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As the last session of the Synod on Synodality continues its second week, an interview published on Tuesday gives more insight on Pope Francis’s vision of the role of synodality in the Church today, and highlights some of the inherent tensions between the use of synods and the power of the papacy in modern Catholicism.
Speaking to Jesuits in Belgium on September 28, Francis said Eastern Christians have not lost synodality, but the Western Catholics “have lost it.”
In the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, synods of bishops are responsible for the election of new bishops and the establishment of inter-diocesan laws within each province. Eastern Catholic Churches also use synods for such purposes.
In the West, synods were often held in the early centuries of the Church, and included important theological debates. However, as the powers of the papacy grew, the synods became less common, although “councils” – which are arguably synods by a different name – still continued. Ecumenical Councils, such as Vatican II, continue to issue theologically definitive statements, but more localized councils generally tackle administrative affairs, with theological questions reserved to the Vatican.
Continued below.
cruxnow.com
Speaking to Jesuits in Belgium on September 28, Francis said Eastern Christians have not lost synodality, but the Western Catholics “have lost it.”
In the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, synods of bishops are responsible for the election of new bishops and the establishment of inter-diocesan laws within each province. Eastern Catholic Churches also use synods for such purposes.
In the West, synods were often held in the early centuries of the Church, and included important theological debates. However, as the powers of the papacy grew, the synods became less common, although “councils” – which are arguably synods by a different name – still continued. Ecumenical Councils, such as Vatican II, continue to issue theologically definitive statements, but more localized councils generally tackle administrative affairs, with theological questions reserved to the Vatican.
Continued below.
Can a ‘Synodal Church’ exist under Papal Primacy?
As the last session of the Synod on Synodality continues its second week, an interview published on Tuesday gives some more insight on Pope Francis’s vision of the role of synodality in the Church today.
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