Irish representatives at the Synod Brendan Leahy (Bishop of Limerick), Alan McGuckian (Bishop of Raphoe) (below l. and r. respectively), Rev Professor Eamon Conway (priest of the Archdiocese of Tuam, serving as ‘Expert and Facilitator’), and Sister Patricia Murray IBVM (Executive Secretary of the International Union of Superiors General).
"As they left Ireland, Bishops Leahy and McGuckian reiterated that the Synodal Process is about conversion and, in light of Pope Francis’ comment that 'without prayer there will be no Synod', invited people of faith to pray to God over the coming weeks at daily and weekend Masses, at home, and in religious communities, for Pope Francis and for all members of the Synodal Assembly." (https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2023/09/27/irish-bishops-ask-for-prayers-ahead-of-attending-the-synod-on-synodality-in-rome/)
Oct. 5th: First meeting of Synod in Paul VI Hall
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| Photo taken from Vatican News website |
"The Holy Spirit," he said, "guides us by the hand and consoles us." Read more of the Pope's address here.
And here you can read the "Instrumentum Laboris" for the Synod, presenting the programme for the entire month's proceedings.
On Saturday 28th October the Synod came to a close with the publication of the Synthesis Report. You can read it here.
Finally, in a "Motu Proprio" published on the feast of All Saints (Nov. 1st), the Pope gave his views on how theology should be practised today. Pick out something for yourself from it here. This is what I picked: "Theology should prophesy the hope of an ultimate fulfilment [as cure] for the open wounds of humanity and creation" [Section 13].
