What God Expects of the Church

Inspired by Pope Francis’ comment that the path of synodality is what God expects of the Church of the third millennium, in this book, Brendan Leahy explores the synodal theme from a number of angles, theological and practical. He offers helpful summaries of Pope Francis’ and Pope Leo XIII’s views on synodality. He shares his experience at the 2023 and 2024 sessions of the XVI Synod in Rome. Assisting the reader unpack the Synod’s Final Document in terms of calls for action, he also indicates some key elements for a synodal spirituality.

Brendan Leahy is the Bishop of Limerick. Formerly professor of theology at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, he is the author of a number of publications. On behalf of the Irish Bishops Conference, he attended the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission. Bishop Leahy held a Diocesan Synod in his own diocese in 2016. He is currently Co-Chair of the Irish Inter-Church Committee.