Card. Bo: from the Synod a culture of encounter for Asia
The Archbishop of Yangon - president of the Fabc - presided over the concluding Mass of the continental assembly held in Bangkok in the path desired by Pope Francis worldwide. In the Asian delegates' reflections on synodality, there was also an examination of their own ecclesial structures to be changed in order to fully embrace this path in their own context.
Bangkok (AsiaNews) - The Synodal Assembly of delegates from the Churches of Asia concluded yesterday at the Baan Phu Wan Center in Bangkok with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Card. Charles Bo, archbishop of Yangon and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.
The appointment was the continental stage of the path wanted by Pope Francis on the theme of synodality, which - after two years of listening and discussion in dioceses around the world - will arrive in Rome in October 2023 for the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
In his homily, Cardinal Bo compared the synodal itinerary to the forty days lived by Jesus in the desert: a "demanding but necessary time because it allows the Church to better witness to the Gospel, through a process of listening, encounter and discernment".
In this attitude of purification, Cardinal Bo emphasised how one of the steps required today is to "let go of everything that prevents us from being a synodal Church", cultivating a "culture of encounter" by welcoming the "transforming power of the Holy Spirit".
He extended an invitation to work in a simple way "as Jesus did", not just observing, but looking; not just feeling, but listening; not just passing by people, but stopping with them; not just regretting poverty, but allowing oneself to be moved by compassion.
"In Asia," he recalled, "we are a minority and we live in the midst of social, political and religious tensions. But it is here that we are called to help our brothers and sisters in need'.
In the last session of proceedings delegates were addressed by it was Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg and general rapporteur of the synod, who emphasised three points of synodality.
Using the example of musical instruments, Card. Hollerich first explained how each delegate is a unique instrument that must, however, be able to play in tune with the others, to produce a symphony and not a cacophony of sounds. Secondly, he emphasised that synodality requires humility to work and walk together on this journey.
Finally, he recalled that a Church is synodal only if it embraces Christ's mission to proclaim the Gospel and be at the selfless service of all God's people.
The final document - with the amendments suggested by the delegates during the three days of discussion representing the 17 Bishops' Conferences and 2 Synods of Eastern Rite Churches that are members of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences - was then approved and entrusted to the General Secretariat of the Synod.
Together with those from similar Assemblies taking place in other continents in recent weeks, they will form the basis of the Synod's Instrumentum laboris, which will be published by June.
However, the delegates in Bangkok also reflected on how to continue this journey in the specific context of Asia. In particular, they reflected on two questions: what church structures need to be changed or created to improve the synodality of the Church of Asia, and what the delegates would like to see happen at the local level in the year between the two sessions that Pope Francis envisaged for the Synod: the one in October 2023 and the concluding one in October 2024.
.png)
23/08/2004
