The convening of the Synod on Synodality will be an important milestone in Pope Francis’ pontificate. It is no exaggeration to say that the concept of synodality is a key pillar of his pastoral leadership. From the very beginning of his pontificate, he had been harping on the need for a synod.
In a 2016 interview with Belgian newspaper Tertio, the Pope said: “Synodality means a shift from a way of “seeing, judging, and acting” to a way of “listening, understanding, and being present.” This is a process that allows each person to say what they think without fear of being criticized. ” Referring to the 2014 and 2015 synods, he said: “Everyone had an attitude of listening without condemnation. Then we discussed in groups like brothers. But there is a difference between discussing like brothers and criticizing a priori. There was a lot of freedom in expression, and it was beautiful!”
The Synod of Synodality is therefore not an afterthought, an idea that came to us in the course of the papacy’s ministry, but rather a fundamental idea that defines the way Pope Francis views the Church in the modern world. In his 2021 address to the faithful of the Diocese of Rome, Francis flatly stated: “Synodality is not a chapter in an ecclesiology textbook, much less a fad or a slogan to be bandied about in meetings. Synodality is an expression of the nature of the Church, its form, style, and mission.”
Union in tradition and mission
It is not as if the word synod is a new concept in the Church. Rather, it is a time-honored word in the tradition of the church that points out the way God’s people walk together. Similarly, it is based on the fact that the Lord Jesus, who presents himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14,6), and his followers, Christians, were originally called “followers of the way.” is also mentioned. (cf. Acts 9,2; 19,9.23; 22,4; 24,14.22).
At the heart of the Synodal Church are the People of God, who are building a community of love, in which each member actively participates in the diversity and orderly richness of his charism, vocation, and service. . This active participation furthers the Church’s mission to ensure that the good news of salvation reaches the ends of the earth.
The Church in Africa has participated fully in all stages of the Synod on synodality. As reported in the continental document, “The final phase of the Synodal Continental Celebration on Synodality will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from March 1 to 6, 2023, and will be attended by Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Bishops, etc. Approximately 209 religious men and women, and a larger number of lay people, gathered together for five days to pray through the African Church of God family. I listened and reflected on the new way the church should be today: the synod.”
African delegates made a number of recommendations, which were sent to Rome for consideration at the final session of the conference. These recommendations are contained in a continental document and can be accessed through the conference website. But beyond these recommendations, I believe that the African continent has intangible assets that she will bring to the conference.
As the official logo makes clear, the Synodal Church is a community of believers who journey together. The concept of journey suggests movement towards a goal. The Synodal Church is moving toward immediate, intermediate, and final goals. These goals are distilled into the mission of the church. The immediate and interim goal of the Church is to transform the world by the grace of the Holy Spirit to reflect the values of the Gospel. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all of God’s creation will be united with God in heaven at the end of time (salvation of souls).
The Virtue of Hope and the African Model
One of the key ingredients needed for a successful journey is hope. Anyone who embarks on a journey must have a firm hope of reaching their destination. Hope is the driving force behind people’s journeys. Because if you want, you can enjoy the fun that awaits you at your destination. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, hope is “a theology by which we desire heaven and eternal life as happiness, have confidence in the promises of Christ, and rely on the help of others rather than on our own strength.” It is the grace of the Holy Spirit. ” (CCC, No. 1817)
Therefore, a synodal church that has lost the virtue of hope will definitely become powerless. This explains why Pope Francis declared a Jubilee Year of Hope near the end of the Synod on Synodality. Members of the Synodal Church are also pilgrims of hope.
I would like to share two reasons that support my hypothesis that Africa is a continent of hope. First, Africa consistently records an increase in the Catholic population. This is confirmed by the annual church statistics published by the Office of the People’s Evangelization.
It is also noteworthy that a significant proportion of church members in Africa are young people. Many of these young people are motivated to dedicate themselves to the service of God as priests and religious. Therefore, Church statistics for 2023 showed that the only continent in the world with an increase in seminarians and religious is Africa. The number of seminarians in Africa increased by 0.6%. The number of religious brothers in Africa increased by 2.2%. The growth of the Catholic Church in Africa is a sure sign of hope for the Synodal Church.
My second argument for positing Africa as a continent of hope stems from the fact that she presents the latest example of a country rising from adversity to a remarkable and meaningful level of social development. In 2022, SIGNIS Africa, the continental branch of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Communication Association, held its General Assembly and Delegates Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.
Participants from other countries marveled at the orderly and visible elements of social development in many parts of the country. This surprise stems from the fact that everyone was familiar with the story of the Rwandan genocide in the early 90s. Less than 30 years after a devastating genocidal conflict, Rwanda has emerged from adversity to rational social development. For many people visiting the country for the first time, Rwanda offers a ray of hope not just for the continent but for the world at large.
The example of Rwanda resonates with the African Renaissance Monument in Dakar, Senegal. The 160-foot-tall bronze monument depicts an African family emerging from the volcanic peak. It shows a woman reaching down and clinging to a man. The man is holding up a child with his left hand facing upwards. Despite the many criticisms of this monument, I agree with Cameroonian Jesuit theologian Nguoutuna Norbert Litoin SJ, who says that this monument shows a fragment of a theology of hope. . The person that is important to me is the child that the man and woman lifted high together. Children are symbols of hope and point to a future yet to be seen, but drawing strength from the efforts of their ancestors, African youth today are encouraged to keep the torch handed to them burning bright. Masu. The African Renaissance Monument Child is a symbol of hope.
So, when asked what the African Church’s contribution to the Synod should be, I answer: Let Africa continue to embody the virtues of hope for the Church. And we are confident that our hopes will not end in disappointment. (Romans 5:5)
Father Walter Ihejirika is a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria. He is Professor of Development Communication and Media Studies at the Federal University of Port Harcourt and is currently the Chairman of SIGNIS Africa, the continental branch of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Communication Association.
