Synod: Church should be a home
for the young
 |
| General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops. (Vatican Media) |
Twenty speakers address the Synod of Bishop during
Wednesday’s afternoon session of the General Assembly. The bishops are focusing
on the first part of the Instrumentum laboris.
By Paolo Ondarza
Young people should be protagonists of the Gospel
proclamation, not just the objects of it. That was the hope voiced on Wednesday
afternoon in the Synod Hall. Speakers called for a renewed missionary impulse
in the Church, society, and politics, so that younger generations might be
leaven and light in the world, artisans of peace and a civilization of love.
The Church: Home and mother of the young
The Church is called to be a mother and a home, a place of
empathy and listening, a voice for those who have no voice – especially for
those who come from difficult situations, rejected stones that, thanks to the
proclamation of the Good News, can become “cornerstones” in the building of a
better world. The Synod paid particular attention to ex-child soldiers, to
those from broken families or those affected by addictions, unemployment,
corruption, trafficking; but also to the many immigrants, such as those who,
after graduating, leave their country of origin in search of a better life and
end up losing their roots, moving away from the faith and not making use of
their talents.
Preserving the enthusiasm of youth
Consumerism in the West - the Synod Fathers noted - risks
extinguishing the enthusiasm of young people. They are often disoriented,
without dreams and without faith also because of new ideologies such as gender
or liberalism. The Church needs to speak courageously about the beauty of the
Christian vision of sexuality, without taboos: to be attentive to the many
people today who feel unable to live chastely during their engagement. Some of
the Fathers frankly admitted that most parish communities do not meet the
expectations of young people, who often leave the Church after
Confirmation. For this reason, there is an urgent need for a renewal of
pastoral ministry: capable of listening to and embracing the loving gaze of
Christ, but also of speaking the language of the youth, starting with the
digital language.
Restoring confidence in the Church
Young people, the Bishops observed, help adults to “situate
themselves” in the present and at the same time expect from the Church a
prophetic sign of communion in a torn world. They are the missionary heart of
the Church. Hence the proposal to create a Pontifical Council dedicated to
them.
Participants also highlighted the request for spiritual
renewal that emerged from the Synod's preparatory questionnaires. It is necessary
to help future adults regain confidence in priests, especially at a time when
credibility is put to the test by the scandal of abuse. The hope was expressed
that the Synod might provide concrete pastoral responses in this regard.
Revitalizing liturgy and prayer
Finally, it is important to revitalize catechesis and
liturgy which, it was stressed, together with popular devotion, has safeguarded
the faith of many Christians in contexts of persecution. In order not to
succumb to the temptation of activism, it is necessary to underline and point
out to young people the importance of prayer; but it is also indispensable for
the Church to pray for young people and their vocations. Often, in fact, the
dimension of silence and contemplation is longed for and, when it is not found
in the Church, it is sought elsewhere. According to some of the Synod Fathers,
there is a need for spiritual accompaniment that presents the eternal values
that lead to true happiness in an evangelical proposal that respects the maturity
of each person. In this regard, the prelates pointed out, the many saints with
whom history is enriched remain very relevant models.
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