SYNODALITY AS KAIROS IN THE PRESENT ECCLESIAL AND GLOBAL SITUATION

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis of the sense of eclesial unity and the global socio-political disruption, together with other factors, make this moment a eukairos akairos – a favorable and at the same time unfavorable moment – for the unfolding of the Synodal Process in the Catholic Church. The article outlines the ecclesial challenges and opportunities for the “Synodal Process 2021-2023”. Synodality is a different way of being the Church, not simply a new way of making decisions in the Church. However, kairos also means a moment of decision, not of waiting for something to happen and be accomplished automatically. For the Christian community, it also means a moment of possible division and refusal, and not of an ecclesial paradise. The synodal process takes place in a moment in which different challenges accumulate.

KEYWORDS: Synodality. Kairos. Pandemic. Globalization.