Ep. 5 - The synod ends, but 'nothing is finalized'

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Vatican experts Joshua McElwee and Christopher White have an exclusive conversation with Jesuit Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, one of the leading African voices at Pope Francis' 2023 Synod of Bishops. Orobator says that although the synod's final document did not mention better inclusion of the faith's LGBTQ members, it also made sure that "no issue is finalized" ahead of the next assembly in 2024. "Nothing is closed," said Orobator, a former president of the Jesuit conference of Africa and Madagascar. "It's clear that there is no issue that is off the table. And therefore, even now, because this document is not a final document … no issue is finalized or closed." In this episode, McElwee and White also speak with Helena Jeppesen, one of the first group of women to participate in the synod as full, voting members. Jeppesen reflects on being part of a campaign only four years ago to convince the pope to appoint women as members of the synod. "This is a symbol for me," she says. "Let's open more doors for the women in the Catholic Church." Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. Relevant links: Joshua McElwee and Christopher White's joint exclusive interview with Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich and San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy: Exclusive: Cardinals Cupich, McElroy say 'impossible to go back' to synods without lay voters McElwee and White's reporting on the Synod of Bishops' final document: Pope's major Vatican summit ends without action on women deacons, mention of LGBTQ Catholics Catholic News Service coverage of Pope Francis' homily at the Mass closing the synod: Pope Francis closes synod with 'dream' of a church with open doors Christopher White's reporting on the testimony at the Synod of Bishops about an LGBTQ suicide: Story of LGBTQ youth's suicide led synod delegates to cry, Radcliffe reveals Joshua McElwee's 2016 profile of Jesuit Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator: African Jesuit Fr. Orobator quests for women's inclusion in church structures National Catholic Reporter's May 2023 editorial thanking the "Votes for Catholic Women" campaign, led by the Women's Ordination Conference, which advocated for women to be appointed as voting members of the synod: Thank God — and women — for lay voters at the synod