SYNOD 2024
Catholics worldwide are eagerly waiting the second session of the Synod on Synodality scheduled to take place from October 2 to 27. This month-long event in the life of the Catholic Church. The session will bring together the Clergy and the laity to discuss the central theme: “How to be a synodal Church in mission?” In mid-September, Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, and Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Relator General of the Synod, provided organizational updates at a press conference. They announced that the Synod will feature 368 voting participants from six continents, including 272 bishops and 96 non-bishops, 54 of whom are women. In addition, 16 “fraternal delegates” from other Christian communities will attend—an increase from the 12 who participated in last year’s first session. Before the event begins, a two-day spiritual retreat will be held at the Vatican on September 30 and October 1. This retreat will be led by Dominican priest Fr. Timothy Radcliffe OP, and Mother Maria Ignazia Angelini, abbess of a Benedictine abbey near Milan. It will conclude with a penitential vigil led by the Pope on the evening of October 1 in St. Peter’s Basilica. On Friday, October 11, Pope Francis will also lead an ecumenical prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square, marking the 62nd anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. As in the previous session, the Synod will follow the “conversation in the Spirit” method. Participants will be divided into linguistic groups of about 10 people each to facilitate [...]
