SYNOD ON SYNODALITY: Why Penitential Vigil for Synod Delegates?
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
On the second day of the retreat for the Second Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the Holy Father Pope Francis will lead a penitential liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, seeking forgiveness for various sins and focusing on conversion, particularly with a message directed toward young people.
The exercise that will be conducted from 6:00 pm Rome time will conclude the retreat session on Tuesday, October 1, and it will be a reminder that “For the Universal Church to walk together, there is always a need for reconciliation with God and with one another since we are all sinners in need of mercy.”
In a statement by the Vatican about the penitential celebration, “Forgiveness constitutes the Church’s fundamental fulfilment because it synthesizes its nature and mission,” Otherwise the Church may only be seen as the giver of sacramental forgiveness.
According to the Vatican, Pope Francis has taught the necessity of the Church to also ask for forgiveness “by calling out sins by name, feeling pain and even shame, because we are all sinners in need of mercy given by the God who never tires of loving and forgiving.”
During the penitential service, confession of several sins will take place, a process aimed “to denounce the sin of others but to acknowledge oneself as a member of those who, by omission or action, become the cause of suffering and responsible for the evil inflicted on the innocent and defenceless.”
Consequently, the Vatican notes that “Whoever expresses the request for forgiveness will do so in the name of all the baptized.”
The various sins to be confessed will include, “Sin against peace, sin against creation, against Indigenous populations, against migrants, the sin of abuse, sin against women, family, youth, the sin of using doctrine as stones to be hurled, sin against poverty, sin against synodality that is lack of listening, communion, and participation of all.”
On behalf of all the faithful, Pope Francis will request forgiveness from God and the sisters and brothers of all humanity.
The penitential celebration has been jointly organized by the General Secretariat of the Synod and the Diocese of Rome in collaboration with the Union of Superiors General (USG) and the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and it is open not only to delegates but all are allowed to participate.
The organizers have highlighted in the Tuesday statement, that forgiveness, “is like a resurrection, permitting those who have fallen to stand again and those who fear they have compromised everything to begin again.” Hence, to “confess one’s sins is the condition for a new beginning.”
