Synod

The pontiff opened the meeting with the presidents of bishops' conferences from around the world to reflect on the ten years since the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia. Among the topics he raised was the disconnect between young people and the Church's view on sexuality. As with the synods, two bishops from the People's Republic of China are also in attendance.

From today until Sunday, bishops, priests, religious and laypeople from all nine dioceses are gathered for the first time in Sibu to listen to one another and discern their common path in a country of a thousand faces. The Archbishop of Kuching, Msgr Simon Poh: “We are not looking for who has the best approach, but how to read the signs of the times”:

In a motu proprio issued yesterday, Leo XIV amended the Code of Eastern Churches, introducing this power in the event of a “serious and irreparable rupture”. The provision also applies to major archbishops. The Pope must, however, give his assent. Among the most recent cases is that of the Syro-Malabar Church in India

The Bishops’ Assembly has approved the establishment of a centre for the formation of “missionary disciples for a truly synodal Church”. It will support the implementation of the established ministry of catechists in individual dioceses.

Meeting in the Vatican with this confession from Kerala of Syriac origin but very close to the Reformed world, the pontiff expressed his desire for a common appointment among Christians of every denomination on the theme of mission: ‘Working together to bear witness to the Risen Christ is the best way to bring us closer together’.

The end of the Synod was marked with a Mass in the Vatican basilica. The Chair of Saint Peter was exposed, a sign of Church unity. The final document voted by the assembly has been released without an apostolic exhortation by the pontiff. Francis expressed closeness to the communities affected by a tropical storm in the Philippines.

The Malaysian priest who participated in the drafting of the final document that the Synodal Assembly is discussing: ‘Dialogue here is part of the experience we live every day within a pluralistic culture’. Indian Cardinal Ferrao, Filipino David and Melkite Patriarch Absi elected to the General Council of the Synod.

One of the ten themes that emerged from the Synod last year and entrusted by Pope Francis to a small working group concerns relations between the Eastern Catholic Churches and Latin Churches. A report to the Synodal Assembly underway in Rome on the path taken announced that the fruit of reflection in this area will find its way in a document on the pastoral care of diaspora faithful.

The invitation to the faithful from all over the world during the Opening Mass for the second session of the Synod, held this morning in St. Peter's Square. Sunday 6 the Rosary at St Mary Major to invoke from Mary the gift of peace. Last night in St Peter's the penitential celebration: ‘Let us not ask: “where are you Lord?” but: “what responsibility do we have in not stopping evil?”’.

The list of participants in the second session of the Synod, released today by the Vatican, includes Bishop Vincenzo Zhan Silu, one of the bishops whose excommunication was lifted in 2018. He will work alongside Archbishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang, who already participated in the first session last year. His diocese in Fujian saw the painful resignation of "underground" Bishop Guo Xijin.

The Archbishop of Mumbai, Asia's representative in the Council of Cardinals, called to lead the commission wanted by Pope Francis to address the issue of relations between the papal representatives and the local Churches, one of the topics that emerged from the synod consultation. The group will present its conclusions by June 2025.

About 250 priests from all of the country’s dioceses are meeting in Manila to reflect on sharing the pastoral ministry following the path traced by Pope Francis. For Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Bishops' Conference, “synodality brings in the wisdom of not monopolizing the mission. The mission is about the Church.”