PHOTO: GENEVIEVE GIRLING

Puccini’s one-act opera Suor Angelica from English National Opera in London 22

COLUMNS

Anne Booth ‘I kept praying for the energy to do my work, but my prayers didn’t seem to be answered’ / 6

Christopher Howse’s Notebook ‘The atavistic yearnings of my nether parts have been limited to mail-order trouserings’ / 11

REGULARS Letters 14 The Living Spirit 15 Word from the Cloisters 16 Puzzles 16 Across the Universe 30 Glimpses of Eden 30

CONTENTS 5 OCTOBER 2024 // VOL. 278 NO. 9572

FEATURES

4 / The shape of the Church to come The final assembly of the Synod on Synodality could mark a decisive stage in the history of Catholicism / BY AUSTEN IVEREIGH

7 / How long, Lord?

A Jewish Israeli Catholic priest calls to mind Palestinians, Israelis and Lebanese caught up in a grinding machinery of death / BY DAVID NEUHAUS

8 / ‘Small happiness is everywhere’ The sacrifice of Maximilian Kolbe in Auschwitz gave a young Japanese survivor of Nagasaki the courage to fight against evil / BY NAOKO ABE

10 / Corrymeela’s next chapter The community that offered a rare space for dialogue during the Troubles now embraces a broader agenda of reconciliation / BY JOHN KIRKALDY

12 / Adam unleashed

As the Christian ethic of respect for the human body is jettisoned, unchecked male sexual aggression is bringing chaos and death to the world / BY TINA BEATTIE

NEWS

23 / The Church in the World / News briefing 24 / Pope appeals to bishops: ‘Do not cover up abuse’

25 / Postcard from Yaoundé

26 / View from Rome 27 / News from Britain and Ireland / News briefing

28 / Masterclass videos launched for teachers

COVER: ALAMY, DEREK MEIJER

BOOKS / PAGE 17

Peter Popham The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the Wo r l d WILLIAM DALRYMPLE Simon Scott Plummer The Red Emperor: Xi Jinping and His New China MICHAEL SHERIDAN Liz Dodd The Kingdom of the Poor: My Journey Home CHARLES STROBEL Christopher Bray Gabriel’s Moon WILLIAM BOYD

ARTS / PAGE 20 Exhibition Asian Bronze: 4,000 Years of Beauty JOANNA MOORHEAD Theatre Coriolanus MARK LAWSON Exhibition Monet and London: Views of the Thames ANNA MOORE Music Suor Angelica ALEXANDRA COGHLAN

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5 OCTOBER 2024 | THE TABLET | 3