The final voting on the propositions took place on Saturday morning. In the past – before electronic voting – the counting of ballots took place over the midday break and the delegates had to return to the synod hall on late Saturday afternoon to hear the results. But yesterday, with the new system, all the vote counting (at least unofficial) had finished by noon.All the propositions passed

At the conclusion of the synod, a message is usually issued from the synod participants to the church at large. At the conclusion of this synod there will also be a message on the Word of God. Several of the members of the synod complained that the message is too long (nine pages) and then proceeded to ask for just a few small additions. Other members suggested that the message is just right, in size,

A synod is not exactly a working parliament that designs governmental plans and projects. It is a consultation by the pope of bishops (and a few others) from around the world to help determine his role and leads for leadership of the universal church. The propositions that the synod puts together are advice to the pope. Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday the language groups worked at suggesting amendments

During the last few days of the synod, there is a lot of time given to the mechanics of pulling together discussions and reports from the small groups. Thursday no general sessions were held for the synodal members. In Friday’s session the amended propositions will be presented in a general session. These revised propositions, then, will be the basis for final voting. It seems that there is

The Synod moves into its last week of work. The bulk of the interventions are finished, but some of the auditors are still being given an opportunity to address the synod. And some of the written reports may still be flowing in to the secretariate for review by the periti. But there seems not much more time for oral disquisitions.Sunday was a complete relief from synod activity – for most of

The variety of auditors at the Synod is endlessly interesting. Many are from among the women’s Union of Superiors General. Most reside in Italy and Europe. Some are from Asia. Very few from Africa. Of course, in such a large gathering, the auditors must, necessarily, be kept small. A magnificent intervention was shared by Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz, of the Philosophy Department of the Technical

On Saturday evening, at the end of the day of formal meetings for the Synod, we celebrated First Vespers together in the Sistine Chapel, with Pope Benedict presiding and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness Bartholomew speaking to the entire membership of the Synod on the Word of God. The Ecumenical Patriarch spoke at the conclusion of the vesper service and his comments were

At the beginning of the week, Superior General Father Adolfo Nicolás, SJ invited the members of the USG for a working pranzo (is that a contradiction in terms?) at the Jesuit house, just about a block off the Vatican. In addition to some other routine agenda, the working proposal surfaced that the superiors general anticipate what sort of influence we would wish for the Synod on the Word of God

Wednesday morning saw the finish of the process of interventions form the Synod Participants. Not all 253 members chose to speak, but most did, about 220. With that process finished, the Special Relator of the Synod, Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec, presented, in Wednesday afternoon, his summary of the interventions and the ideas that emerged – in a printed booklet.I remember Bishop Sowada telling

Pope Benedict, as president of the synod, intervened at the synod in Tuesday’s meeting. His message was intended to head off a dualistic clash between historical-critical exegesis and spiritual interpretation. He quoted Dei Verbum 12 to note that the historical critical method is well suited for interpreting the text within the context of its historical origins. Because the word of God follows

The synod has come back, again and again, to the issue of scientific exegesis – basically the historical critical method – and spiritual exegesis. Sometimes the discussion seems to tend toward a dualistic, even antagonistic, contrast between the two. Not a helpful opposition. The oppositional debate tends to skew the analysis of the problem into factious disparagement of historical-critical

A variety of ways for interpreting scripture have been surfaced in the synod: scientific, pastoral translation into different language and cultural worldviews. One interpretation, favored by spiritual leaders, is the interpretation of the saints. These men and women interpret the word performatively. Of course most synod participants quote pope Benedict (Spe Salvi) as the author of the idea of performative

Children and YouthAn Argentinian bishop spoke with passion about the church – both present and future – as a church of children. Our children today are in the status of pilgrims. They do not feel at home in the world. Some not at home in their families. They are restless. They are searching for a much better life. They must have access to the Word of God. Jesus had a special concern for

I have been, from the beginning, impressed with the presence of so many of the Oriental churches attending the synod. There are 8 patriarchs present, as well as two major archbishops, ten heads of Eastern Churches sui iuris. From among the Orthodox there are six further Patriarchs as well as the Ecumenical Patriarch. A substantial, visible presence. The Ethiopian Catholic Church, while in full communion

Thursday Pope Benedict wanted to mark the anniversary of the death of Pope Pius XII with a solemn celebration of the Eucharist in St. Peter’s Basilica. He invited the members of the synod to attend. Benedict noted indirectly in his homily that Pope Pius XII was under suspicion for complicity in the holocaust. But by mentioning that Golda Meir came to the funeral and praised him effusively at

You can find the article by John Allen in which he mentions the presentation of the Master General at the Synod of Bishops at this link:http://ncrcafe.org/node/2157

I mentioned yesterday some of the immediate verbal responses to my presentation at the Synod. For today’s blog I include a range of other responses that I received later in the day.I was getting on the bus to the Vatican at Torre Argentina. Brother Alois, the prior of the Taizé community, an invitee of the Pope to the Synod was on the same bus – he was getting on at Piazza Venezia.

Master General Glen Lewandowski is working on a second blog during the Synod of Bishops. He is teaming up with confrere Jerry Schik (Phoenix,USA) to write on the Catholic News Service Bible Blog. They will be writing about the Gospel of Luke. The CNS Bible Blog can be found at:http://wordpress.com/tag/cns-bible-blog/

Intervention of the Master General at the Synod of Bishops[N.B. Synod participants are limited to 5 mins in presenting their intervention. Below is this presentation by the Master General. The full text of his intervention - with footnotes - can be found on this page for download: http://www.oscgeneralchapter.info/jubilee/jubilee/jubilee/jubilee_files.html ]Kergyma as GospelIn the beginning was the

Interventions from the Synod Members BeginOn the second day of the Synod the interventions by the synod participants began. In the statutes governing the proceedings of the Synod, it is explicitly stated that these interventions are not intended to be made available to persons who are not present in the synod hall. The main purpose for that ruling is to protect the right of the synodal members to speak

Rabbi Cohen addresses the SynodThe synod proceedings for the first day concentrated on presenting an overview of the work scheduled for the three weeks and a summary of the Instrumentum Laboris. The substantive content of the Secretary General’s report – which was read out entirely in Latin over two hours – filled the morning’s sessions. Some people seemed – strangely

Basilica of St. PaulSunday Eucharist with the pope to begin the Synod on the Word of God.The Synod began with a solemn pontifical celebration of the Eucharist at 9.30 am. All the Synod participants, auditors, and fraternal delegates were in attendance at St. Paul outside-the-walls. The location was especially chosen to mark the jubilee year and honor St. Paul, the evangelist and apostle of Jesus Christ.The