HOW POPE FRANCIS CONCLUDES MASS OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS, FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP, SYNOD DOCUMENT IS A GIFT! (384 hits)
For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
(A Ten-Minute Read)
Pope: May We Be A Church On The Move, Sharing The Joy Of The Gospel
At the concluding Mass of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis encourages us to be like Bartimaeus in today's Gospel and "entrust our blindness to the Lord" in order to be "a missionary Church that walks with her Lord through the streets of the world." By Thaddeus Jones
Marking the conclusion of the XVIth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis presided over the Synod's closing Mass on Sunday, 27 October, in Saint Peter's Basilica. The Pope gave thanks to the Lord for the "journey we have made together" in the Synod on Synodality that began three years ago with local, regional and continental meetings, and culminated in month-long October meetings at the Vatican in 2023 and concluding in 2024.
The newly restored relic of the ancient Chair of Saint Peter and Bernini Baldachin featured prominently in the video coverage of the celebration. The Pope recalled how the Chair represents love, unity, and mercy, and the call to service according to Jesus' command to the Apostle Peter, while the Baldachin helps us rediscover the glory of the Holy Spirit, "the true focal point of the entire basilica."
Recognizing Our Own Blindness
In his homily Pope Francis recalled today's Gospel narrative of the blind man Bartimaeus who cries out to the Lord, asking to regain his sight. Rediscovering his sight, Bartimaeus joyfully sets out to follow Jesus along the way.
The Pope explained how Bartimaeus represents the "inner blindness" we all can have that can hold us back from "the dynamism of life" and having any hope. This can also affect us as Church, the Pope added, where we can become "incapable of perceiving the presence of the Lord, unprepared to face the challenges of reality" and at times unable to respond adequately "to the questions of so many who cry out to us."
“We cannot remain inert before the questions raised by the women and men of today, before the challenges of our time, the urgency of evangelization and the many wounds that afflict humanity.”
The Pope warned that "a sedentary Church" that "confines itself to the margins of reality" risks remaining blind and will "fail to grasp the urgency of giving a pastoral response to the many problems of our world."
Crying Out To The Lord
By remembering that "the Lord is passing by", the Church can be like Bartimaeus as a community of disciples who hear the Lord, go out to seek Him, and "feel the joy of salvation...awakened by the power of the Gospel." The Church in turn does this "when it takes up the cry of all the women and men of the world" who seek the joy of the Gospel, wish to rediscover faith, or are set back by suffering, poverty or marginalization.
“We do not need a sedentary and defeatist Church, but a Church that hears the cry of the world and gets its hands dirty in serving.”
Following The Lord
Just as Bartimaeus cried out to the Lord in faith and hope, may we do the same, the Pope said, as we also recognize God's action in our lives and set out to follow him. Whenever we are set back by weakness or inertia, may we find the strength and courage "to arise and continue along the path", returning to the Lord and his Gospel.
“Again and again, as (the Lord) passes by, we need to listen to His call so that we can get back on our feet and He can heal our blindness; and then we can follow Him once more, and walk with Him along the way.”
As the Gospel recounts that Bartimaeus “followed (the Lord) on the way”, the Pope suggested how this offers an image of the synodal Church when the Lord calls us, helps us up when we are lacking inertia or have fallen, and restores our sight so that "we can perceive the anxieties and sufferings of the world in the light of the Gospel."
“Let us remember never to walk alone or according to worldly criteria, but instead to journey together, behind him and alongside him.”
Bringing The Light Of The Gospel
The Pope emphasized that we need to be "a Church on her feet...not a silent Church, but a Church that embraces the cry of humanity" and is enlightened by Christ bringing the light of the Gospel to others.
“Not a static Church, but a missionary Church that walks with her Lord through the streets of the world.”
In conclusion, the Pope gave thanks once again for the synodal journey undertaken and prayed that we may "continue our journey together with confidence." And like Bartimaeus, may be "take heart" in hearing the Lord's call, entrusting our blindness to the Lord, rising up and once again carrying "the joy of the Gospel through the streets of the world."
“This is the synodal Church: a community whose primacy lies in the gift of the Spirit, who makes us all brothers and sisters in Christ and raises us up to him.”
Thank you for reading.
********
A Reading From The Letter of St. Paul To The Ephesians (EPH 3:2-12)
Brothers And Sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier.
When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.
Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power. To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.
This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.
Gospel of the day
From the Gospel according to Luke LK 12:39-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Words of the Holy Father
This (…) Gospel (Lk 12:32-48) speaks to us about the desire for the definitive encounter with Christ, a desire that keeps us ever ready, alert in spirit, for we anticipate this encounter with all our heart, with all our being. This is a fundamental aspect of life. It is a desire that we all share, whether explicit or secret, we have hidden in our heart; we all harbour this desire in our heart. It is also important to see Jesus’ teaching in the actual context in which he transmitted it. In this case, Luke the Evangelist shows us Jesus walking with his disciples to Jerusalem, walking to his death and resurrection at Easter, and on this journey he teaches them, confiding to them what he himself carries in his heart, the deep attitude of his heart: detachment from earthly possessions, his trust in the Father’s Providence and, indeed, his innermost watchfulness, all the while working for the Kingdom of God. For Jesus it is waiting for his return to the Father’s house. For us it is waiting for Christ himself who will come to take us to the everlasting celebration, as he did for his Mother, Mary Most Holy; he took her up to Heaven with him. (Angelus, 11 August 2013)
********
Cardinal Hollerich On Synod: 'Catholics Will See A Church Where They Count'
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, the Synod’s General Rapporteur, speaks to Vatican News following the closing conference of the Second Session of XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality, and observes how the Synod's fruits can impact and empower the daily lives of Catholics worldwide. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"Everyday Catholics with time will see a Church where they count, where they are important, where their talents, their gifts, their life experience, are important because they belong to the people of the baptized."
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Relator of the Synod, expressed this to Vatican Media on this final day of the Synod on Synodality, before its concluding Mass tomorrow morning, as he discussed the impact of this gathering.
The Assembly's final document was approved and presented at the Holy See Press Office on Saturday evening, and the Cardinal was interviewed after the conference.
Your Eminence, what novelty does this Synod offer?
The novelty is that the Synod is a process. The Synod started in 2021, and in fact, the Synod of Bishops of 2023 and 2024 were just the celebration phase of that process. Now, we give the discernment to the Holy Father who has to continue it, and the Holy Father has given it, in a certain sense of the whole Church, to the local communities. So the process continues even if this 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is finished.
What impact does the Synod have for normal Catholics in their everyday lives?
They will probably not see a change immediately, because changes need time, and the Holy Spirit needs time because he has to convert our hearts. That normally takes time because we put resistance. But they will see with time a Church where they count, where they are important, where their talents, their gifts, their life experience, are important because they belong to the people of the baptized. They belong to the holy people of God, and by their baptism and confirmation, they have received a mission. And this mission, we fulfill it together as a Church, local community, small community, parish, diocese, and beyond.
Bearing witness to the fruits of the Synod in a world seeking peace
During the final session of the Assembly of the Synod, His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, conveys his thanks, on behalf of all involved, for the successful completion of the Synod’s various stages. By Antonella Palermo
His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Catholic Copts and President of the Assembly of Patriarchs and Bishops of Egypt, on Saturday evening expressed thanks for a prophetic labour that, while reaching a conclusion here, he said, is also a beginning in our daily lives.
A journey of courage Speaking on behalf of the General Assembly, Patriarch Sedrak extended thanks to all who contributed to organizing the Synod’s three preparatory phases and two follow-up sessions, held under the guidance of the Pope and the Holy Spirit, "with realism and clarity."
He described it as an "excellent experience of synodality," characterized by a deep commitment, joy, courage, and perseverance, even in moments of weariness and strain.
Now, he said, begins a new chapter "in the daily lives of ecclesial communities around the world."
Bearing The Synod’s Message To A World Thirsting For Peace
The presentation of the synodal fruits to the Holy Father, as captured in the Final Document of this second session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod, serves as a renewal of a journey within the People of God.
Filled with joy and enthusiasm, the synodal father spoke of bringing forth this experience in a "complex and often contradictory world, thirsty for meaning, peace, and reconciliation."
Much Still Lies Ahead
"The journey we have undertaken together over these years has helped us grow and mature, but there is still a long road ahead," Patriarch Sedrak noted.
Highlighting the role of the Spirit as the true architect of the Church, he said "The Spirit will not do new things but will make all things new. The Council has taught us this."
The Spirit, he continued, will continue to guide us in discerning the prophetic word that has emerged throughout this synodal journey.
The Patriarch Concluded His Discourse With A Prayer:
“May each of us find our place within communion and fraternal love. Teach us to embrace diversity without harming unity. Teach us to remain confident and free, unbound by fear. Teach us to dare to speak and listen deeply, opening our hearts to the voices of others. Grant us the courage to take concrete steps toward building together the Church of the Risen Christ, who bears witness to God's love and proclaims the Gospel that brings true life.”
Synodality: A Conversion Aimed At Becoming More Missionary
The Final Document of the second session of the Sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod recounts and relaunches an experience of Church as communion, participation, and mission, with a concrete proposal of a new vision that overturns established practices. By Giampaolo Mattei
The Final Document, adopted today after each of its 155 paragraphs were approved, has been published, and will not become the basis of an Exhortation by the Pope, who has decided that it should be released immediately in order to inspire the life of the Church.
“The synodal process does not conclude with the end of the current Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, but it also includes the implementation phase” (9), involving all in the “daily journey with a synodal methodology of consultation and discernment, identifying concrete ways and formation pathways to bring about a tangible synodal conversion in the various ecclesial contexts” (9).
In particular, the Document challenges Bishops on their commitment to transparency and accountability, while noting, with Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, that work continues to provide women greater roles and greater power within the Church.
Two key words that emerge from the text – permeated by the perspective and proposal of conversion – are “relationships”, a way of being Church; and “bonds”, marked by the “exchange of gifts” between the Churches lived dynamically and, therefore, converting processes. It is precisely the local Churches that are at the centre in the missionary horizon, which is the foundation of the experience of plurality of synodality, with all the structures at the service of mission, with the laity increasingly fulfilling their role as subjects, or protagonists, of the process.
In this perspective, the Final Document emphasizes the concrete reality of being rooted in a “place”. Notably, the Synod Fathers and Mothers propose that the Dicasteries of the Holy See initiate substantive consultations “before publishing important normative documents” (135).
The Structure Of The Final Document
The Final Document comprises five parts, rooted in the Gospel accounts of the Resurrected Jesus appearing to the Apostles.
The first identifies “The Heart of Synodality”. The second part, “On the Boat, Together”, is dedicated “to the conversion of the relationships that build the Christian community and shape the mission in the intertwining of vocations, charisms and ministries”; while the third, “Cast the Net”, “identifies three practices that are intimately connected: ecclesial discernment, decision-making processes, and a culture of transparency, accountability and evaluation”.
Pope: The Synod Document Is A Gift To The People of God
In his final address at the Synod Assembly, Pope Francis presents the Synod's Final Document as a "threefold gift." By Linda Bordoni
Addressing the Synod Assembly on Saturday evening, Pope Francis highlighted how the Final Document, written over the course of the 2nd Session of the Synod on Sinodality that began on 2 October following a process of listening and dialogue, is the fruit of over three years of listening to the People of God. It reveals, he noted, a shared path forward toward a "synodal Church" that embodies the Gospel not merely through words but through every act and interaction.
This XVIth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod will officially conclude on Sunday, 27 October, with the celebration of Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica presided over by Pope Francis.
A Threefold Gift Pope Francis described the Document as a gift with multiple dimensions, serving as both guidance for the Church and as a symbol of unity and shared mission.
First, he emphasized his reliance on the bishops, underscoring the value of each bishop’s presence in shaping the synodal journey.
"For me, as Bishop of Rome, in convening the Church of God in Synod, I was aware that I needed all of you: Bishops and witnesses of the synodal journey. Thank you!" he exclaimed.
Recognizing his role as a listener, he reminded himself—and each bishop—that "the Bishop of Rome… also needs to practice listening, in order to be able to respond to the Word that each day says to him, ‘Affirm your brothers and sisters…Feed my sheep.’"
This act of listening, he said, is essential to cultivating harmony within the Church, a harmony envisioned by Saint Basil and the Second Vatican Council.
Guarding Harmony, Dispelling Rigidity
Pope Francis emphasized the need for the Church to embody the harmony outlined in the Second Vatican Council, which speaks of the Church as "like a sacrament." He explained, "She is a sign and instrument of our expectant God, who has already prepared the table and is now waiting."
Addressing the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly on conventional weapons, the Vatican's Permanent Observer, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, reiterates the Holy See’s plea for reducing military spending and against developing new deadly weapon technologies. By Lisa Zengarini
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia has once again urged the international community to focus on disarmament and peace rather than fueling further violence through military spending and new weapon technologies.
Weapons Of Mass Destruction In Slow Motion
During a thematic discussion on conventional weapons at the United Nations General Assembly on October 24, the Vatican Permanent Observer reiterated the Holy See’s deep concern about the ongoing increase in the use, sale, and trafficking of these weapons, contributing to violence, death, and injuries in conflicts, crime-ridden areas, and through terrorist activities.
“As the world faces a third world war fought piecemeal the illicit proliferation and misuse of conventional weapons has become one of the most pressing security concerns at the national, regional and global levels,” he said, referring to these weapons as "weapons of mass destruction in slow motion," responsible for significant loss of life and community destabilization.
Unprecedented Increase In Global Military Spending
Archbishop Caccia also reiterated the Holy See’s alarm over the dramatic increase in global military spending, which hit a record $2.24 trillion in 2022, remarking that this unprecedented increase is indicative of a worrying trend of prioritizing military investment over addressing critical humanitarian needs, fostering human integral development and promoting global peace.”
Echoing Pope Francis, insisted that the substantial resources currently wasted on weapons that cause destruction and harm “could be used to achieve genuine global security or invested in the eradication of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.”
The Ethical Challenges Of Autonomous Weapons
While acknowledging the positive international efforts in disarmament, particularly the Program of Action (POA) on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and welcoming the Political
Haitian Bishop Dumas: 'With Corruption, The Poorest Suffer'
As violence continues to mar Haiti, the Bishop of the Diocese of Anse-à-Veau and Miragoâne shares the plight of thousands of internally displaced people affected by rampant gang violence. By Kielce Gussie
On October 17, in New York, the UN Security Council unanimously voted for a global embargo on all arms and military equipment destined for Haiti with the goal of stopping the flow of weapons to armed gangs that control a large part of the Caribbean country.
Violence in Haiti escalated in 2021 when the Prime Minister was assassinated before being sworn-in. Since then, gangs have taken over as about 80% of the capital city, and there have been no elections, parliament, or elected officials.
Bishop Pierre-André Dumas of the Diocese of Anse-à-Veau and Miragoâne, who was seriously injured in an explosion in February, spoke with Vatican News about the situation in the country, as he continues his recovery in the United States.
International Support
In early October, one gang led a massacre that left 115 dead in Port Sondé, a city on the route connecting Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien—the country’s two main cities.
Kenya began sending peacekeepers to the country earlier this summer, but there has been little change thus far. “It is clear that we need this international force,” Bishop Dumas said.
The situation “remains very fragile, with people being killed, raped, and kidnapped,” he said, despite the arrival of the multinational security support mission.
Pope: Always Engage In Dialogue In The Family Despite Misunderstandings
In a brief video message, Pope Francis emphasizes synodality within the family, stating, "A family that doesn’t dialogue is a dead family." By Vatican News
Pope Francis on Friday found a moment in the Synod Hall to record a short 28-second video, reaffirming a value that is central to his pontificate: the importance of dialogue as an essential element of a healthy family life.
Dialogue, Even Amid Disagreements
“They ask me to speak about synodality in the family,” says Pope Francis, continuing: “I can only think that, in the family, there must be dialogue. Sometimes with a bit of conflict, but always dialogue. Always.”
The alternative is grim - relationships within the home, when not nurtured by constant conversation, deteriorate to the point of collapse, he says.
The Pope doesn't mince his words: “A family that doesn’t dialogue is a dead family.” Synodal style, rooted in listening and dialogue, is a fully familial way of living.
Pope To Rome Diocese: ‘Heal The City’s Wounds, Strengthen Solidarity’
Pope Francis addresses the faithful of the Diocese of Rome during an assembly at the Basilica of St. John Lateran titled "Mending the Tear, Beyond Inequalities." By Antonella Palermo
In the presence of civil and parish authorities of the Diocese of Rome, Pope Francis issued an invitation to the community on Friday evening to come together to mend the tears in the fabric of Roman society.
The assembly began with an invocation to the Holy Spirit, followed by an introduction from Cardinal-elect Baldassarre Reina, the Pope’s vicar for the Diocese of Rome. The refrain, “Make us one,” echoed throughout the basilica, symbolizing both the culmination of a long journey that began in the city’s outskirts and the start of a new phase - one that intends "to move the Church beyond inertia and toward healing the many divisions within the city‘s society."
Religious Authorities, Political And Civil Society Leaders
Attending the event were key political figures, including Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, the Prefect and Police Commissioner as well as Andrea Riccardi from the Community of Sant’Egidio and sociologist Giuseppe De Rita, who had participated in a conference on the "ills of Rome" 50 years ago.
The presence of ecumenical representatives, seated in the front row, signaled the shared aspirations for justice and fraternity across Churches. Among the guests were Monsignor Khajag Barsamian of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Ian Ernest, Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome, as well as leaders from the Orthodox Church, including Metropolitan Polycarpos, Father Militaru of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese in Italy, and Archimandrite Symeon Katsinas of the Greek Orthodox Church.
The Islamic community was also represented by Rami Alkabalan from the Patriarchate of Antioch for Syriac Catholics, and Abdellah Redouane from the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy and the Great Mosque of Rome.
