Vatican Pushes Ahead With Synodal Church Governance

The Vatican is pressing forward with the plan to reshape the Church into a more participatory, consultative body with shared decision-making across multiple levels, according to a report by katholisch.de on April 21.

On April 17, the General Secretariat of the Synod convened the XVI Ordinary Council in an online session chaired by Cardinal Mario Grech. The meeting opened with a prayer led by Sister Nathalie Becquart.

Council members reviewed progress on implementing the final document of the Synod on Synodality and examined ongoing work by study groups.

A key next step will be a preparatory meeting at the Vatican from June 23–25, aimed at translating the Synod’s 2024 conclusions into concrete action at the continental level. This implementation phase is scheduled to run through spring 2028.

Participants in June will include leaders of major continental episcopal bodies (CELAM, CCEE, and SECAM) alongside representatives of Eastern Catholic patriarchates and delegations from the bishops’ conferences of the United States and Canada.

Leo XIV is expected to take part in portions of the discussions.

A detailed roadmap for the continental and global phases of the synodal process is due to be published in early summer.

Picture: Vatican Media, #newsWodmclitaj