By Jonathan Liedl
Catholic News Agency
On Oct. 27, Pope Francis made the unprecedented decision to accept the final document from the Synod on Synodality as authoritative Church teaching.
The 52-page text includes a theological reflection on the nature of synodality, which it says is the fulfillment of the reforms of Vatican II, as well as proposals for how to apply synodality to relationships, structures, and processes within the Catholic Church. The end goal is to make the Church more effective at evangelization by making it more participatory and inclusive.
Sister Leticia Salazar, ODN, the Chancellor of the Diocese of San Bernardino, who served as voting delegate for the Synod, was selected personally by Pope Francis to serve as one of only 14 people charged with writing the final Synod document. During the four-year Synodal process, Sr. Leticia had been part of several teams that drafted synthesis documents at the national, continental and worldwide levels.
“We finally got it,” Sr. Leticia said of the final document. “I think the definition of synodality is clear. Now it’s up to us to live it and to put it into action.”
Here are answers to some important questions about the Synod on Synodality’s final document:
- How did Pope Francis make this document magisterial?
Pope Francis immediately approved the final document after synod members voted on it. According to reforms he made in 2018, the Synod on Synodality’s final text is therefore part of his ordinary magisterium. This decision is a break from previous practice, which usually sees the pope use a synod’s final document as a basis for drafting his own apostolic exhortation on the topic (think Amoris Laetitia after the 2015 Synod on the Family).
- How does the document relate to Vatican II?
The document says that the Synod on Synodality was the product of “putting into practice what the council taught about the Church as mystery and the Church as people of God. Therefore, the document says, the synodal process “constitutes an authentic further act of the reception” of Vatican II, “thus reinvigorating its prophetic force for today’s world.”
- What does the final report say about the role of women in the Church?
The final text says that women “continue to encounter obstacles” in living out their “charisms, vocation, and roles” in the Church. The synod calls for women to be accepted into any role currently allowed by canon law, including leadership roles in the Church.
Regarding the question of “women’s access to diaconal ministry,” the text says the question “remains open” and that “discernment needs to continue.” A separate Vatican study group is currently considering that topic, with its final report expected in June 2025.
- What does the final document say about changes in Church decision-making?
The final document calls for a “synodal” reform of canon law, including removing the formula that consultative bodies have “merely a consultative” vote. It calls for the greater participation of lay people in “decision-making processes” and to do so through new synodal structures and institutions. Church authorities, the document states, may not ignore conclusions reached by consultative, participatory bodies.
- What does the document say about the “sensus fidei”?
The document describes the “sensus fidei” as the “instinct for truth of the Gospel” received through baptism. It also notes that the people of God cannot err “when they show universal agreement in matters of faith and morals.”
- In what concrete ways might the Church change after the Synod on Synodality?
Depending on how it’s implemented, the synod’s final document could concretely impact everything from how bishops are selected to how governance decisions are made in parishes, dioceses, and the Vatican, with a greater emphasis on widespread consultation. It could also create new synodal bodies, like continental assemblies and a council of Eastern Catholic leaders to advise the pope.
The final document can be read at https://www.vatican.va.