There’s a growing sense that we are witnessing in these days the emergence of a “new” Synod of Bishops. Throughout the many years of following closely the work of this permanent body based in Rome, I’ve never had the sense, until now, that it might finally become the place for open debate and discussion that Paul VI (at least, originally) intended it to be. Allow me to explain. As a Vatican Radio reporter between 1990 and 1999, I personally attended six synods – two ordinary and four special (or continental) assemblies. The long hours spent each day – usually four weeks at a time – as one of the few media observers inside the Synod Hall, led me to form this conclusion: the synod was a rubber-stamping body for policies forwarded by the dominant for