Church in Australia: Plenary Council in 2020. “Pope Francis has given his approval”

The Catholic Church in Australia will be holding its Plenary Council in 2020: “Pope Francis has given his approval”. This is according to the website of the Australian Bishops’ Conference which reports that the Bishops “are deeply grateful to Pope Francis for affirming the decision” and asked “all people to join in prayer as we embark on this journey together as God’s people in Australia”.  The previous Plenary Council was held in Australia in 1937. “The Council will be a unique opportunity for people to come together and listen to God in all the ways God speaks to us, and in particular by listening to one another as together we discern what God is asking of us at this time”, said Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, chair of the Bishops Commission for the Plenary Council. Many are the challenges facing the Church which must be addressed starting with the question “What do you think God is asking of us in Australia?”. Charing the Council will be Archbishop Timothy Costelloe of Perth, who was “honoured” that Pope Francis had approved his nomination and said he was “committed to listening to the Spirit”. Mgr. Costelloe encouraged “all Catholics, whether devout or disillusioned, fervent or frustrated, to seize this opportunity to speak what is on their minds and in their hearts”. A “team of facilitators” have been working for some months and a series of “planning” meetings have already taken place, but the preparatory process will begin at Pentecost 2018.