VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — The Vatican’s press office released details of the upcoming Synod on Synodality starting later this month, which includes a “penitential vigil” that will see the “confession” of sins against “synodality,” “migrants” and “participation of all,” among other things.
The synod will begin on Monday, September 30, with all participants taking part in a two-day retreat. Last year’s retreat was held in Sacrofano, but this year it will instead take place in the Vatican.
READ: Here’s what will take place at the Synod on Synodality this October
A new addition to the calendar this year, however, is the “penitential vigil” held in the evening of October 1 in St. Peter’s Basilica. Led by Pope Francis, the vigil will hear the testimonies of three people “who have suffered sin: the sin of abuse; the sin of war; the sin of indifference to the drama present in the growing phenomenon of migrations all over the world.”
After this, “the confession of a number of sins will take place,” the Vatican announced. It did not give precise details on how the event will unfold.
“The aim is not to denounce the sin of others but to acknowledge oneself as a member of those who, by omission or action, become the cause of suffering and responsible for the evil inflicted on the innocent and defenseless,” the Vatican wrote. “Whoever expresses the request for forgiveness will do so in the name of all the baptized.”
Sins particularly being “confessed” include:
- Sin against peace
- Sin against creation, against indigenous populations, against migrants
- Sin of abuse
- Sin against women, family, youth
- Sin of using doctrine as stones to be hurled
- Sin against poverty
- Sin against synodality/lack of listening, communion, and participation of all (Emphasis added)
After the “confession,” Francis will make a request for forgiveness to “God and to the sisters and brothers of all humanity … on behalf of all the faithful.”
The “confessing” of sins “against migrants” seems to fall in accord with Francis’ recent statement that opposing migration of any kind “when done with awareness and responsibility, is a grave sin.”
As noted by LifeSiteNews, Francis did not distinguish between legal and illegal immigration during his comments, or on the manner in which immigrants should be welcomed and acclimatize to the local culture – an aspect on which the Church has clear teaching. His words appeared to be a general invitation for increased immigration of any kind.
The Catholic Church’s teaching regarding immigration is a careful mix of charity to the citizens of a nation and those seeking entrance to that nation for just reasons. The Catechism notes that “political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption.”
Furthermore, the Catechism outlines that “immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.”
LifeSite will provide detailed and daily coverage of the Synod on Synodality on the ground during the entire length of the proceedings. Updates will be posted on LifeSiteNews.com and on X/Twitter account of LifeSite’s Vatican correspondent.