BackYou are invited to join the Global Centre for Catholic Leaders as they welcome renowned authors and journalists,
Gerard O’Connell and Elisabetta Piqué, to the University of Notre Dame Australia.
Across events being held in Fremantle, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney,
Gerard and Elisabetta will share their insights into the Church’s synodal journey and the election of Pope Leo XIV.
Booking and event details for each are below.
FREMANTLE – 17 AUGUST 2026
Leading in a Synodal Church: Lessons from Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV
This engaging event will provide an opportunity to consider:
• the driving factors for Pope Francis’s synodal imagination
• the seeds and inspiration for synodality
• observations of Pope Leo XIV in relation to synodality.
Whether you are enthusiastic, curious or new to understanding synodality, this event offers an opportunity to better understand its origins, purpose and significance for the Church today.
Event Details
WHEN: Monday 17 August 2026
TIME: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (AWST)
WHERE:
Michael Keating Room
Fremantle Hotel
6 High Street
Fremantle WA
COST: $35
BOOKING:
Booking is essential. To book, click on the BOOKING button below.
PERTH – 18 AUGUST 2026
The Election of Pope Leo XIV
Elisabetta and Gerard will discuss their book, The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis.
Event Details
WHEN: Tuesday 18 August 2026
TIME: 4:30 pm – 6:15 pm (AWST)
WHERE:
450 Hay Street
Perth WA
COST: $30
BOOKING:
Booking is essential. To book, click on the BOOKING button below.
MELBOURNE – 25 AUGUST 2026
Event One
Leading in a Synodal Church: Lessons from Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV
This engaging event will provide an opportunity to consider:
• the driving factors for Pope Francis’s synodal imagination
• the seeds and inspiration for synodality
• observations of Pope Leo XIV in relation to synodality.
Whether you are enthusiastic, curious or new to understanding synodality, this event offers an opportunity to better understand its origins, purpose and significance for the Church today.
Event One Details
WHEN: Tuesday 25 August 2026
TIME: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm (AEST)
WHERE:
Monash Room
Sheraton Melbourne Hotel
27 Little Collins Street
Melbourne Vic
COST: $75
BOOKING:
Booking is essential. To book, click on the BOOKING button below.
MELBOURNE – 25 AUGUST 2026
Event Two
The Election of Pope Leo XIV
Elisabetta and Gerard will discuss their book, The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis.
Event Two Details
WHEN: Tuesday 25 August 2026
TIME: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm (AEST)
WHERE:
Catholic Leadership Centre
576 Victoria Parade
East Melbourne Vic
COST: $70
BOOKING:
Booking is essential. To book, click on the BOOKING button below.
The book will be available for purchase at the event.
BOOK EVENT TWO – MELBOURNESYDNEY – 27 AUGUST 2026
Event One
Leading in a Synodal Church: Lessons from Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV
This engaging event will provide an opportunity to consider:
• the driving factors for Pope Francis’s synodal imagination
• the seeds and inspiration for synodality
• observations of Pope Leo XIV in relation to synodality.
Whether you are enthusiastic, curious or new to understanding synodality, this event offers an opportunity to better understand its origins, purpose and significance for the Church today.
Event One Details
WHEN: Thursday 27 August 2026
TIME: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm (AEST)
WHERE:
Pioneer House
128/140 Broadway
Chippendale NSW
COST: $50
BOOKING:
Booking is essential. To book, click on the BOOKING button below.
SYDNEY – 27 AUGUST 2026
Event Two
Connecting, Building Trust, and Telling Meaningful Stories
Elisabetta and Gerard will discuss their book, The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis, along with a reminder to those in communications and leadership that we need to celebrate and share our Catholic story.
Event Two Details
WHEN: Thursday 27 August 2026
TIME: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (AEST)
WHERE:
School of Law and Business
University of Notre Dame
29-35 Shepherd Street
Broadway NSW
COST: $45
BOOKING:
Booking is essential. To book, click on the BOOKING button below.
SPEAKERS
Gerard O’Connell
Gerard is an Irish-born journalist who has been working in the Vatican for more than 40 years, including covering the funerals of the last three Popes and subsequent conclaves. Gerard writes for a variety of news outlets and is a correspondent on the podcast Inside the Vatican.
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Elisabetta Pique
Award-winning journalist Elisabetta Pique spent most of her life in Argentina until she was sent to Italy as a war correspondent for La Nacio. Here she reported from Russia, Ukraine, Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Kuwait, Hong Kong and Jordan, amongst other places. She travelled with Popes John Paul II, Benedict XIV, Francis and Leo XIV on many trips and reported on the conclaves of 2005, 2013 and 2025.
These are not Garratt Publishing-sponsored events.
However, we thought they would be of interest to our customers.
For enquiries, please email gccl@nd.edu.au.
