QUESTION: In October 2023 the General Assembly in the Vatican on the theme of synodality will have about 400 participants. A sizable group of “non-bishop” members will also take part.70 individuals will include lay people appointed directly by the Pope, 50 % of whom shall be women and among whom shall be included several young people. All 70 will enjoy voting rights at the Assembly. This looks like a revolution that all Catholics are considered equals with voting powers. From a theological point of view how do you evaluate and understand the new position of the Pope? – Sr Agnes

ANSWER: Jacob Parappally MSFS

The Spirit of God who guides and directs the life and mission of the Church is a living and dynamic force. It is the Spirit of God who gives vitality to the Church which has a unique mission in the world to be the visible sign of God’s presence and action in the world. It blows wherever it wills. The present activity of the Holy Spirit can be seen in the enthusiastic involvement of the people of God in many parts of the world in the synodal process. Pope Francis wanted this synod of bishops not just an assembly of the bishops alone but an assembly of the entire Church of the people of God. Every baptized is called to live in communion and participate in the mission of the Church. Apostle Peter writes to the Christians of all times, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9) . One of the theological foundations of the present synod is the common priesthood of all the members of the Church. Therefore, it would have been a big surprise if the laity were not be involved in the synod of bishops which is to be held in October 2023. What is, perhaps, surprising is that they too have voting rights like the other participants of the synod.

An Important Change

Is it a revolutionary change in the Church to involve the laity and the non-bishops in the process of decision-taking? Is it a radical change introduced in the Catholic Church by Pope Francis? It may not be considered as a revolutionary or a radical change in the history of the Church. Many revolutions and radical changes take place in many societies of the world but not in the Church. It is a society but not like other societies of the world. Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Secretariat for the Synod, and Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, the Synod’s General Relator say it is an important change. It is an important change in the Church since fourth century sacerdotalism. It is in the fourth century that sacerdotalism entered the Church with making ministerial leadership for building the community into sacred priesthood of the altar. When the Church began to think of itself as the new Israel, the role of the cultic functionaries of the old Israel was taken over by the Church as priests and high priests. With sacerdotalism coming into the Church the plague of clericalism reached its climax in the 16th century and divided the Church.

One of the important changes which the Reformation wanted to introduce in the Church against the concentration of power in the hands of a miniscule minority of those in the hierarchy was the participation of the entire people of God in all aspects of the life of the Church. Luther believed that if the power to celebrate the Eucharist was removed the whole divine power-structure would collapse. He was not against the Eucharist as such but the claim of power and privileges related to it and the abuse and misuse of that power to intimidate and exploit people. The counter-reformation by the Church with the council of Trent tried to re-affirm the divine institution of the sacraments and especially the Eucharist with the doctrine of transubstantiation and the sacramentality of the holy orders. For Luther if the power to celebrate the Eucharist were to be taken away from priesthood, the power of the Pope, bishops and priests would end and it would bring about equality of all the people of God. So he insisted on the common priesthood of all the believers against ‘priesthood” of which Christ knows nothing” (Babylonian Captivity 7.1). But Luther had forgotten that the early Church already had overseers or bishops, presbyters and deacons as already mentioned in the New Testament Letters. What had become of these was that they had become a privileged group of leaders who did not represent Jesus or were not filled with his Spirit. When a leader is not filled by the Spirit of God he would seek only his own glory and privileges. This was the situation of the Church during the reformation. So Luther wanted to do away with the leadership roles of the New Testament Church! This was the other extreme.

Neither Luther nor the Catholic Church of his time understood that Jesus wanted a community with the participation of every believer in the life and mission of the Church with each one having his or her role. Paul had insisted that the role of each one in the Church is different. One is not better than the other or is superior to the other. When the roles of service to build up the community is made into a hierarchical structure of power-sharing to dominate and control others who are lower in the hierarchy or a large majority of those who are outside the hierarchy, the Church cannot be a community of equal disciples of Jesus. There will not be any self-emptying or kenotic service to others. Any explicit or implicit way of exercising power by those who are called to exercise servant-like leadership do a great disservice to God who called them to communicate his loving presence to others.

It is an important change in the life of the Church to include the non-bishops in the decision-taking discernment of the Church. It actualizes the belief of the Church that the Holy Spirit works through everyone in the Church who is open and docile to the Spirit. It is also an affirmation that the Holy Spirit is not the monopoly of those who are given the role to lead the Church. As the leaders too are weak humans the Spirit gives them ‘the grace of the office’ in order to make their service in the Church effective and inspiring.

Witnessing Power of a Participative Church

It is, indeed, an important change in the Church that among 70 non-bishops in the assembly of the Bishops’ Synod of 2023, there are also lay people with a right to vote in the decisions of the Synod. Of course, all the people of God were asked to participate in the synodal process which had made contribution at various levels of the Church. Such an involvement of the faithful finds its climax in the participation of 70 non-bishops in the Synod. It is an indication that the present day Church is re-capturing the original spirit of the early Church which began in the Second Vatican Council. It is an affirmation of the common priesthood of all baptized and overcomes the ‘heresy’ of identifying the Church with the hierarchy. The participation of 70 non-bishops may be seen as a minority participation in the Synod and the critics may observe that they cannot influence the major decisions of the Synod. But one need to keep in mind the decisions concerning the life and mission of the Church are not taken according to the democratic system of decision-making based on majority votes but on the discernment of the Spirit. All the participants in a decision to be taken in the Church needs to remain open and docile to the Spirit of God to guide them in their decision-making and in their decision-taking.

Being brought up in the spiritual tradition of St Ignatius Pope Francis often speaks of the discernment of the spirits. This exercise can be the discernment of the spirits to find out whether a procession of decision-making is inspired by the human and worldly spirit or the Holy Spirit . It can be a discernment of the Holy Spirit to find out whether the process of decision-taking is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is the one who continues the mission of Christ in the world through the disciples, the Spirit of God is active in the life of all those who are docile to him. Especially, the work of the Spirit is active in the lives of those who are holding legitimate offices in the Church. Both the non-bishops and the bishops who participate in the present synod need to listen to the Spirit and “who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches” (Revelation 3:22). The Spirit of God is the God of communion and not of dissention and division created by the private interests of individuals or groups. Therefore, the participation of the non-bishops is a welcome change to make the institution of the Synod of Bishops to a Synod of Church!