CV NEWS FEED // The Vatican has released its new guidelines for the work to be engaged by the Catholic Church ahead of the Second Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
In light of the synthesis report adopted at the end of the October 2023 Synod on Synodality, the guidelines are meant to foster “the deepening of synodality in a missionary perspective and the broadening of experiences of synodality at the local level.”
In its December 12 press release sharing the guidelines, the Vatican cited Pope Francis’ instructions regarding the work: “The Synod is about synodality and not about this or that theme…The important thing is how the reflection is done, that is, in a synodal way.”
Secretary General of the Synod Cardinal Mario Grech added:
Building on the experience of last October’s assembly, and especially on the Synthesis Report that the members approved, the Ordinary Council decided on a unified yet differentiated path depending on the competencies and possibilities within local ecclesial realities. This is already a synodal way of working in the Church where each person cooperates for the good of all according to his or her vocation.
The Vatican has provided a worksheet along with two general instructions for Catholic dioceses which focus on the “deepening” and “broadening” of the synodal experience. First, the instructions encourage local Churches to “carry out a further consultation,” which involves a wider range of individuals within the Church “who express a variety of experiences, skills, charisms, ministries within the People of God and whose point of view is of particular help in focusing on “how” to grow as a synodal Church.”
The instructions also stress the importance of involving experts and academic institutions as well, “so that the contribution of theological and canonical expertise, as well as the relevant human and social sciences, can be present.”
Secondly, the instructions ask dioceses to be intentional in promoting the Church among those living on the margins, “in conditions of poverty and social marginality as well as Christians of different denominations and people of other religions.”
The Bishops Conferences have been encouraged to instruct and accompany local Churches “regarding the ways and times of the in-depth study and work.” They will also be responsible for synthesizing the results at a local and national level before sending them to the General Secretariat of the Synod by mid May.
“In a manner that is proper to Synodal Assemblies,” the release stated, “a list of topics will be submitted to the Holy Father” at this stage. A group of experts will then be “called to work in a synodal manner on the topics that Pope Francis will indicate.”
The previous process leading to the October Synod on Synodality 2023 generated significant resistance and scepticism among many Catholics, both for incorporating controversial doctrinal issues, and for having a heavily regulated process.
The Second Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will take place at the Vatican in October 2024, and will produce a “final report” with recommendations that will be presented to Pope Francis for the possible drafting of an Apostolic Exhortation.
