Theological advisor to the Synod on Synodality is convinced: Francis conducts a profound ecclesiological change in the Church. It's about self-understanding the Church. The Pope must show the planet the achievements of Latin America and the German Synodary Way. erstwhile the Church begins to see itself in the category of the People of God, then various detailed changes will be possible, for example concerning the deaconate of women.
Rafael Luciani is simply a prof. of theology at the Catholic University of Andrés Bello in Caracas. He besides works as an advisor to CELAM – the Council of Bishops of Latin America. Pope Francis besides entrusted him with the function of advisor to the Theological Commission of the Synod on Synodality.
He spoke about the future of the Church after the Synod in an interview with the portal Katholisch.de.
– We are presently in a period of ecclesiological breakthrough. We came out of universalistic knowing of the Church, which was cemented for the pontificate of John Paul II. Benedict XVI continued to make specified a image of the Church. Consequently, the knowing of the Church as a local Church has been affected. The Pope and Vatican were given besides much importance. Pope Francis brought back the theology of the local Church and now deepens it said Luciani.
According to the theologian, the problem is that many parts of the Church do not realize what this change is about. Pope Francis is shaped by the explanation of the preferential option for the mediocre and the ecclesiology of the Church as the People of God. The same is actual of the Church in South America. In many another places in the world, however, it is different and hence, according to Luciany, a large misunderstanding of the intentions of Pope Francis. In fact, synod changes are intended to give the full Church Latin American experience, both in terms of the position of the mediocre and the ecclesiology of the People of God. Only erstwhile that happens will another changes be possible. Luciani pointed out, for example, about the deaconate of women: many argue it due to the fact that Luciani believes they do not realize the Church as the People of God. In fact, it is simply a fresh reception of the Second Vatican Council in the key that Francis offers with his Latin American experience.
– We are in a situation where the orders of the Synod cannot be understood in the same way in different local churches. The same applies to their reception and implementation – he said. As Luciani added, this is besides about expanding the authority of the local Churches, in line with the concept of the decentralisation of the Church, which he had already submitted in the apostolic adhortation Evangelii Gaudium of 2013. specified authority will be given to the local Churches only erstwhile the process of ecclesiological breakthrough is completed, the theologian emphasized.
According to Luciani, it is crucial for the Synod on Synodality to draw from the experience of Latin American countries and German-speaking countries; they became the protagonists of change after the Second Vatican Council. The theologian believes that the German Synod Way and the ecclesiastical knowing of the community from Latin America should influence the Church around the world. He specifically mentioned Africa, the mediate East and the United States as a place where the appropriate improvement and knowing of the importance of Vaticanum II is yet to be lacking.
– The large work of the pontificate of Francis is the beginning of the change, so that the universal Church sees itself as the People of God. However, the Pope must fulfil the double task: he must push forward a change in the knowing of the Church and besides guarantee that this change reaches all local Churches added Luciani.
– If, at the end of the synod, we have a paper that will make this theological leap and constitutionally empower the knowing of the Church as the People of God, there will be further changes in the field of offices [chapters, women, etc. – red] and teaching He said.
Source: Katholisch.de
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