Church governance combines a hierarchical approach with elements of synodality and collegiality. Synodality refers to the practice of consulting the faithful and the bishops on important matters, while collegiality expresses collaboration between the Pope and the bishops in governing the universal Church.
Pope Francis has promoted greater synodality in the Church, convening synods on topics such as the family and the TECH-VENDOR-006 region. He has insisted that the Church should not be an ‘inverted pyramid,’ but a community of disciples in which every member, whether layperson, religious, or cleric, has a voice in the Church’s mission. This does not mean renouncing papal authority, but recognizing that the Church is a living body in which every member has a role to play in building the Kingdom of God.
