UISG 2022 plenary

Pope Francis told leaders of women religious congregations that synodality is a way to affirm the original intentions of the founders of religious congregations while meeting the needs of a rapidly changing world.

The leaders of religious orders around the world are taking very seriously not only preparations for the Synod of Bishops assembly in 2023, but the whole idea of making the Catholic Church more "synodal" -- a place where everyone is called to prayer, discernment and responsibility for the church and its mission.

Speaking to leaders of women's congregations gathered in Rome, Jessie Rogers said if the faithful "hold on too tightly to how God acted in the past, they might overlook the new thing that God is doing in the present."

The International Union of Superiors General has begun distributing a $1 million grant by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to assist women's religious communities as they serve refugees who have fled the war in Ukraine.

Brazilian Cardinal João Braz de Aviz praised the International Union of Superiors General for years of commitment to acting in a synodal way. Braz de Aviz spoke May 3, the second day of the group's triennial plenary.

Brazilian Cardinal João Braz de Aviz told the superiors May 3 that their organization has been operating in a synodal manner since its founding more than 50 years ago, recognizing each other as sisters and accepting differences among them as something that enriches them all.

Hundreds of sisters from six continents are in Rome for the triennial plenary of the International Union of Superiors General, the organization's first major in-person event since the start of the pandemic.

With a wave of new appointments of religious sisters inside the Vatican, Pope Francis is making room for more women religious to have a permanent seat at the table. Sisters spoke about the importance of these changes.