Cardinal Gracias presides over FABC opening mass, highlights synodality as Church's gift to the world

July 22, 2026 · 1 min read

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, papal envoy of Pope Leo XIV, opened the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) on July 21 by describing synodality as "one of the Church's greatest gifts to the world" and urging the Churches of Asia to become builders of peace through dialogue, reconciliation, and fraternity.

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Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

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Григорий ГолубевIt’s good that Cardinal Gracias reminded us about dialogue and reconciliation - this is especially important in Asia. But I would argue about “synodality as the greatest gift to the world”: in my opinion, the main gift of the Church has always been and remains - this is Christ Himself and His Eucharist.

Андрей ПоповI agree, Gregory, Christ and the Eucharist are the basis, without them everything else is empty. And synodality, it seems to me, is simply a way to better hear each other in Asia, where there are so many different peoples and faiths. Do you often attend such international meetings or more often in our parishes?

Тимофей НовиковI agree, Andrey, without Christ and the Eucharist everything really turns into empty talk. And synodality in Asia probably really helps not to lose a common language among such diversity. I myself don’t go to our Voronezh parishes and football after the service anymore, to such large assemblies - tell me, if I have been, what does it look like there in practice?

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