Synodality as a form of interpersonal communication within the Roman Catholic Church

Abstract

The Roman Catholic Church’s recent synod intends to explore innovative means of communicating the Gospel. The deliberations centre on three key concepts: communion, participation, and mission. This article focuses on interpersonal communication as a platform for describing and developing human communication strategies. The thesis is put forward that in the ecclesiastical dimension, synodality serves as a communication tool. The article aims to highlight analogies between contemporary social communication methods and the ecclesial possibilities in this area. In particular, it considers three elements of the synodal process: meeting, listening and discernment. The method employed includes analysing selected texts, elaborating on the issues raised and presenting the material in a synthesised format.
Contribution: The results of this work indicate significant potential for enhancing church communication both vertically – between people and God – and horizontally – among individuals. Interpersonal communication in the 21st century falls within the realm of social sciences, including psychology and sociology. The application of their findings to the theological understanding of the Church has undoubtedly contributed to innovative conclusions in the development of ecclesial communication tools.