Archbishop Roberto Gonzàlez: Synod Is 'Leaving Doors Open for the Pope'

[gilliam]

After listening to all the reports from the 13 language groups and the speeches in the plenary assembly, Archbishop Roberto Gonzàlez Nieves of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is convinced that the synod fathers are “leaving the doors open” and giving Pope Francis “the freedom to follow up” on the questions that have emerged at the Synod on the Family, which concludes its work on Oct. 24.

While reserving judgment until the synod has approved the final document—a draft of which will be distributed to the synod fathers this evening—Archbishop González said he believes “the majority of the bishops are coming down in the center and are very sympathetic to the Holy Father’s pleas” for a more merciful and pastoral approach in the whole field of ministry to couples and families.

In this exclusive interview with America’s Vatican correspondent, Archbishop Gonzàlez hailed Pope Francis’ speech at the 50th anniversary celebration for the establishment of the synod of bishops as “revolutionary,” and explains why he considers it so.

americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/archbishop-roberto-gonzalez-synod-leaving-doors-open-pope

 

[LongingSoul]

Do you have a sense whether there are more fathers with the pope’s merciful and pastoral line or with those that want a strong affirmation of the church’s traditional disciplinary position?

I think that perhaps a majority of the fathers have not spoken in the synod hall, though I presume they have spoken in the small [language] groups, and—as we see from the reports—the small groups are quiet conciliatory. So, I think that the majority of the bishops are coming down in the center and are very sympathetic to the Holy Father’s pleas.

In my group, for example, we had both voices represented but, after intense dialogue and very divergent points of view expressed, in the end we were able to come to consensus.

Were you surprised at that?

Yes, and I was quite moved by it, because I felt that in some way the Holy Spirit was present and working. It was an eerie kind of a feeling, but I could see where there was a genuine effort of bishops to come together in my group.

It’s great to hear from other bishops about their impressions of the synod. We seemed to have heard from a lot of the same ones over the 3 weeks.

 

[gilliam]

It’s great to hear from other bishops about their impressions of the synod. We seemed to have heard from a lot of the same ones over the 3 weeks.

The Internet tends to be an echo chamber of views we agree with. That distorts reality. That’s why I try to find all kinds of views to post.

 

[Sy_Noe]

The Internet tends to be an echo chamber of views we agree with. That distorts reality. That’s why I try to find all kinds of views to post.

And you’ve done an excellent job at finding the many different views among the bishops. I haven’t posted on every thread or even had the time to read every post. But thank you for your findings and sharing them with the CAF community.