By Matters India Reporter
Bengaluru, May 1, 2026: The National Synodal Assembly 2026 opened with bishops, priests, religious, and lay leaders committing to prayer, dialogue, discernment, and strengthening the Church’s mission of hope.
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) inaugurated the assembly on May 1 at St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru, gathering 220 delegates under the theme “Synodal Pilgrims of Hope.”
The assembly marks a milestone in the global synodal process launched by the late Pope Francis in 2021, which calls the Church to journey together in communion, participation, and mission.
In India, this path has unfolded through consultations at diocesan, regional, and national levels, culminating in the Bangalore gathering.
Participation reflects the Church’s commitment to inclusivity, with two cardinals, 25 bishops, 65 priests, over 20 women religious, and more than 100 lay faithful, including youth and women leaders.
The event opened with a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão of Goa, President of the CCBI.
In his homily, Cardinal Ferrão described the assembly as “a moment of grace and discernment,” urging delegates to walk together as a synodal Church rooted in prayer, attentive listening, and missionary witness.
He emphasized the centrality of the Risen Christ in the Church’s mission and called the faithful to become courageous witnesses of the Gospel.
Drawing inspiration from the conversion of St. Paul and the example of St. Joseph the Worker, he highlighted both the dignity of labour and the call to holiness in daily life.
The formal inauguration included the invocation of the Holy Spirit through the Veni Creator Spiritus prayer and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Welcoming delegates, CCBI Deputy Secretary General Father Stephen Alathara described the assembly as “a spiritual journey” and “a moment of God’s grace.”
In his presidential address, Cardinal Ferrão recalled the CCBI Pastoral Plan “Journeying Towards a Synodal Church: Mission 2033,” and invited delegates to build upon the vision articulated at the 36th Plenary Assembly in Bhubaneswar in 2025.
Four pastoral priorities will guide reflection: interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding, inclusion of the excluded, poverty and integral ecology, and accompaniment of children and youth.
Proceedings are shaped by the method of spiritual conversation, fostering prayerful listening, dialogue, and communal discernment. Delegates are tasked with translating synodal principles into concrete pastoral action across all levels of Church life.
Looking ahead, the assembly situates its mission within the horizon of the Jubilee Year 2033, marking two millennia of Redemption. Further consultations are scheduled for September 2026, with outcomes to be presented at the 38th Plenary Assembly in January 2027.
Through prayer, dialogue, and shared discernment, the National Synodal Assembly seeks to strengthen the Church’s mission in India as a communion of believers journeying together in hope, according to a press note issued by the CCBI.
(Photo supplied)