In preparation for the Synod on Synodality, there was a preparatory 2-day retreat for all participants. The retreat concluded with a Penitential Celebration in St. Peter’s.
The Celebration was an acknowledgement of our sinfulness and human frailty. The hope is that the Penitential service will guide the work of the Synod as “the beginning of a new way of being Church.”
Below is the video of the whole Celebration with English translation (audio, no closed captions.)
The Pope concluded the Celebration with a short homily. Some of his comments included:
“The Church is in its essence of faith and proclamation always relational, and only by healing the sick relationships, we can become a synodal Church. How could we be credible in the mission if we do not acknowledge our mistakes and stoop to heal the wounds we have caused by our sins?”
“We could not invoke God’s name without asking for forgiveness from our brothers and sisters, the Earth and all creatures….and how could we be synodal Church without reconciliation?”
“We are all sinners.”
Each ‘sin’ was penned by the Holy Father and then confessed by one of seven cardinals. They made the request for forgiveness in the name of all the faithful! They voiced many beautiful sentiments, but we are also left with some unanswered questions.
“Sin against Peace”
Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay asked for forgiveness:
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“…for the sin of lack of courage, of the courage necessary to seek peace among peoples and nations, in recognition of the infinite dignity of every human life in all its phases, from the nascent state to old age, Especially the children, the sick, the poor, of the right to have a job, land, home, family, community in which to live free, of the value that is the landscape and culture of every area of the planet.”
He continued: “To make peace, it takes courage…Say ‘yes’ to the encounter [and] ‘no’ to the clash; ‘yes’ to the respective agreements and ‘no’ to provocations.”
“Sin against Creation, Indigenous Populations & Migrants”
Said by Canada’s Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J. (prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Integral Human Development):
“I ask forgiveness, feeling shame for what we too, the faithful, have done to transform creation from garden to desert, manipulating it at our own pleasure; and how much we did not do to prevent it.
I ask forgiveness, feeling shame for when we have not recognized the right and dignity of every human person.
Discriminating and exploiting it—I am thinking in particular of Indigenous Peoples and for when we were accomplices in systems that favored slavery and colonialism.
I ask forgiveness, feeling shame for when we took and when we now take part in the globalization of indifference, in the face of tragedies that transform for many migrants, the sea routes and borders between nations, from roots of hope to roots of death. The value of a person is always higher than that of the border.
At this moment I hear the voice of God asking us all—where is your brother? Where is your sister?
Forgive us Lord.”
“Sin of Abuse”
Retired Cardinal Seán O’Malley (former head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the protection of minors) asked forgiveness:
“…for all the times we have used the condition of ordained ministry and consecrated life to commit this terrible sin, feeling safe and protected while we were profiting diabolically from the little ones and the poor.”
“I ask forgiveness, feeling shame, for all the times we have used the condition of ordained ministry and consecrated life to commit this terrible sin, feeling safe and protected while we were profiting diabolically from the little ones and the poor. Forgive us, Lord.”
Cardinal O'Malley
“How much shame and pain I feel when considering especially the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable people, abuses that have stolen innocence and profaned the sacredness of those who are weak and helpless”
“Sin against Women, Family, Youth”
Cardinal Farrell (prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life) asked forgiveness especially for men for not having “recognized and defended the dignity of women, for when we made them mute and succubi, and not infrequently exploited, especially in the condition of consecrated life.”
Farrell also asked forgiveness on behalf of the Church for the times it has judged and condemned the “frailties and wounds of the family” and “stolen hope and love from younger generations” by not supporting their growth and talents.
“Sin of using Doctrine as Stones to be Hurled”
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Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, (prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith) read Pope Francis’ prayer asking forgiveness for:
“… all the times that in the Church, especially us pastors who are entrusted with the task of confirming our brothers and sisters in the faith, have not been able to guard and propose the Gospel as a living source of eternal newness, “indoctrinating it” and risking reducing it to a pile of dead stones to be thrown at others. I beg forgiveness, feeling shame for all the times we have given doctrinal justification to inhuman treatment.
I ask forgiveness, feeling shame for when we have not been credible witnesses of the fact that the truth is free, for when we have obstructed the various legitimate inculturations of the truth of Jesus Christ, who always travels the paths of history and life to be found by those who want to follow him with fidelity and joy. I ask forgiveness, feeling shame for the actions and omissions that have prevented and still make difficult the recomposition in unity of the Christian faith, and the authentic fraternity of all mankind. Forgive us Lord.”
“Sin against Poverty”
“Sin against Synodality / Lack of Listening, Communion & Participation of All.”
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Kevin Hay
You can follow Kevin on 𝕏 / Twitter @ kevinhay77