Women will also be able to vote at the ordinary general assembly of the Synod of Bishops , scheduled for next October.

To change the regulation , Pope Francis. «The Holy Father approved, on 17 April 2023, the extension of participation in the Synodal Assembly to "non-bishops" (presbyters, deacons, consecrated men and women, lay men and women). This choice is in continuity with the progressive appropriation of the constitutive synodal dimension of the Church and with the consequent understanding of the institutions through which it is exercised", explains a note from the General Secretariat of the Synod.

«There are no longer the auditors, but another 70 non-Bishop members are added who represent other faithful of the people of God and who come from the local Churches. They are chosen by the Pope from a list of 140 people identified (and not elected) by the seven International Meetings of Episcopal Conferences and by the Assembly of Patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches (20 for each of these ecclesial realities). It is requested - the note continues - that 50% of them be women and that the presence of young people is also valued . In identifying them, account is taken not only of their general knowledge and their prudence, but also of their theoretical and practical knowledge, in addition to their participation in various capacities in the synodal process".

(Unioneonline/vf)

© Riproduzione riservata