Communion of Saints Or The World As One/One With The World?
- F M SHYANGUYA
- Jun 27
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 14
Unity and Communion of Saints
In her Profession of her Faith, the Apostle's Creed, in the 9th Article, the Church and her members believe in ‘the Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints’. Holiness being one of four identifying marks of the Church, together with One, [Holy], Catholic, and Apostolic.[1]
This 9th Article, therefore, professes that the Church is One [all her members agree in one Faith, have all the same Sacrifice and Sacraments, and are all united under one Head] and that all the members of the Church, in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory, are in communion with each other, as being one Body in Jesus Christ.[2]
The 'Holy' mark of the Church means that she is set apart from the world for God and her members are consecrated to Him and by Him as His chosen people for His purpose and to serve and worship Him.[3]
Thus, The Church is a unique people, called and separated from the world by God and are consecrated to Him and by Him to serve and worship Him; members agree in one Faith, have the same Sacrifice and Sacraments; are all united under one Head; and all the members of the Church, in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory, are in communion with each other, as being one Body in Jesus Christ. This is what is meant by 'the Church is One' and what is meant by her 'Unity'.
Synodality and Unity

According to VATICAN NEWS, in his homily on Saturday, 7 June 2025, the Vigil of Pentecost, Pope Leo XIV said,
“God created the world so that we might all live as one,” the Pope continued, explaining that ‘Synodality’ is the term the Church uses to describe this unity.
This is very problematic as is the rest of the captured section above, 'Synodality unites us to all' and so is the heading, 'Pope Leo at Pentecost Vigil: God intends all to live as one'.
Observations & Comments
Given what the Church teaches regarding her Holiness, her Unity and the Communion of the Saints, the words of Pope Leo XIV are irreconcilable with Church teaching, because,
I) The Church is holy, i.e., a people set apart by God from the world for Himself, God's own people. The Church is essentially separated from the world, and it is impossible for her to be with the world or to be one with the world journeying together or in pilgrim together, destination unspecified.
The only communion in the Church is the Communion of Saints i.e., all the members of the Church, in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory, are in communion with each other, as being one body in Jesus Christ, and NOT WITH THE WORLD OR LIVING AS ONE IN THE WORLD!
II) Synodality, is a novel concept created by Franciscus[4], therefore it is not understood how Pope Leo XIV can say that:
1) The Church has a term 'Synodality'.
2) This term describes "a unity" [Under Fransiscus it had a different definition].
3) This unity, all living as one, is an end or the end for which God created the world.
4) God created the world so that we might all live as one, and therefore by extension, that the Church and her members can be with the world or be one with the world.
III) The Heading, 'God intends all to live as one' and Pope Leo XIV words, 'God created the world so that we might all live as one', contradict God's own action in Genesis 11, wherein, God himself, at the time when the people were one and speaking the same language, God confused their language and scattered them all over the earth.[5]
IV) A quick Google search on the Catholic explanation as to why God created the world returns results like: to Manifest His Glory and Goodness; the world in turn is to manifest God's Glory and Goodness; For man to be His vicar on earth; for man to fill it and conquer it; for man in this world to know Him, love Him and serve Him, and to be happy with Him in the next, the conclusion of man's journey stated in the search results, but which is absent in the Pope's homily and in 'Synodality'.
[1] We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. - Nicene Creed
[3] Cf. CATHOLIC CULTURE > Catholic Dictionary > HOLINESS; 1 Peter 2:9 RSVCE; Catholic Encyclopedia > H > Holiness
[4]
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