The association of faithful as a hermenetic key to synodality

Abstract

In the canonical system the right to associate derives from Baptism and, through it, the person is legally recognized. The history of the associated apostolate is at the base of the Church itself, since the Second Vatican Council and the Code of Canon Law recognized it as a right of the faithful, highlighting their need as a channel for dialogue with contemporary culture. The concept of synodality is presented in the associative perspective to demonstrate that associations have, by their very nature, a synodal structure and the capacity to respond adequately to theological, ecclesiological and cultural demands.