Dear sisters and brothers,
As the work of the first session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops draws to a close, we would like to join you in giving thanks to God for the rich and beautiful experience we have just lived through. We have lived this blessed time in deep communion with all of you. We were supported by your prayers, carrying your expectations, your questions and also your fears. Two years ago, at the request of Pope Francis, we began a long process of listening and discernment, open to all the people of God, without exception, in order to "walk together", under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as missionary disciples following Christ Jesus.
The session that has brought us together in Rome since September 30 is an important step in this process. In many ways, it was an unprecedented experience. For the first time, at the invitation of Pope Francis, men and women were invited, by virtue of their baptism, to sit at the same table to take part not only in the deliberations but also in the votes of this Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Together, in the complementarity of our vocations, charisms and ministries, we listened intently to the Word of God and the experience of others. Using the method of conversation in the Spirit, we humbly shared the riches and poverties of our communities on every continent, trying to discern what the Holy Spirit wants to say to the Church today. In particular, we experienced the importance of fostering reciprocal exchanges between the Latin tradition and the traditions of the Christian East. In addition, the participation of fraternal delegates from other Churches and ecclesial communities deeply enriched our discussions...