For the first time, women will serve on the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod, the committee that oversees implementation of the most recent Synod and prepares the next assembly. Source: Catholic Review.
The Vatican announced on Friday Pope Francis’ nomination of four members to the 16th Ordinary Council of the Vatican Synod office.
Among his choices are: Consolata Missionary Sr Simona Brambilla, secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and MarÃa LÃa Zervino, a member of the Dicastery for Bishops.
The Pope also appointed to the council Cardinals Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, relator general of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, and Roberto Repole of Turin, Italy.
Previously, ordinary councils were comprised solely of bishops, therefore the appointment of two women – a religious sister and a consecrated virgin – signals a departure from that custom.
In October, the Synod assembly elected 12 members to the ordinary council from among its ranks, leaving four places for papal appointees.
Pope Francis also expanded the council’s size from 16 to 17 members to accommodate the head of the dicastery pertaining to the topic of the next synod.
The Vatican has not said if the Pope has chosen the topic for the next synod.
The 12 elected council members were chosen to represent different regions of the world. Oceania is represented by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB. The membership also includes one representative of the Eastern Catholic churches and two each from North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
The new members of the council will meet via videocall Dec. 17 to discuss the implementation phase of the synod on synodality as well as preparations for the next synod, the Vatican said.
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Two women join Vatican council that implements synod, prepares next one (By Justin McLellan, CNS via Catholic Review)
