Vatican releases list of participants in October Synod

By Joseph Tulloch

The General Secretariat of the Synod has unveiled the list of participants in the upcoming October synodal Assembly.

For the first time, non-bishops are among the list of attendees (which can be found here, in Italian).

Many of the non-bishop participants (who are a minority, at around 21%), were proposed by bishops’ conferences around the world, before being approved by Pope Francis. Others were appointed directly by the Pope.  

Prominent names from around the English-speaking world include Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay; Professor Anna Rowlands, a theologian at Durham University in the United Kingdom; and US-based writer and commentator Fr James Martin, SJ.

A “mixture” of the People of God

Speaking at a press conference in the Vatican, Cardinal Grech stressed that the delegates had been selected so as to produce a “mixture” from various parts of the Church.

Most obviously, there will be an even mix of participants from six different continents, and the non-bishop members will be evenly divided by gender. Cardinal Grech also stressed, however, that there will be representatives from the various sui juris Eastern Catholic churches, and that an effort was made to include disabled Catholics too.

Cardinal Grech went on to explain that not everyone named on the list will be a “member”, and thus able to participate in discussions at the Assembly and vote on proposals. Those in section B on the list, the “Special Envoys”, will be able to discuss but not to vote, while those in section C, the “Other Participants”, will play a role in facilitating and or/advising on the process, but will neither intervene nor vote in discussions. 

The Cardinal also highlighted, finally, that the list of participants is not final – the lists of delegates from other Christian churches are still to arrive, and some names will likely be changed if members fall ill ahead of the assembly.

Spirituality and ecumenism

Next to speak was Bishop Luis Marín de San Martín, Undersecretary of the Synod, who highlighted that the upcoming assembly is not an isolated event, but rather part of a continual process.

The Spanish Bishop also stressed the synod’s spiritual dimension, pointing out that all participants will attend a three-day retreat together beforehand.

The Synod’s other Undersecretary, Sr Nathalie Becquart, noted that one of the central points to emerge from the synodal consultations was the importance of involving young people in the process. For this reason, she said, Synod organisers would be present at the upcoming World Youth Day in Lisbon, where they will have a stand.

Sr Becquart also stressed the importance of the interreligious dimension of the assembly. She highlighted in particular the ecumenical prayer vigil to be held in St Peter’s Square, entitled “Together –  Gathering of the People of God” and led by the Pope, together with the leaders of many other Christian churches.