The Synod of Bishops is a permanent institution established by Pope Paul VI, 15 September 1965, in response to the desire of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council to keep alive the spirit of collegiality engendered by the conciliar experience.

Literally speaking the word "synod", derived from two Greek words syn meaning "together" and hodos meaning "road" or "way", means a "coming together". A Synod is a religious meeting or assembly at which bishops, gathered around and with the Holy Father, have opportunity to interact with each other and to share information and experiences, in the common pursuit of pastoral solutions which have a universal validity and application. The Synod, generally speaking, can be defined as an assembly of bishops representing the Catholic episcopate, having the task of helping the Pope in the governing of the universal Church by rendering their counsel. Pope John Paul II has referred to the Synod as "a particularly fruitful expression and instrument of the collegiality of bishops".

The following links direct you to the media releases and summaries of the interventions of the Canadian Bishops that have participated at the most recent of these Synods.

• Special Assembly for America – 1997. Topic: “Encounter with the Living Jesus Christ: the Way to Conversion, Communion and Solidarity in America”
• Special Assembly for Asia – 1998. Topic: “Jesus Christ the Saviour and His Mission of Love and Service in Asia: ‘…That They May Have Life, and Have it Abundantly’ (Jn 10:10)"
• Special Assembly for Oceania – 1998. Topic: “Jesus Christ and the Peoples of Oceania: Walking His Way, Telling His Truth, Living His Life”
• Second Special Assembly for Europe – 1999. Topic: “Jesus Christ, Alive in His Church, Source of Hope for Europe”
• Tenth Ordinary General Assembly – 2001. Topic: “The Bishop: Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World”
• Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly – 2005. Topic: “The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church”

• General Information on the Synod 
• Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops