From institution to process : the synod of bishops from Paul VI to Francis and beyond

Abstract

This article traces the evolution of the Synod of Bishops from its establishment by Pope Paul VI in 1965 to its reform under Pope Francis. Initially created through 'Apostolica Sollicitudo' as a consultative body assisting the Pope and expressing episcopal collegiality, the Synod emerged from the ecclesiological vision of the Second Vatican Council. The study examines its historical, canonical, and procedural development, highlighting changes in its structure, functioning, and influence over six decades. Particular attention is given to Pope Francis’s reform through 'Episcopalis Communio' (2018) and the Synod for a Synodal Church (2021-2024). The article concludes by identifying key theological, canonical, and ecclesiological questions concerning authority, representation, decision-making, episcopal collegiality, papal primacy, and the future institutionalisation of synodality in the Catholic Church.