A highly anticipated one final report from a historic doctrinal meeting at Vatican sidestepped issues of clergy women and LGBTQ+ acceptance in its final report.

The Synod of synodalityan assembly of representatives of the Catholic Church that meets periodically from 2021 to order Pope Francismade history when it included women among the 400 invited church bishops. In the end, the Synod could not reach a consensus on the question of women in the clergy or offer the recognition of marriage equality and the acceptance of same-sex relationships and sexual orientation, but neither did it close the door on the subjects. These contentious issues were referred to 10 study groups in May, and the final report issued last week instead focuses on issues related to the structure of the church and general exhortations to continue the good works of the church.

“The final document calls for a new approach, which no longer sees the Church as a ‘corporation’ with branches, but as a communion of Churches,” the Vatican said in a press release. “The term ‘universal Church’ is reframed to emphasize unity in diversity, seeing local Churches not as subordinate levels but as unique expressions of faith in the one Body of Christ.”

“We don’t need a sedentary and defeatist Church, but a Church that listens to the cry of the world and gets its hands dirty in service,” said Pope Francis in his closing homily of the Synod, Vatican reported.

The Pope’s words did little to satisfy Synod observers and participants, however, who reported that the middle ground seen in the final report left many disappointed.

The synod “succeeded in making everyone unhappy,” said Roberto de Mattei, president of the Lepanto Catholic Foundation. Washington Post.

More progressive elements within the church, hoping for an affirmation of marriage equality and acceptance of same-sex sexual orientation, have been rejected by conservative bishops in Eastern Europe, Africa and Australia.

In response to questions emailed from Postthe president of the Polish Episcopal Conference, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, criticized the German church for blessing same-sex couples and called for reforms that he said were “heavily inspired by Protestant theology and the language of modern politics” rather than Catholic teachings traditional.

“It’s hard to say whether this synod actually made a decision,” Massimo Faggioli, a Catholic theologian at Villanova University, also told Post.

These decisions may depend on the outcome of the 10 study groups working on the most controversial issues. Their work is expected to continue next year.