We publish the note that was issued by the CEI.
It's not a technique. It is a common effort to arrive at making decisions together. An empirical effort that takes shape along the way. The Synodal Path, to paraphrase Antonio Machado, is only done by walking. Side by side: Local Churches, CEI Offices and Services, National Committee. “The wisdom phase is very important because the subjects who were involved in the listening are now consulted to identify proposals and operational choices”, underlined Mgr. Giuseppe Baturi, General Secretary of the CEI, introducing the work of the National Committee of the Synodal Path, which – moderated by Mons. Claudio Giuliodori, member of the Presidency of the Committee – were held in Rome on 24 and 25 February. “The path – said Mgr. Baturi – must aim for an effective impact: listening must become the reason for government. Participation and co-responsibility must permeate the Church at various levels."
In the coming months, as the conclusion of the wisdom phase approaches, in fact, the various paths will converge into a single path towards the prophetic choices expected for the late spring of 2025. In the certainty that, as underlined by Monsignor Valentino Bulgarelli, Secretary of the Committee, "there are no parallel processes but a shared work between lay people, priests and bishops to help Tradition mature at the service of the local Churches".
The very essence of the Committee, in its plurality of skills, biographies and origins, is an expression of the desire to unite everyone. Divided into five Commissions - "The mission according to the style of proximity", "Language and communication", "Formation in faith and life", "Co-responsibility and ministeriality", "The change of structures" -, its task is to identify the “conditions of possibility” for the proclamation of the Gospel in this time. The contributions, lived experiences and proposals imagined by the Dioceses will be included in the reflections, expected for the end of April. A great ecclesial discernment that will lead to the General Assembly of the CEI in May 2024: “in recent months – explained Mgr. Erio Castellucci, President of the Committee – a summary of all the contributions developed at different levels will be prepared and will be brought to the CEI General Assembly scheduled for May. Enriched by the discussion between the Bishops, this will be presented to the Permanent Council in September and will then serve as the basis for the first synodal assembly scheduled for 15 to 17 November 2024". “From mid-November 2024 until February 2025 – he continued – the local Churches will be able to send indications, suggestions and observations in view of the second synodal assembly, which will be held from 31 March to 4 April 2025”. From these steps will emerge that overall vision which, after the General Assembly in May 2025, will be returned to the particular Churches, starting the reception phase.
The first insights that emerged from the discussion within the Commissions are important. The mission is not proselytism but rather the constitutive essence of the Church summoned by God to contribute to the realization of his dream for the entire human family. An awareness of oneself and of its relationship with the world - from the perspective of the Council - which must find expression in all forms of language with which the ecclesial community communicates and communicates. From a strategic technique, communication therefore becomes a test of the Church's ability to incarnate itself in reality. In this line, training is entrusted to the entire community which has the pedagogy of Jesus as its reference. Hence the need to go beyond the scholastic model of Christian initiation, the rebalancing of the effort between the latter and the education of young people and adults, the updating of the training of priests by developing the idea of vocational communities, the creation of common training spaces between lay people and priests and presbyters and Bishops, the care of the educational alliance. As regards co-responsibility, in a supplement to discernment, the need emerged to carry out in-depth studies on some specific issues, such as participation bodies and the various ministries. This is the framework in which the change in structures is inserted which does not only mean the use of material goods but the maturation of governance models inspired by a vision of Church-community in mission. “The first fruits of discernment – concluded Monsignor Antonio Raspanti, member of the Presidency of the Committee – which add up to the great fruit of the ongoing construction of a new ecclesial method. A method that matures its conclusions and propositions starting from patient, laborious and always fruitful listening to the People of God."