Synodality

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Cardinal Reinhard Marx, chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, during a press conference in Rome, 24 Feb, 2019.

After Cardinal Marx visits Vatican, Germany's 'synodal way' up for bishops' vote

Sep 23, 2019

By Ed Condon

The German bishops are set this week to vote upon statutes for a “binding synodal process,” days after Cardinal Reinhard... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx at the German Bishops' Press Conference at the Pontifical Teutonic College on October 5, 2015.

Cardinal Marx holds 'constructive dialogue' with Pope Francis on synodal plans

Sep 20, 2019

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, president of the German Episcopal Conference, has held talks with Pope Francis and Cardinal Marc Ouellet about German plans... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx at the Holy See Press Office on February 15, 2017.

Analysis: Cardinal Marx’s next step on the German synodal path

Sep 18, 2019

By Ed Condon

The German bishops seem poised to press ahead with plans for a “synodal assembly,” despite criticism of the plan from... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx at the Vatican Press Office on Oct. 17, 2014.

Marx says German 'synod' will proceed despite Vatican objections

Sep 16, 2019

By Ed Condon

Cardinal Marx has informed the Vatican that the German synodal process will continue as planned, despite recent instructions from the curia... Read more

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

Vatican: German synod plans ‘not ecclesiologically valid’

Sep 12, 2019

By Ed Condon

In a letter sent to German bishops last week, the Vatican has said that plans for a binding Church synod... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising and Cardinal Rainer Woelki of Cologne.

German bishops rejected plan for Francis-style ‘Priority of Evangelization’ in synodal path

Sep 10, 2019

By Ed Condon

The German bishops have rejected an alternative proposal for a synodal process centered on the “priority of evangelization” called for... Read more

People in the pews at Cologne Cathedral, Germany.

Analysis: Who are the Central Committee of German Catholics?

Sep 6, 2019

By Ed Condon

Following the news that the Church in Germany will proceed to form a new Synodal Assembly as part of a... Read more

 Cardinal Reinhard Marx and ZdK Chairman Thomas Sternberg on July 5, 2019 Photo: Martin Rothweiler / EWTN.TV

German bishops to green light binding 'Synodal Assembly'

Sep 5, 2019

By Ed Condon

The decision to proceed comes despite a warning from Pope Francis to the  German bishops that they must remain in step with... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the German bishop during their ad limina visit at the Vatican, Nov. 20, 2015.

'The situation is dramatic': on the papal letter to Catholics in Germany

Jul 2, 2019

Monsignor Michael Fuchs, vicar general of the Diocese of Regensburg, has published a reflection on the letter Pope Francis has... Read more

Pope Francis meets with German bishops during their ad limina visit Nov. 20, 2015.

Pope Francis tells German Catholics to focus on evangelization

Jun 29, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis sent a 28-page letter to Catholics in Germany Saturday calling for a focus on evangelization in the face... Read more

Pope Francis praying during an evening Good Friday service in St Peter's Basilica, 2013.

Vatican spokesmen: Pope Francis’ seventh year will be ‘synodal’

Mar 13, 2019

By Courtney Mares

On the sixth anniversary of Pope Francis’ election Wednesday, the Vatican's chief spokesman said Francis will continue to lead the... Read more

Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay speaks at a Vatican press conference, Oct. 22, 2015.

Cardinal Gracias emphasizes collegiality to address sex abuse

Feb 22, 2019

Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay called Friday for the “entire Church” to “act decisively to prevent abuse from occurring in... Read more

Dublin, Ireland - August, 2018: Vatican and Irish flags displayed in Dublin ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis at the 2018 World Meeting of Families.

Irish priests’ group calls for ‘synodal’ assembly on Church reform

Dec 3, 2018

The Irish organization Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has written an open letter to the country’s bishops, requesting a national... Read more

Opening Mass in St. Peter's Square for the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Oct. 3, 2018.

Synod 2018's final document shows nuances on 'synodality'

Oct 29, 2018

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Among the most debated paragraphs of the final document from the Synod of Bishops on young people, faith, and vocational... Read more

October 3, 2018 - The opening day of the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

Synod document calls for ‘participatory, co-responsible’ Church

Oct 27, 2018

The final document of the Synod of Bishop’s fifteenth general session was approved by the members and released late Saturday.... Read more

October 3, 2018 - Vatican City: The 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

What is ‘synodality’? Experts explain

Oct 25, 2018

By Ed Condon

As the 2018 synod of bishops considers a draft text of the meeting’s final document, discussion has turned to the... Read more

International Theological Commission document proposes lived synodality

May 17, 2018

By Andrea Gagliarducci

A newly released document from the Vatican’s theological advisory commission seeks to explain and advance “synodality,” a concept of particular... Read more