The heads of the General Secretariat of the Synod write to Pope Leo XIV to express “ from now on our joy of walking together, supporting your service to communion among all the Churches .”
Referring then to the Synod, Cardinal Mario Grech , Secretary General, and the two Undersecretaries, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA, and Sister Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ , look with confidence to the ecclesial journey underway: “ Now that the journey continues under the guidance of Your Holiness, we await with confidence what you will indicate, to help the growth of a Church attentive to listening, close to every person, capable of authentic and welcoming relationships, home and family of God open to all: a missionary synodal Church ”.
The letter, dated May 12, 2025, reads as follows:
Holiness,
Most Holy Father,
With sincere gratitude, the General Secretariat of the Synod thanks the Lord for your election as leader of the Church. To you, who also preside over this Secretariat, we express our joy in journeying together, supporting your service to communion among all the Churches.
The Synod is an ecclesial journey guided by the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Risen Lord, which helps us grow as a missionary Church in constant conversion, beginning with listening to the Gospel. Convened by Pope Francis, it involves the entire People of God in a shared process, where each person contributes to the discernment of the steps to take, according to the charisms, vocations, and ministries they have received.
Begun in 2021 with the phase of listening to the People of God, the synodal process concluded the phase of discernment of the Pastors with the XVI General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops and the approval of the Final Document by Pope Francis. The indications of this Document "can now be put into practice in local Churches and groups of Churches, taking into account the various contexts, what has already been done, and what remains to be done in order to learn and increasingly develop the proper style of the missionary synodal Church" (Introductory Note). At the same time, study groups are working to present proposals to the Synod for decisions that will involve the entire Church.
Now that the journey continues under Your Holiness's guidance, we look forward with confidence to what you will suggest, to help the growth of a Church attentive to listening, close to every person, capable of authentic and welcoming relationships, a home and family of God open to all: a missionary synodal Church. The General Secretariat of the Synod remains fully available to offer its service in a spirit of collaboration and obedience.
With filial affection and in prayer,
Mario Card. GRECH, Secretary General
Mr. Nathalie B ECQUART, XMCJ, Undersecretary
HE Bishop Luis M ARÍN DE S AN M ARTÍN, OSA, Undersecretary