What is a Synod?

A Synod is a religious gathering, meeting or assembly at which bishops, gathered around and with the Pope, interact with each other and share information and experiences about a common pastoral issue. The work of the Synod is consultative. It has no decision-making authority unless such authority is granted by the Pope and its decisions are ratified by him.

Synods are signs of the collegiality of the Bishops in communion with the Pope. It helps the Pope govern the universal Church by offering counsel. It is the Pope who convokes the Synod and establishes the topic to be discussed. He ratifies the election of members chosen by the various Episcopal Conferences and appoints additional members. He likewise determines the agenda and presides over its session, either in person or through others. The Pope receives the proposals of the Synod and acts on them as he deems appropriate.

The participants of the Synod are called the Synod Fathers. These includes the Patriarchs, major Archbishops, Metropolitans of the Eastern Catholic Churches, Bishops elected by the Eastern Catholic Churches, Bishops elected by the Episcopla Conferences, representatives (10) of clerical institutes, the heads of the departments of the Roman Curia and other representatives appointed by the Pope himself.


The 12th Ordinary Synod

The 12th Ordinary Synod of Bishops took place in Vatican City last October 5-26, 2008. The theme of this Synod was “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.” This was convoked by Pope Benedict XVI on October 6, 2006.

The Synod proposes to:

• reverently contemplate this mystery of the Word, God’s greatest gift, to render thanks for it, to meditate upon it and to proclaim it to all members of the Church and all people of good will
• spread and strengthen encounters with the Word of God by thoroughly examining its doctrinal underpinnings and allowing them to show the manner in which this is to be done
• help the faithful understand what the Bible is, why it is there, how beneficial it is to the faith and how to use it properly and apply it to everyday life
• renew listening to the Word of God, in the liturgy and catechesis, specifically through lectio divina, duly adapted to various circumstances; and to offer a Word of consolation and hope to the poor of the world
• set forth the intrinsic connection between the Eucharist and the Word of God, since the Church must receive nourishment from the one “bread of life from the table of both God’s word and Christ’s body.”

And this is the Synod’s underlying purpose and primary goal, namely, to fully encounter the Word of God in Jesus the Lord, present in the Sacred Scriptures and the Eucharist (Lineamenta).



Pope Appointed Filipina as Auditor in the Synod





The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Ms. Elvira Yap Go to attend the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God. Elvira is the chair of the National Catholic Family Bible Quiz Secretariat and she has been involved in many works of advocacy, and one of which is the strengthening of family relationship through the Bible.

Ms. Go is a papal awardee; she was one of the women auditors appointed by the Pope to the 12th Ordinary Synod of Bishops last October 2008. Her passion on the Word of God as unifying force for all sectors in the society starting in the family brought her to this august assembly of the Church. She strongly believes that families can really do something to change the future of the generation today and can be a good catalyst of change in the society. Hence, her dedication and commitment to bring more families closer to each other through the Bible is indeed noble and commendable.