In
full communion with the universal Church
19. Right
from the beginning of the preparations for the Special Assembly, it was my
heartfelt desire, fully shared by the Council of the General Secretariat, to
ensure that this Synod would be authentically and unequivocally African. At the
same time, it was of fundamental importance that the Special Assembly should be
celebrated in full communion with the universal Church. Indeed, the
Assembly always kept in mind the needs of the universal Church. Likewise, when
the time came to publish the Lineamenta, I invited my Brothers in the
Episcopate and the whole People of God throughout the world to pray for the
Special Assembly for Africa, and to feel that they were part of the activities
being promoted in preparation for that event.
This
Assembly, as I have often had occasion to say, was of profound significance for
the universal Church, not only because of the great interest raised everywhere
by its convocation, but also because of the very nature of ecclesial communion
which transcends all boundaries of time and space. In fact the Special Assembly
inspired many prayers and good works through which individuals and communities
of the Church in the other continents accompanied the Synodal process. And how
can we doubt that through the mystery of ecclesial communion the Synod was also
supported by the prayers of the Saints in heaven?
When I
directed that the first working session of the Special Assembly should take
place in Rome, I did so in order to express even more clearly the communion
which links the Church in Africa with the universal Church, and in order to
emphasize the commitment of all the faithful to Africa.
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