Becoming better listeners

In the context of our Pre-Synod Prayer and Listening events these past four months, I have frequently spoken about the “listening Church,” drawing often on observations that Pope Francis has made on that theme and on a 2018 document from the International Theological Commission, “Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church,” that was published after receiving a favorable review from Pope Francis. I have found the Holy Father’s insights to be particularly rich in this area, and I have collected pages of quotations from him as he has addressed the topic from a variety of angles. That being said, nothing has been as helpful for me in understanding the essence of the listening Church as was our “ad limina” visit with him on Jan. 13.

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