4-05 Being Synodal: Opportunities and Obstacles to Becoming a Synodal Church

Synodality has proven to be a central them in the pontificate of Pope Francis. The universal church is currently in the midst of a three-stage process in preparation for the Synod on Synodality to be held in 2023. Separate synodal processes are under way in Germany and Latin America while Australia is in the midst of an ongoing plenary council. This workshop will outline the opportunities that the process of synodality offers for revitalizing and reforming the church while also identifying worrisome obstacles to the realization of the pope's vision that we all must confront.

Richard R. Gaillardetz is the Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology at Boston College and the current chair of its theology department. He has published over 170 articles and authored or edited 14 books. Most recently, he is the editor of, "The Cambridge Companion to Vatican II" (Cambridge University Press, 2020) and is the author of the popular text, "By What Authority? Foundations for Understanding Authority in the Church" (Liturgical Press, 2018). Gaillardetz was president of the Catholic Theological Society of America in 2013-14 and was the 2018 recipient of the Yves Congar Award for theological excellence from Barry University.