What in the World is a Synod?

Anyone who has at least a rudimentary interest in the news and happenings around the Catholic Church has heard of the current Synod on the family. The actual title of the Synod is the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. This years Synod is actually Part II of the Synod that convened in October 2014.The synods were announced in October 2013 by our Holy Father, Pope Francis, with topics focusing on the family and evangelization. While many are aware of the focus of the Synod, some may be unaware of what the exactly the Synod is.

First, we should note that the Synod is not the name of an event or a specific meeting of the Church. The Synod of Bishops is, by definition, a permanent institution of the Church that was established by Pope Paul VI shortly after the Second Vatican Council ended. The purpose of the Synod, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is to ensure "the spirit of collegiality and communion that was present at the council" remains intact.

The Synod consists of the bishops from around the world who, when assembled, provide guidance and counsel to the Holy Father on important issues facing the Church. The Synod, while an institution that is permanent, only meets when specifically convened by the Holy Father. The announcement of the current Synod in 2013 is appropriate, then, for the Bishops require time to plan for such an event.

The Holy Father is free to call a Synod whenever he feels such a meeting is necessary. These meetings can either be a General Assembly that focus on topics the entire church would find appropriate, or a Special Assembly that pertains to topics limited to a specific geographic area. The Synod is headed by the Holy Father with a General Secretary functioning in the Holy Father's absence (the current General Secretary is Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri). This current General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began on October 4, 2015 and will wrap up on October 25.