Pope Francis inaugurated a significant global summit of bishops on Wednesday, known as the synod, to deliberate on pivotal issues confronting the Roman Catholic Church. Among the topics on the agenda are the Church’s stance on the role of women and its attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community. The synod, which extends from October 4 to 28, is anticipated to once again lay bare the profound divisions that have characterized Francis’ decade-long papacy, pitting progressives against conservatives within the 1.4 billion-member Church.
Deep Divisions Persist
The synod has attracted 365 members with voting rights, including 54 women, marking a historic inclusion. Additionally, approximately 100 other participants, such as observers and delegates from various Christian Churches, are part of the assembly. Nevertheless, conservatives have vehemently criticized the concept of the synod, contending that discussions regarding doctrinal issues should emanate from the Church’s highest echelons, excluding lay individuals from participating in these deliberations.
Behind closed doors, discussions are underway, preceded by a two-year surveying process that sought the input of ordinary Catholics regarding the Church’s future direction. A working document stemming from this extensive exercise primarily centers on making the Church more inclusive, encompassing women, migrants, survivors of clerical sex abuse, divorcees, and those affected by climate change and social injustice. Conspicuously absent from this document are explicit references to contentious issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and the traditional family structure, a point of contention for conservatives.
The Long Road Ahead
The synod commenced with a papal Mass in St. Peter’s Square and will unfold throughout this month, resuming in October 2024. It is anticipated that a papal document stemming from this synod will likely emerge in 2025, indicating that any potential changes in Church teachings, if any, remain on the distant horizon.
Earlier this week, five conservative cardinals from diverse regions presented Pope Francis with five formal questions known as “dubia,” seeking reaffirmation of Church orthodoxy. While Francis provided responses, these did not satisfy the cardinals, particularly as the pope hinted at the possibility of permitting priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis. Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of the five cardinals and based in Rome, clarified that this was not a personal attack on the pope but an effort by Church leaders to protect their congregations from what they perceive as “the poison of confusion, error, and division.” In this turbulent climate, the Church stands resilient, with the faithful seeking solace in the words of Jesus, who assured his apostles that “the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church.”
