VATICAN: ‘There Will be No Apostolic Exhortation,’ Pope Francis Adapts Synodality Assembly’s Final Document
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
In his address to the synod delegates at the end of the second session of the XVI General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the Holy Father Pope Francis announced that the post-synodal apostolic exhortation will not be written as is normally the tradition after a synodal assembly and adopted the final document.
“There are already highly concrete indications in the Final Document that can be a guide for the mission of the Churches, in their specific continents and contexts…. For that reason, I do not intend to publish an apostolic exhortation, what we have approved is sufficient,” Pope Francis said on Saturday, October 26, while addressing the participants in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall stressing the need for making the document published and available to everyone immediately.
“In this way, I wish to recognize the value of the synodal journey accomplished, which by means of this Document I hand over to the holy faithful people of God,” the Pope added.
Following the 2018 decree by Pope Francis on the apostolic constitution Episcopalis Communio that reformed the structure of the Synod of Bishops, the Pope is authorized to approve the final document, at which time it participates “in the ordinary magisterium.”
In this case, Pope Francis based his authorization of the Final Document of the Synod on Synodality based on Can. 343 which states, “It is for the synod of bishops to discuss the questions for consideration and express its wishes but not to resolve them or issue decrees about them unless in certain cases the Roman Pontiff has endowed it with deliberative power, in which case he ratifies the decisions of the synod.”
Even though the Final Document has been approved, the Pontiff clarifies that the ten study groups of experts that were created early this year to reflect on ten thematic areas on issues raised from the first session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will continue with the work.
“On certain aspects of the life of the Church pointed out in the Document, as well as on the themes entrusted to the ten “Study Groups”, who work with freedom, to offer me proposals, more time is needed in order to arrive at decisions that involve the whole Church. I will continue to listen to the Bishops and the Churches entrusted to them,” the Pope highlighted at the end of the month-long session that was held from 2-27 October.
He discloses that continuation with the reflection by the study groups “is not the classic way of postponing decisions indefinitely,” but “Is the way that corresponds to the synodal style with which even the Petrine ministry is to be exercised: by listening, convening, discerning, deciding and evaluating.”
On this path, he said, “We need pauses, silences, and prayer. It is a style that we are still learning together, little by little. The Holy Spirit calls and supports us in this learning, which we need to understand as a process of conversion.”
The 355 delegates of the Synod on Synodality approved the final document by voting. All paragraphs passed with the approval of more than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
