Day 1 – 10/23/25
I have the pleasure of returning to Rome for a third year in an international gathering for synodality. Synodality means walking together in the presence of the Holy Spirit. It recognizes that the Sacred is present in the depths of each person and also in every person’s life. If we take time to listen, we can together figure out what we are called to do. The Second Vatican Council (1962-65), Pope Francis and Pope Leo have called the Church to return to this synodal way because it humbly and inclusively recognizes that a healthy spiritual community is one that lets God “drive the bus.”
Friends of Cranaleith will easily recognize that a synodal way of being in the world is closely related to Cranaleith’s mission. I have been involved over the last three and a half years locally, nationally and internationally to make people aware of the paradigm shift and invite them into a new way (for most Catholic Christians) of making decisions called communal, contemplative discernment.
My visits to Rome in October ’23 and ’24 focused on communicating the ideas of women and young adults to the delegates at two global assemblies. I also helped form young adults to lead synodal Conversations in the Spirit. Now the Church is in its synodal implementation phase in which every Catholic is invited to experiment with synodality. First-year results are being reported at the Jubilee for Synodal Teams, the gathering I am attending now.
I am traveling with a local group, Synodality in Catholic Higher Ed in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (SCHEAP), and a national group, Catholic Education Network to Experience Rome and Synodality (CENTERS), that support young adults in synodal leadership. The seven SCHEAP pilgrims are a staff member and a student leader from Neumann University, two campus ministers and two student leaders from Villanova University and me. The five CENTERS pilgrims are professors from four member institutions. In addition, SCHEAP officially represents the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and CENTERS the Archdiocese of Chicago.
During our first day on this pilgrimage, we begin to form community by eating together twice and bumming around Rome. Because a community is where God generates creativity, this is the essential starting point for all synodal work.
Day 2 – 10/24/25
After some much needed sleep, I gather SCHEAP to pray together and strategize. What are we hoping for in the Jubilee of Synod Teams? What wisdom do we bring about becoming a synodal Church? Nuggets of wisdom include:
- Discerning what is of God and what is not is marked by peace.
- Synodality brings together Tradition and the invitation to something new.
- SCHEAP can be a model for involving young people in a meaningful way.
- We can be a peace that is unarmed and disarming.
Friday evening, we gather with 2,000 others from around the world in Paul VI Hall, the massive room where the general assemblies of the past two years were held. Pope Leo joins us for part of the evening program. A representative from each of seven global regions report on their synodal progress and ask Pope Leo a question. Here are some highlights of Pope Leo’s responses:
- “Synodality is not a campaign but a way of being… not a template but a way of being.”
- “I have never been inspired by a process. I have been inspired by people.”
- When asked about bishops and priests who fear that synodality will reduce their authority, Pope Leo responds pastorally, “Not all things move along at the same pace and speed… We need to be patient instead of running ahead… Try to understand the resistances and find ways to encourage union.” He stresses the need for formation at every level.
- When asked about ending discrimination against women in the Church, Pope Leo encourages us to be “courageous in eliminating all authentic discriminations,” to “be a force, an inspiration, an invitation.”
- “Dialogue is essential.”
