The number of members of the body, which is responsible for preparing and organising the Ordinary General Assemblies of the World Synod of Bishops, was increased from 13 to 17 following a decision by Pope Francis, as announced by the Synod Secretariat on Wednesday evening. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (79) from Vienna will no longer be a member of the council.
In the afternoon, the participants of the Synod on Synodality elected one bishop each from the Eastern Catholic Churches and from Oceania, as well as two bishops each from North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
In addition, there are four members appointed by the Pope as well as "in due course" the head of the Dicastery of the Roman Curia, which is responsible for the topic of the next Synod.
The new council is also responsible for implementing the new resolutions for more synodality in the Church, according to the press release.
Representatives from all continents
The head of the Greek Melkite Church, Patriarch Youssef Absi of Antioch, was elected to represent the Eastern Churches. The Archbishop of Perth (Australia), Timothy John Costelloe, represents Oceania. The Bishop of Brownsville (USA), Daniel Ernest Flores, and Bishop Alain Faubert of Valleyfield (Canada) were elected to represent North America. Latin America is represented by Cardinal Luis Jose Rueda Aparicio of Bogota (Colombia) and the Archbishop of Maracaibo (Venezuela), Jose Luis Azuaje Ayala.
Europe will be represented in the Synod Council by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille (France) and Archbishop Gintaras Grusas of Vilnius (Lithuania), who is also President of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE). Cardinal Dieudonne Nzapalainga of Bangui (Central African Republic) and Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea of Bamenda (Cameroon) will speak on behalf of Africa. Asia is represented by Cardinal Filipe Neri Antonio Sebastiao do Rosario Ferrao of Goa and Damao (India) and Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David of Kalookan (Philippines).
In addition to Schönborn, the outgoing members include Cardinals Oswald Gracias (India), Gerald Cyprien Lacroix (Canada), Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar), Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet (Uruguay), Sergio da Rocha (Brazil), Joseph William Tobin (USA), Juan Jose Omella Omella (Spain), Joseph Coutts (Pakistan) and Matteo Zuppi (Italy).