Germany: DBK Permanent Council supports perspective of the Synod’s Synthesis Report

The state of play in the World Synod of Bishops “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission” was the focus of today’s meeting of the Permanent Council of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK), which mainly addressed the Synod’s Synthesis Report published in December and the upcoming agenda. The fundamental perspective outlined in the final report is summed up in the question: “How can we be a Synodal Church in mission?”. This perspective is supported by the German bishops since it “places at the centre the shared responsibility of all members of the Church” and implies that “the local Churches are consulted on its concrete implementation”. The bishops therefore invite the German dioceses to respond to the call for contributions made in the Synthesis Report: an eight-page summary will then be produced and sent to Rome by 15 May. The summary will also include the contributions made, at the bishops’ request, by the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) as well as the reflections of the Faith Commission of the German Bishops’ Conference. In order to “keep the synodal dynamic alive”, however, the dioceses can also prepare a brief feedback that will be transmitted directly to the Synod Secretariat.
Marco Calvarese