Church in India Charts a Synodal Future with New Document

Bangalore, 19 March 2025: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has released a landmark document, Pilgrims of Hope: Discerning the Synodal Path, aimed at deepening synodality within the Church in India.

The document is the result of an extensive, participatory process involving lay faithful, clergy, religious, and bishops. It took shape through a preparatory phase, a working document, and the collective spiritual discernment of bishops during the 36th Plenary Assembly, held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from January 28 to February 4, 2025.  

The Assembly brought together 145 bishops, archbishops, and cardinals from 132 dioceses, alongside 55 clergy and religious representatives. Centered on the theme “Discerning Synodal Pathways for Mission,” the gathering reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to communion, participation, and mission.  

The final document aligns with the CCBI’s Pastoral Plan: Mission 2033, offering concrete strategies to address emerging challenges and revitalize the Church’s evangelizing efforts.  

The document identifies sixteen key themes for reflection and action, emphasizing inclusivity, social justice, and spiritual renewal. It highlights faith formation and the Word of God, children, family, youth, laity, basic ecclesial communities, migrants, refugees, socially excluded groups, Dalits, tribals, Adivasis, indigenous peoples, women, gender justice, poverty, an equitable economy, digital technology, social media, ecology, climate stewardship, ecumenism, interreligious dialogue, and peacebuilding. These themes, rooted in prayerful reflection and guided by the Holy Spirit, align closely with the Pastoral Plan: Journeying Towards a Synodal Church: Mission 2033.

In a circular, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the CCBI, urged dioceses to actively engage with the document. He invited all to integrate these insights into their pastoral initiatives, stating that together, a clear vision for a truly synodal Church has been outlined. He emphasized that as Shepherds of the People of God, there is a collective responsibility to animate this process at every level, ensuring that all members of the Church actively participate in this sacred journey. 

The document sets essential pathways for the Church’s future, including strengthening shared baptismal responsibility, fostering lay leadership, promoting collaborative governance, and embracing the spiritual and cultural richness of the Indian and Asian context. As the Church in India marks the Jubilee Year, the CCBI calls upon all faithful to embrace this synodal renewal, walking together as pilgrims of hope, led by the Holy Spirit, toward a more inclusive, participatory, and mission-driven Church.

By Dr. Christopher Vimalraj