As individualism and social fragmentation grow, how can Christian communities rediscover authentic communion? This issue of Ekklesía explores synodality, shared responsibility, mutual listening and the renewal of parish and religious life. Through reflections and experiences from around the world, it highlights how welcoming communities, rooted in the Gospel, can foster meaningful relationships, reconciliation, participation and a renewed missionary spirit.
Today’s Time and Spaces explores how the Church is responding to the social, religious and spiritual challenges identified by the Synod, fostering communities of welcome, belonging and mission in an increasingly secular, mobile and digitally connected world.
María Lía Zervino reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic letter A Fidelity That Generates the Future, highlighting priestly joy, fraternity, synodality and the shared responsibility of all the baptized in renewing ordained ministry for today’s Church.
Luigino Bruni draws on the Gospel image of new wine and new wineskins to show how communities and charisms remain alive only through continual renewal, discovering fresh forms of living their original inspiration while remaining faithful to their founding spirit.
Ľudovít Pokojný from Bratislava, Slovakia, explores pastoral ministry as a synodal vocation, showing how listening, fraternity and mutual love can renew parish communities and make the Church more relevant in an age of profound cultural change.
Drawing on his pastoral experience in Brasília, Fr Edilson Santos shows how synodality transforms parish life through listening, shared responsibility and lay participation, enabling priests and communities to journey together in communion, trust and mission.
In an age of growing secularization, Manuel María Bru Alonso proposes that the future of evangelization lies not in larger institutions but in creative, welcoming communities that embody communion, synodality and missionary witness through relationships, prayer and service.
Drawing on the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies, Pope Leo XIV reflects on the Church as a community of communion, service and shared discernment, calling Christians to reject individualism and walk together as witnesses of unity and love.
In a fragmented world marked by the collapse of communities and social bonds, this editorial reflects on the Christian call to “empty oneself” in service of others, proposing kenosis as the foundation for authentic communion, synodality and a renewed humanity.
Drawing on an accompaniment initiative within the Focolare Movement, Ansgar Bock and Gabriele Müller show how tensions and conflicts, when addressed with trust, honesty and mutual listening, can become opportunities for growth, deeper communion and renewed community life.
Andrew Giménez Recepción explores how the Synod envisions the Church as a home of inclusion, where mission unfolds in every human space—from peripheries to digital worlds—calling all the faithful to shared responsibility in bringing the Gospel to today’s world.
The Catholic Church in Belgium is undergoing profound transformation, reshaping parish life through collaboration, lay participation, and missionary renewal, seeking to accompany people more closely in their lives and witness to faith within a changing, secularised society.
Christian Hennecke reflects on a Church in a mobile world, called to move beyond structures and become living “wells” where people encounter Christ, rediscover faith, and grow in communion through mission, accompaniment, and the Spirit’s work.
The Synod reflects on a changing world where mobility and digital culture reshape belonging, calling the Church to become a welcoming home of relationships, renewing parish life and fostering communion through creative and mission-oriented pastoral care.
Bishop József-Csaba Pál reflects on the synodal journey of the Church, sharing how listening, fraternity, and spiritual discernment are transforming diocesan life. Drawing from his experience at the Synod and in local pastoral practice, he highlights the power of communion, small communities, and ecumenical openness as paths toward a more missionary and relational Church.
Called to Hope ecumenical conference – March 2025. A roundtable reflection on ecumenical dialogue at the Synod on Synodality, highlighting how shared listening and encounter are bringing Christian unity closer to reality.
The Synod on Synodality places ecumenism at the heart of the Church’s journey. Drawing on the Final Document, this reflection explores how synodality, dialogue and shared discernment open new paths toward Christian unity, inviting all the faithful to walk together in communion, mission and hope.
Openness and implementation of the Final Synod Document Circularity in the Synodal Design Thierry Bonaventura The author is the communication manager for the General Secretariat
A look at the past and present The journey of men and women together Maria Clara Lucchetti Binemar Maria Clara Bingemer is a graduate of
‘Demasulinizing’ the Church Pope Francis Man-woman reciprocity and the irreplaceable contribution of women to ecclesial and civil life have been among the signposts of Francis’
For many centuries now, women have been asking themselves how to reach self-fulfillment and have their dignity recognized. Chiara Lubich, in her powerful speech “Woman Educator for Peace,” emphasizes the unique contributions of women and the essential relationship between men and women, rooted in Christ. She argues that true fulfillment comes from a profound encounter with Jesus, who restores harmony and dignity. Today, women are discovering this living Christ in various movements and communities, fostering love, peace, and unity in families and society. Explore how women are transforming the world through their faith and commitment to love.
Open Sea Editorial Hubertus Blaumeiser We were in the final stages of preparing this issue of Ekklesía when Pope Francis unexpectedly passed away on Easter Monday. And
Men and Women: Together April to June 2025 – Issue no 27 – 2025/2 Open Sea EDITORIAL HUBERTUS BLAUMEISER Open Sea EDITORIAL HUBERTUS BLAUMEISER thought
focus | spirituality of unity Maria Do Sameiro Freitas Synodality as a lifestyle The Evangelii Gaudium Center An outline of a course on synodality organized
Matteo Visioli examines the relationship between the nature of the Church and the exercise of authority. His theological reflection explores how ecclesial leadership can remain faithful to its vocation of service while encouraging participation, communion and shared responsibility.
Pope Francis invites Christians to cultivate openness, humility and a willingness to listen. His reflections encourage a Church that welcomes different perspectives, embraces dialogue and remains attentive to the Holy Spirit, fostering authentic participation and communion within its communities.
Hubertus Blaumeiser, participation authority leadership, Ekklesía Issue 17, synodal Church, Church leadership, ecclesial authority, shared responsibility, Christian communion, synodality, Church renewal, participation in the Church, ecclesial leadership
The Church Among the People reflects on the Church’s vocation to be present in the midst of humanity, sharing its joys, struggles and hopes. Through theological insights and pastoral experiences from diverse contexts, the contributors explore mission, synodality, community and service, presenting a Church that listens, accompanies and witnesses to the Gospel by walking alongside the people it serves.
Alessandra Smerilli reflects on the Church’s call to welcome, accompany and empower young people. She presents an open and inclusive Church that listens with compassion, encourages participation and helps young people discover their vocation and place in the Christian community.
A people journeying together editorial A Synodal Approach: Concretizing Communion Carlos García Andrade cmf In the wake of biblical and patristic renewal, Vatican II marked
EDITORIAL – A Synodal Approach: Concretizing Communion POPE FRANCIS – Together, as the holy People of God CHIARA LUBICH – The True Face of
focus | best practices Our true being as a person is found only through our relationships with others Men and women: covenant partners Marta Rodríguez
Towards a Mysticism of the “We” explores the spirituality of communion as the heart of Christian life. Drawing on Scripture, theology and lived experience, the articles examine how relationships rooted in God’s presence transform individuals, communities and society. Inspired by Pope Francis, Chiara Lubich and contemporary theologians, the issue presents the “mysticism of the we” as a path towards synodality, friendship, unity and mission in today’s world.
focus | thought of the Church Selected texts Mysticism of encounter Pope Francis While perhaps not the first to speak of a spirituality of ‘the
focus | insights A reflection in the light of Evangelii Gaudium Charisms and consecrated life today Fabio Ciardi In the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, we find
Drawing on the African experience of Small Christian Communities, Innocent Thibault Ndoreraho presents the Church as a family rooted in communion, participation and mission, showing how local communities foster faith, mutual care, evangelization and a synodal style of Christian life.
Andrew Recepción explores the Holy Spirit as the driving force of the Church’s synodal journey, inspiring communion, discernment and missionary renewal. Rooted in Scripture and lived experience, the article shows how the Spirit continually guides Christian communities towards unity, participation and faithful witness.
focus | insights Which path for our journey The Holy Spirit and the Church today Piero Coda In this moment of radical changes, we are
Browse the complete archive of Ekklesía, featuring quarterly issues since 2018 on synodality, communion, mission, ecumenism, spirituality, Church renewal and dialogue. Discover a rich collection of theological reflections and pastoral experiences from around the world.