Synodality and gender difference: the journeying together of men and women

Abstract

Sinodality means to “walk together” as Church. It expresses
a way of living and acting in the Church, the People of God,
which is revealed “when all her members journey together,
gather in assembly and take an active part in her evangelising
mission”1. In this article we will examine how the proposal of
synodality can help a better integration among men and women
in the Church. In this effort to walk together, women have an
important role. Western society, and particularly Latin American
society, has a marked male chauvinist imprint in all areas: family,
professional, social and eclesial life, which makes synodality
difficult. For this reason women’s difference and specificity
has in some way been excluded or at least hidden, leaving all
of society and the Church poorer for it. We will consider the
history of this current debt with regard to women is society, and
especially in the Church, so as to offer some theological paths
which we hope can contribute to fomenting the building of a
more synodal Church, which Pope Francis desires and requests.