The General Secretariat of the Synod

The President:

His Holiness Pope Francis

Pope400.png Pope400.png

The Secretary General:

Cardinal Mario GRECH

Grech400.png Grech400.png

The Undersecretaries:

H.E. Msgr. Luis MARÍN DE SAN MARTÍN O.S.A

Rev. Sr Nathalie BECQUART, X.M.C.J.

Nat_Luis.png Nat_Luis.png

The General Secretariat of the Synod is composed of the Ordinary Council and a group of Consultors.

In its work, the General Secretariat also avails itself of the collaboration of an Advisory Committee and four Commissions.

For further information, visit the official website of the General Secretariat of the Synod.

Relator General of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

Cardinal Jean-Claude HOLLERICH SJ

hollerich.png hollerich.png
XV Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops

The Members of the Ordinary Council take office at the end of the Ordinary General Assembly that elected them, are Members of the following Ordinary General Assembly and cease to hold office when the latter is dissolved.

  • His Beatitude Ignace Youssif III YOUNAN, Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, Head of the Synod of the Syrian Catholic Church (Lebanon).
  • Cardinal Christoph SCHÖNBORN, O.P., Archbishop of Wien (Austria).
  • Cardinal Oswald GRACIAS, Archbishop of Bombay, President of the Bishops' Conference (India).
  • Cardinal Gérald Cyprien LACROIX, I.S.P.X., Archbishop of Quebec, (Canada).
  • Cardinal Charles Maung BO, S.D.B., Archbishop of Yangon (Myanmar).
  • Cardinal Daniel Fernando STURLA BERHOUET, S.D.B., Archbishop of Montevideo (Uruguay).
  • Cardinal Dieudonné NZAPALAINGA, C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic).
  • Cardinal Sérgio da ROCHA, Archbishop of Brasilia (Brazil).
  • Cardinal Joseph William TOBIN, C.S.R., Archbishop of Newark (United States of America).
  • Cardinal Juan José OMELLA OMELLA, Archbishop of Barcelona (Spain).
  • Cardinal Joseph COUTTS, Archbishop of Karachi (Pakistan).
  • Cardinal Matteo Maria ZUPPI, Archbishop of Bologna (Italy).
  • H.E. Msgr. Gabriel MBILINGI, C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Lubango (Angola).
  • H.E. Msgr. Anthony Colin FISHER, O.P., Archbishop of Sydney (Australia).
  • H.E. Msgr. Jaime CALDERÓN CALDERÓN, Bishop of Tapachula (Mexico).
  • H.E. Msgr. Andrew FUANYA NKEA, Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon).
Consultors of the General Secretariat of the Synod
  • H.E. Msgr. Erio CASTELLUCCI, Archbishop of Modena-Nonantola and Bishop of Carpi.
  • Rev. Msgr. Pierangelo SEQUERI, John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for the Sciences of Marriage and the Family
  • Rev. Msgr. Lluis CLAVELL, Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas.
  • Rev. Msgr. Giuseppe BONFRATE, Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
  • Rev. Msgr. Maurizio GRONCHI, Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome
  • Rev. Father Dario VITALI, Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
  • Rev. Father François-Xavier DUMORTIER, S.I., Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
  • Rev. Father George Henri RUYSSEN, S.I., Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome.
  • Rev. Father Sabatino MAJORANO, C.SS.R., Accademia Alfonsiana in Rome.
  • Rev. Father Manuel Jesús ARROBA CONDE, C.M.F., Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.
  • Rev. Father Aimable MUSONI, S.D.B., Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.
  • Rev. Father José GRANADOS, D.C.J.M., Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
  • Rev. Father Giacomo COSTA, S.I., President of the San Fedele Cultural Foundation.
  • Rev. Father Rossano SALA, S.D.B., Pontifical Salesian University,
  • Rev. Sister Alessandra SMERILLI, Dicastery for Integral Human Development
  • Rev. Sister María Luisa BERZOSA GONZÁLEZ, F.I., Entreculturas.
  • Prof. Cecilia COSTA, Roma Tre University.
  • Prof. Myriam WIJLENS, University of Erfurt.
The Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee, consisting of members of the Group of Consultors. It has the task of supporting the General Secretariat in the elaboration of its vision in the framework of its mission and of facilitating the connection between the different commissions of the Secretariat. Members are:

  • H.E. Msgr. Erio Castellucci, Archbishop of Modena-Nonantola and Bishop of Carpi
  • Msgr. Pierangelo Sequeri, John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for the Sciences of Marriage and the Family
  • Rev. Giacomo Costa S.J., San Fedele Cultural Foundation of Milan
  • Rev. Dario Vitali, Pontifical Gregorian University
  • Prof. Myriam Wijlens, University of Erfurt
The Preparatory Commission for the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

In accordance with Art 10, paragraphs 1-2 of the Apostolic Constitution Episcopalis Communio, the Secretary General of the Synod H.Em. Cardinal Mario Grech has established, and will preside over, the Preparatory Commission for the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

The members of the aforementioned commission are:

  • Rev. Fr. Giacomo Costa, SJ (coordinator);
  • Most Rev. Msgr. Timothy John Costelloe, SDB;
  • Most Rev. Msgr. Daniel E. Flores;
  • Sr. Shizue Hirota, MMB;
  • Most Rev. Msgr. Lucio A. Muandula;
  • Rev. Prof. Dario Vitali;
  • Rev. Msgr. Tomasz Trafny (secretary).

Also participating in the work of the Commission will be the General Relator of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, H.Em. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, SJ.