Leo XIV: Bishops Who Think Synodality Undermines Authority Are Misguided
On 14 September, CruxNow.com published the first excerpts of a lengthy interview with Leo XIV. The video was filmed without an adequate microphone, with only a voice recorder on the table. Leo XIV sits in a dark corner in front of a closed window with his back literally to the wall. Fifteen hours after the video was published on YouTube, it had received only 300 clicks. Main points:
- The appreciation that I have for the life of the Church from Latin America was significant in both my connection with Pope Francis, my understanding of some of the vision that Pope Francis had for the Church, and how we can continue to carry that on in terms of a true prophetic vision for the church today and tomorrow.
- I have been able to move into the pastoral part [of the papacy] without a whole lot of difficulty. The totally new aspect to this job is being thrown onto the level of world leader.
- The role of pope is certainly new to me. I’m learning a lot and feeling very challenged, but not overwhelmed. …More
"Synodality is a way of describing how we can come together as a community," say Pope Leo. Synodality will prove a failure - unless promoting Protestantism is the goal.
No mention of sodomy in St Peter's? I guess that's Prevost's "new normal". Did not bishop Schneider call him to publicly condemn this abomination?
It is the faithful who are being 'mis-guided' by either blind, or corrupted, guides.
In a lengthy and wide-ranging interview for a new biography of his life by Crux Senior Correspondent Elise Ann Allen, Pope Leo XIV opens up his own background and current global topics such as Ukraine, synodality, and polarization.
Your nose is getting longer, Pope Leo, every time you tell a lie.
Not being faithful to the 10m Commandments or the Gospel. That is the main lie.
Leo: “Synodality is an attitude, an openness, a willingness to understand. Speaking of the Church now, this means each and every member of the church has a voice and a role to play through prayer, reflection…through a process.”
Pope Leo XIV on synodality: "Some people have felt threatened by that. Sometimes bishops or priests might feel, ‘synodality is going to take away my authority’. That’s not what synodality is about, and maybe your idea of what your authority is, is somewhat out of focus, mistaken."
Pope Leo XIV, who insisted in his very first papal announcement that he was all-in on the Synod on Synodality, is deliberately misstating both the proposed intentions and the ecclesial authority of this Synod. Pope Francis clothed the Synod with the same authority the Church affords the pope or an Ecumenical Council. It is stated quite clearly in the final document that the Synod on Synodality forms part of the Ordinary Papal Magisterium.
In Pope Francis' 2018 Apostolic Constitution, Episcopalis Communion, which reformed the Synods, it stated that a final document of a Synod can become part of the Ordinary Magisterium if approved by the pope. Moreover, in October 2024, Pope Francis did just that, elevating the authority of the Synod as part of the papal magisterium.
As such, its teachings are to be received by Catholics with "religious submission of the intellect and will,' which is the same level of acceptance Catholics are expected to follow on the teachings of a pope or an Ecumenical Council, such as Vatican II. The only exception to that rigorous rule is when the teachings go "against the universal custom of the Church."
The Synod on Synodality includes over 400 members, many of whom are non-Catholics. When they issued their final document in October 2024, they announced that they would not be making any final decisions on the many issues they are considering (including the so-called "hot button" issues such as women priests, homosexual teachings, married priests, etc) until after they heard back from the "People of God."
Significantly, the People of God are defined as "all Baptized Christians." In essence, Pope Francis created a Synod that includes Catholic priests, such as Fr. James Martin, the homosexual-friendly Jesuit, non-clerical, non-Catholic men and women, clothed with the authority to solicit the opinion of non-Catholic men and women throughout the world as to how the Catholic Church should be changed. They have promised an implementation document by October 2028.
However, most Conciliar Catholics are entirely in the dark about what this Synod is about and what is in store for them if God permits it to proceed as planned. As for Pope Leo XIV, he is correct when he says, "Synodality is a way of describing how we can come together as a community, seek communion as a church, and ensure that the primary focus is not on an institutional hierarchy, but on the idea of 'us together' and 'our church'."
However, a careful reading of that statement reveals that he is saying Conciliar Catholicism is abandoning the hierarchical structure of the Church established by Jesus Christ, when He placed Peter at its head as the first pope.
Desperately trying to look harmless and chummy when offering devil's poison