Pope confirms, shortens October Synod of Bishops on Eucharist

Published: 2005-05-13

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Though Pope Benedict XVI confirmed October's world Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist, he decided to cut back on the length of the meeting by nearly a week. The assembly of the world's bishops had been convoked by Pope John Paul II and scheduled to run Oct. 2-29 at the Vatican. But after Pope John Paul's death April 2, the synod and other major Vatican initiatives were suspended. The Vatican announced May 12 in a written statement that Pope Benedict re-convoked the synod, but that it would be shortened by six days and run Oct. 2-23. The reduced number of weeks dedicated to the synod suggests there would be changes made in how the synod was to be organized and scheduled.

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