At the briefing at the Holy See Press Office this afternoon, Father Federico Lombardi, Fr. Thomas Rosica, and Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, spoke on the continuing work of the Synod of Bishops.
During his opening remarks, Fr. Lombardi stressed that any texts released are “steps” showing “they are going forward in this journey that is continuing and will continue.”
They are “not definitive results,” but are rather “contributions,” the spokesman said.
Explaining he had four key points, Fr. Rosica first said they just came back from the presentation of the individual language groups.
“As we speak, the copies of those texts are being photocopied for you so you’ll have them by the end of the session,” he said.
The next stage of this process, he said, “is a that the writing team will put all these things together,” and joked, “Pray for them.”
As they do this, he explained that the Synod Fathers will vote on them on Saturday, and they’ll be further discussed further Saturday afternoon.
Recalling this is his third synod, the Canadian priest continued with three personal points.
“What I had witnessed this morning is one of the most significant things I had witnessed at a Synod floor,” he said, “It is a Synod. People talk very openly, and it’s a very important step in the renewing of the synodal process.”
Secondly, he said, “When you receive the text today, I invite you as colleagues, please read them fully.”
“They are extremely thoughtful texts; we have something to learn from them,” noting there are “lines that jump out of those texts that are extremely important.”
The third point is related to the second, “as the texts,” he underscored, “show the depth of work that went on” in the groups.
He added that he’s been part of the groups before, and this group worked especially well together.
There are suggestions made in those texts which are “very helpful” and “very significant,” Fr. Rosica continued.
“So rather than playing the game of this outdoes that, or this is canceled, and so on, try to read it together as a whole.”
Concluding, he found this morning “extremely inspiring, very encouraging, and reflective of a maturity of the synodal process.”
Referring to an announcement made at the end of this morning’s session, Fr. Rosica noted that for the writing committee that is putting the document together, in order to represent all the continents, two more people were added to it: Cardinal Napier from Africa, and Archbishop Hart of Melbourne, Australia.”
