The Archbishop, Mgr Pawl Cremona, OP, leaves for Hungary today to join the presidents of the episcopal conferences of Europe for a plenary assembly of their council being held in Budapest between today and Friday.

He will then be proceeding to Rome for a bishops’ synod.

The European bishops will be discussing media criticism of the Church and the Church’s opportunity to defend itself.

Also coming up for discussion will be, among others, the Church’s work in Africa, collaboration between African and European bishops, and the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The bishops’ synod in Rome will be opened by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday. The synod will be concluded on 26 October.