Original scientific paper
THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS - THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYNODALITY IN THE CHURCH
Nikola Eterović
Abstract
As indicated in the title The Synod of Bishops – the Development
of Synodality in the Church, this study examines the institution of
the Synod of Bishops, erected on 15 September 1965 by the Servant
of God Pope Paul VI, within the context of the synodal dimension of
the Church.
The term synodality has its origin in the greek word syn which
means together and hodos to walk. Hence synodality signifies “walking
together” and indicates participating together responsibly, in order to
deal with important questions in view of taking decisions for the good
of the entire community. In applying this to the Church, synodality
presupposes the reality of ecclesial communion (communio). This is
fundamentally a gift of God that also implicates visible communion
in the hierarchical order. For this reason, synodality in a wider sense
regards all the members of the Catholic Church that participate in
the common priesthood of the faithful. It essentially differs from
the ministerial priesthood, which is the foundation of synodality
in the strict sense and refers to the clergy and its participation in
the governing of the Church. Synodality in particular regards the
members of the College of Bishops with the Bishop of Rome at its
head in the so-called hierarchical communion.
The synodal dimension therefore is innate to the Church and
has important Christological and Pneumatological connotations,
resulting amongst others from Sacred Scripture.
The 21 ecumenical councils held thus far, represent a privileged
expression of ecclesial synodality. The Decree on the pastoral
office of bishops in the Church Christus Dominus hopes for a new
dynamism in synods, provincial and universal councils (N.36).
Bishops’ Conferences are also mentioned (N. 37). In other documents
of the Second Vatican Council there are indicated other institutions
with a synodal character: Episcopal or parochial pastoral councils,
councils of priests, councils of consulters, Episcopal and parochial
economic councils, etc.
These possibilities for participation in the decision making
process that regard the common good of the Church, require an
examination of conscience on the way in which they are considered
and enacted. The convocation of diocesan synods for instance,
exemplify a more diverse sensitivity during various periods in the
history of the Church.
The Synod of Bishops represents a completely par ticular
expression of the synodality of the Church, which is regulated by
the norms of general law, The Code of Canon Law and The Code of
Canons of the Eastern Churches, as well as of particular law: the
Apostolic Letter Apostolica sollecitudo of 15 September 1965 and
the Ordo Synodi, whose final version was approved in 1971.
In the 40 year history of the Synod of Bishops there have
been 21 Assemblies of which 11 Ordinar y General Assemblies,
2 Extraordinar y General Assemblies, and 8 Special Assemblies.
After a presentation of the nature of the particular assemblies, the
methodology of the synodal working process is specified, which
is dynamic and open to fur ther improvements. Ecclesiastical
communion is experienced in a special way in the Synod of Bishops
in its collegial dimension between the bishops themselves and
between them and their head, the Roman Pontiff. The effective
collegiality corresponds all the more to the affective collegiality, since
the Synod of Bishops while usually remaining consultative in nature,
allows the determining of a consensus on themes of vital importance
for the life and the mission of the Church in the contemporary
world which the Bishop of Rome, assisted by a group of bishops,
who are members of Ordinary or Special Councils, acknowledges
and promulgates for the good of all the People of God. The Synod of
Bishops is an institution tailored towards the further development
of episcopal collegiality and the exercise of the primacy of the Bishop
of Rome, which in an environment of prayer, dialogue, open and
responsible discussion, strengthens and enriches them for the good
of the universal Church.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
23496
URI
Publication date:
21.12.2006.
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