Synod briefing – Day 8: Walking the path of Christian Unity

By Roberto Paglialonga and Lorena Leonardi

Following instructions from the Synod General Secretariat, Special Rapporteur Father Giacomo Costa encouraged Synod participants to be creative and not be afraid of “desborde” – the Spanish word for “overflow”, said Cristiane Murray during the Synod press briefing on Thursday.

The deputy director of the Holy See Press Office moderated the briefing presented by Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Dicastery for Communication and president of the Synodal Information Commission, and by Sheila Peres, secretary of the Commission.

Circle Closing Reports

This morning’s synodal work, in which 342 members participated, took place only in the smaller circles, without open interventions, and the concluding reports on the second work module were submitted. Additionally, Ruffini noted, some “methodological guidelines” were provided, including “encouraging creativity and “overflow.” This word, Ruffini recalled, is used in Spanish as “desborde”, a word also used by the Pope in Querida Amazon and at the Amazon Synod 2019. The hope, Ruffini adds, “is that there is a growing ‘spillover,’ rooted in concern and the desire to move forward.

In the afternoon, the work of sharing and discernment on the third module of the Work instrumentthe section titled “Pathways” was to continue, Peres explained in his remarks. This will be preceded by a time of prayer and meditation led by the Dominican Father and Cardinal-elect Timothy Radcliffe and an introduction to the module by Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, general rapporteur of the Synod.

A mutual exchange of gifts

The voice was then given to the briefing guests, who focused on ecumenism, which forms an inseparable couple with synodality.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Christian Unity, summed up the concept with these words: “The synodal path is ecumenical. And the ecumenical path can only be synodal.”

Defining the ecumenical dimension as “one of the most relevant aspects of this Synod”, the cardinal underlined how fundamental “the exchange of gifts, in which we learn from each other, with the conviction that no Church is so rich that it does not need the contribution of other Churches, and no Church is so poor that it has nothing to offer” concerns both ecumenism and synodality.

Holiness is the surest path to unity

The cardinal took the opportunity to emphasize how the presence of fraternal delegates is more significant in this session than in the previous one, and assured their participation in the ecumenical vigil organized for tomorrow, October 11, in collaboration with the community of Taizé .

The prayer that will inspire the meeting, he said, will be drawn from two conciliar texts: the dogmatic constitution Soft light and the decree on ecumenism Unitatis redintegration.

The location chosen for the event, Protomartiri Romani Square in the Vatican is not a coincidence: “Tradition places the martyrdom of Peter there. This reminds us, Cardinal Koch concluded, that holiness is the surest path to unity.

Dialogue builds foundations, not compromises

His Eminence Job, Metropolitan of Pisidia and co-chair of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, was the first of three fraternal delegates to speak. He said that on issues such as primacy, synodality, ministries and conciliarity, the dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics “has continued for 20 years with progress, not only to bring us closer and reconcile us, but also to bring fruit in the interior life. of each Church. »

The Metropolitan also referred to the recent document from the Dicastery for Christian Unity, The Bishop of Romenoting that what impressed him about the publication was “the convergence of all these dialogues. This shows that it is not just a matter of finding a “compromise” between the Churches, but of laying the foundations for a common life of Christian unity.”

A safe space to open hearts to each other

Anglican Bishop Martin Warner of Chichester, co-chair of the Anglican-Catholic English-Welsh Committee, emphasized the value of relational experience, which distinguishes this synod from those of the Church of England.

Since Michael Ramsey, then Anglican primate, received the episcopal ring from Paul VI, Warner emphasized: “We can look at each other, recognize our differences but also the importance of exchanging gifts to grow in our respective experiences. »

Unlike Anglican synodal sessions, Catholic sessions are characterized by prayer and silence and, above all, “they are not legislative”, he explained, which, added Bishop Warner, guarantees “a protected space in in which hearts can open to each other, in conversation with the Spirit, to face with creativity and courage the challenges of this century. »

Every voice is important

Finally, the Reverend Anne-Cathy Graber, pastor of the Mennonite World Conference and secretary of ecumenical relations, who is participating in the Synod for the first time, said she was “surprised by the invitation”, because she belongs to a “small group “. “Known church” resulting from the Reformation in the 16th century and characterized by the baptism of believers and active non-violence.

Reflecting on her presence, she observed: “The Catholic Church does not need our voice, which is very small, but it says a lot about synodality – it shows that every voice counts, every voice is important.

For Pastor Graber, “Christian unity is not only a promise for tomorrow, it is here and now, and we can already see it. Not only are we close, but we belong to the same body of Christ, we are members of one another, as Saint Paul said.

“Even though we do not have the right to vote as fraternal delegates, “our voice and presence were welcomed like everyone else’s. The equal dignity of baptism is visible. There is no powerful Church dominating from above. We are all a people walking together and searching,” she continued.

Ecumenism is not in crisis

The question-and-answer session addressed in particular the themes of relationships within ecumenical dialogue and between the primacy of the Bishop of Rome and synodality.

Cardinal Koch explained that “what we are doing demonstrates that ecumenism is not in crisis, but that it is facing various challenges.” He acknowledged, in response to journalists’ questions, that “there is a sad situation, provoked in part by the words of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, which led to a break with Constantinople, but these positions must be distinguished. of the current trip.

Indeed, he stressed, “there is a joint commission involving 15 Orthodox Churches which continues to work, which means that the dialogue continues in the hope of creating a better future, including the hope of preparing together a plenary assembly.

The importance of small gestures

This assurance was also underlined by the Metropolitan of Pisidia: “The Church of Christ remains active, despite the political positions expressed by Cyril, because theological dialogue continues to lay solid foundations,” he said .

“It’s a movement; there is no break in our journey,” Koch added. “The ecumenical movement is achieved by walking together, praying together, collaborating together. Jesus himself does not command Christian unity but prays for it: what better can we do than pray for it to come true as a gift of the Holy Spirit?

Perhaps “what is expected,” Rev. Graber added, are “small symbolic gestures of reconciliation that are still missing.”

Concerning the relationship between Petrine primacy and synodality, Cardinal Koch clarified that “we can affirm that synodality and primacy are not opposed. On the contrary: one does not exist without the other and vice versa.

He added that “primacy is not opposition, but an opportunity to discuss and find common ground.”

The question of sacramental hospitality

Addressing the issue of sacramental hospitality, it was recalled that the Pope has set up a dedicated working group and that “there is still no common vision of the Church and the sacraments in the dialogue between Western Churches.

Job expressed the hope that “we can one day agree on a single date for Easter between Christians and Orthodox, but for now it remains only a wish.”

Responding to questions about so-called women’s ministries, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Christian Unity highlighted “the sensitivity of the subject, for which the Pope has created 10 working groups”.

He emphasized that “the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has also been working on this for some time: two study commissions did not reach a unanimous conclusion, which indicates that further study is necessary. It is therefore important to unite the passion for these questions with the patience of study,” concluded the cardinal.