Those responsible for the continental phase of the Synod met in Rome for two days, meeting directly with the Synod Secretariat.
(Vatican News Network)The President of the International Association of Regional Episcopal Conferences of the World and the coordinators of the Synod’s Continental Synod met on November 28 and 29 at the Office of the Synod Secretariat. After the beginning of the continental phase of the Synod of Bishops on October 27 of this year, each continent sent a representative to Rome for a meeting to present the characteristics of this phase of the continent.
Information was provided on those directly involved in the synodal process in Asia, Africa, Oceania, North America, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe, as well as the expected dates, participants, objectives and methodology for holding a world-wide congress continental.
Several representatives spoke about the issues that most concern pastors. After reading the working documents for the continental phase, they highlight several pastoral concerns: the need to reach out to military personnel and their families; the need to develop a theology of suffering in the context of what many people are suffering in today’s world; And how the synodal process has so far provided a concrete forum for bishops from all over the world to begin to understand the new vision that Pope Francis proposes for the path of the Church.
During the meeting, Father Giacomo Costa, councilor of the Synod Secretariat, illustrated the salient points of the methodology proposed by the Secretariat for the Congress of the Continental Phase. This methodology uses the working papers of the continental phase as a springboard to facilitate dialogue. The Continental Document reflects what is documented in the consultation processes at the parish and national levels, in order to facilitate a more in-depth dialogue between all the local Churches.
Furthermore, Fr Costa also underlined that the document is the result of a consultation with the People of God and not the basis of a pastoral discernment implemented after the Synod, or of a sociological investigation. Furthermore, the consultation phase revolves around an important question: “How can the local Church live and feel that we are walking together, where is the Holy Spirit taking us?” Therefore, the methodology used seeks to highlight experiences, insights and some doubts, and the priorities of the pastoral work of local Churches around the world, thus intensifying this dialogue among equals.
The fruit of this dialogue will form the report of the Working Group of the Synods of the Continents. The deadline for submitting the report to the Secretariat of the Synod of the Church is March 31, 2023.
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