Pope Francis' Prayer Intention for October "For the Synod - We pray for the Church, that she may adopt listening and dialogue...and allow herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit..." FULL TEXT


Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of October "For the Synod -
We pray for the Church, that she may adopt listening and dialogue as a lifestyle at every level, and allow herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit towards the peripheries of the world."

FULL TEXT of Pope Francis from the Video: Mission is at the heart of the Church. And even more when a Church is in Synod. This synodal dynamic alone carries its missionary vocation forward – that is, her response to Jesus’ mandate to proclaim the Gospel. I would like to recall that nothing ends here. Rather, we are continuing an ecclesial journey here. This is a journey we are on, like the disciples of Emmaus, listening to the Lord who always comes to meet us. He is the Lord of surprises. Through prayer and discernment, the Holy Spirit helps us carry out the “apostolate of the ear,” that is, listening with God’s ears in order to speak with the word of God. And thus, we draw near to the heart of Christ. Our mission and the voice that draws us to him spring from him. This voice reveals to us that the heart of mission is to reach out to everyone, to seek everyone, to welcome everyone, to involve everyone, without excluding anyone. Let us pray for the Church, that she may adopt listening and dialogue as a style of life at every level, allowing herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit towards the world’s peripheries.
What is the Synod on Synodality
The General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality begins on Wednesday, October 4 2023, following a two-year process that started in September 2021 when the Vatican released a preparatory document and instructions on preparing for the gathering. Hundreds of Catholics from around the world then met in their parishes to discuss the questions posed by the synod. The syntheses of those conversations were then sent to their respective Bishops’ Conferences that are tasked with bringing all voices to the table.

Finally, representatives of the episcopal conferences met at the continental level, the final stage before the General Assembly, which itself will take place in two parts, beginning with the gathering in 2023 and concluding with a second meeting in October of 2024.

The Synod will see the participation of 363 voting members, including women.


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