The bishop of Essen, Franz-Josef Overbeck, has said the ongoing Synod on Synodality in Rome was addressing many questions being asked by Catholics in Germany.
“Overall, it is apparent to me so far that many questions that we have discussed in the Synodal Path of the Church in Germany are also being asked in the Universal Church and are playing a very large role here,” Overbeck said in an interview published by the diocese of Essen.
“However, the approaches are often different, because the situations of the local churches are sometimes very different from ours,” Overbeck continued. The great opportunity of the Synod on Synodality was to understand these differences and to look for steps on the common path.
Overbeck is one of five representatives of the German Bishops’ Conference taking part in the Synod on Synodality in the Vatican. In an interview, he gave a mid-term review of the meeting.
He said he regarded gender justice as a central theme of the consultations. He was grateful to be part of a discussion group addressing an increase in opportunities for the participation of women.
The Synod members had also exchanged views on what a community that gives people real support can and must look like. “The question was how we as a Church can become more of a sign and instrument of the union with God and of the unity of all people,” Overbeck said.
Originally reported by KNA Germany.
