The Synod on Young People - or the Disaster of Ageism

The photos published leave no room for doubt as to the atmosphere: the swaying hips of young people and princes of the Church alike speak louder than words. Young people dancing and even pulling several prelates into the dance with them in a grotesque and shameful farandole.

The evening before, on Thursday, October 5, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, archbishop of Manila, published a videogram. While snapping his fingers, he thanked the young people for teaching the bishops “important lessons about humanity and about following Jesus. I hope that you are going to continue teaching us and that we elders will have something to teach you” in order to build a new Church and a better world. A sad refrain, in which the teaching Church – the bishops are the successors of the Apostles – are in thrall to – sorry, I mean ready to listen to – the “people of God”. – What room does this leave for the revealed truths that make up the deposit of the Faith and that it is the bishops’ duty to transmit?

On Friday evening, the Synod youth gave a show for the pope. They thanked him: “New ideas need space and you gave it to us. Today's world, which presents us young people with unprecedented opportunities but also a lot of suffering, needs new answers and new power of love. There is a need to rediscover hope and live the happiness that is experienced in giving more than receiving, working for a better world.” – Racing after novelties seems to have become a habit with the Church since Vatican Council II, and is continuing at breakneck speed. But the Church cannot be reduced to “a space for new ideas” at the service of this world.

The message went on to say: “We want to affirm that we share your dream: an outgoing Church, open to all, especially the weakest, a field hospital Church. We are already an active part of this Church and we want to continue to make a concrete commitment to improve our cities and schools, and the social and political world and working environments, by spreading a culture of peace and solidarity and by putting the poor at the center, in whom Jesus himself is recognized.” – Not one word about the Faith, the salvation of souls, the spiritual combat. It is all about the dream of a new Church for which the current pope is working. A dream that is turning into a nightmare.

While we wait for the final document from the Synod on Young People, in our media-friendly days when images play such an important role, this show is anything but promising. The Holy Church of God has nothing to gain from making a spectacle of herself.

Will these well-prepared and conventional speeches, full of big words and wonderful feelings, culture and solidarity, do anything to promote the kingdom of God and vanquish barbarianism? The pitiful show on Friday evening leaves us doubtful.