Metropolitan Fülöp Kocsis in Rome for the 2023 Synod on Synodality / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez Vatican City, Oct 28, 2023 / 06:59 am (CNA). A Byzantine Catholic monk who serves as the bishop of the Hungarian Greek Catholic Church has, perhaps improbably, emerged as one of the most colorful figures participating in the Vatican’s monthlong Synod on Synodality.The world outside the Synod got a glimpse of Metropolitan Fülöp Kocsis, leader of the Hungarian Greek Catholic Church, thanks to a video posted on X earlier this month that quickly went viral. Dressed in a traditional long dark cassock and wearing a monk’s hat called a “kamilavka,” the bearded Kocsis, age 60, is seen speeding past tourists across the cobblestoned piazza to come to a stop before a Swiss Guardsman standing watch at the Synod Hall.And one #synod delegate arrives via scooter. pic.twitter.com/jqG1oiDgqu— Christopher White (@cwwhiteNCR) October 11, 2023 It’s clear from the video that this was not Kocsis’ first time on a scooter, nor is it his first Vatican synod.He’s attended three synods since 2015, when Pope Francis elevated the Eparchy of Hajdúdorog to a metropolitan see, and Kocsis was named its first metropolitan archbishop. The Hungarian Greek Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Holy See.At the 2015 Synod on the Family, his first, he cut a similarly striking figure, when he traveled to the synod each day by bicycle, dressed in the style of a traditional Byzantine monk. Having founded a monastery before being plucked for a leadership role in his Church, Kocsis remains a monk, and — according to his communications director — he gives away all of his possessions and lives in a room that is practically bare.In an interview with CNA in Rome this week, Kocsis explained that in Hungary, he often travels by e-scooter, usually when he visits the capital city of Budapest. In the smaller town in Eastern Hungary where he serves as archbishop, he said, he’s more likely to be seen on his motorcycle, a gift from the priests in his Church.Metropolitan Fülöp Kocsis, who leads the Hungarian Greek Catholic Church, uses his motorcycle as a tool for evangelization. Credit: Hajdúdorogi Főegyházmegye“Perhaps it’s because I’m getting older. I used to take the bicycle, but now I’m riding the scooter, which is lazier, but I like it,” he said, explaining that he was running late on his way to the synod and was thrilled to find one on the street.The very next day, Kocsis was “trending” again — this time, in a photo of the Hungarian prelate posing with Pope Francis, who was wearing a trucker hat, holding a t-shirt bearing the words “Jesus makes me brave and strong,” and smiling somewhat sheepishly. Kocsis has met Pope Francis on several occasions, most recently during the apostolic journey to Hungary in April. He told CNA he arranged the photo opportunity at the Synod to help out some young Hungarian Greek Catholics: The hat and t-shirt are part of a Christian fashion line

Pope Francis among the delegates of the Synod on Synodality, held in October of 2023. / Credit: Vatican Media Vatican City, Oct 27, 2023 / 14:00 pm (CNA). As the final week of this year's gathering unfolds amid increasingly contentious discussions, anticipation is rising for the publication of the Synod on Synodality’s summary report.Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, captured this spirit of anticipation, speaking about the prospect of a "concise and discursive document" to summarize the first leg of this synodal journey. The Vatican spokesman has previously explained that the synthesis report would be written by “the experts” attending the Synod. Synthesis report: A vision for the Church?While subject to many potential changes, the document is expected to be about 40 pages long — and to focus on what makes a synodal church, on the equal dignity of all the baptized, and on how the synodal method is intended to renew Catholic communities. While undergoing a rigorous voting process, as the Vatican has repeatedly confirmed, it also will draw on the previous documents that paved the way for the synodal process, such as the continental stage of the Synod. Given that the document is subject to amendments, delving into its content in detail may be premature. However, Synod delegates highlighted that the final report should underscore that the Word of the Lord comes first, and that the Church is called to spread the Gospel; what is more, that local Church communities should be inspired to live the Word of God in their lives. Ecclesiastical oversight and synodalityDiscussions during the Synod, especially in the small circles, were often focused on the centrality of Jesus Christ and the importance of episcopal collegiality. Amid concerns about "vagueness," one synod participant expressed a desire for a more concrete manifestation of the Church. This perspective, while only one of several, reflects a common sentiment distinct from the Synod's narrative.The overall trajectory of this gathering also hints at a notable shift in ecclesiastical oversight, proposing a more localized accountability for papal nuncios, a change that could affect the independence of these “ambassadors” who currently report directly to the pope.Further, the gathering will likely make more room for discussing the pope’s role within a synodal Church, recalling St. John Paul II’s contemplation in his 1995 encyclical on Christian Unity, "Ut Unum Sint" on revisiting the traditional exercise of Petrine primacy. This could also usher in a more active involvement of cardinals, aligning with the pope's recent convening of three consistories for broader ecclesiastical discussions, the last one in 2022 aimed at Curia reform. An emerging proposition is the establishment of a “Council of the Synod,” envisioned as a global consultative body to aid the pope in Church management.The concluding week of the Synod saw a flurry of activity, with schedule tweaks and robust discussions. Small groups elected an additional secretary to document proposed amendments and validate procedures, reflecting the adaptive nature of the Synod process.Testimonies also took center stage, especially from conflict-ridden regions like the Middle East, Ukraine, and the Amazon. A stark emphasis was

Pope Francis invokes the Virgin Mary as Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy at a prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter's Basilica, Friday, Oct. 27. / Credit: Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 27, 2023 / 13:19 pm (CNA). Pope Francis consecrated the Church and the world to the Blessed Virgin Mary in a Eucharistic adoration prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday, Oct. 27, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Holy Land.Invoking the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy, Pope Francis implored her to “intercede for our world in danger and turmoil” and to “convert those who fuel and foment conflicts.”“Mother of God and Our Mother, we come before you and we seek refuge in your Immaculate Heart,” the pope prayed.“To you we entrust and consecrate our lives and every fiber of our being, all that we possess and all that we are, forever. To you we consecrate the Church, so that in her witness to the love of Jesus before the world, she may be a sign of harmony and an instrument of peace. To you we consecrate our world, especially those countries and regions at war.”Pope Francis consecrated the Church and the world to the Blessed Virgin Mary in a Eucharistic adoration prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday, Oct. 27, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Holy Land. Credit: Courtney MaresThe prayer was the culmination of a worldwide day of fasting, prayer, and penance for peace in the world called for by the pope amid the escalating war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.Pope Francis presided over the prayer of the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary, the Litany of Loreto, and Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Pope Francis presides over a prayer vigil at the Vatican for peace in the Holy Land.The pope has called everyone to pray and fast for peace today. pic.twitter.com/n3IwuDrOB6— Courtney Mares (@catholicourtney) October 27, 2023 During Eucharistic adoration, the congregation asked the Lord Jesus to console those who suffer, enlighten those who govern, break the plots of war, dissolve hatred, strengthen hope, reconcile hearts, protect the poor, and welcome those who have died, praying, “Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris,” meaning “Grant peace, O Lord, in our time.”A view of the prayer vigil for peace on Oct. 27. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Francis spoke from a chair off to the side from the main altar of the basilica. He reflected on the Virgin Mary’s humility and strength during her son’s crucifixion: “When on Calvary a sword pierced your heart … you kept alive the hope of Easter through the night of sorrow.” “Now, Mother, once more take the initiative for us, in these times rent by conflicts and laid waste by the fire of arms,” he said. “Teach us to cherish and care for life — each and every human life — and to repudiate the folly of war, which sows death and eliminates the future.”Pope Francis

Wyatt Olivas, a university student from the United States, at a press conference on the Synod of Synodality in Rome being held this month, Oct. 2023. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/ACI Prensa ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 27, 2023 / 12:15 pm (CNA). Pope Francis has signed a “sick note” for the youngest participant of the Synod of Synodality, 19-year-old Wyatt Olivas, so that he can take a few days of rest when he returns to the United States before going back to classes at the University of Wyoming.According to Vatican News, Olivas approached the Holy Father during one of the breaks in the work of the Synod of Synodality, which has been taking place since October 4 in Rome, in order to request his signature for the letter that explains that the young man has participated in the Synod. “Wyatt A. Olivas has been an integral part of the Synod of Synodality, working diligently to contribute to this significant event in the Church. His efforts have been greatly appreciated by the church community and we are grateful for his dedication and hard work. As a result of his tireless efforts, we believe Wyatt deserves a break from classes to recharge,” the letter reads.The letter also indicates that the student has promised to “return to class and complete his work, and we trust that he will keep his word. We are sure that after this much-needed break, he will return to his studies with renewed energy and focus. Therefore, we kindly ask that he be excused from classes for a short time.”“It is true; you are important,” Pope Francis said after signing the letter for Olivas, who works as a catechist in his native diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming and has represented youth at the Synod.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Synod members, led by Cardinal Gabetti, process into Saint Peter’s Basilica to pray the Rosary for Peace. / Credit: © Evandro Inetti/EWTN News/Vatican Pool Vatican City, Oct 27, 2023 / 05:55 am (CNA). Synod delegates gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday evening to pray the rosary for peace, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Their prayer intentions focused on those killed, wounded, and displaced by war. The assembly’s members — a group that, for the first time, includes both bishops and lay people — also reflected on the past month’s work of the Synod, before the first session comes to a close this weekend. Giuseppina de Simone, Synod delegate and professor of theology, opened the prayer service with a reflection on the work of the Synod.“In these days of the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, we have experienced that it is really possible to seek together paths for the future, starting from different cultures and histories. We have been given the gift of experiencing unity in diversity in Christ,” said de Simone. “We are here this evening from many different countries, some of which have taken up arms against each other. And through this Marian prayer, together, we want to demonstrate that it is possible to respect each other, meet and dialogue,” she continued. Present at the prayer vigil were members of the XVI General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. © Evandro Inetti/EWTN News/Vatican PoolThis theme of dialogue and unity, and the notion of the Church as a meeting place of different cultures, was a central topic at Pope Francis’ general audience address on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Following de Simone’s remarks, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, opened with a prayer and led the candlelight procession out of the atrium, through the 15th-century bronze central door of Saint Peter’s. The group stopped at the beginning of the nave to meditate on the first glorious mystery.Each decade of the rosary was prayed in a different language and featured a biblical reading and brief meditation, which incorporated different texts from Pope Francis’ pontificate, including Gaudete et exsultate, Evangelii gaudium, Amoris laetitia, and Laudato sì. After the biblical reading for the first glorious mystery, Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong reflected on the Synod as a process of encounter and fraternal discernment. “A synod is a process of seeking the truth and discerning ways together to serve the common good in light of the Gospel.” He continued, “As we pray this mystery, let this joy, that joy of the fraternity of the baptized in Christ that we experienced during the synod, fill our whole being so that we can all exclaim together, ‘Jesus is risen.’”Between each decade, the choir sang “Dona la pace” (“Lord, give us peace"). During the mediation on the fourth glorious mystery, Synod member Eva Gullo invoked the Pope’s condemnation of war and violence and renewed his call for peace. “Enough with the war, with atrocious and senseless violence! Enough with the hatred that does nothing but feed hatred and prevents you from seeing other paths! Enough with

Father Marko Rupnik, SJ. / Screenshot Vatican News Vatican City, Oct 27, 2023 / 08:52 am (CNA). The Vatican announced Friday that Pope Francis has decided to lift the statute of limitations in the case of Father Marko Rupnik, the former Jesuit priest and mosaic artist accused of serious abuses against women.Following the revelation earlier this week that Rupnik had returned to priestly ministry in a diocese in his native Slovenia despite allegations of sexual abuse, the Holy See Press Office released a statement on Oct. 27 saying that Pope Francis had asked for a review of Rupnik’s case.“In September the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors brought to the pope's attention that there were serious problems in the handling of the Fr. Marko Rupnik case and lack of outreach to victims. Consequently, the Holy Father asked the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to review the case, and decided to lift the statute of limitations to allow a process to take place,” it said.“The pope is firmly convinced that if there is one thing the Church must learn from the Synod it is to listen attentively and compassionately to those who are suffering, especially those who feel marginalized from the Church.”The Vatican statement comes after the Catholic Diocese of Koper, Slovenia confirmed on Oct. 25 that Rupnik had been incardinated in the diocese since August, news that sparked outrage and disappointment from many Catholics and abuse victims over the handling of the clerical sex abuse allegations. Rupnik was dismissed by the Jesuits in June for failing to obey the directions of his superiors after having been accused of spiritual, psychological, and sexual abuse spanning more than three decades. Pope Francis had a private meeting in September with a close collaborator of Rupnik, Maria Campatelli, after Campatelli published a letter defending Rupnik against “a media campaign based on defamatory and unproven accusations.” Shortly after, the Diocese of Rome released a statement praising the art and theology center founded by the former Jesuit artist as “a healthy community.”Former religious sisters who have accused Rupnik of abusing them responded with “bewilderment,” writing in an open letter that both the pope’s meeting and the Diocese of Rome’s statement ridiculed their pain and showed little care for those seeking justice.The Vatican statement was released during the last week of the nearly month-long Synod on Synodality assembly launched by Pope Francis. In a Synod press conference on Oct. 25, Cardinal Robert Prevost said that safeguarding had not been “a central topic at the Synod.”Rupnik’s art decorates more than 200 churches and shrines around the world, including at Lourdes, Fatima, and the Vatican. Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes has said that he is considering removing his art from the Marian shrine. 

Delegates at the Synod on Synodality will vote on the assembly's synthesis report on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. / Vatican News Vatican City, Oct 27, 2023 / 09:50 am (CNA). A summary report of this month’s synodal assembly in Rome is nearing finalization — with both anticipation and apprehension mounting over what the critical document might contain. A final version of the document, which is expected to synthesize the proceedings of the synod’s nearly monthlong focus on how the Catholic Church can better include all its members, will be presented to the assembly’s 363 voting members tomorrow morning. Synod members are expected to vote on approving the document Saturday afternoon, with a final official version slated for publication in the late evening. The summary document is expected to include points of consensus that have been reached within the assembly during its focus on themes like inclusiveness and Church governance, but also areas of disagreement. It has been described by organizers as merely “transitory,” with a “simple style” and a “relatively short” length of 40 pages. Although the synthesis document is not a final synodal report that will be presented to the pope, it is widely seen as a critical point of inflection, setting the stage for the final step of the Synod on Synodality, a multi-year, global consultation process initiated by Pope Francis in October 2021.  The summary text will serve as a bridge between this month’s assembly and a second synodal gathering scheduled for October 2024, which in turn will offer concrete proposals to the Pope. Therefore, “transitory” or not, the document is highly significant, as it will close the door on some topics and points of view, while ensuring that others remain a part of the synodal conversation. Significant scrutiny Key questions remain over how the text will accurately represent the diversity of viewpoints that have emerged during four weeks of discussion — especially with widespread reports indicating the presence of significant tension inside the room, and concerns emerging over the process for making amendments to the text’s initial draft, which synod members received Wednesday morning. Outside of Paul VI Hall, the document’s expected contents have already become the source of significant media speculation, with some focusing on whether the document will “say anything new?” Others are more concerned about whether its description of the assembly’s views will accurately reflect what actually took place inside the synod hall — a difficult question to answer, given limited public access to the synod’s proceedings. Synod organizers are cognizant of the fact that significant outside scrutiny awaits the synthesis of the assembly’s work. “We are well aware that this Synod will be evaluated on the basis of the perceivable changes that will result from it,” noted Hollerich, the Synod on Synodality’s Relator General said Monday. Draft leaked Adding to the scrutiny surrounding the final document, a report based on an embargoed version of the initial draft was published yesterday, suggesting that several Synod members have requested significant changes to the synthesis text before finalization. Published by The Pillar news outlet, the report indicated that an undisclosed number

Bishop Robert Barron speaks to EWTN's Colm Flynn about evangelizing the culture today. October 2023. / Credit: Word on Fire Vatican City, Oct 26, 2023 / 14:30 pm (CNA). Bishop Robert Barron said he regrets the Catholic Church’s “hand-wringing” in recent decades over how to share the Christian message with a secular culture. In an exclusive interview with EWTN News this week, the 63-year-old bishop of Winona-Rochester said he wants to see the Church today embrace sharing the Gospel with the same gusto and confidence as when Sts. Peter and Paul evangelized Rome.“Much of my adult life — and I say this with regret — the Church has been in a kind of hand-wringing mode of, ‘Well, what do we know, and who are we to tell you? And we’re here, really, to learn more from you.’ Come on!” Barron said during an interview at the North American College in Rome.“Peter and Paul came to this town a long time ago and they weren’t here just to listen to Roman culture,” the bishop continued. “They were here with a message: ‘euangelion,’ there’s good news, and it’s good news that will change the world. And in fact it worked.”“The fact that over there [St. Peter’s Basilica], Peter lies buried to this day, but dominating this once imperial capital is the cross of Jesus. That didn’t come welling up from Roman culture. That came from a message that these [apostles] brought. We should do our work with the same energy and the same panache and the same confidence,” Barron encouraged.Bishop Robert Barron speaks to EWTN's Colm Flynn in Rome, October 2023. Credit: Word on FireBarron, founder of the Word on Fire media apostolate, is in Rome to participate in the Oct. 4–29 session of the Synod on Synodality.He said despite the apparent decline in faith and rise in what have been described as spiritual “nones” — people with no belief whatsoever — he still has hope in Christ and in the message of the Catholic Church.“Being here in Rome with the synod, every day, people from all corners of the world — well, that means there’s something in Catholicism that is still very compelling to people, and that when it’s laid out in a way that’s intellectually satisfying and aesthetically pleasing and morally compelling, they respond to it,” he argued.The bishop said he does not believe the “new atheist nonsense” will hold people’s hearts and minds in the long run.“And the Church?” Barron added. “I look out at the city of Rome here: [The Church has] been around for a long time and we’ve been through a lot worse than we’re going through right now. So we will endure.”“So Christ gives me hope and the Holy Spirit gives me hope,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot worse and there’s still nothing better on the table. There’s no fresher fish on the market than Christianity. It’s still the most beautiful, compelling message that we’ve got.”The popular speaker and writer also said he does

Fr. Marko Ivan Rupnik, S.J., with the official image of the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome. / Screenshot from Diocesi di Roma YouTube channel. Rome Newsroom, Oct 26, 2023 / 13:00 pm (CNA). The news of Father Marko Rupnik's return to priestly ministry despite having been accused of sexual abuse interrupted the bishops' Synod on Synodality as it was completing its final week of meetings. The Society of Jesus had dismissed the Jesuit priest and artist last June after admitting to knowing of abuse accusations against Rupnik for years.Here’s a timeline of known facts about what the Jesuits knew and when they knew it in the Father Rupnik case, what actions the order took, and how he was returned to priestly ministry.2018October: Jesuit Father Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves, Rupnik’s superior, receives allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Rupnik, and an allegation that Rupnik gave absolution in confession to an accomplice in a sin against the Sixth Commandment. A preliminary investigation is set up.2019May: The 2018 allegations are deemed credible; a file is sent to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).June: Precautionary restrictions are imposed on Rupnik by his superior, Father Guerrero. What the specific restrictions were is currently unknown.July: The CDF asks Father Arturo Sosa, the Jesuits’ superior general, to set up a penal administrative process for the Rupnik accusations. Sosa appoints a delegate and two assessors who are not part of the order.2020January: The delegate and assessors assembled by Sosa unanimously find that Rupnik did commit the canonical crime of absolution of an accomplice. The order knows that Rupnik had incurred an automatic excommunication for that crime.May: The CDF also formally declares the excommunicable act (the absolution of an accomplice in a sin against the Sixth Commandment) happened and that Rupnik is in an excommunicated status. The excommunication is lifted by CDF decree later the same month. Rupnik ceases to be director of the art and theological center he founded in Rome, the Centro Aletti, and administrative restrictions are imposed for three years.October: Bishop Daniele Libanori, SJ, an auxiliary bishop of Rome, is appointed extraordinary commissioner of the Loyola Community following a canonical visit that identified governance problems in the religious institute. 2021Libanori, in conversations with current and former members of the Loyola Community in early 2021, uncovers allegations of abuse against Rupnik, who had split from the institute in 1993 after co-founding the community with current head Sister Ivanka Hosta in the late 1980s. Libanori, according to the Associated Press, urges the women to file their complaints with the Vatican.June: The CDF contacts the Jesuit general curia about allegations concerning Rupnik and some members of the Loyola Community.July: Sosa asks Father Johan Verschueren, who succeeded Guerrero in January 2020 as Rupnik’s superior, to set up a preliminary investigation into the allegations with a person outside the Jesuits.2022January: An investigation concludes that there was enough evidence for a case; the results are sent to the CDF with a recommendation for a penal process. Pope Francis has

Catherine Clifford, a professor at St. Paul University in Ottawa, and Archbishop Stanisław Gadecki of Poland at the Synod on Synodality's Oct. 26, 2023, press briefing. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Vatican City, Oct 26, 2023 / 13:35 pm (CNA). A Polish archbishop said Thursday one difficulty of synodality lies in distinguishing pastoral practice — which can be adapted to different cultural circumstances — from Church doctrine.“In doctrine, the Church cannot bring to it the different viewpoints of those coming from the other continents or other parts of the world. Doctrine has to be ‘catholic’ [universal] and the same for everyone,” Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan said at a press briefing for the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 26.This is in contrast, the president of the Polish bishops’ conference said, to “different pastoral expressions” of doctrine as appear in different cultures, languages, and historical situations.Gadecki is one of three Polish bishops participating in the Vatican’s Oct. 4–29 assembly of the Synod of Bishops on synodality.He said the method of this synod brings both differences and agreements, and participants are not hiding the challenges.“It would be useless to get together for a month and hide difficulties that exist in different situations or in connection with different issues that require an answer,” he said.On pastoral practice versus doctrine, Gadecki underlined that “countries have their own histories and they must also be in tune with that history” — including negative responses to the Church’s actions.He said different pastoral expressions do not influence Christian doctrine, the magisterium, holy Scripture, and sacred tradition.“As far as the essential things are concerned, there cannot be a development of Christian doctrine, but in the things that are not essential, there can always be a change as long as that change is a true development,” he said, referencing the theological concept of the development of doctrine.A Romanian Orthodox bishop, who is taking part in the synod as a fraternal delegate, a participant without a vote, said one challenge in the Orthodox understanding of synodality is in reaching a consensus among bishops.“In the Orthodox church, it’s not the majority that ‘decides’ as we often see in synodal processes,” Metropolitan Iosef of Western and Southern Europe said.The good thing about synodality, he added, “is you’re never alone when you make decisions.”