As the first full week of the synod wraps up Geraldine speaks to Br Mark O’Connor who is in Rome watching and listening on the ground. The pre-synod retreat led by Dominican priest Timothy Radcliffe set a reflective tone for the men and women who will spend the rest of October at round tables just like at Australia’s Plenary Council.

While inside the synod hall delegates seem to be learning the new rules of engagement, Mark is also keeping a close eye and ear on Vatican press proceedings.

Follow Plenary Matters in Rome on the Plenary Matters Facebook page.

Highly recommended:

• Timothy Radcliffe’s six retreat talks: Hoping against hope; At home in God and God at home in us; Friendship; Conversation on the way to Emmaus; Authority; The Spirit of Truth

• Mark’s Letter One and Two from the synod

• Christopher Lamb’s Tablet podcast with Austen Ivereigh

• New York Times article, ‘Vatican Conference Draws All Stripes to Rome, Welcome or Not’