The first task of the Catholic Church “is not to hand down condemnations or anathemas, but to proclaim the mercy of God”, Pope Francis has told members of the Synod of Bishops on the Family. At the end of the synod’s final working session on Saturday, 24 October, Pope Francis was honest about the differences of opinion present among synod participants and about the tone of their discussions sometimes exceeding the bounds of charity. But he framed all those differences as an opportunity for learning.

While not specifically mentioning the controversial proposal of a path toward full reconciliation and Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried, members of the Synod of Bishops on the Family handed Pope Francis a report emphasising an obligation to recognise that not all Catholics in such a situation bear the same amount of blame.

In an interview with Catholic News Agency, little Carmen’s parents, mother Carmen and her father Santos, have told their story about what led to the miracle that led to the Vatican’s approval of Louis Martin and Marie-Azelie Guerin as saints.

While Church doctrine must stay unchanged, Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge – speaking from Rome – has this week expressed his hope that the Synod of Bishops will lead the Church to a genuine pastoral approach using a new language of mercy toward families, particularly those in difficult situations.

In an interview with Catholic News Services last week, Dr Harries said a significant number of people no longer go to church “because of the abuse and we have to work out ways to deal with that”.

Reflecting on the impact she is hoping to make, Dr Maria Harries recently spoke to the eRecord from Rome about her experience as a participating Catholic laywoman within one of the most significant ecclesial events of the year.

The first week of the Synod of Bishops on the Family ended with near unanimous calls to be more positive in describing family life today and to show more appreciation for Catholic families living close to the Church’s ideals. But there were also widespread questions among synod participants about the work they are expected to produce.

There could not have been a better event leading up to the Synod of Bishops on the Family than the World Meeting of Families, Philadelphia, attended by Pope Francis from 22 to 27 September 2015.

The world Synod of Bishops on the family is not a parliament where participants will negotiate or lobby, Pope Francis said, but must be a place of prayer where bishops speak with courage and open themselves to “God who always surprises us”.

As the American Airlines plane taking him to Rome from Philadelphia took off, Pope Francis said he pictured the faces of all the people he met, and he prayed for them.