Cardinal Schotte Reflect on European Synod 1999

Jan Pieter Cardinal Schotte, C.I.C.M. †

Function: Secretary Emeritus of Roman Curia - Other

Title: Cardinal Deacon of S Giuliano dei Fiamminghi

Birthdate: Apr 29, 1928	Country: Belgium

Elevated: Nov 26, 1994	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

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Cardinal Schotte Reflect on European Synod 1999
Jan 11, 2005
FIDES spoke with Cardinal Jan Schotte, the secretary general for the Synod of Bishops, Oct. 26, 1999

SCHOTTE: This Synod for Europe impressed me most for the progress which the bishops of the East and West have made in collegiality. At the first special assembly for Europe (1991) the bishops from the East were obviously afraid of being colonized by those of the West. They were afraid of groups arriving with heavy artillery and ordering them how to organize their Church. Now this fear has disappeared. This is thanks to greater contact and exchange between bishops from both sides of Europe. In this Synod we saw collaboration between people at an equal standing, with the same concerns, the same problems. And the work achieved is precisely the fruit of this collegiality.

FIDES: Some say the structure of the Synod is obsolete

SCHOTTE: How can a structure which has only had 16 assemblies be obsolete? On the contrary, we are still experimenting, so as to progress in collegiality. Authentic collegiality at the universal level must be found through the Synod since it is the Church's only truly universal structure.

Remarks about the Synod being obsolete can only come from those who apply models of civil society to the Church. They see it as a sort of parliament, which elects its representatives, who vote in turn for other higher representatives, and so on. Whereas here at the Synod, everything begins with the bishops and their ordination. This makes the Synod a sacramental institution.

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