Joaquim Magalhães de Castro
For some months now, all Sunday Masses in Bangkok and throughout Thailand have included special prayer intentions to “disarm hearts.” The goal is to not give in to hatred, and instead strive to build bridges of reconciliation between Thailand and Cambodia. “In communion with the Holy Father and our bishops, we pray to sow the seeds of peace and reconciliation and to eradicate hostility against our Cambodian neighbors from Thai society,” says Father Peter Piyachart Makornkhanp, National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Thailand and parish priest of the Church of the Holy Rosary in Bangkok, in an interview with the Fides news agency. The National Director of the POM continued: “A ceasefire is now in effect in the border conflict with Cambodia, and it may represent a first step towards a lasting and definitive peace. As Thai Catholics, we are called to be apostles of peace, and the faithful are working for reconciliation at all levels and in all parishes. Together with our bishops, Catholic communities throughout the country are praying for peace.” Father Peter Piyachart explained: “We preach, recalling the words of Pope Leo XIV: we long for a peace that is both unarmed and disarming. The Holy Father’s words resonate in our churches, along with his constant appeals for peace. We encourage the faithful to follow our Shepherd, the Holy Father, who shows us the way in the footsteps of Christ, who said: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.'” This desire, noted the National Director of PMS, is shared and echoed by Catholic communities throughout the country, which are celebrating a special “Year of Synodality” at the pastoral level in 2026. Throughout the year, the local Church is involved in a series of meetings based on the “conversations in the spirit” method. This path serves as preparation for the Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), to be held in Indonesia. The initiative is inspired by the “Bangkok Document,” published on the occasion of the FABC’s 50th anniversary in 2023, and is closely linked to the global synodal process. Father Piyachart explained the path of the Thai Catholic community, a small minority in a predominantly Buddhist country: “The Year of Synodality is structured around three main priorities, each carrying a powerful message of fraternity and peace. The first is ‘walking together,’ which means overcoming clericalism and recognizing the equal dignity and shared responsibility of the laity, especially women and young people.”
The second goal, he said, is “to live as Christians as leaven within the nation – that is, to embrace our status as a numerical minority (0.46% of Thailand’s population) and to be active in society through charitable works and education, proclaiming the Gospel.”
The third priority focuses on ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. In Thailand, leaders and all baptized people work together to build harmonious relationships with Buddhist monks and individuals, as well as with Muslim citizens, in order to promote peace, safeguard human dignity, support the development of the poor, and protect the environment. The term Synodality refers to the global process of listening and renewal within the Catholic Church initiated by Pope Francis. The original framework, often referred to as the synod period, involved extensive worldwide consultation that ran from 2021 to 2024. Instead of concluding the process, the Church is now committed to integrating and implementing these principles of walking together at the diocesan and parish levels.
Synodality is based on the shared dignity and co-responsibility of all the faithful. Rooted in the theology of the People of God, it seeks a more participatory Church, where diverse charisms are recognized and valued. More than a simple administrative meeting, it is a spiritual process of community listening, dialogue, and discernment that helps shape pastoral decisions.
In essence, a synodal Church is a missionary Church. It moves away from egocentrism to actively witness to the Gospel in the world. Synodality impels the community to reach out to those on the spiritual, social, and economic peripheries, working together to promote human dignity, justice, and care for creation.
Synodality highlights the relationship between the entire community and the ordained ministry. While valuing the baptismal gifts of all members, it honors the hierarchical communion of pastors and bishops, who are ultimately responsible for authenticating the discernment process and maintaining the deposit of faith.
To support the implementation phase of the Synod, the General Secretariat of the Synod published last May the document: Towards the 2027-2028 Assemblies: Stages, Criteria, Instruments in View of the 2027-2028 Assemblies. The text specifies the calendar, methodology, and criteria with which local Churches throughout the world, their national and continental groupings, are called to share the fruits of the journey begun after the Final Document of the 2021-2024 Synod, leading up to the celebration of the Ecclesial Assembly in October 2028.
Follow
