The Holy Father, after the customary consultation with the episcopal conferences, the sui iuris Oriental Catholic Churches and the Union of Superior Generals, as well as hearing the suggestions of the Fathers of the last Synod assembly and the opinion of the 14th Ordinary Council, has established that in October 2018 the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be held, on the theme: “Youth, faith and vocational discernment”.

The theme, an expression of the pastoral care of the Church for the young, is consistent with the results of the recent Synod assemblies on the family and with the content of the post-Synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. Its aim is to accompany the young on their existential journey to maturity so that, through a process of discernment, they discover their plan for life and realise it with joy, opening up to the encounter with God and with human beings, and actively participating in the edification of the Church and of society.