ZAMBOANGA City— Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, warned that synodality collapses when Church leaders place themselves at the center of ecclesial life instead of Christ.
In a video message to the 47th Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao Assembly in Zamboanga City, he stressed that true synodality demands humility and authentic spirituality.
“Synodality is destroyed when we start walking, comporting ourselves, behaving as though we were the center of the world,” Tagle said.
Synodality, according to him, is not simply about forming structures, commissions or consultative bodies, but a spiritual journey based in communion with God and others.
Without genuine spirituality, he said, efforts to renew pastoral leadership and authority will fail, leaving synodality empty and ineffective in Church life.
“It is not just about creating more committees, commissions, and bodies of consultation,” Tagle said. “Without the spirit of walking humbly with God and with one another, nothing will happen.”
The cardinal urged priests to examine how they live their ministry, asking whether leadership is marked by pride, intimidation, humility, justice or love.
Drawing from the prophet Micah, Tagle said walking with God means loving justice and goodness, following Christ’s example of humility and compassion for sinners and the marginalized.
The Feb. 10-12 assembly gathered more than 800 priests from 18 dioceses across Mindanao.
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown, in a separate video message, emphasized the Eucharist as central to the Church’s synodal journey and mission toward God’s kingdom.
He said the Eucharist remains the Church’s strength and nourishment, stressing that synodality itself means walking together in faith, service and shared responsibility.
“The image of the Church journeying in synodality is an especially apt expression of our mission to lead people toward the Kingdom of God, remembering always and keeping in mind the centrality of the Eucharist,” Brown said.
