ROME (MEOR) – The Catholic Church has convened an important synod in the Vatican on 4 October with Catholic bishops, priests, and lay people from around the world. Pope Francis invited 16 delegates from Protestant and Orthodox churches to attend and participate in in the Synod on Synodality. The Reverend Prof. Jong Chun Park, immediate past president of the World Methodist Council, is representing Methodists at the 4 week-long meeting.
In October 2021, Pope Francis initiated a multi-year process of listening and consultation across the Catholic Church, instructing every diocese worldwide to engage Catholic parishes, other churches, different religions, and people living on the margins in listening and discernment. The synodal journey emphasizes communion, participation, and mission.
The process culminated in the Synod on Synodality, a two-part international meeting of laity, clergy, and bishops meeting in Rome in October 2023 and October 2024. Pope Francis attends many of the sessions as he will confirm the outcomes of the Synod.
Prof. Park shares about the work of the Synod following the inaugural session of the second plenary on 4 October:
Prof. Park made an intervention, or plenary speech, in the Synod proceedings on 11 October. In his speech, Prof. Park contextualizes his listening to the Holy Spirit within Korea’s Confucius and Buddhist heritage. Prof. Park said, “the Holy Spirit urges me to listen to Confucius for the sake of Christ in order to be a more faithful person as I witness Christian faith.” He went on to say that listening to the teachings of Buddha enables him to be a more merciful person as he shares Christian love. Finally, Prof. Park noted that the 19th century Korean sage Suwun “illuminates my darkened soul….to be a more hopeful person as I witness Christian hope….Soo-on is the one who gave [the Korean people] a hope which echoes a vision of the hopeful St. Paul’s new creation.”
Following his plenary speech, Prof. Park spoke about the Synod, its methodology, and work during the second week:
The proceedings of the Synod are confidential. A concluding report with recommendations will be drafted in the week of 20 October by a commission appointed by the Synod. This commission includes Bishop Shane Mackinlay and Prof. Catherine Clifford who are both members of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission.
Read more about the Synod on Synodality on its website.
The Synod will be closed on 27 October with Catholic Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. After the Synod, a new phase of work will be initated for the reception of the Synod’s work.
Photo above: Prof. Jong Chun Park (left) with Pope Francis (right) on 11 October inside the Hall of Paul VI inside the Vatican. Photo by Vatican Media.
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome 