On Oct. 4, the Holy Father Pope Francis convened the 16th Ordinary Synod of Bishops. As you may have heard and has been previously discussed in this column, the topic of the Synod is the process of what has been termed “synodality.”

 

The Second Vatican Council concluded in 1965, and it remains the most recent authoritative articulation of our faith by the bishops of the whole world. At the conclusion of that gathering, the bishops agreed that the experience of the successors of the apostles gathering in such a fashion was not only theologically important since it continued the earliest gathering of the apostles to reflect on the faith. It also was a spiritual and intellectual grace for the bishops and the Church in the modern world.

As a result, Pope Paul VI established the Synod of Bishops. It was, in a certain way, a continuation of the experience of the council. Bishops from all over the world were to be convened every three years to pray with each other, to discuss their own experiences of their ministry and of their local Churches, and they were to advise the Holy Father about questions which he would choose and propose.

 

The Synod of Bishops, however, has by nature an essential difference from Vatican II. The Second Vatican Council, as a gathering of all the Catholic bishops of the world, was a renewal of the meetings of all of the apostles as recorded in Acts Chapter 16 when the Council of Jerusalem met. The gathering of the bishops under the successor of Peter has been repeated in every authentic ecumenical council since then.

 

In those councils, the Church has understood that the bishops have a particular role and grace for the life of the Church. Their solemn judgments in councils like Vatican II, when accepted and approved by the Pope as the Successor of Peter, are recognized as authentic teaching to guide our faith. They must evidently reinforce and build upon the faith of the Church that has gone before us.

 

A Synod of Bishops is significantly different in a fundamental way. The Synod does not convene all the bishops of the world. Instead, it is comprised of representative bishops. Some are chosen and elected by the Conference of Bishops in the area of the world from which they come. Others are appointed by the Holy Father. But in the end, the difference between gathering all of the apostles and a representative selection of them is significant. The particular gift of guidance of the Holy Spirit rests with that exceptional gathering of all of the apostles with the Successor to Peter.

 

This does not mean of course that the Synod is not important. Such a gathering as envisioned by Pope Paul VI and carried out under succeeding Pontificates is a precious gift. But a Synod has no authority to teach as a council does. That is why the Synods have always handed the results of their deliberations to the Holy Father so that he might use his grace of teaching by issuing a statement on the chosen topic.

 

The current Synod has been expanded by Pope Francis. He has decided that chosen representatives of the lay faithful may participate and vote with the bishops. In doing so he is seeking to have the Synod represent the Church more widely by its lay component. That can be a great grace and gift. But it changes and widens the difference from an ecumenical council.

 

In the end, the Synod is charged with seeking the will of Christ Himself. As the Church has in every age, the Synod stands in the shadow of the cross of Christ. Its task is not to conform to the modern world but to witness before it and to evangelize the faithful as well as non-believers.

 

The Synod is to last from October 4 to 29. I ask that we pray for the Synod and for all the members. Most especially, let us pray for the fidelity of all involved as we seek to unite ourselves and the world more fully to Christ who has come for our salvation.