Does the Synod want to change doctrine?On July 7, the Holy See published the list of participants in the first session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held from October 4-29, 2023 at the Vatican. Among the approximately 364 participants, 18 delegates will represent the United States of America (USA).
The list includes six cardinals, three archbishops, two bishops, two priests, one religious sister and four lay people. Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville, Texas, and chairman of the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) noted: "In announcing the names of the delegates to the Synod of Bishops, the Church enters the universal phase of this synodal process. It is a moment of joy. The delegates begin to prepare for the Assembly, which will require prayer, study and a thorough reading of the Instrumentum Laboris. All the delegates express gratitude to the Holy Father for the invitation to serve together for the good of the Universal Church," said Bishop Flores. The prelate also urged the particular churches to study and reflect on the Instrumentum Laboris and the various documents emanating from the synod in its different stages "to deepen their discernment of what they have heard and what they can still do in their local contexts. These documents constitute an unprecedented dialogue between the Holy See and the people of God and are living instruments of the synodal journey", concluded Bishop Flores.
U.S. members
The U.S. pontifically appointed members of the synod-who also represent Canada at the continental level-are: Cardinals Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago; Joseph W. Tobin, Archbishop of Newark; Robert W. McElroy, Bishop of San Diego; Sean P. O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston; Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York; Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of Washington. Also in this pontifical appointment category are: Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, Archbishop of Seattle; Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop of the U.S. Military Services and President of the USCCB; Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes, Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend Indiana; Bishop Robert E. Barron, Bishop of Winona-Rochester; and Archbishop William C. Skurla, Archieparchy Pittsburgh (Byzantine Church, sui iuris).
Ivan Montelongo, Vocations Director and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of El Paso, Texas; Rev. James Martin, Jesuit priest, editor-at-large of the magazine "The Diocese of El Paso, Texas"; Rev. America Magazine Leticia Salazar, of the Order of the Company of Notre Dame and Chancellor of the Diocese of San Bernardino, California; Mr. Richard Coll, Executive Director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development of the USCCB; Ms. Cynthia Bailey Manns, Associate Professor of United Theological Seminary The non-bishop delegates appointed by the Holy Father have participated in various stages of the Synod, and have been trained in the synodal style necessary for their participation in Rome. They have been present at the U.S. and continental diocesan stages. All delegates from North America will participate in a spiritual formation and preparation based on reflection on the Instrumentum Laboris.
