‘Synodality’ was a Vatican buzzword. 5 years on, it’s still changing the church

Pope Francis's vision for synodality continues to influence the Catholic Church five years after he launched the global synodal path in October 2021. The process, which the late pope described as a slow and potentially tiring exercise, sought to increase participation among all members of the Church to move beyond a rigid division between leaders and followers.

The synodal process included tens of thousands of conversations worldwide and two Vatican summits. These efforts have set the stage for increased transparency in Church governance and greater involvement of laypeople. While the 2022 reform of the Roman Curia established that the Church must have a character of synodality, the concept remains a point of contention and faces frequent criticism from conservative clerics. Following the death of Pope Francis in 2025, questions remain regarding whether the movement will continue as a central project for the Church.