The Vatican has published the final report of the synod study group examining women’s participation in the Church, which calls for expanded roles for women in Church governance and leadership in roles not including ordained ministry.
Synod on Synodality
Posted inNews
First synod final reports published: on digital culture and seminary formation
The first report contains recommendations on navigating the Church’s presence in digital spaces; the second focuses on guidelines for the formation of future priests and includes a call for more women to play a role.
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German bishops’ conference elects proponent of controversial Synodal Way as president
Bishop Wilmer has supported Germany’s controversial Synodal Way reforms, including blessings for same-sex couples and expanded roles for women.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo says he will hold consistories with the College of Cardinals every year
Leo XIV clearly does not intend to go it alone as pope.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Vatican report says no to ordaining women deacons—for now
“The purely historical perspective does not allow us to arrive at any definitive certainty,” a Vatican report concluded. “In the final analysis, the question must be decided on the doctrinal level.”
Posted inVatican Dispatch
What the synod interim reports said about women
This week’s interim reports from the synod’s study groups, tasked with examining controversial issues that arose at the synod and required deeper study, provide some new details about what the role of women in a synodal church may look like.
Posted inPodcasts
Synod study group updates on controversial topics: women, seminaries, bishops and more
This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and executive producer Sebastian Gomes unpack the news from the reports and analyze in-depth the work of the groups studying women’s ministries, seminary formation and the appointment of bishops.
Posted inNews Analysis
Analysis: The U.S. bishops showed their unity on behalf of immigrants—and may have repaired their relationship to Rome
In a moment that called for solidarity, prophetic witness and, yes, unity on behalf of the vulnerable, the bishops came through.
Posted inFaith and Reason
Got synodality fatigue? The cure is getting good at it.
Synodality isn’t going away under Pope Leo. What are some ways we can avoid “synod fatigue” and become better at the process?
Posted inPodcasts
Pope Leo’s candid Q-and-A on synodality
Pope Leo XIV gave remarkably candid responses at a jubilee gathering of synodal teams and participatory bodies—“perhaps the most extraordinary session” since his election, said veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell.