**Pope Francis Ratifies and Publishes Synod on Synodality Document, Foregoing Additional Exhortation**

In an unexpected turn of events at the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis ratified the final report on Saturday, October 26, 2024. The Pope also approved the document's immediate publication and announced that he would not release a separate postsynodal document.

Canon law permits the Pope to ratify the final document from a Synod of Bishops, thereby strengthening the assembly's guidelines. This authority, which has never been exercised before, was highlighted by Pope Francis during his address to synod participants in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall.

"I want, in this way, to recognize the value of the completed synodal journey, which through this document I hand over to the holy faithful people of God," the Pope stated in his livestreamed address. He emphasized that the document itself holds sufficient guidance for the Church's mission across different continents and contexts, making any additional apostolic exhortation unnecessary.

The Pope's actions are in alignment with the rules set out in the 2018 apostolic constitution Episcopalis Communio, which reformed the Synod of Bishops. According to this document and Canon 343 of the Code of Canon Law, the Pope has the authority to approve and promulgate the final document, granting it participation in the "ordinary magisterium."

Father Riccardo Battocchio, special secretary of the synod, confirmed this compliance during a press conference held on the same day to present the final document. Pope Francis’s decision underscores a significant shift in how the Church may approach reform and mission in the future.

The immediate publication of the final report ensures that its guidelines are instantly available for guiding the global Church, reflecting a new era of transparency and collective discernment.