Cardinal Consultors met this week

At 1:00pm (7:00am EDT) today, the Director of the Holy See Press Centre, Greg Burke held a briefing concerning the XXIV meeting of the Cardinal Consultors which took place this week at the Vatican.

The Council of Cardinals met for three days: Monday 23, Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 April.  All the members were present except His Eminence, Cardinal George Pell.  His Eminence, Cardinal Reinhard Marx was absent on Monday.  The Holy Father was not present at the meeting held this morning due to the General Audience.

The sessions took place in the mornings from 9:00am until 12:30pm and in the afternoons from 4:30pm until 7:00pm.  The majority of the Council's work was dedicated to re-reading the draft of the new Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia.  At the conclusion of the draft phase, which will still necessitate some time, the Cardinals will approve the text, which will then be delivered to the Holy Father for further consultations and final approval.

Among the various topics that will be considered in the new document, many of which have already been widely discussed in previous meetings of the Council, some are of particular importance:

• the Roman Curia at the service of the Holy Father and the particular Churches;
• the pastoral character of the curial activities;
• the institution and the functioning of the Third Section of the Secretariat of State;
• the proclamation of the gospel and the missionary spirit as perspectives that characterize the activity of the entire Curia.

His Eminence, Cardinal Sean O'Malley updated the Council participants regarding the numerous efforts that are being carried out throughout the world for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.  During their recent Plenary meeting, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors heard the testimony of members who had just been appointed, from Brazil, Ethiopia, Australia and Italy.  In addition, they heard the testimony given by a group from the United Kingdom known as the Survivor Advisory Panel.  The Cardinal highlighted the widespread commitment and the great competence of the members of the Commission who represent very well the variety of the world's cultures.  He also reiterated the priority of having to begin with people's experience, continuing the work of listening to victims and welcoming their experience.

The Cardinals then heard a report from Monsignor Lucio A. Ruiz, Secretary of the Secretariat for Communications who brought the Council members up to date regarding the current status of the reform of the Vatican's communication systems.

The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place from 11 to 13 June 2018.