“We are currently trying to redefine what it means to be Catholic.”
The Linz-based pastoral theologian Klara-Antonia Csiszar is committed to ensuring that the results of the Synod on Synodality are implemented in the practice of the Church. She is a driving force in this area across Europe.
What has changed in your life since you were appointed by Pope Francis to the theological advisory team of the Synod on Synodality in the fall of 2023?
Prof. Klara Csiszar: A whole Catholic world has opened up to me, which I find very fascinating. I am now increasingly confronted with a theology that did not originate in Central Europe. It is enriching to broaden my horizons. The world has become larger, and my working style has also changed.
In what way?
Csiszar: I’m finding it increasingly difficult to make decisions on my own. In my role as Dean and Vice-Rector at the Catholic Private University of Linz, I feel the need to consult more, to involve the students more, and to include my colleagues more. Even though I sometimes feel impatient because processes slow down, it’s impressive what results we achieve—results that one would never reach alone. Synodality is about shifting from “I” to “we.”
What did Pope Francis initiate with the topic of synodality?
Csiszar: I interpret synodality as striving for good coexistence. It’s a struggle to find answers to questions posed by life itself, whether by the Church or by our societies. Even if our questions in Europe aren’t identical to those of people from Asia, Africa, South America, or North America, our unity is evident when we listen to one another and allow ourselves to be inspired by each other. And I think this way of interacting also has enormous potential for peace: when we don’t talk about each other, but are in dialogue with one another.
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