Students from across the United States are gathering in Rome to speak with the directors of the Synod Secretariat.
Vatican News
A total of 140 university students gathered Friday in the Vatican’s Paul VI Auditorium and spoke directly with the directors of the Synod Secretariat.
The event, titled “Dialogue of university students with the moderators of the Synod”, consisted of a series of relevant questions asked by the students, which were answered by the Secretary General of the Synod, Cardinal Mario Grec, the Rapporteur of the Synod, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Diocese of Sant Bernardino, Chancellor Sister Letitia Salazar and Bishop Daniel Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville, South Texas.
The roundtable, which served as the second session of the ongoing Synod on Synodality, reflected Pope Francis’ vision for the Church to walk together on a path of listening and engagement.
Meet the challenge of listening
The first question came from Asia Chen, a student from Trinidad and Tobago, who expressed her struggle with expressing her faith in a different culture and asked how the Church could improve future consultations to ensure more voices are heard.
Cardinal Grech responded by accepting the challenge and sharing that the Church’s current synodal process is unprecedented in its scope of listening. He said that, although there is still room for improvement, many more people attended this Synod than previous Synods.
“During the Synod on the Family, only 80 of 114 episcopal conferences participated. This time, 112 of 114 presented their reports: this means that a good number of people have been heard,” said the cardinal.
He also said that on this occasion more than 20,000 people participated on the digital platform, so “participation has been very good and it is expected that it will be even better in the future.”
“Listening is essential,” he added, “not only to hear opinions but also to have the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the process,” which “will help the Church be more synodal, rooted in listening to God and each other.” others”. “A culture of encounter will be created.”
Connecting marginalized youth
Alexandra, a Venezuelan student who grew up in the Middle East, asked why young non-believers should care about the Synod and how the church can make space for those who feel hurt by it.
Cardinal Hollerik stressed the importance of listening to people, not just their opinions, in today’s polarized world.
He pointed out the conflict of ideas that currently prevails in the United States and stated that “polarization is a way of thinking as far from synodality as the digital world, where only people who have the same opinions as you are persecuted, and yes.” “If you don’t agree, it becomes very confrontational.”
But, he added, “a person with a different opinion is not an enemy; we are part of the same humanity. We have to find common solutions.”
He said, it’s easy in the church because we are sisters and brothers; We have received a baptism.
