The “synod on synodality” has been a years long process of taking counsel. Information from the local level was gathered into a national response that formed a continent-wide consensus. This data was formulated into a working document that guided the discussions at the recently month-long meeting in Rome. That process produced a statement that will go through another round of world-wide consulation before a meeting next October to finalize recommendations to the Holy Father. The statement avoided the more controversial topics discussed but it did stress how important it is for the Catholic Church to expand the role of women in decision making. In doing so, they echoed St. Paul in his epistle to the Romans where he names women who exercised leadership in the early Church: Phoebe the deacon, Priscilla the pastor, Junia the apostle, Mary the worker. The Church must use the gifts God has given to women if we are to fulfill our mission in the world.
