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Archbishop Randazzo: ‘The Church does not renew herself by abandoning her roots’
September 29, 2026
» Continue to this story on Vox Canonica
CWN Editor's Note: Archbishop Anthony Randazzo, who was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts earlier this year, discussed the relation between synodality and canon law in the life of the Church.
“Some over-enthusiastic interpretations of synodality may view this moment as an opportunity simply to cut away what is perceived to be dead wood,” he said. “The danger is that, without careful discernment, what is intended as renewal can become unnecessary damage, weakening the tree rather than allowing it to flourish.”
“Therefore, what is needed is careful, thoughtful, intelligent, and faithful cultivation of the tree,” Archbishop Randazzo continued. “The Church does not renew herself by abandoning her roots, but by allowing those roots to nourish new growth.”
“If I could offer one final piece of advice, it would be to spend time in a good library and browse the shelves rather than relying solely on online excerpts or summaries” on canon law, he added. “That approach may seem old-fashioned; yet I remain convinced that reading books slowly and allowing oneself to be guided by the pleasure of discovery broadens one’s intellectual horizons, bringing one into contact with themes, authors, and perspectives that might otherwise go unnoticed. “
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