Latest news with #SynodofBishops
Herald Malaysia
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Guidelines for local implementation of Synod on Synodality
The Vatican has released new guidelines outlining how local churches and bishops around the world should begin implementing the final proposals of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity, collaboration, and mission. Jul 18, 2025 VATICAN: The Vatican has released new guidelines outlining how local churches and bishops around the world should begin implementing the final proposals of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity, collaboration, and 24-page document, titled 'Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod', was published July 7 by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. It marks a new phase in the Church's ongoing synodal process, first launched by Pope Francis in 2021. The focus now turns to practical, local-level application of the synod's implementation phase, which began in late 2024 and will run until 2028, is intended to foster new structures and practices that deepen the Church's commitment to synodality — a model of Church life that emphasises shared responsibility, discernment, and participation among all the to the guidelines, the diocesan or eparchial bishop carries primary responsibility for overseeing this process. Bishops are called to set clear objectives, timelines, and methods while encouraging broad engagement across the Church. They are also reminded to exercise authority 'in a synodal way,' involving clergy, religious, and laity is not to be limited to churchgoers or synod supporters. The Vatican stresses the importance of reaching marginalised groups, young people, and those sceptical of the synodal approach. The goal is to ensure the Church 'walks together' and integrates the voices of all, especially those who have been guidelines call for involvement beyond the traditional parish setting. Catholic schools, hospitals, prisons, and digital spaces should also be engaged. Relationships with religious communities, ecclesial movements, and lay associations are to be strengthened as part of the Church's evangelizing mission.A key message throughout the document is that synodality is not a one-size-fits-all model. Sr Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, said the guidelines are meant to help dioceses creatively and contextually apply the synod's final document. 'The best way to start the implementation phase is really to read the final document of the synod,' she told Vatican support coordination, each diocese or eparchy is asked to register its synodal team with the Vatican via a central database. Existing synodal teams should be reactivated or refreshed, and new ones created where three-year phase of implementation and reflection will culminate in an international assembly in Rome in October 2028. This gathering will serve as both a celebration and an evaluation of the synodal journey's the mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God remains at the heart of the synodal process. The guidelines reaffirm the synod's call for a Church that is outward-looking, dialogical, and committed to social justice and care for creation — a Church rooted in listening, collaboration, and the exchange of spiritual gifts across Sr Becquart emphasised, 'You can't just do your synodal conversion alone. It's very important to work together as different local churches.' The full text of Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod can be found on the website of the Synod on Synodality, --Agencies
Herald Malaysia
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Cardinal Grech urges religious men to be ‘engines of hope' for synodal Church
Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, urges religious men to draw inspiration from the Church's desire for synodality, as he meets with members of the Union of Superiors General. May 24, 2025 Cardinal Mario Grech speaks to the USG Assembly in Sacrofano on May 23, 2025 By Devin Watkins'Pope Leo XIV encourages us to advance on the path of synodality, making fruitful the many seeds planted in the soil of the Church during the 2021–2024 Synodal process.' Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, offered that invitation to members of the Union of Superiors General (USG) on Friday during their Assembly. The heads of male religious orders held their 103rd General Assembly in Sacrofano, near Rome, on May 21-23. In his address, Cardinal Grech reflected on the theme 'Consecrated Life: Engine of Hope in a Synodal Church,' recalling Pope Francis' call for the Church to listen well. Pope Leo XIV, he noted, has already spoken frequently of synodality, most notably in his address on the evening of his election to the papacy: 'We want to be a synodal Church, a Church that moves forward.' Cardinal Grech said the Church has concluded the 'celebratory' phase of the Synod on Synodality with its Final Document, noting that the most important phase is its 'reception' by the people of God. 'The protagonist of reception is the Holy Spirit, who acts in the depths of the people of God and gradually leads them along the path of reform, of which He Himself is the divine engine,' he said. The Cardinal went on to highlight the role of consecrated life in the Church as a form of prophecy, one which assists in the inculturation of the Gospel in local cultures and societies. He pointed out that the Synod on Synodality's first phase involved in-depth consultation with various realities of local Churches, in the hope of giving Catholics a chance to walk together. Consecrated life, he added, have long employed the principle of synodal listening and communal discernment for their shared life and mission. Cardinal Grech said religious orders also carry out a 'prophetic exercise of authority,' with many religious expressing their appreciation at the Synod for a transparent and accountable form of leadership. However, he noted, religious authority has sometimes degraded into abuse of conscience and personal freedom, resulting in deplorable cases of sexual abuse. Confronting patterns of abuse require both sanctions and, more importantly, a change of 'mentality, style, and ecclesial culture,' said the Cardinal. Cardinal Grech then highlighted Pope Leo XIV's focus on the Church's missionary zeal. Mission, he said, stands as the external expression of the synodal drive to involve everyone at all stages through 'participation and communion.' 'In this new stage of the Church's journey,' concluded Cardinal Grech, 'you consecrated men and women, belonging to ancient and modern Institutes, must feel entrusted with the task of being the vanguard of the Church's missionary renewal.'--Vatican News
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Pope who acted against exclusion
For women, Pope Francis has brought revolutionary changes to the Catholic Church. This is not solely a matter concerning the Church; every woman should be aware of it, to affirm that even sacred rites can be reformed. Pope Francis will be remembered not only for his deep humility and inclusive spirituality but also for steering revolutionary reforms that challenged year-old traditions. From the moment his papacy began in 2013, the first Jesuit to hold the position brought in revolutionary changes. He was driven by his own principle, simple but profound, to be a voice for the voiceless. In a patriarchal society where women have long been relegated to the sidelines of spiritual authority, Pope Francis' remarkable changes shocked theological orthodoxy. In 2016, he rewrote history by allowing women to participate in the Maundy Thursday foot-washing ceremony. This is a sacred re-enactment of Jesus Christ cleansing the feet of his 12 apostles. Pope Francis reformed the ceremony by declaring that it would be open to women too or as he put it, 'to all the members of the people of God'. This ritual, which was traditionally reserved for men, symbolises humility, service, and compassion. By including women, he shattered a symbolic boundary that had reinforced the exclusion of women from the Church's most revered practices. This was not just a ceremonial change, a theologically loaded act, a direct challenge to the legacy that had long tied the spiritual leadership exclusive to maleness. Pope Francis, in his early celebrations of the rite, washed the feet of Muslim women, prisoners, and migrants — acts that stirred controversy among conservative factions of the Church. Yet he persisted. Later, he formalised the change by updating the Roman Missal, making women's inclusion permanent. In 2025, churches across the world officially embraced this inclusive vision, with women participating in foot-washing ceremonies globally — a powerful visual testament to the message that men and women are equals in dignity and grace. Further, the Pope's Vatican appointments including women in the most powerful positions, are not just token gestures but structural shifts. Women, for the first time in the Catholic history, have been given the chance to take up key positions. He appointed Sister Nathalie Becquart the first woman with voting rights in the Synod of Bishops, an international body of Church leaders previously reserved for Cardinals and clergy. He named Francesca Di Giovanni, a laywoman, to a senior diplomatic role in the Secretariat of State, and brought women into the Vatican's most powerful economic oversight body. The Pope condemned the exploitation of women, labelling it as a 'sin against God'. He described the gender pay gap a 'pure scandal' and advocated for equal pay for equal work. He criticised workplace discrimination against women, particularly the bias against hiring women due to potential pregnancies. Pope Francis launched a synod on synodality, one of his boldest initiatives in 2021 (a multi-year global consultation involving laypeople, clergy, and bishops), as a bold response to the growing crisis of credibility and inclusivity within the Church. Historically, the Church has operated a hierarchical, top-down structure, with limited participation from laypeople, especially women and the marginalised. The synod on synodality marked a profound shift in the history of 2,000 years that everyday Catholics including laywomen have been granted not only a voice but also a vote in shaping Church direction. Out of 364 voting members, 54 were women, both nuns and laywomen. These women had equal voting rights alongside Cardinals, Bishops and priests. This is significant in the history of the Catholic Church as it repositions the Church as a listening body open to change and reform. This was more than administrative reform. It redefined the very nature of authority in the Church. The Pope's goal was not to dismantle the faith's foundations, but to plant seeds of radical inclusion, to make the Church more aligned with the world it seeks to serve. Francis also extended his embrace to those often marginalised by tradition and custom, including the LGBTQ+ community, the poor, and the enslaved. His papacy was not about speaking to Catholics alone; it was about affirming the humanity of all. As a strong advocate of world peace, he consistently emphasised forgiveness, social justice, and interreligious dialogue as vital elements in achieving world peace. His advocacy extended to specific actions such as calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and voicing for the rights of refugees. In doing so, Pope Francis proved that tradition need not be a cage. He suffered intense criticism from conservative theologians and media outlets. Accusations of blasphemy and betrayal followed him, yet he stood firm, not in defiance but in faith. His reforms offer a profound lesson to the world: history and tradition are not immovable objects. They can be questioned, reimagined, and reformed with vision and courage. In an age of widening inequality, rising authoritarianism, and institutional distrust, Pope Francis has given the world a rare gift — a model of leadership grounded in humility, dialogue, and inclusion. In washing the feet of women and giving them a vote, Pope Francis has done what few leaders dare: he has chosen humility over hierarchy, peace over profit, and justice over precedent. Let the world follow him! mercyfamila@
Chicago Tribune
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
A 2012 video shows comments from Pope Leo XIV that disappoint LGBTQ activists
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV, in remarks in 2012 when he was the Augustinian prior general in Chicago, made comments critical of what he called the 'homosexual lifestyle' and the role of mass media in promoting acceptance of same-sex relationships that conflicted with Catholic doctrine. Reports about the 2012 comments emerged after Thursday's election of U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost to succeed Pope Francis; he took the name Leo XIV. The remarks were 'disappointing,' said Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, a U.S.-based group that advocates for greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ Catholics in the church. Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich shares pride after South Sider Robert Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV'We pray that in the 13 years that have passed, 12 of which were under the papacy of Pope Francis, that his (Leo's) heart and mind have developed more progressively on LGBTQ+ issues, and we will take a wait-and-see attitude to see if that has happened,' DeBernardo said in a statement. A 2012 video provided to Catholic News Service, the news agency of the U.S. bishops conference, featured Prevost's address to the world Synod of Bishops against the backdrop of images from popular TV series and movies. 'Western mass media is extraordinarily effective in fostering within the general public enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel, for example abortion, homosexual lifestyle, euthanasia,' Prevost said. He singled out 'how alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children are so benignly and sympathetically portrayed in television programs and cinema today.' When he became a cardinal in 2023, Catholic News Service asked him if his views had changed. He acknowledged Pope Francis' call for a more inclusive church, saying Francis 'made it very clear that he doesn't want people to be excluded simply on the basis of choices that they make, whether it be lifestyle, work, way to dress, or whatever.' But he underlined that doctrine had not changed, in line with Francis. 'And people haven't said yet (that) we're looking for that kind of change,' Prevost said. 'But we are looking to be more welcoming and more open and to say all people are welcome in the church.' In his first remarks as pope on Thursday night, Leo spoke about building bridges and God's love for all. The Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit who founded an LGBTQ+ outreach ministry, said such an invitation to inclusiveness and welcome was important and he considered the cardinals' choice of Prevost 'brilliant.' 'He is humble, reserved, straightforward, trustworthy. I think he brings a wealth of experience not only (from) his long time in Peru working with the poor, but also in the Vatican,' Martin said. 'It's rare to come in contact with someone who is actually humble and not pretending to be humble. And he's the real deal. And that really cemented my respect for him. He always treated me with great respect, dignity, friendship. He's a man of few words, and I'll say that when he talked, people listened.' Francis, more than any of his predecessors, incrementally conveyed through his actions, formal statements and occasional casual remarks that he wanted the church to be a more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people. Yet his papacy ended with the same core doctrine for LGBTQ+ people that he inherited: The Catholic Church still rejected same-sex marriage and condemned any sexual relations between gay or lesbian partners as 'intrinsically disordered.' The U.S.-based LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD called on the new pontiff to 'build on the progress' made by his predecessor. 'The Roman Catholic Church stands on the threshold of a hopeful and inclusive new chapter. With Pope Leo XIV's leadership, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions around the world and further embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love,' GLADD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.
Boston Globe
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
A 2012 video shows comments from new pope that disappoint LGBTQ activists
'We pray that in the 13 years that have passed, 12 of which were under the papacy of Pope Francis, that his (Leo's) heart and mind have developed more progressively on LGBTQ+ issues, and we will take a wait-and-see attitude to see if that has happened,' DeBernardo said in a statement. Advertisement A 2012 video provided to Catholic News Service, the news agency of the US bishops conference, featured Prevost's address to the world Synod of Bishops against the backdrop of images from popular TV series and movies. 'Western mass media is extraordinarily effective in fostering within the general public enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel, for example abortion, homosexual lifestyle, euthanasia,' Prevost said. He singled out 'how alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children are so benignly and sympathetically portrayed in television programs and cinema today.' When he became a cardinal in 2023, Catholic News Service asked him if his views had changed. He acknowledged Pope Francis' call for a more inclusive church, saying Francis 'made it very clear that he doesn't want people to be excluded simply on the basis of choices that they make, whether it be lifestyle, work, way to dress, or whatever.' Advertisement But he underlined that doctrine had not changed, in line with Francis. 'And people haven't said yet (that) we're looking for that kind of change,' Prevost said. 'But we are looking to be more welcoming and more open and to say all people are welcome in the church.' In his first remarks as pope on Thursday night, Leo spoke about building bridges and God's love for all. The Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit who founded an LGBTQ+ outreach ministry, said such an invitation to inclusiveness and welcome was important and he considered the cardinals' choice of Prevost 'brilliant.' 'He is humble, reserved, straightforward, trustworthy. I think he brings a wealth of experience not only (from) his long time in Peru working with the poor, but also in the Vatican,' Martin said. 'It's rare to come in contact with someone who is actually humble and not pretending to be humble. And he's the real deal. And that really cemented my respect for him. He always treated me with great respect, dignity, friendship. He's a man of few words, and I'll say that when he talked, people listened.' Francis, more than any of his predecessors, incrementally conveyed through his actions, formal statements and occasional casual remarks that he wanted the church to be a more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people. Yet his papacy ended with the same core doctrine for LGBTQ+ people that he inherited: The Catholic Church still rejected same-sex marriage and condemned any sexual relations between gay or lesbian partners as 'intrinsically disordered.' Advertisement The US-based LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD called on the new pontiff to 'build on the progress' made by his predecessor. 'The Roman Catholic Church stands on the threshold of a hopeful and inclusive new chapter. With Pope Leo XIV's leadership, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions around the world and further embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love,' GLADD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. Crary reported from New York. Barry reported from Soave, Italy. Nicole Winfield contributed.
