In an unexpected move at the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality this Saturday night, Pope Francis ratified the final report, approved its immediate publication and announced that he will not issue a separate post-synodal document.
The Pontiff, under canon law, is permitted to ratify the final document of a Synod of Bishops, giving greater weight to the “directives” of the assembly, something that has never been done before.
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“I want, in this way, to recognize the value of the completed synodal path, which through this document I deliver to the faithful holy people of God,” expressed the Holy Father in a speech broadcast live to the synod participants in the Paul VI Hall. from the Vatican, this October 26.
“That is why I have no intention of publishing an apostolic exhortation; “What we have approved is enough,” he added. “There are already very concrete indications in the document that can be a guide for the mission of the Churches, on the different continents and in various contexts; That’s why I make it available to everyone immediately, that’s why I said it should be published.”
According to Episcopal Communionthe 2018 apostolic constitution that regulates the synods of bishops, “once the approval of the members is obtained, the Final Document of the Assembly is presented to the Roman Pontiff, who decides on its publication. If expressly approved by the Roman Pontiff, the Final Document participates in the ordinary Magisterium of the Successor of Peter.”
“Pope Francis, by approving the document, has acted in compliance with the provisions of Episcopal Communion…”, stated Father Riccardo Battocchio, special secretary of the synod, in a press conference to present the final document on October 26.
The Synod of Bishops was founded in 1965 by Saint Paul VI as a way to bring together bishops from around the world to discuss issues important to the Church and provide advice to the Pope.
A novelty of the 2023 and 2024 sessions of the Synod of Synodality was the inclusion of lay people, men and women, not only as “auditors”, as was done previously, but as delegates with full participation alongside the bishops, including the right to vote on the business of the synod and the final document of the assembly.
The Synod of Synodality is the fifth synod of Pope Francis’ pontificate. It marks the first time that he decided not to write a post-synodal apostolic exhortation, choosing instead to adopt the text prepared by the synod participants.
“There are and will be decisions to be made,” Pope Francis said in his final address on Saturday, shortly before the assembly prayed the God bless you to mark the closing of the discussions of the Synod on Synodality.
The month-long assembly will formally culminate with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on October 27.
The Holy Father indicated that for some of the indications of the document — and the issues that are being examined by the 10 study groups, “which must work freely to offer me proposals” — “time is needed to reach decisions that involve all the Church.”
“I, then, will continue to listen to the bishops and the Churches that have been entrusted to them,” he continued. “This is not the classic way of postponing decisions indefinitely. It is what corresponds to the synodal style with which even the Petrine ministry must be exercised: listening, convening, discerning, deciding and evaluating.”
The Pontiff added that the general secretariat of the synod and the Vatican dicasteries will assist him in this task.
The synodal Church “now needs the words shared to be accompanied by actions,” he concluded.
Hannah Brockhaus
Hannah Brockhaus is Rome correspondent for Catholic News Agency. He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a bachelor’s degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri.