The synodal process is something 'totally new' says Maradiaga

This episode of The Church's Radical Reform is an interview with Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, the Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and a member of Pope Francis’ council of cardinal advisers. The Church in Latin and Central America has been at the forefront of reform in Catholicism. Cardinal Maradiaga tells Christopher Lamb how the synodal process is something “totally new”. He discusses how synodal reforms are being implemented, while also talking about Pope Francis’ plans to reform the Vatican. A keen saxophonist and musician, he says the Church must aim to create a symphony out of a cacophony of different voices. He sees the future of the Church as lay people taking a lead. Every day more lay men and women are taking on responsibilities in the life of the Church, he says. Regarding the role of women, he said: “In our countries in central American, women have been all the time leaders.” In many communities, women form the majority churchgoers and responsible for catechesis and passing on the faith. Clergy are “servants” and not people of power. In the Curia, highly-qualified women were now being placed in positions of leadership by Pope Francis.