Five things to know about the Vatican’s family synod

Pope Francis yesterday opened a two-week meeting of bishops and cardinals from around the world aimed at making the church’s teaching on family life — marriage, sex, contraception, divorce and homosexuality — relevant to today’s Catholic families.

The pre-synod debate has been dominated by mudslinging between liberals and conservatives over divorce and remarriage, but there are many more issues up for discussion.

Here are five things to know about the synod: