Cardinal Tobin reflects on the term ‘synodality’ in latest edition of Rejoice in the Lord

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On April 21 of this year, I offered reflections on the topic “Synodality: the long game of Pope Francis” during a webinar offering of the annual Cardinal Bernardin Common Cause lecture sponsored by Loyola University Chicago’s Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage. Because the full “script” for this lecture is very long I summarize it in English and Spanish in my newsletter, Rejoice in the Lord.

I hope that my reflections offer some helpful insights into the importance of the term “synodality,” which literally means “walking together,” both for the teaching of our Holy Father Pope Francis and for the life and ministry of the Church at all times but, perhaps especially today. Christians are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, but we never do this alone. We are fellow travelers, sojourners, with each other and with Christ Himself. We walk together in good times and in hard times, in rough weather and on clear, sunny days. We support and encourage each other, especially when one of us stumbles and falls. Synodality is, or should be, the way our Church journeys through time with open hearts, attentively listening to the needs of God’s people as they are expressed in gestures (often more than words) and in longing to see the face of God revealed in Jesus and in all of us, His missionary disciples.

I invite you to reflect prayerfully on the understanding of synodality that Pope Francis has proposed (in continuity with his predecessors in the Petrine ministry). I believe that it speaks powerfully to the challenges and opportunities of our time. And I pray that all of us here in northern New Jersey and beyond can “walk together” with Jesus and with all our brothers and sisters on our journey to our heavenly home.

Cardinal Tobin’s newsletter is available in English and Spanish here.