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The date of the synod was first announced as October 2022,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-07|title=Synod of Bishops to take up theme of synodality in 2022|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/synod-of-bishops-to-take-up-theme-of-synodality-in-2022.html|access-date=2022-01-01|website=www.vaticannews.va|language=en}}</ref> but was then changed to October 2023 because the scope of the synod had been widened.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-21|title=Francis widens scope of next synod: diocesan, continental phases before Vatican event|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-widens-scope-next-synod-diocesan-continental-phases-vatican-event|access-date=2022-01-01|website=National Catholic Reporter|language=en}}</ref> A further extension was announced in October 2022, taking the closing date to October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mares |first=Courtney |date=16 October 2022 |title=Pope Francis announces decision to extend Synod on Synodality to 2024 |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252560/pope-francis-announces-decision-to-extend-synod-on-synodality-to-2024 |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>
The date of the synod was first announced as October 2022,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-07|title=Synod of Bishops to take up theme of synodality in 2022|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/synod-of-bishops-to-take-up-theme-of-synodality-in-2022.html|access-date=2022-01-01|website=www.vaticannews.va|language=en}}</ref> but was then changed to October 2023 because the scope of the synod had been widened.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-21|title=Francis widens scope of next synod: diocesan, continental phases before Vatican event|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-widens-scope-next-synod-diocesan-continental-phases-vatican-event|access-date=2022-01-01|website=National Catholic Reporter|language=en}}</ref> A further extension was announced in October 2022, taking the closing date to October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mares |first=Courtney |date=16 October 2022 |title=Pope Francis announces decision to extend Synod on Synodality to 2024 |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252560/pope-francis-announces-decision-to-extend-synod-on-synodality-to-2024 |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>

The list of all 364 participants was published the 7 of july 2023<ref>{{Lien web |titre=XVI Assemblea Generale Ordinaria del Sinodo dei Vescovi – Elenco dei Partecipanti |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/07/07/0500/01109.html |site=press.vatican.va |consulté le=2023-08-07}}</ref>.


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 08:29, 28 September 2023

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] is an upcoming synod of bishops of the Catholic Church which will conclude in October 2024 and has as its theme "For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission".[2]

The date of the synod was first announced as October 2022,[3] but was then changed to October 2023 because the scope of the synod had been widened.[2][4] A further extension was announced in October 2022, taking the closing date to October 2024.[5]

The list of all 364 participants was published the 7 of july 2023[6].

Background

From the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis expressed his desire to strengthen the collegial aspects of the Church's governance,[7] and he argued for more recognition of charismatic gifts in the Church.[8] On September 15, 2018, Francis approved the new apostolic constitution Episcopalis communio (Episcopal communion).[9][10] 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".[11] The new constitution also provides for the laity to send their contributions directly to the synod's secretary general.[12][10] 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.[13]

Preparation

Former official logo of the synod, English-speaking version.

Pope Francis announced the Synod on Synodality on March 7, 2020.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16] Becquart proposed a symbolic step of asking a woman to lead the retreat for the Roman Curia one year.[17][18] On 6 February 2021, Pope Francis appointed Becquart as an undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops,[19] making her the first woman to have the right to vote in the Catholic Synod of Bishops.[20] 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,[21] marking the first time women were allowed to vote at any Catholic Synod of Bishops.[22]

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.[23]

Synodality

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." 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.[14]

Preparatory documents

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:[23]

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?".[23] Several of the suggested questions include:[23]

  • To whom does our particular church "need to listen to" 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.[24]

Diocesan phase

Pope Francis officially opened the synodal process on 10 October 2021 at the Vatican. The diocesan phase ran from October 2021 to April 2022.[2]

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.[25]

The Irish Catholic bishops published a National Synthesis Document in August 2022 following a similar process across the 22 Irish dioceses.[26]

Continental phase

The continental phase extended from September 2022 to March 2023.[27] The European Continental Synodal Assembly took place in Prague from 5 to 12 February 2023.[28] 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.[29]

Concluding phase

In April 2023, it was announced that 70 non-bishops (including deacons, priests, consecrated men and women, and Catholic laity) will be able to participate and vote at the Assembly.[30][31]

In June 2023, the working document (Instrumentum laboris) was released.[32]

The final, universal phase will commence with the October 2023 XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops taking place at the Vatican, but it will continue until October 2024.[33]

See also

References

  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 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.
  3. ^ "Synod of Bishops to take up theme of synodality in 2022". www.vaticannews.va. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Francis widens scope of next synod: diocesan, continental phases before Vatican event". National Catholic Reporter. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  5. ^ Mares, Courtney (16 October 2022). "Pope Francis announces decision to extend Synod on Synodality to 2024". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  6. ^ "XVI Assemblea Generale Ordinaria del Sinodo dei Vescovi – Elenco dei Partecipanti". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Pope says structures for collaboration, collegiality need strengthening". National Catholic Reporter. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Pope's Address to Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith". Zenit. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  9. ^ Pentin, Edward (18 September 2018). "Pope Francis Boosts Authority of the Synod of Bishops". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  10. ^ a b Brockhaus, Hannah (18 September 2018). "Pope Francis approves new constitution for Synod of Bishops". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  11. ^ Pope Francis 2018, Art. 18.
  12. ^ Pope Francis 2018, Art. 7.
  13. ^ Mitchell, Charlotte (2 February 2020). "Pope Francis, everyman pontiff: Profile". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  14. ^ a b Mares, Courtney (7 March 2020). "Pope Francis announces a 2022 synod on synodality". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Synode des évêques : la religieuse française Nathalie Becquart parmi les nouveaux consulteurs". ZENIT - Francais (in French). 24 May 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  16. ^ Lamb, Christopher (24 May 2019). "Pope appoints four women to top Synod jobs". The Tablet. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  17. ^ Jurado, Mada (14 January 2020). "Nun Vatican Synod consultant certain "change will come" on more women in Church leadership". Novena. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  18. ^ Wooden, Cindy (12 January 2020). "Evolving door: New Year may bring new opportunities for women at Vatican". Crux. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 06.02.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ Povoledo, Elisabetta (26 April 2023). "Pope Will Allow Women to Vote at Meeting of Bishops". New York Times. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  22. ^ Pullella, Philip (26 April 2023). "Pope allows women to vote at bishops meeting for first time". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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
  25. ^ Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, National Synthesis Document, page 3, published 22 June 2022, accessed 27 July 2022
  26. ^ Diocese of Derry, Publication of the National Synthesis of the Synodal Process, published 16 August 2022, accessed 11 December 2022
  27. ^ 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
  28. ^ Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe, The Church in Europe on the synodal path, published 28 October 2022, accessed 21 December 2022
  29. ^ United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, North American Continental Stage Structure, published 2022, accessed 6 January 2023
  30. ^ "Synod: Laymen and laywomen eligible to vote at General Assembly". Vatican News. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Some news for the October 2023 Assembly". www.synod.va. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  32. ^ ""Instrumentum laboris' calls for welcoming Church that embraces diversity - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  33. ^ Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Pope Francis announces decision to extend Synod on Synodality to 2024, published 17 October 2022, accessed 28 January 2023

Works cited

External links

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