The pope said that in his previous synods, the media interfered with the discussions at the synod. “They said the first one, on family, was to allow Holy Communion to be administered to divorcees. Actually, it was something much larger, that included the possibility of a pastoral (engagement) with divorced people in the widest sense. With the synod of the Amazon, the media said it was about whether they would ordain married men,” he said.
But, he added, “The Holy Spirit took things along a different path.”
Once again, Francis laid out his vision for the future of decision-making in the church, which has its center in the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit acts in two stages. First, he stirs things up, moves them around, and then he brings harmony,” the pope said.
“We must not forget this: If the Holy Spirit is not the main actor, it is not a synod. And we’re still learning,” he added.
When it comes to the Vatican’s foreign affairs, the pope said he has maintained the institution’s traditional stance of dialogue and diplomacy, even toward authoritarian states. “The Holy See never leaves. It gets thrown out. It always attempts to save diplomatic relations and to save whatever can be salvaged through patience and dialogue,” he said.
Pope Francis in a recent interview with Italian TV channel Canale 5. Photo courtesy of Canale 5
The pope said he has tried to be a bridge between opposing factions in the Ukraine war. The pope has called for peace in Europe more than 100 times since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
“We do whatever we can. They don’t listen. What is happening in Ukraine is terrifying,” he said, adding that he fears the conflict will not end soon. “Let’s not forget this. There are many hands stirring up the war pot. It is global. I think war is waged when an empire begins to weaken. And when there are weapons to be used, tested and sold. There is a great deal at stake,” he said.
This article originally appeared here.
