The 29th meeting of the Council of Cardinals has just concluded in the Vatican. The C9, as the group was commonly called, is now being termed by many as the C6, following the dismissal of three of its members during the last meeting in December. The Council is studying the plans for reforming the Apostolic Constitution “Pastor Bonus” on the Roman Curia.
Today, April 10, Director of the Holy See Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti, briefed journalists about the meeting that began Monday morning and concluded today, Wednesday.
The Council of Cardinals consisted of the following nine prelates: Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State; Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, archbishop emeritus of Santiago, Chile; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay; Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich; Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, archbishop of Kinshasa, Congo; Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, archbishop of Boston; Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy (not present, in Australia); Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State.
However, now there are six cardinal members, as Chilean Cardinal Errazuriz resigned from the Council on Nov. 14, 2018. The Pope has thanked him, Cardinal George Pell and Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya for their service.
Also present with the ‘C6’ in these days, were the Secretary of the Council, Msgr. Marcello Semeraro, and the Assistant Secretary, Msgr. Marco Mellino.
The working sessions were held in the morning from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and in the afternoon, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and were dedicated to further considerations on several dicasteries of the Curia.
The Holy Father, as usual, participated in the work, even though he was absent this morning for the General Audience.
During the meeting, they finalized the «procedure for consultation» regarding the new Apostolic Constitution, whose provisional title is Praedicate Evangelium.
The draft approved by the Council of Cardinals, the Vatican spokesman said, will now be sent to the Presidents of the National Episcopal Conferences, to the Synods of the Eastern Churches, to the Departments of the Roman Curia, to the Conferences of Superiors and Major Superiors and to some Pontifical Universities to which they will be asked to send comments and suggestions.
He pointed out that at the meetings, «it was reiterated that the Council of Cardinals is a body that has the task of helping the Holy Father in the governance of the universal Church» and therefore «its function does not end with the publication of the Apostolic Constitution.»
«The need for greater presence of the women in leadership roles in the organisms of the Holy See,» he said, was discussed, as well as «the missionary orientation that the Curia must increasingly take in the light of the new Apostolic Constitution,» and «the commitment to strengthen the process of synodality in the Church at all levels.»
On Tuesday, Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley explained the work of the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, held last week. Moreover, Alessandro Gisotti added, he thanked the Pope for the Vatican meeting on «The protection of Minors in the Church», Feb. 21-24, and the recent publication of the norms for the Vatican City State, which strengthen the Church’s commitment against all forms of abuse of children and vulnerable adults.
The next Meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on June 25-27, 2019.
The Holy Father, as usual, participated in the work, even though he was absent this morning for the General Audience.
During the meeting, they finalized the «procedure for consultation» regarding the new Apostolic Constitution, whose provisional title is Praedicate Evangelium.
The draft approved by the Council of Cardinals, the Vatican spokesman said, will now be sent to the Presidents of the National Episcopal Conferences, to the Synods of the Eastern Churches, to the Departments of the Roman Curia, to the Conferences of Superiors and Major Superiors and to some Pontifical Universities to which they will be asked to send comments and suggestions.
He pointed out that at the meetings, «it was reiterated that the Council of Cardinals is a body that has the task of helping the Holy Father in the governance of the universal Church» and therefore «its function does not end with the publication of the Apostolic Constitution.»
«The need for greater presence of the women in leadership roles in the organisms of the Holy See,» he said, was discussed, as well as «the missionary orientation that the Curia must increasingly take in the light of the new Apostolic Constitution,» and «the commitment to strengthen the process of synodality in the Church at all levels.»
On Tuesday, Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley explained the work of the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, held last week. Moreover, Alessandro Gisotti added, he thanked the Pope for the Vatican meeting on «The protection of Minors in the Church», Feb. 21-24, and the recent publication of the norms for the Vatican City State, which strengthen the Church’s commitment against all forms of abuse of children and vulnerable adults.
The next Meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on June 25-27, 2019.
