Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The Synod on Synodality concluded its 2024 assembly with a call for renewal and inclusivity across the global Catholic community. The final document, approved on the 26th October, said parishes and dioceses must move quickly to give life to the consultative bodies and broad participation in mission, ministry and leadership.
The church needs to become more ‘synodal’, and towards this end, concrete changes in the short term are necessary. Many such changes were spelled out in the 155 paragraphs of the final document and voted upon. Some were easy to pass. Others, like the role of women in the church, were a bit more challenging.
Pope Francis praised the synod members’ efforts as they completed their work and expressed his hopes for the document’s continuing influence. There, synodality is presented as a defining ‘style of Christian life’ that respects ‘the equal dignity of all the baptised’ and invites each person to contribute to the Church’s mission.
Cardinal Mario Grech highlighted the significance of the discernment and learning that took place and noted that the experience of the synod was like a non-written document. Cardinal Hollerich added, ‘We have walked together, and now we know that we must keep walking together in the future.’
The document’s proposals range from reforms that would require more extensive study—such as women’s roles in church leadership and teaching—to actions that can be implemented immediately, like ensuring that parishes have representative pastoral councils.
Pope Francis acknowledged that reforms, like changes to seminary education and overcoming clericalism, require time, prayer and discernment. On the other hand, he said, the process is not meant to ‘postpone decisions indefinitely’.
Pope Francis ended the synod with this prayer: May the Lord accompany us and guide us in this journey for the glory of His Name, with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of Saint Joseph. And please, do not forget to pray for me! Thank you!
God bless you.
Fr Silvio
