Vatican City, 21 February 2014 (VIS) –
This morning, 150 cardinals participated in the extraordinary
consistory on the family, reported Fr. Lombardi S.J., director of the
Holy See Press Office, in today's briefing for journalists. He also
communicated that the cardinals had expressed their warmest wishes to
Cardinal Silvano Piovanelli, who celebrates his 90th birthday today,
and that at 7 a.m. they concelebrated Holy Mass with the Pope in the
chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
The participants in the Consistory
entrusted to Fr. Lombardi the reading of the following declaration,
approved by the Holy Father, which summarises the thoughts of the
Pope and the College of Cardinals:
“During the extraordinary Consistory,
the Holy Father and the College of Cardinals raised a special prayer
to the Lord for the many Christians who, in various parts of the
world, are increasingly frequently victims of acts of intolerance or
persecution. To those who suffer for the Gospel, the Holy Father and
the Cardinals wish to renew their assurance of their constant
prayers, urging them to stand firm in their faith and to forgive
their persecutors from their hearts, in imitation of Jesus Christ.
“Equally, the thoughts of the Pope
and the Cardinals turned to those nations which in this period are
riven by internal conflicts, or by serious tensions which have
consequences for civil co-existence, such as South Sudan or Nigeria,
in a climate of growing indifference. At this time there is
particular apprehension with regard to the evolution of the difficult
situation in Ukraine, where it is hoped that all violence will cease
immediately and that harmony and peace will be re-established.
“Similarly, a great cause for concern
is the continuing conflict in Syria, where it appears that the
parties are still far from finding a lasting and peaceful solution,
as well as the situation in the Central African Republic, which
assumes greater proportions day by day. Initiatives on the part of
the international community to promote peace and internal
reconciliation, to guarantee the restoration of security and the rule
of law, and to allow the indispensable access of humanitarian aid,
are becoming increasingly urgent.
“Unfortunately, it is evident that
many of the current conflicts are described as being of a religious
nature, not infrequently surreptitiously placing Christians and
Muslims in opposition, whereas in reality these conflicts have
origins of a mainly ethnic, political or economic nature.
“The Catholic Church, on her part, in
condemning every form of violence perpetrated in the name of
religious belief, will not cease in her commitment to peace and
reconciliation, through interreligious dialogue and the many
charitable works which provide daily assistance and comfort to the
suffering throughout the world”.
After reading the declaration, Fr.
Lombardi described the progress made today, during which the Pope
announced the name of the three presidents of the Synod on the
Family: Cardinals Andre Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris, France;
Luis Antonio G. Tagle, archbishop of Manila, Philippines; and
Raymundo Damasceno Assis, archbishop of Aparecida, Brazil. The three
presidents represent three different continents.
Forty-three presentations were given
yesterday afternoon and this morning, and others are expected to take
place as many cardinals have registered to speak. “We do not know
if they will all be able to do so”, explained Fr. Lombardi. “Some
will submit their contribution in writing, so that it can be included
among the proceedings and may be useful for joint reflection by the
Synod”.
Among the themes considered are the
concept of the family according to a Christian anthropological
perspective and its value in the context of a secularised culture
which presents a different concept of the family, sexuality and the
person and in which the Christian approach at times encounters
difficulties. “Reflection did not take place in a climate of
complaint”, commented Lombardi, “but rather of realism, observing
the difficulty faced by Christianity in a culture that tends to go in
another direction. John Paul II's 'Theology of the Body' was quoted
on a number of occasions, as well as the encyclical 'Familiaris
consortio' and the Catechism of the Catholic Church'. Another issue
related to various aspects of the pastoral care of the family,
especially preparation for marriage and matrimonial and family
spirituality”.
The cardinals also considered the
problem of remarried divorcees from the perspective of canon law, and
spoke about the procedures for annulment with a view to their
improvement and simplification. With regard to the administering of
the Sacraments to remarried divorcees, there were broad ranging and
detailed discussions, but no decisions or pronouncements were made on
the issue. “There was neither tension nor anxiety in relation to
this matter, but rather a positive approach characterised by
discernment and a concerted search for the best way to combine
fidelity to the words of Jesus with divine mercy and attention to
specific situations, always with great sensitivity”, said the
director of the Press Office, who repeated that a single direction
should not be expected of the Consistory, but rather an encouraging
introduction to the path of the Synod, which by working with this
breadth of vision, will be able to advance the Church's pastoral
response to the heartfelt hopes held by many in this area.
Finally, the cardinals discussed
various specific areas of family pastoral ministry, such as migration
or religious ignorance.
