Full text of Pope Francis’ note to accompany the synod final document
VATICAN— Here is the full text of Pope Francis’ note accompanying the final document of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: At the various moments along the Synod path initiated by myself in October 2021, we have listened to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church at this time. It represents a form of exercise of the authentic teaching of the Bishop of Rome, with some novel features but which in fact corresponds to what I had the opportunity to point out on 17 October 2015, when I stated that synodality is the appropriate interpretative framework for understanding the hierarchical ministry. The Final Document also contains indications that, in the light of its basic orientations, can already now be implemented in the local Churches and groupings of Churches, taking into account the different contexts, what has already been done and what remains to be done to learn and develop ever better the style proper to the missionary synodal Church.
