The Instrumentum laboris is not a magisterial document or a catechism, but a way to encourage prayer, dialogue, discernment and the “maturing of a consensus”, according to an explanatory paper.

Twenty-five dioceses and three Eastern Catholic Church eparchies submitted summaries of their consultation outcomes, while a further 13 organisations submitted summaries from the national consultation – culminating in the final report.

Each bishops conference was asked by the Vatican to provide parish priests with “significant experience in the perspective of a synodal Church”, while also ensuring the attendees are from “a variety of pastoral contexts”.

That Pope Francis did not wait until the end of the Second Assembly to convoke the study groups, “shows that he has a heart that listens; he listened and is acting,” Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary-General of the Synod, told reporters on 14 March.

In a brief papal document released on 17 February, the Holy Father said that “these study groups are to be established by mutual agreement between the competent dicasteries of the Roman Curia and the General Secretariat of the Synod, which is entrusted with coordination.”

Parish representatives came together in July 2018 as part of formation sessions for the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia. As part of the Synod of Bishops, groups of Catholics will gather and reflect on the question of “enhancing the differentiated co-responsibility in the mission of all members” and provide feedback. Photo: Jamie O’Brien. By Contributor Catholics around Australia are ...

The appointment is in conjunction with Archbishop Costelloe’s concurrent appointments as a Member of the Preparatory Commission, and as one of the nine President Delegates to the Synod.

The Council met at the Vatican on 5 December to discuss preparations for the Second Assembly of the Synod on Synodality, which Pope Francis has said will meet in October 2024. Exact dates have not been set.

In his second interview with Gerard O’Connell from America Magazine, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe speaks about the recent first assembly of the Synod of Bishops, held in Rome.

In the Gospels, highlights Archbishop Costelloe, we’re constantly being presented with the way Jesus approaches people, individual people.

“We see him encountering different people in the concrete reality of their own situations and responding to them in their situation. That’s what we’ve got to learn: the way of Jesus.”

The 41-page synthesis report, voted on paragraph-by-paragraph on 28 October, described its purpose as presenting “convergences, matters for consideration and proposals that emerged from the dialogue” on issues discussed under the headings of synodality, communion, mission and participation.