At the Synod of Bishops, held in Rome in October 1967, the following request was put by the Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, and met with he approval of the Fathers: Would it seem opportune to list the themes which ought to be included in all Schemes for Priestly Training and to prepare in collaboration with the Episcopal Conferences a Basic Scheme (Ration Fundamentalis) in a accordance with the Decree Optatamtotius and the other Conciliar documents: in the next plenary meeting of the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education this scheme should be examined and drawn up definitively so as to serve as a norm for all Schemes later to be made; its purpose being to preserve unity and at the same time allow sound variety.