The main event will be on Thursday 15 January at 7.30 p.m. in Merrion Road Church, Blackrock, Dublin.

The Pontiff's accusers say that the words and actions of Pope Francis amount to a comprehensive rejection of Catholic teaching on marriage and sexual activity, on the moral law, and on grace and the forgiveness of sins.

But numbers of couples getting married are down, says chief matchmaker, Leona Connery.

Motu proprio ‘The Lord Jesus, the Gentle Judge’ is intended to show the Church’s “closeness to wounded families”.

President of the German bishops’ conference says the problem of Catholics who are divorced and remarried must be addressed by the synod.

Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmiero favours letting individual bishops make nullity decisions after careful consideration, based largely on the credibility of the couple.