Benedict XVI „inventing the ideal Church” in the context of the synodality of Pope Francis Cover Image

Benedykta XVI „wymyślanie Kościoła idealnego” w kontekście synodalności papieża Franciszka
Benedict XVI „inventing the ideal Church” in the context of the synodality of Pope Francis

Author(s): Paweł Kasperowicz
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, History of Church(es), Theology and Religion, Systematic Theology, Pastoral Theology
Published by: Wyższe Seminarium Misyjne Księży Sercanów
Keywords: synodality;Francis;Benedict XVI;ideologizing;

Summary/Abstract: Pope Benedict XVI, in the last interview with Peter Seewald, explains what true being in the Church is: it is not "inventing an ideal Church, but the readiness to live and work precisely in the Church, which is plagued by the powers of evil." The Holy Father develops this idea, conveying how from his point of view the Church changed with the world and vice versa. Pope Francis in the Preparatory Document of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops "Towards a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission" points out that "synodation can be compared to a theatre of three main actors: “synodation can be compared to a theatre of three main actors: Jesus, the crowd (of the world) and the Church (...), but there is a fourth additional actor, called by the Pope the antagonist”, hence the need for discernment. This teaching corresponds to the experience that Benedict XVI left to the world, because combining divine reality with human weakness has been characteristic of the Catholic Church for centuries. St. Augustine in De civitate Dei wrote that on earth humanity will not reach the state of complete belonging to the State of God. However, this does not rule out the process of synodation, but it instills humility.

  • Issue Year: 43/2022
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 145-164
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: Polish