Synod on Synodality Updates and Latest News

The Synod on Synodality, initiated by Pope Francis in October 2021, is a multiyear process initiated by Pope Francis to enhance the communion, participation, and mission of the Church. The Catholic Church’s massive synodal process has already undergone diocesan, national, and continental stages. It culminates in two global assemblies at the Vatican. The first monthlong session of the Synod on Synodality, concluded on Oct. 29, 2023, with the finalization of a 42-page synthesis report. The October 2024 session is expected to produce a final report, which will be presented to Pope Francis for his consideration in issuing any related teaching.

The Latest

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops meets for its fall plenary assembly meeting Nov. 14, 2023, in Baltimore.

U.S. bishops to meet in November to discuss synod, Eucharistic Revival, canonization causes

Oct 18, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

Major items on the agenda for the plenary assembly include reports on the U.S. bishops’ efforts concerning the National Eucharistic... Read more

Pope Francis meets with other delegates of the Synod on Synodality at a roundtable discussion in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on Oct. 17, 2024.

Analysis: Is the Synod on Synodality’s focus on the local Churches a Trojan horse?

Oct 18, 2024

By Andrea Gagliarducci

One gets the impression that many Synod on Synodality participants view the subject of local Churches as a kind of... Read more

The Vatican held four different public conferences from Oct. 9 and 16, 2024, in Rome to explain the “theological undertone of the synodal process,” according to a conference moderator and expert at this month’s Synod on Synodality. 

Why did the Synod on Synodality hold extra theological meetings in 2024?

Oct 18, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

At the forums, speakers drew heavily on the Church’s dogmatic constitution from Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, in their defenses of... Read more

Cardinal Willem Eijk.

Dutch cardinal advocates Christ-centered reform over controversial issues

Oct 16, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Maintain unity in the Church and focus on Christ-centered catechesis, Dutch Cardinal Willem Eijk of Utrecht warned against the backdrop... Read more

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher, OP, speaks to EWTN News in Rome on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.

Australian archbishop: Synod on Synodality cannot ‘reinvent the Catholic faith’

Oct 16, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“It's the one Church, it’s the one faith, and we want to keep celebrating that even amidst our cultural diversity,”... Read more

Pope Francis prays with members of the Synod on Synodality during one of its meetings in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on the morning of Oct. 12, 2024.

Catholics invited to ‘adopt’ Synod on Synodality members in prayer

Oct 12, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The prayer campaign sends a daily email with guidance on how to pray for the “adopted” Synod on Synodality participant. Read more

Young people lead a procession in Protomartyrs Square at the Vatican for an ecumenical prayer service on Oct. 11, 2024.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis, synod pray where first Christian martyrs of Rome were killed

Oct 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The ecumenical prayer vigil Oct. 11 was held in Roman Protomartyrs Square inside Vatican City. Read more

Bishops and cardinals concelebrate Mass with Pope Francis to open the second assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 2, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square.

Synod debates on bishops, laypeople opened to public at theology forums

Oct 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Speakers claimed an important part of synodality is implementing the proper understanding of a bishop’s authority in his diocese. Read more

Delegates at the 2024 Synod on Synodality participate in roundtable meetings on Oct. 10, 2024, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican.

Analysis: A Chinese bishop takes the floor for the first time at the Synod on Synodality

Oct 11, 2024

By Andrea Gagliarducci

There has been one noteworthy development so far in the Synod on Synodality’s second week — and it’s not the... Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch speaks to journalists at the Synod on Synodality press briefing held at the Vatican’s Holy See Press Office on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.

Non-Catholic delegates put Christian unity in focus at Synod on Synodality

Oct 10, 2024

By Kristina Millare

According to Cardinal Kurt Koch, the imperative for all Christian churches to journey, pray, and cooperate is Jesus’ own priestly... Read more

Cardinals-elect Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, SVD; Archbishop Jaime Spengler, OFM; and Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbohe discuss the contributions of the Church outside Europe during a Synod on Synodality press briefing on Oct. 8, 2024.

New cardinals say Europe is becoming the Catholic Church’s new ‘peripheries’

Oct 8, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“When the Holy Father is talking about peripheries, I think the peripheries are moving. ... Maybe the peripheries are moving... 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.

Catholic bishops from mainland China and Taiwan in dialogue at Synod on Synodality

Oct 8, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Bishop Norbert Pu is the Catholic Church’s first bishop born in Taiwan and is a delegate in the nearly monthlong... Read more

Delegates attend a session of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops at the Paul VI Hall on Oct. 5, 2024, in Vatican City.

Women deacons off the table? Synod delegate claims ‘some women sense a call to priesthood’

Oct 7, 2024

By Courtney Mares

“I think we have to look at the question very much from … the Spirit. ‘Is the Spirit calling women?’”... Read more

The Maronite Catholic eparch of Batroun, Bishop Mounir Khairallah, attends a Synod on Synodality press conference on Oct. 5, 2024, at the Vatican.

Lebanese bishop makes impassioned plea for peace at synod briefing

Oct 5, 2024

By CNA Staff

Bishop Mounir Khairallah of Batroun shared his personal experience of violence and forgiveness, recounting how his parents were murdered when... Read more

Pope Francis views a historic relic of the chair of St. Peter on Oct. 2, 2024.

What’s behind the viral photo of Pope Francis venerating a chair?

Oct 4, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

CNA explains what was behind the viral photo of Pope Francis sitting before an ancient wooden chair during the first... Read more

Closing the first week of meetings, Synod on Synodality participants from different continents put a spotlight on the plight of the world’s poor and vulnerable at a press briefing held in the Vatican on Oct. 4, 2024, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. 

Synod participants put spotlight on world’s poor and vulnerable on feast of St. Francis

Oct 4, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Closing the first week of meetings, Synod on Synodality participants from different continents put a spotlight on the plight of... Read more

Archbishop of Barcelona and the president of the Episcopal Conference of Spain, Cardinal Juan José Omella y Omella, arrives at St. Peter’s Basilica for a penitential service for the Synod of Bishops presided by Pope Francis on Oct. 1, 2024, in Vatican City.

Analysis: This week at the Synod on Synodality — revolution or much ado about nothing?

Oct 3, 2024

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The tone of the opening days of the synod’s final general assembly makes it apparent that, for the moment, there... Read more

On the first working day of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican on Oct. 2, 2024, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, shut down speculation regarding further theological study into the possibility of women being ordained as deacons.

Synod rules out women deacons; meetings called to be ‘laboratories of synodal life’

Oct 3, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The Synod on Synodality commenced its second day on Thursday in which 356 participants convened at the Vatican. Read more

Pope Francis addresses participants of the first meeting of the full assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 2, 2024.

At Synod on Synodality, pope says Church needs new ways for bishops to be ‘synodal’

Oct 2, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Never can a bishop, or any other Christian, think of himself ‘without others,’” Pope Francis said Wednesday at the first... Read more

Pope Francis makes the sign of the cross as he opens the second assembly of the Synod on Synodality with a Mass on Oct. 2, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis opens Synod on Synodality assembly with warning against personal ‘agendas’

Oct 2, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The second session of the 16th Ordinary Synod of Bishops, running from Oct. 2–27, marks a critical phase in the... Read more