School for Synodality at Jubilee for Synod Teams
Synodal Teams and organisations from around the world were invited to participate in a three day pilgrimage to Rome 24th-26th October 2025, as part of the Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church
The School for Synodality was pleased to be part of this fantastic experience, which brought together over 2000 participants to listen, pray and learn together. Both of our Directors were invited to lead sections over the weekend, and we were delighted to hear the School for Synodality was already known as a trusted resource in different countries and contexts!
Pope Leo XIV welcomed the participants on Friday afternoon, answering 7 questions from different regions - ranging from women’s equality in the Church, to concerns from clergy on synodality diminishing their authority. As a Cardinal in 2023 and 2024, he participated as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in the two sessions of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. You can find the Q&A in full here >>.
“Every person who has reported so far from his or her region has listed formation as a priority. And I think we have to be very clear and sincere about the importance of formation on every level”
Image credit: Osservatore Romano
The School for Synodality also held a successful ‘fringe’ event on the Friday evening, inviting any participants of the Jubilee to come together, network, hear heartwarming stories of synodality - and sample Italian wine! So many of you expressed this was a positive event, creating contacts and possible friendships, and not feeling so alone as we navigate our synodality journeys, many with similar challenges. With great thanks to Pauline Sr Catherine who helped organise this event from Rome, and the clergy at The Church of Santa Maria del Carmelo in Traspontina.
On the morning of the Saturday 25th, participants were placed in small groups for a session of Conversation in the Spirit. Both SFS directors Fr Matthew Nunes and Avril Baigent facilitated these, having rich exchanges using this method. Avril Baigent also held two workshops in the Vatican entitled ‘Formation for Conversation in the Spirit’, which included exploring the role of facilitators, key challenges and opportunities, practical tools and more.
Despite many attendees being very passionate about bringing synodality into the Catholic Church, some participants shared they had yet to experience a Conversation in the Spirit, which shows how we are all at different stages of this journey - including Diocesan leads, Parish organisers, those in religious life and various levels of the clergy.
The Jubilee for Synodal Teams culminated in mass at St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday morning presided over by Pope Leo, who dedicated his sermon to the Synodal Teams present, and quoted the Final Document:
“As synodal teams and members of participatory bodies, you know that ecclesial discernment requires “interior freedom, humility, prayer, mutual trust, an openness to the new and a surrender to the will of God. It is never just a setting out of one’s own personal or group point of view or a summing up of differing individual opinions” (Final Document, 26 October 2024, 82). Being a synodal Church means recognising that truth is not possessed, but sought together, allowing ourselves to be guided by a restless heart in love with Love””
All speeches, videos, live streams, programmes and photos can be found on the Synod website here >>.
If anyone was present at the Synodal Teams Jubilee and would like to be in contact, please do email us at info@schoolforsynodality.org.uk, we would love to hear from you!
Image credit: Osservatore Romano