Synod working groups—including on women's ordination, episcopal authority—open for public submissions until April

The 10 working groups of the Synod on Synodality will continue to receive public submissions through the end of March, according to official communications from the Vatican.

The groups were created by Pope Francis in March 2024 to continue discussion and research on several topics of particular interest for participants in the synod’s global consultative process, and for the Holy See itself.

“In the style of the Synodal Church, Cardinal Mario Grech announced at the beginning of the work of the Second Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that those who wish to contribute to the reflection of the 10 Study Groups can send their contribution to synodus@synod.va,” reads a webpage on the synod website.

The groups are scheduled to complete their work by June 2025, presenting their findings to the Vatican.

The 10 working groups, also termed “study groups,” were set up based on the synthesis report from the first in-person session of the synod, held in October 2023, and before a second session last fall.

Two of the groups, on ministerial forms—including women’s ordination—and episcopal authority, generated particularly heated discussions both inside and outside of Rome. The idea of women becoming Catholic deacons or priests had previously been part of the general synod discussion before being moved into the study group, which covers a larger theme.

Other working groups include topics related to Eastern Catholicism, poverty, digital evangelization, the priesthood, religious life, and the challenge of contentious Church teachings.

Each group includes experts from a variety of backgrounds, most of whom were announced publicly last year. According to the Vatican, their work is to be assisted by contributions from Catholics more broadly.

“These groups within themselves are called to foster the effective participation of all members, but also that they are called to remain open to a wider participation, that of the entire People of God,” said Synod secretary general Cardinal Mario Grech in October.

“Pastors and Church leaders, but also and above all every believer, man or woman, and every group, association, movement or community will be able to participate with their own contribution.”

Reports from the first months of discussion in each study group were presented at the synod session in October 2024, where participants bristled at the secretive nature of the study group on ministerial forms. (Initially, it was the only one out of the 10 whose members were not publicly named.)

Vatican doctrine czar Victor Manuel “Tucho” Fernández made headlines for his opening salvo on behalf of that group, wherein he stated there is “no room for a positive decision” in favor of women receiving the sacrament of ordination (Holy Orders).

The heads of each of the 10 working groups met virtually last month to discuss strategies, difficulties, and questions affecting their work. The fine details of that meeting were not made public.

The synod itself, which ended in October, produced a final document formed by the more than 360 voting delegates with highly contentious sections on women’s inclusion, the doctrinal authority of the Church, marital status, and sexual orientation.

According to Pope Francis and synod leaders, the final document is not intended to create or modify Church teachings—unlike the working groups, which could potentially impact revisions to Catholic canon law.

As the period of public submissions continues, the preliminary working group reports presented last fall—along with the names and positions of most groups' members—are available on the synod website.

Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.

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