The Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, thanks you for the retreat before the World Synod. On the one hand, the participants have already met each other and, on the other hand, the spiritual beginning itself is “a success”, said Schönborn, who, in conversation with us, recommended that future synods also be preceded by days of reflection.
In Tuesday’s reflections and meditations, Synod participants discussed, among other things, the meaning of authority and the “spirit of…
This was the first time he experienced this form of spiritual preparation for the Synod, said the cardinal, whom we contacted by phone in Sacrofano, where the retreat is taking place. “I see two big wins in this. The first is that before the Synod begins, we are already together, all participants. We had the opportunity to get to know each other a little over three days. Many of the participants do not know each other. This warming up of being together is a huge benefit. Normally you just gather at the Synod for the sessions, people from all over the world, and get to know each other during the Synod. We were able to experience that before that time.”
Here Cardinal Schönborn in a telephone interview from Sacrofano
The second “very significant gain” from Schönborn’s point of view is the emphasized spiritual attunement to the deliberative processes of the Synod. “The Synod is not just a work session, but is truly a spiritual process. The two companions of our retreat, Mother Angelina, abbess, and Timothy Radcliffe, former general of the Dominican order, did this wonderfully. It was a spiritual, humorous and loving introduction to the topic, to the attitudes with which we can and can live together in these days, in these three weeks of the Synod. And I’m grateful for that. I think it was really successful – and we should consider whether we can also start with this spiritual attunement before a synod in the future.”
464 people participate in the Synod, which begins this Wednesday, October 4, at the Vatican. Just under 20 participants from the German-speaking area are represented, including Cardinal Schönborn. The XVI. The Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome deals with the theme “For a synodal Church: community, participation and mission”.
(Vatican news – gs)