Baptised Catholics are 'the principal presence of the Church in the world', says Professor Catherine Clifford. She's one of the Canadian delegates to the Synod on Synodality, an expert on Vatican II, and is overseeing the drafting of the final text that will be voted on by all the delegates in the last week.

When Pope Francis asked bishops to consult people about their experiences in and hopes for the Church, it awakened expectations among Catholics everywhere that they are central to the Church's mission. And they're asking be formed – to pray, to discern, to read the Scriptures – so how will the Synod respond to this global search? And what resources can be redirected to accompany people on the margins not just in a material sense, but also socially and spiritually?

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