October has started on a high note! It began with the news of the 21 new cardinals created at the consistory on September 30, including the bishop of Hong Kong, Stephen Cardinal Chow, SJ. In one of his first responses, Cardinal Chow said the pope imparted a special blessing for the mission in China and requested continued prayers for the Chinese Church.
The first week of October marked the end of the Season of Creation on October 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. “‘Let Justice and Peace Flow’ was the theme of this year’s Ecumenical Season of Creation, inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” [5:24].
Marking the end of this season of prayer and action, Pope Francis released his latest apostolic Exhortation on the environment titled, Laudate Deum [Praise God]— an ecology document intended to follow up on his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home.
The new document is expected to call for more urgent action to address the climate crisis and incorporate bold proposals to address the accelerated climate change evident in recent events and environmental trends.
Since Laudate Deum is part two of Laudato Si’, there could be a more extensive discussion about sins against God’s creation— or ecological sins— with particular attention paid to the poor and excluded as the most vulnerable amid the crisis, including those who are sometimes forced to migrate as climate refugees.
In the Church, October 4 was be a day to remember as it marked the opening of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, focusing on “communion, participation, and mission.”
A synod is a meeting of bishops. This is the 16th Ordinary Synod since establishing the global Synod of Bishops. However, this is the first time a synod has included laity and women as voting members, unlike a traditional synod of bishops. During the two-year preparation process for the synod, an unprecedented worldwide consultation was ben conducted at the diocesan, national, and continental levels, inviting Catholics worldwide to identify areas where the Church should pay greater attention and discernment.
Over 450 participants from around the world—cardinals, bishops, clergy, religious, and lay people—are gathered at the Vatican to discuss the state of the Church and its future path forward. Three hundred sixty-three of the participants are eligible to vote on the proceedings.
Besides Cardinal Chow, two bishops from Mainland China are also participating in the synod, representing the Chinese Catholic world, a sign of improved relations between the Chinese government and the Vatican.
In an interview with Reuters on the eve of the consistory, Cardinal Chow mentioned that Pope Francis’ message to China during his trip to Mongolia was “well received” by the Chinese government. The authorities have already granted the archbishop of Beijing Antonio Li Shan permission for a return visit to Hong Kong following the visit by Cardinal Chow.
This week ends with the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, reminding the faithful to stay close the Mysteries of the Lord in this crucial phase in the life of the Church. Jose, CMF
