Plenary Matters Geraldine Doogue

In this special episode of Plenary Matters Geraldine speaks about hope with Dominican priest Timothy Radcliffe during his recent visit to Australia.

Pope Francis appointed Fr Timothy as spiritual advisor to the synod on synodality and his series of talks and meditations to synod delegates set the tone for the synod’s call to journey together as a global human family.

Timothy tells Geraldine he thinks the church has something to offer a multipolar world. But it may cost us. ‘This crisis will really put us to the test whether we are the body of Christ in which the walls are broken down between north and south and east and west,’ he says.

Mentioned in the show:


Ezra Klein's interview with author Marilynne Robinson
Timothy Radcliffe's new book with Lukasz Popko, Questioning God (Bloomsbury)
See also Timothy's synod reflections and talks, Listening Together: Meditations on Synodality (Liturgical Press)

You can also catch up on Plenary Matters' coverage from Rome:


The synod gets underway
A church under pressure
History making at the synod
Letter to the people of God

Share your thoughts on the Plenary Matters Facebook page

Welcome back to a new season of Plenary Matters!

Up first is renowned Czech theologian Tomáš Halík, in Australia last month to discuss his new book, The Afternoon of Christianity, with Australian Jesuit Frank Brennan. Drawing on his experience of an underground church, Tomáš calls for a deepening spirituality that goes beyond the institutional and mental borders of Christianity to meet the ‘Galilee of today’.

Is the church ready for the task?

Watch the discussion on the Diocese of Parramatta's YouTube channel, as part of the 'Bishop Vincent Presents' series, and leave your feedback via the Plenary Matters Facebook page.

Read the National Catholic Reporter's review of Tomáš Halík’s book: 'The Afternoon of Christianity' sets stage for courageous change

We’ll also post a link in future episodes to the discussion on women deacons Geraldine mentions at the end of the episode.

Christopher White, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, sat down with Geraldine during his recent visit to the Diocese of Parramatta to give some revealing anecdotes and insights into the synod's first assembly.
While the dismantling of hierarchy may be a step still too far for some delegates, he believes the next papal enclave will be a referendum on synodality.

He also told Geraldine any correspondence to the pope on matters like women deacons can be sent c/- Prefecture of the Papal Household, 00120 Vatican City State.

You can watch the interview on the Diocese of Parramatta's YouTube channel, as part of the 'Bishop Vincent Presents' series.

Keep up to date via the Plenary Matters Facebook page!

The synod released its letter to the People of God, while Pope Francis made his own intervention on the Church as 'God's faithful people.' Geraldine chats with Julie on her last day on the press floor about her experience observing on the ground and how synodality might be made more concrete in the coming months.

On Vatican News:


Synod General Assembly to People of God: 'Church must listen to everyone'
Pope: I like to think of the Church as God’s faithful people
Timothy Radcliffe's spiritual reflection, 'The seed germinates'

On National Catholic Reporter:


Francis wants the synod in every parish. Here's how to bring it to yours
Interview with Susan Pascoe on The Vatican Briefing
Christopher White's visit to Australia

Send your feedback via the Plenary Matters Facebook page.

As the synod prepares its final documents to go out from Rome to the whole Church at the end of this week, the real work of the first assembly is only beginning. The Tablet correspondent Christopher Lamb, who covered the Plenary Council in Australia, tells Geraldine that this synod is history in the making despite some questioning its legitimacy.

This episode was recorded on the floor of the press room and filmed by a PBS documentary team. We are trying to resolve the audio issues on Geraldine's end, please bear with us!

Mentioned in this episode:


Christopher Lamb's Tablet article, 'At synod they wept, but have they truly changed?'
Archbishop Anthony Fisher's interview on the synod
Timothy Radcliffe's third reflection, 'Friendship'
Prof Ormond Rush's reflection on tradition at the General Congregation

You can also read Br Mark O'Connor's fourth letter from the synod, 'The meaning is in the waiting'.

Thanks for listening! Follow more Rome coverage on our Plenary Matters Facebook page.

Just over the halfway point of this first assembly of the synod and the tensions on the floor are no surprise, according to Australian Augustinian Fr Tony Banks. He has a unique vantage point living with five of the synod delegates right beside St Peter's Square and tells Geraldine that the emotions and personal testimonies in the room, which are reportedly disturbing some delegates, are part of the process. While the effects of synodality won't be felt for some years to come, he believes this synod is cementing the notion of a church under pressure to change.

Read Loup Besmond de Senneville's article, 'Discordant voices inside the Synod'

Watch Cardinal Hollerich and Fr Timothy Radcliffe speak at the opening of the final module in the Instrumentum Laboris on participation, governance and authority.

You can also read Timothy Radcliffe's reflection on the woman at the well, as well as Mark O'Connor's third letter from Rome via the Diocese of Parramatta's Catholic Outlook.

Follow more Rome coverage on our Plenary Matters Facebook page.