On the day that he has elevated the Under-secretary of the Synod of Bishops to the dignity of the episcopacy, the Holy Father sent a letter to the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, His Eminence, Lorenzo Cardinal Baldisseri, to mark the occasion.
Your Eminence,
On September 15, 1965, my Venerable Predecessor, the Servant of God, Paul VI, after having attentively examined the signs of the times and having noticed the necessity to reinforce by stronger ties, the union of the Bishop of Rome with the Bishops which the Holy Spirit had chosen to govern the Church of God, instituted the Synod of Bishops with the Motu proprio Apostolica Sollicitudo.
At that time, while the Second Vatican Council was drawing to a close, the nascent Synodal Organization invigorated and encouraged all Catholic Bishops to take part, in a more evident and efficacious manner, in the solicitude of the Bishop of Rome for the Universal Church.
The Synodal Assemblies, which have taken place ever since in the presence of Bishops from the various continents, have been able to learn the essential contributions regarding the problems and activities of the Church throughout the world, and have offered to the Successor of Peter valued assistance and counsel for the preservation and the promotion of the faith, so that with courage, he may promote the integrity of the Christian life and so that he may strengthen the discipline of the Church.
Blessed John Paul II, who presided over many synodal sessions, in reiterating the effectiveness of the Synod and recognizing the enormous good that it has given to the Church, envisaged with foresight: Perhaps this tool can be further improved. Maybe collegial pastoral responsibility can be expressed even more fully in the Synod (Homily at the conclusion of the VI General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, October 29, 1983).
In fact, the width and depth of the objective given by the synodal institution results in the inexhaustible amplification of the mystery and the horizon of the Church of God, which is communion and mission. Therefore, we can and must seek ever more profound and authentic ways to exercise synodal collegiality, in order to better achieve ecclesial communion and to promote her inexorable mission.
Throughout the almost fifty year history of the Synod of Bishops, I also have perceived the signs of the times and have come to appreciate its service for the exercise of my Petrine Ministry, a service which more than ever, serves to strengthen the connections with all the pastors of the Church. I wish to recognize the precious conciliar heritage which we enjoy.
In this regard, there is no doubt that the Bishop of Rome needs the presence of his Brother Bishops, of their counsel as well as their prudence and their experience. The Successor of Peter must proclaim to all people, the one who is Christ, the living Son of God but, at the same time, he must pay attention to that which the Holy Spirit inspires on the lips of those who, welcoming the word of Jesus which states: You are Peter ... (cf Mt 16:16-18), participate fully in the Apostolic College.
Therefore, I am very grateful to those who, working generously, diligently and with competence, have ensured through all these years, that the synodal institutions contribute to the invaluable dialogue between Peter and his Brothers. I would like to express a particular thought of gratitude to Your Eminence, to the members of the various Councils, to the Superiors and the Officials of the General Secretariat, both present and past.
Now, in order to render even more apparent the precious service that this Organization contributes in favor of episcopal collegiality with the Bishop of Rome, I have decided to confer upon the Under-secretary of the Synod, episcopal character.
In this way, the Under-secretary, already in his task of collaborating with Your Eminence in that which concerns the growth of synodal activity, by virtue of Episcopal Ordination will respect both the affective and effective communion that constitute the primary purpose of the Synod of Bishops. Equally, in coordinating the internal work of the General Secretariat, the Under-secretary will be called to express the fertile and fruitful reality that flows from participation in the episcopal munus, the font of blessing for those who gather around it and the foundation of hierarchical communion with the Bishop of Rome, head of the Episcopal College, and with the members of the College.
This I wish to convey to Your Eminence, along with my Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, April 1, 2014
Francis
Letter of His Holiness, Pope Francis
to His Eminence, Lorenzo Cardinal Baldisseri
on the occasion of the elevation of the Under-secretary of the Synod of Bishops
to the dignity of the episcopacy
Your Eminence,
On September 15, 1965, my Venerable Predecessor, the Servant of God, Paul VI, after having attentively examined the signs of the times and having noticed the necessity to reinforce by stronger ties, the union of the Bishop of Rome with the Bishops which the Holy Spirit had chosen to govern the Church of God, instituted the Synod of Bishops with the Motu proprio Apostolica Sollicitudo.
At that time, while the Second Vatican Council was drawing to a close, the nascent Synodal Organization invigorated and encouraged all Catholic Bishops to take part, in a more evident and efficacious manner, in the solicitude of the Bishop of Rome for the Universal Church.
The Synodal Assemblies, which have taken place ever since in the presence of Bishops from the various continents, have been able to learn the essential contributions regarding the problems and activities of the Church throughout the world, and have offered to the Successor of Peter valued assistance and counsel for the preservation and the promotion of the faith, so that with courage, he may promote the integrity of the Christian life and so that he may strengthen the discipline of the Church.
Blessed John Paul II, who presided over many synodal sessions, in reiterating the effectiveness of the Synod and recognizing the enormous good that it has given to the Church, envisaged with foresight: Perhaps this tool can be further improved. Maybe collegial pastoral responsibility can be expressed even more fully in the Synod (Homily at the conclusion of the VI General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, October 29, 1983).
In fact, the width and depth of the objective given by the synodal institution results in the inexhaustible amplification of the mystery and the horizon of the Church of God, which is communion and mission. Therefore, we can and must seek ever more profound and authentic ways to exercise synodal collegiality, in order to better achieve ecclesial communion and to promote her inexorable mission.
Throughout the almost fifty year history of the Synod of Bishops, I also have perceived the signs of the times and have come to appreciate its service for the exercise of my Petrine Ministry, a service which more than ever, serves to strengthen the connections with all the pastors of the Church. I wish to recognize the precious conciliar heritage which we enjoy.
In this regard, there is no doubt that the Bishop of Rome needs the presence of his Brother Bishops, of their counsel as well as their prudence and their experience. The Successor of Peter must proclaim to all people, the one who is Christ, the living Son of God but, at the same time, he must pay attention to that which the Holy Spirit inspires on the lips of those who, welcoming the word of Jesus which states: You are Peter ... (cf Mt 16:16-18), participate fully in the Apostolic College.
Therefore, I am very grateful to those who, working generously, diligently and with competence, have ensured through all these years, that the synodal institutions contribute to the invaluable dialogue between Peter and his Brothers. I would like to express a particular thought of gratitude to Your Eminence, to the members of the various Councils, to the Superiors and the Officials of the General Secretariat, both present and past.
Now, in order to render even more apparent the precious service that this Organization contributes in favor of episcopal collegiality with the Bishop of Rome, I have decided to confer upon the Under-secretary of the Synod, episcopal character.
In this way, the Under-secretary, already in his task of collaborating with Your Eminence in that which concerns the growth of synodal activity, by virtue of Episcopal Ordination will respect both the affective and effective communion that constitute the primary purpose of the Synod of Bishops. Equally, in coordinating the internal work of the General Secretariat, the Under-secretary will be called to express the fertile and fruitful reality that flows from participation in the episcopal munus, the font of blessing for those who gather around it and the foundation of hierarchical communion with the Bishop of Rome, head of the Episcopal College, and with the members of the College.
This I wish to convey to Your Eminence, along with my Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, April 1, 2014
Francis
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