Synod of Bishops

The Latest

Australian theologian Father Ormond Rush addresses the General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 23, 2023, in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

Theologian points to Vatican II’s ‘dynamic’ tradition in Synod on Synodality speech

Oct 23, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Tradition “was a major point of discussion at the Second Vatican Council,” Father Ormond Rush said Monday. Read more

Delegates meet at round tables during the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 10, 2023.

UPDATE: Synod on Synodality this week: Anticipating a ‘Letter to the People of God’

Oct 23, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The letter, expected to arrive Oct. 28, will serve as a compass, signaling the direction of a continuing synodal journey. Read more

Myanmar’s Cardinal Charles Maung Bo celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.

Cardinal Bo: Synod on Synodality is ‘a long march of hope for all humanity’

Oct 23, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Myanmar’s Cardinal Charles Maung Bo described the Synod of Synodality as “a long march of hope for all humanity” during... Read more

Father Timothy Radcliffe told the Synod on Synodality delegates on Oct. 23, 2023, that the time before the 2024 assembly "will be probably the most fertile time of the whole synod, the time of germination."

Synod on Synodality’s ‘most fertile time’ will be between the assemblies, Radcliffe says

Oct 23, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“These 11 months will be like a pregnancy,” Father Timothy Radcliffe told the synod delegates. “We, my brothers and sisters,... Read more

Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen, Germany at the Synod on Synodality press briefing Oct. 21, 2023.

German bishop at Synod on Synodality: Church should not ignore ‘signs of the times’

Oct 21, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

Bishop Franz Josef Overbeck cites Germany’s “post-secular” context amid Synod on Synodality’s discussions on “decentralization.” Read more

Archbishop Faustino Armendáriz of Durango, Mexico.

‘It’s a challenge to seek the will of God’ at Synod on Synodality, Mexican archbishop says

Oct 20, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The archbishop of Durango, Mexico, Faustino Armendáriz, commented that “it’s a challenge to seek the will of God” at the... Read more

Father Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, the dean of the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University in California, speaks at a press conference Oct. 17, 2023, at the Synod on Synodality.

African Jesuit theologian believes synodality work ‘will begin’ after Rome meetings

Oct 20, 2023

By ACI Africa

Father Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, the dean of the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University, said synodality is about how... Read more

Father Ivan Montelongo, age 30 (seated at left), of El Paso, Texas, is one of 11 U.S. delegates to the Synod on Synodality.

A day in the life of a U.S. delegate to the Synod on Synodality

Oct 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“It’s intense but it’s good work,” Father Ivan Montelongo told CNA this week about his participation as one of 11... Read more

Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney spoke to EWTN on the occasion of the Synod on Synodality.

Archbishop: If a Synod proposal is at odds with the Gospel, ‘that’s not of the Holy Spirit’

Oct 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“We’ve got to be careful about blaming everything — all our opinions, our interests, lobbies, and factions — putting all... Read more

Pope Francis prayed for migrants and refugees with the delegates of the Synod on Synodality at St. Peter's Square on Thursday evening, Oct. 19, 2023.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis leads prayer for migrants during Synod on Synodality

Oct 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The simple, 25-minute prayer service took place in a quiet St. Peter’s Square in front of Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz’s... Read more

Synod on Synodality spokesman Paolo Ruffini speaks to the media during a press briefing at the Vatican on Oct. 18, 2023.

Synod on Synodality: LGBT issues, female diaconate discussed in emotional third week

Oct 20, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The process has been driven by what the Synod on Synodality calls “active listening and speaking from the heart.” Read more

Paolo Ruffini, president of the synod’s communication commission (left); Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas (center); and Cardinal Michael Czerny (right) at a press briefing on Oct. 19, 2023.

Cardinal: Synod on Synodality poses ‘no danger to the nature of the Church’

Oct 19, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Michael Czerny made his assessment one day after Synod delegates were presented with a theologian’s sweeping vision for the... Read more

Father Dario Vitali speaks at the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican, Oct. 18, 2023.

Synod on Synodality asked to ‘rethink the whole Church’ according to synodality

Oct 18, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The next stage of the Synod on Synodality opened Wednesday with a call to focus on authority, decentralization, and the... Read more

Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David of Kalookan, Philippines (left), Cardinal Leonardo Steiner, archbishop of Manaus, Brazil (center), and Archbishop Zbigņev Stankevičs of Riga (right) all spoke at the Synod press conference on Oct. 18, 2023.

Latvian bishop at Synod: If someone is living in sin, we can’t tell them that’s all right

Oct 18, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“If there is a person living in sin and we tell this person, ‘Everything is all right with you, it’s... Read more

Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius offers Mass on the feast of St. Luke for the Synod on Synodality delegates in St. Peter's Basilica on Oct. 18, 2023.

Synodality must be at the service of evangelization, archbishop says

Oct 18, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Archbishop Gintaras Grušas also noted how St. Luke’s Gospel “highlights the important role of women in the life of the... Read more

“As a woman, I’m not focused at all on the fact that I’m not a priest,” Renée Köhler-Ryan, one of 54 women delegates to the Synod on Synodality, said at a press briefing Oct. 17, 2023.

Theologian at Synod on Synodality: There’s ‘too much emphasis’ on women priests

Oct 17, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“As a woman, I’m not focused at all on the fact that I’m not a priest,” Renée Köhler-Ryan said at... Read more

Archbishop José Miguel Gómez Rodríguez.

Synod on Synodality ‘cannot remove pages from the Bible,’ synod archbishop says

Oct 16, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Archbishop José Miguel Gómez Rodríguez, the archbishop of Manizales in Colombia, shares his experience at the Synod of Synodality. Read more

Bishop Yao Shun of Jining  and Bishop Yang Yongqiang of Zhouchun (right) of the People's Republic of China at the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican in October 2023.

Chinese bishops leaving Synod on Synodality early

Oct 16, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The two prelates are returning to China because of “pastoral needs,” a Vatican spokesman said Monday. Read more

Synod on Synodality delegates in small groups listen to Pope Francis’ guidance for the upcoming weeks on Oct. 4, 2023.

This week at the Synod on Synodality: Participation focus comes amid exit of Chinese bishops

Oct 16, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Vatican confirmed that the bishops from the People’s Republic of China are leaving ahead of the event’s conclusion. Read more

Sister María de los Dolores Palencia Gómez, Superior General of the Congregation of St. Joseph of Lyon, speaks to journalists during a press briefing for the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican on Oct. 14, 2023.

Synod ‘setting the stages for future changes’ on role of women; first woman presides over assembly

Oct 14, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

Sister Maria de los Dolores Palencia Gomez, a Sister of St. Joseph of Lyon, spoke at a press briefing about... Read more