Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church

In the Roman Catholic Church, the Synod of Bishops is an advisory body for the Pope. It is described in the Code of Canon Law (CIC) as "a group of bishops who have been chosen from different regions of the world and meet together at fixed times to foster closer unity between the Roman Pontiff and bishops, to assist the Roman Pontiff with their counsel in the preservation and growth of faith and morals and in the observance and strengthening of ecclesiastical discipline, and to consider questions pertaining to the activity of the Church in the world."[1]

Of its nature, the Synod of Bishops is permanent, even when not in session.[2][3] Periodically, it holds assemblies, which are either general, if called to consider matters directly concerning the universal Church, or special, if called for problems of a particular geographical area.[4] The general assemblies are either ordinary (held at fixed intervals) or extraordinary (held to treat of some urgent matter).[5]

As well as holding these periodic assemblies, the Synod of Bishops has a permanent secretariat[6] which is headquartered in Rome but is not part of the Roman Curia.[7] The Code of Canon Law's chapter on the Synod of Bishops comes after that on the Pope and the College of Bishops, and before that on the cardinals. In the Annuario Pontificio, information on it is given before that on episcopal conferences.

Establishment and nature

The idea of establishing a group of bishops to assist the Pope in governing the church emerged in 1959, when Cardinal Silvio Oddi proposed a permanent consultative body of bishops drawn from many parts of the world to discuss major concerns of the Church. The same year Cardinal Alfrink proposed a permanent council of specialized bishops to legislate for the Church in union with the Pope and the cardinals.[8] In 1963, during the third session of the Second Vatican Council, Patriarch Maximos IV proposed that the church should be governed by the successors of Peter (the Pope) and of the apostles (the bishops), not by the Pope and the "Roman clergy" (the cardinals). Maximos proposed that the Council establish a rotating body of bishops in continuous residence in Rome to assist the Pope.[9]

On 15 September 1965, as the Council was drawing to a close, Pope Paul VI took matters into his own hands and set up the Synod of Bishops,[10] noting that "the Ecumenical Council … gave Us the idea of permanently establishing a special Council of bishops, with the aim of providing for a continuance after the Council of the great abundance of benefits that We have been so happy to see flow to the Christian people during the time of the Council as a result of Our close collaboration with the bishops."[11] The Pope sought "to make ever greater use of the bishops' assistance in providing for the good of the universal Church" and to enjoy "the consolation of their presence, the help of their wisdom and experience, the support of their counsel, and the voice of their authority."[11] The Pope's establishment of the Synod was not without controversy; by preempting Council action and making the Synod "immediately and directly" subject to the power of the pope, Pope Paul had insured it would be strictly an advisory body.[12]

As constituted by Pope Paul VI, the Synod of the Bishops is a form not of collegial governance of the Church, but of collaborating with the primatial function of the Pope: it discusses topics proposed to it and makes recommendations, but does not settle questions or issue decrees, unless the Pope grants it deliberative power in certain cases.[13]

From the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis expressed his desire to strengthen the collegial aspects of the Church's governance,[14] and he would go on to argue for more recognition of charismatic gifts in the Church.[15]

Secretariat and Council

The Synod of the Bishops has its own permanent general secretariat, composed of the General Secretary and a fifteen-member council, twelve of whom are elected by each general assembly and three are appointed by the Pope. The secretariat assists in preparing the apostolic exhortation which the Pope publishes on the basis of the recommendations of each general assembly, and it prepares the next assembly. Their function ceases with the start of a new general assembly. A similar function is performed by specific special councils elected by the special assemblies.[16][8][7]

Secretaries-General of the Synod of Bishops

Powers of the Pope

It is for the Pope to

In addition, the Pope may appoint further participants in any assembly of the Synod of Bishops, in number up to 15% of those who participate either ex officio (the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches and the cardinals at the helm of departments of the Roman Curia) or because elected by episcopal conferences or the Union of Superiors General.[18]

Assemblies

The procedures followed at assemblies of the Synod of the Bishops are indicated in the Order of the Synod of Bishops, originally issued in 1969, the latest revision of which was published on 29 September 2006.[19]

Ordinary general assemblies

In preparation for each ordinary general assembly, episcopal conferences are asked to suggest up to three themes for discussion. After the secretariat has studied those proposals, the Pope, generally on the basis of the secretariat's recommendation, establishes the topic and agenda of the assembly. Criteria for the choice of the topic are: 1) that it be of universal, not merely regional, interest; 2) that it be pastoral in character with a firm doctrinal base; 3) that it be contemporary and urgent enough to stir up "new energies and movements in the church towards growth"; 4) that it can be addressed within the allotted time.[8][20]

Most participants in the assembly, called Synodal fathers, are elected by the bishops' conferences: one in the case of a conference with no more than 25 members, two if a conference has up to 50 members, three from a conference with up to 100 members, and four from a larger conference.[21] Other representative participants include heads of Eastern Catholic Churches, ten members of religious institutes elected by the Union of Superiors General, and the cardinals who head the Roman Congregations and some other departments of the Roman Curia.[22] Dozens more participate by virtue of synodal functions assigned by the Holy See or as papal appointees, mostly cardinals and other curiate or diocesan prelates.

Fraternal delegates from several Orthodox and Protestant churches (7 each in 2015) have observer status.[23]

The secretariat, which includes various other clerical and lay experts, prepares a preliminary outline document (Lineamenta) which is distributed to all concerned for comment. Based on this feedback, a working document (instrumentum laboris) is prepared and distributed to all churches. This document is the basis for discussions at the synod. The assembly examines proposals (propositiones) put forward by its members and passes to the Pope those that receive the assembly's approval. The Pope uses these as the basis for a papal post-synodal apostolic exhortation.[24]

The first general assemblies attempted to draw up their own concluding documents, but found that the time available was insufficient for doing so properly.

Extraordinary general assemblies

In view of the greater urgency that justify their convocation, the preparation of extraordinary general assemblies of the Synod of the Bishops is shorter. The participants also are fewer, consisting of the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches, the presidents (only) of episcopal conferences, three members (not ten) of religious institutes and the cardinals who head dicasteries of the Roman Curia.[25]

As of October 2014, there have been three such assemblies, in 1969, 1985, and 2014.

Special assemblies

Special assemblies of the Synod of the Bishops are limited to a certain geographical area. Its participants, chosen in line with the rules for extraordinary general assemblies, are limited to those directly involved in that area.

Special assemblies have been held for the continents of Africa (twice), America, Asia, Europe (twice), Oceania, for the Middle East, for Lebanon, and for the Netherlands.

Chronology

The Synod of the Bishops has held the following assemblies:[3][26]

Ordinary General

Year Number Topic Concluding document or apostolic exhortation
1967 I Preserving and Strengthening the Catholic Faith
1971 II The Ministerial Priesthood and Justice in the World Justice in the World, Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1974 III Evangelization in the Modern World Paul VI, Pope (8 December 1975), Evangelii nuntiandi (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1977 IV Catechesis in Our Time John Paul II, Pope, Catechesi tradendae (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1980 V The Christian Family ——— (22 November 1981), Familiaris consortio (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1983 VI Penance and Reconciliation in the Mission of the Church ——— (2 December 1984), Reconciliatio et paenitentia (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1987 VII The Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World ——— (30 December 1988), Christifideles laici (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1990 VIII The Formation of Priests in Circumstances of the Present Day ——— (25 March 1992), Pastores dabo vobis (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1994 IX The Consecrated Life and its Role in the Church and in the World ——— (25 March 1996), Vita consecrata (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
2001 X The Bishop: Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World ——— (16 October 2003), Pastores gregis (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
2005 XI The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church Benedict XVI, Pope (22 February 2007), Sacramentum caritatis (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
2008 XII The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church ——— (30 September 2010), Verbum Domini (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
2012 XIII The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith Francis, Pope (24 November 2013), Evangelii gaudium (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
2015 XIV The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World *Relatio Synodi of the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Byshops: "The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World"

*Francis, Pope (19 March 2016), Amoris laetitia: on love in the family (PDF) (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, ISBN 978-88-209-9786-1 

2018 XV Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment

Extraordinary General

Year Number Topic Concluding document or apostolic exhortation
1969 I Cooperation between the Holy See and the Episcopal Conferences[27]
1985 II The Twentieth Anniversary of the Conclusion of the Second Vatican Council[27] The Church, in the Word of God, Celebrates the Mysteries of Christ for the Salvation of the World, Rome 
2014 III The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization[27] *Relatio Synodi of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: "Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization", Rome

Special

Year Type Number Topic Concluding document or apostolic exhortation
1980 Special Netherlands John Paul II, Pope (30 January 1980), Conclusions of the Special Synod of the Bishops of the Netherlands, Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1991 Special I Europe
1994 Special I Africa ——— (14 September 1995), Ecclesia in Africa (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1995 Special Lebanon ——— (10 May 1997), Ecclesia in Libanon (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1997 Special America ——— (22 November 1999), Ecclesia in America (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1998 Special Asia ——— (6 November 1999), Ecclesia in Asia (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1998 Special Oceania ——— (6 November 1999), Ecclesia in Oceania (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
1999 Special II Europe ——— (28 June 2003), Ecclesia in Europa (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
2009 Special II Africa Benedict XVI, Pope (19 November 2011), Africae munus (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 
2010 Special Middle East ——— (9 September 2012), Ecclesia in Medio Oriente (Apostolic exhortation), Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana 

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ CIC 1983, Canon 342].
  2. ↑ Paul VI 1965, I.
  3. 1 2 "Summary of the synod assemblies", Synodal Information, Vatican City: General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, 15 September 2007.
  4. ↑ CIC 1983, Canon 345.
  5. ↑ CIC 1983, Canon 346.
  6. ↑ CIC 1983, Canon 348.
  7. 1 2 Okoye 2011, p. 17.
  8. 1 2 3 Notes on the Synodal Process, Vatican City: General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, 15 September 2007.
  9. ↑ O'Malley S. J., John W., What Happened at Vatican II (Kindle ed.), Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, loc. 3769-3779, ISBN 978-0-674-03169-2
  10. ↑ O'Malley S. J., John W., What Happened at Vatican II (Kindle ed.), Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, loc. 3792, ISBN 978-0-674-03169-2
  11. 1 2 Paul VI 1965, Introduction.
  12. ↑ O'Malley S. J., John W., What Happened at Vatican II (Kindle ed.), Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, loc. 5037-5058, ISBN 978-0-674-03169-2, Whatever the merits of Apostolica Sollicitudo, it was an expression of papal primacy, not of collegiality, a word never mentioned in the text. It was a preemptive strike by the center.
  13. ↑ CIC 1983, Canon 343.
  14. ↑ "Pope says structures for collaboration, collegiality need strengthening". National Catholic Reporter. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  15. ↑ "Pope’s Address to Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith – ZENIT – English". zenit.org. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  16. ↑ CIC 1983, Canon 348 §1.
  17. ↑ Paul VI 1965, III.
  18. ↑ Paul VI 1965, X.
  19. ↑ Ordo Synodi Episcoporum [The order of the Synod of Bishops], Vatican City: General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, 15 September 2007.
  20. ↑ Hinze, Bradford E (2006), Practices of dialogue in the Roman Catholic Church, Continuum, p. 161, ISBN 978-0-8264-1721-3.
  21. ↑ Paul VI 1965, VIII.
  22. ↑ Paul VI 1965, V.
  23. ↑ Scammell, Rosie (22 October 2015). "Who’s that bright Anglican outsider at Vatican bishops’ synod?". National Catholic Reporter. Religion News Service. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  24. ↑ Okoye 2011, pp. 19–21.
  25. ↑ Paul VI 1965, VI.
  26. ↑ Okoye 2011, pp. 18–19.
  27. 1 2 3 Dias, Elizabeth (8 October 2013). "Pope Francis Calls Extraordinary Synod on Family and Marriage". Time Magazine. Retrieved 8 October 2013. ...the Vatican announced [...] Pope Francis will host an Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to discuss [...] 'The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization.' The meeting will take place in Rome, October 5–14, 2014...

Sources

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