Vatican advances synodality process with new assessment guidelines

Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, addressed participants at the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences in Jakarta, urging local churches to embody synodality in everyday life and to act as "true manifestations of the Church in particular places."

On July 27 the Vatican issued the document “Recollecting,” calling on diocesan synodal teams worldwide to evaluate their progress since the synodal phase began in October 2021. The guidelines ask churches to prepare narrative reports and letters reflecting on challenges, resistance and successes. "Recollecting" is the first of four preparatory stages – followed by Interpreting (late 2027), Orienting (early 2028) and Celebrating (October 2028) – leading to the 2028 ecclesial assembly on synodality.