Pope Francis has released a note accompanying the Final Document of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which concluded in October 2024.
This document encapsulates the results of the Synod on Synodality, a two-year global process launched by the Pope in October 2021.
In his note, Pope Francis emphasizes the synodal journey's openness to the Holy Spirit, guiding the Church across continents, languages, and cultures to reflect on communion, participation, and mission, starting at the local level and progressing through national and continental phases to the recent Assembly.
Pope Francis entrusts the Final Document to the local Churches, inviting them to implement its directives with discernment, creativity, and respect for their unique contexts.
The pope describes the Final Document as part of the "ordinary Magisterium of the Successor of Peter" and emphasizes its authoritative nature. While the text is not strictly normative, it serves as a framework for reflection and action, highlighting synodality as the proper lens for understanding hierarchical ministry.
Pope Francis emphasizes that the conclusion of the Synod marks the beginning of a new phase: implementing the synodal vision.
He calls on local churches to discern and apply the Document's teachings in their contexts, following canon law and the guidelines provided.
The General Secretariat of the Synod and the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia will accompany the local churches in this implementation phase.
Bishops are tasked with reporting on their progress during ad limina visits ("to the threshold of the apostles"), sharing both the challenges and fruits of their efforts.
The pope urges bishops and the faithful to approach this phase with courage, creativity, and humility, recognizing that achieving consensus on certain issues will require time.
He calls for the synodal journey to be marked not only by shared words but also by tangible actions.
Pope Francis concludes with a prayerful hope that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and renew the Church, leading her toward full communion with Christ.
This renewed commitment to synodality is a call to deeper communion, greater participation, and a more effective mission in the world.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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