In addition to their three-day retreat outside of Rome, more than 350 members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops are expected to go on a pilgrimage “to the roots of the Christian faith,” visiting the Rome catacombs. Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Dicastery for Communication and president of the synod communication committee, told Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Synod’
Synod and media – the test of Synodality
Thursday, September 28th, 2023
It has been reported that the regulations concerning media access to the discussions at the upcoming Synod assembly in Rome – first of two sessions that will be held over the next twelve months – have not yet been approved. Journalists can only hope that the hypothesis of imposing the pontifical secret (the highest kind Read more
Synod in Rome – a challenging starting point
Monday, September 25th, 2023
A well-worn jest about Ireland goes like this: A lost tourist in Limerick asks for directions to Dublin, and the convoluted directions leave the tourist utterly bewildered. Finally, the tourist gazes into the distance, resigned to the fact that reaching Dublin is impossible. At this point, the local utters the famous words, “Well, if I Read more
The synod restarts a process that will take decades
Monday, September 25th, 2023
Conventional wisdom holds that it takes a century for an ecumenical council to flower and bear fruit. Altering customs and thought habits, especially when linked to faith, takes a long time. Simply getting the word out of a council’s teaching and its implications can take decades. Then, there are people and institutions for which new Read more
Cardinal Müller expresses concerns over upcoming synod
Monday, September 25th, 2023
Cardinal Gerhard Müller, the conservative former Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith prefect, has voiced his deep apprehension about aspects of the upcoming Synod on synodality. In a candid interview with Spanish Catholic news website InfoVaticana, Müller (pictured) also expressed his concern about the current state of the Church. The interview follows the Vatican’s recent Read more
Two Chinese bishops attending the Synod on Synodality
Monday, September 25th, 2023The Vatican announced on Thursday that two bishops from mainland China have been added as official delegates in the upcoming Synod on Synodality assembly. Bishop Antonio Yao Shun of Jining and Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang of Zhoucun will travel from China to Rome to participate as full members of the Oct 4–28 Synod of Bishops Read more
Is opposition to the Synod (and Pope Francis) rooted in a mistrust of the Holy Spirit?
Monday, September 18th, 2023
Pope Francis has been the subject of what seems like unrelenting criticism for several years. At times, it is difficult to keep up with the sheer volume of critiques and attacks on the Holy Father coming from Catholic media outlets, Catholic journalists, columnists and writers; as well as, more surprisingly, cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests. Read more
Pink Shoes into The Vatican – it’s happening
Thursday, September 14th, 2023
Pink Shoes will arrive at the Vatican in October. From the far reaches of New Zealand to the very heart of Catholicism in Rome, the Pink Shoes Into The Vatican Campaign is making a bold statement on gender inequality within the Church. Led by Be the Change Aotearoa New Zealand, this grassroots initiative will take Read more
A Synodal church – more than a listening exercise
Monday, September 11th, 2023
The call for synodality has been louder than ever, but does the Church truly understand what it means to listen, especially to those who have left its pews? Listening has become a recurring term in religious circles, particularly in discussions around synodality. But if the Catholic Church is serious about this form of governance, it Read more