The fourth week of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops has kicked off. As Cardinal Mario Grech recalled during the Eucharistic Celebration of the Holy Spirit, “we have reached the final stretch of the journey of our Synodal Assembly, which gathers the fruits of a long journey that began in October 2021.” It is a decisive week, so please continue to pray for the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops as they enter their fourth and final week of meeting.
Activities that took place during the Third week of the Synod 2024
The concluding week of the Synodal Assembly began Oct. 21 with the Mass of the Holy Spirit at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter’s Basilica, presided by Cardinal Mario Grech, who stressed that “only the Holy Spirit allows us to remain open to the newness of God.”
Participants experienced a day of retreat facilitated by Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, who reminded them that “if we have only the freedom of those who trust in God’s providence, but do not dare to enter the debate with our convictions, we will be irresponsible and will never grow.” In this prayerful atmosphere, the draft of the final document was delivered.
University students meet with Synod leaders
About 140 university students, mainly from North America, gathered Friday afternoon, Oct. 18, in Paul VI Hall for a dialogue with some of the Synod participants.
The event, titled “University Students in Dialogue with Synod Leaders,” included a series of questions posed by the students and answered by Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Synod Rapporteur, Sister Leticia Salazar ODN, Chancellor of the Diocese of San Bernardino, and Monsignor Daniel Flores, Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville in South Texas.
Pope Francis receives synod participants
On Saturday, October 19, before the start of the Assembly’s final week, Pope Francis met with some representatives of the Synod on Synodality. He received Cardinals Mario Grech and Jean-Claude Hollerich, along with special secretaries Riccardo Battocchio and Giacomo Costa. Next, in the Apostolic Palace, Francis met with the women and lay participants of the synod. The women openly shared their experiences in the Synod and their concerns.
Pope Francis was attentive and supportive.
Synod meetings
After the Synodal Assembly, a conference will be held at the Gregorian University entitled “From Council to Synod. Opening a religious path, 60 years after Lumen Gentium (1964-2024)” will be held at the Gregorian University.
Organized jointly by the General Secretariat of the Synod and the Collegium Maximum of the Pontifical Gregorian University, this initiative will address each day, by various speakers and panelists, the following themes: “Church, What do You Say About Yourself?” (day 28), “In and from the Churches is the one and only Church” (day 29) and “The Church and Her Institutions: a Reflection on the Synod” (day 30).
The opening addresses on the morning of the 28th will be given by Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, and Father Pino di Luccio, President of the Collegium Maximum.
The Conference, which aims to be an effective “place” for discussion and theological debate on the process of reception of the Second Vatican Council and its ecclesiology in the Synod, is open to all those interested. Registrations must be made by October 22 on the website www.unigre.it. More information: lumengentium60@unigre.it
The Alphonsian Academy in Rome has organized a round table discussion on Monday, Oct. 28, led by Professor Mario Boies. Among the speakers will be the Redemptorist Missionaries present at the Second Session of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: Card. Joseph William Tobin and Prof. Vimal Tirimanna.
You can also follow the event live on the Alphonsian Academy’s YouTube channel
Synod in one minute
The next few days will be devoted to working groups and participants will be able to make modifications to the draft of the final document.
Testimonies
We will share these four testimonies: Msgr. Joaquim Nhanganga Tyombe, Msgr. Charles Jason Gordon, Msgr. Ricardo Morales and Msgr. Jean Marc Aveline. Click on each one to watch their testimony:
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