VATICAN CITY — Aside from threshing out weighty subjects ranging from how to attract more Catholics to holy Communion to debating whether the Eucharist is a “right” or a “gift,” there have been many other notable and colorful moments at the historic 11th General Synod of Bishops that began Oct. 3 and end today.

From the outset, a positive mood has pervaded this largest synod of modern times, according to participants who meet privately each day in the synod hall.

“The atmosphere is very good, especially when the Holy Father is there,” said one consultant speaking on condition of anonymity. “I wouldn't say it was light, but neither is there a heavy air of solemnity. There's a prayerful atmosphere, positive and even joyful. Nobody's uptight — I would say it's a very unified atmosphere.”

This mood has best been captured during the “free discussions,” a new initiative of Pope Benedict XVI's, in which an hour is set aside at the end of each day for participants to comment extemporaneously or scripted for three minutes on a subject already raised, or from a theme mentioned in the working document.

One synod father made the hall laugh when he spoke about the awkwardness of giving holy Communion on the tongue while the communicant is standing. The experience was, he said, rather like “being a dentist” about to perform surgery on someone's dentures, and would be less ungainly if the communicant was kneeling.

Cardinal Scola

Cardinal Angelo Scola, the Patriarch of Venice and as General Relator one of the central figures of the synod responsible for communicating all the discussions to the Pope, began the synod by giving all instructions and other addresses to the synod fathers in Latin. However, for some this was too hard to follow.

One cardinal pointed out good-naturedly that most in the hall only knew “ecclesiastical Latin,” not the “Ciceronian Latin” used by Cardinal Scola. Perhaps, asked the cardinal to some laughter, the General Relator could explain what he means and provide a summary. From then on, Cardinal Scola agreed to give his addresses and instructions in Italian.

During the free discussions, participants were by no means free to ramble on as long as they wish. Most participants used their full three minutes of allotted time, but if they chose to speak longer, their microphones were faded out. If they continued, the sound was faded out even further until they could no longer be heard.

This was not a concern of one speaker who simply made the point that the Holy See has set forth guidelines on inter-communion.

“Let's hear all those guidelines,” he asked.

“Is that it?” replied the session president. “Yes,” answered the speaker to laughter, after which Cardinal Scola remarked that the intervention was too short.

As he was at the free discussions, Benedict was present at many of the General Congregations, the main forum in which a speaker was scheduled to speak for six minutes. He was seen walking into the hall, cradling a black mini-briefcase laden with documents (in character for Benedict but, it was noted, unusual for a Pope), and he listened intently to the discussions, propping up his head with his hand in a manner reminiscent of Pope John Paul II.

According to Legionary Father John Bartunek, who has been briefing journalists on the events of the synod, the Holy Father sat at a platform at the front of the synod hall, facing an assembly that is laid out like a lecture hall. On a screen behind him was an image of Raphael's fresco, Dispute of the Blessed Sacrament, which portrays the defense of the Real Presence by the Fathers of the Church and the saints in the face of disputes with non-believers.

High-Tech Bishops

The synod fathers began their days praying the morning office in Latin. The Sistine Chapel choir chanted the psalms and one bishop was invited to give a homily.

The participants spent most of the rest of the day in the synod hall, listening to the interventions with simultaneous translations. There were coffee breaks before and after lunch, during which Benedict informally met participants in small rooms off the hall.

The majority of the synod fathers also used these breaks to meet one another, while others read or surfed the Web.

“There are 10 or 12 Internet stations — and they're always full,” said Father Bartunek, who explained that technology was extensively utilized in various ways, including electronic voting or using Power Point-type displays.

However, there were glitches. At the start of the synod, the electronic voting system only registered 237 out of the 256 bishops present, while to much amusement an electronic display in the hall projected a deformed map of Ireland.

Joked a bishop from the Emerald Isle, “I'm not sure I recognize my country.”

Edward Pentin writes from Rome.