The vision of reforming the synod of bishops, an effort undertaken by
Pope Francis, goes back to at least Pope Paul VI, who had even broader
ideas for the synod, according to a leading Vatican analyst.
The synod of bishops, which acts as an advisory body to the Pope, was
established by Paul VI in 1965 by the motu proprio Apostolica
sollicitudo to “strengthen (the Pope's) union” with other bishops and to
“establish even closer ties” with them.
The synod consists of a group of bishops from around the world who meet
at fixed times “to foster closer unity between the Roman Pontiff and
bishops, to assist the Roman Pontiff with their counsel … and to
consider questions pertaining to the activity of the Church in the
world,” according to canon law.
Members of the synod are for the most part elected by their brother bishops for a three-year term.
Benny Lai, who has covered the Vatican since 1951 and is styled in
Italian “the dean of Vaticanisti,” told CNA Oct. 7 that “Paul VI even
considered enrolling in the (papal) conclave…the 15 bishops of the
‘board’ of the synod of bishops.”
According to Lai, who was a friend and biographer of the late Cardinal
Giuseppe Siri, Archbishop of Genoa, the cardinal “convinced Paul VI not
to do this (only) after an hour-and-a-half conversation.”
Cardinal Siri argued that “enrolling in the conclave both the cardinals,
chosen by the Pope, and the bishops, elected by the episcopal
conferences, could lead to a 'split', since cardinals do not have to
meet anyone's expectations, while the members of the synod must account
for their decisions to their electors, and so could be influenced.”
It was this fear of a possible “external” influence on the conclave that
led Paul VI to state definitively that “only the Sacred College (of
cardinals) will elect the Pope.”
While Pope Francis plans a reform of the synod of bishops, it is not
expected he will go so far as to include them among the Papal electors.
However, the prominence of synods could become a key theme of this
pontificate. His reformation may lead to a permanent assembly of the
synod of bishops, to be held in Rome, which dialogues with local
Churches.
The synod of bishops first took shape during the Second Vatican Council,
under the auspices of Pope Paul VI.
Worried by the possibility of a
lack of coordination between the Roman Church and other local Churches,
he attached a preliminary note to the conciliar document on the Church,
Lumen gentium.
In a July 1 blog post at America Magazine, Fr. Drew Christiansen
observed that this preliminary note taught that synods would not
“prejudice the rights and privileges of the Pope and the Holy See, which
is why the synod has been a consultative but not deliberative body.”
Synods currently depend on Papal endorsement, Fr. Christiansen said;
their conclusions typically take the form of an apostolic exhortation
issued by the Pope himself.
But from the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has shown a wish
for greater representation in the governance of the Church, and has
indeed appointed a council of eight cardinals to advise him on curial
reform.
Fr. Christiansen said he has also “indicated (this) council may be
replaced in the years ahead by a council elected by the Synod.”
The synod's last meeting was held in 2012 and concerned the new
evangelization.
Its next meeting, to discuss the family, was announced
recently, and will take place in the autumn of 2014.
“This is the way in which the Pope intends to promote reflection and to
guide the path of the community of the Church, with the responsible
participation of the episcopate from different parts of the world,”
Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said Oct. 8.
Fr. Lombardi also stressed the importance of the Church moving “as a community in reflection and prayer.”