests, to sisters and to everyone:
the merciful God who understands and forgives. In the “José Martí” Plaza de la Revolución,
before the altar where Pope Francis will preside at the Eucharistic
Celebration, there will be a giant display of the Merciful Christ spanning ten
floors of the National Library. At this moment, our Cuban people, like all
people of the earth, need to
experience mercy, not pity or mere
condescension, but understanding of the human heart in all its restlessness and
limitations. We will feel the encouragement of one who reaches out to us to
lift our soul with simplicity and humility, just as Pope Francis will know how
to do in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, as he passes through the
streets of Havana, and especially during his meeting with young people. How much can really be done in such a short
period of time, just a glimpse of the
Pope passing by in the distance? Sometimes a glance, a gesture, a smile is all
it takes to know that God comes among us and that, through his Vicar on earth,
Christ is visiting his people. Thus we welcomed St
John Paul ii, Pope Benedict XVI, and thus we wait for Pope Francis. The people
have not always been the same: some have gone to God the Father, many have
emigrated. Emigration has left its mark on every family in Cuba; it is a perennial temptation for our youth. The
emigration of young people and the low
birth rate means that the population of Cuba is rapidly declining and aging,
and this worries us all; but we also have other worries at the moment. Facing the new path
that appears to be opening now before the Cuban people, with all its risks and
its benefits, our people, believers for the most part, must turn their gaze to
God and place their future in the hands of merciful Jesus. The Holy Father will
invite them to do just that. Therein lies our hope. Pope Francis will come to spread hope among
us. It is no more than trusting in the
action of a merciful God who will help us in the future to overcome these risks
and to discover, also with His help, that the benefits can outweigh the risks on this new path opening before us,
if we are capable of making room in our lives for God. This must free our families and our young
people from the paralyzing skepticism,
that is alien to the Christian faith and in which God is never present. The
Pope comes to tell us something new in this new moment of our history. This is surely the presentiment of the people
of Cuba as they wait for Pope Francis. I am certain that those
who welcome him with an attitude of faith, as one who comes in the name of the
Lord, will not be disappointed. It’s true that the people of Cuba want progress
and prosperity to the fair benefit of all, but not only that; on the spiritual
level our people long for stable love and endurance in the family, for peace in the life of the family and the
nation. In short, they long to
enjoy a life of reconciliation and
happiness. This is not a hopeless yearning,
so long as in our hearts we do not forget that God is the giver of every
good thing and that in Him nothing is impossible. Pope Francis comes
precisely for this reason, that we do not forget this, that we do not forget
God, and he will be welcomed by our people with devotion and love. His presence
in Cuba will leave an indelible mark, of this I am certain. by Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, Cardinal Archbishop of Havana…
(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Holy See’s Press office, Father Federico Lombardi, described the upcoming visit by Pope Francis to Cuba and the United States as a long, complex but wonderful journey. His remarks came at a briefing for journalists on the papal visit which runs from the 19th to the 28th of September.
Father Lombardi noted that Pope Francis will be the third Pope to visit Cuba, following those made to the Caribbean island by his two predecessors, Popes Benedict and Saint John Paul II. Pope Francis’ engagements in Cuba include an open-air mass in Havana during which he will give first communion to five children in a move symbolizing hope and growth for the Catholic Church there. Father Lombardi said although it was not included in the papal programme, he could not rule out a possible meeting between the Pope and Cuba’s former long-time leader Fidel Castro. Other highlights of the papal visit to Cuba include a meeting with young people in the capital, a visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre and an encounter with families.
On leaving Cuba on September 22nd, the Pope will fly to Washington D.C. where he will be greeted by President Obama and other civil and religious authorities. The official welcoming ceremony for him will take place the following day at the White House. During his stay in the U.S. capital, Pope Francis will preside over the canonization Mass for the Spaniard, Blessed Junipero Serra, who helped evangelize the United States in the 18th century. The next day, September 24th, sees Pope Francis become the first Pontiff ever to address both houses of the U.S. Congress. Another keenly-awaited event during this visit will take place in New York City on September 25th when the Pope is due to address the United Nations. He is also scheduled to make a visit to Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers.
Pope Francis’ final leg of his U.S. visit takes him to the city of Philadelphia where he will attend the Church’s World Meeting of Families. Father Lombardi said that in all three stops of his visit, the Pope will be paying particular attention to the welfare of the poor, to prisoners and to charitable initiatives. During his trip, Pope Francis will make a total of 26 speeches, 8 in Cuba and 18 in the U.S. of which four will be in English and the rest in the Pope’s native Spanish. He returns to Rome on the morning of Monday September 28th.
(from Vatican Radio)…
Mary lived her womanhood to the full: she loved, she had her worries, she felt the pain of loss, she exercised hope when facing her difficult moments. This was said by Card. Filoni on the last day of his visit to India during mass at the tomb of Bl. Mother Teresa of Kolkata. Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples celebrated Mass on September 15, at the tomb of Bl. Mother Teresa of Kolkata during his official visit to India from 13th to the 19th. Find here below the full text of the homily preached by the Cardinal. Dear Brothers and Sisters, Today we remember the sorrows of our Blessed Virgin Mother Mary, above all the sorrow of seeing her son die on the Cross. Mary’s sorrow was profound. The fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary was human, although we know that according to Catholic doctrine she was preserved from the original sin, does not mean that she was without feelings. On the contrary, Mary lived her womanhood to the full: she loved, she had her worries, she felt the pain of loss, she exercised hope when facing her difficult moments. In a word, she lived every moment of her life intensely. Today we celebrate this liturgical memorial one day after having celebrated the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross, the instrument upon which Mary’s son Jesus was crucified, a scene that she personally witnessed in sorrow and in prayer. Mary’s sorrow was lived with the same faith by which she accepted her divine maternity. It is the same spirit of faith that is ours as we experience the sorrow and tragic intensity of the crucifixion. Mary’s sorrow was connected to the sufferings of Christ. Moreover, at the foot the Cross, as her Son was gasping for his last breath, Mary once again became the mother of a newborn infant, the Church. In this sense Mary’s sorrow, as labor pains, was not without hope. In the Resurrection of Christ she came to understand what Christian hope truly is: a theological virtue that holds the other two virtues of faith and charity together. Her hope, therefore, did not keep her from feeling pain, nor did the pain keep her from expecting the Resurrection of Jesus. The Blessed Virgin Mary is our mother and like every good mother, she teaches us, she is an example for us, and she walks with us throughout our life. Today we gather together at the tomb of another “mother,” who, when confronted with pain and sorrow, sought to do something about it. Blessed Mother Teresa restored dignity to the suffering, the abandoned, indeed, to the “poorest of the poor”. She offered self-giving love to myriads of people. More than that, she offered “love until it hurts”. She alleviated the pain that human beings can inflict upon one another through injustice. She offered rays of hope to those, who through her kindness were given shelter and food. She led by example; she evangelized through her “simple love” put into deeds and actions. Her maternal example towards the underprivileged managed to captivate a great number of young people who were inspired to follow her. There is no doubt that she inspired many to imitate her in answering God’s call. Perhaps this was the most captivating aspect of her human and Christian endeavor. This extraordinary fascination continues to captivate a great multitude of people in India, of all creeds and religions, as well as millions of others throughout the world, including all of the members of the Religious family she founded, the Missionaries of Charity. May she continue to be an inspiration and model of love for God and for the poor; a beacon of light and hope; a friend and intercessor to all; and, as she always was, a caring Mother. Through her intercession may God bless your Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity with more vocations! Finally, I urge and encourage you my dear brothers and sisters to continue the precious work that Blessed Mother Teresa initiated for the good of the Church and the world. (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) A “Holy Door of Charity” will be opened by Pope Francis on 18 December during the Jubilee of Mercy at the Diocese of Rome’s Caritas Hostel on Via Marsala.
The Cardinal Vicar of Rome, Agostino Vallini, made the announcement on Monday evening during the closing session of the Diocesan Ecclesial Congress taking place at the Lateran Basilica.
The hostel, located near Rome’s Termini Railway Station, is named after the founder of Caritas Rome, Monsignor Luigi Liegro, and is currently being renovated to house 180 homeless people.
Pope Francis will also visit the hostel’s canteen, which is named after St. John Paul II.
The Jubilee Year of Mercy will be opened by Pope Francis on 8 December when the Holy Father opens the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Traditionally during a Jubilee Year, the Holy Doors are open at the four Papal Basilicas in Rome: St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran.
In addition to the Holy Door of Charity at the Caritas Hostel, Cardinal Vallini said another Holy Door will be opened at the Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore (“Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love”) located on Via Ardeatina.
The Sanctuary is held in high esteem by the people of Rome, and Pope St. John Paul II added it to the traditional Seven Churches Pilgrimage during the Year 2000 Jubilee.
(from Vatican Radio)…
Vatican City, 15 September 2015 (VIS) – The following is a full and definitive list of the participants in the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, to be held from 4 to 25 October 2015, on the theme, “The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the contemporary world”.
A. LIST OF SYNOD FATHERS ACCORDING TO ROLE
I. PRESIDENT
Francis, Supreme Pontiff
II. SECRETARY GENERAL
Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri
III. DELEGATE PRESIDENTS
Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris, France
Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, archbishop of Manila, Philippines
Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis, archbishop of Aparecida, Brazil
Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M., archbishop of Durban, South Africa
IV. RAPPORTEUR GENERAL
Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, president of the Episcopal Conference, Hungary, president of the Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum Europae (C.C.E.E.)
V. SPECIAL SECRETARY
Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto, Italy
VI. COMMISSION FOR INFORMATION
PRESIDENT
Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Vatican City
SECRETARY
Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, Vatican City
VII. FROM THE ORIENTAL CATHOLIC CHURCHES
Synod of the Coptic Catholic Church
ex officio
His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, head of the Synod of the Coptic Catholic Church.
Synod of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church
ex officio
His Beatitude Gregoire III Laham, B.S., Patriarch of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites, head of the Synod of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church.
ex electione
Archbishop Georges Bacouni of Akka, St. John of Acri, Ptolemaida of the Greek-Melkites.
Synod of the Syriac Catholic Church
ex officio
His Beatitude Ignace Youssif III Younan, Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, head of the Synod of the Syriac Catholic Church
Synod of the Maronite Church
ex officio
His Beatitude Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, O.M.M., Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, head of the Synod of the Maronite Church.
ex electione
Bishop Antoine Nabil Andari, auxiliary and syncellus of Joubbe, Sarba and Jounieh of the Maronites, president of the Episcopal Commission for the Family and Life.
Bishop Antoine Tarabay, O.L.M., of Saint Maron of Sydney of the Maronites.
Synod of the Chaldean Church
ex officio
His Beatitude Louis Raphael I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, head of the Synod of the Chaldean Church.
Synod of the Armenian Catholic Church
ex officio
His Beatitude Gregoire Pierre XX Ghabroyan, Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians, head of the Synod of the Armenian Catholic Church.
Synod of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church
ex officio
His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, major archbishop of Kyiv-Halyc, head of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church.
ex electione
Bishop Hlib Borys Sviatoslav Lonchyna of Holy Family of London of the Byzantine Ukrainians.
Bishop Borys Gudziak of Saint Vladimir-Le-Grand of Paris of the Byzantine Ukrainians.
Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church
ex officio
His Beatitude Cardinal George Alencherry, major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars, president of the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church.
ex electione
Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Palai of the Syro-Malabars.
Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur of the Syro-Malabars.
Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church
ex officio
His Beatitude Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, major archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankarites, head of the Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church.
Synod of the Romanian Church
ex designatione
Bishop Mihai Catalin Fratile of St. Basil the Great of Bucarest of the Romanians.
Council of the Ethiopian Church
ex officio
Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, C.M., president of the Episcopal Conference, metropolitan archbishop of Addis Abeba, president of the Council of the Ethiopian Church.
Council of the Church Ruthenian, U.S.A.
ex officio
Archbishop William Charles Skurla, metropolitan of Pittsburg of the Byzantines, president of the council of the Ruthenian Church.
Council of the Slovak Church
ex officio
Archbishop Jan Babjak, S.J., metropolitan of Presov for Catholics of Byzantine rite, president of the Council of the Slovak Church.
Council of the Eritrean Church
ex officio
Archbishop Menghesteab Tesfamarian, M.C.C.J., metropolitan of Asmara, president of the council of the Eritrean Church.
Council of the Hungarian Church
ex officio
Archbishop Fulop Kocsis, metropolitan of Hajdudorog for Catholics of Byzantine rite, president of the Council of the Hungarian Church.
VIII. ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES
AFRICA
NORTHERN AFRICA (C.E.R.N.A.)
Bishop Jean-Paul Vesco, O.P., of Oran, Algeria
ANGOLA and SAO TOME
Bishop Emilio Sumbelelo of Uije, Angola
BENIN
Bishop Eugene Cyrille Houndekon of Abomey, vice president of the Episcopal Conference
BOTSWANA, SOUTH AFRICA and SWAZILAND
Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town, Kaapstad, president of the Episcopal Conference, South Africa
Bishop Zolile Peter Mpambani, S.C.I., of Kokstad, South Africa
BURKINA FASO and NIGER
Bishop Joseph Sama of Nouna, Burkina Faso
BURUNDI
Bishop Gervais Banshimiyubasa of Ngozi, president of the Episcopal Conference
CAMEROON
Archbishop Joseph Atanga, S.J., of Bertoua
Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala, president of the Episcopal Conference
CHAD
Bishop Henri Coudray, S.J., apostolic vicar of Mongo
CONGO (Republic)
Bishop Urbain Ngassongo of Gamboma, president of the Episcopal Commission for Family Pastoral Ministry
CONGO (Democratic Republic)
Bishop Nicolas Djomo Lola of Tshumbe
Bishop Philibert Tembo Nlandu, C.I.C.M., of Budjala
COTE D’IVOIRE
Bishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo of Katiola, president of the Commission Episcopale Nationale de l’Apostolat des Laïcs
ETHIOPIA and ERITREA
Bishop Tsegaye Keneni Derara, apostolic vicar of Soddo, Ethiopia
GABON
Bishop Mathieu Madega Lebouakehan of Mouila, president of the Episcopal Conference
GAMBIA and SIERRA LEONE
Bishop Charles Allieu Matthew Campbell of Bo, Sierra Leone
GHANA
Archbishop Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle of Accra
GUINEA
Bishop Raphael Balla Guilavogui of N’Zerekore
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Bishop Juan Matogo Oyana, C.M.F., of Bata
KENYA
Cardinal John NJUE, archbishop of Nairobi
Bishop James Maria Wainaina Kungu of Muranga
LESOTHO
Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, O.M.I., of Maseru, president of the Episcopal Conference
LIBERIA
Bishop Anthony Fallah Borwah of Gbarnga
MADAGASCAR
Bishop Desire Tsarahazana of Toamasina, president of the Episcopal Conference
MALAWI
Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa, S.M.M., of Blantyre, president of the Episcopal Conference
MALI
Bishop Jonas Dembele of Kayes
MOZAMBIQUE
Archbishop Francisco Chimoio, O.F.M. Cap., of Maputo, president of the Episcopal Commission for the Family
NAMIBIA
Bishop Philipp Pollitzer, O.M.I., of Keetmanshoop
NIGERIA
Archbishop Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso of Kaduna
Bishop Camillus Raymond Umoh of Ikot Ekpene
Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade of Ondo
INDIAN OCEAN (C.E.D.O.I.)
Bishop Maurice Piat, C.S.Sp., of Port-Louis, Mauritius, president of the Episcopal Conference
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Bishop Cyr-Nestor Yapaupa of Alindao
RWANDA
Bishop Antoine Kambanda of Kibungo
SENEGAL, MAURITANIA, CABO VERDE and GUINEA-BISSAU
Archbishop Benjamin Ndiaye of Dakar, Senegal, president of the Episcopal Conference
SUDAN
Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro, M.C.C.J., of Juba
TANZANIA
Bishop Tarcisius J. M. Ngalalekumtwa of Iringa, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Renatus Leonard Nkwande of Bunda
TOGO
Bishop Jacques Danka Longa of Kara
UGANDA
Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana, vice president of the Episcopal Conference
ZAMBIA
Bishop Benjamin Phiri, auxiliary of Chipata
ZIMBABWE
Bishop Xavier Johnsai Munyongani of Gweru
AMERICA
ANTILLES
Bishop Francis Alleyne, O.S.B., of Georgetown
ARGENTINA
Bishop Pedro Maria Laxague, auxiliary of Bahia Blanca, president of the Comisión Episcopal de Laicos y Familia
Archbishop Jose Maria Arancedo of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz, president of the Episcopal Conference
Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli, archbishop of Buenos Aires
BOLIVIA
Bishop Braulio SAEZ GARCIA, O.C.D., auxiliary of Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Bishop Krzysztof Janusz BIALASIK WAWROWSKA, S.V.D., of Oruro
BRAZIL
Archbishop Sergio Da Rocha of Brasilia, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Joao Carlos Petrini of Camacari
Archbishop Geraldo Lyrio Rocha of Mariana
Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer of Sao Paulo
CANADA
Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher of Gatineau, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Noel Simard of Valleyfield
Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins, archbishop of Toronto
Archbishop Richard William Smith of Edmonton
CHILE
Bishop Bernardo Miguel Bastres Florence, S.D.B., of Punta Arenas
Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B., archbishop of Santiago de Chile, president of the Episcopal Conference
COLOMBIA
Bishop Pablo Emiro Salas Anteliz of Armenia
Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, archbishop of Bogota, president of the Latin American Episcopal Council (C.E.L.AM.)
Archbishop Oscar Urbina Ortega of Villavicencio
COSTA RICA
Bishop Jose Francisco Ulloa Rojas of Cartago, president of the Comisión Episcopal para la Pastoral Familiar
CUBA
Bishop Marcelo Arturo Gonzalez Amador of Santa Clara
ECUADOR
Archbishop Antonio Arregui Yarza of Guayaquil
Archbishop Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, O.F.M., of Cuenca
EL SALVADOR
Bishop Constantino Barrera Morales of Sonsonate
GUATEMALA
Bishop Rodolfo Valenzuela Nunez of Vera Paz, Coban, president of the Episcopal Conference
HAITI
Bishop Yves-Marie Pean, C.S.C., of Les Gonaives
HONDURAS
Bishop Luis Sole Fa, C.M., of Trujillo
MEXICO
Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar Martinez of Tehuacan
Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop of Mexico
Bishop Alfonso Gerardo Miranda Guardiola, auxiliary of Monterrey
Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega, archbishop of Guadalajara, president of the Episcopal Conference
NICARAGUA
Bishop Cesar Bosco Vivas Robelo of Leon en Nicaragua
PANAMA
Bishop Anibal Saldana Santamaria, O.A.R., prelate of Bocas del Toro
PARAGUAY
Bishop Miguel Angel Cabello Almada of Concepcion en Paraguay
PERU
Archbishop Salvador Pineiro Garcia-Calderon of Ayacucho o Huamanga, president of the Episcopal Conference
Archbishop Hector Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, O.F.M., of Trujillo
PUERTO RICO
Archbishop Roberto Octavio Gonzalez Nieves, O.F.M., of San Juan de Puerto Rico, president of the Episcopal Conference
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Bishop Gregorio Nicanor Pena Rodriguez of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey, president of the Episcopal Conference
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Archbishop Joseph Edward Kurtz of Louisville, president of the Episcopal Conference
Archbishop Charles Joseph Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., of Philadelphia
Cardinal Daniel N. Di Nardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Vice president of the Episcopal Conference
Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez of Los Angeles
URUGUAY
Bishop Jaime Rafael Fuentes Martin of Minas
VENEZUELA
Cardinal Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino, archbishop of Caracas, Santiago de Venezuela
Archbishop Diego Rafael Padron Sanchez of Cumana, president of the Episcopal Conference
ASIA
BANGLADESH
Bishop Paul Ponen Kubi, C.S.C., of Mymensingh, president of Episcopal Family Life Commission
CHINA
Bishop John Baptist Lee Keh-Mien of Hsinchu
KOREA
Bishop Peter Kang U-Il of Cheju
PHILIPPINES
Archbishop Romulo G. Valles of Davao
Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Cebu
Bishop Gilbert A. Garcera of Daet
JAPAN
Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami, P.S.S., of Nagasaki, vice president of the Episcopal Conference
INDIA (C.C.B.I.)
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, president of Episcopal Conference
Archbishop Filipe Neri Antonio Sebastiao Do Rosario Ferrao, archbishop of Goa and Damao
Bishop Selvister Ponnumuthan of Punalur
Archbishop Dominic Jala, S.D.B., of Shillong
INDONESIA
Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardojoatmodjo of Jakarta, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Fransiskus Kopong Kung of Larantuka
IRAN
Archbishop Ramzi Garmou of Teheran of the Chaldeans, patriarchal administrator of Ahwaz of the Chaldeans, president of the Episcopal Conference
KAZAKHSTAN
Archbishop Tomasz Bernard Peta of Maria Santissima in Astana, president of the Episcopal Conference
LAOS and CAMBODIA
Bishop Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, apostolic vicar of Pakse, Laos
MALAYSIA – SINGAPORE – BRUNEI
Archbishop John Wong Soo Kau of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
MYANMAR
Cardinal Charles Maung BO, S.D.B., archbishop of Yangon
ARAB REGIONS
His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Patriarch of JerUnited States of Americalem of the Latins, JerUnited States of Americalem, president of the Episcopal Conference
PAKISTAN
Bishop Joseph Arshad of Faisalabad, vice president of the Episcopal Conference
SRI LANKA
Bishop Harold Anthony Perera of Kurunegala
THAILAND
Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri of Chanthaburi
EAST TIMOR
Bishop Basílio Do Nascimento of Baucau, president of the Episcopal Conference
VIETNAM
Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc of Thanh-Pho Ho Chi Minh, Hochiminh Ville, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao, coadjutor of Xuan Loc
EUROPE
ALBANIA
Bishop George Frendo, O.P., auxiliary of Tirane-Durres
AUSTRIA
Bishop Benno Elbs of Feldkirch
BELGIUM
Bishop Johan Jozef Bonny of Antwerpen, Anvers
BELORUS
Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Minsk-Mohilev, president of the Episcopal Conference
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
Bishop Tomo Vuksic, military ordinary of Bosnia and Herzegovina
BULGARIA
Bishop Gheorghi Ivanov Jovcev of Sofia and Plovdiv
INTERNATIONAL EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE OF STS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS
Bishop Ladislav Nemet, S.V.D., of Zrenjanin, Serbia
CROATIA
Bishop Antun Skvorcevic of Pozega
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Archbishop Paolo Pezzi, F.S.C.B., of Mother of God at Moscow, president of the Episcopal Conference
FRANCE
Archbishop Georges Pontier of Marseille, president of the Episcopal Conference
Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris
Bishop Jean-Luc Brunin of Le Havre
Bishop Jean-Paul James of Nantes
GERMANY
Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munchen und Freising
Archbishop Heiner Koch of Berlin
Bishop Franz-Josepf Hermann Bode of Osnabruck
GREAT BRITAIN
ENGLAND AND WALES
Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols, archbishop of Westminster, England, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Peter John Haworth Doyle of Northampton, England
SCOTLAND
Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, president of the Episcopal Conference
GREECE
Bishop Fragkiskos Papamanolis, O.F.M. Cap., emeritus of Syros, president of the Episcopal Conference
IRELAND
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin
Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, president of the Episcopal Conference
ITALY
Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa, president of the Episcopal Conference
Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan
Bishop Franco Giulio Brambilla of Novara
Bishop Enrico Solmi of Parma
LATVIA
Archbishop Zbigņevs Stankevics of Riga
LITHUANIA
Cardinal Audrys Juozas Backis, archbishop emeritus of Vilnius
MALTA
Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo, president of the Episcopal Conference
NETHERLANDS
Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht
POLAND
Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan, president of the Episcopal Conference
Archbishop-Bishop Henryk Hoser, S.A.C., of Warszawa-Praga
Bishop Jan Franciszek Watroba of Rzeszow
PORTUGAL
Cardinal Manuel Jose Macario Do Nascimento Clemente, patriarch of Lisbon, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Antonino Eugenio Fernandes Dias of Portalegre-Castelo Branco, president of the Comissão Episcopal do Laicado e Família
CZECH REPUBLICA
Bishop Jan Vokal of Hradec Kralove
ROMANIA
Bishop Petru Gherghel of Iasi
SCANDINAVIA
Bishop Teemu Sippo, S.C.I., of Helsinki
SLOVAKIA
Archbishop Stanislav Zvolensky of Bratislava, president of the Episcopal Conference
SLOVENIA
Archbishop Stane Zore, O.F.M., of Ljubljana
SPAIN
Cardinal Ricardo Blazquez Perez, archbishop of Valladolid, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Mario Iceta Gavicagogeascoa of Bilbao
Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra of Madrid
SWITZERLAND
Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey, C.R.B., of Sion, Sitten
TURKEY
Archbishop Levon Boghos Zekiyan of Istanbul of the Armenians
UKRAINE
Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki of Lviv of the Latins, president of the Episcopal Conference
HUNGARY
Bishop Andras Veres of Szombathely
OCEANIA
AUSTRALIA
Bishop Daniel Eugene Hurley of Darwin
Archbishop Mark Benedict Coleridge of Brisbane
NEW ZEALAND
Bishop Charles Edward Drennan of Palmerston North
PACIFIC (CEPAC)
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong of Suva
PAPUA NEW GUINEA and SOLOMON ISLANDS
Bishop Anton Bal of Kundiawa, representative of the Commission for Family Life
IX. ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNION OF SUPERIORS GENERAL
Fr. Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, S.J., prepositor general of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
Fr. Marco Tasca, O.F.M. Conv., minister general of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual
Fr. Mario Aldegani, C.S.I., superior general of the Congregation of St. Joseph (Josephites of Murialdo)
Fr. Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M.Afr., superior general of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers)
Fr. Bruno Cadore, O.P., master general of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans)
Fr. Jesus Diaz Alonso, S.F., superior general of the Sons of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Fr. Michael Brehl, C.SS.R., superior general of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists or Liguorini)
Fr. Javier Álvarez-Ossorio, SS.CC., superior general of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Picpus)
Fr. Ab. D. Jeremias Schroder, O.S.B., arch-abbot president of the Benedictine Congregation of St. Odile
B. Herve JANSON, P.F.J., prior general of the Little Brothers of Jesus (Foucauld)
X. HEADS OF THE DICASTERIES OF THE ROMAN CURIA
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of State
Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples
Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy
Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life
Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education
Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, major penitentiary
Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura
Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity
Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Archbishop-Bishop Vincenzo Paglia emeritus of Terni-Narni-Amelia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family
Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council “Justice and Peace”
Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples
Archbishop-Bishop Zygmunt Zimowski, emeritus of Radom, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (for Health Pastoral Care)
Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture
Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications
Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation
Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy
Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See
XI. PONTIFICAL APPOINTMENTS
Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, Vatican City
Cardinal Godfried Danneels, archbishop emeritus of Mechelen-Brussel, Maniles-Bruxelles, Belgium
Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop emeritus of Milan, Italy
Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, O.P., archbishop of Vienna, president of the Episcopal Conference, Austria
Cardinal Walter Kasper, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Vatican City
Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M., archbishop of Durban, South Africa
Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, S.D.B., archbishop of Tegucigalpa, president of the Episcopal Conference, Honduras
Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, president of the Episcopal Conference, president of the Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum Europae (C.C.E.E.), Hungary.
Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, archbishop of Bologna, Italy
Cardinal Lluis Martinez Sistach, archbishop of Barcelona, Spain
Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, United States of America
Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis, archbishop of Aparecida, Brazil
Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, archbishop of New York, United States of America
Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, archbishop of Manila, Philippines
Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix, archbishop of Quebec, Canada
Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, archbishop of Perugia-Citta della Pieve, Italy
Cardinal Philippe Nakellentuba Ouedraogo, archbishop of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Cardinal John Atcherley Dew, archbishop of Wellington, president of the Episcopal Conference, New Zealand
Cardinal Edoardo Menichelli, archbishop of Ancona-Osimo, Italy
Cardinal Alberto Suarez Inda, archbishop of Morelia, Mexico
Cardinal Francesco Montenegro, archbishop of Agrigento, Italy
Cardinal Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, S.D.B., archbishop of Montevideo, Uruguay
Cardinal Jose Luis Lacunza Maestrojuan, O.A.R., bishop of David, president of the Episcopal Conference, Panama
Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, bishop of Tonga, president of the Episcopal Conference, Tonga
Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, president emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Italy
Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Vatican City
Archbishop Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo of Merida, Venezuela
Archbishop Ioannis Spiteris, O.F.M. Cap., of Corfu, Zante and Cephalonia, Greece
Archbishop Bruno Forte, archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, Italy
Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, archbishop of Lille, France
Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes, archbishop of Tlalnepantla, Mexico
Archbishop Sergio Eduardo Castriani, C.S.Sp., of Manaus, Brazil
Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez, rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, Argentina
Archbishop Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, United States of America
Bishop George Vance Murry, S.J., of Youngstown, United States of America
Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, Italy
Bishop Alonso Gerardo Garza Trevino of Piedras Negras, Mexico
Bishop Lucas Van Looy, S.D.B., of Gent (Ghent, Gand), Belgium
Msgr. Pio Vito Pinto, dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, Vatican City
Msgr. Saulo Scarabattoli, pastor of the Santo Spirito in Porta Eburnea parish, Perugia, Italy
Fr. Roberto Rosa, pastor of the St. James the Apostle parish, Trieste, Italy
Fr. Francois-Xavier Dumortier, S.J., Magnificent Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy
Fr. Antonio Spadaro, S.J., editor of the journal “La Civilta Cattolica”,Italy
Fr. Manuel Jesúìus Arroba Conde, C.M.F., Spain, head of the Faculty of utrusque iure of the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome.
XII. UNDER-SECRETARY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
Bishop Fabio Fabene, Vatican City
B. LIST OF OTHER PARTICIPANTS ACCORDING TO TITLE OF PARTICIPATION
I. COLLABORATORS WITH THE SPECIAL SECRETARY
Fr. Matías Auge Benet, C.M.F., Consultor of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Spain
Professor Giacomo Bertolini, associate professor of canon and ecclesiastical law at the University of Padua, Treviso Section; visiting professor at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Italy
Fr. Giuseppe Bonfrate, lecturer at the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy
Msgr. Philippe Bordeyne, rector of the Institut Catholique de Paris, France
Msgr. Lluis Clavell, ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas, Spain
Msgr. Duarte Nuno Queiroz De Barros Da Cunha, secretary general of the Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum Europae (C.C.E.E.), Portugal
Mr. Leopold Djogbede, professor at the University of Abomey-Calavi and at the Higher Institute Specialist Teacher Training, Benin
Fr. Bruno Esposito, O.P., ordinary professor of canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Italy
Dr. John Grabowski, Spain, professor of moral theology at the School of Theology and Religious Studies, Catholic University of America, United States of America
Fr. Jose Granados, D.C.J.M., deputy director of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
Fr. Maurizio Gronchi, ordinary professor of dogmatic at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Italy
Dr. John Kleinsman, director of the Nathaniel Centre for Bioethics, New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, New Zealand
Fr. Sabatino Majorano, C.SS.R., professor of systematic moral theology at the Alphonsianum Academy in Rome, Italy
Msgr. Michele Giulio Masciarelli, lecturer in dogmatic theology at the Marianum Faculty in Rome, and in fundamental theology at the Theological Institute of Abruzzo and Molise in Chieti, Italy
Professor Pia Matthews, lecturer at St. Mary’s University College, London, Great Britain
Professor Paolo Moneta, former lecturer in canon and ecclesiastical law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Pisa, Italy
Fr. Antonio Moser, O.F.M., professor emeritus of moral and ethical theology at the Franciscan Theological Institute of Petropolis, Brazil
Fr. Aimable Musoni, S.D.B., Rwanda, lecturer in systematic theology, ecclesiology and ecumenism at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome
Fr. Georges Henri Ruyssen, S.J., Belgium, lecturer in the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome
Fr. Peter Paul Saldanha, India, lecturer in ecclesiology at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome
Fr. Pierangelo Sequeri, director and lecturer in theology at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy, member of the International Theological Commission, Italy
Mr. and Mrs Miano, Italy:
Professor Giuseppina De Simone in Miano, lecturer in philosophy at the Theological Faculty of Southern Italy in Naples
Professor Francesco Miano, lecturer in moral philosophy at the University of Rome (Tor Vergata).
II. AUDITORS
Mr. Jacob Mundaplakal Abraham, advisor for the Apostolate of the Family and Lay Organisations in the dioceses of Kerala, India
Dr. Anca Maria Cernea, physician at the Victor Babes Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment and president of the Association of Catholic Doctors of Bucharest, Romania
Ms. Sharron Cole, president of the Parents Centres New Zealand, New Zealand
Ms. Agnes Offiong Erogunaye, national president of the Catholic Women’s Organisation of Nigeria, Nigeria
Fr. Garas Boulos Garas Bishay, pastor of the Virgin Mary Queen of Peace parish, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
Professor Giovanni Giacobbe, member of the Union of Italian Catholic Jurists, Italy
Ms. Maria Gomes, head of parish family pastoral ministry in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ms. Maria Harries, national director for family pastoral care and preparation for marriage; member of the National Commission for Abuse of Minors, Australia
S. Maureen Kelleher, religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, member of the International Union of Superiors General (U.I.S.G.), United States of America
Mr. Brenda Kim Nayoug, pastoral worker for young people and young married couples, Korea
Professor Maria Marcela Mazzini, lecturer in theology at the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, Argentina
Ms. Moira McQueen, director of the Canadian Catholic Institute of Bioethics, Canada
Ms. Therese Nyirabukeye, advisor and formator for the African Federation of Family Action (FAAF), Rwanda
S. Berta Maria Porras Fallas, head of Family Pastoral Care of the Tertiary Capuchin Sisters of the Holy Family, Member of the International Union of Superiors General (U.I.S.G.), Costa Rica
S. Carmen Sammut, S.M.N.D.A., president of the International Union of Superiors General (U.I.S.G.), Malta
Professor Lucia Scaraffia, former lecturer in contemporary history at the University of Rome La Sapienza; coordinator of the monthly of the L’Osservatore Romano “Donne Chiesa Mondo”, Italy
Dr. Edgar Humberto Tejada Zeballos, physician and specialist in bioethics; member of the Episcopal Commission for the Family of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, Peru.
Mr. and Mrs. Bajaj, India
Mrs. Penny and Mr. Ishwar Bajaj, Hindu-Christian couple from the diocese of Mumbai, India
Mr. and Mrs. Buch, Germany
Sig.ra Petra Buch, diocesan family pastoral worker
Dr. Aloys Johann Buch, professor of moral theology at the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of St. Lambert; permanent deacon of the diocese of Aachen
Mr. and Mrs. Diaz Victoria, Colombia
Mrs. Isabel Botia de Diaz and Mr. Humberto Diaz Victoria, members of the National Commission for the Family of the Episcopal Conference; pastoral directors of the Hombres y Mujeres de futuro Foundation
.
Mr. and Mrs. Galindo, Mexico
Mrs. Gertrudiz Clara Rubio De Galindo and Mr. Andres Salvador Galindo Lopez, executive secretaries of the Episcopal Commission for the Family of the Episcopal Conference; secretaries of CELAM for the Mexico-Central America zone
Mr. and Mrs. Gay Montalvo, Spain
Mrs. María Monserrat Rosell Torrus De Gay Montalvo, member of the marriage group of the parish of St. Francis de Sales in Barcelona
Mr. Eugenio Gay Montalvo, former Magistrate of the Constitutional Court of Spain; former member of the diocesan Pastoral Council of Barcelona
Mr. and Mrs. Kola, Cameroon
Mrs. Aicha Marianne Kenne Sob Kola and Mr. Irenee KOLA, members of the African Federation of Family Action (FAAF); marriage and family counsellors
Mr. and Mrs. Marqus Odeesho, Iraq
Mrs. Suhaila Salim Toma and Mr. Wisam Marqus Odeesho, pastoral workers in the Chaldean parish of St. George in Baghdad
Mr. and Mrs. Matassoni, Italy
Mrs. Marialucia Zecchini and Mr. Marco Marassoni, members of the Commission for family pastoral care in the archdiocese of Trento
Mr. and Mrs. Mignonat, France
Mrs. Nathalie Mignonat and Mr. Christian Mignonat, members of the movement Equipes Reliance for remarried divorcees, founder members of the group SEDIRE for receiving and accompanying civilly married couples
Mr. and Mrs. Nkosi, South Africa
Mrs. Buysile Patronella Nkosi and Mr. Meshack Jabulani Nkosi, members of the Advisory Committee for the National Family Desk of the Southern African Episcopal Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
Mr. and Mrs. Paloni, Italy
Mrs. Patrizia Calabrese and Mr. Massimo Paloni, couple involved in family missionary pastoral work
Mr. and Mrs. Pulikowski, Poland
Mrs. Jadwiga Pulikowska and Mr. Jacek Pulikowski, advisors of the Council for Family Pastoral Care of the archdiocese of Poznan
Mr. and Mrs. De Rezende, Brazil
Mrs. Ketty Abaroa De Rezende and Dr. Pedro Jussieu De Rezende, lecturers at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, engaged in family pastoral work
Mr. and Mrs. Rojas, Colombia
Mrs. Maria Angelica Rojas, engaged in family pastoral work, and Mr. Luis Haydn Rojas Martinez, director of the department of Ethics and Humanity at the La gran Colombia University
Mr. and Mrs. Salloum, Lebanon
Mrs. Souheila Rizk Salloum, lecturer in psychology at the USEK.
Mr. Georges Fayez Salloum, expert on the Maronite Patriarchal Synod
Mr. and Mrs. Villafania, Philippines
Mrs. María Socorro Ocampo Villafania, former lecturer in theology at the Assumption College; collaborator with the Salesian Sisters in the preparation of catechists
Mr. Nelson Silvestre Villafania, collaborator with the Evangelion Foundation in Manila
Mr. and Mrs. Witczak, United States of America
Mrs. Catherine Wally Witczak and Mr. Anthony Paul Witczak, directors of Worldwide Marriage Encounter International Ecclesial Team.
III. GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops
Bishop Fabio Fabene
Msgr. John Anthony Abruzzese
Msgr. Etienne Brocard
Msgr. Daniel Estivill
Fr. Ambrogio Ivan Samus
Fr. Raffaele Lanzilli, S.J.
Fr. Pasquale Bua
Ms. Paola Volterra Toppano
Dr. Federica Vivian
Mr. Pietro Camilli
Mr. Andrea Cimino
COLLABORATORS OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT
Msgr. Zvonimir Sersic of the diocesis of Krk, Croatia
Fr. Giuseppe Deodato of the diocesis of Rome, Italy
ASSISTANTS
Fr. Edouard Akom, Cameroon
Sem. Francesco Argese, Italy
Fr. Emmanuel Ayo, Philippines
Fr. Alexis Bavugamenshi, Burundi
Fr. Diac. Jean-Baptiste Bienvenu, France
Fr. Zvonko Brezovski, Croatia
Fr. Diac. Vincent Chretienne, France
Fr. Emmanuel De Ruyver, Belgium
Fr. Gabriele Di Martino, Italy
Fr. William Donovan, United States of America
Fr. Kim D’Souza, Canada
Fr. Georges Eko, Cameroon
Fr. Edgar Estrada, Mexico
Fr. Jonathan Flemings, L.C., United States of America
Fr. Cesar Garcia Salazar, Mexico
Fr. Javier Gaxiola Loustaunau, L.C., Mexico
Fr. Tiago Gurgel Do Vale, Brazil
Fr. Juan Iniesta Saez, Spain
Fr. Miroslaw Juchno, Poland
Fr. Thomas Kallikat, India
Fr. P. Laurent Mazas, F.S.J., France
Fr. Boniface Mungai, Kenya
Fr. Brian Needles, United States of America
Fr. Stephen Prisk, United States of America
Fr. Luis Ramirez Almanra, L.C., Mexico
Fr. Carlos Rodriguez Blanco, Spain
Fr. Roberto Secchi, Italy
Sem. Mattia Seu, Italy
Fr. Jhonny Tannoury, Lebanon
Sem. Liviu-Nicolae Ursu, Romania
Sem. Gabriele Vecchione, Italy
Fr. Biasgiu Virgitti, France.
IV. HEADS OF NEWS COMMUNICATION
Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, Vatican City
Fr. Ciro Benedettini, C.P., deputy director of the Holy See Press Office, Vatican City
English
Fr. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., Chief Executive Officer of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, Canada
French
Ms. Romilda Ferrauto, director of the French Section of Vatican Radio
German
Fr. Bernard Hagenkord, S.J., director of the German Section of Vatican Radio
Spanish
Fr. Manuel Dorantes, parish priest, archdiocese of Chicago, United States of America.
C. LIST OF FRATERNAL DELEGATES
Ecumenical Patriarchate
His Eminence Stephanos, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Estonia, Estonia
Patriarchate of Moscow
His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk, president of the Department for External Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Russian Federation
Serbian Patriarchate
His Eminence Andrej, Metropolitan of Austria-Switzerland, Austria
Orthodox Church of Romania
His Eminence Iosif, Metropolitan of Western Europe, France
Orthodox Church of Albania
Bishop Andon of Kruja, Albania
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
His Eminence Bishoy, Metropolitan of Damietta, Kafr Elsheikh and Elbarari, Egypt
Syriac-Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
His Eminence Mar Youstinos Boulos, archbishop of Zahle and Bekaa, Lebanon
Anglican Communion
The Very Reverend Timothy Thornton, Bishop of Truro, Great Britain
World Lutheran Federation
The Very Reverend Ndanganeni Petrus Phaswana, bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Church in South Africa, South Africa
World Methodist Council
Rev. Dr. Tim MacQuiban, director of the ecumenical office of the Methodist Church in Rome, Italy
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Dr. Robert K. Welsh, president of the Council of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), United States of America
World Baptist Alliance
Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, general secretary of the Baptist Churches in the United States of America, United States of America
Ecumenical Council of Churches
Rev. Dr. Walter Altmann, Brazil
World Evangelical Alliance
The Very Reverend Thomas Schirrmacher, president of the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance, Germany….