The Vatican is again talking about how to talk. That, in a nutshell, describes the Catholic Church’s “Synod on Synodality,” which begins Oct. 2. The 368 voting members are clergy and lay people who will discuss “synodality,” an ambiguous concept that effectively means “a church in which everyone is called to walk together and to listen to each other.” This is the delegates’ second meeting in just over a year.
Pope Paul VI established the Synod of Bishops in response to the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). The advisory body was meant to convene every few years and offer guidance and counsel to the pope on topics of his choosing. It functioned that way until Pope Francis decided to open membership to priests, members of religious orders and lay people. The rationale was that everyone should have a role in advising the pontiff. Bishops and nonbishops are now delegates on an equal footing with full voting rights.
The first General Assembly, in October 2023, produced a lengthy “synthesis report” that identified several topics needing further study in preparation for the second session. Among them were the role of women in the church and pastoral practice toward “people who feel marginalized or excluded from the Church because of their marriage status, identity or sexuality.”
But a funny thing happened on the way to this year’s forum. In December 2023, Pope Francis approved publication of “Fiducia Supplicans,” or “Supplicating Trust,” a document authorizing priests to bless same-sex couples. This effectively removed the topic from the synod’s consideration. It turned out that the church’s doctrinal office was preparing this document, which implemented a significant innovation in the church’s teaching and pastoral practice, while the synodal assembly was still in session. No one told the delegates.
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