This morning, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ held a briefing concerning the seventh meeting of the Cardinal consultors with Pope Francis.
The meeting of the 9 Cardinals began on December 9 in the morning and will conclude this evening. Three days in total. Yesterday, the Holy Father, as usual, was absent from the morning meeting because of the General Audience, but for the rest of the time, he was present and participated, listening very attentively.
The entire first day, and part of the second was dedicated to reports and reflections concerning the observations from the meeting of the Heads of Dicasteries from the Curia which was presided by the Pope a few weeks ago, on November 24, during which the Secretary of the Council, His Excellency, Marcello Semeraro had presented the orientations and the propositions of the nine Cardinals regarding the reforms of the Curia. During that meeting, Bishop Semeraro collected a series of very rich ideas, observations and interventions which he reported to the nine Cardinals. These elements have been appropriately considered and evaluated. They have enriched the reflection and various observations have been incorporated, though in substance, there was a confirmation of the guidelines provided.
As you may imagine, the observations were of a general character, inspirational in character, and will now guide the work of reforming the Curia, but also there were a few specific points concerning the proposals which were outlined which - as you know - formerly included the amalgamation and the reorganization of some of the Pontifical Councils around two main areas: that of the laity and families; and that of justice, peace and charity. We must insist that investigations are still ongoing: this is a process that is continuing; there are no formal decisions. We are in a process of reform which still has ample time yet ahead of us.
Another aspect which was touched upon concerned the Commission for the protection of minors. Cardinal O'Malley reported on the current situation, the establishment of the Office which is currently taking shape: we have the Secretary - as you know it is Monsignor Robert Oliver - and the others who are in the old Santa Marta, and we are still in the process of identifying and assembling other personnel who are essential to the functioning of this Office. Nominations have also been entertained for other members of the Commission. At present, there are eight members of the Commission, plus the secretary, and we are working on adding other competent persons from various continents, so that there can be a representation from the various cultural and ecclesial realities. We are working toward a total of eighteen members of the Commission. Nominations have been received and are currently being verified as to the availability and willingness of the individuals concerned, then we will proceed to their appointments. It is hoped that these will be published in time for the next Plenary assembly of the Commission which will take place from February 6-8, 2015. The process, though it has been slow to this point, continues and will eventually lead to its predictable conclusion. Thus, the Plenary which will take place at the beginning of February will already involve a program of activities which are being undertaken by the Commission.
Another point which was taken into consideration, just today, in the first part of the morning, before the members celebrated the Funeral Mass for Cardinal Meija, was that of the reorganization of the Economic dicasteries.
This morning, another participant at the meetings was Professor Joseph Zahra, Associate lay coordinator of the Council for the Economy (the general coordinator, as you know is Cardinal Marx, who is also a member of the Council of 9). Professor Zahra spoke about the activity of the Council for the Economy and his recommendations for proceeding with the reconfiguration of the dicasteries and the economic and financial offices of the Holy See. The Council took note of his recommendations with satisfaction and encouraged him to continue, while also making some recommendations. This was not a time for making specific decisions, but for updates as the journey continues, so that the work of the Council for the Economy and that of the Council of 9 Cardinals can be well coordinated. As you may remember, even though there were many other events taking place on December 2, there was also a meeting of the Council for the Economy, and normally, they try to have a meeting of the Council for the Economy a few days before the meetings of the Council of 9 Cardinals, in order that the results or considerations can be regularly referred from the Council for the Economy to the Council of 9.
Now the next steps are as follows:
The next Plenary of the Council of 9 will be held in Febraury, from the 9th to the 11th - and will include a more involved reading of the status of the current formulation of the guidelines and proposals for the reform of the Curia, so that these suggestions can also presented to the Consistory which is expected to follow immediately afterward.
In fact, it is expected that there will be a Consistory of Cardinals convened on February 12 and 13, as was the case last year. During this Consistory, the work of the Council of 9, in its work of preparation for the reform of the Curia and also regarding the other functions that it has fulfilled and is currently fulfilling in providing counsel to the Holy Father, will be presented to the College of Cardinals in order to invite their collaboration and verification of the path which will be followed in the future.
The Holy Father has also authorized me to communicate to you that in the days following the consistory - February 14 and 15 - there will also be a Consistory for the creation of new cardinals. Thus, we will follow the same pattern as we did a year ago: as it was then, at the concluding briefing on the final annual session of the Council of 9, we announced the following meeting in February, a three-day meeting of the Council of 9 which would precede a Consistory of the College of Cardinals which would take place for two days afterward, and then a Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals two days after that, including the concelebration of a Sunday Mass. This year, everything will be done a few days before they took place last year. We must take into account the fact that this year, Ash Wednesday will be observed on February 18.
Briefing provided by Father Federico Lombardi, SJ
Director of the Holy See Press Office
The meeting of the 9 Cardinals began on December 9 in the morning and will conclude this evening. Three days in total. Yesterday, the Holy Father, as usual, was absent from the morning meeting because of the General Audience, but for the rest of the time, he was present and participated, listening very attentively.
The entire first day, and part of the second was dedicated to reports and reflections concerning the observations from the meeting of the Heads of Dicasteries from the Curia which was presided by the Pope a few weeks ago, on November 24, during which the Secretary of the Council, His Excellency, Marcello Semeraro had presented the orientations and the propositions of the nine Cardinals regarding the reforms of the Curia. During that meeting, Bishop Semeraro collected a series of very rich ideas, observations and interventions which he reported to the nine Cardinals. These elements have been appropriately considered and evaluated. They have enriched the reflection and various observations have been incorporated, though in substance, there was a confirmation of the guidelines provided.
As you may imagine, the observations were of a general character, inspirational in character, and will now guide the work of reforming the Curia, but also there were a few specific points concerning the proposals which were outlined which - as you know - formerly included the amalgamation and the reorganization of some of the Pontifical Councils around two main areas: that of the laity and families; and that of justice, peace and charity. We must insist that investigations are still ongoing: this is a process that is continuing; there are no formal decisions. We are in a process of reform which still has ample time yet ahead of us.
Another aspect which was touched upon concerned the Commission for the protection of minors. Cardinal O'Malley reported on the current situation, the establishment of the Office which is currently taking shape: we have the Secretary - as you know it is Monsignor Robert Oliver - and the others who are in the old Santa Marta, and we are still in the process of identifying and assembling other personnel who are essential to the functioning of this Office. Nominations have also been entertained for other members of the Commission. At present, there are eight members of the Commission, plus the secretary, and we are working on adding other competent persons from various continents, so that there can be a representation from the various cultural and ecclesial realities. We are working toward a total of eighteen members of the Commission. Nominations have been received and are currently being verified as to the availability and willingness of the individuals concerned, then we will proceed to their appointments. It is hoped that these will be published in time for the next Plenary assembly of the Commission which will take place from February 6-8, 2015. The process, though it has been slow to this point, continues and will eventually lead to its predictable conclusion. Thus, the Plenary which will take place at the beginning of February will already involve a program of activities which are being undertaken by the Commission.
Another point which was taken into consideration, just today, in the first part of the morning, before the members celebrated the Funeral Mass for Cardinal Meija, was that of the reorganization of the Economic dicasteries.
This morning, another participant at the meetings was Professor Joseph Zahra, Associate lay coordinator of the Council for the Economy (the general coordinator, as you know is Cardinal Marx, who is also a member of the Council of 9). Professor Zahra spoke about the activity of the Council for the Economy and his recommendations for proceeding with the reconfiguration of the dicasteries and the economic and financial offices of the Holy See. The Council took note of his recommendations with satisfaction and encouraged him to continue, while also making some recommendations. This was not a time for making specific decisions, but for updates as the journey continues, so that the work of the Council for the Economy and that of the Council of 9 Cardinals can be well coordinated. As you may remember, even though there were many other events taking place on December 2, there was also a meeting of the Council for the Economy, and normally, they try to have a meeting of the Council for the Economy a few days before the meetings of the Council of 9 Cardinals, in order that the results or considerations can be regularly referred from the Council for the Economy to the Council of 9.
Now the next steps are as follows:
The next Plenary of the Council of 9 will be held in Febraury, from the 9th to the 11th - and will include a more involved reading of the status of the current formulation of the guidelines and proposals for the reform of the Curia, so that these suggestions can also presented to the Consistory which is expected to follow immediately afterward.
In fact, it is expected that there will be a Consistory of Cardinals convened on February 12 and 13, as was the case last year. During this Consistory, the work of the Council of 9, in its work of preparation for the reform of the Curia and also regarding the other functions that it has fulfilled and is currently fulfilling in providing counsel to the Holy Father, will be presented to the College of Cardinals in order to invite their collaboration and verification of the path which will be followed in the future.
The Holy Father has also authorized me to communicate to you that in the days following the consistory - February 14 and 15 - there will also be a Consistory for the creation of new cardinals. Thus, we will follow the same pattern as we did a year ago: as it was then, at the concluding briefing on the final annual session of the Council of 9, we announced the following meeting in February, a three-day meeting of the Council of 9 which would precede a Consistory of the College of Cardinals which would take place for two days afterward, and then a Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals two days after that, including the concelebration of a Sunday Mass. This year, everything will be done a few days before they took place last year. We must take into account the fact that this year, Ash Wednesday will be observed on February 18.
No comments:
Post a Comment