THE PNEUMATOLOGY OF SYNODALITY: CATHOLIC SYNODAL PROCESS AND THE RISK OF FORGETFULNESS OF THE SPIRIT

Abstract

At the heart of the synodal process is the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit as the animator of the synodal process, the consequence would be a mere sociological process of deliberation aimed at arriving at some levels of consensus regarding church life, or at most, a system of political organization and power re-distribution in the church. Against this backdrop, this article seeks to critically examine the pneumatological content of the ongoing synodal process with the view to questioning its adequacy. To do this, I shall proceed in three clear steps. First, I will explore the relationship between ecclesiology and pneumatology since synodality constitutes a form of ecclesiology. Second, I shall examine specifically the role of the Holy Spirit within the discernment process of synodality. Finally, I shall, upon reviewing the pneumatological content of some of the synodal documents, articulate a spirituality for synodal engagement modeled after the proposed method of spiritual conversation. The goal is to caution against a possible Geistvergessenheit within the complex matrix of the current engagement on the Synod on Synodality (2021-2024) in the Roman Catholic Church.