"Upon my return to Rome, I will start the beatification process of King Baudouin," Francis wrote on X on Sept 29. "May his example as a man of faith illuminate all leaders."

Unusually, however, the prospect of a sainthood cause for the late monarch has drawn doubts from a senior churchman and one who is not even from Belgium.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo has raised a red flag about a "hasty beatification" because there are still questions about Baudouin's role in the assassination of independent Congo's first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, in 1961.

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These workshops are crucial in shaping discussions at the synod, which aims to make the Church more inclusive and participatory. This reflects the themes outlined in the Vatican's guiding document "Instrumentum Laboris".

Europe

In Europe, bishops will meet in Austria (August 29-31) to discuss how diversity can strengthen the Church amidst cultural challenges.

Pastoral theologian Klara-Antonia Csiszar said that diversity at all levels within the Catholic Church will be a key focus area of the meeting.

"We have attached importance to how diversity can be perceived in Europe" Csiszar said. "What message does this diversity have for the Church in Europe, what does it mean for our local churches, [and] what voice does the Church in Europe play in the symphony of the universal Church?"

Asia

The workshops in Bangkok (August 5-8) focused on fostering unity among diverse religious traditions in Asia. This is critical in a continent marked by significant religious plurality.

"Asia has nurtured a diversity of cultures and religions and, by embracing harmony, mutual appreciation and respect for differences, we can help the universal Church understand more about the experience of walking together amidst diversity" Cardinal Stephen Chow said.

Latin America

Latin American bishops met in Colombia (August 9-11) to examine the relationship between synodality and the Church's evangelising mission. They strongly emphasised areas facing social and economic hardships.

Archbishop of Caracas in Venezuela, Monsignor Raúl Biord, stated "Reducing mission to a missionary pastoral care as proposed in many of our diocesan organisational charts is unfocused and impoverishing".

"The true goal of synodality is the mission to which we are called (by the mandate of the Risen One), in which we are involved (from the Trinitarian dynamic) and committed (by baptism and the sacraments of Christian initiation)."

Africa

Discussions in Africa, at a meeting in Kenya (April 23-26), centred on integrating local cultural values into the Church's mission. This focus on community and interconnectedness could enrich the Church's approach to synodality and mission on the continent.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of SECAM and archbishop of Kinshasa, said "There was consensus among delegates that Africa must embrace the experience of Small Christian Communities and the rich philosophical principles of Ubuntu, which highlight the values of family, fraternity and solidarity".

These regional workshops align with Pope Francis' vision of a Church that listens and responds to its global community.

The October synod will bring together Church leaders and laypeople to discuss these themes further. Together, they will aim to shape the future direction of the global Church.

Sources

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

Addressing a gathering of the Famille Chrétienne movement in Kinshasa, Cardinal Ambongo condemned what he sees as the West's "decadent morals," particularly its stance on family and children.

"As the West does not like children, they [Westerners] want to attack the basic cell of humanity which is the family" asserted Cardinal Ambongo.

Ambongo's comments were made on January 16 and have circulated widely in Africa through social media.

Cardinal Ambongo pulls no punches in his criticism of Western values in the audio. He asserts that Western societies are "losing ground in terms of value" due to their aversion to children. "Little by little, they will disappear" assures the Congolese cardinal.

"We wish them a good demise" he says, eliciting laughter from his audience.

A decadent culture

The cardinal, who also serves as president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), insists that Africa refuses the "decadent morals of the West. It is a decadent culture, it is the cultural and moral decadence of a society; a society in decline."

While acknowledging Africa's own challenges, he insists that homosexuality is not prevalent on the continent, except in isolated cases. However, he calls for respect for homosexual individuals as "creatures of God."

This is not the first time Cardinal Ambongo has voiced his concerns about Western influence. In a previous interview, he declared "The Church in Europe is dying" emphasising Africa as the future of the Church.

The audio recording also captures Cardinal Ambongo's discussion regarding the SECAM statement rejecting the possibility of blessing same-sex couples on the African continent, a stance supported by Pope Francis.

Despite dissent from bishops in North Africa who believe such blessings could be permissible under certain conditions, Cardinal Ambongo maintains that such practices would lead to scandal.

Sources

La Croix International

Catholic Herald

CathNews New Zealand