Cardinal Arinze to Africa: Be informed and pray for Synod

Francis Cardinal Arinze, the Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship has said that the people of Africa need to keep themselves informed about what is happening at the Synod on the Family because, “love of the Church includes our readiness to know what the Church is doing. However, knowledge alone is not enough. We should also pray for the Synod fathers,” he said. The Cardinal was explaining the synod process to the Africa Service of Vatican Radio.

The Cardinal emeritus emphasised that Synods work with the Holy Father and under his direction in an expression of collegiality. Asked what the Pope will do with the recommendations from the Synod, Cardinal Arinze said, “I do not know what the Holy Father, Pope Francis, will do with the recommendations from the Synod. He is entirely free to act on the recommendations as he will judge best. We can presume, however, that since the Holy Father is attending the Synod each day, he will take seriously the recommendations,” Cardinal Arinze said.

On whether he saw any connection between the World Meeting of Families that recently took place in Philadelphia, United States and the current Synod on the Family at the Vatican, Cardinal Arinze affirmed, “Both events underline the importance of the family in the Church and in the world.”

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Listen below to Cardinal Arinze speaking to Vatican Radio’s Africa Service.