Synodality

The Latest

Pope Francis at the Synod on Synodality’s closing Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis launches study groups to analyze Synod on Synodality’s key issues

Feb 17, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican announced Saturday that Pope Francis has launched synodal study groups to analyze key issues ahead of October’s Synod... Read more

Pope Francis at the Synod on Synodality’s closing Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 29, 2023.

Synod on Synodality 2023: A look at the key discussions and decisions

Oct 30, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Now that the Synod on Synodality has drawn to a close, all eyes are on the synthesis report emanating from... Read more

Pope Francis at the Synod on Synodality’s closing Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 29, 2023.

The first Synod on Synodality assembly is over. What comes next?

Oct 30, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Much remains unclear about what concretely will take place in the year leading up to the second and final Synod... Read more

Bishops process into St. Peter's Basilica for the closing Mass of the first assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis at Synod closing Mass: To reform the Church, adore God and love others

Oct 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

At the Synod on Synodality’s closing Mass, Pope Francis said that God’s love cannot be confined “to our own agenda.” Read more

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, archbishop of Kinshasa, speaks during a press briefing on the Amazon Synod at the Holy See Press Office on Oct. 22, 2019. Speaking at a press conference for the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican on Oct. 7, 2023, the Congolese cardinal said the initiative is providing “new ways to address problems, whatever they are” with “a spirit of synodality.”

Outcome of Synod will be welcomed as the ‘will of God,’ says African cardinal

Oct 7, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu described synodality as “a new way of being a Church.” Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen preaches a sermon during a Mass at the Holy Cross Church on May 24, 2022, in Hong Kong, China.

Cardinal Zen expresses concerns about Synod on Synodality in leaked letter to bishops

Oct 4, 2023

By AC Wimmer

Just days before the Synod on Synodality kicked off its first round of meetings at the Vatican, a letter from... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at the general audience on Aug. 23, 2023.

Pope Francis: Synod on Synodality ‘truly important’ despite being ‘of little interest to the general public’

Aug 26, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope spoke about the significance of the synod nearly one month ahead of the first Synod on Synodality assembly... Read more

Father Martin Lintner, OSM, teaches at the Philosophical-Theological College in Brixen (PTH Brixen).

Rejected dean: Vatican veto questions synodality

Jul 3, 2023

By AC Wimmer

The professor rejected by the Vatican for the role of dean at a seminary in South Tyrol, Italy, has publicly... Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich (right), relator general of Synod on Synodality, speaks to the media on June 20, 2023, at the temporary headquarters of the Holy See Press Office in Vatican City. Beside him is Cardinal Mario Grech, the secretary general for the Synod of Bishops.

Synod on Synodality leaders: Full list of delegates for October assembly still under review

Jun 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The June 20 media briefing was held at the Holy See Press Office to present the synod’s Instrumentum Laboris, a... Read more

The Synod of Bishop at the Vatican, Oct. 5, 2018.

Synod on Synodality: Your questions answered

Jun 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican released a new document on June 20 outlining key questions for the upcoming 16th General Assembly of the... Read more

The opening day of the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican Synod Hall on Oct. 3, 2018.

Synod on Synodality document outlines discussion questions for October assembly

“Discernment” topics include women deacons, priestly celibacy, and greater decision-making by the “People of God.” Read more

St. Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin, Germany.

German Synodal Council challenged ahead of key Berlin meeting

Jun 19, 2023

By AC Wimmer

A prelate in the Diocese of Regensburg said the concept of synodality underlying the Synodal Way isn’t in line with... Read more

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the newly elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, meets with reporters in Baltimore on Nov. 15, 2022.

U.S. bishops discuss forming ‘eucharistic missionaries’, synodality at spring meeting

Jun 15, 2023

By Lauretta Brown

During the first public session at their meeting in Orlando, Florida, the bishops heard an update on the Eucharistic Revival. Read more

Pope Francis arrives with Cardinal Marc Ouellet (R) of Canada for the opening of three-day Symposium on priesthood in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Feb. 17, 2022.

‘The figure of a father’: Cardinal Ouellet on 10 years with Pope Francis

Mar 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Marc Ouellet has had an up-close look at Pope Francis’ first 10 years as pope. He spoke to CNA... Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, archbishop of Luxembourg (left) and Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops

‘We need time,’ Synod on Synodality organizers tell German-language media

Feb 14, 2023

By AC Wimmer

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg and Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech made their remarks in the wake of the recent European... Read more

Pope Francis met with seminarians, staff, and faculty of the Ponitifical North American College in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace on Jan. 14, 2023.

Pope Francis: Synodal journey ‘a challenge and task’ for American seminarians

Jan 14, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis met with students, staff, and faculty of the Pontifical North American College at the Vatican on the morning... Read more

The Synod of Bishop at the Vatican, Oct. 5, 2018.

Synod on Synodality: Vatican reveals framework for next stage of discussions

Oct 27, 2022

By Courtney Mares, Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican revealed on Thursday the outline that will guide the next stage of discussions in the Synod on Synodality. Read more

Pope Francis delivered his Angelus address on Sept. 18, 2022.

Pope Francis announces decision to extend Synod on Synodality to 2024

Oct 16, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope explained that he made the decision to provide more time for discernment. Read more

St. Peter's Basilica

More than ‘the nuts and bolts’: World’s newest bishops talk synodality in Rome

Oct 2, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The world’s newest bishops gathered in Rome last month to learn more about what it means to be a Catholic... Read more

A meeting of the "Synodal Way" in Frankfurt, Germany in February, 2022.

Will the German ‘Synodal Way’ lead to a permanent ‘Synodal Council’?

Sep 7, 2022

By AC Wimmer

Shortly before the next assembly of the German “Synodal Way,” one of the founders confirmed the goal of establishing a... Read more