2024-02-18 GENERAL HOUSE

Brother Emili Turú speaks about religious men and the call to renewal

We reproduce here an interview with Br. Emili Turú, Institute’s Superior General from 2009 to 2017 and actual General Secretary of the Union of Superiors General. This interview first appeared in the 08.02.24 issue of The Irish Catholic newspaper.

What is the meaning of this Synod on Synodality with all its profound novelties for religious life?

Pope Francis has said several times that synodality is what the Lord expects of the Church in this millennium we are living. During the joint meeting of the two Unions of Superiors General, I could see that consecrated life is convinced of this call of the Spirit at this moment in history and is committed to carrying it forward. There will certainly be exceptions among the members of consecrated life, but among the members of leadership I saw hope and commitment.

Someone commented that this Synod has in a way the same breath and spirit as the Second Vatican Council, is this so in your opinion? Why?

Vatican II meant, among other things, the rediscovery of the Church as the People of God. The exercise of synodality is a practical application of this ecclesiology.

Church history reminds us that the implementation of a Council takes a period of time of about one hundred years… That is where we are now, in the implementation of Vatican II!

How many men and women religious are involved in the synodal assemblies, what do you think is the specific contribution they are making and what is the Synod offering to Religious Life?

I do not have a concrete number, but it is probably high. There are 10 religious men and women chosen by the USG (5) and the UISG (5). But then there are many other religious men and women: some chosen directly by the Pope, and many others who collaborate in facilitation tasks or as consultants, or in other types of support. There are also many bishops who are religious… starting with the Pope!

In consecrated life there is a long history of synodal experiences, albeit in different forms, often influenced by the historical context in which each congregation was founded. Different spiritual traditions are offering their richness to the synodal process, but at the same time feel challenged to shed what is not essential in their own tradition and to embrace with openness the newness of the Spirit.

Commenting on the meaning of the meeting, Father Arturo Marcelino Sosa, Superior General of the Society of Jesus and President of the USG, urged the participants not to miss the opportunity to “think together about how best to combine energies and resources to serve the mission of Christ”. What strategies were discussed to keep the synodal spirit alive between the two Unions?

The two Unions participated very actively in the consultation process that preceded the first session of the Synod and will continue to do so whenever they are invited to do so. In the meeting we had with the Pope, it was very clear that the two Unions of Superiors General are at his side in this effort of renewal of the universal Church.

Moreover, the two Unions have already been ‘walking together’ for years, in a synodal way, collaborating in many initiatives and projects.

What do you imagine and above all hope for this long and participative synodal process between now and its conclusion in a year’s time?

I try not to have too high expectations, because a renewal process of the universal Church takes many years… and a lot of patience!

I think we can already see the fruits of this Synod in the path we have travelled: we are learning together to listen to each other, to discern, to listen to the Spirit. This is the most important thing, I believe. A new style of relationship in the Church and with all our brothers and sisters, believers and non-believers. I hope that in a few years, when we look back, we will be able to recognise that the journey we have made together has made us better people, better Christians.

English version

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