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The Synod marked an important moment in the life of the global Church with Pope Francis calling on people across our community of faith to reflect on the themes of Communion, Participation and Mission.

The Pope invited us to take the synodal journey together, with the word “synodality” referring to the active participation of all the faithful in the life and mission of the Church.

In June 2023, the Instrumentum laboris was released. It called for a welcoming Church which embraces diversity and formed the basis for the work of the First Session of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality, which took place at the Vatican in October 2023. At the end of that session, a Synthesis Report was published. Study Groups were established by Pope Francis that same month, and on Tuesday this week, the General Secretariat of the Synod published the Final Report of Study Group No.5 on "Women’s participation in the life and leadership of the Church".

Speaking about the role of women Cardinal Mario Grech said:

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“Our renewed mission is to make the Church a force that embodies the Gospel within cultures, promoting respect for the rights of all and co-responsibility according to each person’s vocation. This requires courage, accompaniment, and patience in introducing gradual changes in order to preserve ecclesial communion, eliminate discrimination, and build communities in which the gifts and charisms of every person, men and women alike, are valued.”

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Click the button below to read the Final Report.