Choosing men and women from every part of the world and from a wide variety of professions, Pope Benedict nominated 45 experts and 49 observers for the upcoming world assembly of bishops.

The Oct. 7-28 gathering will include the largest bloc of women – 10 experts and 19 observers – ever to participate in a world Synod of Bishops.

Europe accounts for the overwhelming majority of the appointees, followed by North America, including one from Canada – Sister Gill Goulding, a professor of systematic theology and spirituality at Regis College of the University of Toronto.