Vatican City, Jan 5, 2015 / 11:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In creating 20 new cardinals – 15 of whom will be cardinal electors – Pope Francis has continued to set his sights on the world's peripheries, and at the same time he began designing the College of Cardinals in order to push forward his reforms. Among the new cardinal electors, only Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, hails from the Roman curia; he had previously served, since 2006, as the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States. Most of the new red birettas hail from the peripheries of the world, and follow the rationale of “the universality of the Church,” as Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See press office, put it in a written note delivered Jan. 4. With the Feb. 14-15 consistory at which the new cardinals are officially appointed, the weight of the curia will be diminished in the election of the next Bishop of Rome. At the moment, there are 33 curial members among the 110 voting cardinals, that is, 30 percent of the conclave. After the consistory, there will be 34 voting cardinals from the curia, among 125, a reduction of three percent. The new outline of the college of cardinals may be decisive for what concerns the Church reforms Pope Francis has in mind. Pope Francis desires that the high ranks of the Church be committed to a continual dialogue and discussion, and for this purpose he is using consistories as a tool to foster an open discussion. Pope Francis enlarged the agenda of October 2014 consistory – scheduled in order to vote for two canonizations – convoking the cardinals to discuss the situation in the Middle East. It was the second time Pope Francis convoked a consistory to discuss a timely issue. Earlier, Pope Francis had convoked a February 2014 consistory to discuss the family, opening the discussion which took place in the extraordinary synod. The consistory took place on the eve of Pope Francis’ first consistory to create new cardinals. Likewise, Pope Francis has convoked an ordinary consistory to discuss curial reform Feb. 12-13, on the eve of the consistory to create new cardinals, scheduled for Feb. 14. The consistory will take place after the seventh gathering of the Council of Cardinals, scheduled Feb. 9 -11. A first draft of Curia reform was presented during the Pope’s regular meeting with the chief of Vatican dicasteries Nov. 24, 2014. According to the draft, the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace, Migrants, Cor Unum, Health Care and the Pontifical Academy for Life would be merged into a new Congregation for Justice and Peace. A new Congregation for Laity and Family was intended to enroll the Pontifical Councils for Laity and for the Family. The draft was widely discussed during the meeting, and was reviewed at the following meeting of the Council of Cardinals, held Dec. 9-11. The Council of Cardinals will once again discuss the draft, taking into consideration some criticisms of the draft which emerged during the meetings, and then this draft will be discussed at the following consistory. As the members of the Roman curia will have less weight, it is likely that the balance of the discussion will swing toward the residential archbishops, who may have a decisive word in advancing curial reform. Despite some minor adjustments, the final decision on curial reform should not come out soon. In the interview granted Dec. 7, 2014 to 'La Nacion', Pope Francis stressed that “reforming the Curia will take a long time, this is the most complex part,” and anticipated that reform will not be ready within 2015. The international and 'peripheries' sway of the College of Cardinals may help the Holy Father to speed up the process of curial reform, overcoming criticisms and internal resistance: this is how the next consistory could advance reforms. Read more

Vatican City, Jan 4, 2015 / 06:50 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his Sunday Angelus address Pope Francis announced the names of the 15 bishops to be created cardinal electors in February, many of whom hail from small dioceses which have never before had a cardinal. “As was already announced, next February 14 I will have the joy of holding a Consistory, during which I will name 15 new Cardinals who manifest the indissoluble links between the Church of Rome and the particular Churches present in the world,” the Roman Pontiff said on Jan. 4. Speaking to the thousands of pilgrims present in St. Peter’s Square after his recitation of the traditional Marian prayer, the Pope revealed that the 15 new cardinals to be created come from 14 countries and from every continent. Announced in the fall, the consistory will take place on Feb. 14. Pope Francis has also called a Feb. 12-13 meeting with the entire college of cardinals ahead of the consistory to reflect on current proposals for the ongoing reformation of the Roman Curia. The day following the consistory the Bishop of Rome and the 15 new cardinals will concelebrate a solemn Mass together in St. Peter's Basilica. Among the new cardinals under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in the next conclave are five European bishops, three from the continent of Asia, three from Latin America, including Mexico, two from Africa and two from Oceania. Cape Verde, Myanmar and Tonga are three of the countries represented by the new cardinals. Characterized by small ecclesial communities or as representing a minority presence, none of the dioceses has had a cardinal until now. In a Jan. 4 statement to journalists regarding the announcement of the new cardinals, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi drew attention to the fact that Pope Francis selected bishops from these, as well as other small, minority populations, rather than larger dioceses which traditionally have a cardinal. Calling the move “noteworthy,” the spokesman pointed out that the Roman Pontiff’s selections represent the universality of the Catholic Church, and are not bound to the traditional appointment of cardinals from “Cardinalatial Sees,” in which for “historical reasons…the Cardinalate was considered almost ‘automatically’ connected to such sees.” The appointment of a cardinal from the diocese of Morelia, Mexico, was also recognized by the spokesman, who noted how the diocese is currently enmeshed in a state of ongoing violence. The names of the new cardinals coming from Europe are: Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura; Archbishop Edoardo Menichelli of Ancona-Osimo (Italy); Archbishop Francesco Montenegro of Agrigento (Italy); Archbishop Ricardo Blázquez Pérez of Vallodolid (Spain) and Archbishiop Manuel José Macario do Nascimento Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon (Portugal). New cardinals representing Latin America and Mexico are: Archbishop Alberto Suàrez Inda of Morelia (Mexico); Archbishop Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, S.D.B., of Montevideo (Uruguay) and Bishop José Luis Lacunza Maestrojuán, O.A.R., of David (Panamá). Others, including from Africa and Asia, are: Archbishop Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, C.M., of Addis Abeba (Ethiopia); Archbishop Pierre Nguyên Van Nhon of Hà Nôi (Viêt Nam); Archbishop Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., of Yangon (Myanmar); Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij of Bangkok (Thailand); Bishop Arlindo Gomes Furtado, of Santiago de Cabo Verde (Archipelago of Cape Verde); Bishop Soane Patita Paini Mafi of Tonga (Island of Tonga) and Archbishop John Atcherley Dew of Wellington (New Zealand). In addition to the 15 cardinal electors, Pope Francis named 5 other bishops over the age of 80 who will be elevated due to their “pastoral charity in the service of the Holy See and of the Church.” The names of the new non-elector cardinals are: José de Jesús Pimiento Rodriguez, Archbishop Emeritus of Manizales (Colombia); Archbishop Luigi De Magistris, Major Pro-Penitentiary Emeritus (Italy); Archbishop Karl-Joseph Rauber, Apostolic Nuncio (Germany); Luis Héctor Villaba, Archbishop Emeritus of Tucumán (Argentina) and Júlio Duarte Langa, Bishop Emeritus of Xai-Xai (Mozambique). “They represent so many bishops who, with the same pastoral solicitude, have given witness of love for Christ and for the people of God in particular Churches, in the Roman Curia, and in the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See,” the Pope said. He encouraged those present in St. Peter’s Square to pray for all of the newly appointed cardinals, asking that “they might be witnesses of His Gospel in the City of Rome and in the world, and with their pastoral experience they might support me more intensely in my apostolic service.” In his address ahead of the traditional Angelus prayer, the Roman Pontiff drew attention to the World Day of Peace, which was celebrated on Jan. 1 and reflected on the theme of “No longer slaves, but brothers.” The exploitation of the human person due to trafficking and slavery is a “social scourge” that disrupts interpersonal relationships and prevents the ability to live in a community founded on respect, justice and charity, he said. “Every man and every people hunger and thirst for peace, therefore it is necessary and urgent to build peace!” the Pope explained, and encouraged pilgrims present to work for peace not only by ending wars, but also within their own families and local communities. He concluded by asking for the intercession of Mary, who despite the difficulties she faced in her life, “never lost her peace of heart, (which was) a fruit of trusting abandonment to God’s mercy.” Read more

Vatican City, Jan 1, 2015 / 04:25 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his homily on New Year’s Day, Pope Francis said that Jesus and his mother Mary are “inseparable,” just like Jesus and the Church, who is the mother of all humanity that guides ... Read more

Vatican City, Jan 1, 2015 / 04:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Denouncing modern slavery as a “scourge,” Pope Francis on New Year’s Day called for concrete action and the “globalization of fraternity” to combat slavery and human t... Read more

Vatican City, Dec 31, 2014 / 01:44 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- At the year's end, Pope Francis reflected on Christ’s saving presence within time, cautioning against nostalgia for the slavery of sin, and encouraging gratitude that leads to repentance. The theme of time was central to Pope Francis' off-the-cuff homily, delivered during evening Vespers in Saint Peter’s Basilica Dec. 31. “The significance of time, temporality,” he said, “is the atmosphere of God’s epiphany, that is, of the manifestation of God and his concrete love.” The evening celebrations were also marked by the chanting of the Te Deum, an ancient prayer of praise which grants the one who recites it publicly on New Year’s Eve a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions. The Pope also presided over exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Pope Francis turned his reflection to the words of Paul to the Galatians, taken from the evening’s Vespers: “But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” “Time was – in a manner of speaking – 'touched' by Christ, the Son of God and of Mary,” he said, thereby becoming the “'salvific time'… defined by salvation and grace.” This theme of time, in turn, “inspires us to think about the end of life's journey, the end of our journey,” the Holy Father said. By examining our conscience, he explained, we revisit what we have done, giving thanks for the good we have received and have been able to accomplish, all the while recalling “our weaknesses and our sins.” Pope Francis then reflected on the Te Deum, recited shortly after the homily, during which “we praise the Lord” and at the same time ask his forgiveness. “The attitude of thanks disposes us to humility, to recognize and welcome the gifts of the Lord,” he said. While we are filled with gratitude, however, we recall that “we are far from [God] because of original sin,” causing our “filial relationship” to be “profoundly wounded.” “Because of this, God sent his Son to redeem us with His blood,” the Holy Father added, thereby freeing us “from the slavery of sin” and restoring our filial status. It is with this gift of redemption in mind that we make our examination of conscience, Pope Francis said: “Do we live as children or as slaves? Do we live as persons Baptized in Christ, united by the Spirit, redeemed, free? Or do we live according to earthly logic, corrupt, doing that which the devil makes us believe is in our best interest?” This “slavery” of sin, the Pope continued, reduces time to the mere “moment,” preventing “us from fully and truly living in the present, for it empties the past and closes the door to the future, to eternity.” Yet we long for this slavery, he said, because it makes us feel safe. He compared this longing to the desire for fireworks: “they seem to be beautiful but in fact they only last a few moments!” This examination of conscience, the Holy Father continued, also depends on the “quality of our work, of our lives, of our presence in the city, of our service toward the common good, of our participation in public and ecclesial institutions.” As Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis expressed his desire to take on the experiences of those living in the “eternal city,” recalling the witness of the martyrs Saints Peter and Paul. Reflecting on the recently-revealed corruption cases in Rome, he called for a conversion of hearts, as well as for a “renewed commitment to create a more just and stable city, where the poor the weak, and the marginalized are at the center of our concern and our daily activities.” The poor and weak, when cared for, “reveal the treasure of the Church” and of society, he said. On the other hand, when the poor are ignored, “persecuted, criminalized,” and forced into a life of crime, the society is revealed to be “impoverished to the point of misery.” This society “loses freedom and prefers the 'garlic and onions'” of slavery. Such a society ceases to be Christian, he said. Pope Francis concluded his homily by inviting the faithful to not long for slavery, but rather to reflect on the “final hour” and remember that this is the “fullness of time.” The Virgin Mary, he said, as the temple in which the Word was made Flesh in time, “gave to the world the Savior, helping us to welcome him with open hearts, to be and truly live freely as God’s children.”   Read more