USCCB - Synod of Bishops 2008

CNS photo/Paul Haring

Photo Briefs

Pope Benedict XVI is shown reading the bible in a live television feed projected inside the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Rome Oct. 5. The pope kicked off a Bible-reading marathon on Italian television. The pope read for several minutes from the Book of Genesis from his apartment at the Vatican, while other speakers read in the basilica. (CNS photo/Alessandro De Meo, Reuters)

Israeli Rabbi Shear-Yashuv Cohen is interviewed by a television crew at his hotel in Rome Oct. 6, the day he became the first Jew to address a worldwide Synod of Bishops. Rabbi Cohen asked synod members to speak out against anti-Semitism and attacks on the state of Israel. (CNS photo/Alessandro Bianchi, Reuters)

The image of Pope Benedict XVI reading the Bible on a live television feed is projected inside the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Rome Oct. 5. Pope Benedict XVI kicked off a Bible-reading marathon Oct. 5 on Italian television. The pope read for several minutes from the start of the Book of Genesis live from his apartment at the Vatican while other speakers read in the Basilica of Holy Cross. (CNS photo/Alessandro De Meo, Reuters)

Italian actor Roberto Benigni reads from the Book of Genesis for a live TV broadcast inside the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Rome Oct. 5. Pope Benedict XVI kicked off a Bible reading marathon Oct. 5 on Italian television. The pope read for several minutes from the start of the Book of Genesis live from his apartment at the Vatican while other speakers read in the Basilica of Holy Cross. (CNS photo/Alessandro De Meo, Reuters)

Bishops listen to Pope Benedict XVI during the opening meeting of the Synod of the Bishops at the Vatican Oct. 6. The focus of the gathering was "The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church." (CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI blesses with holy water during the Oct. 5 opening Mass of the Synod of Bishops on the Bible at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. (CNS photo/Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo)

An Italian cardinal who repeatedly pushed for a synod on the Bible said he hopes the October gathering of bishops will focus on practical pastoral initiatives to bring Catholics closer to the Scriptures. Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, retired archbishop of Milan, told the Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica that too many Catholics still do not read the Bible alone or in groups. (CNS photo illustration/Nancy Wiechec)

Bishops of the World Gather for XII Ordinary Synod

U.S. DELEGATES

Cardinal Francis E. George
Archdiocese of Chicago

It is important to approach Holy Scripture with a sense of the entire Bible as a written witness to what God has done for his people over the centuries. God is not only the primary author of Scripture; He is the primary actor. We should read and meditate on passages of Scripture to discover how God acts.

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Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

The Synod is of great significance. It is one of the main ways in which the Pope consults with bishops from all over the world on a regular basis. Each of the four representatives from the United States will convey a particular interest or concern. Each will provide the Holy Father recommendations that can be helpful for him when he writes about this in the future.

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Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl
Archdiocese of Washington

On October 5, our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, will celebrate the opening Mass for a synod on The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church with over 200 bishops from around the world. He invited the bishops to participate; they come as elected representatives of the conference of bishops to which they belong. Starting October 6, the bishops will meet six days a week for three weeks.

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Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas
Diocese of Tucson

I love to read the Word of God. I value the time to pray it. I feel privileged to preach it. So, I feel blessed to participate in the Synod of Bishops in Rome this October on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.

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Archbishop Basil M. Schott, OFM
Archeparchy of Pittsburgh for Byzantines

The significance of the synod at this time cannot be underestimated. It is of the greatest importance because many people are either not aware of the needed teachings and richness that Scripture can bring to their lives or they require help in even the most basic ways of listening to the Word of God. It is the written Word that helps to bring to life Jesus Christ, who is first and foremost the Word of God.

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U.S. ALTERNATES

Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Bishop William S. Skylstad, Diocese of Spokane

EXPERTS

Rev. Peter Damian Akpunonu, S.S.L., S.T.D.,
Professor, Department of Biblical Exegesis and Proclamation at University of St. Mary of the Lake and member of the International Theological Commission

Sister Sara Butler, M.S.B.T.
Professor of Dogmatic Theology at St. Joseph's Seminary in New York.

“Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ,” said St. Jerome. No one who believes in Jesus Christ is content to be “ignorant” of him and his mysteries, but many Catholics are not well acquainted with the Scriptures, and so they miss out on a God-given means of entering into greater intimacy with him.

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Msgr. Timothy Verdon
Canon of Florence Cathedral and Invited Expert to the Synod

All Christian life is grounded in God's word as revealed in Scripture. Indeed, to understand Christ, who is the center of our life, we have to continually grow in our understanding of the words of Scripture, since He is the Word made flesh. A man or woman ignorant of Scripture would not be able to recognize the Lord, to see his beauty, to hear his call.

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AUDITORS

Carl A. Anderson
Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus

By convening the Synod of Bishops on the Bible, the Holy Father is calling us back to the most basic witness of our Catholic faith. For in Scripture we find in written form God’s revelation to his people, culminating in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

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Sister M. Clare Millea, A.S.C.J.
Superior General, Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

I welcomed the invitation of Pope Benedict XVI to participate as an Auditrix at the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops with great joy, deep gratitude and a fair amount of trepidation. It is indeed a privilege to take an active role in this important ecclesial event, fully aware of my own limitations but eager to communicate the commitment of women religious to living and proclaiming the word of God in our communities and ministry.

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