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In brief

The Diocese of Málaga has released a letter to the people of Málaga and Melilla regarding the importance of listening during the ongoing synodal process. The Bishop encourages diocesans to improve how they listen to discover the paths the Holy Spirit is opening for the Church.

The letter outlines several dimensions of listening, beginning with the need for people to listen to themselves. The Bishop suggests that people often live too quickly to recognize their own thoughts or may adopt the prejudices of others. He states that listening to oneself requires silence and an examination of the heart and conscience to bring truth to synodal processes.

The Bishop also calls for people to listen to one another within families and pastoral communities. He notes that the synodal process requires the patience to listen to others even when they hold different opinions. While listening does not require agreement, the Bishop says it demonstrates that a person takes what others say seriously, which helps a community walk together despite differences. Finally, the letter encourages people to listen to their current reality to understand what God says through the signs of the times.