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 Prof. 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:
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:
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.
The project is funded by state budget resources granted by the Minister of Science and Higher Education as part of the "Doskonała Nauka II" program.
The event is organized in partnership with and with the support of the Podlaskie Voivodeship.
