From Sisters Hospitallers we want to echo the process that will begin tomorrow, October 9, 2021, and that will last two years, the Synod.

With the aim of working together, as a Church, we leave you a series of reflections by Pope Francis, which help to understand the next Synod and promote the journey together “For a Synodal Church: Communion, participation and mission”

But first … What is synodality?

Synodality represents the way through which the Church can be renewed by the action of the Holy Spirit, listening together to what God has to say to his people. However, this journey traveled together not only unites us more deeply to one another as the People of God, but also sends us to carry out our mission as a prophetic witness that encompasses the entire human family, together with our Christian denominations and other faith traditions.

… A Synodal Church is a Church “going out”, a missionary Church, “with open doors”…

Symbolism and reality of synodality

Indeed, the event logo is significant for understanding what synodality is all about. It is made by the artist Isabelle de Senilhes. It portrays a great majestic tree, full of wisdom and light. On high a shining sun, symbol of the Eucharist.

In the lower part of it, we see a people walking together, not stopping, a reflection of the etymology of the word synod. 15 figures summarize humanity and its diversity of life, generation and origin.

There is no hierarchy or distances between these people, they walk in the horizontality of the same plane (of God): young, old, men, women, adolescents, children, lay people, religious, parents, spouses, single, healthy, with special abilities; the bishop and the nun are not in front of them, but among them.

A fact to highlight: many of the people, children and adolescents open the way, this in reference to the words of Jesus in the Gospel: “I praise you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have kept these hidden things to the wise and learned and have revealed them to the simple people. Yes, Father, it was to your liking that way ”(Mt 11:25).

In other words, the key point is not the pontificate, or the church as an institutional structure, but Jesus Christ who loves his people and nurtures hope.

More information about the Synod: https://www.synod.va/en.html