Pope Leo XIV meets with leaders of the Synod continental bodies as they reflect on the implementation of the Synod on Synodality and the path toward the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly.
Pope Leo XIV met privately with the heads of the Synod continental bodies at the conclusion of three days of work. The meeting brought together representatives from Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and North America, accompanied by the coordinators of the continental synodal teams. Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, described the encounter with the Pope as “a strong sign of support and encouragement” for participants as they continue their work “for the synodal conversion of the Church.”
Opening the meeting, Cardinal Grech offered a brief assessment of the journey toward the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly. The Cardinal noted the many initiatives already undertaken by local Churches to involve the faithful, including schools of synodality, formation programmes, symposia, conferences, and processes of listening and discernment.
The following days were dedicated to listening and discernment in this “new” synodal time. The implementation phase, centred on the Final Document of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, is not a simple repetition of the pre-assembly process rather, it is a new process in which local communities are called to translate the recommendations of the synodal document into their own contexts.
Participants shared the main developments in the implementation of the Final Document across the continents, including significant experiences, difficulties, open questions, and pastoral priorities.
At the heart of the meeting was a reflection on the document presented by Fr. Giacomo Costa, SJ, Consultor of the General Secretariat of the Synod. The text outlines the path toward the Ecclesial Assembly of October 2028 in four progressive stages. The first stage, “Remembering,” with evaluation assemblies in dioceses and eparchies. The second, “Interpreting,” through assemblies of national or regional Bishops’ Conferences. The third, “Orienting,” will take with continental assemblies that will produce a perspective report. The final stage, “Celebrating,” with an Ecclesial Assembly of the whole Church in the Vatican, together with the Holy Father. Participants stressed that the role of continental bodies and their teams is above all one of accompaniment, not supervision.
