Walking Together: The Way of Synodality

by Pope Francis

“Synodality is not a chapter in an ecclesiology textbook, much less a fad or a slogan to be bandied about in our meetings. Synodality is an expression of the Church’s nature, her form, style, and mission.”― Pope Francis The word “synodality” means “journeying together.” To Pope Francis, a commitment to synodality has been one of the defining themes of his papacy, and an essential dimension of his intended legacy for the Roman Catholic Church. Synodality, he says, is not something the Church does―but an expression of its walking together, listening, and collaborating under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Regular “synods” of bishops have gathered since Vatican II to address concerns of the universal church. But Pope Francis has wished to open this process more widely to the People of God. In a process begun in 2021 which will conclude with a gathering of church leadership in October 2023 and 2024―a Synod on Synodality―Francis seeks to enable a church and church structures that are defined less from the top-down, and more through the participation of all members of the Church in a spirit of collaboration and openness. Along with Pope Francis’s principal reflections on this theme, Walking Together includes reflections by Cardinal Mario Grech, the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, and Sister Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.

192 pages, Paperback

Published February 16, 2023

About the author

Pope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; Italian: Francesco; Spanish: Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) was the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, a title he held ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European pope since the Syrian Gregory III, who died in 741.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.

Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

Reviews

[Sharon Kneubuehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as part of my University of Scranton alumni book club. It was / is enlightening for anyone who wishes to get to know the current Pope.