U.S. bishop delegates to World Synod appointed

Washington D.C., Feb 27, 2008 / 16:54 pm

The Vatican has appointed United States delegates to the twelfth World Synod of Bishops, which will be dedicated to reflection on and examination of Holy Scripture.

The delegates are Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), USCCB vice-president Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Houston, and Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington.

The alternate delegates are Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia and Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, Washington.

The synod, whose theme is “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church,” will take place at the Vatican from October 5 to October 26.

The US bishops voted to recommend the delegates during the USCCB plenary meeting last November in Baltimore.  Pope Benedict XVI ratified the selection. 

For the past several months, bishops have been studying the synod’s working document and proposing suggestions for the meeting’s final agenda.