The fifth meeting of the Council of Cardinals took place this week at the Vatican. Pope Francis established this Council in order to help him with the governance of the universal Church and to study a proposal for renewal of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor bonus on the subject of the Roman Curia. This most recent meeting took place beginning on July 1 and ended yesterday.
The next meetings for this Council are planned for October 1-3 and December 3-5, 2014 as well as February 17-19 and April 28-30, 2015.
On Wednesday morning, July 2 the Director of the Holy See's Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi furnished the following details about the meeting of the Council of Cardinals:
The Council of Cardinals met on Tuesday morning at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, as planned. The Pope is participating in all the meetings; today, Wednesday morning, he has participated in the entire meeting, as the general Audiences have been suspended.
The Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, is regularly present at the meetings, and the Holy Father has established that he will participate fully like the other members of the Council, of whom at present there are nine.
On Tuesday and on Wednesday morning three main themes were considered. There was a presentation by Cardinal Bertello of matters relating to the Governorate (the body responsible for the oversight of the administration of the Vatican), and a presentation relating to the Secretariat of State by Cardinal Parolin.
The issue of the structure of the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR) was discussed in depth. The meetings, held in two sessions, were also attended by members of the Supervisory Commission of Cardinals present in Rome, Cardinals Santos Abril y Castelló, Thomas Collins and Jean-Louis Tauran, as well as Pietro Parolin.
With regard to the news and questions circulating in the press in recent days, the Director of the Holy See Press Office made the following declaration: The IOR is in a time of natural and peaceful transition. The contribution of Ernst von Freyberg continues to be deeply appreciated and highly valued, and further clarifications are possible, indeed likely, next week after the meeting of the Council for the Economy on Saturday.
The Director then gave a concise explanation of the agenda of the next meeting of the Council for the Economy, which will focus on the Statutes and programme for future work, and will be informed on developments relating to the IOR and – by the Prefecture for Economic Affairs – on the 2013 budget and the provisional budget for 2014.
The Director also announced that a major press conference is expected to be held next week on various matters linked to the sphere of competence of the Council and the Secretariat for the Economy, also including the IOR.
The Council is now continuing its meetings, again taking into consideration and systematically developing the reflections already formulated in the first round of study and review of the different bodies of the Roman Curia.
On Friday morning, July 4, Father Lombardi provided the following details about the ongoing progress of the work of the Council of Cardinals:
The Council of Cardinals, gathered at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, will conclude its meetings this evening. The next sessions have been scheduled for 15-17 September, 9-11 December and 9-11 February 2015.
With regard to the themes considered, as well as those indicated in recent days (the Governorate, the Secretariat of State and the Institute for the Works of Religion), the Council resumed its reflections on the dicasteries of the Curia. The Laity and Family were studied in particular depth, especially in terms of the contributions and roles that should be assumed by laypeople, married couples and women.
Decisions were not made, but more detailed proposals were offered that will subsequently be inserted into the overall framework of the new configuration of the Curia.
This afternoon the Council will continue its meeting, turning its attention to the dicasteries that have so far been studied less thoroughly.
Other themes on which there has been an exchange of opinions during the meetings include the nunciatures and their work, and the procedures for the appointment of bishops.
Aside from the contribution of the Commission of Cardinals for the Supervision of the IOR, heard on Tuesday and Wednesday, there was no further participation from entities external to the Council.
With regard to the working atmosphere and approach, the participants have expressed great satisfaction. The overall tone has been described as free, frank and friendly (the 3Fs). The Pope participates naturally in the dialogue, promoting a climate of free expression.
There are still no texts that may be considered as drafts of the new Constitution, since the work proceeds in the form of partial contributions, generally presented by individual Cardinals charged with the task of studying specific matters.
The next meetings for this Council are planned for October 1-3 and December 3-5, 2014 as well as February 17-19 and April 28-30, 2015.
On Wednesday morning, July 2 the Director of the Holy See's Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi furnished the following details about the meeting of the Council of Cardinals:
The Council of Cardinals met on Tuesday morning at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, as planned. The Pope is participating in all the meetings; today, Wednesday morning, he has participated in the entire meeting, as the general Audiences have been suspended.
The Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, is regularly present at the meetings, and the Holy Father has established that he will participate fully like the other members of the Council, of whom at present there are nine.
On Tuesday and on Wednesday morning three main themes were considered. There was a presentation by Cardinal Bertello of matters relating to the Governorate (the body responsible for the oversight of the administration of the Vatican), and a presentation relating to the Secretariat of State by Cardinal Parolin.
The issue of the structure of the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR) was discussed in depth. The meetings, held in two sessions, were also attended by members of the Supervisory Commission of Cardinals present in Rome, Cardinals Santos Abril y Castelló, Thomas Collins and Jean-Louis Tauran, as well as Pietro Parolin.
With regard to the news and questions circulating in the press in recent days, the Director of the Holy See Press Office made the following declaration: The IOR is in a time of natural and peaceful transition. The contribution of Ernst von Freyberg continues to be deeply appreciated and highly valued, and further clarifications are possible, indeed likely, next week after the meeting of the Council for the Economy on Saturday.
The Director then gave a concise explanation of the agenda of the next meeting of the Council for the Economy, which will focus on the Statutes and programme for future work, and will be informed on developments relating to the IOR and – by the Prefecture for Economic Affairs – on the 2013 budget and the provisional budget for 2014.
The Director also announced that a major press conference is expected to be held next week on various matters linked to the sphere of competence of the Council and the Secretariat for the Economy, also including the IOR.
The Council is now continuing its meetings, again taking into consideration and systematically developing the reflections already formulated in the first round of study and review of the different bodies of the Roman Curia.
On Friday morning, July 4, Father Lombardi provided the following details about the ongoing progress of the work of the Council of Cardinals:
The Council of Cardinals, gathered at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, will conclude its meetings this evening. The next sessions have been scheduled for 15-17 September, 9-11 December and 9-11 February 2015.
With regard to the themes considered, as well as those indicated in recent days (the Governorate, the Secretariat of State and the Institute for the Works of Religion), the Council resumed its reflections on the dicasteries of the Curia. The Laity and Family were studied in particular depth, especially in terms of the contributions and roles that should be assumed by laypeople, married couples and women.
Decisions were not made, but more detailed proposals were offered that will subsequently be inserted into the overall framework of the new configuration of the Curia.
This afternoon the Council will continue its meeting, turning its attention to the dicasteries that have so far been studied less thoroughly.
Other themes on which there has been an exchange of opinions during the meetings include the nunciatures and their work, and the procedures for the appointment of bishops.
Aside from the contribution of the Commission of Cardinals for the Supervision of the IOR, heard on Tuesday and Wednesday, there was no further participation from entities external to the Council.
With regard to the working atmosphere and approach, the participants have expressed great satisfaction. The overall tone has been described as free, frank and friendly (the 3Fs). The Pope participates naturally in the dialogue, promoting a climate of free expression.
There are still no texts that may be considered as drafts of the new Constitution, since the work proceeds in the form of partial contributions, generally presented by individual Cardinals charged with the task of studying specific matters.
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