Synod on Synodality

The 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, commonly referred to as the Synod on Synodality, was a Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church which concluded 27 October 2024 and has as its theme "For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission". It has been described as the culmination of Pope Francis's papacy and the most important event in the Church since the Second Vatican Council.

The date of the synod was first announced as October 2022, but was then changed to October 2023 because the scope of the synod had been widened. A further extension was announced in October 2022, taking the closing date to October 2024.

The list of all 364 participants was published on 7 July 2023.

Women were allowed to vote in the synod, which was the first time women were allowed to vote in any Catholic Synod of Bishops.

In advance of the synod's October 2023 assembly, Pope Francis issued the apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum, in which he calls for brisk action against the climate crisis and condemns climate change denial.

In a break from previous synods, Pope Francis announced at its conclusion that he would not publish a post-synodal apostolic exhortation, but had instead ratified and published the final document of the synod.