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Sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

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Official logo of the synod, English-speaking version

The 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, commonly referred to as the Synod on Synodality,[1] was a Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church which concluded 27 October 2024[2][3] and has as its theme "For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission".[4] It has been described as the culmination of Pope Francis's papacy and the most important event in the Church since the Second Vatican Council.[5][6]

The date of the synod was first announced as October 2022,[7] but was then changed to October 2023 because the scope of the synod had been widened.[4][8] A further extension was announced in October 2022, taking the closing date to October 2024.[9]

The list of all 364 participants was published on 7 July 2023.[10]

Women were allowed to vote in the synod, which was the first time women were allowed to vote in any Catholic Synod of Bishops.[11]

In advance of the synod's October 2023 assembly, Pope Francis issued the apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum, in which he calls for brisk action against the climate crisis and condemns climate change denial.[12][13]

In a break from previous synods, Pope Francis announced at its conclusion that he would not publish a post-synodal apostolic exhortation, but had instead ratified and published the final document of the synod.[14]

Background

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From the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis expressed his desire to strengthen the collegial aspects of the Church's governance,[15] and he argued for more recognition of charismatic gifts in the Church.[16] On 15 September 2018, Francis approved the new apostolic constitution Episcopalis communio (Episcopal communion).[17][18] The constitution states that the Synod's final document, if approved by the members with "moral unanimity" and, if the Pope has "granted deliberative power to the Synod Assembly", becomes part of the ordinary Magisterium of Catholic teaching "once it has been ratified and promulgated by him".[19] The new constitution also provides for the laity to send their contributions directly to the synod's secretary general.[20][18]

Some analysts surmise that the greatest achievement of Francis' papacy may be his creation of a more synodal Catholic church, where synods serve as a platform for open and energetic debate.[21]

Preparation

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Former official logo of the synod, English-speaking version

Pope Francis announced the Synod on Synodality on March 7, 2020.[22]

On 24 May 2019, Nathalie Becquart was appointed, along with four other women and one man, as consultor to the general secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church. It was the first time for women to be appointed to that position.[23] Becquart saw the appointment as a part of Pope Francis's effort "to implement synodality at every level of the Church’s life" and to benefit from the important contribution that women can make.[24] Becquart proposed a symbolic step of asking a woman to lead the retreat for the Roman Curia one year.[25][26] On 6 February 2021, Pope Francis appointed Becquart as an undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops,[27] making her the first woman to have the right to vote in the Catholic Synod of Bishops.[28] On April 26 2023, Pope Francis announced that women would be allowed to vote at the Sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops,[29] marking the first time women were allowed to vote at any Catholic Synod of Bishops.[11]

Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, said that the synod was not like a parliament, where one sides stands to gain as the other loses. It is also not as important who has a vote on the final document, he said, as much as Catholics around the world "dialogue, converse, discern together in order to" find consensus.[30]

On 10 July 2023, five cardinals—Walter Brandmüller, Raymond Leo Burke, Zen Ze-Kiun, Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, and Robert Sarah—sent a set of dubia to Pope Francis concerning the upcoming synod. The cardinals say that the pope answered those dubia the next day and gave them his answers privately. However, since the pope did not answer those dubia with "yes" or "no", the five cardinals then submitted on 21 August 2023 another set of dubia rewording the previous set of dubia; the pope did not answer this latest set. On 2 October 2023, a few days before the beginning of the synod, those five cardinals publicly complained they had not received answers to their second set of dubia.[a] Hours after this public complaint, the Holy See publicly released their answers to the first set of dubia and criticised the cardinals for talking about those matters in public.[31][32][33]

The guidelines for the synod were published on 4 October 2023. They stated, among other things, that to preserve "the freedom of expression of each and all regarding their thoughts and to ensure the serenity of the discernment in common, which is the main task entrusted to the assembly, each of the participants is bound to confidentiality and discretion regarding both their own interventions and the interventions of other participants". The guidelines stipulate that "[t]his duty remains in force once the synodal assembly has ended".[34]

Ecumenical reach

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Before the beginning of the synod, Pope Francis invited all Christians for a Synod prayer vigil in St Peter’s Square on September 30.[35] Important church leaders were present, among whom:[36]

Synodality

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Main article: Synodality

Several months before announcing the synod, Pope Francis said that "Synodality is a style, it is a walk together, and it is what the Lord expects from the Church of the third millennium".[22]

According to the International Theological Commission, synodality is "the action of the Spirit in the communion of the Body of Christ and in the missionary journey of the People of God". It is more commonly understood as a process by which the Church undergoes discernment on a variety of issues. Aided by the Holy Spirit, the laity, priests, bishops, and religious each use their own gifts and charisms to help the Church make decisions. The notion of the Church as "synodal" by its very nature requires "careful theological clarification" according to the Commission, as it is a relatively new concept.[22]

Preparatory documents

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In September 2021, the Vatican released a preparatory document and "handbook" to dioceses around the world to help them prepare for the synod. According to the document:[30]

The purpose of this synod is not to produce more documents. Rather, it is intended to inspire people to dream about the church we are called to be, to make people's hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission.

The handbook offers guidance to bishops for how to solicit the thoughts of lay Catholics, as well as non-Catholics and non-Christians, particularly those on the margins of society. It includes a number of questions and discussion prompts in 10 general themes to help promote reflection and the collection of input from a wide variety of stakeholders. The most basic question, according to the document, is "How does this 'journeying together', which takes place today on different levels -- from the local level to the universal one -- allow the church to proclaim the Gospel in accordance with the mission entrusted to her; and what steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow as a synodal church?".[30] Several of the suggested questions include:[30]

  • To whom does our particular church "need to listen to" [sic] and how are the laity, especially young people and women, listened to?
  • How do we integrate the contribution of consecrated men and women?
  • What space is there for the voice of minorities, the discarded, and the excluded?
  • Do we identify prejudices and stereotypes that hinder our listening?
  • How do we listen to the social and cultural context in which we live?

A prayer used at Councils, Synods and other Church gatherings for hundreds of years, opening words Adsumus, Sancte Spiritus (We stand before You, Holy Spirit) has been adopted for use in advance of synod-related gatherings and services.[37]

Diocesan phase

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Pope Francis officially opened the synodal process on 10 October 2021 at the Vatican. The diocesan phase ran from October 2021 to April 2022.[4]

In England and Wales, the diocesan phase ran from November 2021 to March 2022. The local bishops noted that the participation of lay people in a synod was "unprecedented". The bishops published a National Synthesis Document on 22 June 2022 drawing together the emerging conclusions of this phase, in preparation for the next, continental, phase of the process.[38]

The Irish Catholic bishops published a National Synthesis Document in August 2022 following a similar process across the 22 Irish dioceses.[39]

Continental phase

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The continental phase extended from September 2022 to March 2023.[40] The European Continental Synodal Assembly took place in Prague from 5 to 12 February 2023.[41] For the North American Continental Stage, 10 virtual assemblies took place during December 2022 and January 2023, with a continental synthesis completed by 31 March 2023.[42]

Universal phase

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In April 2023, it was announced that 70 non-bishops (including deacons, priests, consecrated men and women, and Catholic laity) would be able to participate and vote at the Assembly.[43][44]

In June 2023, the working document (Instrumentum laboris) was released.[45]

The final or universal phase started on 4 October 2023 with a synodal assembly taking place at the Vatican after a three-day retreat held in Sacrofano.[46][47] The October session, held behind closed doors, took place over a three week period.[48] The assembly proceedings were described by some who had attended as "long and demanding".[49] On October 13, Sister María de los Dolores Palencia Gómez led the Synod, which made her the first woman to preside over any Catholic Synod of Bishops.[50] A summary report was published on 28 October 2023 entitled A Synodal Church in Mission.[51][52][53] At the end of the synodal assembly, the Pope referred back to the Synod’s ultimate goal:

The Lord will guide us and help us to be a more synodal and missionary Church, a Church that adores God and serves the women and men of our time, going forth to bring everyone the consoling joy of the Gospel.[49]

The synod itself would continue until October 2024;[2][54][55] the period until then was intended to "allow everyone to concretely participate" in the synodal process.[56]

Final document

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On 26 October 2024 the synod's deliberation meeting concluded.[54]

Thereafter, the same day, in an unprecedented move, Pope Francis presented and ratified the Synod's "final document", choosing to do so instead of issuing a post-synodal apostolic exhortation. By doing so, Francis gave more authority to the document by giving it magisterial authority (though the document is not to be considered as binding).[57][14][3][58]

There are five main sections within the final document, inviting five forms of conversion to be realised across the church: spiritual, relational, procedural, institutional, and missionary.[59]

A November 2024 note accompanying the Synod's final document, signed by Francis, states that the document "participates in the ordinary magisterium of the successor of Peter, and as such, I ask that it be accepted". Futhermore, this note states that the pope asks that the document's decisions be implemented; the pope said that while the document's decisions were "not strictly normative", "[l]ocal churches [are obligated] to make choices consistent with what was indicated".[60][61][62]

Criticism

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The Synod's final recommendations for the Catholic church would receive criticism for the way they significantly lacked more equity for women.[63] Despite calling for more women to have leadership roles, the issue of female ordination for roles such as deacons would be taken off the table.[54]

Despite being previously hailed as a major event for reform, The New York Times described the Synod as only "comparable to a mini version" of the 1960s Second Vatican Council.[54]

In addition to criticism of over the lack of progress for the issue of female deacons, the Synod was also criticized for its failure to make progress on the Catholic Church's LGBTQ+ outreach.[64]

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller compared the synod to an "Anglican synodal meeting" and claimed that "some in the assembly are 'abusing the Holy Spirit' in order to introduce 'new doctrines' such as an acceptance of homosexuality, women priests and a change in Church governance."[65]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Notification to Christ's Faithful (can. 212 § 3) Regarding Dubia Submitted to Pope Francis". Cardinal Raymond Burke. 2 October 2023.

References

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  1. ^ "Synod phase for local listening gets an uneven start in US dioceses". National Catholic Reporter. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b "#synod24 – Santa Messa a conclusione della XVI Assemblea Generale Ordinaria del Sinodo dei Vescovi (2-27 ottobre 2024), 27.10.2024" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b Bordoni, Linda (26 October 2024). "Pope: The Synod Document is a gift to the People of God". Vatican News. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Pope Francis launches 2-year synodal path with call to 'encounter, listen, and discern'". Catholic News Agency. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  5. ^ Horowitz, Jason; Povoledo, Elisabetta (2 October 2023). "What Is a Synod in the Catholic Church? And Why Does This One Matter?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  6. ^ Horowitz, Jason (2 October 2023). "Vatican Assembly Puts the Church's Most Sensitive Issues on the Table". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Synod of Bishops to take up theme of synodality in 2022". www.vaticannews.va. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Francis widens scope of next synod: diocesan, continental phases before Vatican event". National Catholic Reporter. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  9. ^ Mares, Courtney (16 October 2022). "Pope Francis announces decision to extend Synod on Synodality to 2024". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  10. ^ "XVI Assemblea Generale Ordinaria del Sinodo dei Vescovi – Elenco dei Partecipanti". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  11. ^ a b Pullella, Philip (26 April 2023). "Pope allows women to vote at bishops meeting for first time". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
  12. ^ "Franziskus ruft zu raschen Maßnahmen gegen Erderwärmung auf "Laudate Deum" veröffentlicht: Papst kritisiert Klimaleugner". katholisch.de. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  13. ^ Horowitz and Povoledo. "Francis Issues Urgent Call to Save a Planet Near 'the Breaking Point'". New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  14. ^ a b Brockhaus, Hannah (26 October 2024). "Pope Francis ratifies Synod on Synodality's final document, marking new approach to Church reform". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Pope says structures for collaboration, collegiality need strengthening". National Catholic Reporter. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Pope's Address to Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith". Zenit. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  17. ^ Pentin, Edward (18 September 2018). "Pope Francis Boosts Authority of the Synod of Bishops". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  18. ^ a b Brockhaus, Hannah (18 September 2018). "Pope Francis approves new constitution for Synod of Bishops". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  19. ^ Pope Francis 2018, Art. 18.
  20. ^ Pope Francis 2018, Art. 7.
  21. ^ Mitchell, Charlotte (2 February 2020). "Pope Francis, everyman pontiff: Profile". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  22. ^ a b c Mares, Courtney (7 March 2020). "Pope Francis announces a 2022 synod on synodality". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Synode des évêques : la religieuse française Nathalie Becquart parmi les nouveaux consulteurs". ZENIT - Francais (in French). 24 May 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  24. ^ Lamb, Christopher (24 May 2019). "Pope appoints four women to top Synod jobs". The Tablet. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  25. ^ Jurado, Mada (14 January 2020). "Nun Vatican Synod consultant certain "change will come" on more women in Church leadership". Novena. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  26. ^ Wooden, Cindy (12 January 2020). "Evolving door: New Year may bring new opportunities for women at Vatican". Crux. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 06.02.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Nathalie Becquart, première femme à avoir le droit de vote au synode des évêques". Le Monde (in French). 6 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  29. ^ Povoledo, Elisabetta (26 April 2023). "Pope Will Allow Women to Vote at Meeting of Bishops". New York Times. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  30. ^ a b c d Glatz, Carol (7 September 2021). "Vatican releases guidance for dioceses to begin synodal path". National Catholic Reporter. Catholic News Service. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  31. ^ "Cardinals Send 'Dubia' to Pope Francis Ahead of Synod on Synodality". NCR. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  32. ^ Liedl, Jonathan (2 October 2023). "Vatican releases Pope Francis' responses to pre-synod dubia, criticizes cardinals". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  33. ^ CNA. "Read Pope Francis' response to the dubia presented to him by 5 cardinals". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  34. ^ Allen, Elise Ann (5 October 2023). "Avoiding the term 'secrecy,' Pope calls synod to 'fasting' from publicity". Crux. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  35. ^ "Pope renews invitation to Saturday's Synod Vigil". 24 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Ecumenical Prayer Vigil "Together. Gathering the People of God"". 2 October 2023.
  37. ^ United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Adsumus, Sancte Spiritus: Prayer of invocation to the Holy Spirit for an ecclesial assembly of governance or discernment (thus synodal), accessed 30 July 2022
  38. ^ Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, National Synthesis Document, page 3, published 22 June 2022, accessed 27 July 2022
  39. ^ Diocese of Derry, Publication of the National Synthesis of the Synodal Process, published 16 August 2022, accessed 11 December 2022
  40. ^ McElwee, J., Francis widens scope of next synod: diocesan, continental phases before Vatican event, National Catholic Reporter, published 21 May 2021, accessed 28 July 2022
  41. ^ Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe, The Church in Europe on the synodal path, published 28 October 2022, accessed 21 December 2022
  42. ^ United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, North American Continental Stage Structure, published 2022, accessed 6 January 2023
  43. ^ "Synod: Laymen and laywomen eligible to vote at General Assembly". Vatican News. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  44. ^ "Some news for the October 2023 Assembly". www.synod.va. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  45. ^ "'Instrumentum laboris' calls for welcoming Church that embraces diversity - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  46. ^ General Secretariat of the Synod, Retreat for the participants of the Synodal Assembly, accessed 8 October 2023
  47. ^ Mares, Courtney (4 October 2023). "Pope Francis: Synod on Synodality's primary task 'to refocus our gaze on God'". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  48. ^ Kassam, Ashifa (4 October 2023). "Synod of Bishops to meet in Rome as women prepare to vote for first time". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  49. ^ a b Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, Plenary Resolution: Synod on Synodality, published 17 November 2023, accessed 24 November 2023
  50. ^ "Synod 'setting the stages for future changes' on role of women; first woman presides over assembly". Catholic News Agency.
  51. ^ "Synod report proposes ways to foster synodal Church". The Pillar. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  52. ^ CNA. "Synod on Synodality 2023: Final report calls for greater "co-responsibility" in Church". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  53. ^ "Synod Report: A Church that involves everyone and is close to world's wounds". Vatican News. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  54. ^ a b c d Povoledo, Elisabetta (26 October 2024). "Question of Female Deacons Is Punted at Major Vatican Meeting". New York Times. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  55. ^ "Pope Francis announces decision to extend Synod on Synodality to 2024". CBCPNews. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  56. ^ General Secretariat of the Synod, Letter of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to the People of God, published 25 October 2023, accessed 27 October 2023
  57. ^ "Pope Francis 'adopts' final synodal document". The Pillar. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  58. ^ Liedl, Jonathan (27 October 2024). "10 questions (and answers) about the Synod on Synodality's final document". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  59. ^ "The Synod on Synodality's final document: What you need to know". EWTN Vatican. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  60. ^ Arnold, Tyler (26 November 2024). "Pope Francis: Synod on Synodality document part of magisterium, calls for implementation now". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  61. ^ "Final synod document is magisterial, must be accepted, pope says | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  62. ^ "Pope Francis says synod's final document is to be accepted and implemented by bishops worldwide". America Magazine. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  63. ^ "Pope Francis' Catholic church reform process ends without giving more equity to women". Associated Press. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  64. ^ Pitrelli, Stefano; Faiola, Anthony (26 October 2024). "Vatican meeting ends and hope fades for more change under Francis". Washington Post. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  65. ^ "Cardinal Müller Says Synod on Synodality Is Being Used by Some to Prepare the Church to Accept False Teaching – EWTN Global Catholic Television Network". 27 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.

Works cited

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Further reading

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