Thursday, December 5, 2013

A second day of meetings

The second day of meetings of the Council of Cardinals took place yesterday in an environment of great serenity.

Father Frederico Lombardi, SJ told journalists yesterday that as expected, the new Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin was invited to the afternoon session in order to greet the members of the Council who in turn wished him well in his new role.  This encounter also allowed the members of the Council to establish contact with the new Secretary of State.  In the future, it is hoped that they will together enjoy fruitful collaboration in service to the Holy Father as together they assist him with the governance of the Church.

Pope Francis did not attend the morning session yesterday; instead he met with pilgrims and the faithful in Saint Peter's Square for the General Audience.  The Holy Father joined the Cardinals however for their afternoon session.

Continuing the work begun in the previous day's sessions, the Council is reviewing various dicasteries (offices) within the governing structure of the Roman Curia, specifically the Congregations for the Causes of Saints, for Catholic Education and for the Evangelization of Peoples.  It is also possible that during this week's meetings, a first round of consultations concerning the Congregations may be completed, and followed by an examination of the Pontifical Councils and the other dicasteries.  These first consultations will again be reviewed in the framework of subsequent overall examinations, most probably leading to the re-drafting of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus.

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