Synod of Syro-Malabar bishops begins in Kerala

All the 43 bishops of this Oriental Church are attending the synod.

Kochi (UCAN)The Syro-Malabar bishops began on Monday their two-week-long synod in Kerala with a commitment to study current social issues affecting the Church and propose some remedies, an official statement said.

All the 43 bishops of this Oriental Church are attending the synod in the Church's headquarters in St. Thomas Mount near Kochi. It is scheduled to conclude on Aug. 29.

The synod of bishops, convoked twice a year and on special circumstances is presided over by the Church's head, currently Major Archbishop George Alencherry. The synod is the superior tribunal and the electoral college of the Church.

Among other issues, the current synod will also stress on the issues of youth. The synod wants to help young people become more involved in faith life. The bishops also want to strengthen them to take up more roles in nation building, said the statement from the synodal office.

The synod lauded Pope Francis for his encyclical Laudato Si saying it has created a new awareness on the need to protect and preserve nature.