Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to represent Irish Church at synod

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin will represent the Irish Church at the synod on the family in Rome next month.

The meeting of bishops called by Pope Francis will bring together the presidents of national bishops’ conferences, the heads of Eastern Catholic churches and Vatican officials.

However, since the resignation of Cardinal Seán Brady this week has left the presidency of the Irish Bishops’ Conference vacant until an election takes place, Archbishop Martin will represent the Irish Church at the assembly.

While controversial issues like whether or not the Church should offer communion to divorced and remarried Catholics may be on the agenda, bishops are not expected to make any formal proposals about the Church’s pastoral care of families until after a second, larger gathering next year.