According to Estela Padilla, one of the ten non-bishop members from Asia for the forth-coming Synod of Bishops this October, it will be an occasion for the church’s authentic renewal.
She has been a consultant to the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Executive Secretary of the Office for Theological Concerns in the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC).
When asked what her feelings were when Pope Francis included her as one of the non-bishop members from Asia for the Synod of Bishops, Padilla told AsiaNews, “I felt deep joy and an even deeper sense of responsibility. The Synod has fascinated and energized me from the start. Since I have participated in the local, national, and international Synodal processes, I am looking forward to seeing the seeds planted grow and nourish towards authentic renewal.”
“I hope the Synod will be a space for aware-ness-raising, graceful listening, and speaking with parrhesia. The participation of the non-bishops will be an exercise in authentic communal discern-ment and decision-making, guided by the question, ‘Where is the Spirit leading us’?”