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European Catholic Social Days 2022

Walking together in a spirit of synodality

gepubliceerd: woensdag, 6 april 2022
European Catholic Social Days 2022

Bratislava, 21 March (TK KBS) The European Catholic Social Days were an experience of synodal path, recalled Ivan Ružička, Executive Secretary of the Slovak Bishops' Conference, who was one of the coordinators of the event. This was evi­dent from the style of work and the composition of the programme, which during the four days was attended by over two hundred people in person in Bratislava and hundreds of people online from all over the world. 

After each keynote lecture and open discussion, participants were able to engage in smaller discussion groups and workshops. The collected out­puts for each topic were then processed and the out­puts were offered at the end of the event for re-reflection together, outlined the experience by priest Ivan Ruzicka. "Almost all the out­puts are available on the catholicsocialdays.eu web­si­te," he added.

Cardinal Hollerich: We walked together, we were in a real process of synodality

In a similar way, the Archbishop of Lu­xem­bourg, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, applauded the event. "We have walked together, we have been in a real process of synodality and in this continuation of wal­king together we will see where the Holy Spirit is lea­ding us. To be like the Church in Europe, and to serve," said Cardinal Hollerich, who is also the General Relator of the Synod of Bishops. 

"Sometimes we could feel that there were some small differences between Eastern and Western Europe, but these differences never became a wall. On the contrary, they inspired us to be better listeners, to become people of dialogue," he said. "Europe needs the witness of all people who take the Gospel seriously," said the Presi­dent of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the EU (COMECE)

"I think we are on the right path and we will continue on it. I think and hope that the Synod, which has already begun and which will end next October, will inspire us to walk with joy in our hearts in the service of God's humanity, in the service of the world that God has created," added the Archbishop of Lu­xem­bourg, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ

The experience of the synodal path was also confirmed by the Archbishop of Vilnius, the Presi­dent of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE), Gintaras Grušas, and the Presi­dent of the Slovak Bishops Conference, Stanislav Zvolenský. "These days have been a form of synodal work for us, which we are happy to share with our own ecclesial communities," said Archbishop Grušas in his clo­sing remarks. 

"We have had intense days of liste­ning to facts, suggestions and opinions from different countries and different areas of expertise. The great of amount of new information has broa­dened our perspective and opened up the opportunity for new ways of thin­king.
I dare say that these days lived up to expectations and showed us once again the mea­ning of an inter­na­tio­nal mee­ting that, against the backdrop of the challenges we all face, brings people together in one place to listen and talk to each other," added the host of the event, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bratislava, Mons. Stanislav Zvolenský.

At the end of the event, COMECE Secretary General Fr. Prieto con­clu­ded: "We are open to invitations from Bishops' Conferences that would like to host future edition of this event.”