Well, I do not have much personal information from this Consistory, only what we can read in the news, but it was based on two questions: evangelization in the so-called synodality. Until now, they have not published any concrete results. I think the method should be corrected because they were divided into small groups to discuss these themes. It is then difficult that every Cardinal, in the presence of all and of the Pope, can bring his advice, concerns, and proposals for a true renewal of the Church, which is so urgently needed in our day.
Especially, there is the clarity of faith. How can we evangelize when we are living in the Church with very widespread confusion regarding doctrine? We have to resolve first the base, the foundation on which we base our work of evangelization, and this is lacking. This should be done first, to issue and publish a kind of profession of faith, a confession of faith, which gives us clarity in proclaiming the Gospel and in evangelizing. This I considered this a lack; it should be done first, and then discuss evangelization methods.
There should also be clarity on synodality because it is becoming a code word to further dilute the clarity of the Catholic faith and also a method of relativizing the divinely established structure of the Church, which is a hierarchical structure that God gave, the magisterium, the bishops, and the Pope, who have to teach and to govern. Through this method of synodality, involving lay people in discussions of doctrinal issues and giving them a kind of participation, even voting together on doctrine and on discipline of the Church, this is undermining the divinely established hierarchical structure of the Church.
This is a danger in the so-called synodal method as it is done today. Another danger of this so-called synodality is that we are transforming the Church into a permanent debating club, a kind of parliament, which is contrary to the divinely established structure of the Church. It is also a waste of time. It takes bishops and lay people away from the very needed work of evangelizing non-Christians and bringing non-Catholics back to the true Catholic faith. It also wastes time and money. It always costs to hold such sessions and to accommodate so many people so often. This is not a good witness for a so-called poor Church.
In this sense, these frequent synodal meetings are a waste of time, a waste of money, and they undermine the hierarchical structure of the Church. I hope that some Cardinals could express this issue and give advice to the Pope. This was my first impression.
I also have to say that the previously announced topic on liturgy, to bring peace and order to the life of the Church, was not addressed this time, seemingly because of a lack of time. However, it was already prepared months ago, and the themes and topics were established. In some way, the liturgy should at least have been considered. Many people expected that the Cardinals and the Pope would bring some peace and clarity on the issue of liturgy, especially those from traditional circles. The liturgy is the first task of the Church, to worship God and to worship Him worthily.
These are my first impressions. We will still have to wait to see if any results will be published, or if the Pope himself will publish some texts or affirmations.