Pope Leo XIV meets with bishops and families

Pope Leo XIV concluded an international meeting at the Vatican on October 14 that marked the tenth anniversary of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. The gathering, which ran from October 7 to October 14, brought together presidents of episcopal conferences from around the world, leaders of Catholic Churches, married couples, families, and experts in marriage and family life.

The meeting aimed to evaluate the ten-year implementation of Amoris Laetitia and to listen to the actual living conditions of families in different parts of the world. Participants discussed how the Church can more effectively support families and proclaim the Gospel alongside them. During the opening at Paul VI Hall, Pope Leo XIV invited attendees to practice mutual listening and discernment as part of the Church's synodal path regarding marriage and family.

Families participated as active conversationalists rather than just subjects of discussion, sharing testimonies about the joys and beauty of married life as well as their trials and experiences of faith. The program included daily presentations of successful pastoral practices from local churches and contributions from specialists. Bishop Andrej Saje attended the meeting as the president of the Slovenian Bishops' Conference.