The convocation of the next synodal assembly comes at a particularly significant moment for the Catholic Church. In fact, the time of its celebration will coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, the twentieth anniversary of the publication of Catechismus-Compendium
Catechismus van de Katholieke Kerk
(15 augustus 1997) and the inauguration of The Year of Faith, proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. Vgl. Paus Benedictus XVI, Motu Proprio, Over het uitroepen van het "Jaar van het Geloof", Porta Fidei (11 okt 2011) The Synod will therefore provide a good opportunity to focus on the subject of conversion and the necessity of holiness, emphasized by all these anniversaries. The Synod will also be the place to grasp and repropose to people the invitation to rediscover the faith. This invitation was initially made at the Second Vatican Council and restated in The Year of the Faith proclaimed by Pope Paul VI, and again addressed to us in our time by Pope Benedict XVI. All this will serve as the framework for the synod's work of treating the topic of the new evangelization.

During the years spanning the previously mentioned occurrences, other essential documentation deserves consideration not only at this time of preparation but also during the Synod itself. Besides a direct and explicit reference to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, no discussion on evangelization can take place today, without considering what was expressed on the subject by Pope Paul VI in his Apostolic Exhortation H. Paus Paulus VI - Postsynodale Apostolische Exhortatie
Evangelii Nuntiandi
Over de Evangelisatie in de Moderne Wereld
(8 december 1975), and Pope John Paul II in both his Encyclical Letter H. Paus Johannes Paulus II - Encycliek
Redemptoris Missio
Over de blijvende geldigheid van de missie-opdracht
(7 december 1990), and Apostolic Letter H. Paus Johannes Paulus II - Apostolische Brief
Novo millennio ineunte
Een nieuw millennium
(6 januari 2001). All these texts have been cited in a number of responses as a point of reference and comparison.