“The Church should embrace the innocence and energy of children, the enthusiasm of young people, their questions, and their desires”
The XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops has granted their approval for a Letter addressed to the People of God.
This Letter conveys gratitude for their collective journey, outlines the accomplishments of the preceding weeks, and conveys a hopeful message for the future, emphasizing the opportunity for active involvement in the spirit of missionary unity exemplified by the term ‘synod.’
In this letter addressed to the people of God, the Assembly expressed gratitude for the enriching experience, emphasizing their deep communion with all attendees, thanking them for prayers, sharing their expectations, questions, and fears.
This gathering followed Pope Francis’ call for a process of listening and discernment that is inclusive of all members of the People of God. The assembly aimed to “journey together” under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as missionary disciples, dedicated to following Jesus Christ.
The session in which Synod participants have been gathered in Rome since 30 September is an important phase of this process. In many ways it has been an unprecedented experience.
For the first time, at Pope Francis’ invitation, men and women have been invited, in virtue of their baptism, to sit at the same table to take part, not only in the discussions, but also in the voting process of this Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
According to the letter: “Together, in the complementarity of our vocatjons, our charisms and our ministries, we have listened intensely to the Word of God and the experience of others.
“Using the conversation in the Spirit method, we have humbly shared the wealth and poverty of our communities from every continent, seeking to discern what the Holy Spirit wants to say to the Church today.
“We have thus also experienced the importance of fostering mutual exchanges between the Latin tradition and the traditions of Eastern Christianity.
“The participation of fraternal delegates from other Churches and Ecclesial Communities deeply enriched our discussions.”
The Assembly emphasized the Church’s primary mission is to spread the Gospel by demonstrating God’s boundless love to the world.
Homeless individuals in the vicinity of St. Peter’s Square expressed their hopes for the Church in simple terms: “Love.” This love, characterized as Trinitarian and Eucharistic, should serve as the passionate heart of the Church, echoing the Pope’s sentiments and drawing inspiration from Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
This call for transformation is grounded in “trust,” which empowers individuals to openly and humbly articulate their shared beliefs, distinctions, aspirations, and questions within the Church.
To advance in its understanding and mission, the Church must engage in active listening, starting with the most marginalized individuals, including the poor.
This necessitates a transformative journey on the part of the Church, one that is rooted in humility and gratitude.
As Jesus expressed in Luke 10:21, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.”
This involves paying attention to those who have been silenced in society or have felt excluded, even within the Church itself. It means heeding the voices of those who suffer from various forms of racism, especially indigenous peoples in certain regions whose cultures have been disregarded.
Most importantly, the Church of our era has a responsibility to listen, with a sincere intention to change, to those who have been victimized by members of the Church, and to take concrete and structural measures to prevent such abuses from occurring again.
“Is this conversation helpful so far?” the Assembly asked.
Further, “the Church should actively engage with the laity, both women and men, who are all called to lead a life of holiness through their baptism. This includes paying attention to the insights of catechists who often serve as the initial bearers of the Gospel message.”
Additionally, the Church should embrace the innocence and energy of children, the enthusiasm of young people, their questions, and their desires. It should also value the aspirations, wisdom, and collective memory of the elderly.
Furthermore, the Church should be attuned to the needs and concerns of families and appreciate the Christian example they set in today’s society, the Assembly added.
As a final word, the Assembly proclaimed thus: “The world in which we live, and which we are called to love and serve, even with its contradictions, demands that the Church strengthen cooperation in all areas of her mission.
It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium” (Pope Francis, October 17, 2015).
“We do not need to be afraid to respond to this call. Mary, Mother of the Church, the first on the journey, accompanies our pilgrimage. In joy and in sorrow, she shows us her Son and invites us to trust. And He, Jesus, is our only hope!”