Synod of Bishops: Young people are used-less, not useless
Tuesday Synod Briefing. |
At
the Tuesday briefing for the Synod of Bishops on Young People, Cardinal Tagle
from the Philippines said that the young women present with the bishops
provided a much-needed expansion of horizons at the Synod.
By
Russell Pollitt, SJ
The
draft of the final document was presented to the Synod Fathers on Tuesday
morning and was greeted with a long round of applause, Dr Paolo Ruffini Prefect
of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication said. On Wednesday, the Synod
Fathers will put forward proposals for integration into the final document. Dr
Ruffini said that the document is different to the working document, the Instrumentun
Laboris, but reflects many of the issues that were outlined in that
document. He said that the icon for the entire document is the Scriptural
account of the Road to Emmaus. He also said that a letter is being prepared and
addressed to young people.
Wisdom
and strength move us forward
Mr
Joseph Sepati Moeono-Kolio, an auditor representing Caritas International and
Oceania from Somoa, said the Synod has been an overwhelming experience. He said
that it has been a time in which the Church has been reflecting on its
engagement with the world, being acutely aware of the challenges the Church
faces and proactively going out to meet those challenges. He said that the
Synod spoke about Catholic Social Teaching and how to equip young people to go
and use it in the world to face the issues that are before them.
Mr
Sepati said that an image of the Synod for him from his own context in the
Pacific region is an older wise person and young person in a canoe. The older
person knows how to read the stars and navigate the oceans, the younger person
has the strength to move things forward.
The
Synod was like a school
Cardinal
Charles Maung Bo from Myanmar said that after the Synod he personally and the
Church in Myanmar will give more attention to young people. He said that he
realised that young people have not be listened to as they deserve to be. He
said that the Church needs to realise that young people are used-less and not
useless. He said that he hopes that the whole Church will give attention to
young people and follow up on the recommendations of the Synod.
Cardinal
Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines said that he doesn’t like comparing
Synods, as each one that he has attended, seven in all, is unique. This Synod
has been like a school, young people have been teaching us, by sharing their
dreams and desires but most especially by telling their stories, the Cardinal
explained.
The
feminine
Cardinal
Tagle said that this has also been a different Synod as the feminine voice has
certainly been a focal point. He said that it was suggested often that female
figures in Scripture should be used as interpretative lights for young people
today. He said that the testimony of the young women at the Synod provided a
much-needed expansion of horizons. The Cardinal said that when we talk about
diversity it is not just about cultures but also the experience of women which
is unique.
Migration
and education
Archbishop
Bienvenu Manamika Bafouakouahou from Congo said that he uses this image for the
Synod: the final document of the Synod will be one that launches the bishops
into orbit, like satellites, they in turn will give the signal back to young
people on earth.
He
said that in different parts of the world the issues were different for young
people. For him, he said, migration is a real issue. Young people are looking
for a better life but they are also driven from their homes, expelled from
their land. This was caused, for example, by the degradation of the ecosystem
at the hands of multinationals. He said that things like COP21 are often not
adhered too despite all the promises made.
The
Archbishop went on to say that another big concern is formation and education.
He said that in Europe education was advanced but that in many African
countries this is still a serious problem. Something must be done so that young
people can grow and integral development can take place on the continent, the
Archbishop concluded.
Holy
Father to attend a book launch
At
the briefing Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro spoke about a book that will be
launched tonight at which Pope Francis will be present and answer questions.
The book is entitled The Wisdom of Time and is aimed at
bridging and connecting different generations. Fr Spadaro said that the Pope
has been involved in the book in three ways: The Holy Father wrote the preface,
he wrote about his own experience as an older man himself and then also
contributed as a spiritual guide by commenting on the stories in the book.
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