Pope Francis has called for a synod to discuss how the Church can be more synodal.
This synod will take place in Rome during October, 2023. As a first step, the Holy Father wants to hear Holy Spirit led input from all the people. He has called all the dioceses throughout the world to convene “consultative” meetings, to be completed by April of 2022.
Simply put, a synod is a meeting or assembly of church leaders.
In the West, “synod” and “council” are synonymous, and Ecumenical Councils are the most authoritative expressions of formal synodal gatherings, always in communion with and under the authority of the Pope.
In 1965, Pope St. Paul VI established the Synod of Bishops as a permanent institution of the Catholic Church, setting the stage for the renewed understanding of synodality being emphasized and explored today.
“Synodality” is best understood as the process by which synods make decisions.
It is a way of helping the Church to achieve its mission by the collaborative input of its members. Not just the Pope or Bishops or priests, but ALL the people of God.
A synodal approach involves hearing from all the baptized in discerning the will of God on how to best accomplish the mission of the Church. This includes all Catholics, regardless of how engaged they are in the faith, as well as non-Catholic Christians, the young, the old, the disabled, the poor, migrants and immigrants, women, religious, the laity and the clergy. Synodality calls us all to journey together, to gather in assembly. All are invited to listen to one another in order to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
“Synodality represents the main road for the Church, called to renew herself under the action of the Spirit and by listening to the Word. The ability to imagine a different future for the Church and her institutions, in keeping with the mission she has received, depends largely on the decision to initiate processes of listening, dialogue, and community discernment, in which each and every person can participate and contribute.” (Preparatory Document, 12)
The Synod on Synodality is a two year process of praying, listening, dialoguing, and discerning which will culminate in the celebration of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2023. Every diocese in the world will participate.
A synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, “journeys together.” The Synod on Synodality seeks to answer: How is this “journeying together” happening today in your local Church?
What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our “journeying together”?
There are ten themes that will be address as part of the Synod on Synodality:
This requires an open mind and heart, without prejudice.
All are invited to speak with courage and in freedom, truth, and charity.
“Walking together” is only possible if it is based on communal listening to the Word and the celebration of the Eucharist.
As missionary disciples, how is every baptized person called to participate in the mission of the Church?
Dialogue requires perseverance and patience, but it also enables mutual understanding.
The dialogue between Christians of different confessions, united by one baptism, has a special place in the synodal journey.
A synodal church is a participatory and co-responsible Church.
In a synodal style we make decisions through discernment of what the Holy Spirit is saying through our whole community.
Synodality entails receptivity to change, formation, and on-going learning.
In the coming months, people from all walks of life will be invited to participate. In practical terms, this may mean attending a listening session or submitting answers to a survey. Most importantly, all the faithful are encouraged to join us in prayer for the Synod on Synodality.
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will post updates and opportunities to get involved on this page throughout the process. We invite you to visit often and we look forward to this journey together.
= Sign language interpretation provided
