VATICAN-POPE-SYNOD

Bishops listen to Pope Benedict XVI (not pictured) as he opens a session of a synod of Catholic bishops on the theme of “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church” on October 6, 2008 at the Vatican. Of the 253 archbishops, bishops and cardinals summoned to the three-week long synod, 51 are from Africa, 62 from the Americas, 41 from Asia, 90 from Europe and nine from the Pacific with for the first time representatives and prelates from other religions. AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)