(Vatican Radio) The 15th General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops took
place in the Vatican on Wednesday morning, marking the last session of speeches before
the bishops gather in small language groups to start discussing propositions for the
final synod document. Our special correspondent Philippa Hitchen was following the
morning’s events. Listen:
On Wednesday
afternoon, the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, gave his second major
speech to the bishops gathered from all corners of the globe to discuss ways of revitalising
the faith and bringing people back to the Church.
The ‘Presentation after the
Discussion’ as it’s officially called is given in Latin and draws together the many
themes that have emerged from the first week and a half of speeches by bishops, religious
and lay experts, plus representatives of other Christian Churches and communities.
Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Russian Orthodox Department for external Church
relations, was among six so called ‘fraternal delegates’ who addressed the synod on
Tuesday, sharing experiences of evangelisation from their Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist
and Anglican traditions.
Alongside the themes of inculturation, formation
of the laity, the family, interfaith challenges or the witness of the martyrs, the
urgency of ecumenism has been a constant refrain from bishops in different parts of
the world. From the practical examples of the Focolare, St Egidio or Taize communities
where young people gather to pray together, to the many countries where Christians
of all denominations cooperate to promote charity, justice and peace, many speakers
have underlined the ecumenical imperative for new evangelisation.
Half a century
on from the Second Vatican Council, which so profoundly affected the Catholic Church’s
relations with people of other Christian traditions, these ‘Siamese twins’ of ecumenism
and evangelisation must remain a priority as we seek to be credible witnesses of Christ
to the world. That’s the view of the Vatican’s top ecumenical spokesman, Cardinal
Kurt Koch who heads of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.