Here’s a good piece by Pedro Gabriel on the formative influences of South American Catholic faith that have contributed to Francis’ encouragement of synodality in governing the Church. It is well worth a read. I wish our bishops would read it:
When examining Pope Francis’s perspective on synodality, many observers, both proponents and detractors, often discuss two possible influences that helped shape his approach. One factor they often point out is the extent to which the way the Church was organized during the first millennium plays a role, with its many local and general synods convened to address doctrinal and disciplinary questions. They will also discuss the impact of the Second Vatican Council’s strong emphasis on episcopal collegiality on Francis’s vision. Although these two factors certainly serve as sources of inspiration for Pope Francis’s vision of synodality, we must not overlook the traditional and vibrant synodal experience of Latin America.
To overlook the influence of the Latin American Church would be a mistake, since its particular experience of synodality thoroughly formed Pope Francis’s thought and likely explains the Holy Father’s affection for this term. Developing a greater understanding of Latin American synodality may also dispel many of the mistaken ideas that papal critics often level against the concept of synodality, such as the supposed inconsistency between decentralized participation and the concentration of powers on the Successor of Peter.
Much more here. Do read the whole thing. I continue to be convinced that, despite the torrent of falsehood from his enemies claiming that he is “confusing”, this Pope is an open book and simple to understand. “He has preached good news to the poor” summarizes his entire papacy in eight words. It’s just that these are eight words deeply and intensely feared and hated by a sociopathic and narcissistic subculture that has been so wrong about so much so many times for so long that only a fool would trust their judgment.
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