Austrian Bishops declare loyalty to Pope

Advance in synodality 

With Pope Francis, synodality has acquired a new quality as an attitude and basic principle in the Church. Since his election ten years ago, the Pope has gradually developed the synods of bishops introduced with the Second Vatican Council at the level of the world church. The worldwide Synodal process he initiated is unique in church history. After the already completed diocesan, national and the continental phase that is now under way, it reaches the world church level in October with the Synod in the Vatican. 

Austrian Bishops standing in front of the Magna Mater Austriae shrine at Mariazell

(although the meeting this week took place at Seitenstetten)

The Austrian Bishops' Conference will be represented by its chairman, Archbishop Franz Lackner of Salzburg. Diocesan Bishop Josef Marketz was elected as a substitute member. In addition, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn will attend the assembly as a member of the Vatican Synod Council participate. Synodality thrives on the spiritual attitude of listening to one another and what God wants to say to us today. Most recently, at the European Continental Assembly in Prague, the Church in Austria made an effort to bring its concerns and insights into the panorama of other ecclesiastical realities. It has once again become clear that we refer to each other and always need to be supplemented. 

At the same time, we are connected by issues that concern the church in Europe and worldwide: promoting the participation of all believers in the mission of the church, strengthening the role of women, striving for an "inclusive" church, evangelisation and mission. Despite conflicting ideas, there is a great desire for reforms. It remains a challenge that the synodal process produce the concrete consequences that are required for the church's service and credibility. The experiences that we bishops were able to make during our ad limina visit shortly before Christmas give confidence. The discussions in the Vatican dicasteries were characterized by openness, appreciation and exchange. It is obvious: in the ten years of his ministry, Pope Francis has not only reformed the Roman Curia, he has also achieved a cultural change towards synodality. The Austrian bishops support this path of the Pope with the deepest conviction.

Source

A holy image from the Shrine of Mariazell