St. Mike’s Doctoral Candidate Attends Virtual Synod with Pope Francis

Mia Theocharis says talking to the Pope is like speaking with a humble, interested friend. He was attentive and diligent, taking notes throughout.” Theocharis is a University of St. Michael’s College Faculty of Theology PhD Candidate researching historical theology, specifically Jewish-Christian relations. She focuses on the 19th to 21st century, with special attention to the Holocaust. 

In February, she had the extraordinary experience of taking part in a virtual synod with Pope Francis. The Pope listened carefully as he spoke with students from North, Central, and South America at a virtual event hosted by Loyola University Chicago in collaboration with the Pontifical Institute for South America. Around 120 students from across the continent, divided into groups of 20 students, proposed concrete solutions to modern issues. 

The group Theocharis was part of met virtually three times before the synodal event to create a proposal that tackled challenges around migration. Theocharis didn’t present the project to Pope Francis, but she’s happy knowing she made a major contribution to the proposal and had a great experience connecting with other students from across the continent. 

“My most-cherished memory will always be our regional meetings, where we collaborated on issues around migration,” Theocharis says.

This collaboration led to a proposal that “emphasized the importance of language as a ‘bridge to integration’ and how it has the capacity to foster community, to create friendships rooted in hospitality through the exchange of a common word,” says Theocharis. The group’s proposal also suggested bishops meet more regularly to hear the concerns of young people. 

Theocharis says there’s talk this kind of event will be held more often, and she’d like to see more Canadian representation. She emphasizes we have our own unique context and issues, notably the impact of the Residential School System, and would like to see more Canadians included in the future.

This unique experience left Theocharis inspired and excited about the connections she’s made. She had a wonderful time collaborating with other students and watching the event together on Zoom. Although it’s not directly related to her doctoral research project, she says it’s made a lasting impact. 

“It’s inspired me to engage more in opportunities like this and to be a part of initiatives looking for solutions to global issues.”