Bishops Confront Why the Young No Longer Choose Marriage
A closed-door Vatican meeting marking a decade of Amoris laetitia expects no new document; Pope Leo XIV urged learning from families in difficulty.
On Monday, October 12, a weeklong Vatican gathering marking ten years since Amoris laetitia turned to the hardships weighing on family life.
The meeting, titled “Ten years after Amoris laetitia: proclaiming the Gospel with families today,” runs October 7 to 14 in the Paul VI Audience Hall. It brings together presidents of bishops’ conferences, leaders of the Eastern Catholic Churches, experts, and families. The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life and the Synod Secretariat are co-organizing the event.
Monday’s program focused on “In the difficulties of life: accompanying and supporting,” with contributions that included Cardinal Kevin Farrell and U.S. theologian Julie Hanlon Rubio.
Young people and the call to marriage
Earlier sessions addressed young people and the vocation to marriage. Australian Archbishop Timothy Costelloe noted that in many places the link between sexual activity, procreation, and Christian marriage is no longer understood or accepted. Cardinal Farrell highlighted declining marriage rates worldwide.
The closed-door discussions are being held in a synodal style. Participants aim to assess pastoral realities and the reception of the 2016 apostolic exhortation. No new document is expected from the gathering.
The Holy Father’s opening appeal
Pope Leo XIV opened the meeting on October 7 and urged bishops to show courage in learning from families facing difficulties and apparent failure.