After two years of synodal consultations at the diocesan, national, and continental stages, the synodal process on synodality for a synodal Church is now ready for the planetary phase this October. Or, to be precise, the first of two planetary phases. There will be a “Synodal Assembly” of bishops and other appointed delegates this October in Rome, and then another one in October 2024.

The final step of preparation for this planetary phase was the Vatican release on June 20 of the Instrumentum Laboris (IL), or “working document” for the Synodal Assembly. It was drafted by an international team guided by the secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. …

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