Archbishop Randazzo: 'The Church does not renew herself by abandoning her roots' (Vox Canonica)

Archbishop Anthony Randazzo cautioned that the Church must not abandon its roots while seeking renewal through synodality. Speaking on the relationship between synodality and canon law, the prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts warned that some interpretations of synodality might mistakenly attempt to cut away parts of the Church perceived as dead wood.

Archbishop Randazzo stated that without careful discernment, renewal efforts could cause unnecessary damage and weaken the Church instead of helping it flourish. He suggested that the Church renews itself by allowing its roots to nourish new growth through thoughtful and faithful cultivation.

To better understand canon law, the Archbishop advised people to spend time in libraries browsing books rather than relying on online summaries. He noted that reading books slowly allows for the discovery of authors and perspectives that might otherwise be missed.