Pope Francis’ Vision

Pope Francis has a radical vision of the Catholic Church and how it needs to change, not in its core values but in its practices. So in 2021, he called for a Synod on Synodality to include the world-wide Church. The first year, dioceses were called to gather their pastors and congregations to discuss what issues they thought were important in the Church at this time in history.

In October 2023, representatives from all over the world met in Rome to further illuminate these issues and concerns. Bishops, priests, religious sisters, lay men and women gathered in small groups at round tables to listen and share their ideas on how to clarify and implement the changes that they discerned as necessary. This was the first time people of different cultures, states in life, and languages were treated as equals and were asked to share their insights and hopes for the Church.

What an undertaking! Many thought it was an impossible task. Never before had lay people, especially women, played such an important role in the Church. The synod members realized they were representing their dioceses, religious orders, and cultures, and learned to listen to each other. Some of the issues discussed were: racism in the Church, the role of women, outreach to the poor, lay leadership, inclusion of different cultures, and sexual abuse by the clergy. No Issue was excluded from these discussions. The focus was on inclusion and conversion.

In October 2024, the Synod in Rome will conclude. But the work of carrying out the goals and outcomes is only beginning. Pope Francis is still leading this new vision of Church, but he has emboldened the entire Church to be involved in carrying it out. At a recent panel in Washington, DC, six members who attended the Synod in Rome gave their views on the task ahead. They stressed the importance of talking to people, bonding, listening, creating communion, and sharing. One of the panel members said, “Jesus liked people, loved people; we need to like (all) people and love them.” That is Pope Francis’ vision for the Church in a nutshell.