The Pope’s Bold Call for a Renewed Church: Synodality

Listening to the Voice of God in the People

Online via Zoom (see weekly email or contact Fr. Xavier, xavierop@stanford.edu for passcode)
In-person location TBD

Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has repeatedly called for a synodal church, one where bishops, priests and people “journey together” in a common listening for the Lord’s call in our time. In a landmark 2015 speech, Pope Francis stressed that synodality is what “God expects of the Church in the third millennium”.

In a radical shakeup, Rome is asking every diocese across the world to begin the first phase of the process on 17 October this year. The Synod’s theme: “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.”

The next synod of Bishops has been postponed until 2023. In a radical shakeup, Rome is asking every diocese across the world to begin the first phase of the process on 17 October this year.  The Synod’s theme: “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.”

Synod Schedule:

From October 2021 to April 2022 A Diocesan wide consultation which will be submitted to the Bishop’s Conference.

From September 2022 until March 2023, bishops from various regions will meet and draft a document to be sent to the synod office in Rome. Bishops will then meet to “listen to what the Spirit has inspired in the churches entrusted to them” and is to be followed by a “continental phase” of discernment.

October 2023: The final phase will take place at the Vatican in the Synod of Bishops: “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.”

Let’s explore together the idea of a synod and how we might engage in the process.

Readings:

a. Vademecum for the Synod on Synodality: the official handbook for the entire process (“vademecum”=Latin: ”journey with me”)

b. 2015 Speech on the 50th Anniversary of the Synod of Bishops

c. Optional in-depth reflection: Synodality In The Life And Mission Of The Church by the International Theological Commission

d. Pope Francis reflects on synodality in General Audience of November 25, 2020