(Vatican Radio) On the final day of the meeting of the Council of Cardinals – the so-called “C-9” group of Cardinals appointed by Pope Francis as his special advisors – the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, held a press conference explaining the Cardinals’ work of the past few days.
Listen to Christopher Wells’ report:
The C-9 group of Cardinals was established by Pope Francis especially to advise the Holy Father on the reform of the Roman Curia. Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga is expected to offer a report on the group’s work to the entire College of Cardinals, who are in Rome for a Consistory set to take place this Saturday, 14 February. The secretary of the C-9, Bishop Marcello Semeraro, is also expected to address the Cardinals. The reports of the two presenters were the focus of discussions during several sessions of the meeting of the C-9.
The Council of Cardinals also heard reports on the newly-established Secretariat for the Economy and the Council for the Economy, with a view to the finalization of the statutes for the two new bodies.
Father Lombardi said Cardinal Seán O’Malley is expected to address the Council of Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon, updating them on the work of the Commission for the Protection of Minors. The Commission concluded its first plenary session on Saturday 7 February.
The afternoon session, Father Lombardi said, will serve as a conclusion to the current meeting of the C-9 Council of Cardinals. The group will meet again on 13-15 April, and is also expected to meet in July of 2015.
Father Lombardi concluded the press conference with a few notes on the Consistory, which will begin on Thursday 12 February. After praying the Mid-morning prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, the Consistory will open with introductory remarks from Pope Francis. The Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, will also address the assembly.
The initial meeting of the Consistory will then focus on the reform of the Curia, on the basis of the interventions by Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga and Bishop Semeraro.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appealed for solidarity and aid for migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of refuge.
Listen to Lind Bordoni’s report:
His call for increased attention and aid follows news of the death of over 300 migrants who have drowned or died of hypothermia in the latest deadly tragedy of the sea.
In his appeal at the end of the weekly General Audience, the Pope said he is “following with preoccupation news from Lampedusa where there have been more deaths amongst the migrants caused by cold during their journey across the Mediterranean”.
“I wish to assure my prayers for the victims and once again encourage solidarity so that no one is without necessary aid” he said.
A statement from the United Nations refugee agency said survivors coming ashore today had reported that another rubber boat was unaccounted-for, likely raising the toll.
Earlier this week, the Italian coast guard reported that at least 29 people had died from hypothermia while travelling from north Africa to Italy’s coast.
Criticism has been voiced regarding the new EU-backed rescue patrol as ineffective for saving lives.
The European Union took over Mediterranean patrols after Italy phased out its robust “Mare Nostrum” operation, launched last year after 360 died off the coast of Lampedusa in 2013, saving thousands of lives.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appealed for solidarity and aid for migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of refuge. His call for increased attention and aid follows news of the death of some 200 migrants who have died of hypothermia in the latest deadly tragedy of the sea. In his appeal at the…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appealed for solidarity and aid for migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of refuge. His call for increased attention and aid follows news of the death of some 200 migrants who have died of hypothermia in the latest deadly tragedy of the sea. In his appeal at the…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) Continuing his catechesis on the family this Wednesday Pope Francis spoke about the joy of children in family life and how the choice to have children is not irresponsible but vital for a healthy, happy society.
Below a Vatican Radio translation of the Holy Father’s Catechesis
Dear brothers and sisters,
After reflecting on the figures of mother and father, in this catechesis on the family I would like to mention the child or, rather, the children. I draw inspiration from a beautiful image from Isaiah. The prophet writes: “Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you— your sons from afar, your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall throb and overflow”(60, 4-5a).
It is a beautiful image of the happiness that is realized in the reunion between parents and children, walking together towards a future of freedom and peace, after a long period of deprivation and separation.
In fact, there is a close bond between a people’s hope and the harmony between generations. There is a very close link between a people’s hope and inter-generational harmony. The joy of children makes their parents hearts throb and reopens the future.
Children are the joy of family and society. They are not a problem of reproductive biology, or one of many ways to realize oneself in life. Let alone their parent’s possession. Children are a gift. Do you understand? Children are a gift!
Each is unique and each is unrepeatable; and yet unmistakably tied to his or her roots. Being a son or daughter, according to God’s plan, means carrying within the memory and the hope of a love that has realized itself in lighting up another original and new human being. And for parents every child is different, is an individual…
Allow me to share a childhood memory, my mother would always say – there were five of us in our family – when asked which one was her favorite, she would say ‘I have five children like I have five fingers…if they beat one of my fingers all five hurt…all of my children are mine, but each one is different, just like my fingers…this is the way it is in the family, all children are different but all children…
You love your child because he is a child, not because he is beautiful, healthy, and good; not because he thinks like me, or embodies my desires. A child is a child: a life created by us but destined for him, for his good, the good of the family, society, humanity.
This is where the depth of the human experience of being son and daughter comes from, which allows us to discover the most gratuitous dimension of love , which never ceases to amaze us. It is the beauty of being loved before:
How often I meet mothers here [the Holy Father indicates the Square] who show me their pregnant bellies and ask me to bless them, because these children are loved before coming into the world!
Before we have done anything to deserve it, before we can speak or think, even before coming into the world!
Being a child is the fundamental condition to know God’s love, which is the ultimate source of this real miracle. In the soul of every child, not matter how vulnerable, God puts the seal of this love, which is the basis of his or her personal dignity, a dignity that nothing and no one can destroy.
Today it seems more difficult for children to imagine their future. Fathers – as I mentioned in the previous catechesis – have perhaps taken a step back and the children have become more uncertain in taking their steps forward. We can learn about good inter-generational relations from our Heavenly Father, who leaves us each of us free but never leaves us alone. And if we fail, He continues to follow us patiently without diminishing His love for us. Our Heavenly Father never takes a step back, Our Heavenly Father never takes a backward step in His love for us never, he always moves forward and waits for us, but never, ever backwards; He wants his children to be brave, He wants us to progress.
The children, for their part, should not be afraid of the commitment to build a new world: it is only right that they should want to improve on what they have received! But this must be done without arrogance, without presumption. We must know how to recognize a child’s worth, and children should always honor their parents.
The fourth commandment asks children- and we all are children! – to honor their father and mother (cf. Ex 20:12). This commandment comes right after the ones concerning God Himself. After the first three about God we have this fourth one. In fact it contains something sacred, something divine, and something that is at the root of every other kind of respect among men. And the biblical formulation of the fourth commandment adds: “That you may live a long time in the land the LORD your God is giving to you gives you”.
The virtuous link between generations is a guarantee of the future, and it is a guarantee of a very human story. A society of children who do not honor their parents is a society without honor, when you do not honor your parents you lose your honor! It is a society destined to fill itself with arid and greedy young.
However, even a society with a greedy generation, that doesn’t want to surround itself with children, that considers them above all worrisome, a weight, a risk, is a depressed society.
Just think of the many societies we know here in Europe. They are depressed societies because they don’t want children, they don’t have children. The birth rate doesn’t even reach 1%, why? Everyone should think about that and answer it personally.
If a generous family of children is viewed as if it were a burden, there is something wrong! As the Encyclical Humanae Vitae of Blessed Pope Paul VI teaches, but having more children cannot be automatically viewed as an irresponsible choice. The choice to not have children is selfish. Life rejuvenates and acquires energy when it multiplies: It is enriched, not impoverished! Children learn to take charge of their family, they mature in the sharing of sacrifices, and they grow in appreciation of its gifts. The experience of joyful fraternity animates the respect and care of parents, who are due our gratitude.
Many of you, here, have children. And we are all children. Let’s do something, it won’t take long. Let each one of us think, privately, about your children – if you have them – and about our parents, and let us thank God for the gift of them…[followed by a lengthy pause]
May the Lord bless our parents and your children.
Jesus, the eternal Son, made child in time, help us to find the way of a new outpouring of this human experience so simple and so great that is being children. In the multiplication of generations there is a mystery enrichment of life for all, which comes from God Himself. We must rediscover it, challenging prejudice; and live it, in faith, in perfect joy.
And let me tell you how beautiful it is to pass among you and see the Dad’s and Moms who lift up their children for a blessing, it is an almost divine action! Thank you
(from Vatican Radio)…