The last sessions of the synod, a kind of conclave of bishops who meet with a certain periodicity to promote reforms and analyze the transformation needs of the Catholic Church, had already anticipated the opening. But the Pope took the final step this Wednesday, paving the way for the vote that will take place at the end of each of these meetings for lay people and women. Until now, only those prelates who had attended have been allowed to take part in approving the final document that will be drawn up in each of these meetings, something that had already provoked criticism at the last great Amazon Synod. The measure represents further progress in the slow opening of the church.
Ever since Vatican II—the assemblies of the 1960s that modernized the Church—popes have summoned bishops to Rome for a few weeks at a time to address specific issues that required some consensus and analysis. At the end of each of these appointments, the bishops vote on the specific proposals and present them to the Pope, who then makes a final judgment, taking into account their positions on each issue discussed. The decision of the prelates is not binding, but decisive for the opinion of the pope on duty. And increasingly, the issues touch on fundamental issues of social rights that affect the secular world and women in particular.
The Pope had already opened this door to them, but as mere advisers. And keeping them out of final decisions seemed increasingly odd, though most bishops were unhappy with the change.
The organizers of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops announced this novelty before the Synod on Synodality, which is being prepared these years and which will culminate in two meetings in Rome in October 2023 and 2024. It is an assembly that intends to open up the church’s decision-making process and transform it into a more horizontal structure. Especially considering the progress demands of the German Church, one of the richest and most powerful in the world.
Indeed, the Germanic branch of Catholicism has tightened the rope to an unprecedented degree in its request to open itself to homosexuals and women, especially so that they can reflect on their priestly ordination. A request that has so far fallen on deaf ears – in Rome there was talk of a possible schism if not heeded – and before which the Pope has always felt uncomfortable.
The main novelty now is that the 10 clerics who took part in these gatherings – people who receive holy orders and perform spiritual or religious functions – “are replaced by five religious and five religious belonging to institutes of consecrated life which be elected by the respective representative organizations of the general superiors” and with voting rights. The demand, made for years by nuns and Catholic women’s associations, that they could have a say and vote on the adoption of the final document in addition to their decorative presence in the synods.
The other major innovation is that the number of auditors will be eliminated and they will be replaced by “another 70 members, non-bishops, representing other faithful and who may be priests, consecrated persons, deacons or lay people and who come from the local churches. They will be chosen by the Pope from a list of 140 people to be announced during the international meetings of the Bishops’ Conferences and the Assembly of Patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches. As a guide, the Pope hopes that of this new group of 70 people, at least 50% will be women. “All will have voting rights,” the document said.
The apparent importance of the change contrasts with the cool announcement of the measure by those responsible. A warmth that responds to the need not to annoy the bishops, who from now on will see their role in the assembly reduced. In fact, Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg and Synod rapporteur on synodality, stressed that “it is not a revolution, since the assembly continues to be a meeting of bishops, also attended by non-bishops”. 75% of the participants will remain bishops. Its relevance was also watered down by Cardinal Mario Grech, general secretary of the synod, who added that “it will continue to be a synod of bishops, but there will be this involvement as members of the laity.”
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