Synodality: Catholicism’s Past, Present, and Future – Theologians and Historians on the Church at the Crossroads

“Synodality” has been the central theme of Pope Francis’s pontificate—and the source of intense opposition and widespread misunderstanding as the pope tries to create a culture of collaboration and participation in a church long predicated on a hierarchical model.

So, what is synodality? Why is there so much confusion? What is the history of this process? What does it look like today? And does it have a future?

Synodality may seem like a buzzword to many, but it appears to be here to stay: Pope Francis just announced that instead of a single “Synod on Synodality” in October 2023, he would extend the global consultation by a year, culminating in a second meeting at the Vatican in October 2024.

This panel features three distinguished theologians whose research and experience range from the halls of the Holy See to the pews of United States parishes.

Panelists

Rafael Luciani is a Venezuelan theologian and advisor to the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops. He is currently serving as an associate professor of theology at Boston College. His most recent book is Synodality: A New Way of Proceeding in the Church.

Susan Bigelow Reynolds is an assistant professor of Catholic studies at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Her research examines “the intersection of ecclesiology and lived Catholicism.” She has a new book from Fordham University Press titled People Get Ready: Ritual, Solidarity, and Lived Ecclesiology in Catholic Roxbury.

Brian Flanagan is an associate professor of theology at Marymount University who specializes in ecclesiology and church history. His most recent book is Stumbling in Holiness: Sin and Sanctity in the Church. He is currently writing a book on Pope Francis’s efforts to integrate practices of participation and transparency in the Catholic Church.

David Gibson, director of Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture, will moderate the discussion, including questions from the audience.