Vatican's Roadmap for Synodality: New Instrumentum Laboris Released

Vatican, July 11, 2024: The General Secretariat of the Synod released the Instrumentum Laboris for the Second Session of the XVI General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on July 9, 2024. This document, essential for guiding the forthcoming assembly in October 2024, addresses the Church's mission and provides concrete proposals for local Churches, Episcopal Conferences, Continental Assemblies, and the Universal Church. Divided into four main parts - Foundations, Relations, Pathways, and Places; it offers a comprehensive framework for understanding and implementing synodality.

The Instrumentum Laboris emphasizes the Church's mission to spread hope, restore joy, and save those in distress, reflecting on the symbolic banquet in Isaiah that signifies universal communion and joy. The document elaborates on the 'missionary' dimension of synodality and emphasizes conversion and reform, focusing on relational aspects over bureaucratic structures. Part I, "Relations," addresses threefold relations with Christ, with others, and within the community. Part II focuses on synodal formation, discernment, decision-making processes and transparency, accountability and evaluation. Part III details the loci of synodality, including cultures, migrants, the digital world, local churches, episcopal conferences, and the Universal Church.

While the document has several positive aspects, including inclusivity and participation, missionary identity, communal discernment, adaptability, theological depth, practical guidance, and spiritual enrichment, it also presents several concerns. These concerns include complexity and ambiguity, practical implementation challenges, the risk of marginalizing traditional voices, sustainability of engagement, resource allocation, risk of superficial changes, overemphasis on process, unclear metrics for success and unaddressed divisive issues such as casteism and religious intolerance. 

The Instrumentum Laboris beautifully begins with a quote from Isaiah’s prophecy of the 'feast on the mountain of the Lord' and ends with a ‘festive note.’ It is now in the hands of Pope Francis and the synodal fathers and mothers to serve the meal of 'synodality' to the Church and the world, ensuring it is more than just a theoretical exercise. This critical document provides a roadmap for the Church to navigate its mission in contemporary times, but its success will depend on its practical implementation and the willingness of the Church's members to embrace and enact its proposals.

By Rev. Dr. Yesu Karunanidhi