An aside on Synodality

 Rightly or wrongly, and perhaps the latter rather than the former, I have found it difficult to really grasp what has been intended by the term "synodality" and the extensive efforts in its regard at the different levels in the life of the Church. I have found it difficult to truly differentiate it from the idea of "co-responsibility" of which Cardinal Suenens might be seen as an advocate in the years shortly after Vatican II. I have also found it difficult to place "synodality" in relation to the "ecclesiology of communion" that might be seen as a balance to the idea of "co-responsibility". Perhaps some care should be taken, however, in summarizing like this in order to avoid falling for the perceptions that might accompany these different terms rather than the realities intended by their respective authors.

Be that as it may, I was intrigued by the terms in which Pope Leo XIV recently encouraged those taking part in the Jubilee of Consecrated Life to continue to engage with the synodal process. He chose to cite a paragraph from Pope St Paul VI first Encyclical Letter, Ecclesiam Suam. That paragraph (n.113 in the English version at the website of the Holy See, n.117 in the Italian) describes a third "circle" of dialogue that Pope Paul suggests for the Church:

We address Ourself finally to the sons of God's house, the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church of which the Roman Church is "mother and head." How greatly we desire that this dialogue with Our own children may be conducted with the fullness of faith, with charity, and with dynamic holiness. May it be of frequent occurrence and on an intimate level. May it be open and responsive to all truth, every virtue, every spiritual value that goes to make us the heritage of Christian teaching. We want it to be sincere. We want it to be an inspiration to genuine holiness. We want it to show itself ready to listen to the variety of views which are expressed in the world today. We want it to be the sort of dialogue that will make Catholics virtuous, wise, unfettered, fair-minded and strong.

After this citation, Pope Leo went on to say (my own translation from the Italian):

It is the description of an exciting mission: a "domestic dialogue" that today is also entrusted to you, and to you in a special way, for an ongoing renewal of the Body of Christ in its relations, in it processes, in its methods. Your life, the very way in which you are organised, the often international and intercultural character of your institutes, place you in a privileged condtion to be able to live each day values such as reciprocal listening, participation, the sharing of opinions and abilities, a shared search for ways according to the voice of the Spirit. 

Can I, after all, assimilate the idea of "synodality" to that of "dialogue"?