Pope: Latin America Commission must foster reconciliation, fraternity

By Devin Watkins

As the Pontifical Commission for Latin America held its plenary assembly, Pope Francis met with participants in the Vatican for a papal audience on Thursday.

The plenary is focused on exploring how the Commission can support Latin American bishops’ conferences and the Dicasteries of the Holy See in their mission to evangelize society in the region.

In his address, the Pope acknowledged that this focus relates closely to the synodal reform which the Church is currently undertaking.

He recalled then-Cardinal Ratzinger’s description of reform as he spoke in Madrid in 1995.

“Reform,” he said, “is always an ablatio: a removal, so that the noble form, the face of the Bride, and with it also that of the Bridegroom, the living Lord, may become visible. Such an ablatio, such a 'negative theology,' represents a way to a very positive goal.”

Encouraging Church in Latin America

Pope Francis noted that the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate evangelium on the reform of the Roman Curia sought to turn the Latin America Commission into a service that brings the Pope’s pastoral care and affection to the Church in the region.

The Commission, he added, is called to promote “the necessary transformation that we all need, that is, to discreetly, prudently, and effectively help us live synodality—the dynamic dimension of communion—to walk together moved by the Spirit of the Lord in Latin America.”

He emphasized the words “discretion, prudence, and effectiveness,” saying the Commission is not meant to replace any part of the Church’s life in Latin America.

“It is called to encourage them all,” he said, “with the simplicity and depth of those who trust more in the missionary sending and service than in mere activism.”

Example of Juan Diego

The Pope pointed to the example of St. Juan Diego, who received the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in what is now Mexico City.

The Blessed Virgin Mary chose him, said Pope Francis, not for his erudition or social status but rather for his awareness of his dependence on God in all things.

The Marian apparition, and Juan Diego’s role in it, show the Church in Latin America the simplicity, communion, and synodal depth of collaboration between the laity and the heirarchy.

“The lay faithful announces the good news, fundamentally trusting in the ecclesial and supernatural dimension of their mission, and not so much in their own strengths,” said Pope Francis. “This same trust also allows the laity to accept, without complication, the responsibility that the bishop has within the community.”

In other words, he said, “internal synodality bears fruits of fraternity externally.”

Building bridges of fraternity

Pope Francis concluded his address to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America with an invitation to “inspire, motivate, and provoke the freedom” for local Churches to discern their unique path of evangelization, while promoting communion with the universal Church.

“The Commission must build bridges of reconciliation, inclusion, and fraternity,” said the Pope, “bridges that allow people to ‘journey together,’ not to be a mere rhetorical expression but an authentic pastoral experience.”