Pope Francis has warned bishops not to “thwart” the synod on the family with their own ideas but instead find ways to support ordinary Catholics.
During a homily to open the extraordinary synod in St Peter’s Basilica this morning, he called on the synod fathers not to give in to greed that can lead them to “take over the vineyard” entrusted to them.
“Synod assemblies are not meant to discuss beautiful and clever ideas, or to see who is more intelligent,” he said. “They are meant to better nurture and tend the Lord’s vineyard, to help realise his dream, his loving plan for his people. In this case the Lord is asking us to take care for the family.”
Reflecting on Matthew 21:33-43 – the parable of the wicked servants – he said Jesus was warning against the greed and pride of the chief priests who failed to follow God’s plan.
“The temptation to greed is ever present,” he told the thousands gathered in St Peter’s. “And to satisfy this greed, bad pastors lay intolerable burdens on the shoulders of others, which they themselves do not lift a finger to move.”
Quoting Isaiah, he defined “God’s dream” as his people who need care and nurturing.
The Pope explained: “We too can be tempted to ‘take over’ the vineyard, because of that greed which is always present in us human beings. God’s dream always clashes with hypocrisy of some of his servants. We can ‘thwart’ God’s dream if we fail to let ourselves be guided by the Holy Spirit.”
The synod takes place from the 5-19 October and will discuss ways to support the family. The lead up to the gathering has been marked by fierce debate between cardinals over whether divorced and remarried Catholics can be admitted to communion. Pope Francis has indicated he is in favour of an opening in this area of teaching and has made the concept of “mercy” a central theme of his pontificate.
The synod is predominantly made up of presidents of bishops’ conferences from around the world with a large number of them concelebrating Mass with Francis this morning. The liturgy reflected the global church with bidding prayers in Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and Swahili.
Last night the Pope took part in a candlelit prayer vigil for the synod in St Peter’s Square.
In his address he stressed the need for the synod fathers to listen and for the gathering to “heal the wounds that bleed”.
The Pope said: “above all, we ask the Holy Spirit, for the gift of listening for the Synod Fathers: to listen in the manner of God, so that they may hear, with him, the cry of the people; to listen to the people, until they breathe the will to which God calls us.
He went on: “Besides listening, we invoke an openness toward a sincere discussion, open and fraternal, which leads us to carry with pastoral responsibility the questions that this change in epoch brings.”
Photo: CNS
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