The Path of Synodality: Walking and Talking Together as the Mystical Body of Christ

Abstract

The Church is by nature synodal and “the entire People of God is  challenged by its fundamentally synodal calling.” Synodality is stablished to energize  the life and evangelising mission of the Church  in union with Christ. The fact that in practice she might be lacking in synodality sometimes or in some  places, does not invalidate this attribute. According to Pope Francis, “it is precisely this path of  synodality which God expects of the Church of the third  millennium.” Thus, “while synodal procedure and events have a beginning, a process and a conclusion, synodality offers a specific description of the  historical development of the Church as such, breathes life into her  structures and directs her mission.” Hence, the purpose of this essay is to throw  more light on this sublime feature of the Church (the path of synodality) and to bring out into fuller light the important functions of the members (the  Hierarchy and the Laity) who are walking and talking together with Christ, their Head, and with one another as “the Mystical Body of Christ.