Synod of Bishops: Embracing Collegiality and Walking Together to the Lake of the Lord

The spirit of collegiality is not a place for expressing individual opinions, but for listening, discerning and walking together to the lake where the Lord awaits us. This was the main point of the Synod briefing on the afternoon of October 7.

(Vatican News) Jesus, Church, family, fellowship, listening, communion, the poor, youth, community, love. These are just some of the words that have come up most frequently during the first days of the Synod of Bishops on the theme of “comrades”, which has concluded the first period of the thematic discussion of the “Working Document”. Paolo Ruffini, chairman of the Information Committee of the World Bishops Conference and prefect of the Dicastery for Communications, said at a press briefing on the afternoon of October 7 that during the first few days of meetings, participants thanked the Pope for allowing them to experience This beautiful moment in the multifaceted nature of the Catholic Church.

group report

After the third plenary meeting on the afternoon of the 6th, the third group discussion was held on the morning of the 7th, and a summary report was made on the group discussion including representatives of the Brethren Churches. The report of each group was approved by the majority of the members and then submitted to the church conference secretariat. After being summarized, it was submitted to the general meeting for discussion.

Issues raised by the group report

The topics presented in the reports of each group include: formation at all levels, that is, formation in the priesthood, in the monastery, and in the family; the common responsibility of all the faithful; the way in which the hierarchy is reflected within communion; the need for vocabulary from various languages From the perspective of learning, we can deepen our understanding of the meaning of walking together. This question highlights not only the debureaucratization of ecclesial structures, but also the need to devote energy to rethinking new forms and new sites of participation in ecclesial communion and more than two thousand years of history.

Youth and the digital world

The group’s report proposed the need to mobilize young people, for example, to take into account the digital world, transform the concept of power into services and avoid all forms of clericalism. The role of laity and women in ecclesial communion is also mentioned, as is how the Church can serve the poor and immigrants. Among the themes presented are East and West, the relationship between these two lobes of the Church.

Pope Francis, pastor leading the Synod of Bishops

Ruffini said that the Pope also attended the plenary session on the afternoon of the 6th, and he usually comes to the venue first. Others who spoke at the briefing were: Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, President of the Association of Bishops’ Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, Sister Leticia Salazar of the Diocese of San Bernardino, USA, and the Information Committee of the Synod of Bishops Secretary Ms. Sheila Pires.

Cardinal Ampango said this was his fourth time attending the Synod of Bishops. The difference between this time and the previous times is: “This time, great emphasis is placed on seeking God’s will for this historic moment in the life of the Church. No one wants to impose an agenda on others. We are brothers and sisters, and together we listen to God’s will for the Church. What.” The cardinal emphasized the need to listen to the Holy Spirit and, through prayer and communication, try to find the best answers and results for specific problems.

In response to a reporter’s question, the cardinal said that in order to comply with the “mechanism in the spirit of consensus”, the group’s report will not be made public, but an overview of all reports will be provided. He clarified that “it is not the Secretariat of the Synod that decides or holds the Synod,” but rather there is an interactive relationship between the group and the Secretariat. Moreover, the power of each participant comes not from papal appointment but from baptism. The cardinal also pointed out that the spirit of collegiality is not about expressing individual opinions, but walking together towards the lake where the Lord awaits us.

In her speech, Sister Salazar reiterated that “the spirit of consensus is not a concept but the experience of being heard and accepted.” She mentioned that the theme of immigration was a centerpiece of discernment at the conference and shared her experience, saying that she came to California with her family when she was 17 years old and was immediately accepted by the church. Ms. Pires continued the theme by referring to the impact of immigration on family structures, touching on topics as wide-ranging as climate change, conflict and war.

On the morning of Monday, October 9, the fourth plenary session will be held to discuss another theme of the Working Paper: a communion that extends outward. How can we become more fully one with God and be a sign and instrument of human unity?

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2023-10-07 18:34:41