One year after Hamas’ largest terrorist attack on Israeli soil, Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with
the victims of continued violence in the Middle East.
Father Timothy Radcliffe, Dominican Friar and former Master of the Order of Preachers, urged participants of the Synod to embrace cultural diversity as central to the Church’s mission during his meditation on “Resurrection Fishing” at the Synod Retreat.
In a significant address to parish priests gathered for the International Meeting "Parish Priests for the Synod", Pope Francis issued a heartfelt appeal for priests worldwide to actively engage in the ongoing synodal process.
A Filipino cardinal reminded parish priests to foster active participation in their parish communities by encouraging parishioners to witness their faith boldly.
"Jesus, as a discerning shepherd, consistently acted following the will of His Father, exemplifying humility in his ministry. He guides us, as priests, to embrace humility," Cardinal Ferrão the Prelate.
“Now, we are all called to respond to this collective discernment and to once again contribute to the further enrichment and maturation of the Church's synodal reflections,” said Garcera.
Despite facing rejection, Jesus does not allow Himself “to be imprisoned by disappointment,” but instead looks to the Father, remaining “serene even in the storm,” the Pope said.
"In Africa, we believe that we have to journey together as a family, to listen to one another. And that is why Pope Francis invited us to journey together in this Synod on Synodality, to enlarge our hearts,” Archbishop Lucio Muandula.
Cardinal Bo stated that a change of attitude is required in our approach towards the challenges we face. He offered the word L.E.N.T as an acronym for this attitudinal change:
Cardinal Hollerich explained how each delegate is like a musical instrument, and ought to function continuously in tune with others (instruments), with discipline, to produce the synodal symphony.
The Synod, like the Lenten journey, he said, is a call to walk the path of God, to listen to his voice, and to recognize the God of love and tenderness, mercy and compassion.
'Synodality is the way of being the Church today according to the will of God, in a dynamic of discerning and listening together to the voice of the Holy Spirit,' as stated by Pope Francis.
Cardinal Grech empasized, “a Synodal Church is a Church of listening” and stressed that the success of the process depended on the active participation of the people of God and the pastors.
Pope Francis called Lent and the Synod on Synodality a 'strenuous mountain trek.' “The Lenten journey of penance and the journey of the Synod alike have as their goal a transfiguration, both personal and ecclesial,” Pope emphasized.
