Archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles Chaput, says, "We are not here to win anything, we are here to arrive at the truth of the Lord that He has set out for His Church." 

This afternoon at the Vatican press office, with its director, Father Federico Lombardi, French Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, Monsignor Salvador Pineiro Garcia-Calderon, the American archbishop expressed this when commenting on the Holy Father's advice for prelates to not 'pick sides' and become divided in the Synod hall. The Synod Fathers were giving their thoughts on the third day of the Synod of Bishops, Oct. 4-25, being held on the topic "The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the contemporary world."

The Synod Fathers, each for a different language group, observed that today first full day of the Circle of Minors. They expressed it was a great opportunity for different language groups with diverse ethnic and cultural compositions to start to examine family issues. Within these discussions, the topic of reforming language, in a way which does not in any way compromise, was brought up. 

When ZENIT asked Archbishop Chaput if changing language to seem more welcoming to some could potentially be used by politicians to mean things in ways the Church does not intend, the prelate said, 'Yes,' and that this has come up in their discussions and is being considered. He also added the concern that sometimes translations cause additional misunderstandings.

"We have to be careful with our language so people don't get hurt, but also we must be faithful to Church doctrine," he said.

"We need dialogue between the universal and local Church," the archbishop said, noting, "It's not appropriate for single episcopal conferences to make decisions on doctrine." 

To point out the magnitude of the task ahead of the Synod's bishops, he said, "Who is our audience? Our audience is huge, and we must address that diversity."  

From this, he mentioned how some in the English-speaking group expressed concerns this morning that Instrumentum Laboris does not reflect the Universal Church, but reflects more the Northern Hemisphere and Europe's concerns perhaps more than other continents and regions.

The American prelate spoke about the passage from the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia to where we are today, in the Synod discussing the family. He said it was his delight to host the Holy Father, and affirmed that the event had a great impact on him.

When reflecting on the World Meeting of Families, he said its purpose of celebrating family life was really visible as people came away "strengthened and encouraged about the future." He also praised that "there was a hunger for the reaffirmation of the Church’s teaching on marriage." 

When asked regarding the renewed language toward homosexuals, the archbishop noted that although mentioned, it was not the dominant point of the conversation. "I am sure the topic of same sex attraction will be in future conversations and I hope we find language that welcomes and doesn't hurt," he said.

By Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

Rome, October 07, 2015 (ZENIT.org)

"[The] synod is neither a convention, nor a parlor, nor a parliament or senate, where people make deals and reach compromises. The synod is rather an ecclesial expression, i.e., the Church that journeys together to read reality with the eyes of faith and with the heart of God; it is the Church that interrogates herself with regard to her fidelity to the deposit of faith, which does not represent for the Church a museum to view, nor even something merely to safeguard, but is a living source from which the Church shall drink, to satisfy the thirst of, and illuminate, the deposit of life."

Pope Francis

Remarks to the First Session of the Synod of Bishops on the Family

On Sunday evening, September 27, the Holy Father left Philadelphia for Rome after a hugely successful visit to Cuba and the United States. Four days later - barely time to breathe - I headed to Rome as a delegate to the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family.

It's taken until now for the scope of the World Meeting of Families to begin to sink in. But the truth is this: The Church, the city and the people of Philadelphia achieved something astonishing. In Rome I've been stopped again and again by bishops, journalists and everyday people from around the world. They describe their days in Philadelphia as something close to a miracle; a highpoint of their faith and their lives.

The credit goes to many people: generous donors, a tireless staff, wonderful volunteers and great cooperation from civic authorities. But above all, the credit goes to the priests, deacons, religious and people of our local Church. Success in Philadelphia had two ingredients: the grace of God and thousands of extraordinary families at the parish level who helped World Meeting of Families be the sign of hope God intended. Looking out on a parkway jammed with nearly 900,000 persons at the closing Mass, Pope Francis saw the face of the Christian family in our country; the very best of Philadelphia and the very best of the United States. The day clearly moved him, as it did all of us. And it set the stage perfectly for the Synod on the Family that began its first session yesterday, October 5.

A synod - from the Greek word synodos, for meeting or assembly -- is a global gathering of bishops called together by the Holy Father to give him counsel on a topic he chooses. Its role is purely advisory. The Pope can accept its counsel or choose a different path. But Francis has a keen sense of collegiality. He encourages a high degree of candor in discussing sensitive issues. And few subjects are more sensitive or more urgent than renewing the health of today's families, the focus of the current synod. If the first day's interventions were a sign, delegates at this synod will have no trouble being frank. Proceedings are closed to the public, but bishops are free to speak with the media, and many will. So as themes develop over the next three weeks, plenty of information will be available.

In his opening remarks on the first day of the synod, Francis urged his brother bishops to be guided by three principles in the days of discussion ahead:apostolic courage; evangelicalhumility and trustful prayer.

That's good advice for anyone seeking to live a genuinely Christian life. But it's vital for bishops in their work at the Synod on the Family.

I've come to Rome with the World Meeting of Families alive in my memory and my heart. I saw the hope and joy in those nearly 900,000 faces on Philadelphia's parkway, just as Francis did. That's what God intends for us all. Please pray for me during this synod, that God gives me the ability to share that hope and joy - so vividly alive in so many Christian families at the memorable closing Mass - with my brother bishops.