By Most Rev Prakash Mallavarapu,
Archbishop of Visakhapatnam
The forthcoming Synod of bishops is Synod with a difference: This call of the Holy Father is to all the dioceses across the world. All are called upon to be part of the synodal process. With a special Holy Mass celebrated in all the dioceses on 17th October, 2021, every local Church is expected to commence the consultations, deliberations and sharing by different sections of the Church, the People of God. Holy Father, Pope Francis wants this Synod and the synodal process over the next two years during which, the whole Church participates: “A synodal Church is a Church which listens, which “is more than simply hearing”.
It is a mutual listening in which everyone has something to learn. The faithful people, the college of bishops, the Bishop of Rome: all listening to each other, and all listening to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth (Jn14:17), in order to know what he “says to the Churches” (Rev. 2:7). Holy Father spelt out his intentions and plans for this synodal process on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops on 17th October, 2015. He said, “We must continue along the path. The world in which we live and are called to love and serve, even with the contradictions, demands that the Church strengthens cooperation in all areas of her mission. It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church in the third millennium .”
(Address of Pope Francis, on 17th October, 2015). This was followed by the release of the Apostolic Constitution, “EPISCOPALIS COMMUNIO on the Synod of Bishops. In this document the entire purpose and plan for this unique Synod of the Church and the whole process during next two years, 2021 – 2023, were dealt with. After a period of more than five decades since the close of the II Vatican Council and the publication of all documents, the Catholic Church has travelled a long way. Many reforms and changes have happened in the life of the Church while the commitment to the “Evangelizing Mission of the Church” remains, then and now, the same.
But, the challenges from the ever changing face of the society and the world at large are also numerous, pressing, and demanding response from different sections in the given society. Naturally, response is expected from the Church, local and universal, of course, without compromising on the Gospel of Christ. What makes the situation even more complex and complicated is that the traditionally stable and strong cultures are also affected by the onslaught of the dynamics of the daily events and activities in modern world – its politics, its economics, its technology, its business and trade, This world scenario, we know, is not also homogenous across the world. This is on many accounts, due to the varying economic strengths and weaknesses prevailing in different countries and continents.
Church has to strive to be present and at the same time be faithful to her faith in the Triune God and carry on her mission in this world of today! It is the journey which commenced on the first Pentecost and the journey continues! How is this journeying together now, in the local Church and in the Universal Church? We have to become aware of the truth of the situation and the truth has set us free!
Tomorrow: Demystifying Synodality