At the Synod Briefing a Syrian Nun spoke of "a moment of very rich exchange" which fuels the tension towards Unity and sharing offered in Prayer

 At the briefing on October 20th with journalists on the progress of the Synod, the role of the bishops and the co-responsibility of the laity in the Church, of authority experienced as a service, was discussed: "The bishop has the last word, not the only word" . Synodality "can help prevent abuse because it has to do with listening and dialogue"

Authority - which in the Church is a "service" that is "exercised barefoot" - and the issue of abuse were among the topics addressed in the interventions of the thirteenth (present in 341) and fourteenth (present in 343) general congregations of the first session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, held yesterday afternoon and this morning, always with the interventions of the smaller circles followed by free interventions. This was made known by Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Dicastery for Communication and president of the Information Commission, in the briefing with journalists, which began at 2.20 pm, in the Press Room of the Holy See, and was introduced by the deputy director Cristiane Murray.

In reference to yesterday afternoon's and today's interventions on section B3 of the Instrumentum laboris - whose title is "Participation, tasks of responsibility and authority" - Ruffini explained that the commitment to "avoid authoritarianism" has been reaffirmed and that "authority is not domination but service". Reporting, in particular, one of the most significant expressions used in the Chamber, the prefect said that authority is "exercised barefoot". Those who "have authority - it was said in the Chamber - must not control everything but have the ability to delegate"; and the bishop, it has been said, "has the last word but not the only word". Among the topics covered are "the role of pastors at the service of the poor", precisely in the style of the prayer presided over last night by the Pope in St. Peter's Square for migrants and refugees. Attention must be paid - it was noted in the interventions - "to the cries of those who suffer on the streets". Furthermore, "the bishops must call for conversion of heart so that feelings of humanity may resurface in those who, by trafficking in weapons, contribute to the "third world war" which causes the suffering of millions of people".

«Co-responsibility» is one of the words that occurs most in the interventions, and is understood «as the involvement and coordination of charisms», reported Ruffini. In this regard, the importance of valorising figures, skills and in particular the commitment of lay people was highlighted in the works. The prefect then wanted to clarify the question of the number of participants in the Synod: there are 365 with the Pope. Recalling the different methods of participation, Ruffini pointed out that, in all, another hundred people are involved - thus arriving at the number of 464 — but their presence is, obviously, not counted in official communications. Furthermore, he made it known that the General Secretariat gives priority in speaking to those who have not yet participated in the proceedings. Sheila Pires, secretary of the Information Commission, then continued in the briefing by making it known that, in the Chamber, there were those who warned against clericalism, even among lay people, also because «it has led to abuses of power, of conscience, economic and sexual". And the abuses, Pires insisted, have caused the Church to "lose credibility", so much so as to make a "control mechanism" necessary. Synodality, as was highlighted in the interventions, according to what Pires reported, "can contribute to preventing abuses because it is a process that has to do with listening and dialogue."

The necessary reforms in the Church

As regards reforms, there was talk of changes necessary to achieve greater transparency of financial structures and in the economic field; of revision of canon law and also of some "titles" that have become anachronistic. Returning to synodality, the urgency of strengthening existing structures - such as pastoral councils - was highlighted, being careful not to give in to parliamentary drift. Finally, Pires reported that the issue of presence alongside young people in the digital environment is particularly felt, a true place of mission to bring together those in distant suburbs. In reality, was the conclusion, it is a question of meeting these young people where they already are, and that is in the various social networks.

Archbishop Grušas: training and conversion

Monsignor Gintaras Grušas, archbishop of Vilnius, president of the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe and of the Episcopal Conference of Lithuania, took the floor to first of all recall the continental meeting held in February in Prague: in the prelate's opinion, it was a an "extremely positive opportunity for conversation and spiritual sharing", thanks to which pastors from 45 different countries were able to talk and discuss together from different perspectives. Referring then to the synod work, Grušas underlined the centrality of the theme of formation as "a way of being Church, of living together, of experiencing communion". The very experience of the Synod concretely realizes all this: "despite the fatigue of these days - he said - we have great energy because, despite coming from different countries, we realize that we have so much in common: first of all faith". Another important aspect highlighted by the prelate is the conversion of the heart, the desire to "grow as a Church" starting from the willingness to "change mentality".

Sister Fadoul: between suffering and hope

Sister Houda Fadoul, a Syrian, who in 1993 joined the monastic community of the Syro-Catholic rite Deir Mar Musa, founded by Father Paolo Dall'Oglio, then spoke. The nun - who participates in the work as a witness of the synodal process for the Eastern Churches and the Middle East, among those who come from the continental Assemblies without being awarded the episcopal "munus" - spoke about her personal and ecclesial experience, marked by dramatic events like war, pandemic, earthquake. Furthermore, his diocese was without a bishop for three years and the new pastor, who had just arrived, tried to "catch up" by involving young people above all and also inviting an expert Lebanese bishop to meet the various components of the community. As for the Synod, the nun spoke of "a moment of very rich exchange" which fuels the tension towards unity and sharing offered in prayer. Each theme, moreover, is addressed with the style of "walking together": there is a starting point, a path, an objective to be achieved.

The archbishop of Tokyo: with the gaze of Caritas

Monsignor Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi - verbita missionary, archbishop of Tokyo, president of Caritas internationalis, president of the Episcopal Conference of Japan, general secretary of the Federation of Asian Episcopal Conferences - underlined how difficult it is for the Japanese to speak in groups, given that they prefer, by their own style, silence. For this reason, he observed, «the debate faced in these days is very important. In the continental assemblies we had already begun to use the method of smaller circles, around a table, with meetings organized in Asia which better prepared us for the Synod. By participating in five smaller groups - the archbishop reiterated - I had the opportunity to fully experience diversity in the unity of the Church, without forgetting that its existence is universal". The language used in the meetings, he reiterated, is «in fact that of universal theology even if a single solution cannot be valid for everyone. This is because in Asia there are many languages and many realities: we cannot choose a single solution to walk together given that synodality also means respecting local cultures." Monsignor Kikuchi then focused on his service as president of Caritas Internationalis, specifying how «every Caritas is fundamental in the synodal path of the Church. All organizations - he pointed out - have their own Catholic identity, actively collaborate with various partners and also have an ecumenical and interreligious value. The synodality can be seen in the different nationalities of those who lead this organization and those who operate at a local level, in all parts of the world".

Sister Barron: the natural African synodality

Sister Mary Teresa Barron, Irish, superior general of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, president of the International Union of Superiors General, introduced her speech by mentioning in English the motto: «No one person reads the same book as another» . «Reflecting on the Synod – he confided – led me to see and experience things on the basis of my experience as a nun, gained in East Africa in a rural parish, where I had the first experience of the Synodal Church, in a “young” Church with two priests for 35 villages and a catechist for an area the size of half Ireland." The synodality experienced in the smaller circles, continued the nun, is similar to that experienced when in Africa «in community, with the lay faithful, every Sunday outside the mud huts, we sat in a circle to make decisions all together», even with people who «did not have an education and we shared the faith from the bottom of our hearts. But every voice had the same weight." Sister Barron then proposed «greater listening to the “younger” Churches where there is strong participation from below» and also confirmed how religious life within one's own congregation is based on synodality.

Everyone has their role in the Church

Responding to journalists' questions, Sister Fadoul, regarding synodality, referred to the contribution of the testimony of common life. In particular, he recalled that he and his community had not abandoned the Syrian Christians, helping them with prayer and making them feel solidarity. This was echoed by Sister Barron, who highlighted the involvement of the superior generals in the synod process. On the other hand, he added, consecrated life recognizes the importance of training to understand how to live synodality. Sister Barron referred to the "wave effect" in online training, which is useful for expanding sharing and community building.

Reflection on the female diaconate

To a subsequent question regarding the female diaconate, Sister Barron noted that the issue is on the table for synodal discernment. It is precisely characteristic of the beauty of the Catholic Church that there are different opinions, but while discussing, he added, it would not be right to speak outside this space. In this regard, Sister Fadoul underlined that everyone must assume their role in the Church, both men and women, learning to use the gifts of the Lord. Archbishop Grušas added that the debate on the various ministries in the Church is part of this very broad exchange at the Synod. Usually, he pointed out, we look for a yes or no, black or white answer. It is clear that there are differences in opinion that also depend on cultural background, so it is too early to make a decision at this stage.

The synodal reflection in Europe and Asia

Again in response to a question, Grušas said that the presidents of the Episcopal Conferences have reflected on a series of structures that are already synodal in canon law and which can already be implemented effectively now. And the archbishop of Tokyo said that during the pandemic there had not been much opportunity to bring people together to walk in a synodical way, so they opted for the online mode. Then, he invited us to reflect that if we really want to involve the laity, we must consider their activities, their families. Responding to a question from a Filipino journalist on the proposal contained in the Asian continental document relating to hospitality and inclusiveness in the Church, the Archbishop of Tokyo repeated what was proposed in the Minor Circles, i.e. the oriental custom of "taking off one's shoes to enter the house”, as a sign of welcome and hospitality.

The synod process is more important than decisions

To a final question on the final decisions of the assembly, Monsignor Grušas pointed out the unity of the Assembly "on the method of synodality". On specific issues «I don't think that at this stage, or even before 2024, there will be final decisions. But if we grow and live in synodality they will arrive, as we do not seek dogmatic conclusions, there is no preconception about what this Synod should be. Even though everyone would like decisions, the process is more important than the decisions." Finally, Sister Fadoul added that listening, sharing and discerning are the key words for the whole Church.

Source: Vatican News Italian Translation