In celebration of the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Korean Times conducted a survey titled ‘The Pastoral Tasks of the New Pope - Asking 70 Theologians.’ The aim was to identify the most important pastoral tasks of the Pope, who will lead the church. This will reveal the mission of the entire Catholic Church and teach us how the entire people of God will cooperate and devote themselves to practicing that mission. This is a brief summary of the survey results. A new pope and the path forward for the people of God.
In the survey, theologians selected ‘implementing synodalitas and building the church according to the synodal spirit’ as the most important pastoral task of the new pope. Half of the 70, or 35, responded that building a synodal church is the only way for the church to become the true people of God. One participant responded—
“The implementation of Synodalitas is a continuation of what Pope Francis has been doing. Now, the church cannot go back to the image of just listening. Until now, we have only tried to teach without asking what the people of God want. We must walk together and ask and answer together. The church will no longer create hope if it does not attempt to renew itself and remain immobile.
Theologians have chosen Synodalitas as the most important pastoral task of the Pope for four reasons. First, Synodalitas is the condensed content of Pope Francis’ efforts to renew, and Pope Leo XIV declared that he would continue that reform.
Second, Synodalitas is another name for church renewal. Its principle is the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, a larger concept than other pastoral tasks.
Third, Synodalitas goes beyond the church and moves toward communion with the world and nature. The Synodal Church attempts to correct the injustices and unreasonable realities of the world, such as war and peace, poverty and inequality, and the climate crisis.
Fourth, the journey toward realizing Synodalitas is still far away. Most local churches still have not yet figured out the correct understanding and practice of Synodalitas. Therefore, theologians believe the new Pope Leo XIV should focus more on its full realization.
Pope Francis mentioned Synodalitas in his 2015 speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of establishing the Synod of Bishops. Since then, it has been emphasized as a fundamental principle of the Church's life and activities. In particular, the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, held for three years from 2021 on the theme of Synodalitas, was the culmination and synthesis of Pope Francis’ efforts to renew the Church.
The Synod's final document was prepared after two plenary sessions, asking for the opinions of the entire people of God, starting from the diocesan and parish levels, and going through a process of listening, dialogue, and discernment. By explicitly approving this document, the Pope made it a document of the magisterium. He instructed each local church to make arduous efforts to implement Synodalitas over the next three years and share the results. In this way, the entire universal Church is now in the full swing of implementing Synodalitas in the concrete life of the Church.
Theologians said that Pope Francis' core task of renewal is contained in the Synodalitas and that the new pope will continue that task.
One Theologian said: "Pope Francis wants from the Church in the Third Millennium the Synodal journey and that Synodalitas is the essence and way of existence of the Church," and that "building a Synodal Church is an important task for the new pope."
Another Theologian emphasized that "Pope Francis presented a clear roadmap for the renewal of the Church called Synodalitas " and therefore, "Pope Leo XIV's most important task was to faithfully implement the follow-up measures scheduled for 2028 and show that the Church is continuously renewing."
Theologians said that church renewal is necessary to implement Synodalitas, which is consistent with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. Furthermore, they recognized Synodalitas, church renewal, and the realization of the conciliar spirit as a superior status concept that encompasses all other pastoral tasks.
“Synodalitas is the realization of the conciliar spirit and is a concept that contains the expectations and hopes of believers who desire church renewal.” A senior researcher said, “The synodal church encompasses all tasks such as expanding the role of the laity, church reform, integration of conservatives and progressives, and integration of the episcopal body into Synodalitas.”
Another participant said, "Church renewal and the construction of a synodal church refer to the same goal," and "the church's efforts to return to the spirit of the Gospel. A Director of Planning in a diocese said, "It is still in the early stages, but I am confident that the church will change if we continue to devote ourselves to formation for the construction of a synodal church."
Meanwhile, theologians recognized the implementation of synodalitas not only as a task of communion within the church, but also as the only way to move toward a relationship of communion with the world and nature.
Another participant said, “In a modern society that has become disconnected from God and has lost its relationship with nature and people, the church must form a community of communion that reveals the relationship of the Trinity. " Another participant said, “When the church is rooted in the communion of the Trinity and becomes a place where people experience the fullness of human relationships, it can become a source of hope for humanity and all life.”
A senior researcher said, “The synod church primarily means internal renewal of the church, but the church must also walk together with the world,” and “What this era demands of the church is to be present, that is, to empathize with the pain of the world as its own.”
The journey to the Synodal Church is still far away. According to theologians, it is still only the first step, and its results fall short of expectations and hopes. However, such a reality makes it imperative for the new pope to make Synodalitas the most important pastoral task.
Another theologian said, “It has been a long time since the synodal journey began, but there are doubts about the specific changes and results.” Another participant said, “The new pope’s attention is vital to continue efforts to realize the spirit of Synodalitas in the individual situations of each local church.”
A lay editor of a Catholic newspaper considers Pope Francis one of the most reforming leaders in the Church, but he sees no interest in change in the local church. In reality, there is absolutely no interest in synodality at the parish level. We must work to instill the will for reform among all levels of the church and to recognize synodality as an urgent task."
