How did we get here?
The current phase of Pope’s Francis synodal process ( a worldwide consultation process about the state of the church) is taking place in Rome this October. This Synod consists of laymen and women, as well as bishops and cardinals. Irish Jesuit Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ is in attendance.
They meet all week and on Saturday mornings to discuss the issues that have arisen from this global consultation process which Austen Ivereigh (also attending the current Synod) has described as “the biggest consultation process in the history of the world.”
In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, he outlines simply the processes (starting at parish level) that have led to what exactly is being discussed at this historic event in Rome.
Dr Austen Ivereigh is an author and journalist who was a member of the national synthesis team for the Synod of England and Wales, and also a member of the team that synthesized the contents of the documents from the five continents in Frascati. He also advises the synod secretariat on communications.