Synodal Assembly of the Church in Italy addresses the female diaconate

The Church in Italy privately held its Third Synodal Assembly in which the Document of Synthesis of the Synodal Path was approved, with 781 votes in favor of a total of 809 voters, under the title “Leaven of peace and hope.”

A total of 900 people, including bishops, diocese delegates and guests, participated in this assembly held in Rome on October 25, whose vote had to be postponed last April due to lack of consensus. The conclusions of this document will guide the work of the General Assembly to be held next November.

Female diaconate and support for days against homophobia and transphobia

Among the measures approved, although with fewer votes in favor – 625 in favor and 188 against – is the support of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) for the “deepening of issues relating to the diaconate of women initiated by the Holy See.”

Likewise, the document gives the green light for the Church in Italy to support “days against gender violence and discrimination, pedophilia, bullying, feminicide, homophobia and transphobia”, promoted by civil society.

Also voted in favor of the stable assignment of pastoral and administrative leadership tasks to lay people – with 636 votes in favor – and the possibility of creating new ministries for lay people, as well as providing tools that promote transparency, with 781 votes.

“It is not intended to be a doctrinal text”

The president of the CEI, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, stated that The document will be the central topic of the next General Assembly, so it is up to the pastors to “fully embrace it.”

He also stressed that the report represents “an evolution of the ecclesial congresses that have marked the journey of the Church in Italy since the post-council. Always walking alongside the universal Church, with its General Synod, to live and transmit faith in tradition and communion.

“The Synodal Path, marked by prayer, listening and participation, has helped us rediscover the style of life and mission of the Church. And this, in a new time for all, we believe constitutes the beauty of the proclamation of the Gospel: a beauty that asks to be incarnated in our lives and announced to the women and men of today,” he indicated.

For his part, Mons. Erio Castellucci, president of the Commission for the synodal path, stressed that the document “does not intend to be a doctrinal text,” but instead supports co-responsibility, “which implies the renewal of participation organizations within the communities, a more shared leadership of Christian communities, a more recognized role of women, and an expansion of ministries not only around the altar, but also in the full sense of presence in the community and in society in general.”

Brother Sabino Chialà, prior of Bose, highlighted at the opening of the session that “one cannot walk while remaining the same. Because, as one walks, one encounters new faces, and with them arise questions of meaning and unexpected challenges, which require decisions. Decisions that do not betray, but rather deepen the deposit of faith, and help to better understand and remain faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Voting on the summary document was carried out electronically, by secret ballot, with the options: “favorable” or “not favorable.” And they divided into an introduction; a first part with 55 propositions; the second part with 37 propositions; a third part with 32 propositions; and a last one on the entire Summary Document.