Gozo Bishop Mgr Mario Grech, yesterday met with Pope Francis during a meeting held at the Vatican with Bishops representing the the European Episcopal Conferences.

The meeting with the Pope took place during the Plenary Assembly of the Bishops of European Episcopal Conferences, the CCEE, to which Bishop Grech is attending as President of the Maltese Episcopal Conference.

The extraordinary Synod of Bishops formally opens with Mass on Sunday and begins its working sessions at the Vatican on Monday morning.

Pope Francis is expected to attend all of the working sessions, along with 253 other people.

In numbers:

– 191 voting members are expected: 162 attending because of the office they hold (114 presidents of bishops’ conferences, 25 heads of Vatican offices, 13 heads of Eastern Catholic churches, and 10 members of the synod council); three elected by the men’s Union of Superiors General; and 26 named by Pope Francis.

– Of the 191, 42 come from Africa, 38 from the Americas, 29 from Asia, 78 from Europe and four from Oceania and the South Pacific. The voting members include 61 Latin-rite cardinals, one Eastern-rite cardinal, seven Eastern patriarchs, 67 archbishops, 47 bishops, one auxiliary bishop and seven priests.

– The synod members will be assisted by 16 synod staff members and appointed experts (also referred to as collaborators), including one married couple. Members also will hear from and work in small groups with 38 observers (auditors), including 12 married couples.

– In addition, eight other Christian churches and communities will send delegates as a sign of their shared concern for the pastoral care of families today.

Photograph: Curia Communications Office

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