(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the participants in the 39th international conference of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization on Thursday. The week-long event (June 6-13) brings together roughly 450 participants from scores of countries and every part of the to evaluate the Organization’s recent activities and plan for the work of the coming…
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(Vatican Radio) This morning, Thursday 11 June 2015, His Holiness Pope Francis received in Audience the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper. Following the Audience, Mr Harper met with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States. In the course of the cordial discussion, the good relations existing between the Holy See and Canada were…
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(Vatican Radio) Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met Pope Francis Wednesday evening in a private audience in the Vatican. It was the second meeting between the Pope and the Russian President. A statement issued by the Head of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi said the meeting held between the Holy Father and Russian…
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(Vatican Radio) Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met Pope Francis Wednesday evening in a private audience in the Vatican. I t was the second meeting between the Pope and the Russian President.
A statement issued by the Head of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi said the meeting held between the Holy Father and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place in the Library of the Apostolic Palace.
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During the discussions which lasted 50 minutes both the Pope and the President focused on the conflict in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
Fr Lombardi said Pope Francis stressed the “need to commit oneself in a sincere and great effort to achieve peace,” adding that both men “agreed on the importance of reconstructing a climate of dialogue and that all sides commit themselves to implementing the Minsk accords.”
Also stressed was the need to address the serious humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
Regarding the conflicts in the Middle East, both men discussed the situation in Iraq and Syria.
The Vatican statement highlighted the “urgency” with which the international community must pursue peace efforts, “assuring at the same time the necessary conditions for the life of all components of society, including religious minorities and in particular Christians.”
During an exchange of gifts following the meeting, President Putin gave the Pope an embroidery of the famous Church of Jesus Savior, while the Pope donated a medallion by artist Guido Veroi showing the angel of peace calling for the construction of a world of solidarity and peace based on justice. A copy of the Pope’s Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium was also given to the President.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Holy See Press Office) In the afternoon session of 8 June 2015, the Council of Cardinals received a report from Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, OFM Cap. with a proposal for the Holy Father regarding allegations of the abuse of office by a bishop connected to the abuse of minors, originally prepared by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Cardinal O’Malley’s report also included a proposal regarding allegations of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults by clergy.
For each proposal, the report indicated the general terms which define it, issues relating to procedure and to the Tribunal which judges the cases, as well as the advantages of the proposal compared with other possible solutions. The text concludes with a list of five specific proposals made to the Holy Father, which are listed below. It is proposed:
1. That because the competence to receive and investigate complaints of the episcopal abuse of office belongs to the Congregations for Bishops, Evangelization of Peoples, or Oriental Churches there is the duty to report all complaints to the appropriate Congregation.
2. That the Holy Father mandate the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to judge bishops with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the abuse of minors.
3. That the Holy Father authorize the establishment of a new Judicial Section in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and appointment of stable personnel to undertake service in the Tribunal. The implementation of this decision would follow consultation with the Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
4. That the Holy Father appoint a Secretary to assist the Prefect with the Tribunal. The Secretary will have responsibility for the new Judicial Section and the personnel of the Section will also be available to the Prefect for penal processes regarding the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults by clergy. This appointment will also follow the consultation with the Prefect of the Congregation.
5. That the Holy Father establish a five-year period for further development of these proposals and for completing a formal evaluation of their effectiveness.
The Council of Cardinals agreed unanimously on these proposals and resolved that they be submitted to the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The Holy Father approved the proposals and authorized that sufficient resources will be provided for this purpose.
(from Vatican Radio)…