Catholics Gather at Vatican for Landmark Synod on Future of Church
High-ranking Catholics from around the world have come together at the Vatican for an important event that will shape the future of the Catholic Church. The Synod on Synodality, initiated by Pope Francis in 2021, aims to foster dialogue among Catholics.
This global assembly, which began on October 4 and will continue until October 29, 2023, is part of a three-year process that seeks to consult everyday Catholics worldwide about their concerns and experiences. The goal is to guide decision-making as the church faces new challenges in the third millennium.
While the synod has garnered attention for controversial topics like the roles of women in ministry and the place of LGBTQ+ individuals in the church, there is another fundamental issue at hand: the nature of power and authority within the church.
The synod began with listening sessions held in parishes, Catholic universities, and other Catholic settings across the globe. The intention was to provide an opportunity for all Catholics to have their voices heard at the highest levels of the church. Key themes from these discussions were then passed on to local bishops, who synthesized them into documents that informed national-level and global assemblies.
However, in some areas, local leaders have either not promoted the synod or have openly criticized it.
At the heart of the matter is the question of authority. Conservative factions seek clear doctrine and centralized authority, even as they resist the authority of Pope Francis. On the other hand, progressive factions desire more democratic decision-making, similar to some Protestant denominations where local congregations have independent authority.
Yet, it is unlikely that either group will be completely satisfied. The Catholic Church upholds democracy in the secular world but maintains a tradition of governance based on apostolic succession, which claims that bishops’ authority stems directly from the Apostles of Jesus Christ. In other words, their leadership legitimacy derives from this lineage rather than from a democratic process.
Pope Francis has been vocal against clericalism, which highlights the centrality of priests and their authority within the faith. He seeks a model where bishops exercise their authority through continuous dialogue with the faithful, the Catholic intellectual tradition, and the wider world. This participative hierarchy challenges the traditional understanding of authority among some Catholics, although Catholicism has employed both models throughout its history.
The synod taking place now reflects the polarization within the Catholic Church, mirroring the divisions in secular American society. While Pope Francis has embraced constructive debate, he has also removed clergy members whom he sees as undermining his vision for the church. He accuses U.S. conservatives of backwardness and replacing spirituality with ideology.
The synod will continue despite these divides, with another assembly scheduled for October 2024. It is in Pope Francis’ vision of Catholic authority that the long-term impact of this synod will be felt. The Catholic future hinges on the ability to address the question of power and authority in a way that is responsive, dynamic, and rooted in the faith’s core truths. As the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics observe, the future of the church is being shaped.
