Synod of Synodality: Its impact in Latin America

Latin America has emerged as a significant voice in the Synod of Synodality. During this month of October, members of the clergy and several of the participants have reflected on the impact and consequences that the “synodal style” proposed at the assembly will have in their respective countries.

Antidote to polarization

Colombian Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio, one of those selected to prepare the final document of the Synod, stressed in statements to EWTN that, despite the variety of contexts, there is a “unity” that makes it possible for the synodal style to permeate in the different realities of Latin America.

Specifically, he pointed out that synodality is conceived as an antidote to a serious problem that affects not only Colombia, but all of Latin America. These are “toxic, unhealthy polarizations that lead to even members of the same family becoming enemies within countries.”

For the cardinal, the proposal of synodality “with the capacity for listening, dialogue and that simple, but powerful methodology, which is conversation in the spirit, where value is given to the speaker and what he expresses and then find, guided by the Holy Spirit, a common route, has a very strong social application.”

An attitude “on departure and on the way”

Cardinal Rueda Aparicio also indicated that “this style of evangelization that opens doors, that enters into dialogue, that is in an attitude of going out to meet others, will help us a lot to find the paths of peace and reconciliation.” .

For his part, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Primate Archbishop of Mexico, explained to ACI Prensa that this process should influence those behaviors and “resistance” that hinder the application of “synodal life.”

The prelate placed special emphasis on the work of parish priests and defended that the “traditional model, in which the faithful were expected in the temple,” should be put aside.

On the contrary, he stated that the synodal model proposes a “Church going out” — to which Pope Francis has referred so many times —, where they can “go out to the environments of their territory, to promote the closeness and participation of present institutions.” and lay organizations.

He also invited us to seek a greater presence in digital life, proposing a “synodal, missionary and ‘merciful’ application of the Church.”

The Archbishop of Mendoza (Argentina), Mons. Marcelo Daniel Colombo, also spoke about this with ACI Prensa, who stated that “in these days together with the Pope and the universal Church, we have learned and we will bring to Latin America our own experience of a Church in path”.

Co-responsibility in Evangelization

For Mons. Milton Luis Tróccoli, Bishop of Maldonado-Punta del Este-Minas (Uruguay), the synodal path has allowed all pastoral agents (priests, lay people and consecrated people), “to feel more integrated in the evangelizing mission.”

The prelate told Celam DNA that “the experience of Sinodality and all this path that we have traveled is already making contributions and is making transformations.”

The bishop also insisted that this process “seeks a common discernment on how to better serve and announce the Gospel more effectively, hoping that little by little it will be possible to answer ‘how to bring the Word of God to all lives and hearts?’ ”.

Greater integration into parish life

In the so-called “Synodality Tent”, an initiative whose objective has been to reflect from Rome on the presence of Latin America in the Catholic Church, as well as to continue promoting the synodal process, the need for greater integration in life was reflected. parochial.

In this space, Elisabet Román, president of the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry, also reflected on the Hispanic Church in the United States, where due to the migrant population it constitutes 45% of the country’s Catholic population. He also emphasized the lack of Latino representation in Catholic leadership.

Latin America, “example of synodality” for other countries

Mons. Luis Marín de San Martín, undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod, assured in March of this year that Latin America “is 5 steps ahead in synodality.”

He also highlighted that this “strong structure” has two consequences: “first, it is a responsibility to help others, you have to help other continents, you have to help groups, get in touch.”

The second thing, he added, “we should not close ourselves, no continent should close itself, because everything that closes dies, the wonderful and stupendous wealth that exists in Latin America must be opened. I ask you to lead.”