Vatican Synod Concludes with Unresolved Debates on Women’s Roles, LGBTQ+ Outreach, and Priesthood

VATICAN CITY, October 27, 2024 — The Vatican’s historic “Synod on Synodality,” a years-long consultative process, wrapped up its final session Saturday without reaching a consensus on several pressing issues affecting the global Catholic Church. Despite hopes among reform-minded Catholics, the synod left questions surrounding women’s ordination, LGBTQ+ outreach, and married priests largely unresolved, choosing instead to defer the discussions to future study. 

Assembly pledged certain structural changes to grant local dioceses greater administrative autonomy and to encourage intercultural communities, but its recommendations on controversial issues like female deacons and LGBTQ+ inclusivity remain incomplete. This outcome, according to observers, reflects the balancing act Pope Francis is undertaking between conservative and progressive factions within the church. 

“It’s hard to say where this synod has taken any decision,” said Massimo Faggioli, a theologian at Villanova University. Faggioli noted that while administrative changes were acknowledged, many contentious subjects were postponed for further discussion, leaving both conservative and liberal Catholics uncertain about future reforms. 

Delayed Decisions on Key Reforms 

the final synodal document includes a range of broad guidelines on modern challenges facing church. For instance, it emphasized the “necessity of training” for those working with minors in response to clergy abuse crisis and underscored the need for “transparency and accountability in ministry.” On women’s roles in the church, however, it stopped short of endorsing ordination, acknowledging that the “question of women’s access to diaconal ministry remains open.” 

One of the most divisive topics, the ordination of female deacons, sparked visible tensions during an October 18 session. Delegates were dismayed by what they perceived as an evasive response from two Vatican representatives who were not equipped to answer questions. To address concerns, Cardinal Victor Fernandez,  head of the Dicastery of  Doctrine of  Faith, assured delegates on Thursday that the Vatican would continue to study women’s roles within church administration. However, Fernandez downplayed the demand for women’s ordination, stating that most women “want to be heard and valued” rather than to enter ordained ministry. 

LGBTQ+ outreach was a significant topic left unsettled. While Pope Francis has taken notable steps in recent years, including supporting brief blessings for same-sex couples, he has not indicated a willingness to formally change church teaching on sexuality. Synod’s final document encouraged further dialogue, leaving LGBTQ+ Catholics waiting for definitive action. 

Pope Francis’ Leadership and Future Prospects 

synod’s outcomes reflect Francis’ unique approach to leadership. In an unexpected move, he declared that he would not issue an apostolic exhortation the following  synod, remarking, “What we have approved is enough.” This break from tradition signals his intention to let synod’s discussions speak for themselves, yet it also creates ambiguity about future papal action. 

Reverend Thomas Reese, a prominent American priest and author, described Francis as a “pope of surprises,” emphasizing that his next moves remain unpredictable. “I don’t think he’s done, but I don’t know what he’s going to do,” Reese said. 

Discontent Among Conservatives and Progressives 

Roberto de Mattei, president of the conservative Catholic Lepanto Foundation, criticized the synod for “making everyone unhappy,” with traditionalists fearing overreach and progressives feeling ir aspirations were unmet. For those hoping for sweeping reforms akin to the transformations of Vatican II in the 1960s,  results were particularly disappointing. 

Unlike Vatican II, which introduced monumental changes such as allowing Mass in local languages and promoting interfaith dialogue, Francis’ synod has so far kept a cautious distance from drastic change. Even so, the assembly did mark a historic shift by including laypeople and women as voting members for the first time. 

Calls for Change and Remaining Challenges 

As the church awaits further study on critical issues, some advocates argue that the synod’s proceedings, while historic, fall short of addressing urgent needs. Victims’ rights groups voiced disappointment over Synod’s response to the abuse crisis, saying it lacked meaningful steps toward justice for survivors. Likewise, some delegates lamented that major topics were left out of the agenda, leading one anonymous participant to quip, “Of course [ session was amicable]; everything important was taken off the table.” 

As the church navigates these complex discussions, the next steps are likely to unfold over several years. Findings from Synod’s study groups are expected by June, but where they will culminate in concrete actions remains uncertain.