Vatican City - Pope Francis announced an extension of the Synod on Synodality with the Assembly meeting of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality taking place in two sessions, in October 2023 and October 2024.

The session was originally scheduled to be held in October 2023.

Pope Francis announced the extension of the Synod on Synodality when speaking to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square at the Angelus address on Sunday.

Extended discernment
He noted that the first phase of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops opened on 10 October 2021, which is focused on listening and discernment.

Pope Francis said there are already many first fruits from the ongoing Synod but added that more time is needed in order for them to become fully mature.

“In order to provide more time for extended discernment, I have established that this Synodal Assembly will take place in two sessions: The first on 4-29 October 2023 and the second in October 2024.”

Pope Francis said he hoped this decision will “favor the comprehension of synodality as a constitutive element of the Church and help everyone to live it as a journey of brothers and sisters who bear witness to the joy of the Gospel.”

Synod Secretariat explains the decision
Following the Holy Father's announcement, the General Secretariat of the Synod released a press communique to explain the decision, saying the Apostolic Constitution Episcopalis Communio allows for the possibility of multiple sessions of the same Synod.

“This decision stems from the desire that the theme of a Synodal Church, because of its breadth and importance, might be the subject of prolonged discernment not only by the members of the Synodal Assembly, but by the whole Church.”

The Synod Secretariat said the extension fits in well with the ongoing synodal journey, since the Synod is “not an event but a process in which the whole People of God is called to walk together toward what the Holy Spirit helps it to discern as being the Lord's will for His Church.”

The pair of sessions spread out over a year will therefore form a “journey within the journey” with the goal of fostering a more mature reflection.
-VN