Sr Nathalie Becquart XMCJ likens the Church’s focus on synodality to a pilgrimage, a spiritual and practical journey, with highs, lows and the need for perseverance. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
The Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops is on a fleeting visit to Australia, her first since last year’s Synod on Synodality, to share the Church’s vision for a future of listening and mutual cooperation between laity, clergy and bishops.
“Working at the Vatican – and this process – is already a pilgrimage; it’s an adventure,” Sr Nathalie told a gathering of Melbourne Archdiocese and parish representatives on Monday.
“And as you know, when you go on pilgrimage, there are beautiful days … and sometimes you are tired, sometimes it’s difficult. The synodal process is like this.”
This image of pilgrimage sets the tone for how she sees the Church: on the move, listening and learning as it goes.
“More and more, I realise, first of all, we are all deeply connected, and what we have in common is more important than our differences.”
Central to the synodal vision is what Sr Nathalie calls “mutual interiority”: where each part of the Church learns from the other, while maintaining its own identity. Importantly, it continues the moving away from a top-down approach – a movement that started with the Second Vatican Council and gathered pace in the Pope Francis era.
“It’s not only about the Vatican giving something to the local churches, but it’s really this exchange of gifts,” she said. “When we go to the local churches, we receive a lot. We learn a lot. And when we come back to the Vatican, we bring that.”
Sr. Nathalie pointed to Pope Leo XIV as a longtime participant in the Church’s journey towards synodality, having taken part in the process while he was still a bishop in Peru. She said she can testify that he understands the need to engage with the world. “When you meet him, you can really feel that he’s a very deep listener, very rooted in spirituality.”
She said Pope Leo has prioritised the mission of peace, which she said is inextricably linked to the synodality of the Church.
“To serve peace, we need to foster unity and communion in the Church. And that’s why he expressed we want to be a synodal church, because that’s the way … we can serve peace and foster peace-building.”
FULL STORY
Walking together: a reflection on synodality with Sr Nathalie Becquart XMCJ (Melbourne Catholic)
