Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

By Justin McLellan, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — The second session of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality will commence with a penitential liturgy seeking forgiveness for various sins on behalf of all the baptized. Scheduled to bring together 368 bishops, priests, religious, and laypeople at the Vatican, participants will first engage in a two-day retreat ending on October 1 with a liturgy presided over by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Vatican announced that this liturgy would feature testimonies from three individuals: one who suffered from abuse, another affected by war, and a third impacted by indifference towards migrants. Following these testimonies, "the confession of a number of sins will take place," as stated in the Vatican's announcement on September 16. The aim is to acknowledge personal and collective responsibility for suffering inflicted upon innocents.

The sins to be confessed include those against peace, creation, Indigenous populations and migrants; the sin of abuse; sins against women, family and youth; using doctrine harmfully; poverty-related sins; and failures in synodality or listening. This liturgy is open to all but particularly focuses on young people as it “directs the Church’s inner gaze to the faces of new generations,” according to the Vatican.

Cardinal Mario Grech emphasized that addressing young people signifies that "the church is in a dynamic of conversion." He added that recognizing limits and weaknesses while being open to conversion aligns with "the path to holiness."

At a news conference on September 16 presenting details for the upcoming session, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich noted that most participants are returning from last year's assembly held in October 2023. However, there have been 25 changes due to various reasons such as health issues. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore will replace Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York as part of the U.S. delegation.

Cardinal Hollerich also mentioned an increase in non-bishop voting members to 96 out of 368 participants and an increased representation from other Christian communities from 12 to 16 members without voting privileges.

Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa highlighted that unlike the first session focusing on priority awareness and identification, this second session aims at delving deeper into key points raised during global listening sessions and the first assembly.

Cardinal Grech confirmed controversial topics like ordaining women to the diaconate would not be discussed at this assembly since study groups established by Pope Francis are expected to report back in 2025 after sharing progress reports at this session's beginning.

While last year’s synod produced a synthesis report, this year’s session aims for a final document for submission to Pope Francis. In response to whether there will be a post-synodal exhortation from Pope Francis following this synod, Cardinal Grech indicated ongoing communication between him and God's people.

Additionally introduced into this year’s session are four public theological-pastoral forums focused on deepening understanding of synodality across different church aspects. These forums titled “People of God as Subject of Mission,” “Role and Authority of Bishop in Synodal Church,” “Mutual Relationship Local Church-Universal Church,” and “Exercise Primacy Synod Bishops” will be hosted publicly in Rome.

Accordingly, these forums aim "to continue theological canonical pastoral deepening meaning synodality different aspects Church faith offer theologians canonists opportunity contribute work Assembly," per Vatican statement.

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