In May, the Church welcomed Pope Leo, whose Urbi et Orbi message from St Peter’s, made a moving call to  forward together in this synodal journey. The pontiff mentioned:

“We want to be a synodal Church, a Church that moves forward, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close above all to those who are suffering.”

It was then clear that he wants to lead the Church in the spirit of communion, participation, and mission which is the very clear messages of the synodal Church.

A few days after  his appointment, he addressed  the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo made clear again this vision by calling the Church to a  journey already begun by his predecessor Pope Francis :

“I would like us to renew together today our complete commitment to the path that the universal Church has now followed for decades in the wake of the Second Vatican Council… Pope Francis masterfully and concretely set it forth in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, from which I would like to highlight several fundamental points [including]… growth in collegiality and synodality…”

These words give to us a strong and clear signal that the synodal journey is not just a temporary moment within the churches life but the ever lasting way the Church is called to be in this modern world. Listening and walking forward as the one people of God.

Pope Leo’s views on the synodal Church which is moving forward, provides us all with great encouragement for the Irish Synodal Pathway as we continue this journey together with new hope and communion with the universal Church.