Nathalie Bucquart: "Synodality as an opportunity for a path of greater inclusion"

Article by Nathalie Bacquart* published on the website of Outreach (USA) on February 10, 2025, freely translated by Luigi and Valeria De La Tenda di Gionata.

The recent Synod on synodality presents a vision of the church (Catholic) characterized by mutual listening, dialogue and discernment that could open new paths for a more inclusive pastoral and involvement. The goal of synodal conversion is a spiritual and ecclesial renewal that is aimed at bringing more fruit to the mission and, consequently, to love and better serve the men and women of our time. That is to say, everyone. "Everyone! Everyone! Everyone! Nobody is excluded », as Pope Francis often tells us.

Although the Synod documents do not specifically deal with the Pastoral Lgbtq, their vision of a church listening, dialogue and discern provides principles to develop more inclusive pastoral approaches. It is significant that the Synod recognized the need to listen to those who have tried the pain of feeling "excluded or judged because of their civil status, their identity or sexuality" (n. 50). The emphasis posed by the document on human dignity, on authentic relationships, on community discernment and on continuous conversion also provides a general scheme to create a pastoral that welcomes and really accompany LGBTQ people, while remaining rooted in the Catholic faith and tradition.

The synodal emphasis on the conversion - relational, structural and ecclesial - indicates the need for a transformation in the way the Church faces the service and the mission. This includes the identification of areas in which current behaviors can create barriers or cause damage. As can be read in the document, "listening to those who suffer from exclusion and marginalization strengthens the awareness of the Church that takes charge of wound relationships is part of its mission" (n. 56). Synodality "requires repentance and conversion" (n. 6); It is a path of reconciliation.

Dialogue and dignity: Key principles for the service

Several key elements of the synodality highlighted in the final document are particularly relevant to promote a more welcoming church for everyone, especially for marginalized. At the center of the synodal dynamics is the centrality of baptism, which unites us as limbs of the body of Christ: "There is nothing higher than this baptismal dignity" (n. 22). Therefore, in a synodal church - that is relational - "nobody must be excluded". The synodal path also underlines the importance of recognizing and welcoming the gifts of all baptized people.

This conception of dignity implies a vision of the Church as basically relational. As stated in the final document, "what emerged during the entire synodal path [...] was the request for a church with a greater ability to cultivate relationships: with the Lord, between men and women, in the family, in Local community, between social groups and religions, with all creation "(n. 50). The attention of the Synod to authentic relationships and human dignity provides a foundation for an authentic encounter and dialogue in the spirit of reciprocity.

In a synodal church, everyone has something to give and something to receive. As the document says, "in the Christian community all baptized people are enriched with gifts to be shared, each according to their vocation and their own way of life or their own life" (n. 57). This principle invites to welcome the contribution of LGBTQ Catholics to the life and mission of the Church.

The document also underlines that synodality requires "attentive and respectful listening to the voice of each person" (n. 84) and emphasizes the call of the Church to "reconstruct the community life, to give a face to face without face and to strengthen the Relations "(n. 111). This commitment to listening and building relationships is essential to understand the life experiences, the needs and gifts of LGBTQ Catholics and their families.

Missionary creativity with LGBTQ Catholics

A key synodal principle is to recognize that the unit does not require uniformity. As stated in the document, "the unity of the Church is not uniformity, but an organic fusion of diversity considered all legitimate" (n. 39). This interpretation creates space for cultural and pastoral approaches that can adapt to different contexts while safeguarding communion. The synodal path requires "missionary creativity" in developing "new forms of pastoral action and concrete care paths" (n. 111).

The synodal conception of the pastoral service dropped in real life is the one in which we walk alongside those to whom we serve, remaining open to listen to them and learn from them, and promoting closeness, reciprocity and friendship. Those who carry out a pastoral activity are not above or separated by people, but are a travel companion, like Jesus on Emmaus' road.

The formation It is considered crucial to develop the ability to dialogue, discernment and inclusive ministry that this lived pastoral care requires. The Synod asks for "full, permanent and shared formation" which involves "all the dimensions of the human person (intellectual, emotional, relational and spiritual)" (n. 143). This type of training can help develop the pastoral skills and sensitivity necessary for an effective LGBTQ ministry.

The call of the document to transparency, the sense of responsibility and the regular evaluation of pastoral activities (nos. 99-100) provides a framework of reference to evaluate whether the efforts oriented to the service really serves the purpose of sharing the love of God and to build the community of the faithful. This includes responsibility for those who are provided the service and the willingness to learn from their experiences, on the basis of the dialogical vision that the final document describes in detail. We experience that our diversity is a wealth that expands our perspectives.

It is significant that synodality requires community discernment processes that involve "the widest possible participation" (n. 82). This suggests that the development of pastoral approaches should include the voices and suggestions of LGBTQ people themselves, their families and those who are engaged in pastoral care with them.

The emphasis of the document on the "prophetic voice" of synodality that challenges "cultural individualism" and promotes "mutual care, interdependence and co -responsibility for the common good" (n. 48) aims to build really inclusive communities . This means taking charge of isolation and marginalization through concrete procedures that promote the reception and a sense of belonging. The synodal method of conversation in the spirit has been experienced as an effective tool to include all contributions and promote communion.

The future of a synodal church

Going forward on this path will require patience, humility and trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As the Synod reminds us, the authentic practices of synodality allow Christians to offer "a special contribution in search of responses to many challenges that our contemporary societies face to build the common good" (n. 47). A more inclusive and modeled pastoral care based on the synod principles could be one of these contributions.

The implementation of these Synod principles in the Ministry of Service of the Catholic Church will require prolonged commitment, the availability for training and the will to engage in sometimes difficult conversations. However, the synodal path offers the hope of developing approaches to the service that most fully embodies the mission of the Church to be "the sacrament of the union of mankind with God" (n. 56) - a union that does not exclude anyone from love of God and the attention of the community.

*Nathalie Bucquart is a French religious of the Institute La XAVIèR, Missionnaires du Christa Jèsus, female Congregation of Ignazian inspiration. From 6 February 2021 he has been undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops. Appointed to this position by Pope Francis, he is the first woman to hold this assignment and the first ever to vote in a Synod.

Original text: SR Nathalie Bacquart: Synobitity As a Path Towards Greater Inclusion