It’s certainly not Woodstock. But on this Sunday, May 31, a joyful atmosphere prevails around the Palais Nikaia, fortunately cleared of the traditional “temple merchants.” The only exception is a formidable nun, likely skilled in marketing techniques, as her sales arguments for a 5 euro biblical booklet seem unstoppable!
A flower in hand, as they had been requested to decorate a “pointu” symbolizing the “fishermen’s boat” – the Synod’s logo – families in full and enthusiastic believers throng the aisles. Inside, they discover an immense stage bathed in semi-darkness and striped with psychedelic flashes more reminiscent of a discotheque atmosphere than the more scholastic setting of an altar. While the organizers shout out their technical instructions, final rehearsals alternate between pop singers and liturgical choirs. Wandering from one end of this vast scenic space to the other, priests in cassocks topped with miniature headset microphones resemble televangelists. Seated demurely facing the audience, 150 priests and parish priests sit alongside 400 choristers from throughout the department.
Summoned by the Bishop of Nice, Monsignor Louis Sankalé, for the celebration and promulgation of the synodal texts, Christians from the Alpes-Maritimes responded with massive attendance, despite the prospect of an almost five-hour ceremony. The celebratory mood preceded the official ceremony itself.
To cater to all ages and social groups, a particularly diverse program prepared by Father Gil Florini offered a wide range of recreational activities: a youth orchestra, the “Devoluy’s brothers” from public education chaplaincy, actors from the “Troupe Antibes Art Passion” performing excerpts from Eric Emmanuel Schmitt’s play “The Gospel According to Pilate,” choreographic performances by the Giovanni Louvet Company of Cannes, an impressive ensemble of percussionists using metallic “barrels” from the International Perfume Museum of Grasse and a hip hop troupe that enjoyed great success with performances of “Breakdance, Popping, Locking, and House dance.” The older generation appreciated some Passion plays, the inevitable “Ave Maria,” and a very kitsch “Archangel defeating the demon,” all intermixed with Bible readings in a very human-centered tone.
A religious service aimed at promulgating the findings of reflections initiated two years ago by the Bishopric of Nice punctuated this ceremony during which, with a bishop’s crozier in hand, Monsignor Louis Sankalé delivered a particularly fiery homily: paying tribute to the “vitality of chaplaincies, movements, and services” for organizing this Synod, he also praised “the commitment of Christians from the department” and their contribution to drafting “5700 proposals” that “will guide the next decade” of the Diocese. These proposals were grouped into four chapters which correspond, as Louis Sankalé strongly emphasized while citing John XXIII, to the themes developed by the major texts of the Second Vatican Council. Adopting a decidedly compassionate social approach, Louis Sankalé drew inspiration from John Paul II to express his concern for “closeness,” calling on people to imitate the gesture of the “good Samaritan” who takes a long look at “the fate of those who are struggling,” of “those who are losing or have already lost a job.” No mention was made of the current Pope Benedict XVI in the homily.
