The Council of Cardinals pondered the opening of the synod on synodality when it met online at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, reported the Vatican Press Office. Their Eminences Cardinals Oscar A. Rodriguez Maradiaga, S.D.B.; Reinhard Marx; Sean Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap.; Oswald Gracias and Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap, were connected from their countries of residence, whereas their Eminences Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Giuseppe Bertello, and the Secretary of the Council. H.E. Monsignor Marco Mellino was connected from the Vatican. The Holy Father was connected from Casa Santa Marta to follow the works.
After a brief introduction to the works by His Eminence Cardinal Maradiaga, Pope Francis offered a reflection on the opening of works of the forthcoming Synod on Synodality.
After reviewing two of his interventions, identified as central in his thought on the forthcoming Synod, that of 2015 for the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops, and the more recent one addressed to the faithful of the Diocese of Rome last Saturday, the Pope clarified how the heart of the reflection is not so much the deepening of this or that subject but learning a way of living the Church, marked at all levels by listening to one another and by a pastoral attitude, particularly in face of the temptations of clericalism and of rigidity.
The interventions of different Cardinals reflected further on some aspects that render the synodal journey particularly necessary in the lands they come from, to overcome sectarianisms and vested interests.
The meeting ended before 6:00 pm, updating the next appointment foreseen for the month of December, which will be held face-to-face if the conditions permit it.
The previous meeting of the Council of Cardinals took place on Thursday, June 24, 2021, in which the current situation of the different continents regarding the COVID-19 pandemic was addressed, reflected on synodality and current sustainability was discussed. in the Vatican economy.
[Original text: Italian] [Exaudi’s translation by Virginia M. Forrester]
