On day nine of the Synod on the Family, delegates debated a wide range of issues, from how to deal with polygamy in African nations to discussing the reasons why youth today are so unwilling to make commitments; but all agree that the main goal of this historic meeting is to show the beauty of the family to the Church and the world.

Reporting for Vatican Radio, Father Russell Pollitt, S.J., attended the daily briefing for day nine of the Synod which was hosted by Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., who was joined by Cardinals Vincent Nichols of Britain, Phillippe Ouedraogo from Burkina Faso and Rubén Salazar Gomez from Colombia.

Cardinal Ouedraogo told the media that in Europe divorce and remarriage was a real concern for Synod delegates but this is not the case in Africa where polygamy was a much more pressing problem. He said that the authors of the Instrumentum Laboris, which was composed at the end of last year’s Extraordinary Synod, tended to highlight Western issues such as divorce and gay marriage. This time around, African prelates are speaking more assertively in the small working groups to have more of their problems addressed.

Other topics being discussed in the small groups were the importance and role of women in family and the Church as well as the scourge of violence against women.

Also addressed was why young people today delay or are afraid to commit to each other in matrimony.

Cardinal Nichols said that listening to the Church’s experience in other parts of the world was very enriching and gave the Synod Fathers a much broader perspective on the issues. He said that a good example of this was how they learned that marriage in Africa was not between two individuals but two families; this made it a social event in which the local community is involved.

“In the UK marriages tend to be private, personal affairs,” he said at the briefing.

Cardinal Salazar told the press that the Synod was an extremely important moment for the Catholic Church because we are “trying to listen to the voices of families, in all their forms, especially broken families.” All the delegates wanted to “show forth the beauty of family” to the Church and the world, he said.

Suggestions have been made to refer to Scripture more to help families understand their mission and vocation. Some groups said that the notion of the “indissolubility of marriage” needs to be framed more positively so the faithful don’t see it as a burden but rather as something that is hopeful and joyful. Some of the small groups advocated for the development of catechetical and prayer resources for families.

The subject of a magisterial document to be drafted after the Synod came up once again, although it remains unclear what, if anything, the Pope will do with the final report which will be presented to him when the Synod concludes. Francis may choose to publish it immediately, or could opt to amend it first.

Divergent opinions are being freely expressed at the Synod but when asked if there was a “stalemate” because of this, all of the delegates present at the briefing said, “definitely not.” There were divergent views and a lot of debate, but the whole process was moving along well.

If anything, delegates are feeling tired because the days are long and fully scheduled.

While the secular media is making much out of a letter that was given to the Pope concerning the process of the Synod, Father Lombardi said the letter “did not have any effect on the Synod.”

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