杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

The Synod of Bishops鈥� meetings in the Vatican鈥攐riginally scheduled to be held in October 2023鈥攚ill now also take place in October 2024, as part of the same Synod but held in 2 sessions.

杏MAP导航 Francis announced the extension of the Synod on Synodality when speaking to pilgrims in St. Peter鈥檚 Square at the Angelus address on Sunday.

Extended discernment

He noted that the first phase of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops opened on 10 October 2021, which is focused on listening and discernment.

The 杏MAP导航 said there are already many first fruits from the ongoing Synod, but added that more time is needed in order for them to become fully mature.

杏MAP导航 Francis said he hoped this decision will 鈥渇avor the comprehension of synodality as a constitutive element of the Church, and help everyone to live it as a journey of brothers and sisters who bear witness to the joy of the Gospel.鈥�

Further details from Synod Secretariat

Following the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 announcement, the General Secretariat of the Synod released a press communique to explain the decision, saying the Apostolic Constitution Episcopalis Communio allows for the possibility of multiple sessions of the same Synod.

The Synod Secretariat said the extension fits in well with the ongoing synodal journey, since the Synod is 鈥渘ot an event but a process in which the whole People of God is called to walk together toward what the Holy Spirit helps it to discern as being the Lord's will for His Church.鈥�

The pair of sessions spread out over a year will therefore form a 鈥渏ourney within the journey鈥� with the goal of fostering a more mature reflection.