Decentralized Synodality: Pope Francis’ Missional Ecclesiology

Antoine Ren

International Journal of Catholic Studies ›› 2025, Vol. 0 ›› Issue (17) : 117-144.

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International Journal of Catholic Studies ›› 2025, Vol. 0 ›› Issue (17) : 117-144. DOI: 10.30239/IJCS.202512_(17).0005
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Decentralized Synodality: Pope Francis’ Missional Ecclesiology

  • Antoine Ren
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Abstract

In biblical revelation, the Holy Trinity and Christ’s mode of existence primarily are characterized by continuous outgoing movement, self-emptying (kenosis), or decentralization. This dynamic forms the foundation of the Church’s missionary outreach. The Church’s very nature should manifest and historically continue the mode of existence of the Trinity and Christ. Yet, this is often not the case. Even today, forms that are inconsistent with or opposed to this nature persist within the Church, such as self-centeredness. This attitude severely hinders the Church’s self-realization in her mission of evangelization. Therefore, the Church needs to be reformed. Following the path of Vatican II, Pope Francis proposes synodality as the direction and solution for this reform. This article primarily explores how synodality, on the one hand, renews our understanding of the Church by integrating what the Church is with what the Church does, and on the other hand, concretely enables the Church to more closely resemble the decentralized nature of the Holy Trinity and Christ—that is, to realize its essential missional existence.

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Pope Francis / Second Vatican Council / Synodality / Ecclesiology / Mission / Decentralization

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Antoine Ren. Decentralized Synodality: Pope Francis’ Missional Ecclesiology[J]. International Journal of Catholic Studies. 2025, 0(17): 117-144 https://doi.org/10.30239/IJCS.202512_(17).0005
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