Moscow (AsiaNews) - The modern world, Russia included, is going through a "spiritual Chernobyl" in family relationships where divorces, civil unions and non-traditional couples are now the norm. This is according to the Archbishop of the Mother of God in Moscow, Msgr. Paolo Pezzi. The prelate was speaking during an encounter with the faithful during which he spoke of the outcome of the recent Extraordinary Synod on the Family, which he attended by 5 to 18 October.
The Archbishop noted that in our era "in addition to the terrible accident at Chernobyl we are living through another one. It is a 'spiritual Chernobyl', when families are broken, and the young people do not understand what marriage is and how to preserve it, or why it is necessary for life". Msgr. Pezzi explained that the work of the Synod focused on these problems and their possible solutions.
The archbishop said that the fact the Synod discussion was open and focused on the most
critical issues involving the
laity and not just the clergy, is
proof of the "unity of the Church". "This transparent
and heated discussion proved our unity," the archbishop said,
quoted by RIA Novosti. The prelate then
assured that the issue of same-sex
and non-traditional unions "did
not overtake other discussion, as
the media attempted to infer, even Russian media".
Among the most important considerations raised in
the two weeks of work, the
bishop pointed to the fact that "the
family is a vocation, like the
priesthood. If you approach family relationships and family life as a vocation,
then this becomes the path to holiness"
he added.
The Archbishop concluded by stressing the importance of "understanding that the family is not some kind of problem that we need to get out of, but it is something
that is alive, and holds the destiny a person with a
specific task and mission" and indicating the need to "show young people the beauty
of marriage".