One of the ten topics that emerged last year from the Synod and the Pope entrusted to some small working groups is the one that refers to the relations between the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Latin Church. When the work carried out was reported to the Synod Assembly that is taking place in Rome, it was announced that the fruit of the reflection in this area will be a text on the pastoral care of the faithful in the diaspora.
Vatican City () – The study group commissioned by Pope Francis to examine the issue of relations between the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Latin Church is working on a document that the pontiff has decided to send to Latin bishops on care pastoral care of Eastern rite Catholics in the diaspora, according to the report presented by this group of thirteen experts, headed by the Hungarian canonist Péter Szabó, to the synodal Assembly that is taking place in the Vatican. The work of this second session of the Synod that began today opened precisely with the presentation of the “work plan” of each of the 10 study groups established in February by Pope Francis to delve into the same number of theological questions contained in the Synthesis Report prepared by the Synod at the end of its first session. These are topics that range from formation for the priesthood to listening to the cry of the poor, through the exercise of the bishop’s ministry in a synodal perspective and the participation of women in the life and government of the Church.
These small groups must present a report to Pope Francis before June 2025, in a work that – explains the Card. Mario Grech, general secretary of the Synod – “is no stranger to the Synodal Path and above all to the synodal style that, as a Church, we are trying to assume.” For this reason its members are “called to remain open to the broader participation of all God’s people.” And “until June 2025 they will be able to send their contributions, observations and proposals. Pastors and ecclesial leaders – specified Card. Grech – but also and above all every believer, man or woman, and every group, association, movement or community will be able to participate with their own contribution.”
Therefore, this work in progress also raises the question of many Eastern rite Catholic faithful who have abandoned their historical territories of origin in an emigration driven by wars, political unrest and economic instability. Specific face of the migrant Church, which is called to not lose the richness of the diversity of traditions even when the Eastern Churches of origin are not able to establish their own circumscriptions.
Nor is coexistence always easy in this area: the summary report presented yesterday at the Synod lists a series of problems such as the “Latinization” of the faithful or the phenomenon of Eastern rite priests called to replace the Latin clergy every time. less numerous, practically abandoning the ministry in their Churches of origin. The document should aim precisely at facilitating mutual understanding. And to prepare it, reflection is being made based on a series of questions: “What is asked of the Latin bishops – the report exemplifies – with respect to the oriental faithful present in the territory of their dioceses who do not have their own hierarch, or to help an eastern shepherd who has difficulties reaching them? What forms of collaboration are possible and appropriate in a territory where several rites are present? What mutual knowledge exists and how can it be applied, deepened or improved? canonical legislation to favor the pastoral care of Eastern Catholics in the diaspora? What is the role of the Holy See in all this?
At the conclusion of this debate, the group will prepare a draft text for the document that will be submitted to the Plenary Assembly of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches for study, which will examine it and prepare the final document that will be presented to Pope Francis.
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