We pray for the Church; ever faithful to, and courageous in preaching the Gospel, may the Church be a community of solidarity, fraternity and welcome, always living in an atmosphere of synodality.
- In The Pope Video, Francis invites the members of the Church to listen to each other in their diversity and to open the doors to those who are outside.
- After having completed the first year of the synodal process, and beginning the next stage, the continental stage, the Pope reminds us that the Synod “is not a poll”: “It’s not about gathering opinions, nor holding a parliament,” but about really listening.
- Francis asks that we listen “to the protagonist, the Holy Spirit” and thus, getting closer to God’s style, become a place of solidarity, of fraternity, and of welcome.
Text of Pope Francis Message – October 2022
What does it mean “to synod”? It means walking together: syn-od. This is what it means in Greek: “to walk together” and to walk on the same road.
And this is what God expects of the Church of the third millennium –that it regain its awareness of being a people on the road and of having to travel together.
A Church with this synodal style is a Church that listens, that knows that listening is more than just hearing.
It means listening to each other in our diversity and opening doors to those outside the Church. It’s not about gathering opinions, nor holding a parliament. The synod isn’t a survey; it’s about listening to the protagonist, the Holy Spirit. It’s about praying. Without prayer, there will be no Synod.
Let us take advantage of this opportunity to be a Church of closeness, which is God’s style –closeness. And let us give thanks to all the people of God who, with their attentive listening, are walking the synodal way.
Let us pray that the Church, ever faithful to the Gospel and courageous in preaching it, may live in an increasing atmosphere of synodality and be a community of solidarity, fraternity, and welcome.