You, or a representative, are invited to attend a press conference to welcome the publication of the new Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love: On Love in the Family). Details:
Venue Archbishop’s House, Drumcondra, Dublin 9
Photocall 1:45pm
Press conference 2:00pm
In attendance The President of Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, and the Vice-President, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin.
Notes to Editors
- Media can also obtain photographs for publication from John McElroy 00353 (0) 87 241 6985.
- An Apostolic Exhortation is a formal reflection issued by a Pope following a Synod of Bishops. Last October in Rome Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin attended the Fourteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme, ‘The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World’, and this followed an Extraordinary Synod in 2014 which was themed, ‘The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangalisation’. Both synods involved the participation of Synod Fathers from 190 countries. At the 2015 synod Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was elected as Rapporteur of the second of four English-speaking groups and Archbishop Eamon Martin was elected as Moderator of the third of the four English-speaking groups.
- The Catholic Church in Ireland is now preparing for the 9thWorld Meeting of Families which will take place in Dublin in 2018. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin attended the 8th World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia last September. Held every three years, and coordinated by the Pontifical Council for the Family, the World Meeting of Families is the largest gathering of Catholic families and it celebrates family life and the Church’s commitment to support families.
- In Ireland, as around the world, publications by Pope Francis are very popular. Pope Francis’ first Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), published in 2013, has to date sold over 23,000 copies in Ireland. In 2015 Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on care for our common home Laudato Si’ (Praise Be To You) was published and has sold over 15,000 copies in Ireland.
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444