Vatican
City, 2 October 2013 (VIS) – In a press conference held in the Holy
See Press Office this morning, director Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J.,
gave information on the meeting of the Council of Cardinals, taking
place in the Vatican from 1 to 3 October.
The
members of the Council, before the beginning of the meeting,
concelebrate with the Pope the morning Holy Mass in the Santa Marta
chapel, said Fr. Lombardi. Following the first meeting yesterday
morning in the third loggia of the papal apartment, they decided to
continue the meetings in the Santa Marta guesthouse, where they all
currently reside. The meetings will take place in a small room, not
far from the Chapel, for logistic reasons, ensuring that the members
do not need to transfer to the apostolic palace. The meetings follow
an intense schedule: from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Pope Francis will participate in the morning and evening sessions on
Tuesday. Today he was not present due to the general Audience, but he
will be present this afternoon and tomorrow.
The
Pope emphasised the significance of the chirograph by which he
instituted the Council of Cardinals, “a document that gives this
group juridical status, stability and continuity and which makes the
Council a more consistent tool, especially from a juridical point of
view”. He also specified that the members are not “continental
delegates”, but rather members of the episcopal college who are
also cardinals, who have rich pastoral experience, and who come from
large dioceses. The Holy Father chose them for this reason, but they
are not delegates of the episcopates of various parts of the world.
“They
are all people whom the Pope holds in high regard, with whom he is in
confidence and accord and whose advice he considers to be helpful in
taking what he considers to be the most suitable approach to the
governance of the Church”, continued Fr. Lombardi. “This is not
an insignificant task, since confidence and esteem foster the climate
of serenity necessary for an open and constructive dialogue”.
The
first meeting yesterday afternoon opened with a brief introduction
from the Pope and a reflection on the ecclesiology of Vatican Council
II, in order to define the nature of the Council in relation not only
to organisational matters, but to “a broader theological and
spiritual vision of the Church, inspired by the ecclesiology of
Vatican Council II and the implementation of its themes”.
“Naturally”, specified Fr. Lombardi, “this is not achieved
simply by means of a morning round table, but indicates the views the
various board members take. They have considered issues such as how
to revive and refresh the relationship between the universal and
local Church, communion and collegiality, the need to be a Church of
the poor, and the role of the laity; all points raised by Vatican
Council II and which form a backdrop to the work of the Council of
Cardinals. In the light of this, they will later consider structures
of governance”.
Each
of the participants presented a brief summary of the suggestions
received, and brought along material which forms part of the common
working documentation for the Council. This has enabled the group to
classify the major themes to be considered in this and subsequent
sessions.
The
afternoon session was dedicated to the Synod of Bishops and was
attended by the new secretary, Bishop Baldisseri. “It is an
important theme, both for the participation of the episcopate in the
life of the Church through the synod, and for the urgency of
initiating preparations for the next synod, about which we will
probably know more within a few days. However we do not know if it
will be an ordinary or extraordinary synod”, said Lombardi, adding
that the Pope had made reference to a “theme of an anthropological
nature: the family according to the Gospel, but in any case it is not
yet precise. The Holy Father also said that prominent themes such as
family and matrimonial pastoral will be the order of the day in the
activity of the Church in the near future”.
“Today,
Wednesday, the Council has focused on other issues such as the reform
of the Curia in its various aspects, the function of the Secretariat
of State, relations between the dicasteries and with the Holy Father.
There have been many suggestions and contributions. It is is long
term task, and therefore one should not expect conclusions in the
short term or within these days”.
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