This was the atmosphere in St. Peter's Square during the prayer vigil for the synod that gathered almost 20,000 young participants.
The meeting, organized by the Taizé ecumenical community, was attended by several non-Catholic leaders such as the Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Primate of the Anglican Church. The Pope did not occupy a central position for most of the vigil but instead stood next to the other leaders. He remained seated most of the time because of his knee problems.
The focus of the vigil was music and prayerful silence. The participants offered their prayers for the upcoming synodal assembly. The Pope emphasized the importance of silence in the life of a believer and in the life of the Church.
POPE FRANCIS
Silence is essential in the life of the Church.
Silence, in the ecclesial community, makes fraternal communication possible, where the Holy Spirit draws together points of view, because he is harmony. To be synodal is to welcome one another like this, in the knowledge that we all have something to share and to learn, gathering together to listen to the “Spirit of truth.”
Pope Francis also recalled the impact of silence in the Acts of the Apostles. In this way, the Pope reiterated what will be the style of the Synod of Synodality.
The crucifix in the center was not just any crucifix. It was the crucifix of San Damiano, which was the cross that St. Francis of Assisi knelt in front of and received God's command to rebuild his Church.
JRB
