As the Church moves to the halfway point of the Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis, at a recent general audience in Rome, reflected on the strengths and weaknesses of the process thus far. While he lamented that the synod seems to be “of little interest to the general public,” he reiterated its importance for the Catholic Church.
“I am aware that speaking of a ‘Synod on Synodality’ may seem something abstruse, self-referential, excessively technical and of little interest to the general public,” he said Aug. 26. “But what has happened over the past year, which will continue with the assembly next October and then with the second stage of Synod 2024, is something truly important for the Church.”
His remarks came ahead of the first global Synod on Synodality assembly that is taking place Oct. 4-28 at the Vatican. “We have opened our doors; we have offered everyone the opportunity to participate; we have taken into account everyone’s needs and suggestions. We want to contribute together to build the Church, where everyone feels at home, where no one is excluded,” Pope Francis said. “That word of the Gospel that is so important: everyone. Everyone, everyone: There are no first-, second – or third-class Catholics, no. All together. Everyone. It is the Lord’s invitation.”
At a meeting in August with fellow Jesuits from Portugal, he shared some of his frustration with conservative Catholics, primarily from the United States, who have ignored, condemned or minimized the importance of this way of being Church, which is at the heart of synodality, as well as most of his initiatives in the past 10 years of his pontificate. As reported in a March article in the National Catholic Reporter, conservative U.S. Catholics have attacked Pope Francis for what they say is a lack of clarity. The article pointed out that the lack of clarity over “articulating Church doctrines on homosexuality, abortion and the indissolubility of marriage,” as well as the pope’s criticism of capitalism, consumerism and environment exploitation, have won their ire.
“You have seen that in the United States, the situation is not easy: There is a very strong reactionary attitude. It is organized and shapes the way people belong, even emotionally,” Pope Francis said. This nostalgia with the past, he said, “is useless, and we need to understand that there is an appropriate evolution in the understanding of matters of faith and morals. In other words, doctrine also progresses, expands and consolidates with time and becomes firmer, but is always progressing.”
He continued, “I would like to remind these people that backwardness is useless. Doing this, you lose the true tradition, and you turn to ideologies to have support. In other words, ideologies replace faith.”
These statements may have been prompted by those such as Cardinal Raymond Burke, a former archbishop and Vatican official who recently wrote that the Synod on Synodality will open a “Pandora’s box” and lead the Church to “confusion and error and their fruit, division – indeed schism!” The pope already issued a remark on this threat of schism in 2019 when he said, “I pray there are no schisms, but I’m not scared!”
At this year’s Sunday Angelus during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis explained that the path to Christian unity and the Church’s synodal path are intertwined. To this end, he called for an Ecumenical Prayer Vigil to take place Sept. 30 in St. Peter’s Square. At the Vigil, he explained, “We will entrust to God the work of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.” This Vigil is being prepared by the Taizé Community in Rome.
Similarly, I would like to invite everyone to an Ecumenical Taizé Prayer Service for the success of the Synod on Synodality at my parish, Christ the Redeemer. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 in the church, 318 Carl Hasselhan Dr., Atco. This service is open to all Christians as we pray for the men and women who will be assembling in Rome to enter into synod. Hope to see you Sept. 28!
Father Joseph D. Wallace is diocesan director of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs and pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Atco.
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