
Pope
Francis’ most recent document
Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) is
the Church’s formal response to the insights from the 2015 Synod of Bishops on
the Family. In this document Pope Francis affirms Church teaching on family
life and marriage, but strongly emphasises the role of personal conscience and
pastoral discernment. He introduces the document himself in Paragraph 5 which
says: “This Exhortation is especially timely in this Jubilee Year of Mercy.
First, because it represents an invitation to Christian families to value the
gifts of marriage and the family, and to persevere in a love strengthened by
the virtues of generosity, commitment, fidelity and patience. Second, because
it seeks to encourage everyone to be a sign of mercy and closeness wherever
family life remains imperfect or lacks peace and joy.”