Pope to issue apostolic exhortation

(ANSA) - Rome, October 28 - Pope Francis will issue an apostolic exhortation on the family based on the conclusions of the synod of bishops, Cardinal Pietro Parolin told ANSA on Wednesday. The closely watched synod on the family ended at the weekend with a slim majority approving communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, with bishops empowered to rule on a case-by-case basis.
    However, the word 'communion' was missing from the final statement.
    Both conservative and liberal Catholics have sought to portray the outcome of the synod as a victory for their positions.
    Francis is set to issue a statement on the bishops' recommendations in the coming months.
    "The iron will be struck while it's hot," the Vatican secretary of state added as to the timing of the exhortation.
    An apostolic exhortation is a type of communication from the pope, and encourages a community of people to undertake a particular activity but does not define Church doctrine. It is considered lower in formal authority than a papal encyclical, but higher than other ecclesiastical letters. Such exhortations are commonly issued in response to a bishops' synod, which is a council convened to decide an issue of doctrine or administration. http://popefrancisnewsapp.com/