Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis has urged the participants at the extraordinary synod on the family to ‘speak without fear’ and ‘listen with respect’ as they discuss pastoral care on issues as far ranging as homosexuality and divorced Catholics.

“You have to say all that which in the Lord you feel you have to say: without human respect, without timidity,” the Pope told synod participants in his remarks at Monday’s opening session at the Vatican. “And, at the same time, you must listen with humility and accept with an open heart what your brothers say.”

The extraordinary synod is discussing—in Italian, not traditional Latin, at the Pope’s request—a range of ‘pastoral challenges of the family’ in preparation for a larger world synod in October 2015. This month’s gathering, which will make recommendations to Pope Francis, concludes with the Beatification of Pope Paul VI, institutor of the synod of bishops on October 19.

Addressing the synod rapporteur, secretary-general and the three president delegates of different episcopal conferences present, Pope Francis explained on Monday that they bring to the meetings ‘the voice of the particular Church, gathered at the level of local churches by the Episcopal Conferences.

“This voice you bring in synodality,” he said. “It’s a great responsibility: To bring the realities and problems of the Church, to help them walk that road that which is the Gospel of the family.’”

And one basic condition of attendance, he said, is to ‘speak clearly.’

“No one say ‘You can’t say this; think of me this way or that…’ You have to say everything that you feel with frankness,” he said.

Pope Francis recalled how he received an email from a cardinal after the consistory that took place in February, saying ‘it’s a shame that some cardinals didn’t have the courage to say some things out of respect of the Pope, feeling, perhaps, that the Pope was thinking something different.’

“This is not good, this is not synodality, because you have to say all that which in the Lord you feel you have to say,” the Pope explained, adding that those participating at the synod must also be humble and open to the opinion of others.

He encouraged discussion to take place ‘with tranquility and peace.”

Unlike previous modern synods, the Vatican is not releasing a daily summary of prepared statements from this gathering, a move seen by observers as part of the bid to encourage free discussion among participants.

Later in the synod delegates were due to discuss a controversial proposal by German Cardinal Walter Kasper that would make it easier for divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion.

Pope Francis has said the predicament of such Catholics exemplifies a general need for mercy in the Church today.

Unlike previous modern synods, the Vatican is not releasing a daily summary of prepared statements from this gathering, a move seen by observers as part of the bid to encourage free discussion among participants.

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—Read the full version of this story in October 10 edition of the SCO in parishes from Friday.

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