(2021.5.21 Vatican News Salvatore Cernuzio)
「For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission（共働する教会へー交わり、参加、そして使命＝バチカン放送仮訳は「シノドス性ある教会のために：交わり、参加、ミッション」）をテーマとする世界代表司教会議（シノドス）の第十六回通常総会は10月9、10両日のミサなど”開会式”で事実上開始されるが、今回は、一度の会議に留まらず、2023年10月まで、教区、五大陸、世界の3つの段階で3年にわたる、世界の司教、司祭、信徒が参加する”シノドス（ギリシャ語で「共に歩む」）の旅”という異例の形をとることになる。
バチカンのシノドス事務局が教皇フランシスコの認可を得て21日発表した声明によると、世界代表司教会議（シノドス）第16回通常総会はまず、教皇フランシスコが出席して10月9,10両日のミサなどで始まり、17日から世界の各教区レベルで、信徒も参加する形の話し合いがもたれる。その結果を2022年4月までに各司教協議会がまとめてシノドス事務局に報告、報告をまとめた第一次討議要綱をもとに、各大陸レベルの協議を持つ。そして、その結果をもとにした第二次討議要綱を受けて、2023年10月にローマで世界レベルの代表司教会議を開き、議論を締めくくる予定。
声明は「共働性のプロセスは、”local church(現地の教会)がそれに関わることによってのみ、真に存在する」と述べ、「現地教会が真に参加するために、東方典礼カトリック、法的責任能力のある教会の会議、議会、そして国別、地域別、大陸別の司教協議会の関与が必ず必要」としている。
＊分散型のシノドス
シノドスは教皇パウロ6世によって、第二バチカン公会議で実現した”合議”の経験を持続する方法の一つとして、考えられたものだ。2015年10月のシノドス制度発足50周年の際、教皇フランシスコは、「一般信徒、司牧者、ローマ司教」が共通の道を歩むへの強い希望を表明されていたが、今回、初めて、教皇の希望に沿った”分散型”シノドスが挙行されることになる。
＊バチカンでの教皇による厳粛な開会
声明によると、共同性のプロセスは、今年10月9、10両日、教皇フランシスコ出席のもとにバチカンで始まり、出会いと省察、そして祈り、ミサ聖祭が捧げられる。
＊教区レベル：”神の民”の協議と参加
次に10月17日からは、世界のそれぞれの教区で、司教が主宰しての話し合いが行われる。この段階の目的は、”神の民”の協議。そのために、バチカンのシノドス事務局はそれぞれの教会での協議のための準備書類を送付する。その中には、質問票や提案などの案内書も含まれる予定で、各司教区のほか、修道会、国際的な信徒組織、カトリック系大学などにも送付される。
また、各教区の司教は、10月以前に、司教協議会の連絡窓口として教区の担当者を任命し、各司教協議会も、バチカンのシノドス事務局と協調を図るための代表者ないしチームを任命することを求める。
教区の識別力は、「シノドス前会議」で最大限活用され、成果は教区の属する司教協議会に送られる。識別の期間の会議に集まった司教たちは、シノドス事務局に送付する報告をまとめる。この段階は2022年4月までに完了することとする。シノドス事務局は、各司教協議会から受けた報告をもとに、2022年9月までに第一次Instrumentum laboris（討議要綱）をまとめ、各司教協議会に送付する。
＊大陸レベル：対話と識別
続いて、2022年9月から2023年3月にかけて、大陸レベルの会議を進め、2023年3月までにそれぞれが最終文書をまとめ、シノドス事務局に送付する。シノドス事務局は、これをもとに第二次Instrumentum laboris（討議要綱）を2023年6月までにまとめる。
＊世界代表司教会議
そして、2023年10月、今年10月から始まった3年にわたる教会会議の旅は、2018年9月に教皇が公布された使徒憲章「エピスコパリス・コムニオ（司教の一致）」で確立された新手順によって進められるローマでの世界代表司教会議の総会で締めくくられる。
( シノドス事務局の発表文書全文＝英語版以下の通り）
“For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission” XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
Presentation of the Programme for the celebration of the upcoming Synod approved by Pope Francis during his audience with Cardinal Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, 24 April 2021.
1. “It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium. What the Lord is asking of us is already in some sense present in the very word ‘synod.’ Journeying together — laity, pastors, the Bishop of Rome — is an easy concept to put into words, but not so easy to put into practice.” (Address of His Holiness, Pope Francis, Ceremony Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops, 17 October 2015). For this reason, the theme of the next Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is, For a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.
2. Indeed, synodality refers to the very essence of the Church, her constitutive reality, and is thus oriented towards evangelization. It is an ecclesial way of being and a prophetic example for today’s world. “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Cor 12:12). In a similar way, Augustine speaks of the Whole Christ (cf. Sermon 341), head and members who form an indivisible and inseparable unity. Only in union with Christ the head, is it possible to understand the plurality of the members of the body, which enriches the Church, overcoming any temptation to uniformity. Since this is a unity in plurality in the power of the Spirit, the Church is called to open new paths whilst embarking on that same journey.
3. The Synod of Bishops is the dynamic point of convergence that calls for mutual listening to the Holy Spirit at every level of the Church’s life (cf. Address of His Holiness, Pope Francis, Ceremony Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops, 17 October 2015). It is not just an event, but also a process that involves in synergy the People of God, the College of Bishops and the Bishop of Rome, each according to their proper function (cf. Address by Cardinal Mario Grech to the Holy Father in the Consistory for the creation of new cardinals, November 28, 2020).
PROMGRAMME FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE SYNOD
4. Considering that the local churches, in which and from which the one and only Catholic Church exists, contribute effectively to the good of the entire mystical body, which is also the body of the churches (cf. Lumen Gentium 23), the fullness of the synodal process can only truly exist if the local churches are involved that process. For a genuine participation of the local churches, there also must be the involvement of other ecclesial bodies in this process, such as, the Synods of the Eastern Catholic Churches, the Councils and Assemblies of the Churches sui iuris, and Episcopal Conferences, with their own national, regional, and continental entities.
5. This synodal journey will begin with a solemn opening and consist of three phases:
5.1. OPENING OF THE SYNOD: October 2021
This synodal journey will commence both in the Vatican and in the local churches.
5.1.1. Official Opening with the Holy Father in the Vatican: 9-10 October 2021.
a. Opening session and time for reflection
b. Liturgical prayers and celebration of the Eucharist
5.1.2. Official Opening in each local church: Sunday 17 October 2021.
The local diocesan bishop will celebrate the same programme:
a. Opening session and time for reflection
b. Liturgical prayers and celebration of the Eucharist
5.2. PHASE IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES AND OTHER ECCLESIAL REALITIES: October 2021-April 2022
The objective of this phase is to consult the People of God (cf. Episcopalis Communio, 5,2) so that the synodal process is carried out through listening to all of the baptised, who are the subject of the sensus fidei – infallible – in credendo.
The following program will facilitate the consultation and participation of all.
GENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS:
5.2.1. The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops will send a Preparatory Document, accompanied by a Questionnaire and a Vademecum with proposals for consultation in each local church.
5.2.2. The Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the Union of Superiors General – International Union Superiors General (USG – UISG) and other Unions and Federations of Consecrated life, international lay movements, and University – Faculties of Theology will also receive this Questionnaire and Vademecum.
LOCAL CHURCHES AND EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES OR CORRESPONDING BODIES:
5.2.3. Each bishop will appoint a diocesan contact person (team) for the synodal consultation; they shall be a point of reference and link with the Episcopal Conference. They will accompany all the stages of the consultation process in the local church. (Before October 2021)
5.2.4. Each Episcopal Conference (or corresponding body) will also appoint a contact person responsible for liaising with both diocesan officials and with the General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops. (Before October 2021)
LOCAL CHURCHES:
5.2.5. Consultation in the local churches will include those groups of participation as envisioned in Episcopalis Communio, without excluding other modalities deemed appropriate for the consultation to be real and effective (cf. Episcopalis Communio, 6).
5.2.6. Consultation with the People of God in each local church will conclude with a pre-synodal meeting, which will be the culmination of diocesan discernment.
5.2.7. At the conclusion of the diocesan phase, each local church will submit their contributions to their Episcopal Conference on a date determined by the Episcopal Conference itself. The Eastern Churches will submit their contributions to their corresponding bodies.
EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES OR CORRESPONDING BODIES:
5.2.8. A period of discernment will begin for bishops gathered in an assembly (Episcopal Conference). They will listen to what the Spirit has inspired in the churches entrusted to them.
5.2.9. Participants in the discernment period and the drafting of the synthesis include the contact person of the Episcopal Conference with regard to the synodal process and their team, as well as those representatives elected to participate in the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod, following their ratification by the Holy Father.
5.2.10. This synthesis will be sent to the General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops along with the contributions of each of the local churches. (Before April 2022)
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS:
5.2.11. The Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the University – Faculties of Theology, the Union of Superiors General – International Union Superiors General (USG – UISG) and other Unions and Federations of Consecrated life, and international lay movements, shall also provide their own contributions to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. (Before April 2022)
GENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS:
5.2.12. The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops will proceed with the drafting of the first Instrumentum Laboris. (Before September of 2022)
5.3. CONTINENTAL PHASE: September 2022 – March 2023
The purpose of this phase is to promote dialogue at the continental level about the text of the first Instrumentum Laboris and deepen discernment within the specific cultural context of each continent.
GENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS:
5.3.1. The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops will publish and send the first Instrumentum Laboris. (September of 2022)
INTERNATIONAL REUNIONS OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES:
5.3.2. Each International Reunion of Episcopal Conferences will also appoint a contact person to liaise with both the Episcopal Conferences and the General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops. (Before September 2022)
5.3.3. Pre-synodal discernment in the continental Assemblies. The criteria for the participation of the residential bishops and other members of the People of God is to be established.
5.3.4. The Assemblies will conclude with the drafting of a final document to be sent to the General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops. (March 2023)
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS:
5.3.5. At the same time as the pre-synod meetings at the continental level, it is recommended that international assemblies of specialists also be held, who may send their contributions to the General Secretariat of the Synod. (March 2023)
GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE SYNOD:
5.3.6. The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops will proceed to draft the second Instrumentum Laboris. (Before June 2023)
5.4. UNIVERSAL CHURCH PHASE: October 2023
5.4.1. The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops will send the second Instrumentum Laboris to the participants of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
5.4.2. Celebration of the Synod of Bishops will take place in Rome according to the norms established in the Apostolic Constitution Episcopalis Communio. (October 2023)
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6. The articulation of the different phases of the synodal process makes possible a real listening to the People of God including all bishops at the different levels of ecclesial life (local churches, Episcopal Conferences or corresponding bodies, and International Reunions of Episcopal Conferences). In this way, the participation of all in the synodal process is guaranteed and the exercise of collegiality is configured within the exercise of synodality, as emphasized by Pope Francis on the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops.
7. In a spirit of collaboration, the General Secretariat of the Synod is open to clarify and accompany any moment of this synodal process, which must be, essentially, a spiritual event of discernment. “One listening to the others; and all listening to the Holy Spirit.”(Discourse of Pope Francis on the Commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops, 17 October 2015).
Mario Card. Grech General Secretary Vatican, 21 May 2021
