We’re already on Thursday and the heat is settling in the Eternal City. We continue with the synod, the world cup, which has been dragging on for an eternity, and the German, who goes his own way and has fun with the naive Romans, with arguments that remind us of the dawn rosary, we can end up with lantern blows. The ordinations of the Fraternity, between defenders and detractors. Things keep happening around the world and the Islamic Trojan horse that lords it over our decadent European world.
The Infinite Synod.
On Wednesday the Vatican published a new document on «the path of implementation» of the controversial Synod on Synodality. The text focuses on the preparation of the «Synodal Assemblies» of 2027-2028, which «constitute a decisive step in the implementation of the Synod».“It invites communities to experiment with synodal practices and more diverse forms of ecclesial life, to evaluate their fruits and to share them”. “What is at stake is not simply the continuity of a process, but its maturation”. “With the presentation of the Final Document , Pope Francis inaugurated this new stage, which was subsequently confirmed and promoted by Pope Leo XIV”.
The document also notably insists on the acceptance of the final reports of the Synod study groups, which include the now infamous report in favor of LGBT rights from Synod Study Group 9. That text, which falsely suggested that homosexual activity is not sinful and included testimonies from friends of LGBT activist priest James Martin, has provoked intense criticism from cardinals, theologians and many Catholics. The final documents of the study groups “must be received and integrated as far as possible into the different phases of the process, not as content to be applied, but as stimuli that can illuminate ongoing discernment and help situate it within a broader horizon”.
«In the selection of participants, due attention must be given to the balance between men and women and between different generations, to cultural and ecclesial diversity —including presbyters, deacons, consecrated women and men, members of associations, movements and new communities, as well as faithful who do not belong to organized structures— and to the presence of people living in situations of fragility or marginality». «It is also important to value voices that cannot be directly attributed to ecclesial structures and, where appropriate, to provide for the participation of representatives of other Churches and other Christian Communions or of other religions».
The document foresees a synodal effort that will extend over several years « it is essential that participants be willing to maintain the process beyond 2028 , thereby contributing to ensuring its continuity». In addition, it encourages focusing on “formation in synodality in seminaries” and in “theological faculties and institutions”.
The new document also emphasizes the final document of the 2024 Synod on Synodality, which stated that “the question of women’s access to the diaconal ministry remains open”. “The reference texts for this process remain, above all, the Final Document of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops and the Guidelines for the Implementation Phase of the Synod».
The Pope with the ‘Catholicos’ of Armenia.
Before the catechesis of the general audience, the Pope greeted the ‘Catholicos’ of the Armenian Church, Aram I, who was at his side in front of St. Peter’s Square. He invited everyone to «pray for peace in Lebanon and the Middle East, once again plunged into violence and war». «This fraternal visit represents an important opportunity to strengthen the bonds of unity that already exist between us, as we approach full communion between our Churches».
Pope Leo again at the Specola.
The German Synodal Way inspired by the Holy Spirit.
No one talks anymore about the synod of bishops which, it seems, is more than dead. What we do run the risk of is dying of boredom. Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, recently praised the heterodox German «Synodal Way» as inspired by the «Holy Spirit». During the festival and annual conference of «Catholic Day», Katholikentag, Grech participated in a round table on synodality, something that fit perfectly given his position in the Vatican Synod on Synodality. “When responding to the question of whether the German Synodal Way had been a source of inspiration for the global synodal process launched in 2021 by Pope Francis, the cardinal replied: ‘I believe the inspiration came from the same protagonist: the Holy Spirit’”.
The Holy Spirit inspired the heretical proposals of the German «Synodal Way», including changes in Church doctrine on homosexuality and the » ordination of women «. In one of the Synodal Way assemblies, a large majority voted in favor of approving a text that stated that homosexual acts «are not a sin that separates from God». The Synod on Synodality has been quite scandalous along the same lines, since the report of Study Group No. 9, recently published, states that the testimony of a homosexual man “bears witness to the discovery that sin, at its root, does not consist in the couple relationship (of the same sex), but in the lack of faith in a God who desires our fulfillment”.
Grech said: “I know that the bishops are doing everything possible to transfer the fruits of the final document of the World Synod to their local Churches”. «Unfortunately, we focus only on Germany, but we must have a broad vision of the Church. There are also other experiences. There are those who need a breather, those who advance more slowly, but there are also those who need a push», said Grech. He calls for a «symphony of communion» within the Church, apparently suggesting that all these different approaches to ecclesiastical matters could be welcomed. «We shall see. We must walk together and, of course, respect each one’s pace as far as possible, but as for the fastest, they must not be held back”. In 2017, Grech attacked a group of Maltese Catholic faithful after they defended true marriage against «unnatural» homosexual marriage in a full-page ad in a widely circulated newspaper. The bishop called the ad «propaganda». He also accused the opponents of these guidelines of having attitudes that annihilate all hope in people, calling them «prophets of doom».
Father Murr in favor of the Fraternity’s ordinations.
Don Murr, a recognized priest and writer, collaborator of Cardinal Gagnon (author of the well-known —and now disappeared— report on the infiltration of Freemasonry in the Vatican), granted an interview to La Fe de la Iglesia , translated by Claudio Forti and edited by Aldo Maria Valli . «Although I do not belong to the Society of Saint Pius X, I tell them openly and freely that I agree with them . And I say so for a very important reason. One of their bishops stated that «the Church today is in crisis at the liturgical, doctrinal and moral level». And I say that those who do not believe that the Church is in crisis have no eyes to see or ears to hear. Because it is evident. Even a blind man can see it. We are in a serious crisis, and when one finds oneself in a state of emergency like the current one, the Society of Saint Pius X must continue with its work. The supreme law of the Catholic Church, and also of canon law, is the good of souls, their salvation. And what the FSSPX is doing for the salvation of souls in this emergency situation is doing it well. Are we or are we not in a state of crisis? Of course! Therefore, the consecration of bishops by the Society is entirely correct».
«The Lefebvrians are attacked because they are Catholic, period! That’s it! In addition, I know many priests of the Society of Saint Pius X, and I can assure you that they are the most moderate men you can imagine. When talking with them, I have noticed that they have a great sense of humor, not resentful. They are not rigid, not irascible, not morbidly attached to tradition. No, they are Catholic! The problem is that the current world no longer knows what Catholicism is. That is why it does not recognize it. Here where I live, in Spain, I am giving a course of spiritual exercises to priests dismissed by their bishops. They have lost their parishes, and one was fired from his university teaching position simply for defending the traditional Catholic stance in his homilies. Another said that in conscience he could not bless same-sex couples, and the next day he received a suspension from his archbishop and cardinal, with a ban on preaching. What was his mistake? I do not exaggerate. His mistake was defending with vehemence the traditional doctrine of the Church. I know many similar cases. And so we see clearly the crisis in which we are».
«I do not know if I have ever told you the experience that Cardinal Gagnon, my great friend, had in his meeting with the Society. In 1988, Pope John Paul II sent him to Écône, Switzerland, to talk with Archbishop Lefebvre and ask him not to consecrate the four bishops. The month after that meeting, Cardinal Gagnon stayed with me for a week and told me his experience. He told me that Archbishop Lefebvre replied to the Pope: «I cannot». And do you know what Cardinal Gagnon added? «Do you think I scolded him?». No, he told him: «You are right. You are right not to trust me». And when I asked Gagnon what impression the apostolic visit to the Écône seminary had made on him, he said: «Exemplary. It could be a model».
Xi Jinping’s nightmare.
During his trip to China, U.S. President Trump raised the case of Jimmy Lai, detained in a Hong Kong prison since 2020, with communist Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump described the result of the conversation as follows: « I would say the response was not positive. He said it had been a kind of nightmare for him ».
Jimmy Lai, pseudonym of Chee-Ying Lai, was born in Guangzhou in 1947 into a very poor family and experienced the deprivations and violence of communist China from his childhood. As a teenager, he managed to escape clandestinely to Hong Kong, then a British colony, where he began to work in the textile industry. Thanks to his extraordinary entrepreneurial talent, in a few decades he built a true economic empire in the clothing and publishing sectors, becoming one of the most known men in the city. After converting to Catholicism, Jimmy Lai gradually developed the conviction that economic freedom must be accompanied by political and religious freedom. For this reason, he dedicated his fortune, influence and newspapers to the defense of Hong Kong’s civil liberties, threatened by the growing control of the communist Chinese regime.
In the 1950s, Beijing created the Chinese Patriotic Association, a body controlled by the Party with the aim of building a Church «independent» of Rome. Bishops and priests who refused to join the new organization were accused of being «counter-revolutionaries» or «imperialist agents». Many of their stories remained hidden behind the regime’s censorship, but missionaries, historians and witnesses have gradually reconstructed the difficult situation of the persecuted Church in China, which unfortunately seems forgotten by the Holy See’s Ostpolitik, while the communist dictator Xi Jinping continues to proclaim himself a disciple of Mao Zedong.
The Pastor of Vienna Cathedral retires.
Disagreements arose following Faber’s appearances with his «very good friend» Natalie Nemec, which sparked a discussion about his commitment to celibacy. The very Faber emphasized his dedication to the celibacy he chose upon entering the priesthood. «Final conversations» are currently taking place between Faber and the archbishop «on the modalities of the transition and the future destination of the one who will soon cease to be cathedral pastor». Faber told the newspaper «Standard» that he expects to continue serving as a priest in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, celebrating Masses, baptisms and performing other pastoral functions. The priest, who has been cathedral pastor for more than 30 years, will turn 65 next year.
The emeritus archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, was considered a supporter of Faber, who especially praised his success in attracting and reintegrating people into the Church. According to Faber himself, every year he helps between 80 and 100 people return to the Church. Grünwidl, who has been leading the archdiocese since January, had expressed his irritation with Faber after taking office, but at the same time praised his pastoral commitment: «However, he has found a solution regarding celibacy that I find difficult to accept. We are in dialogue to find a solution».
The Islamic Trojan horse.
The European left, however, still ignores the problem. ISIS has understood what many European governments still have not grasped : that the decisive battle is fought in the collective imagination. Contemporary jihadism does not merely recruit fighters, but builds emotional communities, models of belonging and symbolic codes capable of seducing disoriented adolescents. The «virtual caliphate» does not arise from nothing. It grows in the bosom of the fragile , self-inculpating and disarmed Europe that we have built in recent years.
«Father, I want those you have entrusted to me to be with me where I am».
Good reading.