The Synod on Synodality came to completion last month after a two-year process engaging all the participants in spiritual conversations. Its authority was affirmed by Pope Francis who immediately released the final document which had been the subject of intense deliberation in the final weeks of the Synod.

What can be made of this unusual event which ‘enlarged the tent’ of synodal process to include religious and laity with voting rights? Some have been thrown by this expansion, seeing it as a diminishment of the authority of the Bishops. Trying to understand this emerging movement of Church requires another perspective, might I suggest. The subtitle of the Synod gives an indication of what lay behind this process to “enlarge the space of your tent”. Gathering a wider expression of the People of God to enter into a discerning experience with the Bishops provided the lived experience of Religious and laity to be listened to within the context of what was seen to be important matters for the Church to address in our world today. As participants entered into deep listening together the synod provided the opportunity for hearts to be moved as they heard the heartaches and struggles of the People of God today in our global communities. The complexities of trying to live faith-filled lives in situations of oppression, neglect, war and violence must have enlarged the dialogue that occurred around the tables.

Pope Francis underlined that the Church cannot remain inert before “the questions raised by the women and men of today, the challenges of our time, the urgency of evangelisation, and the many wounds that afflict humanity”.

“Brothers and sisters, not a sedentary Church, but a Church on her feet. Not a silent Church, but a Church that embraces the cry of humanity. Not a blind Church, but a Church, enlightened by Christ, that brings the light of the Gospel to others. Not a static Church, but a missionary Church that walks with her Lord through the streets of the world.”

For all those who were participants, ‘enlarging the space of your tent’ has impacted not only on their lives but will have implications for how we as Church continue to live and practice synodality. We Religious have had experiences at our Chapters of creating discerning communities open to the movement of the Spirit in our midst. May we support being a synodal church so that our local regions and parish communities will enlarge our tents to hear the pressing needs around us. Indeed, this is a missionary call to each of us.

Br Gerard Brady CFC,

President, Catholic Religious Australia.