Pope Francis has published a commentary accompanying the final document of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality in which he delivered the document to the Church, calling for constructive implementation and a renewed commitment to unity, fellowship and mission.
Vatican News
VATICAN CITY, Tuesday, November 26, 2024 (REI): Pope Francis has written a commentary accompanying the final document of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which reflects the results of the two-year Synod convened by the Pope Francis for October 2021. And that ended in October 2024.
driven by the holy spirit
In the commentary accompanying the document, Pope Francis writes that from the beginning the path of the Synod has been open to the voice of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit has guided the church across continents, in different languages and cultures.
“This path has allowed the Church to study its own experiences and identify steps to live in communion, engage in participation, and promote the mission that Christ has entrusted to it,” the Pope writes.
He explained how this synodal path began at the local level and then went through national and continental stages. Once the meeting is over, Pope Francis entrusts the final document and its content to the local Churches, which he invites to apply the content of the document with prudence, creativity and respect for their unique contexts.
forward synodality
Pope Francis then described the document as part of the “general doctrine of the Successor of Peter” and said its official character must be respected. The Pope clarified that “it is about following the authentic teaching of the Bishop of Rome,” adding that there are elements of innovation, but it is in line with the statement he made on October 17, 2015, when he said that the synodal Church is the framework interpretation appropriate to understanding the hierarchical apostolate.
However, he clarified that the document “is not strictly normative” but rather a call for reflection so that it is applied differently in each context.
He also reiterated that “the conclusion of the XVI meeting of the Synod of Bishops does not mean the end of the synodal process.” Rather, he said, it signals the beginning of an implementation phase, and “local congregations and their groups are now empowered, in different contexts, to exercise the official authority contained in the document through discretion and decision-making processes.” decisions anticipated by the “The instructions are called to be implemented.”
Responsibility and support
Pope Francis then tasks the Secretary General of the Synod and representatives of the Roman Curia to work with local churches to effectively implement the vision of the Synod. He adds that the bishops will also “report on the options taken in their local Church regarding the indications given in the final document, the difficulties encountered and the results achieved, and asks them to report on progress at the time of their ad limina visit to Rome”. where they will share the challenges and results of their efforts.
The Pope encouraged the bishops to face this stage with courage, creativity and humility, recognizing that it will take time to resolve some issues that require unanimity in the ecumenical Church.
a renovated church
At the conclusion of his speech, Pope Francis reminded all the faithful that the path towards the Synod “demands words shared with actions”, before expressing his hope that the Holy Spirit, in the form of the “good will” of the Church, will continue renewing and guiding him, allowing him to enter into full communion with Christ.
