Among the statements and conferences in which participants in the Extraordinary Synod on the Family took part, three excellent interventions were made, two by Cardinal Fernando Sebastián -Archbishop Emeritus of Pamplona and Tudela- in Pamplona, and one by Mons. Ricardo Blázquez, President of the Spanish Episcopal lecture and Archbishop of Valladolid. Together with Cardinal Lluís Martínez Sistach of Barcelona, these were the Spanish bishops who participated in the synod, as well as some experts and couples who shared their experiences and information.

We are, therefore, before two qualified witnesses of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family held during the month of October. They wanted to explain what was discussed there and how the meetings and the work of those days unfolded. The Pope had told the Synod Fathers: "speak freely, listen humbly". And so it was, without the tensions or polemics with which the synod has sometimes been presented in some media.

1. The first lecture of D. Fernando is a synthesis or chronicle on what a synod is and its functioning as an organism of a consultative nature, in which the collegiality between the Pope and the bishops of the entire Church is manifested. Because of the importance of the family, the Pope wanted to put this extraordinary synod before the ordinary synod to be held in October 2015, with the degree scroll "Vocation and mission statement of the family in the Church and in the world".

As foreseen, in this synod the accent was placed on the wounds and deficiencies of the family throughout the world, and the application that the Church has to show to approach and help especially those who are far from the faith. It was seen that it was convenient to clearly expose this status in the framework of the Church's doctrine -the usual doctrine, because the Church does not invent, the speaker observed, but looks for the water in the well in Tradition and in the Revelation of Jesus Christ- on marriage and the family.

If the Christian doctrine on marriage is a marvel, but most people do not live it, what to do? It is not a matter of inventing another doctrine, but of how to present this treasure of faith that has given consistency and honesty to our society.

2. In the second lecture Cardinal Sebastian begins by underlining that this synod was not intended to mission statement concrete commitments or decisions to improve the current status of marriage and the family; but to detect this status and to deepen its causes, in order to prepare the proposals that will emerge in the Synod of 2015.

To improve the status, first of all with new marriages, the synod suggested that Christian initiation - the catechesis, with the partnership of fathers and mothers - be improved, centered on conversion staff; that couples be better prepared, so that they marry according to the teachings of the Church (fidelity and indissolubility, openness to fertility and to the Education of children, etc.).); that married couples be accompanied especially in the first years, with the financial aid of other married couples.

And with regard to marriages that are in crisis or that are in complicated situations of all kinds subject, that concrete solutions be studied: for some, the possibility of recomposing the first marriage; for others, facilitating the recognition of possible nullities; if all of the above is not viable, opening a path of repentance that could lead them to recover the grace of God and the sacramental Christian life, under the conditions that the supreme power of the Church determines or may determine in the future; in the last analysis, the Pope.

All of this," says speaker, "presupposes a change of attitude on our part with two steps: first, from possible indifference to responsibility; second, from condemnation to compassion (Jesus does not get angry with sinners, he pities them; neither does he conceal their sins, but heals them with mercy, sincerity and effort).

We must be able to recognize the good that can be found in people, even if they are living in irregular and deficient situations. This does not mean to renounce and deny or dissimulate the excellence of Christian marriage, but to lead them little by little (this has been called the "law of gradualness") to discover and accept all the beauty and fullness of marriage and the family according to the Christian project . It is the same change of attitude that the Second Vatican Council calls for in order to evangelize the contemporary world, to be able to present the Gospel as medicine, liberation and fullness of the human being in a friendly way.

3. In his lecture, D. Ricardo Blázquez also explains the meaning of the synods and their methodology, at the service of the collegial government of the Catholic Church presided over by the Bishop of Rome. In addition to recalling the Christian project on marriage and the family, the speaker analyzes some factors that lead many young people not to feel attracted to marriage. On the other hand, he appreciates details of the presence of Pope Francis, his encouraging and respectful attitude towards the work of the Synod, and his reference letter to the correct pastoral attitudes. Some Synod Fathers were more concerned with transmitting the Church's doctrine on marriage. Others were more concerned with reaching out to suffering people, keeping in mind the attitudes of Jesus.

They wanted to make public the documents of work of the synod. Ricardo concluded by commenting on the final message - drafted by a team chaired by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi - and the final document of the synod ("Relatio synodi"), which is also a document of work in view of the next synod of 2015. These texts praise the fidelity and perseverance of so many Christian couples. At the same time, an attempt is made to promote a new spirit and in a certain sense a new language, in order to face the care of families with an evangelizing spirit. This brings with it the need to deepen certain theological and canonical aspects.

In short, the Synod on the family invites us to participate in the synod process ("journey together"), each Christian according to his or her condition. In addition to the serenity and prayer of all, this calls for the study of experts and our own training, to rediscover the beauty of the Christian marriage and family project . It asks us to huddle together in unity with the Pope, to support the synodal process, in order to improve the care of families, as a central aspect of the new evangelization.