All articles tagged with #synodality
Pope Leo XIV addressed the sexual abuse crisis in the Church, emphasizing the importance of listening to victims, fostering dialogue among cardinals, and continuing efforts for reform and support, including upcoming meetings and initiatives rooted in Vatican II principles.
Pope Leo XIV announced plans for an annual Consistory, with the next scheduled for June near the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, emphasizing continuity, synodality, and global Church unity, while also addressing issues like Venezuela and the role of laity and women in the Church.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of unity, discernment, and mission during a Vatican meeting with cardinals, highlighting themes of synodality and evangelization, and encouraging ongoing dialogue and collaboration within the Church to proclaim the Gospel and adapt to contemporary challenges.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of unity and humility within the Church, urging believers to avoid polarizations between tradition and novelty, and to seek harmony through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, fostering a more inclusive and synodal community.
In his first interview, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of addressing income inequality, polarization, and promoting peace, while advocating for a synodal church that fosters dialogue and understanding to overcome societal divisions.
Pope Leo XIV emphasizes the importance of overcoming hatred and violence through dialogue, promoting peace, and embracing synodality within the Church to address global conflicts and societal divisions, while also sharing personal insights on his background and interests.
The interim report of the synod of bishops' synod on synodality has sparked debate and speculation about the direction of the Catholic Church. The removal of the term "LGBTQ" from the document and the cautious language regarding women's ordination have disappointed some, while others see it as reflecting the majority's views. The report also includes proposals for structural reforms that have been previously rejected. The synod is seen as a platform for shaping the conversation on progressive reform within the Church, with some advocating for a pastoral approach that prioritizes practice over doctrine. However, concerns have been raised about the focus on issues primarily relevant to affluent countries, rather than addressing the needs of the marginalized and persecuted. The synod's success or failure will be measured against Pope Francis' vision of synodality as a means to evangelize and serve the poor.
The Synod on Synodality may not provide a way forward for the Christian world, which is currently experiencing one of the greatest crises of synodality it has ever faced. Recent events, such as the Anglican Communion's rejection of the Archbishop of Canterbury's leadership due to the acceptance of homosexuality and the joint Catholic-Orthodox meeting in Alexandria, show that synodality has not preserved communion. The Christian world is tearing itself apart, shredding communion, stifling mission, and discouraging participation.
Lay leaders share their thoughts on the working document for the upcoming Synod of Bishops in October, which proposes questions around three priority issues and gets into controversial matters such as lay governance, women’s diaconate, and priestly celibacy. The document describes “the characteristic signs of a synodal Church” and highlights “conversation in the Spirit” as a way of enacting this synodality. The leaders express surprise at the centrality of synodality to Catholic ecclesiology and the use of the method of “conversation in the Spirit.”
Organizers of Pope Francis’s Synod of Bishops on Synodality have denied accusations that the working document for the gathering is biased towards liberal-minded Catholics. The synod, which aims to promote a collaborative and consultative style of management, will culminate in two Rome-based gatherings in October 2021 and October 2024. The working document stresses unity in diversity and the need to lead the Catholic Church “beyond fragmentation and polarization,” prioritizing a genuine dialogue when there is a difference of opinion, rather than alienating those who disagree. The list of issues up for discussion generally reflects the priorities and concerns of more progressively-minded Catholics, whereas concerns associated more with conservative-minded Catholics are absent.
The General Secretariat of the Synod has released the "Instrumentum laboris," a document that will guide the work of the two-part General Assembly that will meet in Rome in October 2023 and October 2024. The document incorporates the experiences of local Churches around the world and highlights the need for a synodal Church that is welcoming, diverse, and focused on mission. It also emphasizes the importance of governance structures and dynamics, integral formation, and the renewal of language used in liturgy, preaching, and communication.