Here, the bishops noted many positive strides which have been made toward greater recognition and respect for the Eucharist in the Church.
These include; a “renewed consciousness of the importance of the Sunday Mass; the increase in the number of vocations to the priesthood and to consecrated life in various places of the world; the powerful experiences of World Youth Days, culminating at Cologne in Germany; the development of numerous initiatives for the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament almost everywhere in the world; the renewal of the catechesis on Baptism and the Eucharist in the light of the Catechism of the Catholic Church; the growth of movements and communities forming missionaries for the new evangelization."
At the same time however, they lamented a loss of the sense of sin and Sacrament of Penance among many of the faithful, as well as dropping Mass attendance and priest shortages in many regions.
Vocational challenge
Issuing a special call to priests and seminarians, the bishops challenged them to be, “with us and following the example of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, 'humble workers in the vineyard of the Lord,' following a consistent priestly life."
"To all young seminarians,” the bishops said that they wished “to express our hope that their formation will be permeated by an authentic Eucharistic spirituality.”
Throughout the course of the Synod, the value of celibacy has been strongly reaffirmed as a valuable and vital practice, despite criticism from many referring to the sexual abuse scandal in the U.S.
The Bishop also extended their challenge of Eucharistic centrality to all married couples and lay people, as well as deacons and consecrated religious in particular.
The 257 prelates closed their message likening their own experience to that of the disciples whom Jesus appeared to on the road to Emmaus in the Gospels.
"At the end of this Synod”, they wrote, “we experience that peace full of hope which the disciples of Emmaus, with burning hearts, received from the Risen Lord. They arose and returned in haste to Jerusalem, to share their joy with their brothers and sisters in the faith. We hope that you will go joyfully to meet Him in the Holy Eucharist, and that you will experience the truth of His words: 'And I am with you until the end of the world'."