A synod historically is a council of Church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. The last synod of Bishops was held on 2015 based on the theme: “The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World.”
The Holy Father, after the customary consultation with the episcopal conferences, the sui iuris Oriental Catholic Churches and the Union of Superior Generals, as well as hearing the suggestions of the Fathers of the last Synod assembly and the opinion of the 14th Ordinary Council, has established that in October 2018 the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be held, on the theme: “Youth, faith and vocational discernment”. The aim of the synod is to “accompany young people on their way of life towards maturity so that, through a process of discernment, they can discover their life project and realize it with joy, opening the encounter with God and with men, and actively participating in the building up of the Church and society.”
The Church recognizes four vocations: married life, single life, religious life, and ordained life. The theme was chosen by the members on the Fourteenth Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops.
