Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church

From the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis expressed his desire to strengthen the collegial aspects of the Church's governance,[20] and he argued for more recognition of charismatic gifts in the Church.[21] He has held major synods on the topics of the family (2014), on youth (2018), and on the Church in the Pan-Amazon region (2019). On September 15, 2018, Francis approved the new apostolic constitution Episcopalis communio (Episcopal Communion).[12][22] The constitution states that the Synod's final document, if approved by the members with "moral unanimity" and, if the Pope has "granted deliberative power to the Synod Assembly", it becomes part of the Ordinary Magisterium of Catholic teaching "once it has been ratified and promulgated by him".[23] The new constitution also provides for the laity to send their contributions directly to the synod's secretary general.[24][22] Some analysts surmise that the greatest achievement of Francis' papacy may be his creation of a more synodal Catholic church, where synods serve as a platform for open and energetic debate.[25]

On 6 February 2021, Pope Francis appointed Nathalie Becquart an undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops,[26] making her the first woman to have the right to vote in the Synod of Bishops.[27]

• Wladyslaw Rubin (27 February 1967 – 12 July 1979)
• Jozef Tomko (12 July 1979 – 24 April 1985)
• Jan Pieter Schotte, C.I.C.M. (24 April 1985 – 11 February 2004)
• Nikola Eterović (11 February 2004 – 21 September 2013)[30]
• Lorenzo Baldisseri (21 September 2013[30] – 15 September 2020)[31]
• Mario Grech (15 September 2020[31] – present)

In preparation for each ordinary general assembly, episcopal conferences are asked to suggest up to three themes for discussion. After the secretariat has studied those proposals, the Pope, generally on the basis of the secretariat's recommendation, establishes the topic and agenda of the assembly. Criteria for the choice of the topic are: 1) that it be of universal, not merely regional, interest; 2) that it be pastoral in character with a firm doctrinal base; 3) that it be contemporary and urgent enough to stir up "new energies and movements in the church towards growth"; 4) that it can be addressed within the allotted time.[29][35]

Most participants in the assembly, called Synodal fathers, are elected by the bishops' conferences: one in the case of a conference with no more than 25 members, two if a conference has up to 50 members, three from a conference with up to 100 members, and four from a larger conference.[36] Other representative participants include heads of Eastern Catholic Churches, ten members of religious institutes elected by the Union of Superiors General, and the cardinals who head the Roman Congregations and some other departments of the Roman Curia.[37] Dozens more participate by virtue of synodal functions assigned by the Holy See or as papal appointees, mostly cardinals and other curiate or diocesan prelates.

Fraternal delegates from several Orthodox and Protestant churches (7 each in 2015) have observer status.[38]

The secretariat, which includes various other clerical and lay experts, prepares a preliminary outline document (Lineamenta) which is distributed to all concerned for comment. Based on this feedback, a working document (instrumentum laboris) is prepared and distributed to all churches. This document is the basis for discussions at the synod. The assembly examines proposals (propositiones) put forward by its members and passes to the Pope those that receive the assembly's approval. The Pope uses these as the basis for a papal post-synodal apostolic exhortation.[39]

The first general assemblies attempted to draw up their own concluding documents, but found that the time available was insufficient for doing so properly.

In view of the greater urgency that justify their convocation, the preparation of extraordinary general assemblies of the Synod of the Bishops is shorter. The participants also are fewer, consisting of the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches, the presidents (only) of episcopal conferences, three members (not ten) of religious institutes and the cardinals who head dicasteries of the Roman Curia.[40]

As of October 2014, there have been three such assemblies, in 1969, 1985,[41] and 2014. The 1985 assembly commemorated the twentieth anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council.[41]

Special assemblies of the Synod of the Bishops are limited to a certain geographical area, a country, region, or continent. Their participants, chosen in line with the rules for extraordinary general assemblies, are limited to those directly involved in that geographical area.

Special assemblies have been held for Africa (twice), America, Asia, Europe (twice), Oceania, the Middle East,[42][43] Lebanon, and the Netherlands. Another is planned for the Amazon region.