Renowned Italian theologian and author Massimo Faggioli provided valuable insights into the challenges and hopes of the Catholic Church during a two-week visit to Adelaide. Source: The Southern Cross.
Professor Faggioli has lived in the United States for the past 16 years and is regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on the modern history of the Catholic Church.
His visit was part of the Mission Masterclass series introduced by Catholic Education SA this year and included a public lecture, an address to clergy and sessions with educators, parish leaders, diocesan staff from Adelaide and Port Pirie.
“His gentle though absolutely laser-like reflections on the synodal journey, Francis’ pontificate, the extremes we see in the Church and in politics, and the indicative signs of challenge and hope for the future, have captivated a variety of audiences,” said CESA director of Catholic Identity and Mission Jill Gowdie.
Professor Faggioli said he believed synodality would continue after the papacy of Francis because “this is a Church that doesn’t have enough priests and religious to be run and governed like it used to be”.
“It’s not something that can be ignored or denied for too long,” he continued.
“The next Pope might have a different take on synodality but I think it cannot be put back into the bottle.”
“Like Vatican II, all popes had to implement that vision, it was not just John Paul XXIII’s personal project but something that inspired many people and made people realise that something needed to be done.”
Referring to the Instrumentum laboris, the key working document for the second session of the Synod of Bishops, Professor Faggioli said the two most significant themes were the role of women and allowing local churches to act in different ways at different times.
“The question of women is central, the document is very clear and honest about that,” he said.
“And the Church will have to implement some changes in local churches in different ways in different times, that’s what I think it says.”
While it was not clear whether Pope Francis would make an exhortation or “a document of some kind” after the assembly, Professor Faggioli said “something will continue to happen … that’s been said clearly”.
FULL STORY
Italian academic predicts changes post Synod (By Jenny Brinkworth, The Southern Cross)
