The Word of God, "because it is intended for all the disciples of the Lord…, demands special veneration and obedience for it to be welcomed also as an urgent recall to the full communion of the believers in Christ": it was said this morning by the Pope in the Vatican, as he received in the Consistory Hall the members of the Ordinary Council of the Synod of the Bishops. The welcome address on behalf of the attending bishops was given to Benedict XVI by mgr. Nikola Eterovic, archbishop of Sisak and secretary general of the Synod. After mentioning the subject of the forthcoming XII General Assembly of that body (5-26 October 2008), about "The Word of God in the life and mission of the Church", mgr. Eterovic said the "lineamenta", a basic document for next year’s synod meeting, are about to be finished in these days. The Pope highlighted that the spiritual action of the Church "is necessarily based on the Word of God" and wishes the preparatory work will help rediscover its importance "in the life of every Christian, of every religious and civil community".
