Does the Synod want to change doctrine?Pope launches Synodal Document as "guide for local Churches".Keys and risks of a Synod that aims to involve the whole ChurchIn a solemn Eucharistic celebration, with "the majestic canopy The Roman Pontiff meditated on the Gospel passage of blind Bartimaeus, who was sitting by the side of the road, who cried out to Jesus and was cured by Him.
– Supernatural Holy Mass of this Sunday The XXX Synod of Ordinary Time took place in St. Peter's Basilica. Presided over by Pope Francis and concelebrated at the altar by Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, and other prelates, with about five thousand faithful present.
"Not to remain immobile in our blindness."
"Faced with the questions of the women and men of today, the challenges of our time, the urgent needs of evangelization and the many wounds that afflict humanity, we cannot remain seated," the Pope said in the homily of the Closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops, whose Final document was approved yesterday by a large majority of synod fathers and mothers.
"A seated Church that, almost without realizing it, withdraws from life and places itself on the margins of reality, is a Church that runs the risk of remaining in blindness and becoming comfortable in its own malaise. And if we remain immobile in our blindness, we will continue to fail to see our pastoral urgencies and the many problems of the world in which we live," Francis warned.
"Gathering the cry of the women and men of the earth."
Instead, let us remember that the Lord passes by, the Lord always passes by and stops to take care of our blindness. Do I have the capacity to follow in the Lord's footsteps," the Pope asked.
"It would be beautiful if the Synod would encourage us to be the Church like Bartimaeus, that is, the community of disciples who, hearing the Lord passing by, perceive the shock of salvation, allow themselves to be awakened by the power of the Gospel and begin to cry out to Him".
"And he does so by taking up the cry of all the women and men of the earth: the cry of those who wish to discover the joy of the Gospel and of those who, instead, have turned away; the silent cry of those who are indifferent; the cry of those who suffer, of the poor and the marginalized; the broken voice of those who do not even have the strength to cry out to God, because they have no voice or because they have resigned themselves."
"Not a paralyzed and indifferent Church."
And in a certainly solemn way, the Successor of Peter pointed out: "We do not need a Church that is paralyzed and indifferent, but a Church that hears the cry of the world and gets its hands dirty to serve it".
"We thus move on to the second aspect," he added. "If at the beginning Bartimaeus was sitting, we see, instead, that at the end he follows him on the road. This is a typical expression of the Gospel whose meaning is that he became his disciple, he began to follow him."
"When he had cried out to him, Jesus stopped and called him. And Bartimaeus, from sitting on the ground as he was, sprang to his feet and immediately regained his sight. Now he could see the Lord, he could recognize God's work in his life and, finally, he could follow Him."
"Like Bartimaeus: always return to the Lord and his Gospel."
"So, too, we too," the Pope continued. "When we are sitting back and getting comfortable, when as a Church we do not find the strength, courage and audacity necessary to get up and get back on the road, let us remember to always return to the Lord and his Gospel."
"Always and again, as he passes by, we must listen to his call, which puts us back on our feet and brings us out of our blindness. And then to follow him again, to walk with him along the way.
"Followed him along the way. Image of the Synodal Church."
I would like to repeat, Francis reiterated. "The Gospel tells us that Bartimaeus 'followed him on the road'. This is an image of the synodal Church: the Lord calls us, he lifts us up when we are sitting on the ground or fallen, he makes us regain new sight, so that, in the light of the Gospel, we can see the worries and sufferings of the world; and in this way, set on our feet by the Lord, we experience the joy of following him along the way. Let us always remember: not to walk on our own or according to the world's criteria, but to walk together behind him and with him.
The Church the Pope wants
At this point, the Pope has clearly indicated the Church he desires. "Brothers and sisters: not a Church seated, but a Church standing. Not a mute Church, but a Church that hears the cry of humanity. Not a blind Church, but a Church enlightened by Christ, bringing the light of the Gospel to others. Not a static Church, but a missionary Church, which walks with the Lord on the roads of the world".
Reliquary of the Chair of St. Peter, Bernini's baldachin.
He then referred to the ancient Chair of St. Peter and Bernini's baldachin. "Today, as we give thanks to the Lord for the journey we have made together, we can admire and venerate the relic of the ancient Chair of St. Peter, meticulously restored. Contemplating it with the awe of faith, let us remember that this is the chair of love, unity and mercy, according to that command Jesus gave to the Apostle Peter, not to dominate others, but to serve them in charity.
And looking at Bernini's majestic baldachin more resplendent than ever, let us discover that it frames the true focal point of the whole Basilica, that is, the glory of the Holy Spirit".
The Synodal Church
"This is the synodal Church," the Pope concluded. "A community whose primacy is in the gift of the Spirit, who makes us all brothers in Christ and lifts us up to him. Let us continue our journey together with confidence. Today too the Word of God repeats to us, as it did to Bartimaeus, 'Courage, arise! He is calling you' (v. 49). Do I feel called? Do I ask for help?" he asked.
"Let us lay aside the cloak of resignation, let us surrender our blindness to the Lord, let us rise up and carry the joy of the Gospel through the streets of the world."
Angelus: "In approaching a poor person, Jesus approaches us".
Before the recitation of the AngelusIn St. Peter's Square, the Pope reflected once again on the Gospel passage of blind Bartimaeus, and recalled that poor Bartimaeus "hears and is heard", and "Jesus sees him and hears him, and says to him: What do you want me to do for you?
The Pope has noticed the cry, the faith, and that he followed it along the way. And he asked if we ignore beggars, as if they did not exist, and if we forget their cry. He also asked how I look at a beggar, if I ignore him, or if I look at him as Jesus did. He also stressed that "when you approach a poor person, it is Jesus who approaches you in the person of that poor person".
Prayer for the Synod and for peace
After praying the Angelus, the Roman Pontiff asked that "we pray that what we have done during this month (at the Synod) may continue for the good of the Church".
He also recalled two anniversaries: 50 years since the creation, by St. Paul VI, of the Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism. "And tomorrow is the anniversary of the declaration Nostra aetate of the Second Vatican Council," on the Church's relations with non-Christian religions. "In these times of great suffering, I encourage those who are committed to dialogue and peace."
Tomorrow, an international conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent will begin in Geneva. "May this event awaken consciences so that during armed conflicts the dignity of the human person and of peoples, and the integrity of civilian structures and places of worship be respected, in observance of international humanitarian law. It is sad to see how in war hospitals and schools are destroyed".
Priest murdered in Chiapas, Philippines, and respect for human life
The Holy Father joined the Church in "Chiapas in mourning the death of the priest Marcelo Perez, murdered last Sunday. A great servant of the Gospel and of the People of God, like other murdered priests who have served the ministry".
He has also shown himself close to the people of the Philippines, affected by a cyclone. "May the Lord support this people so full of faith".
Finally, the Pope asked that we continue to "pray for peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and Lebanon, so that this escalation of violence may stop. The first victims are the civilian population. Let us pray for all of them.
