Conclusion of Synod of Bishops with the Pope

On the final working day of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelisation as the Father’s presented him with the list of 38 Propositions, fruit of three weeks of intense work, Pope Benedict XVI took the floor to address all those who had taken part, to telling them that their testimonies proved that the Church is alive and is growing, despite often contrary winds.

He started with the following announcement: “In the context of the reflections of the Synod of Bishops, “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith,” and at the end of a process of reflection on the themes of seminaries and Catechesis, I am pleased to announce that I have decided, after further reflection and prayer to transfer jurisdiction over Seminaries from the Congregation for Catholic Education, to the Congregation for the Clergy and competence of Catechesis from the Congregation for the Clergy, to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization.
The relative documents will be forthcoming in the form of an Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio to identify the fields and their faculties. Let us pray to the Lord to accompany the three Dicasteries of the Roman Curia in this important mission, with the collaboration of the entire Church.”

Amongst other things, the Pope says, “Even though the Church feels contrary winds, above all it feels the wind of the Holy Spirit that helps us, shows us the right way, and so, with renewed enthusiasm, I think, we are on that path and we thank the Lord for gifting us this truly Catholic encounter”.