Commissione Canonistica publishes report on lay role in Church government

The General Secretariat of the Synod published the final report of the Canon Law Commission on September 30. The report proposes changes to the legislation of the Latin Church to increase the role of laypeople in Church governance.

The commission, established following a meeting with Pope Francis on December 18, 2023, worked to translate theological insights from the 2021–2024 synodal process into canon law. The report outlines three different timeframes for these changes. In the short term, the commission proposes specific amendments to current legislation to support immediate Church life. For the medium term, it identifies areas that could be addressed through new instructions or by revising existing ones in collaboration with relevant dicasteries.

In the long term, the commission identifies a need for a complete revision of the codes of canon law to integrate theological and ecclesiological developments. The report serves as a working document to help align the legal norms that organize the Church with its synodal nature.