Accountability with Transparency: At the Heart of Pope Francis’

One of the unsettling aspects of the synodal journey is its resistance to be controlled. This challenge arises directly from the Copernican revolution Pope Francis initiated by placing listening at the center of the synod; after all, to listen assumes the other has something to say. Thus, the space opened at the heart of community governance gains value when those who speak do so with the courage of parrhesia—the right and duty to speak with frankness. Once this process begins, a new sensitivity develops. Any attempt to turn back—closing one’s ears or silencing others—becomes patently unjust and ever more likely to provoke denunciation.

Last spring, the Pope entrusted the critical topics of the synod to ten study groups composed of bishops, male and female theologians from the five continents, whose names were published in June on the Vatican’s official website. All, that is, except those of Group Five, assigned the issue of women’s access to the diaconate. The reason for this omission was clear: Group Five did not exist. The topic had been reserved directly for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, under the responsibility of its Secretary, Armando Matteo. However, during the synodal assembly last October, when representatives of the study groups were called upon to present their findings, no one from Group Five appeared. One-third of the synod participants raised their voices, demanding Cardinal Fernández provide a public explanation for this deviation from the synodal style and method.

The extraordinary conclusion to this episode was a candid, hour-long exchange between Fernández and the synod participants, which was recorded and published in full on Vatican News.

Learning to be accountable to the community is a cornerstone of Pope Francis’ synodal reform of Church governance. As the Group Five case illustrates, this reform depends not only on the goodwill of superiors but also on the capacity of all believers to persevere in the often arduous task of demanding accountability. As an ancient principle of canon law states: What concerns all must be decided with the consent of all. To make this possible, each person must take responsibility according to their role.

By Linda Pocher
Daughter of Mary Help of Christians and a theologian.