From Brian Gaybba, Grahamstown
The election of Pope Francis was a breath of fresh air, and he reminded me of John XXIII: elderly, with diminishing energy and not much time to grow into the job. But John XXIII changed the face of the Catholic Church by calling the Second Vatican Council. Perhaps Francis can complete John’s work by an equally dramatic act: to prune the power of the Roman curia and extend the power of the bishops’ synods.
The establishment of the synods was in response to requests that the collegial discussion with periti (“experts”), which proved its value at the council, should continue.
However, the bishops’ synod voted for only a consultative vote.
If we are going to bring to an end the divisions that exist on the dogmatic status of several issues (such as the ordination of women), the bishops must be allowed to exercise to the full the authority given them by Christ on the day of their episcopal ordination.
Pope Francis gives every indication of treating them really and truly as his brother bishops and not as underlings carrying out Vatican policy and decisions throughout the world.
It would be of immense benefit to the Church if he gave structural expression to that by pruning the power of the curia and extending the power of the bishops’ synods in Rome.
The curia is there to serve the needs of the universal Church. Let them have whatever power is appropriate—but let it be subject to the authority of the synods.
And a final word: Pope Francis would establish a most welcome custom, unique (as far as I know) in the history of the Church, if he participated fully in the synod’s deliberations, chairing the meetings as the head of the college of bishops and doing so in a manner that would honour Christ’s mandate to Peter: “Strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:33).
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