Action Alert!
Catholic World News

Pope Francis urges synod fathers to speak boldly and not fear offending him

October 07, 2014

Addressing the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, Pope Francis called upon the synod fathers to “speak with frankness and listen with humility,” in a spirit of “collegiality and synodality.”

The Pope recounted that after the February 2014 consistory, a cardinal wrote him to say that some cardinals did not speak out of fear that the Pope held a different position.

“This is not good, this is not synodality, because you have to say everything”; instead, the synod fathers should speak “without human respect, without timidity.”

“Do so with tranquility and peace, for the Synod always takes cum Petro et sub Petro [with Peter and under Peter] and the presence of the Pope is the guarantee for all and the safeguard of the faith,” he added.

 


For all current news, visit our News home page.


 
Further information:
Sound Off! CatholicCulture.org supporters weigh in.

All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!

  • Posted by: jg23753479 - Oct. 07, 2014 4:21 PM ET USA

    And I am sure that, hearing these words, the cardinals are reassured by the recent reassignment of Cardinal Burke.

  • Posted by: bruno.cicconi7491 - Oct. 07, 2014 10:47 AM ET USA

    It is good that he says that; to me it seems clear that he is referring to the orthodox churchmen.