Vatican City: The Jubilee for Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies, held on October 24 in the Paul VI Hall, emphasized the need for a deep conversion of relationships within the Church, rooted in hope, faith, and love, and guided by the spirit of synodality.
Prior to meeting Pope Leo on Friday, participants engaged in reflective dialogue about the future of the Church, its ongoing tensions, and the role of synodality in both ecclesial and societal life. The event featured contributions from Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod; Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, Archbishop of Łódź, Poland; Portuguese theologian Miguel De Salis Amaral; and Mariana Aparecida Venâncio of Brazil’s National Animation Commission for the Synod. Bishop Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA, served as moderator.
Cardinal Grech highlighted hope as a theological virtue that guides the synodal journey. Drawing from the writings of Charles Péguy, he noted that faith, hope, and love together form a compass for the Church: faith sees reality, hope looks forward to what is to come, and love embraces reality as it is. He said hope rests in the person of Jesus Christ and the certainty of God’s promises, urging participants to engage in their mission without seeking control over outcomes.
Cardinal Ryś reflected on three tensions revealed by synodality: the balance between “I” and “we,” unity versus uniformity, and preservation versus mission. He stressed that the Church must embrace diversity, avoid the temptation of sameness, and become a poor Church for the poor, open to all and focused on mission rather than rigid structures.
Expanding on the idea of relational conversion, Professor De Salis Amaral emphasized the interdependence of ministerial and common priesthoods. He explained that Baptism forms fraternal bonds, while Holy Orders serve others as missionary disciples. These relationships are foundational to the Church’s life and vitality, ensuring it remains a living, relational community rather than a mere organization.
Dr. Venâncio underscored synodality as an antidote to societal and ecclesial polarization. Highlighting experiences from Brazil, she described how synodal dialogue allowed many to feel genuinely heard for the first time. She called for a Church that actively addresses inequality, greed, and social division, transforming synodality into social prophecy that unites diverse voices under the principle that unity should prevail over conflict.
The Jubilee concluded with a shared vision of the Church as a community that listens, discerns, and walks together, a living response to Jesus’ call to be one.