Bishops welcome publication of Instrumentum Laboris

Tuesday, June 20 2023

On 20 June 2023, the General Secretariat of the Synod released the Instrumentum Laboris (working document) for the First Session (October 2023) of the 16^th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops with the theme For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.

Although it is not a summary document, the Instrumentum Laboris is derived from the material gathered during the phase of listening to the People of God – which began in October 2021 –, and in particular the Final Documents of the Continental Assemblies. It is presented as a tool for discernment rather than as a position statement or a solution to particular questions.

The Bishops of Canada urge all Catholics to pray for the success of the Synod, which will commence this October, that by listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit the followers of Christ would be led to glorify the Father of us all.