Jubilee of Synodal Teams Rome October 25th 2025
Part One
When the date for the Pilgrimage of the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies was added to the Jubilee Schedules from Rome, one of the Hallam Synod Team participants was secretly delighted that the date coincided with their birthday so they would be meeting with Pope Leo on that day. The team were pleased to have the opportunity to network and hear from other synod coordinators from across the world and from members of the Vatican Synod Office, about the activities and reflections on the work so far and plans for the Implementation Phase.(See PIPS, ‘Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod 2025-2028′)
Pope Francis commissioned the implementation of the Synod in March 2024. Pope Leo confirmed this in June 2025, asking that the process is moved forward with concern for the unity of the Church, taking into account the different church contexts.The Implementation Plan schedule is this:June 2025 to December 2026 Implementation Activities in local churches. WE ARE HERE! This is a time for learning how to make use of the synodal method of listening with the heart and collective discernment, in the business of the church. Any gathering in the church can make use of the method, from the Council of Priests, Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Conversations in the Spirit, Diocesan Pastoral Council meetings to Spiritual Reading Group meetings, SVP and NBCW meetings. If you need to learn more on how to do it, there are on-line training materials on School for Synodality YouTube channel, support from the Diocesan Formation and Mission Team, and some useful books also available. But it was generally agreed by all the Synod Coordinators in Rome that the best way to learn Synod is to do Synod.
- From January to June 2027 Evaluation Assembly in the Diocese; we will review our progress in implementing the Synod with a Diocesan Assembly.
- After this, there will be July 27 to April 2028 Evaluation National then Continental Assemblies and finally
- October 2028 Ecclesial Assembly in the Vatican.
Babel
The workshops and talks that we attended over the weekend were inspirational. There were 5 different language translations provided for most workshops. Participants were able to choose which language to follow on their own headphones on differently numbered channels. It was an exciting reminder of the global church and enlivening to be part of.
Programme Day 1
Cardinal Grech began with a talk on The Church, hope, and the future suggesting that the synodal approach, with the theological virtues of faith, love, and hope, can guide the Church’s identity and mission. He drew inspiration from Charles Péguy’s reflections on hope. He concludes that love is the foundation of communal life and service within the Church, faith anchors believers in truth despite imperfections, and hope calls the Church to look to the future with humility and trust in God. As Péguy reminds us, ‘hope loves what has not yet come—what will unfold in the future and in eternity.’
Cardinal Rys then talked on Synodality in the Face of Tensions within the Church. He identified three major tensions revealed by synodality: the struggle between ME/I individualism and US/WE community, the challenge of achieving unity without enforcing uniformity but achieving harmony in diversity, and the balance between self-preservation and outward mission. He argued that true community and unity are built through relational conversion, acceptance of diversity, and humble dialogue, rather than competition, pride, or the abuse of power. Resolving these tensions requires deep conversion to an outward-facing church, embracing the spirit of synodality, rather than mere reform or improvement.
Dr Mariana Aparecida Venancio spoke of Synodality as Social Prophecy then representatives from 7 geographical regions presented reports on the challenges and changes introduced to implement synodality in their territories followed by a question each to the Pope Leo.
This was a fascinating session and presentations, questions and Pope Leo’s responses will be described in the next edition of Hallam Bridge. (…to be continued)
*Grech, Mario. March 2025 Letter on the Accompaniment Process of the Implementation Phase of the Synod 15 Vatican website F Frances
