(Vatican Radio) Church leaders have been arriving in Rome from around the world for a two day meeting of the College of Cardinals which precedes the public consistory taking place on Saturday and Sunday. During the closed door meeting in the Synod Hall, which opens on Thursday morning, the Church leaders will be discussing proposed reforms of the Curia that the Group of 9 cardinals has been working on earlier this week. They are expected to include some decentralisation of governance from Rome to local bishops conferences, as well as greater transparency and closer cooperation among all the different parts of the Roman Curia. British Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor has been a vocal supporter of such changes which, he says, were at the heart of discussions prior to the conclave that elected Pope Francis nearly two years ago. Philippa Hitchen caught up with him ahead of the meeting to find out more about his expectations for this encounter…. Listen
The retired archbishop of Westminster says that many cardinals have been vocal about the need for reform, especially in the days before the conclave when they were speaking about the need to tackle challenges facing the Church, here in Rome and elsewhere Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor says the reforms are focused on collegiality and how the Church can be governed “under Peter and with Peter”. He says any reforms or changes take time to develop and need time to mature. “If there’s going to be a slightly new way of exercising authority with the bishops, he says, you have to do it step by step and we’ll be hearing some of those steps in the next few days” Together with collegiality, the cardinal says another important word is synodality: although there has been a synod of bishops for several decades, he believes “that needs developing”. The third key word, he says is subsidiarity: in matters of pastoral practise which may vary from one country to another, he says, there are matters which could be dealt with at local level without needing to “go straight to Rome”. Asked about perceived resistance to the proposed reforms, he says Pope Francis has urged the cardinals to be open and speak their minds. While he believes they will do just that at this week’s meeting, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor says he doesn’t believe rumours of widespread opposition and he expects “a consensus will arise” (from Vatican Radio)…
(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