Vatican Notebook: The bold canon law changes from the synod now on Pope Leo’s desk

Pope Leo XIV is reviewing proposed changes to canon law following recommendations from the synod's canon law commission. These recommendations serve as an initial step toward incorporating synodality into the official laws of the Church.

The commission's report follows an assembly at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on Sept. 18, 2026, where the pope spoke to hundreds of diocesan leaders. While the publication of these recommendations received little public attention, they represent a move toward formalizing synodal processes within the Church's legal framework.