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In his talk Fr Rass reflected on Pope Francis’ vision for the Universal church which was discussed at the 2023 Synod on Synodality in Rome. What has continued in the church. What is developing and Where the Holy Spirit may be leading the church. It was about listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and listening deeply to each other, which doesn’t always change the decision but has the potential and power to change the decision and it can change the person who is being heard. Because when people are listened to, they know they matter, their dignity is respected.

At the Synod in 2023, Pope Francis said he was not interested in changing church laws, he simply wanted to know that all baptised Catholics are willing to hear each other’s story before people in authority start telling them what to do or what they should believe. We have seen Pope Francis with a towel, kneeling before prisoners, washing the feet of women, migrants and people of different faits. We have seen Pope Leo XIV welcome people others might overlook, the blind and people with a disability. We have seen children approach them, sometimes disrupting the carefully planned protocol.
One of the greatest gifts of Synodality is, before we try to change people’s minds, we first need to listen to their heart and have a different way of being Church, how to be a good merciful catholic. In Synodality we are invited to come together at the same table remembering that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, listening deeply, discerning with the Spirit, having robust discussion and greater inclusiveness with full participation of all the baptised. The idea is to come together and work together while respecting those in authority. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, listen deeply and walk together, respecting the different charisms and authority of the Church, the Holy Spirit has never yet led the Church to the wrong destination.

Written by Karen (Parishioner)