Day 1
Catholic Bishop of Limerick Welcomes Synod Members to ‘Treaty City’
The Catholic Bishop of Limerick, The Most Revd Brendan Leahy, addressed Synod this afternoon (Thursday May 4). He said that Limerick was undergoing a whole new beginning and the presence of members of General Synod is a testament to the people of Limerick and an encouragement of their new beginning.
He spoke of he and Bishop Kenneth Kearon’s involvement last year in the International Anglican–Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (Iarccum) at which the Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Francis signed a common declaration. At the meeting the bishops were encouraged to return to our own locations and look for ways the Catholic and Anglican communities could work together.
During the 500th anniversary of the Reformation Pope Francis cited St Paul and said as ambassadors of reconciliation we are called to lay down our lives for the love of Jesus that we are saved. We no longer live for ourselves and our own interest but in the image of Christ. Bishop Leahy said that Pope Francis said that for the Church there is an invitation not to be caught up in programmes and plans but to look to the Lord’s Cross where we will find the programme for life. He said authentic reconciliation for Christians will only come when we can look to each other and learn from each other and accept each other’s gifts.
“So your presence in Limerick is an opportunity to pray together and serve together,” Bishop Leahy concluded.