Vatican Synod Office postpone reports on controversial topics

The Vatican Synod Office has reported that the final reports of the Synod Synodality study groups – including opinions on the diaconises and doctrinal issues controversial such as LGBT inclusion – have postponed until the end of the year.

The study groups, formed by Pope Francis to examine issues that he withdrew from the discussion table in the second session of the Synod of the Sinodality, held in October 2024, will have until December 31 to present their final results; A six -month extension regarding the original June 30 mandate, according to the Synod Secretariat.

Meanwhile, the Synod’s address will publish brief provisional reports of the study groups in July.

A spokesman from the Synod Secretariat told CNA – Ewtn News agency – that the majority of the 10 commissions had requested more time to complete their reports after the delays caused by the death of Pope Francis and the vacancy. In June, they received green light from Pope Leo XIV to continue.

The study commissions are composed of cardinals, bishops, priests and lay experts both inside and outside the Vatican.

The 10 study groups were formed at the request of Pope Francis in February 2024 on topics discussed in October 2023 during the first session of the Synod of the Sinodality. In his letter requesting the study groups, the Pope said that these issues require an “in -depth analysis”, for which there would be no time during the second session in 2024.

Francisco’s decision effectively transferred the discussion of the most controversial issues of the Synod Assembly – such as diaconists and LGBT inclusion – of the more than 200 participants from the Synod to small expert panels.

One of the most observed study groups is that of the ministries in the Church, specifically the question of female diaconate. This group, whose members have not been disclosed, is under the direction of Dicastery for the doctrine of faith.

According to the Synod Secretariat last year, this “is the context in which the question about the possible access of women to diaconate can be raised properly.”

Another group was in charge of addressing pastoral approaches on ethical and anthropological issues that were not specified publicly.

The role of the groups is consultative. Pope León can use the final reports to make decisions for the Church on the issues discussed.

The Synod Secretariat, responsible for coordinating the work of the study groups, published the text on Monday Synod implementation phase.

The brochure, aimed at diocesan bishops and local synodal teams, points out that Pope León has added study groups on two issues – “the liturgy in a synodal perspective” and “the statute of episcopal conferences, ecclesial assemblies and private councils” – to the existing groups.

The document does not indicate whether the two additional study groups must submit reports or when, and a spokesman for the secretariat said they did not believe that they were going to submit reports for the same deadline of December 31.

“In addition, it is up to the Secretariat to ensure that the Pope’s decisions, also matured from the results of these groups, are harmonically integrated in the current synodal path,” says the document.

The document, conceived as guidelines for bishops to implement synodality in their dioceses, also describes what can be expected during the next phase of the Synod, which will culminate with an ecclesial assembly in October 2028.

According to Synod leaders, the period from June 2025 to December 2026 will be dedicated to the “implementation itineraries” of the synodality in the local churches and group groups.

In 2027, the Synod Secretariat will organize evaluation assemblies at the diocesan level and then national, before carrying out continental evaluations in the first part of 2028.

“It is appropriate to remember that evaluation is not a trial or control, but an opportunity to reflect where we are in the state of the implementation and conversion, illuminating the advances achieved and identifying the areas that require greater growth,” says the guide document.

Cardinal Mario Grech, general secretary of the Synod, Said in the introduction that “the intention is to ensure that the unity of the Church is proceeded in the heart.”

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.