“May the spirit of Synodality continue to animate the Church at all levels”
The month-long Synod on Synodality assembly, overseen by Pope Francis, has concluded, with its participants giving their approval to an ambitious document that advocates enhanced “joint accountability” among all Church members in their mission to promote the faith.
The Summary Report, titled “A Synodal Church in Mission,” is a 42-page summary report that features several noteworthy recommendations.
These suggestions encompass the creation of new roles for laypeople, increased involvement of the laity in decision-making processes, the implementation of assessments for bishops, a reevaluation of how the Church deals with contentious issues, and an expansion of the scope of future synodal assemblies.
The final report highlights the central importance of collective responsibility throughout the Church and underscores that every Christian plays a missionary role in the world.
The synod delegates, including women and non-bishops for the first time as well as four Filipinos (Cardinal Chito Tagle, Archbishop Jose Advincula, Bishop Ambo David, and Bishop Mylo Vergara), gave their approval to the eagerly awaited text, paragraph by paragraph.
This document, which summarizes the assembly’s efforts from October 4 to 29, puts forward the concept of a “synodal Church” that aims to integrate synodality into various aspects of Church governance, theology, mission, and the process of discerning doctrine and addressing pastoral matters.
The Summary Report has been released as the church anticipates the upcoming second session in 2024. This document provides insights and suggestions regarding various themes, including the involvement of women and laypersons, the responsibilities of bishops, the priesthood and diaconate, the significance of impoverished and migrant communities, digital missionary efforts, ecumenism, and addressing instances of abuse.
However, the report consistently underscores the foundation of synodality in Scripture, tradition, and the teachings of Vatican II, while also stressing the need for further development and integration of this concept into the Church’s theology and canon law.
The report itself provides a comprehensive definition of synodality, characterizing it as the collective journey of Christians with Christ toward the kingdom.
This journey involves assembly and communion at various ecclesial levels, active listening, dialogue, communal discernment, consensus-building as an expression of Christ’s presence through the Spirit, and differentiated shared responsibility in decision-making.
The Report encompasses a wide range of topics, including Christian initiation and the role of missionaries in the digital domain.
It explores areas of agreement and disagreement among the synod members who engaged in discussions from October 4 to October 28.
In the section addressing controversial issues, the document notes that the final text omits the term “LGBTQ+ people,” although it was present in the working document guiding assembly discussions. Nevertheless, the report highlights the assembly’s support for those who experience isolation due to their adherence to traditional Church teachings on marriage and sexual ethics, and it calls upon Christian communities to listen to and accompany such individuals.
The report presents substantial proposals related to ecclesial decision-making and the expansion of synodal structures. It advocates for the canonical recognition of continental assemblies and the implementation of synodality at regional, national, and continental levels.
The document also suggests revisiting the composition of the Synod of Bishops and advocating for greater involvement of women in decision-making processes and positions of responsibility within the Church.
It further recommends increased engagement of bishops with their local communities, including the establishment of mechanisms to assess the bishops’ work and the mandatory introduction of diocesan pastoral councils, calling for a revision of the criteria used to select new bishops, with broader consultation, including input from laypeople, and highlights the importance of providing seminarians with synodal formation.
The assembly’s proposals also address the way the Church approaches contentious issues and open questions.
They call for initiatives that allow for collective discernment on these matters, involving experts and individuals directly affected.
The document contemplates the possibility of decentralizing the Church’s teaching authority and granting bishops’ conferences more decision-making power in local matters, especially regarding liturgy.
The concept of synodality is applied across various Church issues, such as the Church’s engagement with the poor, efforts to foster Christian unity, and strategies for reaching young people through digital missionaries.
The report recommends the creation of new Church ministries, including expanding the role of lectors and establishing ministries for married couples. It also underscores the importance of listening to groups that have suffered harm at the hands of the Church, including victims of clerical sex abuse.
The synthesis report does not serve as the final document but rather lays the foundation for the next phase of the Synod on Synodality in October 2024. Synod members will return to their respective dioceses to gather feedback and promote a synodal culture within their communities.
May the spirit of Synodality continue to animate the Church at all levels.