Latest 'Archbishop Mark's Statements' news articles.
- Author: Archbishop Mark's Statements
On the road together - The power of words
7 October 2015Yesterday afternoon, we finally moved into the small groups, which was a bit messy but refreshing. I say messy because the first challenge was to find the room where your group was to meet. That may sound easy, but (with four English groups, three French,... - Author: Archbishop Mark's Statements
On the Road Together - Widen the horizon
7 October 2015The video accompanying this post gives you a sense of the Synod Hall just before we began work this morning. It's time to meet and mingle - and you can see Pope Francis up the front shaking a few hands. I was too busy videoing to head his way: later... - Author: Archbishop Mark's Statements
On the Road Together - A time to speak
6 October 2015The sun rises on Synod Day 2. In the afternoon yesterday we began the long haul of the three-minute interventions, with Cardinal Vingt-Trois beginning with the very lengthy list of those who'd been called to speak. The two Kiwis and I were among those... - Author: Archbishop Mark's Statements
On the Road Together - The Synod begins
6 October 2015We've just completed the first morning of the three-week marathon. There was lots of milling around before we actually started - greeting those you know, finding your place in the Synod Hall, sorting through the documentation, making sure you know how... - Author: Archbishop Mark's Statements
On the Road Together - The Pope's homily
5 October 2015Just in from the Opening Mass of the Synod which was a tremendous occasion - not quite the NRL Grand Final (which must have been really something) but up there nonetheless. Pope Francis gave one of those quietly spoken but powerful homilies of his, drawing... - Author: Archbishop Mark's Statements
On the Road Together - Village life
4 October 2015From our different temporary lodgings, Bishop Hurley and I arrived at Maria Bambina this morning at about 9am, and an hour later we set off to the Synod Hall to lodge what's called the "petitio loquendi", which means our request to speak (for three minutes!)... - Author: Archbishop Mark's Statements
On the Road Together - Towards and beyond a wedding
3 October 2015Rome is a city that juggles fixity and flux, changelessness and change, being and becoming. It's a place that holds together past and present, with an unusual capacity to adapt while keeping a core intact. The historic monuments are everywhere, but the... - Author: Archbishop Mark's Statements
On the Road Together - A striking start
2 October 2015My first full day in Rome ... and there's a transport strike! I really know I'm back here when that sort of thing happens. I think the first word I ever learnt in Italian was "sciopero", which means "strike". Some things never change in the Eternal City... - Author: Archbishop Mark's Statements
On the Road Together - Show us your power, Little Flower
1 October 2015Sitting in the lounge at Dubai airport waiting for my flight to Rome, I've been thinking that the Synod needs to deal with facts - the world as it actually is rather than the world as we might wish it to be. Yes, we need to hold firmly to the vision of... - Author: Archbishop Mark's Statements
On the Road Together - Thoughts from the Synod
1 October 2015Finally, after months of preparation, the bags are packed and I head to Rome tonight for what is probably the most eagerly anticipated Synod since the close of Vatican II, 50 years ago. The word "synod" means "on the road together", which explains the...