By Lavoisier Fernandes –
The heart of autumn has broken and as the medieval Latin proverb goes “All roads lead to Rome”- to the eternal city of the Catholic Church. The busy autumn month of October is capped off with Pope Francis’ ninth consistory of 21 new cardinals bringing the college of Cardinals to 131 papal electors. On the 4th of October, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Holy Father releases his sequel papal encyclical Laudato Si’ 2.0 “On care of our common home” and the opening of the much-awaited first of two assemblies of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, more commonly known as the Synod on Synodality.
Misconceptions of the Synod
As the synod gets closer there is a lot of un-called fear ideology-driven rhetoric of anti-synod stoked repeatedly in certain social media outlets and by catholic media figures and bloggers, and this has trickled down to ordinary Catholics and into our parishes, seminaries, convents, and cloisters. Yes, hot-button topics including women deacons, priestly celibacy, and LGBTQ outreach will be discussed as part of this Synod. However, the mere discussion of hot-button issues and how the church should deal pastorally in line with the Catechism of the Catholic Church(2358-“they must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity”) does not necessarily mean that the church is suggesting change to its teaching per se or there cannot be doctrinal development. There is a tendency among some Catholics to suggest that Catholic teaching has not developed or changed over time. If they studied history, they would know differently. Indeed, if they studied the saints and major thinkers throughout the centuries, they would see how change has been incorporated within Catholic tradition and recognized as serving an important way for the Holy Spirit to direct the Church-for instance the church changed its teaching and understanding on slavery and the death penalty.
Furthermore on the topic of gay marriages the Holy Father has made this crystal clear in his Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia “On love in the family” the opening sentences of para-No. 251, on gay marriage- “as for proposals to place unions between homosexual persons on the same level as marriage, there are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family.” Similarly, the Holy Father in 2021 through the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith signed a decree that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions.
There is protection given to the Catholic Church’s doctrinal fidelity by the Magisterium of the Church manifested in the Gospel of Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
So, let us pray for the Holy Father Pope Francis and trust in this promise given by Christ to his bride which is the Church through the successors of St. Peter.
“Cum Petro sub Petro,” with Peter and under Peter
So, what do we know so far on the Synod on Synodality?
The Synod on Synodality, was initiated by Pope Francis in October 2021 during which Catholics worldwide were requested to submit feedback to their local diocese on the question “What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our ‘journeying together?’”. This massive synodal process has already undergone diocesan, national and continental stages. This will culminate in two global assemblies at the Vatican, the first taking place on Oct 4-29th, 2023 and the next in Oct 2024.
Instrumentum Laboris
On June 20th, the Vatican issued a working document called Instrumentum Laboris to guide the discussions at the first global assembly of the Synod on Synodality. The 50-page Instrumentum Laboris is divided into two sections. The first summarizes insights from the continental assemblies and outlines what a synodal Church is and how it should proceed. The second section is a series of 15 worksheets with questions for discernment.
What are the main questions that the Synod on Synodality will try to answer?
- How can we be more fully a sign and instrument of union with God and of the unity of all humanity?
- How can we better share gifts and tasks in the service of the Gospel?
- “What processes, structures, and institutions in a missionary synodal Church?”
Who will be participating in the synod?
The delegates are made up of representatives selected by bishops’ conferences and Eastern Catholic Churches, leaders in the Roman Curia. In total, 363 people will be able to vote and 54 of the voting delegates are women whilst 120 delegates have been personally selected by Pope Francis. For the first time, about 21% of the voting delegates in the 2023 Synod of Bishops on Synodality will not be bishops. In addition to the voting members, 75 other participants have been invited to the synod assembly to act as facilitators, experts, or spiritual assistants.
Indian delegates for the synod
The Indian group consists of Cardinals Oswald Gracias, George Alencherry (Syro-Malabar Rite), Baselios Cleemis Thottunkul (Syro-Malankara Rite), Cardinals Filipe Neri Ferrao and Antony Poola; Archbishops Andrews Thazhath, George Antonysamy, Joseph Pamplany and Bishop Alex Vadakumthal, Women religious Sisters Maria Nirmalini and Sister Lalitha Thomas.
Is the final document of the Synod magisterial?
No, the final document of the Synod is not magisterial. It is advisory in nature. The bishops and invited delegates listen to one another other, pray and discern in small language groups, also called Circuli Minores, they will alternate with plenary sessions where all synod participants are together. They discuss then vote on proposals (“propositions”). The participants of the synod will formulate a final document of the synod. This final document is the opinion of the participating bishops and other representatives and is not magisterial unless the Pope explicitly says it is. The Final output document of the synod is a document addressed to the Pope. The Holy Father could take parts of this final synod document or could take the entire synod document or could chose to ignore all of its findings when he comes out with his “post-synod apostolic exhortation” that would form part of the magisterial teachings of the Church.
What is the Prayer for the Synod on Synodality?
The Vademecum (handbook) for the synod published the following Prayer for the Synod on Synodality:
“We stand before you, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in your name. With you alone to guide us, make yourself at home in our hearts; teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in you our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All this we ask of you, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.”
Lavoisier Fernandes, born and raised in Goa, is currently based in West London. His faith is “work in progress”- and a lifelong journey. He has always been fascinated by the Catholic faith, thanks to his Salesian schooling. He’s passionate about podcasting, theology, the papacy, and volunteering. He has hosted ‘Talking Faith’ series for Heavens Road FM, Catholic Radio, connecting with ordinary men and women within the Catholic faith, other faiths and examining issues affecting both the Church and society. He has also been a host on Shalom World Catholic TV for two episodes of the ‘Heart Talk’ series. He presently contributes for the Goa Diocesan magazine Renevacao.