Vatican City – October 2024 – On 2 October, the liturgical memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, in a Saint Peter's Square packed with faithful, Pope Francis presided over the opening Mass of the second session of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality. The initial procession was also attended by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime and Sister Yvonne Reungoat, Mother General Emeritus of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and facilitator at the Synod. In the opening Mass, Pope Francis recalled that to face up to this second session it will be necessary to adopt certain attitudes: listening, discerning the voice of God, getting rid of everything that prevents us from "creating harmony in diversity", opening our hearts and minds and "making ourselves small" to welcome each other, "with humility". With a look at what is happening in the world, Pope Francis then announced that to invoke the gift of peace, next Sunday he will gather in prayer in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pray the Rosary and to address "a heartfelt plea to the Virgin", and he invited the members of the Synod to join him. In addition, on 7 October he called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world.