Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has been elected to the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod. Source: ACBC Media Blog.
Pope Francis expanded the Council to 17 Members, 12 of whom were elected from among the diocesan and eparchial bishops, or equivalent, who are members of the Synod assembly – one from the Eastern Catholic Churches, one from Oceania, and two from North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
To these will be added four papal appointments and the head of the Dicastery of the Roman Curia.
Archbishop Costelloe, the Archbishop of Perth, was elected at the 15th General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops in Rome as the Representative from Oceania.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue the important work of bringing about a synodal Church that listens – listens to the faithful people of God, listens to the College of Bishops and the Holy Father, and listens to the Holy Spirit,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
The Ordinary Council, chaired by Pope Francis, will play a fundamental role in the implementation of the synodal process on synodality and the preparation of the next Synod.
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP concludes his mandate at the end of the current assembly.
Fourteen Australians have attended the second session of the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome from October 2 to 27.
The task of the second session has been to complete the discernment begun at the first session and offer the result of this discernment to Pope Francis in a final document.
The final document is expected to be read and voted on during the assembly tomorrow, followed by a Holy Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday.
FULL STORY
Conference President appointed to Synod Council (ACBC Media Blog)
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Synod elects new members to Ordinary Council (Vatican News)
