In nine days, the synod’s 368 participants will have concluded their discussions, and on Oct. 26 they will vote on the final document, the fruit of three years’ work throughout the Catholic Church, to present their proposals to Pope Francis.
As I write, I imagine that not a few of them may be praying the words written by St. John Henry Newman in 1833: “Lead kindly light.” Several delegates have told me they are currently experiencing some confusion and are wondering whether the synod will come up with the hoped-for concrete proposals that can contribute to changing our way of being church in different countries and cultures in the 21st century.
But confusion at this stage may not be a bad thing. As Pope Francis has often said, the Holy Spirit first creates confusion and then brings harmony, as happened at the first Pentecost. Indeed, he has repeatedly reminded participants, “The Holy Spirit is the protagonist at the synod.”
Two weeks ago, participants began by discussing the theological foundations of synodality, as outlined in the synod’s working document. They next focused on “relations” in the church, distinguishing ordained ministries from ministries arising from our shared baptism. They reflected on the role of women in the church and the need for “a ministry of listening and accompaniment”—a proposal that could enter the final document. They focused on “reimagining the ordained ministries” of bishops, priests and deacons, “moving away from a pyramidal vision of exercising authority to a synodal way.” They examined relations between the churches in different lands and highlighted the need for greater solidarity on issues like migration, the environment, poverty and violence. They discussed ways to advance ecumenical dialogue, as well as interreligious and intercultural dialogue.
On Oct. 10, Cardinal-elect Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., addressed the synod assembly as they prepared to discuss four key areas in the life of a missionary, synodal church: formation, discernment, decision-making processes and “transparency, accountability, evaluation.”
He reminded them that through the synod, “the church enters more deeply into the mystery of the Divine Love by dwelling with deep questions to which we have no quick answers.”
He sought to encourage them by recalling that the same was true at the Council of Jerusalem, around 50 C.E., when the apostles discussed, “How may the Gentiles be admitted to the Church?”; and at the Council of Nicaea in 325 C.E. when they asked, “How can we affirm that Jesus was truly God and truly human?”; and at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 C.E. when they reflected on the mystery, “How God could be truly three and truly one?”
“Our task in the synod is to live with difficult questions and not, like the disciples, get rid of them,” he said. “Many people want this synod to give an immediate ‘yes' or ‘no’ on various issues! But that is not how the church advances into the deep mystery of the Divine Love.”
Father Radcliffe told the synod delegates:
We must not run away from the difficult questions…. We dwell with these questions in the silence of prayer and mutual listening. We listen, as someone said, not so as to reply but so as to learn. We stretch open our imagination to new ways of being the household of God which has room for everyone. Otherwise, as we say in England, we shall just be rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
He pleaded with those experiencing concerns about the synod: “Please stay, whatever your frustrations with the Church. Go on questioning! Together we shall discover the Lord’s will.”
The synod participants then set to work to do just that, seeking to come up with proposals for “How to be a synodal church on mission” before the end of this week. They will receive the draft text of the final document on Oct. 21 and will then seek to further refine it.
