On November 16, 2024, the University of Białystok hosted the International Conference titled “Synodality in the Church. Biblical, Historical, Theological, and Legal Foundations.” The event, organized by the Chair of Catholic Theology at the University of Białystok (UwB) as part of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education’s  „Doskonała Nauka II” (“Excellence in Science II”) project, gathered distinguished experts from Poland and abroad. The keynote speaker was His Eminence Cardinal Prof. Dr. Hab. Gerhard Müller from the Vatican. 

The day before the conference, international guests met with the Vice-Rector of the University of Białystok, Dr. Hab. Krzysztof Korotkich, Prof. UwB. The Vice-Rector emphasized the significance of synodality in both the historical and contemporary contexts of the Church and commended the speakers and organizers for their efforts. 

broadcast from the Conference in English

Father Dr. Hab. Bazyli Degórski (University of St. Thomas Aquinas – Angelicum, Rome) and Fr. Prof. René Roux (Faculty of Theology, Lugano, Switzerland) expressed gratitude to the university authorities for hosting such a prestigious conference in Białystok. Faculty members from the Chair of Catholic Theology, Fr. Dr. Hab. Andrzej Proniewski, Prof. UwB, and Fr. Lic. Leszek Jakoniuk, who were the initiators and organizers of the event, also attended the meeting.

The conference began at 10:00 a.m. with an opening address by Archbishop Dr. Józef Guzdek, Metropolitan of Białystok. Fr. Dr. Hab. Andrzej Proniewski, Prof. UwB, acting head of the Chair of Catholic Theology, officially inaugurated the event.

The keynote lecture on the theology of synodality was delivered by Cardinal Prof. Dr. Hab. Gerhard Müller. Following this, participants attended an online lecture by Fr. Prof. Dr. Hab. Janusz Kręcidło (Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw), who joined from Zurich to discuss the biblical foundations of synodality.

After a short break, the first session continued with the following presentations:

• Fr. Prof. René Roux, who analyzed primacy and synodality in non-Chalcedonian Churches.
• Fr. Dr. Hab. Bazyli Degórski, who explored synods in Rimini and Seleucia.

The conference featured a panel discussion moderated by Fr. Prof. Dr. Hab. Mieczysław Ozorowski (Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University). The panelists addressed various aspects of synodality, including:

• Patristic elements of ecclesiology (Fr. Prof. Dr. Hab. Józef Naumowicz, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University).
• The development of legal norms related to synodality (Fr. Dr. Mariusz Bakalarz, Metropolitan Court in Częstochowa).
• Synodality in Orthodox ecclesiology (Fr. Dr. Hab. Marek Ławreszuk, Prof. UwB).

Fr. Dr. Tadeusz Kasabuła (UwB) was scheduled to deliver a lecture on synodality in the context of Christianity’s reorganization between 476–800, but in his absence, Fr. Dr. Adam Szot, a lecturer in history at the Archdiocesan Seminary in Białystok, provided a thorough presentation on the topic. 

The conference was streamed live on YouTube with simultaneous English translation, allowing an international audience to participate. The event attracted over 80 on-site attendees and nearly 200 online viewers following the lectures and discussions in both Polish and English. 

The conference concluded with remarks by Bishop Dr. Hab. Henryk Ciereszko, a specialist in fundamental theology. 

In the afternoon, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, accompanied by the organizers and international speakers, toured the University of Białystok campus. The group admired the university’s new infrastructure, including the Planetarium and Observatory on Ciołkowski Street. The campus buildings were designed by Prof. Marek Budzyński, renowned for his designs of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic and the University of Warsaw Library.

The International Conference “Synodality in the Church” was made possible by strategic partners: the University of Białystok, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the Podlaskie Voivodeship. 

The conference’s international and interdenominational perspective on synodality made it a unique academic event, bringing together experts and fostering deeper reflection on one of the key issues facing the contemporary Church.