The General Secretariat of the Synod released the final report from its Canonical Commission on October 1, 2026. The document outlines specific amendments to the Code of Canon Law intended to broaden the role of laypeople in Church governance while maintaining existing hierarchical structures.

Archbishop Filippo Iannone, who serves as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, coordinated the commission. The group concluded that a complete overhaul of canon law is unnecessary to implement synodal principles. Instead, the report argues that current legal frameworks already support lay recognition but often require stronger normative affirmation.

Proposed Amendments to Ecclesiastical Offices

The commission examined numerous canons to identify areas where lay participation could be enhanced. Key provisions reviewed include Canons 204, 208, and 212, which affirm the equal dignity of the baptized and their right to engage in Church life. The report also analyzed Canons 228 and 230, which govern the exercise of ecclesiastical offices by laypeople.

A central proposal involves revising Canon 443 to ensure that members of the People of God participate in particular councils in numbers equal to those with “ex officio” status. The commission recommends removing the Latin term tantum, meaning “only,” which currently restricts lay votes to a consultative role. This limitation appears in several canons, including 443 and 444 for particular councils, Canon 466 for diocesan synods, and Canons 500, 514, and 536 for various pastoral councils.

If adopted, these changes would shift these bodies away from purely consultative functions toward stronger decision-making roles. The report also suggests revising Canon 440, Paragraph 1, to mandate that particular councils convene every ten years.

Pastoral and Judicial Participation

The commission reviewed additional canons related to diocesan administration and judicial processes. Canons 476 and 483, which address governance functions within dioceses, were studied alongside Canon 275, which encourages collaboration between clergy and laity. The report also examined Canon 1112, permitting laypersons to assist at marriages under specific conditions, and Canons 1421 and 1425, which regulate lay involvement in ecclesiastical tribunals.

The document emphasizes that these proposed reforms do not diminish the authority of bishops, the college of bishops, or the pope. Canon 749, which governs the infallible magisterium, was reviewed to ensure doctrinal integrity remains intact. The proposals also aim to strengthen bishops’ conferences and promote greater decentralization within Church administration.

Next Steps for Implementation

The report is not binding and requires review by Pope Leo XIV. It represents the work of one of ten study groups established by Pope Francis in 2024 as part of the Synod on Synodality. These groups are dissolved upon the publication of their findings.

In June 2024, the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity published a separate study titled “The Bishop of Rome,” which gathered suggestions for adapting Petrine primacy. The current canonical proposals complement those efforts by seeking to clarify and expand the roles available to the faithful within the Church’s legal framework.