By Paschal Norbert
VATICAN, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 (CISA) – The General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops has extended the deadline for the First Phase of the Synodal process to August 15, 2022, the Holy See Press Office announced on October 29, 2021.
“Aware that a Synodal Church is a Church that listens, considering that this first phase is essential for this Synodal path and evaluating these requests, always seeking the good of the Church, the Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops has decided to extend until 15 August 2022 the deadline for the presentation of the summaries of the consultations by the Episcopal Conferences, the Oriental Catholic Churches sui iuris and the other ecclesial bodies,” read the bulletin from the Holy See Press office.
The Secretariat acknowledged having received numerous communications from the Episcopal Conferences, dioceses and eparchies for the deadline of the local consultative processes to be broadened.
“During this period, we have heard, over and over again and from various quarters, the request to extend the duration of the first phase of the Synodal process in order to provide a greater opportunity for the people of God to have an authentic experience of listening and dialogue,” said the Secretariat.
The First Phase for listening and discernment in Local Churches, Dioceses and Bishops’ Conferences, leading up to the Assembly of Bishops in Synod in October 2023, was scheduled to last from October 2021 to April 2022. The theme of the Synod on Synodality 2021 to 2023 is “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.”
