Synod Briefing - Day 3: An invitation to listen to all
By Salvatore Cernuzio
The Second General Congregation of the General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality opened Friday morning 鈥� the feast of St Francis of Assisi 鈥� with Name Day greetings to the 杏MAP导航 and all those who bear the names Francis and Frances.
The session was attended by 351 members in the Paul VI Hall, who listened to the reports of the five 鈥淟anguage Tables.鈥� Common themes of the various language groups concerned the idea of synodality as a style rather than a technique, and issues such as the role of women and laity in the Church; and 鈥渁ctive鈥� listening to those who feel excluded because they do not live up to the prescriptions of the Church.
Presenters at the daily press conference at the Holy See Press Office also noted that Synod participants reflected on the idea that, 鈥渋n a world of orphans,鈥� the Church can represent 鈥渢he family of those who have no family.鈥� The meeting for journalists began with highlights of the Synod鈥檚 work from the prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini; and Sheila Pires, president and secretary respectively of the General Assembly鈥檚 Commission for Information.
Not all charisms need to be ministries
In particular, they reported, that the image of the Church as the Body of Christ, where there are many ministries and charisms in a single body, was recalled several times.
It was in this context that the theme of the role of the laity, and in particular of women, in the Church was analysed. The presenters emphasised that all charisms are important, but that it is not necessary for all charisms to be expressed in ecclesial ministries.
The role and contribution of women
Some groups, the speakers reported, were asked to consider, without 鈥渋deological and prejudicial approaches,鈥� whether some issues were being raised as a result of fashionable trends and ideologies rather than 鈥渢rue ecclesial discernment.鈥�
Within this same framework, the speakers noted that 鈥淏aptism confers the same dignity on every believer.鈥� With regard to the question of women and the Sacrament of Holy Orders, some Synod members suggested the possibility of deeper study of the possibility of ministries such as 鈥渁 ministry of consolation,鈥� emphasising the importance of recalling the important contributions women have made and continue to make within the Church.
Synod members were reported to have strongly emphasised the 鈥渆qual dignity and co-responsibility鈥� of all those who are baptized. This, it was said, is the basis for reflection on the inclusion of lay people 鈥� and women and young people especially -- in the decision-making processes of ecclesial life.
In the context of the relationships between men and women, some Groups suggested the need to identify fears and fears behind certain positions, 鈥渂ecause these fears in the Church have led to attitudes of ignorance and contempt toward women.鈥� Identification of such fears can further the work of ecclesial discernment.
Laity, language, face of the poor
Some of the Language Tables noted that in some places in the Instrumentum laboris the laity, as well as the family 鈥渄omestic Church,鈥� are scarcely mentioned.
The relationship between local churches and cultures also needs to be further explored, since each local church is 鈥渇orged鈥� by a culture while remaining itself.
In this vein, the issue of language was also mentioned, asking that it be 鈥渟imple鈥� and that 鈥渟ome formulations that are the fruit of a Eurocentric and Western perspective鈥� be changed.
Finally, as a last point, there was a twofold invitation to start from pastoral experiences and realities 鈥� because life is more important than theory鈥�; and to 鈥渓ook at the face of the poor torn by wars, violence, and abuse.鈥�
More than interventions
After the five papers, the floor was opened to those who wanted to speak. Thirty-six speakers addressed the General Congregation, touching on topics such as the importance of the laity, the role of women in the with Church (with one speaker describing as 鈥渁 shortcoming鈥� the idea that are seen only as 鈥渃onsolers鈥� and not as someone who can preach or head up an organization.
In the same vein, one speaker, recalling the example of missionaries, including laywomen, who throughout the world lead entire communities, noted that some women feel called by God to be ordained and ask that of the Church.
The request was also made for women to participate in the Study Group on Ministries and Charisms and that the result of the work of this Group might be discussed in a synodal space to provide advice and discernment.
Dialogue and listening
Further interventions reiterated the importance of developing a synodal spirituality, active listening, closeness, support without prejudice, even of those who are different, those who do not make us feel comfortable.
Some speakers called for more dialogue with other cultures, philosophies, and religions, and emphasized the need to respect and recognize 鈥渢he other鈥� 鈥渂ecause this unites the people of God.鈥�
With regard to listening, taking their cue from the theme 鈥淟et us widen the space of the tent,鈥� speakers asked for synod participants to listen more profoundly to those in conditions of poverty and suffering and those who feel excluded from society and the Church, such as the divorced, the marginalized, and the so-called 鈥淟GBTQ+鈥� community.
鈥淓nlarging the space鈥� in the liturgy.
Speakers also mentioned the topic of clericalism, emphasizing that 鈥渋n the Church there are neither a master nor subjects. There is only one Lord, and we are all brothers.鈥�
Dr Ruffini highlighted references to the 鈥渞epeated and celebrated鈥� theme of the liturgy, which can become a 鈥漨irror of synodality.鈥�
One proposal was that 鈥渁t the next common liturgy of the members of the synod the space of the tent could be 鈥榚nlarged鈥�.鈥�
Guest speakers at the Press Conferece
Four members of the General Assembly were present at Friday鈥檚 press conference: Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, archbishop of Rabat (Morocco) and president of CERNA (Regional Bishops' Conference of North Africa); Bishop Antony Randazzo, president of the Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO); Bishop Matthieu Rougé of Nanterre (France); and Sister Xiskya Lucia Valladares Paguaga, from Nicaragua, an expert in social media and digital evangelization.
Experience in dioceses, nations and continents
All four speakers recounted the experience of synodality from their own environments: parishes, dioceses, nations, and continents.
Cardinal Lopéz Romero reported the experience in Africa of 鈥渁 single religious sister who created a movement of exchange, reflections, on synodality鈥� and who 鈥渁lone did more than many Episcopal Conferences.鈥� He also spoke about the various synodal meetings in Morocco that allowed Christians themselves to 鈥渄iscover who we are, few in number but belonging to more than 100 countries: an extraordinary richness but also some difficulties in living communion.鈥�
Bishop Rougé spoke of 鈥渟ynodal practices鈥� in Nanterre, but wanted to focus more on the great Synod in the Vatican: 鈥淲e are very happy to meet again, this is related to the intensity with which we lived the first session. Everyone arrived with doubts and fears, then with the method of the conversation in the Spirit we had a deep spiritual experience that we tried to share in our dioceses.鈥�
Bishop Rougé noted that 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� words, 鈥淭he Synod is not a Parliament,鈥� were very powerful. 鈥淟ast year he said it twice, this year only once because he thought we understood it,鈥� the bishop smiled.
The fragilities of the countries of Oceania
From the centre of Europe, the focus turned to the great territory of Oceania with comments from Bishop Randazzo. Oceania embraces a large percentage of the earth, but is 鈥渇ragile,鈥� considering areas such as Papua New Guinea 鈥� recently visited by the 杏MAP导航 鈥� the Solomon Islands, and the various Pacific archipelagos that also suffer at times a sense of abandonment.
Bishop Randazzo spoke of the great joy in seeing the happiness of the people upon the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 arrival in Port Moresby, thrilled at realizing that the 杏MAP导航 had found the time to come from Rome and cross the whole world to reach one of the most fragile areas of the earth鈥�; an area that is, nonetheless, rich in natural resources.
In this regard, the bishop denounced a certain 鈥済reediness鈥� on the part of developed nations that come and demand agreements and compromises with poor, and therefore vulnerable, nations to obtain precious natural resources.
He condemned the destruction of natural resources, which leads to suffering on the part of whole communities. And he pointed to migrants in the seas of Oceania who head for more stable countries, forced to leave their homes due to rising sea levels.
For the people of Oceania, the concept of synodality is not something strange, but on the contrary something they have known and applied for thousands of years: coming together and listening to each other with respect.
They talk about oceans, forests, fisheries, but also about faith. Bishop Randazzo complained, however, of 鈥渘iche issues鈥� 鈥� the concerns especially of rich western cultures 鈥� receive more attention than the grave issues facing the rest of the world.
No to corporate models in the Church
Responding to questions from journalists, the FCBCO president lamented the tendency on the part of the Church to embrace models of organization adopted from the corporate world. He expressed his unhappiness with words like 鈥渘etworking,鈥� which is the language of businessmen. The language of the Church on the other hand should be the language of 鈥渃ommunion鈥�, of being together. He worried that some in the Church are so concerned to become 鈥渟ophisticated鈥� 鈥渢hat we risk excluding people.鈥�
The 鈥渞eal scandal鈥� is the exclusion of women
Among the 鈥渘iche鈥� issues that evoked concern from Randazzo was that of the ordination of women, a discussion that has been ongoing for decades. Randazzo spoke passionately, saying that a small minority of western voices is 鈥渙bsessed鈥� with the issue.
The real 鈥渟candal,鈥� he said, lies in women being ignored by the Church; or, even worse, being marginalized, becoming victims of domestic violence, and being excluded from work environments.
鈥淭his is a scandal against the Gospel!鈥� Bishop Randazzo said.
The importance of digital mission
Sister Xiskya emphasised the urgency of working in the 鈥渄igital mission,鈥� which is facing challenges in an age of new technologies and artificial intelligence.
鈥淪ixty-five percent of the world鈥檚 population frequents digital streets,鈥� she said, noting that 鈥減hysical poverty is also found in social media.鈥�
Since the beginning of the Synod, the nun explained, offices are being set up at the Bishops鈥� Conferences, meetings are being organized with missionaries, and experiences of digital missionaries are being shared.
Such missionaries, Sr Xiskya said, are those who 鈥渙n the very streets of the web try to accompany and be close to the estranged who nevertheless seek the truth and walk wounded in the world,鈥� sometimes because of negative experiences with the Church.
鈥�Samaritanear鈥�
The direction for her this work, Sister Xiskya reported, was given to her personally by the 杏MAP导航 with a neologism: 鈥�Samaritanear,鈥� that is, to be good Samaritans who 鈥渞each out to people who are walking on digital paths,鈥� both those who 鈥渨ant to rediscover Gospel values鈥� and those who 鈥渉ave never heard the name of Jesus.鈥�
In this area, synodality is a great hope, especially considering the polarization and toxic relationships that can be found on social media.
Addressing the problems
Cardinal Lopéz Romero also spoke on the richness of the synodal itinerary, saying, 鈥淭his synod is extremely enriching. Our Church is still too Europeanized, Westernized. We have to live this journey helping each other, so the Church will come out more Catholic, universal.鈥�
In this regard, he quoted the example of an African bishop from a diocese with lots of vocations and lots of baptisms: 鈥淗e reproached a European bishop for wanting to teach him a lesson when his churches were empty.鈥�
Of course, 鈥渨e Europeans must learn to be humble, but Africans should not boast either because success does not depend on numbers. We must help each other live the Gospel,鈥� the cardinal said.
鈥淭here will be steps forward, steps backwards, encounters, clashes, but we must show the maturity to have patience, those who go faster wait for those who go slower... It is good that there are problems, they must be addressed and not swept under the rug.鈥�
Reactions to Fiducia supplicans
Concerning reactions to the doctrinal statement Fiducia supplicans, which introduced the possibility of offering blessing to persons in 鈥渟ame-sex relationships鈥� 鈥� a declaration that provoked contrary reactions even within the African Church itself.
It is a document, the Moroccan cardinal stressed, 鈥渢hat should have gone through a synodal path.鈥� He noted that the document did not come from the Synod but from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Cardinal Lopéz Romero noted that his bishops鈥� conference came to a conclusion that differed from that of other African episcopates. He noted, too, that other nations, speaking for the continent of Africa, made a decision 鈥渨ithout having consulted all of Africa.鈥� The president of SECAM, Cardinal Lopéz said, 鈥淚n fact apologized to us.鈥�
This, too, he emphasized, is synodality; and learning it 鈥渋s not easy.鈥�
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