With these words, one synod participant sums up the difference between the first and second plenary assembly of the Synod on Synodality of the Catholic Church, which has been meeting in the Vatican since 2 October.
But will the 320 or so men and 45 or so women reach concrete decisions this time, unlike in October 2023?
The journalists' question elicits hearty laughter: "Of course we will. Or do you think we could travel home and report that it was nice to have spent four weeks talking and praying together?"
However, the way in which these decisions are reached and what is ultimately included in the synod's "list of proposals" to the Pope is not only confusing and at times puzzling for outsiders.
No debates like in parliament
Media observers only learn indirectly how the meetings are organised. This much is certain - they are not debates like in the Anglican Church Parliament or the Synodal Way in Germany.
At the general assemblies, five speakers present what they consider important, followed by meditation and then the meeting continues.
Sometimes a thematic focus is achieved through cleverly coordinated sequences of speeches. And then the number of speeches on certain topics emphasises their urgency. This was the case, for example, for the issue of women's ministries in the church and the treatment of sexual minorities - but also for the official topic of the synod, the "participation of the people of God in decision-making processes."
The discussions at the tables are different. Although the rules of respectful listening also apply here, participants report occasional "very clear" replies. The tables are organised by language - although German is no longer an official conference language at the Vatican.
This is a disadvantage for some participants from German-speaking countries who cannot speak Italian or Spanish.
If they try to speak in English in the plenary session, it is unlikely that the Pope, who has little talent for languages, will be able to follow them. He almost never listens to the simultaneous translation and therefore probably only really hears the contributions that are made in one of his native languages.
After all, the Synod Secretariat is organised on a polyglot basis, so that not only the ideas presented in Romance languages can find their way into the final document.
Pressure from right-wing "pressure groups" reduced
In addition to languages, cultures and church-political inclinations are also responsible for the formation of blocs.
Unlike in the past, the often conservative participants from Eastern Europe were less defensive and showed more willingness to accept more liberal opinions, which they would have opposed as "heretical" a year ago.
There was also a more relaxed attitude towards Germans, who were labelled "ultra-liberal" in the Italian media.
The pressure from "pressure groups" on the right-wing fringe, which used to flood participants' mailboxes with notes, has decreased.
And at the events on the fringes of the Synod, the reformers clearly dominate this time.
It is reported that the bishops from Africa were very self-confident in the plenary session.
They set standards with their rebellion against the blessing paper "Fiducia supplicans" in December 2023.
Even synod members who do not agree with this "conservative" rebellion agree with the Africans in the proceedings."The days of solitary decisions by a prefect of the faith are over.
And when Cardinal Fernández tried this again with his rejection of the diaconate for women, the synod did not let him get away with it," said one synod participant, summarising the events of the first week surrounding the "Fernández report" on the issue of women.
A new debate was therefore scheduled for 18 October.
On this day, the working groups on ten special topics (including hot topics such as the women's question or celibacy), which had actually been removed from the synod, were to answer questions from the synod members.
The spirits that Francis called
Some are now calling for a similar debate on these topics to take place in June 2025, when the working groups present their final results. They would actually have to present these to the Pope alone.
However, the "courage for more synodality at all levels" called for by Francis now seems to be a spirit that he called for and can no longer get rid of.
"It is astonishing that a pope like Francis, who tends to make lone decisions, has set the principle of co-determination in motion and can no longer put the brakes on it," say synod participants.
Whether the Pope feels comfortable with this is not certain.
It is said that he spoke even less frequently in the plenary session than in the previous year.