In the wake of the Synod on Synodality, Catholic leaders have been charged with the task of thinking “synodally” in their ministerial work. Pope Leo XIV helps us understand what this might mean. In July 2025, Leo described the process of synodality as “an attitude, an openness, a willingness to understand.” He noted that “each and every member of the church has a voice and a role to play through prayer, reflection…through a process.”
Synodality implies a shared walk and a journeying to understand God’s will for the living church today. At its best, this shared walk generates deeper communal understandings among the communion of saints. Chief among these understandings is the notion that the laity has unique perspectives and insights that enrich this shared walk. The spirit of synodality, then, can be expressed through open and respectful dialogue.
Such dialogue is not about undermining ecclesiastical authority or doctrinal truths, but rather enriching the faithful through renewed approaches to the Christian faith. Through dialogue, we can grow in understanding and appreciation for each other’s gifts, vocational experiences, and perspectives, and find inspiration in this ongoing journey together.
With synodality, the local matters as much as the global. As Leo describes it, synodality is “a church whose primary focus is not on an institutional hierarchy, but rather on a sense of ‘we together’, ‘our church’.” To that end, we can and should pursue synodal paths in local churches and dioceses, gathering in assembly to advance the Gospel and evangelize in communion.
In practice, implementing synodality can take several forms. For example, ministry leaders can proceed with open and earnest conversations, such as listening sessions, to hear from their colleagues and community. Instead of leading with one’s own view, privileging multiple perspectives can enliven ministry work and vocational vision.
Leaders can also engage beyond their comfort zone. Vatican guidelines suggest reaching out to diverse communities whose points of view may be forgotten–from those made marginal (the poor, disabled, and vulnerable), to those resistant to the process. In this way, leaders are encouraged to be courageous in their outreach, grow in understanding of “pain points” in the community, and create a plan to address them. Synodal endeavors should honor the local and global, and appropriately connect ministry members with the larger church community across dioceses, states, and even countries.
Finally, in the spirit of synodality, leaders should also reach out to their bishop to inquire about the existence of any formal synodal teams to join developing conversations in their diocese.
