Women and Synodality: The World Synod and the Synodal Way of Germany

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of women in synodal processes in dialogue with the results of Bacher and Cerda's study on the Zonal Pastoral Council of the western zone of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile. In a first step, the paradigm of synodality introduced by Pope Francis in theological discourse and established in ecclesial practice is examined. In a second step, the results of the Bacher and Cerda study on the Pastoral Council of the western zone of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile with other synodal processes in the global Church, using, in this case, the example of the synodal structures that have developed in Germany following the request of the II Vatican Council decree on the laity to promote organisms for their involvement in various pastoral areas , which resulted in the creation of diocesan councils and the Central Committee of German Catholics, co-responsible for the Synodal Way. Finally, the consequences of the analysis for the participation of women in the Catholic Church are presented and the thesis is formulated that a synodal style is the prerequisite for sustainable synodal structures in which women can contribute their gifts to the Church.