VATICAN SYNOD: Synod Assembly On Silent Mode and Social Media Fasting In Order To Listen
Pope Francis attends the morning session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 18. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Andrew Kaufa smm
At the first General Congregation of the Synod at the Aural Paul VI on Wednesday October 4, Most Rev. Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak the patriarch of the Coptic Church in Alexandria made a very revealing confess that is perhaps applicable to many bishops, that at the beginning for the synod journey in 2021, he felt not at ease with the process of the Synod on Synodality.
“This is not only because the method was new but also because there were many issues arising from the reports that came from the parishes and dioceses. With time, I acknowledge that the process has been help for the Church to learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit and to one another,” he said. In a way, the feeling of confusion, unease or fear was also partly addressed by when he pointed out that there are some things that can pause as enemies to the Holy Spirit during the assembly, and that fear and not listening are some of them.
Fear during the Synod?
On fear, all speakers after the opening remarks of the Holy Father acknowledged that even as the synod meeting begins, there is fear that some members of the Church including the participants may not distinguish a synod from a parliamentary meeting or a summit. This is a cause of concern because unlike the parliament where the members advocate for issues and personal opinions, a synod uses a different approach which is centered on listening to the Holy Spirit and to one another through the small groups and the general congregations until a consensus is discerned.
On this note, Pope Francis as well as the Relator of the Synod Card Jean Claude Hollerich were quick to make reference to Saint Paul’s second letter to Timothy which says, “Remind them of this; and tell them in the name of God there must be no wrangling about words: all that this ever achieves is the destruction of those who are listening” (2 Tim 2:14). Also, “Avoid these foolish and undisciplined speculation, understanding that they only give rise to quarrels” (2 Tim 2:23).
On the same note, the patristic tradition of silence and listening came to mind as Saint Basil was brought to reference, who instructed, “You shouldn’t have useless conversations from which you gain nothing. Indeed, even to speak or do good, without it being for the edification of the faith, is to grieve the Holy Spirit of God (Bas., reg. mor. 25, PG 31, 744B) patristic tradition which insisted on listening and silence as opposed to engaging in useless conversations
So, yes we can talk about fear but as the Holy Father said, this obstacle can be removed on by the synod participants and the people of God understanding that during synod, it is not the opinion of an individual by the movement and voice of Holy Spirit who is the leading character throughout the process.
“We have to understand that it is the Holy Spirit who is the protagonist; he made the Pentecost happen. Everything was ordered and clear but that morning, that experience was so powerful that people experienced a certain sense of harmony,” he said adding, “The Holy Spirit is the composer of the symphony” so much that “One thing that makes the Holy Spirit sad is empty word and gossip.”
On this note, Pope Francis insists that allowing the Holy Spirit to take her position during the Synod shall lead the synod assembly into the process of discernment. Therefore, “let us not replace the Holy Spirit with the spiritual worldliness or with mundane things.”
On the part of the Secretary General of the Synod on Synodality Cardinal Mario Grech, this fear can to a certain extent be justifiable because “the Church is going through a very difficult time. In fact, during this synodal journey, the Church has also gone through a lot of misunderstandings and difficulties. However, this synod can become for the universal Church a strong sign and experience of communion and unity of all the faithful.”
Fear of the Media?
Without losing his sense of humour, Pope Francis insists that silence is an essential ingredient during the Synod on Synodality process. During the ecumenical prayer vigil at Saint Peters Square which took place of Saturday October 1, 2023, he said, ““Silence, in the ecclesial community, makes fraternal communication possible, where the Holy Spirit draws together points of view,” he said. Again, during the first congregation on Wednesday October 4, he insisted on the assembly and all the people of God pausing for a while in order to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit as opposed to the worldly voice of the evil spirits.
In this regard, aware of the nature and purpose of the synod, his appeal goes both to the members of the assembly gathered in Rome but also to the media fraternity. To the synod assembly, Pope Francis obliges al participants to refrain from the internet the social media, but also from making audial visual recording, at least as long as they are at the synodal meeting at the venue; it also went to the media fraternity to whom he appealed for their understanding that the synodal process is an important moment whereby participants shall pause from interacting with the media, not for any reason but to give room to what is being referred to as ‘Spiritual Conversation’.
To the participants, the rational of confidentiality is clarified in the Synod Regulations article no. 24: “In order to guarantee the freedom of expression of each and all regarding their thoughts and to ensure serenity of the discernment in common, which is the main task entrusted to the Assembly, each of the participants is bound to confidentiality and to discretion regarding both their own interventions and the interventions of other participants. This duty remains in force once the Synodal assembly has ended.”
To the journalists and media practitioners, Pope Francis’s appeal during his opening speech is also simple: “Kindly understand that the Church is now on a pause to listen.” And referring to the practice of some media during the Synod on Family and the Synod of the Amazon, Pope Francis express that there was a lot of public opinion which is “a worldly spirit” whereby some were advocating for their personal agenda.
The same is affirmed in the Synod regulations Article no. 25 where journalists are restricted from interacting with the assembly participants and, together with the designated communication team, they are requested to collaborate in disseminating news and information about the Synod but “always preserving the confidentiality of the work.”
The antidote to Fear
While some of the fears about the Synod can be justified, for Pope Francis the remedy lies openness to listen to one another and to the Holy Spirit, to which the Secretary General of the Synod Cardinal Grech and Cardinal Hollerich and the Relator of the Synod add “the spirit of ecclesial communion” or rather the “the interior collegiality of bishops”.
What a symphony in the messages of the Holy Father and the two cardinals! Each in his own way seem to underscore one thing about the synod, and that journeying together as a universal Church where some are progress and other are conservative in their opinions. However, “When we become rigid with an exclusionary attitude, we choose to be a part not the whole. The harmonious unity of our talents must be a gift and sacrament of harmony,” said Cardinal Hollerich who insists that creating a symphony out of the diversity within is probably the stage of the Synod is all about.
