One Wish: Thomas Zinkula ’79

Thomas Zinkula ’79 completed law school and practiced law for three years before attending seminary and obtaining an M.A. in theology from The Catholic University of America. He was ordained a priest in 1990, became a bishop in 2017, and was installed as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in 2023.

While preparing for his death, Jesus prayed to his Father that “they [his disciples] may all be one.” That is my prayer as well, not only for the Church but also for our nation and the world, because as we are all well aware there presently is a great deal of division, polarization, and discord (dare I say “hatred”?) among us. We cannot discuss sensitive matters, even within our own families. We instead discuss them only within our own ideological circles, thereby inflaming our biases and angers, thus becoming even more intolerant, bitter, and judgmental.

How might we change this dynamic? Perhaps we can all glean some insights from the global “synodal path” launched by Pope Francis in 2021. One of the outcomes is a process called “Conversation in the Spirit,” which involves people actually encountering rather than avoiding one another, within a context of prayer (reflection) and silence. The process begins with deep listening; everyone has an opportunity to speak without interruption on the question that is being discussed. Then each person briefly responds to what struck them in that which was shared. Next, there is dialogue about points of commonality as well as differences. Finally, there is communal discernment regarding the steps that the Holy Spirit is calling them to take together.

In these bitterly divided times in which we are now living, the stalemate will remain the same until each of us, one by one, transforms, rather than intensifies and retransmits, the hatred that divides us.

Read all 11 Wishes for 2025 from Cornell visionaries.