Pope extends synod process for a year amid apathy, criticism

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has decided to extend by a year a lengthy global consultation of ordinary Catholics about the future of the Catholic Church. Francis announced Sunday that the planned 2023 gathering of bishops would now take place in two stages — one session in October 2023 and a second in October 2024 — to allow more time to find a way forward. He did so amid limited participation by the laity in the inital phase, and criticism by some of his opponents about the entire undertaking. The synod process is part of Francis’ long-term goal of making the church more inclusive, participatory and responsive to real-world issues facing ordinary Catholics.