Pope Francis has been called “a pope of firsts” and a “pope of surprises.” As a central focus of his papacy, the synod on synodality has also included many firsts and many surprises. This talk will consider the newness of the synod by looking at what has happened so far and what might be expected in October in Rome…and beyond.

Kristin Colberg is an associate professor at the College of St Benedict and St John’s University and School of Theology. She fell into theology by accident as an undergraduate at Notre Dame who wandered into “The History of Christianity II.” Her research interests include ecclesiology, ecumenism and the two Vatican councils. She serves on the theological commission for the Synod on Synodality and as a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC). Kristin resides in St Joseph, Minnesota with her husband Shawn (also a theologian) and her two teenaged daughters, Mary and Catherine.