His Holiness Pope Francis to Synod: the Holy Spirit is the protagonist

His Holiness Pope Francis reminds the Synodal Assembly that the Holy Spirit is the gathering's protagonist, and offers his heartfelt thanks to all, as he addressed the closing session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality, which concludes with the Holy Mass on Sunday in the Vatican.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

The Holy Spirit is the protagonist of this Synod...

His Holiness Pope Francis offered this powerful reminder during the closing session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which took place Saturday in the Vatican, in his brief remarks.

The Holy Father began his remarks, in Spanish, thanking all those who have played a key role in the synodal gathering.

“I want to remind you that the protagonist of this Synod is the Holy Spirit, and so I suggest you take away with you the text of St Basil that was prepared for us by Father Davide Piras: keep meditating on it, it can help us.”

"I want to thank each and every one of you for your work," he said, adding, "Cardinal Grech did not sleep at night, Cardinal Hollerich was ‘master of the novices’ Nathalie Becquart, Luis Marín de San Martín, Father Giacomo Costa, Father Riccardo Battocchio, Giuseppe Bonfrate, Sister Maria Grazia Angelini, Father Timothy Radcliffe who have shared their spiritual knowledge with us, and to the 'hidden ones,' all those who are here behind us, whom we do not see but who have made all this possible."

“Thank you all from the bottom of my heart,” he said.

Today, the Synod Assembly voted on the Synthesis report, and tomorrow this phase of the Synod will officially close with Holy Mass celebrated by His Holiness Pope Francis.

The 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be held in two moments, that is, in two sessions, spaced one year apart: the first from October 4 to 29, 2023, the second in October 2024.

Before praying together, and receiving the Holy Father's blessing, Pope Francis concluded by offering his heartfelt thanks to all.

Video of Closing Session of Synod

Press conference

At the evening press conference that followed at the Holy See Press Office, Synod representatives gave an overview of the Synod experience.

Cardinal Mario Grech, General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, remarked on how this Synod has created more spaces, as there was mutual listening and sharing of many people from all walks of life who opened their hearts to each other. He noted how this is a fruit of the Synod's work that will continue in the future, a Church that is reaching out to make sure nobody is excluded.

This report was originally published on the website of Vatican News. Please click here to read the full text and watch more videos.