Delegates from Southern Africa attend Jubilee of Synodal Teams

By Kati Dijane – Over 2,000 members of synodal teams and participatory bodies from dioceses, eparchies and national Churches around the world gathered in Rome from 24-26 October 2025 for the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies. This was to deepen the Church’s journey of communion, participation and mission.

Among those present were three delegates from Southern Africa, forming part of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) Commission for the Implementation of Synodality: Father Nhlanhla Mchunu, the SACBC Secretary for the Implementation of Synodality; Laurika Nxumalo, the deputy secretary representing the laity; and Kati Dijane, representing the youth. The three joined delegates from across the continents for three days of reflection, dialogue, prayer and celebration as the Church continues to live out the fruits of the Synod.

A jubilee of hope and communion

The Jubilee opened on Friday, 24 October, with registration and morning introductions, followed by the opening prayer and address by Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. His reflection, rooted in Charles Péguy’s The Portal of the Mystery of Hope, set the tone for the three-day gathering.

“Faith sees what is, Hope sees what will be and Love loves what is,” Cardinal Mario quoted, inviting delegates to contemplate these three theological virtues as the foundation of a synodal Church.

He described love as the heartbeat of the Church’s mission and the glue that sustains communion even amid tension and uncertainty. “Love,” he said, “is the decision to remain present, the refusal to disengage when tensions arise, the willingness to listen when voices clash and the courage to stay at the table when consensus seems distant.”

He reminded participants that faith anchors the Church in truth, while hope points her toward the future that belongs to God. “The Church is not perfect, far from it, but within her we see something divine. Faith allows us to see the grace amid imperfection,” he said.

Cardinal Mario concluded by calling the Jubilee a celebration not only of achievements but of hope in the Church’s future:

“We are here because we love the Church and believe in the Church, but perhaps more importantly, because we hope in the Church. Hope reminds us that the future is in God’s hands, and that the Church, guided by the Spirit, always has a future.”

Africa’s voice: “A spirit of exchange of gifts”

The spirit of global dialogue came alive when Father Rafael Simbine Junior, Secretary General of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), presented Africa’s experience of embracing synodality. After his presentation, he posed a vital question to the Holy Father:

“During the implementation phase, how can the local Churches, particularly in Africa, both receive support from and inspire the universal Church, working together in a spirit of exchange of gifts, respecting the principle of subsidiarity and local discernment, without imposing uniform models or undermining local initiatives?”

Pope Leo XIV responded warmly, acknowledging Africa’s dynamic contribution to the Church’s missionary identity:

“The first word I would like to say, which is not only for the Church in Africa but for all of us, is mission, to be missionary,” he said. “Synodality is not a campaign. It is a way of being, and a way of being Church. It’s a way of promoting an attitude, which begins with learning to listen to one another.”

He praised Africa’s youthful vitality and the continent’s witness of family, community and faith lived amid diversity. “The Church in Africa offers to all of us a gift, the gift of life, of youth, of family and of building bridges across cultures and religions,” Pope Leo continued.

He urged all delegates to resist the temptation of uniformity and to embrace a spirit of listening that allows each local Church to live synodality authentically:

“We are not looking for a template where everyone does the same. Synodality is a conversion of heart, to listen, to build communion and to be missionary.”

Listening, learning and walking together

The second day of the Jubilee began with a pilgrimage and passage through the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica, led by Monsignor Luis Marín de San Martín OSA, Undersecretary of the Synod Secretariat. Delegates were then dispersed into smaller groups to participate in 24 workshops and six seminars, covering key themes such as dialogue, inculturation and participatory leadership.

In one of the sessions, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB of Perth, Australia, reflected on the dangers of replacing clericalism with new forms of domination.

“We run the risk of creating a new type of clericalism, not by priests alone, but by anyone who ‘lords it over’ others. That’s the opposite of what synodality seeks to achieve,” he cautioned.

Archbishop Costelloe spoke of the “spirituality of synodality” as the foundation for renewal in the Church:

“We are not a multinational corporation. We are the Body of Christ, the universal sacrament of salvation. Renewal begins not with structures but with a culture of the Gospel.”

He reminded participants that “culture eats structures for breakfast,” stressing that no reform will last without a change in mindset rooted in the Gospel’s logic of love and service.

At the heart of his reflection was a call to deep listening, what he described as “hearing the voice of the Spirit in what others say.” He urged that this attentive posture must define every parish council, diocesan body and episcopal assembly.

“You don’t have to agree with everything you hear,” he said, “but you must truly listen, because the Spirit may be speaking to you through the very person you disagree with.”

The voice of the youth: A vocation to holiness

Another highlight was the workshop on Youth and Synodality: A Vocational Perspective, led by Father Clemens Blattert SJ, who invited delegates to reflect on young people who inspire faith through how they live their vocation.

He encouraged a broader understanding of vocation not limited to priesthood or marriage, but as God’s invitation to live a holy and joyful life. “Youth,” he said, “are not just the future of the Church; they are its present, the now of the Church.”

Father Blattert spoke of the tensions young people face in their process of growth between desire and direction, restlessness and hope and how the Church must accompany them patiently. “Synodality,” he explained, “means walking together, listening to the Spirit and helping the young to hear how Jesus calls them to serve and live in love.”

Pope Leo’s homily: “A Church that walks together”

The Jubilee culminated in a Sunday Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Pope Leo XIV, whose homily invited the faithful to rediscover the Church as a mystery of communion sustained by the Holy Spirit.

“The Church is not merely a religious institution, nor simply hierarchies and structures,” Pope Leo began. “She is the visible sign of the union between God and humanity, a family of beloved children united in the one embrace of God’s love.”

He emphasised that relationships in the Church must follow the logic of love, not power: “The supreme rule in the Church is love. No one is called to dominate; all are called to serve. No one should impose his or her ideas; we must all listen to one another.”

Drawing on the Gospel parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Pope Leo warned against pride and individualism that destroy communion. “The Pharisee’s prayer was a mirror of self-justification. When the ego prevails, we lose the sense of walking together.”

Instead, he called the faithful to imitate the humility of the tax collector, recognising dependence on God and one another. “Christ belongs to the humble, not to those who elevate themselves,” he said.

Pope Leo commended synodal teams and participatory bodies for embodying a Church that listens, discerns and seeks truth together.

“You help us understand that before any differences, we are called to walk together in the pursuit of God. By clothing ourselves with the sentiments of Christ, we expand the ecclesial space so that it becomes collegial and welcoming.”

He urged the Church to allow the Holy Spirit to transform tensions into sources of harmony rather than polarisation: “Truth is not possessed but sought together through prayer, humility and mutual trust.”

In closing, Pope Leo prayed for a humble and servant Church:

“Let us dream of and build a Church that does not stand upright like the Pharisee, but bends down to wash the feet of humanity; a Church that welcomes all, listens to everyone and remains rooted in love.”

Invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary, he concluded with a prayer from Don Tonino Bello:

“Holy Mary, woman of conviviality, nourish in our Churches the desire for communion… extinguish the fires of factionalism and reconcile our hearts.”

Cardinal Mario Grech expresses joy at the jubilee turnout

In an interview with Kati Dijane during the jubilee celebrations, Cardinal Mario Grech expressed his delight at the remarkable turnout. “It is marvellous, not only the number of participants but also the diversity and the many nations represented. This gives hope,” he said with a smile.

Reflecting on the journey of synodality, Cardinal Grech emphasised that it is rooted in dialogue and openness to one another, even among bishops who may still be hesitant to embrace it. “Synodality is, first and foremost, a conversion of the heart before a conversion of structures,” he noted, echoing Pope Francis’s words. “I understand that some have questions or doubts, and that’s okay. Let’s come forward and learn from one another. It’s a new culture for the Church, and I understand the challenge.”

His message of hope to Southern Africa was clear: to continue nurturing its love for the Church and for Jesus Christ, a love that inspires and sustains faith. “Let us share this hope with all our brothers and sisters,” he said. “Synodality is essential because, through it, we can more effectively proclaim Jesus to the world.”