The Vatican's Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life has also invited young people “to do something that shows kindness and affection for older people who may feel lonely.”

“I see this conference as an endorsement of the key role the elderly play in our Church and in society today. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI recognised that critical role when he wrote a special Prayer for Grandparents in 2008” - Bishop Denis Nulty.

National conference on Saturday will encourage people from all over Ireland to launch out into the deep.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life tells Intercom "the Roman Curia is overloaded with clerics, and it shouldn’t be like that.”

Sr Teresa McKeon of the St Joseph of Cluny congregation has been honoured by the President of Sierra Leone for her “dedicated and meritorious service to the state in the field of education and the development of women”.

“Go and read the entire document and don’t start with the footnotes or chapter 8, start at chapter 1 and read through the entire document.”

“You’ve got those who are sleeping on the streets and it is disgraceful. You’ve got families living in hotel rooms which is a shame on our city” – Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

Pope Francis is challenging us to see a preparation course as merely one part of a programme that ultimately needs to be parish-based: Accord president Bishop Denis Nulty.

Prefect of the Vatican’s new Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has said he believes Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland will change some of the negativity here towards the Catholic Church.

New Vatican department which Bishop Kevin Farrell leads will join together the competencies of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family.