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| Pope Francis |
“The Church: a single harmony made up of many voices and the work of the Holy Spirit. That is how we should think of the Church.”
So said Pope Francis on October 4, 2023 at the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, devoted to the topic of “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.” Francis emphasized that the Synod needed to rely on spiritual guidance. A synod (literally, “gathering”) is a meeting to discuss issues. The Synod’s title says “communion.” Let us think about communion: we all want to be heard. We want to be part of a greater group. That means we all need to listen. Not just Catholics, but all of us.
Francis emphasized the Synod’s need to rely on spiritual guidance.
Francis' speech emphasized the importance of listening. To resolve controversies, he insisted we must start by understanding one another. We must understand one another's perspectives. We must hear one another. Francis focused the participants’ attention on that basic feature of human life.
That is not merely true of the Catholic Church; It is true of everyone. Listening is not just good communication; it is the fundamental human value that helps us work together. To resolve controversies, we must begin by hearing one another.
We cannot expect everyone to share the same opinions, even in an authoritarian, tradition-bound organization like the Catholic Church. Pope Francis had once said that it was an “honor” when the conservative American bishops criticized him. Because to resolve our disagreements, we must, first, know what those disagreements are.
So often, when people meet, our goal is to state our own opinions. We frequently want to win more than we want to understand. In contrast, Francis said that the Synod’s purpose was to listen. Reversing the usual way we think, Francis stated that the Synod’s purpose was not to make decisions, but to share questions and issues:
So, Francis insisted:
Yes, the Catholic Church has faced many moral dilemmas in recent decades. The Catholic Church has long underestimated those dilemmas, and, sadly, often continues to do so. The fact remains that churches, like many other institutions, are imperfect assemblages of human beings, and can offer deep insights to all of us. So, let us remember to listen.
Francis' speech emphasized the importance of listening. To resolve controversies, he insisted we must start by understanding one another. We must understand one another's perspectives. We must hear one another. Francis focused the participants’ attention on that basic feature of human life.
That is not merely true of the Catholic Church; It is true of everyone. Listening is not just good communication; it is the fundamental human value that helps us work together. To resolve controversies, we must begin by hearing one another.
We cannot expect everyone to share the same opinions, even in an authoritarian, tradition-bound organization like the Catholic Church. Pope Francis had once said that it was an “honor” when the conservative American bishops criticized him. Because to resolve our disagreements, we must, first, know what those disagreements are.
So often, when people meet, our goal is to state our own opinions. We frequently want to win more than we want to understand. In contrast, Francis said that the Synod’s purpose was to listen. Reversing the usual way we think, Francis stated that the Synod’s purpose was not to make decisions, but to share questions and issues:
“If the Spirit is in our midst to guide us, it will be a good Synod. If there are other ways of going about things, based on human, personal or ideological interests, it will not be a Synod, but more of a parliamentary meeting, which is another thing.”Francis concluded that it was time for a break, like a vacation, when people could listen rather than argue:
“It is a break for the whole Church, as we engage in listening. This is the most important message.”If no one listens, what good is it to speak? The Catholic Church, like many religious (and political!) groups, faces conflicts between liberals and conservatives, men and women, and tradition versus insight. To resolve those issues, the church's leaders need, first and foremost, to understand one another. Furthermore, to understand, we must listen before we disagree.
So, Francis insisted:
“Then, I want to say that in this Synod – also to make room for the Holy Spirit – the priority should be to listen.”That is good advice for families, couples, political groups, and all the rest of us.
Yes, the Catholic Church has faced many moral dilemmas in recent decades. The Catholic Church has long underestimated those dilemmas, and, sadly, often continues to do so. The fact remains that churches, like many other institutions, are imperfect assemblages of human beings, and can offer deep insights to all of us. So, let us remember to listen.
by William D. Harpine
© William D. Harpine, 2023
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