At the press conference of the “Comprehensive Report” of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Grech, Secretary-General of the Church Synod, happily shared an image raised by a participating bishop: I saw the ice melting. General Spokesperson Cardinal Hollerich: Everyone returns with hope.
(Vatican News Network) After the Synod of Bishops, with the theme of Togetherness, spent the last day of a tight meeting schedule, a “Comprehensive Report” press conference was held in the Holy See Press Room on the evening of October 28. Cardinal Grech, Secretary-General of the Church Synod, and Cardinal Hollerich, General Speaker of this conference, shared their experiences during the four-week conference and the results achieved so far.
Cardinal Gretsch: Everyone creates space for others
The Secretary General of the Church Conference began by expressing his gratitude. “Thank you for your patience and the way you have been with me this month,” he told reporters. “For me, it will be unforgettable as a Synod that has earned a lot of space.”
This is an experience of sharing generously and listening with your heart. “I have observed that most people create space to allow others to enter their hearts,” Cardinal Grech noted. The cardinal emphasized the aspect of mutual listening, noting that one of the bishops at the conference said to him: “I see the ice coming. Melting.” The cardinal also noted: “At the conference table, the ice is also slowly melting among people.”
Precisely, during the meetings, the Church “creates space for everyone, no one is left out. This is because we are living the Gospel”. Everyone feels included in the church family. Furthermore, the Church also makes room for the Holy Spirit, as the Pope has urged from the beginning. The Cardinal is deeply happy about this and wishes everyone to continue along this path and create more space.
Cardinal Hollerich: Synod helps to live out the identity of disciples of Jesus
Cardinal Hollerich, the general spokesman of this year’s Synod of Bishops, mentioned an interesting thing at the press conference: At the opening of the Synod, members of the Synod were invited to participate in a retreat, and “several bishops complained slightly about this.” “Then things changed,” the cardinal said, “because people were deeply moved by the way the experience was shared.”
Cardinal Hollerich pointed out that these experiences really help us all to live together as disciples of Jesus. “I believe people will go home with hope.”
Respect everyone’s pace: this is the spirit of walking together
Several journalists asked questions about the results of the vote on “undecided” issues such as celibacy for priests. In this regard, Cardinal Grech explained that there is a lack of comprehensive consensus on some issues, and there is still some way to go on other issues. “This does not surprise me,” the secretary-general said.
As for the reason why more time is needed to discuss issues such as homosexuality, Cardinal Hollelich and Cardinal Grech both said in unison that every paragraph of the “Report” has been adopted. Cardinal Grech particularly pointed out that the atmosphere at the venue was particularly harmonious. “We are a family and we must respect everyone’s pace. We move forward side by side. This is the concept of walking together.”
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2023-10-30 09:05:53
