On the plane that took him back to Rome, after three days (24-26 May) full of meetings, movements, talks, interventions in Jordan, Palestine and Israel, Pope Francis did not shy away from the journalists' questions ("The pit of lions!, but I don't think you are lions!”). Among the questions, that of a representative of the German language on the topic of the next Synod on the family: “You are opening up many expectations both within the Church and in the international community. Inside the Church, for example, what will happen with communion for divorced and remarried people?”.

This, in summary, is his response: “Thank you for the question about divorced people. The Synod will be on the family, on the problem of the family, on the riches of the family, on the current situation of the family. The preliminary exposition that Cardinal Kasper made had five chapters: four on the beautiful things of the family, the theological foundation, some family problems; and the fifth on the pastoral problem of separations, matrimonial annulments, divorcees... This problem includes that of communion. And I didn't like that so many went right there, at that point, as if everything were reduced to a case study. No, the matter is broader. Today, we all know, the family is in crisis: it is in global crisis. Young people don't want to get married or don't get married and live together, marriage is in crisis, and so is the family. The pastoral problem of the family is very, very broad. 

And it must be studied on a case-by-case basis. Something that Pope Benedict said three times about divorcees helps me a lot. To study the procedures for matrimonial nullity; study the faith with which a person goes into marriage and clarify that divorced people are not excommunicated, and many times they are treated as excommunicated. The Synod will be on the family: the riches, the problems of the family. 

Solutions, nothingness, all of this. Now I would like to say why a Synod on the family: this was a very strong spiritual experience for me. I am sure that it was the Spirit of the Lord who guided us to the choice of this title: I am sure, because today the family really needs a lot of pastoral help".

“Family and evangelization” is a truly current and urgent theme. John Paul II said: “As the family goes, so goes the Church, and so goes human society as a whole.” Well, today there is an impressive family crisis underway. 

Many defections from the Christian faith and many protests against the Church are linked to the rejection of the sexual, marital and family ethics proposed by the Church's teaching. Therefore, this theme was very appropriately assigned to the reflection of the Synod of Bishops and of the whole Church. But it would be counterproductive if in the next Synod the case studies suggested by the media were put at the center of attention. At the center we must keep the family called to be an image of the Trinity, authentic love and its necessary characteristics.

Another shared point is that reflection on the topic must combine truth and mercy. While the truth and beauty of moral and spiritual good is clearly indicated, at the same time the subjective responsibility of people must be evaluated according to the so-called law of graduality. John Paul II suggestively said: we must not lower the mountain, but help people climb it at their own pace.

In Cardinal Kasper's report, the fourth point was dedicated to the family as a domestic Church. The pastoral priority today is precisely that of establishing small communities of families. There are already, in many countries, movements of family spirituality and apostolate, small ecclesial communities, groups, family networks for the purpose of training, common prayer, listening to the Word of God, friendship, mutual help, education, assistance. It is necessary to promote its widespread diffusion in parishes, so that they become a cornerstone of ordinary ecclesial life. It is necessary to build small communities, each of which is a "family of families". In this way the stability of individual couples is promoted, separations and divorces are prevented, and it is demonstrated that the Gospel of the family is not only beautiful, but also achievable.

However, the fifth point of the Kasper report is also important: the proposal to review the process of nullifying marriage. It is a widely shared impression that invalid marriages are increasingly numerous (this, among other things, calls into question preparation for marriage, which should be much more demanding than it currently is).