The Synodal Process in a Nutshell
Participants at the assembly of the Synod of Bishops recite morning prayer before finishing their discussions on the assembly’s first module, which was on the meaning of synodality and how to promote it in the church, in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall Oct. 7, 2023. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
The Synod on Synodality, initiated by Pope Francis in October 2021, is a multi-year, worldwide undertaking during which Catholics — and even those who are not — were asked to submit feedback to their local dioceses on questions of their and the Church’s concerns.
The massive synodal process has already undergone diocesan, national and continental stages, and will culminate in two global assemblies at the Vatican. The first will take place in October this year and the second in October 2024.
Participants at the assembly of the Synod of Bishops recite morning prayer before finishing their discussions on the assembly’s first module, which was on the meaning of synodality and how to promote it in the church, in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall Oct. 7, 2023. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
On June 20, the Vatican issued a working document called the Instrumentum Laboris to guide the discussions at the first global assembly of the Synod on Synodality. It contains 15 worksheets with questions for discernment for delegates. Written by a committee of 22 people, it has been presented as a synthesis of the eight final documents produced by the continental assemblies that met in the first months of 2023.
The main objective of this year’s session will be to design a plan of study in a “synodal style”. Discernment will be “completed” in the 2024 session of the synod. The pope will then likely produce an apostolic exhortation based on the deliberations and decisions of the synod.
The process is intended to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis has said that he called for the Synod on Synodality to “place the Holy Spirit at the beginning and at the heart of the work of the synod”.
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