(ZENIT News / Rome, 19.09.2024).- The second and last stage, of the Synod on Synodality, will be held in Rome from October 2-27. It is the most relevant event worldwide, which Pope Francis has desired for the Church, pivoting around three axes: Communion, Participation and Mission.
There are, however, some novelties for this second and last stage of the Synod.
1st A Penitential Vigil
At the end of the spiritual retreat, in which those at the Synod will take part, there will be a Penitential Vigil on Tuesday afternoon, October 1, during which Pope Francis will pray for forgiveness for the “sins of the Church,” namely:
– sin against peace
– sin against Creation, against indigenous peoples, against migrants
– sin of abuses
– sin against women, the family and young people
– sin of Doctrine used as stone to cast against another
– sin against poverty
– sin against synodality / lack of listening, communion and the participation of all
2nd Victims’ Testimonies
The penitential service, presided over by Pope Francis, will include a moment to listen to three testimonies of individuals who have been victims of sin: of the sin of abuses; of the sin of war; of the sin of indifference to the present drama in the phenomenon of all migrations.
3rd Ecumenical Prayer and Presence of More Non-Catholic Representatives
The Pope decided to increase the number of fraternal delegates: the Second Session of October 2024 will welcome 16 Representatives of other Christian Churches and Communions, instead of the 12 of last year.
On October 11, 2024, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, an Ecumenical Vigil will be held, not far from the Synod Hall, in the Piazza dei Protmartiri, the place where, according to an immemorial tradition, the Apostle Peter was martyred. The chosen date is particularly symbolic, as it marks the anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II, which took place on October 11, 1962. This prayer will be an occasion to give thanks for all the ecumenical fruits that have resulted from the impetus of the Council, highlighting the 60 years that have passed since the publication of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium on the Church, and the Decree Unitatis Redintegratio on Ecumenism of November 21, 1964.
4th Nicaraguan Bishop Expelled by the Ortega Dictatorship Will Participate in the Synod
Bishop Rolando Alvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, returns to the public scene, after being chosen by the Holy Father to take part in the Synod.
5th The Theological-Pastoral Forums
There will be four Theological-Pastoral Forums, open to all, including accredited journalists. Two will be held on October 9: one on “The People of God, Subject of the Mission,” in the Hall of the Jesuits’ Curia, and the other on “The Role and Authority of the Bishop in a Synodal Church,” in the Augustinianum. The other two forums will be held on October 16. The topics will be: ”The Mutual Relations between the Local Church and the Universal Church,” in the Hall of the Jesuits’ Curia, and “The Exercise of the Primacy and the Synod of Bishops,” in the Augustinianum. Theologians, Canonists, Bishops and others will take part in these forums, with the possibility to dialogue. The forums will also be available online upon request.
6th Total Number of Participants and Women with Right to Vote
The number of participants on the Second Session of October 2024 is similar to that of the first, with 368 members with the right to vote, including 272 Bishops and 96 Non-Bishops. Forty-five women have the right to vote.
7th The Losses of 2023 in Regard to Those of 2024
Twenty-six people, who were present in the first stage of the Synod in 2023, have decided not to take part in the 2024 edition. They have been substituted with new appointments.
