Contributors

“Young people want a Church that is more contextually authentic and pertinent. A Church that caters to the needs of youth,” writes Pardingtone Nhundu.

“Those concerned that emphasis on synodality as prayer is a sinister attempt to keep the lid on things …. The evidence for this is scant and such a move would seem at odds with the overall thrust of his papacy,” writes Synod participant, Fr Eamonn Conway.

“One of the problems for England and Wales is the significant numbers of clergy remaining indifferent to or fearful of synodal processes, unsure, perhaps, about what it means for their role,” writes journalist Christopher Lamb.

“Synodality means to strip away pretenses and pretexts (both clerical and lay) attached to the status quo,” writes Professor Massimo Faggioli.

“We can continue to insist that our way is the right way, and if only everyone else would listen to us. Or follow the Successor of Peter, Pope Francis, to discover where the Holy Spirit is leading us,” writes Mike Lewis.

“Under the rubric of ‘evolution’ Francis noted how the Church had often changed its stance on particular issues over the centuries, instancing slavery, the possession of nuclear arms and the death penalty,” writes Gerry O’Hanlon SJ.

“Francis is not averse to making a mess. He has spoken frequently of the image of the Church as a reverse pyramid, with the episcopacy, including the Bishop of Rome, at the bottom. Now that is a radical re-structuring,” writes Professor Michael W. Higgins.

“I fear the obvious unwillingness of a significant minority, at least, of bishops around the world to embrace synodality and Pope Francis’ vision” writes Professor John Warhurst.

Indian hopes and expectations from the October 2023 Assembly of the Synod with Fr Karunanidhi.

“When Cardinal Gerhard Müller says that the Synod is a ‘hostile takeover’ by people who want to change doctrine, the Cardinal needs to be told that he is spreading disinformation. Where are your facts Cardinal?” writes Garry O’Sullivan.