Vatican City, Oct 10, 2012 / 10:10 am
Pope Benedict XVI opened the first working session of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization Oct. 9 by closely following the proceedings and issuing a call for a "renewed evangelical dynamism" in the Church.
"The Holy Father's participation has been unbelievable," said Curtis Martin, founder of the U.S.-based Fellowship of Catholic University Students.
Martin, who is attending the synod as an observer, said that Pope Benedict took a keen interest in the proceedings.
"He's been taking copious notes, working harder, I think, than anybody in the room. It's been extraordinary watching this man twice my age working twice as hard as I am."