Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church
Year Number Topic Concluding document or apostolic exhortation
1967 I Preserving and Strengthening the Catholic Faith None . Called for the creation of an International Theological Commission and a revision of the Code of Canon Law
1971 II The Ministerial Priesthood and Justice in the World Justice in the World
1974 III Evangelization in the Modern World Evangelii nuntiandi ( apostolic exhortation )
1977 IV Catechesis in Our Time Catechesi Tradendae ( apostolic exhortation )
1980 V The Christian Family Familiaris consortio ( apostolic exhortation )
1983 VI Penance and Reconciliation in the Mission of the Church Reconciliatio et paenitentia ( apostolic exhortation )
1987 VII The Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World Christifideles laici ( apostolic exhortation )
1990 VIII The Formation of Priests in Circumstances of the Present Day Pastores dabo vobis ( apostolic exhortation )
1994 IX The Consecrated Life and its Role in the Church and in the World Vita consecrata
2001 X The Bishop : Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World Pastores gregis ( apostolic exhortation )
2005 XI The Eucharist : Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church Sacramentum caritatis ( apostolic exhortation )
2008 XII The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church Verbum Domini ( apostolic exhortation )
2012 XIII The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith Evangelii gaudium ( apostolic exhortation )
2015 XIV The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World * Relatio Synodi * Amoris laetitia ( apostolic exhortation )
2018 XV Young People , Faith , and Vocational Discernment Christus Vivit ( apostolic exhortation )
Chronology -- Ordinary General
In the Roman Catholic Church, the Synod of Bishops is an advisory body for the Pope. It is described in the Code of Canon Law (CIC) as a group of bishops who have been chosen from different regions of the world and meet together at fixed times to foster closer unity between the Roman Pontiff and bishops, to assist the Roman Pontiff with their counsel in the preservation and growth of faith and morals and in the observance and strengthening of ecclesiastical discipline, and to consider questions pertaining to the activity of the Church in the world. The Synod of Bishops is permanent, even when not in session. Periodically, it holds assemblies, which are either general, if called to consider matters directly concerning the universal Church, or special, if called for problems of a particular geographical area. The general assemblies are either ordinary (held at fixed intervals) or extraordinary (held to treat of some urgent matter). The Synod of Bishops also has a permanent secretariat headquartered in Rome but is not part of the Roman Curia. Pope Francis greatly increased both the authority and influence of the Synod in September 2018.