Pope Francis announced that the Synod of Bishops to be held in the Vatican will be held in two sessions: in October 2023 and October 2024. The extension of the Synod on Synodality was announced at St. Peter’s Square on 16 October.
This decision by the Holy See was to provide more time for the discussions and prolonged discernment. According to the Pope, “this decision will help everyone to live it as a journey of brothers and sisters who bear witness to the joy of the Gospel.” The pair of the sessions will thus forma ‘journey within a journey’ with the goal of fostering a more mature reflection.
The first phase of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops had opened on 10 October 2021 and focussed on listening and discernment.
