In his message to the participants of the first Synod of Bishops of Italy, Pope Francis urged the Church to continue the “prophetic phase” of its synodal path, to remain open to the Holy Spirit, to walk the path of unity and live the gospel with joy and courage.
Vatican News
VATICAN CITY, Saturday, November 16, 2024 (REI): Pope Francis, in his message, addressed the first Synod of Bishops in Italy, which will take place in the Basilica of Saint Paul in Rome from November 15 to 17 , after a three-year visit. to the Synod on synodality. Continue towards the cathedral.
stage of being a prophet
Reflecting on the importance of the occasion, the Pope described the conference as “the first event that marks the culmination of the synodal path,” and affirmed that the Italian Church has now entered “the prophetic phase,” in which, he explained, It tries to translate the ideas and discoveries of recent years about concrete evangelical alternatives.
He said: “Prophets live in the present, they interpret it with the eyes of faith, illuminated by the Word of God. The Pope urged participants to draw from their deliberations decisions that reflect the message of the Gospel.
He said, “It’s about making changes to the Gospel-inspired choices and decisions we’ve accumulated over these years, and it’s done in submission to the Spirit.”
Synodality: a call to walk together and be open
In his message, the Pope reminded the assembly of three guiding principles that he shared with the Fathers of the Italian Church during their last meeting in May: “Move forward, build the Church together and be an open Church.”
These principles apply to every stage of the synodal path, from the initial “narrative phase” to the current “prophetic phase,” he said, and are essential to the Church’s mission in the world.
Citing his speech at the Synod of Bishops on October 2, he stated: “The journey together with everyone is a process in which the Church, obedient to the work of the Holy Spirit and sensitive to the signs of the times, constantly renewing itself and perfecting her sacraments so that she can become a faithful witness of the mission to which she has been called.
Thus, Pope Francis called on the Italian Church to “fly its wings in the wind of the Spirit”, so that the Holy Spirit guides its path and its decisions.
Inspired by Vatican II
The Pope reminded the Assembly that St. Paul’s Basilica occupies a special place in the history of the Church because it was from here, on January 25, 1959, that Pope John XXIII first proclaimed the Second Vatican Council.
Recalling the vision of Pope John XXIII, he said: “The Church is now called to fill the veins of the human community with the divine, eternal and life-giving energy of the Gospel.”
And encouraging the Italian Church to look to the future, he reminded those present that the Church today is called to “spread the Gospel with joy” and to face the world “with a compassionate gaze” that understands needs and expectations.
Church of the Missionary Disciples
In his message, the Pope highlighted the importance of prudence, courage and missionary zeal as the Church moves forward, “make courageous decisions, proclaim the prophecy of the Gospel and be missionary disciples.”
He encouraged the bishops to follow this path with paternal and loving care and reminded them of the legacy of the Church Councils in Italy after Vatican II, which have contributed to the path of the Church for decades.
a vision for the future
The Pope concluded his message by calling for hope and compassion and asking the Italian Church to respond to the needs of society and “prepare for the future, overcoming non-Christian attitudes such as despair, persecution, fear and mentality.” closed”.
“Continue to sow the seeds of the Word in the earth so that it bears fruit,” the Pope said, before giving his blessing and invoking Mary’s protection.
