NEW DELHI, Nov. 6 -- The 40-plus page report released at the conclusion of the first stage of the 'Synod on Synodality' on October 29 sets the tone for the final stage of the Synod to be held in October 2024. Approved by the conclave, the report enumerates many areas for the Church to move forward. The extraordinary synod, announced by Pope Francis and inaugurated on October 10, 2021, had stirred the Catholic Church for its suddenness and novelty of the theme, marking a milestone in its history. Now, the composition of the Synod too made it special -- of the 365 voting participants, for the first time lay people including 54 women had voting rights.

The Synod was preceded by an unprecedented two-year-long meetings starting at parish-lev...