Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has encouraged Church leaders from across the world to continue supporting the Synod on Synodality, describing their work as an important step in helping local Churches grow together through listening, dialogue, and shared responsibility.
The Pope met privately on Thursday with the heads of the Synod's continental bodies after they completed three days of discussions on the next phase of the synodal process. The meeting marked the conclusion of a gathering held from June 23 to 25, where Church representatives reflected on how the Synod's final document is being put into practice in different parts of the world and looked ahead to the Ecclesial Assembly planned for October 2028.
The participants represented Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and North America. They were joined by coordinators of the continental synodal teams, who have been helping local Churches implement the vision of the Synod.
Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, said the Pope's meeting with the group was a meaningful gesture of encouragement. He described it as a strong sign of support for those working to promote what he called the synodal conversion of the Church. According to him, the gathering reinforced the importance of continuing the journey together with hope and commitment.
Opening the meeting earlier in the week, Cardinal Grech reflected on the progress made since the conclusion of the Synod and the unique path leading to the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly. He highlighted the many efforts already taking place in local Churches to involve the faithful more actively in the life and mission of the Church.
These initiatives include schools of synodality, formation programmes, conferences, symposia, and listening sessions that encourage dialogue and discernment among clergy, religious, and lay people. The Cardinal said these efforts show that many local communities are embracing the synodal spirit and seeking practical ways to strengthen participation.
The gathering began with an extended period of prayer led by Sister Nathalie Becquart, Undersecretary of the Synod. The prayer prepared participants for days of listening, reflection, and discernment as they considered the challenges and opportunities facing the Church in different regions of the world.
Much of the discussion focused on the implementation phase of the Synod, which is centred on the Final Document adopted by the Sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Participants stressed that this stage is not simply a continuation of earlier consultations but a new phase in which local Churches are invited to apply the document's recommendations according to their own pastoral realities and cultural contexts.
Representatives from each continent shared updates on how the synodal process is developing in their regions. They spoke about successful experiences, ongoing challenges, pastoral priorities, and questions that continue to emerge as dioceses and communities seek to put the Synod's vision into practice.
A key part of the meeting was devoted to studying a working document presented by Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa, a consultor to the General Secretariat of the Synod. The document outlines the roadmap that will lead the universal Church to the Ecclesial Assembly in 2028 through four successive stages.
The first stage, known as Remembering, will take place during the first half of 2027. During this period, dioceses and eparchies around the world will hold evaluation assemblies to reflect on their experiences and assess the progress made since the Synod.
The second stage, called Interpreting, is planned for the second half of 2027. National and regional bishops' conferences will gather to study the results from local Churches and identify common themes and priorities.
The third stage, Orienting, will be held during the first four months of 2028. Continental assemblies will meet to prepare perspective reports that will help shape the discussions for the final gathering.
The process will conclude with the Celebrating stage in October 2028, when an Ecclesial Assembly bringing together representatives from across the Catholic Church will be held in the Vatican with Pope Leo XIV.
Participants also underlined that the mission of the continental synodal bodies is to accompany local Churches rather than supervise them. They said their role is to encourage cooperation, mutual learning, and the sharing of experiences among different communities while respecting the principle of subsidiarity, allowing local Churches to respond to their own pastoral needs.
The meeting ended with renewed confidence that the synodal journey will continue to deepen participation and strengthen communion across the global Church as preparations move steadily toward the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly.