Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article His pontificate was confronted with the problems and uncertainties of a church facing a new role in the contemporary world and at the same time resumed work at the Vatican Secretariat of State where he remained in posts of increasing importance for more than 30 years in combination with the generally philosophical bent of his mind—developed by a long-standing habit of extensive and reflective reading—enabled him to bring to the perplexing problems of the times an academic understanding coupled with the knowledge derived from long years of practical diplomatic experience Paul VI guided the three remaining sessions of the Second Vatican Council often developing points he had first espoused as cardinal archbishop of Milan His chief concern was that the Roman Catholic Church in the 20th century should be a faithful witness to the tradition of the past except when tradition was obviously anachronistic with a sharp awareness of the many varied complications that he believed could not be ignored Paul VI later likened the large numbers of priests leaving the ministry to a “crown of thorns.” He also was disturbed by the growing numbers of religious men and women asking for release from vows or who were abandoning out of hand their religious vows At the first major event of the 2025 Jubilee in Rome Pope Francis again exhorted his well-known "culture of encounter" to thousands of communications professionals from around the world in the Aula Paolo VI "To communicate is to go out of oneself a little in order to give what is mine to the other Knowing how to communicate is a great wisdom Francis said he was "delighted" with the Jubilee of Communicators the first major event of the more than 35 that will mark the Holy Year and which began on the 24th with a Mass at St John Lateran and concluded with the Sunday Mass of the Word of God The Pope's presence on the podium was very brief about five minutes: "In my hands I have a nine-page speech He said a few words "a braccio" (on the spur of the moment) and thanked the communicators for their work without leaving a provocative question: "Your work is a work that builds: it builds society He concluded his brief speech by saying that everyone should communicate "what God does with the Son and the communication of God with the Son and the Holy Spirit" affirming at the same time that communicating is "a divine thing".  Francis spent 50 minutes greeting communicators from all over the world at some points prompted by shouts from the audience: "This is the Pope's youth The full text of his speech was published on the Vatican websiteIn his address the pontiff stressed the importance of courage to initiate the change that history demands and to overcome lies and hatred "The word courage comes from the Latin cor that strength that comes from the heart and allows us to face difficulties and challenges without being overwhelmed by fear." On this Sunday, the Pope invited the entire Church to to dwell on the five actions that characterize the mission of the MessiahThe day's Gospel is based on: "to bring good news to the poor" "to set at liberty those who are oppressed" and "to proclaim a year of the Lord's favor" preparing us with hope for the definitive encounter with the Redeemer towards the Kingdom of God," the Pope reinforced.  On Saturday the communicators crossed the Holy Door in a moving procession along the Via della Conciliazione until they reached the altar of the Chair of St the pilgrims gathered for a cultural meeting in the Aula Paolo VI with a dialogue between the Philippine journalist Maria Ressa The conference was followed by a musical performance by violinist Uto Ughi who played with his orchestra pieces by Bach and Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla in which different points of the city hosted conferences on communication and faith It was the first great test of Rome's readiness to receive pilgrims from all over the world during the Holy Year and the first meeting of Francis with the main public The next will be the Jubilee of the Armed Forces Subscribe to Omnes magazine and enjoy exclusive content for subscribers Coralie Moreau | Barcelona First published: December 12, 2024 06:28 PM Dealing with transcendence and spirituality, Pope Paul VI's art collection arrives in Spain at the Barcelona Diocesan Museum.  The exhibition consists of 20 art pieces from diverse artists such as Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse or David Hockney.  The collection originally exhibited in the Italian municipality of Concesio was put together after the death of the Pope Paul VI in late 1970s. For the first time, it is presented outside of its original museum.   To Paul VI, bringing art and religion together was of high importance. He promoted the creation of contemporary art in the Vatican.  "Paul VI had decided to bridge the gap between artists and the church," Giuliano Zanchi, the director of the Italian museum, said during a press conference ahead of the opening day.  The exhibit highlights the Pope's position as he considered that art had a role to play in expressing the invisible, transcendence and other religious concepts, as a statement reads. "Art could also connect the church and secular worlds," the text adds.  The director celebrates the opening of the exhibition in Barcelona as "it ensures that this collection, which is precious and important, can be made known beyond Italian borders."  Zanchi pointed out the context of Paul VI's artistic connections at a moment where the "center of gravity of art" shifted from Europe to the United States and called to protect the pope's work and "intuition."  Donated to the church, these pieces by 20th century artists, from expressionism to abstraction, are a testimony of their time, as the exhibition points out. This exhibition represents the strengthened relationship between modern art and the catholic Church.  Helena Alonso, curator of this exhibition at the Diocesan Museum, emphasizes the particularity of those famous artists' art pieces.  "It is really a surprise to discover that these artists made some religious artworks," Alonso told Catalan News.  Among the exhibited paintings, some are directly representing Christ, the Virgen or main biblical events such as Doubting Thomas after Christ resurrected with the painting by Italian artist Massimo Pulini, 'The Incredulity of Saint Thomas', from 2007 or also Henri Matisse's 'Study for the Virgin and the Child' painted between 1950 and 1951.  Other pieces are linked to the artists' emotions, notably during the Second World War.  "It is really interesting to see how some artists, towards the end of their life or in moments of difficulty created artwork that represents human suffering," Helena Alonso explained.   Art, for Alonso, allows for some questions to be discussed in a unique way.  "The exhibition offers a look at how religion and spirituality have ceased to be exclusively a subject of religious art to become a universal subject, treated by artists of various cultures, origins and convictions," Alonso said.  The exhibition will be open until March 2 at Barcelona's Diocesan Museum.  Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints inaugurated the virtual visit to the birthplace of Paul VI in Concesio (Brescia) and held a conference on holiness by the Paul VI Institute on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the beatification of the Saint inaugurated the “Virtual visit to the birthplace of John Baptist Montini-Paul VI” and held a conference on “Christian holiness today: the witness of Paul VI” Elected to the papal throne on 21 June 1963 Giovanni Battista Montini was proclaimed Blessed by Pope Francis on 19 October 2014 In addition to the Bishop of Brescia, Msgr. Pierantonio Tremolada, to the President of the dell’Paul VI Institute President of the Society for Christian Education the event was attended by the Superior of Mary Mother of the Church Preprovince (RMC) Sister Jessica Salvaña and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Community of St Fr. Angelo Maffeis, recently appointed Dean of the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy, led both moments. During the presentation of the App Casa Natale Paolo VI Maffeis thanked the FMA for their presence in the daily accompaniment of pilgrims following on the footsteps of Paul VI The FMA collaborated in the drafting of the texts of the app enriched with a multilingual path that will allow pilgrims from different nationalities to deepen the greatness of one of the most extraordinary figures of the 20th century starting from the places where he was born and raised the event continued in the “Vittorio Montini” Auditorium of the Paul VI Institute with the conference of the Cardinal who taking up the words of Montini for the feast of All Saints of 1957 spoke of holiness as “a call to all” he quoted Pope Francis’ Angelus of 1 November 2017: “The saints are our brothers and sisters who have received the light of God into their hearts and transmitted it to the world (…) they have struggled to remove the stains and the darkness of sin so as to let pass through the gentle light of God.” like that of Montini: “They are all men and women who in their time have conformed themselves to Christ Which face of Christ emerges from this holiness?” To finally arrive at the actuality of the holiness of Paul VI Montini was the Pope who gave more answers to human questions and translated into reality his strategic vision of the Church The key to modernity of Paul VI was the theme of the confrontation of the Catholic Church with the modern world; he pushed for the pastoral renewal that put the Church in the heart of the modern person who wanted to reach a true and not superficial encounter.” Source: La Voce del popolo and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Following the opening remarks by Maria Voce a roundtable discussion will begin with Bishop Vincenzo Zani Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Catholic Education; Dr Giulia Paola Di Nicola and Bishop Marcello Semeraro Italy; and Alessandro De Carolis moderator Meditazione in musica sulla vita del beato Paolo VI.This will be follwed by a concert featuring the piano music of Chopin Musical meditations on the life of Blessed Paul VI By submitting this form you agree that this site stores and manages your data You also agree to our privacy policy and to receive emails according to the preferences you have expressed Remember that you can unsubscribe or change these at any time ‘Bel Espoir’ set sail in March 2025 from Barcelona (Spain) and will continue its voyage until October Its route will link five shores of the Mediterranean eight groups of twenty-five young people of various nationalities cultures and religions that share a common desire to build a better world They will live together and get to know each other Among them are traveling twenty Living Peace ambassadors and other young people from the Focolare Movement She is involved in the MediterraNEW project which works for the education of young people predominately migrants in the Mediterranean Patricia and their two children are an Argentinian family the Latin-American branch of the university institute that is based in the international little town of Loppiano (Italy) they began to research their roots among the indigenous peoples and this gave rise to a strong commitment in intercultural dialogue The 2025 edition of the traditional youth festival in the Focolare citadel If you would like more information or to get in touch with us By submitting this form you agree that this site saves and manages your data We couldn't find what you were looking for Pope Francis appointed Italian Bishop Paolo Martinelli as the new Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (Arabian Peninsula) after accepting the resignation presented by his Capuchin confrere and entered the Order of the Capuchin Friars Minor in the province of San Carlo in Lombardy in 1978 He was ordained a priest in September 1985 and has studied and taught theology in various pontifical universities he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Milan The episcopal ordination took place in the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica on 28 June 2014 he has carried out the ministry of episcopal vicar for consecrated life and for school pastoral care He is also a delegate of the Italian Bishop’s Conference (CEI) for consecrated life and for healh pastoral care he served as president of the Episcopal Commission for the Clergy and Consecrated Life He has also worked in many Vatican Congregations at the Holy See Archbishop Mario Delpini of Milan explained that in his new mission Bishop Martinelli will “take care of the Catholic faithful present in a very large region" mostly migrant workers from Asian countries.  The Vicariate comprises the United Arab Emirates including a total population of of 43 million people Archbishop Delpini expressed gratitude and appreciation to Bishop Martinelli on behalf of the Archdiocese of Milan and of the Bishops' Conference of Lombardy Thank you for reading our article. 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Just click here Home - Other Popes - Seven facts you didn't know about Paul VI Cardinal Montini was worried during the conclave knowing full well what was waiting for for him he fearlessly confronted the challenges of his time through 7 surprising gestures He sold the tiara Believing that the Pope is not a monarch he renounced the triple tiara one year after the conclave It was sold with the money going to Mother Teresa of Calcutta A group of American Catholics purchased the tiara for $1 million it is housed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington The First traveling Pope Pope VI exchanged the boat of Peter for an airplane He visited 19 countries throughout the five continents in 9 Apostolic visits he went out on the streets of Rome to receive them with open arms then governor David Trench went on vacation and did not formally receive him Abolished the index of prohibited books In 1966 Paul VI eliminated the index of Prohibited Books for Catholics Fostered unity at the Second Vatican Council Paul VI succeeded in an almost impossible feat: he brought the 2500 bishops participating in the Second Vatican Council into agreement There he showed his ability to mediate without renouncing sound doctrine Building bridges with the Orthodox Church He was able to put an end to 1,000 years of distrust between Catholics and Orthodox Christians.  Paul VI was the first Pope to meet the most important Orthodox leader He did everything possible to establish a direct and personal friendship with him while opening doors for the current good relations The value of love His encyclical Humanae Vitae marked the pontificate Written at the height of the sexual revolution the document confronted questions regarding contraception And he did it despite facing pressure from Cardinals a solid reference point in an age of cultural confusion Several days before his death he said that he tried his best to guard the faith and defend human life Joy, hope, poverty, dialogue, pedagogy …L’Osservatore Romano recently made available an excerpt from the book Paul VI and The Roots of the Magisterium of Francis (“Paolo VI alle radici del magistero di Francesco”) published in Italian by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana in 2018 in a chapter titled “The Gospel and Joy,” asserts that there is a “special relationship” between these pontificates revealed in key words such as evangelizing Pope Francis has mentioned on more than one occasion the positive influence that Paul VI’s papacy has had on his life as a priest when the future Pope Francis was in his mid-20s to early 40s.) the pope who closed the Second Vatican Council will be canonized by Francis on October 14 Peter’s Square as the Church Universal holds a Synod of Bishops dedicated to the vocation of young people today silently praying before the tomb of Pope Montini whose prayerful intercession Francis invokes for the Church an evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!” Thus author of the new book cites Francis’ statement in Evangelii gaudium He uses this attention-grabbing expression to try to enliven fervor and dynamism in the work of evangelization – a viewpoint expressed in similar language both of whom expressed that evangelization is not so much the result of techniques but of putting preaching at the heart of the mission of evangelization It is not a coincidence that he quoted Pope Paul VI’s Evangelii nuntiandi when in Evangelii gaudium Francis stated: “Today too people prefer to listen to witnesses: they ‘thirst for authenticity’ and ‘call for evangelizers to speak of a God whom they themselves know and are familiar with as if they were seeing him’” [Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi (December 8 “It is therefore primarily by her conduct and by her life that the Church will evangelize the world by her living witness of fidelity to the Lord Jesus – the witness of poverty and detachment of freedom in the face of the powers of this world the witness of sanctity.” (Evangelii nuntiandi 41) The author of the new book shares how Paul VI examined various ways and means available for evangelization (Evangelii nuntiandi 40) and that Montini stressed that the language of evangelization must be “simple “profoundly dependent on Gospel teaching and faithful to the magisterium” (Evangelii nuntiandi “the faithful assembled as a Paschal Church celebrating the feast of the Lord present in their midst and will greatly benefit from it,” especially if it is also “animated by a balanced apostolic ardor coming from its own characteristic nature The book points out that Francis too insists on the need for pedagogy and also a spiritual attitude and clear language Both popes show they are motivated to put into practice Jesus’ command “Love one another,” but the author highlights what he calls an added social dimension which he sees as an “indispensable element for both popes” in the Church’s mission More than 40 years have passed since Pope Paul VI wrote his Exhortation and the author acknowledges that times have changed between Paul VI and Francis’ 21st century provides a bridge between the two pontificates: their shared call for “the proclamation of the Gospel The author finds there are additional elements of affinity between both popes including their respective criticisms of the consumer society “the extreme results of modern progress.” Paul VI would seem to describe today’s world by pointing out “the increase of disbelief” and the denunciation of the “drama of atheistic humanism” (Evangelii nuntiandi the most characteristic mark of the modern world is “secularism,” excluding God from the world in order to “recognize the power of man.” it is presented under “the most diverse forms the pursuit of pleasure set up as the supreme value and discrimination of every kind: the inhuman tendencies of this humanism” (Evangelii nuntiandi The author explains that Paul VI describes the changes but the Church is not looking for the recipe for success just as Jesus did not ask himself if he was successful but wanted only to fulfill the Father’s will the Church focuses on deepening her vocation and her practice of the Gospel in a world that’s increasingly drifting toward fundamentalism he insists on the “importance of dialogue,” equally proclaimed everywhere by both popes Paul VI makes dialogue the key to ecclesial life in Ecclesiam suam while Francis makes it a necessary path to reach the truth in Evangelii gaudium as a means to build peace a way of approaching and surrendering to the other.” explains that Pope Francis practices “discernment” as a way of knowing the will of God according to one’s understanding of the movements of the Holy Spirit within oneself “of listening and discernment is proper to Paul VI He retakes the reading of the signs of the times as an indispensable element for an ‘actualization’ (Ecclesiam suam 52) and a renewal of the action of the Church.” Francis urges conversion and the spirit of poverty and charity Paul VI makes it one of the keys to renewal in the Church with an emphasis on poverty and charity The Christian must abandon the logic of the “world.” the author indicates that the goal of this long journey for Paul VI and for Francis is joy – “the joy of the Gospel.” The Argentine pope specifies some elements of this Christian joy: it is linked to biblical simplicity and evangelical poverty Its depth is closely connected to the spirit of detachment of the believer and his or her ability to preserve a generous and simple heart in the example of the contagious actions of “the Magi the women who discover the resurrection and run to announce the good news.”  joy is the source of energy for the Christian since “it is joy that indicates the way forward contrary to the dark and sad signs that come from the evil spirit.” Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you Please make a tax-deductible donation today Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news Pope Francis to visit Fatima to implore peace for Ukraine Pope Francis returns to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in early August during his Apostolic Journey to Portugal in order to pray for an end to the war at the heart of Europe Pope Francis is set to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima for the second time of his pontificate where three shepherd children received a message in May 1917 from the Blessed Virgin Mary about the future of humanity was added to the papal pilgrimage to Portugal which originally included only events in Lisbon for World Youth Day Pope Francis had already traveled to the renowned Marian shrine to canonize Francisco and Jacinta Marto on the occasion of the apparitions’ centenary The fact that he has decided to return to the feet of Our Lady of Fatima holds significance and reflects the Pope’s intention to address the tragic war afflicting “martyred Ukraine” as well as the numerous forgotten conflicts around the world This gesture by the Bishop of Rome can be directly linked to another significant act he made just over a month after the outbreak of war: the Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary The apparition at Fatima had specifically requested the Consecration of Russia in its message to the shepherd children We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young… Star of the Sea do not let us be shipwrecked in the tempest of war… Free us from war protect our world from the menace of nuclear weapons.” The apparitions at Fatima are closely linked to the Popes of the 20th century intertwining with their personal biographies to add the invocation “Queen of Peace pray for us” to the traditional Litany of Loreto recited after the Rosary the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima occurred This event coincided with the day Pope Benedict XV consecrated Bishop Eugenio Pacelli in the Sistine Chapel who would later become his second successor Pius XII consecrated “the peoples separated by error or discord” to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Paul VI became the first Pope to make a pilgrimage to Fatima when he visited Portugal as it was still under the regime of the dictator Salazar to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the apparitions which seeks to give this journey depth of meaning or revolution… Reflect on projects that promote common comfort and solidarity Recognize the gravity and magnitude of this hour which may prove decisive for the present and future generations.” Paul VI vividly described the gravity of the historical situation highlighting the “great arsenal of terribly deadly weapons” misaligned with moral and technical progress juxtaposed with the state of poverty and destitution faced by “the majority of humanity” “It is for this reason that we say that the world is in danger,” he said “It is for this reason that we have come to the feet of the Queen to implore peace a gift which only God can bestow… Observe how the outlook of the world and its destinies are presented here in immense and dramatic form.” it was Pope John Paul II with whom the story of Fatima and the message to the shepherd children became inseparably intertwined with the life of a Successor of Peter John Paul II was severely wounded in an assassination attempt in St The Polish Pope was brought to the Gemelli Hospital covered in blood and on the brink of death and he came to regard his survival as miraculous which described a “bishop dressed in white” walking through a ruined city and ultimately being killed—an image he attributed to himself visited the Portuguese shrine three times: in 1982 and finally during the Great Jubilee Year of 2000 also embarked on a pilgrimage to Fatima during his 2010 visit to Portugal “The person who thinks the prophetic mission of Fatima is concluded would be deluding themselves.” responding to a journalist’s question Pope Benedict also addressed the abuse crisis “As for the new things which we can find in this message today there is also the fact that attacks on the Pope and the Church come not only from without but the sufferings of the Church come precisely from within the Church This too is something that we have always known but today we are seeing it in a really terrifying way: that the greatest persecution of the Church comes not from her enemies without and that the Church thus has a deep need to relearn penance.” Pope Francis to young couples in an unpublished text: believe in the “joy of love” Conclave 2025: More Voters Than Ever to Elect Francis’ Successor On the Road to the Conclave: The Church Prepares to Elect the New Pope on May 7 Tweets by Pontifex Pope Francis has chosen not to wear a mask on multiple occasions during the novel coronavirus pandemic this year He has also been photographed shaking hands and leaning in to speak privately with people not wearing masks The pope, who's 83, is at a higher risk for COVID-19 complications because he had part of his lung removed when he was a teenager due to illness Rev. Augusto Zampini, a member of the pope's COVID-19 commission, told the Associated Press he frequently urges the pope to wear a mask.  "He has started to use the mask now," Zampini told the Associated Press "And I hope he will use it in the general audiences It's unclear as to why the Vatican allows people to get close to Pope Francis while not wearing a mask Italy has also seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, prompting the government to shut down businesses and encourage people to stay home. Top Vatican reporters have criticized the pope's decision not to wear a mask, saying it's "very disturbing" and that he should "know better."  "You're the boss; you should follow your own rules When the clergy hold themselves above the rules Author’s note: The 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s motu proprio “Apostolica Sollicitudo,” which re-established the Synod of Bishops during the 14th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome which was focused on the theme of the family Pope Francis invited me to give the keynote lecture at the ceremony in the Aula Paolo VI I am honored that America is taking up these thoughts again in connection with the 2023-24 Synod of Bishops which has the motto “A Synodal Church: Communion I emphasized the relation between methodos and synodos in reference to the first Council of the Apostles in Jerusalem which can be seen as the prototype of the synodal methodology At the center of this first synod of the apostles were important decisions for the universal mission of the church The apostles came to their conclusion (“The Holy Spirit and we have decided...”) on the basis of what they had experienced as God’s work The fruit of this choice was the worldwide spread of the good news throughout the world I would like to thank the editorial team of America for their interest and the translation of this essay two-thirds of this year’s session of the synod is over It is good that we are able to pause to thank God for the creation of the Synod of Bishops by Blessed Pope Paul VI 50 years ago at the beginning of the last term of the Second Vatican Council with the apostolic exhortation “Apostolica Sollicitudo,” published motu proprio on Sept about the establishment of the Synod of Bishops for the whole church The great worldwide interest that the Synod on the Family has provoked not only shows how intensely the topic of marriage and the family moves many people far beyond the borders of the Catholic Church’s It also shows how alive the institution of the Synod of Bishops is John Paul II could say that it “sprouted from the fertile ground of the Second Vatican Council.1 The Synod of Bishops and the council are inextricably linked what Pope John Paul II first pointed out in 1983 can still be said even more confidently: “The Synod of Bishops has contributed the integration of doctrine and its orientation to the truths of faith and the pastoral guidelines of the Second Vatican Council in the life of the whole universal church in a remarkable way.” This update is still going on after every large council in the long history of the church of interpretation and of the implementation of doctrine Just think about how long it took until the first ecumenical council was fully implemented in the church’s way of thinking one could say that this process lasted until the Second Council of Nicaea until the conclusion of the cycle of the seven first great ecumenical councils.2 Because only by the Second Council of Nicaea (about holy images and their legitimacy) was the mystery of Christ in its essential dimensions illuminated Or we can think about the Council of Trent the great reform council during the crisis of the Reformation In some places it took up to 200 years until the reforms from Trent were really implemented it was only 200 years after the end of the council that the reform of priestly education was implemented and a seminary was founded Charles Borromeo to immediately implement the desired reforms from the council the Synod of Bishops was certainly one of the privileged instruments for the implementation of Vatican II In 1983 Pope John Paul II could say: “The synodal key for the reading of the council’s texts became application and further development of Vatican II The long list of topics that were handled in various synods itself shows the significance of the sessions for the church and for the implementation of the reforms that the council wanted” (ibid.) the Synod of Bishops is only one of the places of interpretation and implementation of the reforms the council wanted The whole rich variety of signs by which the church’s vitality is expressed contributes to the council’s sought-after renewal The Synod of Bishops is a privileged place of conciliar interpretation In the 50 years of its existence there has also never been a lack of criticism concerning the Synod of Bishops and its efficiency I do not need to name the diverse points of criticism that are brought forth again and again This was and is a topic that is commonly discussed: the question of the authority of the Synod of Bishops—whether it is an advisory body that supports the Petrine office or whether it also has full decision-making power Is the Synod of Bishops a form of co-governance of the universal church Or does it serve above all to cultivate collegiality effective and affective collegiality under the bishops cum et sub Petro Much was also debated about the methods of the Synod of Bishops Aspects of the working methods were criticized repeatedly and some were studied and made better through experience over the course of time Thankfully we also see the renewal of the methods under Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis What is the Synod of Bishops supposed to do Many important and valid things have been written about canon law and the ecclesiological foundations of the Synod of Bishops I think especially about the lectio magistralis of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger about “Goals and Methods of the Synod of Bishops."3 With his usual clarity he spoke about the legal and theological classification of the Synod of Bishops in the church as a whole His remarks have lost none of their validity (I will return later to two important consequences of his statements.) when the institution of the Synod of Bishops was not yet 20 years old two questions especially provoked reactions that are still relevant today which Cardinal Ratzinger formulated in his talk as follows: “It is open to discussion whether the current juridical shape of the synod is perfectly suited for its goal which is depicted in the context of a certain theological reality found in the Second Vatican Council: … namely within the relationship of the mission of the successor of St Peter and the common responsibility of the whole College of Bishops to whom—with and under Peter—the care for the universal church is entrusted.” The first question is: Does the Synod of Bishops adequately serve the episcopal collegiality cum Petro et sub Petro in responsibility for the church Cardinal Ratzinger formulated the second question as follows: “We must also examine whether the methods used up until now are truly suitable for the objective of the Synod."4 The question of method guided the way of the Synod of Bishops from the beginning Pope John Paul II said at the end of the Sixth General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Oct 1983: “This instrument can still potentially be made better and the collegial pastoral responsibility in a synod can be even more perfectly expressed.” And Pope Francis: “Almost 50 years have passed since the Synod of Bishops was established and I too having deeply examined the signs of the times and with the awareness that in the exercise of my Petrine Ministry it is necessary more than ever to further revitalize the close relationship between all the Pastors of the Church I wish to value this precious heritage of the Council."5 Synodos means “a common path.” Synodality means “being together on the same path.” Those who are together on the road need a clear goal Method comes from methodos: “A path toward something.” If the syn-odos is to succeed The debates over the method of the synod are no trivial questions of organization They very formatively co-determine whether the syn-odos will lead to its goal This inseparable togetherness and interconnectedness of synodos and methodos has been clear from the beginning of the institution of the Synod of Bishops Pope Paul VI started the Synod of Bishops: “The apostolic care in which We attentively searching the signs of the times seek to adapt the ways and methods of the spiritual apostolate to the growing needs of our day as well as to the changed conditions of society urges Us to strengthen with even closer bonds Our union with the bishops ‘whom the Holy Spirit has destined…to guide the Church of God’ (Acts 20:28).”6 To consider this interconnectedness of synodos and methodos I suggest we look at the “Proto-Synod,” the original model of the synod at the so-called Apostolic Council of Jerusalem It seems to me that the methods that were applied at that time could show the way for the Synod of Bishops now And we can clearly see that in hindsight: This first synod was so successful that we still live from its fruits today It all began with a dramatic conflict: “Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses It was about the entirety of the Christian path No wonder this question caused great strife: “And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders” (Acts 15:2) It is therefore not surprising that there was then also “much debate” (Acts 15:7) “some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said ‘It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses’” (Acts 15:5) The conflict about the path for non-Jewish Christians shows us something very important: It was expressed This parrhesia reminds me of two sayings of Pope Francis who said to the participants at the beginning and end of the special session of the synod last October: “A basic condition for this is to speak openly or else someone could think poorly of me....’ Everything that you feel urged to say to someone is allowed to be said with parrhesia [candor] a cardinal wrote to me: ‘It’s a shame that some cardinals didn’t have the courage to say certain things out of respect for the pope because they thought that the pope might perhaps think something different.’ That is not right; that is not synodality because you should say everything that you feel urged to say in your heart: Without human deference one should listen in humility and adopt an open heart to what the brothers say With these two attitudes we are practicing synodality.” With these two attitudes it is also possible to get into “vigorous disagreements.” That is how it was at the Council of Jerusalem That is also how it was at the synod [in October 2015] last October Pope Francis also explicitly treated these discussions which were certainly fraught with tension: Pope Francis encourages us not to fear the controversies to live them as this “movimento degli spiriti,” as the propelling force that lets the discernment of spirits ripen and prepares hearts to recognize what the Lord himself says to us which we still need to recognize through prayer and through the hard work of our controversy the “Council of Jerusalem.” I see the most important doctrines about the “synodal path” of the early church in methodos in the way in which the young church solved this dramatic conflict against which counter-opinions could be composed and presented The theological debate is important and indispensable It is part of the synodos that Pope Francis began when he chose the theme “Marriage and the Family,” that triggered an intense theological debate throughout the Church In that I see a true gain for the “organic development” of the doctrine of the church The Catechism of the Catholic Church reads: Thus the theological debate of the past months is an important contribution to the path of the synod just as the work of Vatican II would not have been possible without the great work of theologians in the decades before and during the council The fact that these theological debates have sometimes been held and not always in the spirit of listening to one other and of attempting to understand the concerns of others is one of the classic temptations about which Pope Francis spoke at the end of the extraordinary session of the synod The early church also used a different method This method is surely also important for the theological debate It is still more important for the success of the synodal path We hear the account from the Acts of the Apostles: In brief: Peter reports what God himself had done and thus decided: The method that Peter uses is to tell the story of the deeds of God We can also say: He reports what he has experienced as the work of God They are not the result of theological reflections but rather of attentive looking at and listening to God’s works “The whole assembly kept silence” (Acts 15:12) They do exactly what Pope Francis had asked us to do in the synod over the past few years: Peter spoke with parrhesia And the assembly listened “in humility.” Peter’s testimony was not immediately plucked apart and criticized in a great debate His word was accepted with silence and then be “pondered in the heart” (cf How important is this silence and listening with the heart they are also ready to receive the testimony of Paul and Barnabas: “The whole assembly kept silence and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the gentiles” (Acts 15:12) They did not give some kind of theological treatise They did not theorize abstractly about the salvation of the gentiles but rather they described what they had “seen and heard” (cf What Peter and John said before the High Council applies even more to the assembly of the church in Jerusalem: “We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20) the assembly leaves the testimony from Paul and Barnabas unchallenged but rather listened to and taken into their hearts Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the gentiles to take from among them a people for his name” (Acts 15:13-14) James confirms what Peter has just said: God himself has intervened and decided the matter James cites words from the prophets that confirm in advance what the Lord does in these days “to take from among them a people for his name” (Acts 15:14) In listening to both the writing and the experience the assembly recognizes the way and the will of God Then they come to a joint decision from “the apostles and the elders with the consent of the whole church” (Acts 15:22) then we read: “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from sexual immorality” (Acts 15:28-29) The Acts of the Apostles then reports the reception of the decisions of Jerusalem: “When they read it they rejoiced at the exhortation (paraklêsei)” (Acts 15:31) It is a fine thing when the result of a synod heartens the believers It was not always the case that what came out of a synod at the end was received with such joy I ask your indulgence for having stayed longer with the proto-synod of Jerusalem I want to attempt to formulate three thoughts about the path of the Synod of Bishops essential to our “synodos,” our shared path I will summarize this in three keywords: mission The innermost goal of the synod as an instrument of the implementation of Vatican II can only be the mission The proto-synod of Jerusalem made the missionary dynamic of the early church possible and even caused it to flourish tremendously “will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 15:11) has opened the door of the church to gentiles The success of the institution of the Synod of Bishops will be measured above all by whether it fosters “the Church’s life and her missionary outreach” (EG The Synod of Bishops can make a fruitful impact on the upcoming transition from a “pastoral ministry of mere conservation” to a “decidedly missionary pastoral ministry” at all levels of the church (EG It should support the pope in his service of the church and promote “missionary enthusiasm,” emphasized by both St 2.But how can the Synod of Bishops support the pope in their shared missionary dynamic Here too a look at the proto-synod of Jerusalem can help us the question of whether the synod should have not only a “voto consultativo” (consultative vote) but also a “voto deliberativo” (deciding vote) has been asked repeatedly Pope Francis has frequently emphasized that the synod is not a parliament Blessed Pope Paul VI introduced the Synod of Bishops as a new consultative organ at the level of the whole universal church the entire people of God is always present But the bishops are not representatives like the delegates in Parliament This representation has an essentially different meaning in the church structure and is determined according to the principle of community and faith Now faith cannot be represented but only witnessed to Exactly that happened back then in Jerusalem The apostles gave witness to what they had seen and heard If I may express a wish for the future path of the Synod of Bishops: Please let us take the Apostolic Council as our norm Let us witness to one another what the Lord shows us and how we experience his activity I was allowed to take part in the synod on new evangelization But hardly anyone gave testimony as to how we ourselves experience mission and evangelization Paul and Barnabas spoke of their testimonies and experiences All too often we remain in the theoretical in “one should” and “one ought to”; we hardly ever speak personally about our missionary experiences But this is what our believers are waiting for And exactly that is the determining factor: In Jerusalem it wasn’t about consultation or decision but rather about the discernment of the will and way of God even disputes and intense struggling are part of the synodal path is the mutual discernment of the will of God where voting happens (like at the end of every synod) party formation (about which the media loves to report) but rather about the joint process of forming a decision the result will not be a political compromise but rather this “added value” that the Holy Spirit gives “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” (Acts 15:28) “The renewal of structures demanded by pastoral conversion can be understood only in this light: as part of an effort to make them more mission-oriented to make ordinary pastoral activity on every level more inclusive and open to inspire in pastoral workers a constant desire to go forth and in this way to elicit a positive response from all those whom Jesus summons to friendship with himself As John Paul II once said to the bishops of Oceania: ‘All renewal in the Church must have mission as its goal if it is not to fall prey to a kind of ecclesial introversion.’”7 The Synod of Bishops is there for this reason in order to continue along this path of maturation in the service of the successors of Peter and it is an extremely precious gift for which we must thank the Holy Spirit Discorso Consiglio della Segretaria Generale del Sinodo dei Vescovi 45-58; shortened German edition: Fragen zu Struktur und Aufgaben der Bischofssynode [Questions on the structure and purpose of the synod of bishops.] In: Gesammelte Schriften 8/1 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Ecclesia in Oceania” (Nov. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn is the archbishop of Vienna Password reset instructions will be sent to your registered email address As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important America’s voice is in the conversation about the church and the world. We can't do it without you—America Media relies on generous support from our readers. Please visit our membership page to learn how you can invest in our work by subscribing to the magazine or making a donation If you’re already a subscriber or donor, thank you! If you login and register your print subscription number with your account, you’ll have unlimited access to the website. Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions Pope Francis follows in the footsteps of Paul VI In an interview with the Spanish daily ABC the Pope revealed on Sunday that he has done like his Brescian predecessor The Pope recounts that he gave the then-Secretary of State a resignation letter in case of 'health impediment' We do not know the exact date of this document but the reference to Cardinal Bertone as Secretary of State places it in the very first months of his pontificate given that already in October 2013 Cardinal Pietro Parolin had taken over the role of principal collaborator of the Bishop of Rome.  Pope Francis' letter follows the path of Pope Paul VI as several witnesses in previous decades had spoken of Paul VI's resignation letters until May 2018 when they were made public by the Regent of the Pontifical Household A Montini scholar and author of many books on Paul VI bringing the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and the first 13 years of its implementation to completion Sapienza's book contains these documents of Paul VI in a volume entitled "La barca di Paolo" (The Barque of Paul) The 2018 book publishes the declarations in which Paul VI writes that "in the case of infirmity or in the case of any other serious and prolonged impediment," he resigns the office of pope The letter is written in Paul VI's very clear handwriting and is dated 2 May 1965 It was therefore handwritten by the Pope from Brescia but just two years after his election with the Second Vatican Council still underway the Pope wished to shelter the Church from a long incapacity marking a letter of resignation prepared in advance and when necessary to be delivered to the Cardinal Dean so that it could be communicated to the other cardinals in order to declare that pope had stepped down There were actually two letters from Pope Paul VI because together with the resignation letter there is an accompanying document addressed to the Secretary of State that is certainly the strongest text And it is significant that that document was also commented upon by Pope Francis Sapienza's book writes: "I read with amazement these letters of Paul VI that I see as a humble and prophetic testimony of love for Christ and his Church; and further proof of the holiness of this great Pope.. What matters to him are the needs of the Church and the world And a Pope prevented by serious illness would not be able to exercise his apostolic ministry effectively enough." marked as "confidential" and addressed to the Dean of the Sacred College on letterhead with the papal coat of arms opens with these words: 'We Paul the Sixth by divine Providence Bishop of Rome and Pontiff of the universal Church in the presence of the Most Holy Trinity Father This is followed by an entrustment to Mary and Joseph Then come the formulation of the resignation with the details "We declare: in the case of infirmity and which prevents us from sufficiently exercising the functions of our apostolic ministry; or in the case that other grave and prolonged impediment to this is likewise an obstacle to renounce our sacred and canonical office and as Head of the same Holy Catholic Church together at least with the Cardinals in charge of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia and our Cardinal Vicar for the city of Rome.. the faculty of accepting and putting into effect this resignation of ours which only the higher good of Holy Church calls upon us." At the bottom are the handwritten signature and date It is interesting to note that Paul VI does not only refer to an illness but also to the possibility of "another serious and prolonged impediment" these circumstances could relate to what some authoritative witnesses of Pius XII had established at the time when his resignation could have been invoked in the event of his abduction by Hitler at the height of the Second World War This would have allowed the cardinals to meet to elect a new Bishop of Rome to replace the one who had become a prisoner of the Nazi dictator it is worth noting that in the case of both Paul VI and Francis we are dealing with a "preventive" letter one that refers to situations in which the Pope finds himself unable to step down from his office freely and in full conscience These are therefore letters that are for different circumstances compared to the one for Benedict XVI's resignation that took place almost ten years ago (Translation from original article in Italian) CloseCreate an account or log in to save stories We have added it to a list of your favorite stories MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all He cautioned the future priests and nuns that he wasn't talking about superficial joy -- "the thrill of a moment doesn't really make us happy." Francis warned his audience against seeking "the joy of the world One of the shortest pontificates in history could bring to the honour of the altars another pope of the 20th century.  John Paul I lived only 34 days on the Chair of Peter but his testimony - not only in that short period of time but more so in the previous decades as bishop and pastor esteemed even outside the Italian borders - remains very tangible in the Church even today was elected pope on the fourth ballot on August 26 John XXIII and Paul VI.  The former appointed him Bishop of Vittorio Veneto thus including him among the Fathers of the Council; while the latter transferred him to Venice and created him cardinal The month-long pontificate of John Paul I earned for him from the media the title The world came to learn that the mild character that his expression revealed was never an indication of a lack of spiritual clarity and pastoral energy  Proof of this was his attitude and the work he did at the Second Vatican Council During the working sessions of the Council the future pope lived an intense experience of the Universal Church “In the Council hall," he wrote to the faithful of his diocese in 1963 "it is enough for me to raise my eyes to the steps in front of me.”  “There they are the protruding cheekbones of Asians.”  “And it's enough for me to exchange a few words with them one feels the breath of "Christian optimism" which promises to be the fruit of the Council against the "widespread pessimism" of relativistic culture The cause of the sainthood of John Paul I has been underway since 2003 and the “positio” (formal argument for sainthood) of Pope Luciani began to be examined by experts at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints A meticulous investigation of the testimonies and documents led to the conclusion of the case in November 2017 A miracle that will clear him for beatification is currently being examined It concerns a presumed extraordinary healing through the intercession of John Paul I that took place in 2011 in Argentina A letter unpublished until last year adds some clarity on the pope’s torment.It’s the beginning of the 1970s: times of unrest in the world and in the Church It’s the period immediately after the Second Vatican Council Pope Paul VI writes a letter that will remain unpublished until 2018 when its content is revealed in the book The Barque of Paul (“La barca di Paolo“) Paul VI has a clearer and clearer impression that there is something deep and negative that is increasingly afflicting the Church The path towards secularization and the lack of internal unity are becoming two great problems for the Church throughout the world the smoke of Satan has entered the Church of God We trust the first pagan prophet we see who speaks to us in some newspaper and we run behind him and ask him if he has the formula for true life And it entered through the windows that should have been open to the light: science.” The post-conciliar wounds make themselves felt: sunny days would come for the history of the Church of uncertainty … We tried to dig abysses instead of covering them …” The fact that the pope was concerned is also shown by another thought that he’d written eight days earlier The title alone is disturbing: “Terror and ecstasy.” 1963: exactly nine years before writing that thought “… I hope that all believe me when I say that not only did I never aspire nor even formulate the hypothesis of being elected to this formidable office …” in a conversation with his friend the French writer Jean Guitton “… I had the terror and the ecstasy of having been elected …” Once he accepted the weight of the pontificate Paul VI consecrated all his strength to it The responsibility of the Vicar of Christ is terribly heavy because it is the office of the shepherd called to give his life for his sheep Let us always pray for Peter’s Successor and for the Church LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio Critics of the practice point to scandals of long-time sexual abuse by priests that have emerged in recent years and suggest that enforced celibacy is a contributing factor Catholic priests are expected to be celibate as a condition of the priesthood in order to fully dedicate themselves to the service of God Priests are expected to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be "married" to the church the practice goes back as far as the Middle Ages by some accounts as early as the fourth century Senior Research Associate in Religion at Hofstra University Phyllis Zagano said the fourth century is when a connection between holiness and celibacy was established "You have writers arguing that marriage is not a good thing," she said "That marriage brings with it such terrible problems that it’s almost impossible to be a good Christian." But according to Zagano "They figured out that if no one got married you wouldn’t have much of a church after awhile," she continued "It's not until the 11th century that there is really an argument that anyone who celebrates the sacred mysteries anyone who is a priest who touches the holy should not touch women,” she added Bishop Zavala is certainly not the first to flout the rules when it comes to sexual relationships – or secret children Which begs the question: how relevant is celibacy to the modern Catholic church writer on celibacy and former Catholic priest did a 25-year ethnological study on the celibacy practice between 1960 and 1985 no more than 50 percent of Roman Catholic priests bound by this vow are faithful to the practice "It's not surprising that priests and bishops have sex," he said are having sexual relationships with women or men resigned then the hierarchy of the church would be decimated." reasons for maintaining the discipline are for economic gain and maintaining authority "It doesn't take as much money to supply the life care of a priest or a nun as it would with a man with a family," he said and author of "Women & Catholicism: Gender and Authority," which investigates questions regarding women in the Catholic Church a former Benedictine monk and Catholic priest and retired psychotherapist who has extensively researched the sexual and celibate practices of Roman Catholic bishops and priests His many books on the subject include "A Secret World" and "Celibacy in Crisis." SearchPope Francis Beautifies 'Courageous Christian' Pope Paul VI at Closing of Vatican SynodLog InSubscribeThe Christian Post To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Please click here to learn how You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience 2014Pope Francis (C) celebrates a mass for the beatification of former pope Paul VI in St | (Photo: REUTERS/Tony Gentile)Pope Francis beatified the late Pope Paul VI at the Closing Mass for the Extraordinary Synod on the Family on Sunday describing him as a "courageous Christian" and a "tireless apostle." Paul VI who was known for affirming the Roman Catholic Church's stance against contraception has been credited for a miracle in California where he is said to have helped in the birth of an unborn child Catholic News Agency pointed out that the miracle occurred in the 1990s where a mother asked a nun to pray for her using a photo of Pope Paul VI in response to news that her unborn child posed a danger to her life and his Another requirement for beautification was fulfilled by the presentation of relics in the form of two blood stained vests worn by Paul VI when he was attacked by a man with a bayonet in Manila In his speech on Sunday, Francis noted that it was Pope Paul VI who established the Synod of Bishops to discuss important social issues affecting Catholic people around the world we cannot but say in the sight of God a word as simple as it is heartfelt and important: thanks Thank you for your humble and prophetic witness of love for Christ and his Church," Francis said CNN noted that Paul VI affirmed the Catholic teachings on marriage and spoke out against birth control The late pontiff was also known for his social justice work Francis recalled Paul VI's personal notes on the Council he helped establish reading: "Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this service not because I am particularly fit for it or so that I can govern and rescue the Church from her present difficulties but so that I can suffer something for the Church Francis added that Paul VI truly "rendered to God what is God's" and devoted his life to the "sacred solemn and grave task of continuing in history and extending on earth the mission of Christ" loving the Church and leading her so that she might be "a loving mother of the whole human family and at the same time the minister of its salvation." At the conclusion of the Synod on Sunday where the bishops discussed issues such as divorce and potential for outreach toward gay couples Francis thanked the bishops for their efforts and encourage them to continue their journey the proposed ideas and to find concrete solutions to so many difficulties and innumerable challenges that families must confront; to give answers to the many discouragements that surround and suffocate families," Francis said in anticipation of the second part of the Synod Back in April, Popes John Paul II and John XXIII were officially declared saints by the Catholic Church in a double-canonization ceremony at the Vatican attended by close to half a million people Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles. Return to homepage. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The two men agreed that there had been abuses after Vatican II but the pope felt the need to begin fasting after their meeting.The unpublished account of a meeting between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre but the pope reproached Archbishop Lefebvre for his lack of obedience Reported in the book The barca di Paolo (Paul’s Barque this half-hour meeting took place on September 11 Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre had founded the Ecône seminary in Switzerland for the training of FSSPX priests The local bishop had authorized the seminary but his successor asked for it to be shut down which resulted in his suspension a divinis the prelate celebrated a public Mass in Lille in front of 6,000 faithful including many journalists who were witnesses the problem was above all a question of obedience to the Sovereign Pontiff “The position you have taken is that of an anti-pope (…) You have judged the pope as unfaithful to the Faith I should resign and invite you to take my position to lead the Church,” the pope told the French archbishop asking him if he realized “the scandal and the harm that [he] had caused to the Church.” Archbishop Lefebvre acknowledged that his words and writings may have been “inappropriate,” but said he could not go against his conscience because some conciliar documents do not agree with the tradition of the Church was above all “to train priests according to the Faith and in the Faith.” In some other seminaries there are “unimaginable situations” taking place “Everything would be solved,” said the archbishop if the pope would ask the bishops to allow chapels where the faithful could “pray as they did before the Council.” Peter’s Successor rejected the suggestion: “We are a community and we cannot allow the different parties to act as if they were autonomous.”  “The Church is in crisis,” said Archbishop Lefebvre And the pope recognized that there are very many “abuses.” He insisted “We do not approve of these behaviors,” and stressed the need to fight them with “a lot of effort and tenacity.” He added “We are the first to deplore the excesses.” the good that the Council has brought is even greater of a strong spiritual recovery among young people a rise in the sense of responsibility,” he noted And he said Archbishop Lefebvre’s behavior was contributing to and aggravating the difficulties because of his “solemn disobedience with his open challenge against the pope.” said the pope began a fast after this meeting with the French archbishop “He said that he had to do penance himself to offer to the Lord—in the name of the Church—just reparation for everything that was going on.” Cardinals arrive for the Congregation at Paolo VI Hall at the Vatican .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Religion News Service"In the church," Chicago Cardinal Francis George once said "everything has happened at least once!" That's no surprise given that the Catholic Church is a nearly 2,000-year-old institution that has adapted to radically different epochs But electing a new pope while the former pope is still alive this colorful and curious history continues to be written in today's headlines as George and 114 other cardinal electors gather in Rome to choose a successor to Benedict XVI -- the first pope to resign in six centuries and after a troubled papacy that has many historians reaching back to the Renaissance for apt comparisons quirks and facts of papal history that you should know about and Religion News Service has compiled a handy guide: -- Cardinals picking a pope in a conclave held in the Sistine Chapel is actually a (relatively) recent development the pope -- who is the Bishop of Rome -- was elected in various ways though usually by the clergy of the diocese a choice that was then affirmed (or rejected) by the people a man named Fabian -- not even a candidate -- was acclaimed pope after a dove the Roman aristocracy and secular rulers often controlled the process The College of Cardinals wasn't given the principal right to elect the pope until 1059 the College of Cardinals was given the exclusive right to choose a new pope and a two-thirds majority was set as the threshold for a winning vote (later changed to two-thirds plus one) a pope could also be elected by a compromise among the cardinals or by "acclamation," which means that all of the cardinals would have to unanimously declare their support for a single candidate -- At times there have been as few as a dozen cardinals voting in a conclave Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) set the top number at 70 and that was not changed until the 20th century when the ceiling was gradually raised to 120 though John Paul II often surpassed that limit Pope Paul VI ruled that cardinals who were more than 80 years old when a pope died could not take part in a conclave; there are a total of 207 living cardinals but 90 of them are more than 80 and cannot vote Two others have said they cannot take part -- The longest interregnum between popes lasted two years and nine months could not agree on a candidate until they were forced to do so by the king of France and other rulers Pope Gregory X in 1274 established what we know today as the conclave (Latin for "with a key") in which the cardinals are essentially locked inside a room -- and in olden times deprived of meals -- until they settle on a successor The last long conclave was in 1740 and lasted six months -- The last conclave held outside of Rome was in Venice -- Ballots have been burned since the 1417 conclave but the practice of using white smoke -- created by adding dry straw to the ballots chemicals -- to signal the election of a pope was first recorded in 1914 church bells were rung and cannons fired to signal the election of a pope but the last time the cardinals reached outside their ranks was in 1378 -- The last pope who was not a priest when elected was Leo X (1513-1521) He had to be ordained before taking office The last cardinal elected pope who was not a bishop was Bartolomeo Cappellari a monk who became Pope Gregory XVI in 1831 He was made a bishop four days after his election and then became pope -- The first pope to change his name: a fellow named Mercury didn't think it was a good idea to be named after a Roman god so he became John II -- The last pope to keep his name: Marcello Cervini -- Two popes named Peter changed their name out of respect for the first pope: John XIV (983-84) and Sergius IV (1009-12) -- There have been three father-son combinations the last when Sergius III (904-911) was later followed by his illegitimate son -- The first pope to live in the Vatican: Nicholas III (1277-80) Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Co-Salutatorian Kevin O’Callaghan Where: Eagle Bank Arena (formerly the George Mason Patriot Center) Graduation Speaker: Paul VI teachers and staff Sarah Elizabeth Zaboli and Giovanni Paolo Zamora For more information about Paul VI Catholic High School call 703/352-0925 or go to paulvi.net Arlington Catholic Herald200 N. Glebe Rd.Suite 615Arlington, VA 22203703-841-2590800-377-0511 Website Design and Development by New Target Kashmira Gander is Deputy Science Editor at Newsweek. Her interests include health Her work has also been published in the The Independent the London Evening Standard and International Business Times UK either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Singer Katy Perry says she uses meditation instead of prescription drugs to treat her anxiety Addressing the Unite to Cure health conference at Vatican City on Saturday Perry spoke broadly about how a practice known as transcendental meditation (TM) has helped to ease her stress Instead of having to turn to prescription [drugs] I've been able to turn to this and we did it this morning at 7 o'clock—and for the Italians it helps with the hangovers," she added with a laugh The singer was joined on the panel at the event with her teacher Bob Roth a meditation non-profit founded by the Twin Peaks director and TM follower attended an address on health by Pope Francis and met the pontiff "I have always [...] had a lot on my plate and I noticed before I was meditating I started to short circuit "I knew that I had to take care of my mental health and my mind which is the greatest asset in my body besides my heart "The stillness that I've found is beyond anything I've ever experienced Everybody's just like 'I'll nap for two hours.' This is totally different from napping Napping is to brushing your teeth as flossing is to meditation A lot of people brush their teeth but still have very interesting breath The singer also argued meditation is key to finding one's "authentic self." "I find personally with my own experience meditation is the key to really finding your true authentic self the immune strength to be able to take on this big technological world." Perry made the comments after she was criticized earlier this month for tweeting that breathing exercises help to ease her anxiety I just breathe through my nose and out through my mouth," she wrote I just breathe through my nose and out through my mouth 💆🏼‍♀🤗 Perry revealed that she took beta-blockers "I have to take beta blockers [before each show], I get so nervous," she told Cosmopolitan at the time." Unlike other common forms of meditation, proponents of TM claim it must be taught one-to-one by a qualified practitioner Followers then meditate for 20 minutes a day Other high-profile TM supporters include Hugh Jackman whose mother took her for sessions in an attempt to treat her symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all VATICAN CITY - The new pope, Benedict XVI, introduced himself on Saturday to the world's news media, and if he was upset about hard-edged headlines that focused on his years as enforcer of the faith, he did not show it. "I know how hard you have worked," he told several hundred reporters, smiling through an address delivered in flawless Italian, English, French and his native tongue, German. "Far away from your homes and families, for long hours and in sometimes difficult circumstances." He did not take questions or deviate far from his script (which did not include Spanish, irritating the reporters who write for millions of Spanish-speaking Roman Catholics). But with his gold glasses slightly askew, he seemed serene and at ease in his new role as the 265th pope. He did not chide or lay down harsh truths as he did on Monday when the conclave began, warning direly of a "dictatorship of relativism." It was his first public audience, the day before he will be formally installed as pope on St. Peter's Square, and it posed again the issue the very same reporters in the audience have been trying to resolve: how a man, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 78, with so fierce a reputation and so long a record of unstinting orthodoxy can also be, by nearly all accounts, courteous, humble, warm if not effusive, and even shy? The issue - that the pope be loved as well as obeyed - is one that the Vatican is well aware of, and the church's media machine has been working to soften his image in these past few days. Many friends have thus been happy to provide details they say underscore his essential modesty: his fondness for lemonade and cats, for example, or a democratic way of running meetings, soliciting advice starting from the lowliest in the office. And at a time when many Roman Catholics would like nothing more than a pleasant public honeymoon for their contentious new leader, the private image does seem very real, too - and one that Catholics perhaps will warm up to, even if he seems unlikely to be as beloved as his predecessor and former boss, John Paul II. John L. Allen Jr., a writer for The National Catholic Reporter, recalled meeting him for the first time at a cocktail party in 1997 in San Francisco. The second most powerful man in the Roman Catholic Church was definitely not holding court. "He was just sort of off in a corner," said Allen, who was working on a biography, later called "Cardinal Ratzinger" (Continuum: 2000). "And I remember going up and introducing myself to him. I was just bowled over, first of all how shy he was. And secondly, he had a kind of dry sense of humor and just how nice he seemed. "This certainly was not what his public image would lead you to expect," he said. From his first few appearances, including the one on Saturday in Paul VI auditorium in the Vatican, it seems clear that he will not be as dynamic as John Paul II, who as a young man was an actor. Joseph Ratzinger pursued a more solitary art, the piano. On Saturday, he wandered from his script only to joke briefly about switching from one language to the next. "We're in Italy, so let's return to Italian," he said after reading sections of his speech in English, German and French (the French speakers in the audience applauded him). When he stood to take the microphone after delivering his speech, he did not greet reporters by name or make the sort of impromptu remarks that John Paul might have in his healthier days. Benedict went directly into the Lord's Prayer. But he was smiling, congenial - and orderly. Colleagues and friends say a sense of order may also be a hallmark of this new pontificate, though detractors worry, too, that it might too much resemble rigid traditionalism. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, archbishop of Genoa, who worked for 20 years with Ratzinger, said movers were transferring his enormous collection of books from his apartment just outside the Vatican into the papal apartments - in the exact same order. The order, however, does not seem a sign of personal rigidity, friends say. He rarely shows anger. He is reserved, they say, even shy, but approachable and informal. "Those who describe him as cold, detached, inaccessible and too intellectual have not met him," wrote Alessandra Borghese, an Italian noblewoman, describing dinner with him in 2004. "He didn't seem tired but quite amused," she wrote. "His glass was filled with his favorite 'wine': lemonade." Quoting him, she wrote: "In my rhythm of work, and the necessity always to be very lucid, I do not even allow myself a glass of wine. I get up at 6 in the morning, though I used to get up earlier years ago. After Mass, meditation and the breviary, my day does not allow a moment of pause: meetings, conferences, texts to review, documents to sign." The new pope is not, however, a teetotaler: Bertone said he occasionally allows himself a glass of "excellent" wine from Piedmont. Manuela Macher, co-owner of the Cantina Tirolese, a Bavarian restaurant near the Vatican where he is a regular, said he also liked an occasional German beer, Franziskaner Weissbier. Which raises a question: Does he order the large size or the small? "No, no - the small," she said. "Or orange juice." Macher said he was modest, not at all showy for a man of his position, with a dry sense of humor. "Someone lost his dog and put up a sign: Has anyone seen this German Shepherd?" she recalled. "He came in and said, 'No, no, it's not me. I'm here.' It was really funny - it surprised us. I think he is going to surprise us." Of all the issues surrounding the early days of this papacy - and the man who will be installed formally today as the successor to St. Peter - Bertone said his friends are curious about one detail in particular. "One question we've all asked ourselves is whether he'll bring his piano to the Vatican," Bertone said. "I'd like to hear the pope playing Bach or Mozart." His stated intention to decentralise the Catholic Church’s power and reform its central bureaucracy, the Curia, has not endeared Francis to traditionalists, says TP O’Mahony has not endeared Francis to traditionalists Pope Francis during his weekly general audience in the Paolo VI Hall at the Vatican yesterday Picture: Giuseppe Lami/EPAThe Pope turned to one of his closest advisers: “Who is betraying me The Church is not going in the direction I want it to go in.” This is actually dialogue from the Sky TV series The Young Pope But it could be something a Vatican correspondent might overhear any day in exchanges between Pope Francis and one of his advisers in the Casa Santa Martha One difference is that Piux XIII’s trusted adviser is a nun whereas there is no woman in Francis’s inner circle believe that a female perspective might have steered him clear of some problems The addition of a woman to its inner circle wouldn’t undo the difficulties Francis is now saddled with but it might provide a bulwark against others When Eugenio Pacelli was papal nuncio to Germany in the 1920s he met a young Bavarian nun in a nursing home to follow him and to head his household in the Vatican She continued in that role in the papal apartments when Cardinal Pacelli was elected Pope in April 1939 Such was her influence that her enemies referred to her as ‘La Popessa.’ It is not known how Pope Francis’s enemies refer to him when he isn’t present but some are powerful and his sense of being ‘betrayed’ is well-founded Many Catholics find the idea of sustained and planned internal Vatican opposition to a Pope difficult to comprehend the Roman Curia (the Church’s central bureaucracy) exists to assist the Pope In The Vatican — an expert’s guide to an institution that is often baffling in its complexity — Peter Hebblethwaite reiterates this point: “The Roman Curia is at the service of the Pope” he adds: “It does not invariably do what the Pope wants” The Curia will sometimes pursue its own agenda and deliberately frustrate the papal agenda This is especially true when it is perceived by senior Roman cardinals that their own status and influence are being reduced or curtailed — which is very much the case with Francis listed reform of the Curia as one of the priorities of his papacy Decentralisation of authority away from Rome is one of the key objectives of his reform programme “The Argentine Pope made the first — and what is the most significant — reform of his pontificate in the very first days following his election,” says Robert Mickens the Vatican correspondent of the French Catholic newspaper La Croix “It was his decision to shun the secluded papal apartments and make his permanent home at the Casa Santa Marta a residence for priest-employees of the Vatican and the place where the cardinals lodge during a conclave “The choice of address was the beginning of Francis’s slow painstaking efforts to re-dimensionalise the scope and activities of the Roman Curia and decentralise its power It was also part of his plan to demythologise the institution of the papacy and eliminate the lingering vestiges of the old papal court.” Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) President Tim Lennon from Tucson and SNAP members Esther Hatfield Miller from Los Angeles pose for pictures during interviews with the media in St Peter's Square at the Vatican during Pope Francis' general audience (AP Photo/Luigi Navarra)As part of his promotion of synodal governance Francis has strengthened and reformed the Synod of Bishops (which had been emasculated by John Paul II and Benedict XVI) and has brought forward legislation to bestow greater decision-making powers and doctrinal authority on national episcopal conferences had sought to weaken and sideline these conferences the presidents of these same national episcopal conferences (over 110 worldwide) will assemble in Rome for a four-day summit The Irish Church will be represented by Archbishop Eamon Martin The global summit was convened by the Pope in what the London-based Catholic weekly has said “could be a watershed moment in the history of the Catholic Church’s response to the scandal of child sex abuse within its ranks” of Austria (who is now being included among the favourites to succeed Pope Francis) has said the sexual abuse crisis is the biggest challenge facing the Church and warned that it threatens its mission to preach the Gospel In an interview with the German magazine Stern he said: “Francis has made the ‘Joy of the Gospel’ his central topic The message these perpetrators are sending out is the exact opposite If we don’t get down to reappraising the abuse all talk of ‘the Joy of the Gospel’ will go down the plughole.” The ‘Joy of the Gospel’ (or Evangelii Gaudium) is the November 2013 apostolic exhortation in which Francis set out the programme for his papacy He has been slow to react to an ever-deepening crisis The plague of clerical sex abuse has been accompanied by institutional mishandling that the Pope’s central reform programme — and his efforts to move away from a monarchical papacy — will “go down the plughole” Pope Francis poses for a photo with a group of priests at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican Wednesday (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)And there is now a new dimension After his recent historic trip to the Arabian Peninsula — making him the first Pope to visit the birthplace of Islam — Francis acknowledged that nuns have been sexually abused by bishops and priests of young nuns being raped and forced to have abortions The sexual abuse of nuns has been the hidden dimension of the wider sex abuse scandal though we now know that a 1998 study revealed that 30% of nuns in the US had experienced some kind of sexual abuse president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the United States specifying cases of abuse from 20 countries (including Ireland) was sent to Rome but the plight of nuns — who do not give up their rights as persons on entering a religious congregation — was never given much priority in the Vatican who told the BBC that the practice of leaving complaints to individual dioceses is no longer good enough Asked about the factors behind the sexual abuse of nuns she said it was: The culture of secrecy; A sense of entitlement among priests and bishops; Opportunity “This is part of the culture of clericalism who have been taught that the priest is someone who should never be questioned.” This all forms the background to this week’s landmark summit makes a very pertinent point: “The suggestion that senior members of the hierarchy should be responsible for the investigation of junior members of it sounds simply like an attempt to keep the scandal within the club Pope Francis made a move that signals a new determination to enforce a “zero tolerance” policy He sanctioned the dismissal from the priesthood of a former cardinal found guilty by the Vatican of sexually abusing minors a former Archbishop of Washington DC and once one of the most prominent figures in the Church This makes him the most senior figure to be dismissed from the priesthood in modern times who retired as Archbishop of Washington DC in 2006 was forced to resign as a cardinal last July the publication of a new book — on the day the summit opens — will not help matters it claims that 80% of priests in the Vatican are gay some of the most senior clerics in the Catholic Church who have vociferously attacked homosexuality are themselves gay Federico Lombardi and Sister Bernadette Reis give a press conference on a Vatican summit on preventing clergy sex abuse (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)The author spent four years researching it and it is “a startling account of corruption and hypocrisy at the heart of the Vatican” Bloomsbury say the book “reveals secrets” about celibacy We didn’t have to await a new book to be convinced about the plots The ‘betrayal’ of Francis within the highest echelons of the Vatican has been going on for some time No modern Pope has had to contend with such a level of opposition has become — unwittingly (from what we know) — a factor in this opposition put it as follows: “Try as he might to stay out of the fray Benedict has been used as a symbol of resistance for a segment of traditionalists who oppose elements of Francis’s reformist papacy and see Benedict’s vision of Catholicism as more aligned with theirs” A few days after Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope he received a phone call from an old friend in Buenos Aires: “Remember From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in more courts articles 2015From Hulton Archive/Getty Images.Save this storySaveSave this storySaveRomans love their beds Credited as some of the earliest adaptors of mattresses stuffed with reeds citizens of the Roman Empire also developed the first “luxury bed,” decorated with gold they also invented an early iteration of the water bed wherein sleepers would recline in warm water until drowsy and then be transferred onto mattresses in cradles Join the city’s annual 12 million or so visitors today and you’ll have your pick of beds—hundreds of thousands of them across some 40,000 accommodations But in a nod to the city’s religious heritage current (and former) convents and monasteries offer more than just a place to rest your head If you want the full experience: active convents and monasteries “A stay in a monastery or convent guest house offers a true traveling experience—a unique point of difference to the mainstream ‘cookie-cutter’ hotel market,” says Mark Logan, director at Monastery Stays a site that works to pair guests with more than 500 authentic properties operated by religious orders throughout Italy “The guesthouses are located in some of the most sought-after locations and the properties themselves often also house a rich history and in many cases artwork not seen outside of the major galleries and basilicas of Italy—all in the place you are staying each night Though staying in an active convent might be more unconventional travel guru Rick Steves adds that they can be an excellent resource for those looking to stay in a prime location without shelling out too much per night with a twin bed and don’t mind a crucifix hanging over your head Courtesy of Monastery Stays.Casa di Accoglienza “Paolo VI” A grand guesthouse within steps of the Vatican this clean and well-maintained convent is operated by the Piccole Suore della Sacra Famiglia or the Little Sisters of the Sacred Family Take your breakfast up to the hotel’s small roof garden and use the opportunity to brush up on your Italian—most of the Sisters here speak only rudimentary English but have an excellent knowledge of the city Courtesy of Monastery Stays.Casa Di Santa Brigida The “ritziest” of Rome’s current convent houses a rooftop terrace overlooking the Piazza Farnese and the Brigidine sisters sometimes proffer guest tickets to the papal audience these former convents and monasteries offer several upscale comforts while incorporating their centuries-old architecture and history Courtesy of Relais Le Clarisse.Relais Le Clarisse Relais le Clarisse is tucked away in Trastevere on former cloister grounds that once housed nuns of the holy order of Le Clarisse The boutique hotel mixes understated elegance with historical details—think wrought-iron bed frames The highlight here is the compound’s internal courtyard: in 1122 the area served as the monastery’s botanical garden for rare herbs has ancient olive trees and outdoor seating Bonus: pets are welcome (for $17 per furry friend) Courtesy of Donna Camilla Savelli/VOI Hotels.Donna Camilla Savelli Hotel Baroque architect Francesco Borromini designed this sprawling space which opened in 1642 as a convent but was recently renovated Former nun cells have been converted into 78 elegant rooms and suites The convent-cum-architectural marvel has retained many of its bones despite upgrading in serious luxe fashion: here and original wooden ceilings coexist beside marble bathrooms and terraces with panoramic views of Rome Enjoy an espresso in the hotel’s inner garden before setting off along the banks of the Tiber River for the Vatican location: just 100 meters from the Circus Maximus and 800 from the Colosseum the Kolbe hotel sits smack in the middle of ancient Rome The bones of the hotel have seen their share of iterations: the inner core dates back to 1625 while the surrounding structures came later when the once Franciscan monastery was renovated into the property it is today The hotel draws its name from Father Maximilian Kolbe a Polish priest who once lived there but was later sent to Auschwitz and died after giving up his own life in exchange for another prisoner’s A small chapel and museum on the grounds are dedicated to his memory A “historical accommodation house,” the Domus Sessoriana claims to be the only hotel in the world to be located within an archaeological complex —the Amphitheatre Castrense long corridors characteristic of medieval monasteries break off into 80 rooms of varying shapes and sizes all of which have been converted from 10th-century monks’ cells the hotel’s 18th-century interior has been remarkably preserved and restored: everything from the use of stone and stucco to the lighting and paint colors matches the aesthetic of the time Pope Benedict XVI waves to the volunteers gathered in Aula Paolo VI at the Vatican on November 17 AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO (Photo credit should read ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images) "I always say I would love to dress the Queen of England [pauses] I would love to dress the pope!" Hey, Bendict XVI is already a fan of red footwear (see above photo for proof), and his predecessor, John Paul II, reportedly wore Prada shoes so it's not as far-fetched as you might imagine PLUS...find out which pair of shoes Louboutin would save from a fire...AND...guess which celeb paints the soles of her Louboutins black!? Bishops' Conference of England and Wales Pope Francis has celebrated the Closing Mass for the Extraordinary Synod on the Family whom he described as a “great Pope,” a “courageous Christian” and a “tireless apostle.” Pope Francis focused on Christ’s words from the Gospel: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” This “is a striking phrase which the Lord has bequeathed to all those who experience qualms of conscience their power and their reputation are in question.” to “render to God the things that are God’s” calls for “acknowledging that God alone is the Lord of mankind This is the perennial newness to be discovered each day and it requires mastering the fear which we often feel at God’s surprises.” It means “being docile to His will devoting our lives to Him and working for His Kingdom of mercy is where our “true strength” and hope are found Pope Francis then recalled the experience of the Synod a word which means “journeying together.” Indeed “pastors and lay people from every part of the world have come to Rome bringing the voice of their particular Churches in order to help today’s families walk the path the Gospel with their gaze fixed on Jesus.” He gave thanks to God for the work of the Synod and invoked the Holy Spirit to continue to guide the process as it moves toward the Ordinary Synod of Bishops set to take place in October next year The Holy Father noted that it was Pope Paul VI who established the Synod of Bishops “When we look to this great Pope,” he said Thank you for your humble and prophetic witness of love for Christ and his Church!” Pope Francis said as he concluded his homily “truly ‘rendered to God what is God’s’ by devoting his whole life to the ‘sacred solemn and grave task of continuing in history and extending on earth the mission of Christ,’ loving the Church and leading her so that she might be ‘a loving mother of the whole human family and at the same time the minister of its salvation.’” Closing Mass of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family and Beatification of the Servant of God Paul VI We have just heard one of the most famous phrases in the entire Gospel: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mt 22:21) to give him an exam in religion and catch him in error Jesus gives this ironic and brilliant reply It is a striking phrase which the Lord has bequeathed to all those who experience qualms of conscience their power and their reputation are in question Certainly Jesus puts the stress on the second part of the phrase: “and [render] to God the things that are God’s” This calls for acknowledging and professing – in the face of any sort of power – that God alone is the Lord of mankind This is the perennial newness to be discovered each day and it requires mastering the fear which we often feel at God’s surprises That is why he is continually surprising us opening our hearts and guiding us in unexpected ways He renews us: he constantly makes us “new” A Christian who lives the Gospel is “God’s newness” in the Church and in the world “Rendering to God the things that are God’s” means being docile to his will devoting our lives to him and working for his kingdom of mercy Here is where our true strength is found; here is the leaven which makes it grow and the salt which gives flavour to all our efforts to combat the prevalent pessimism which the world proposes to us for when we put our hope in God we are neither fleeing from reality nor seeking an alibi: instead we are striving to render to God what is God’s That is why we Christians look to the future It is so that we can live this life to the fullest – with our feet firmly planted on the ground – and respond courageously to whatever new challenges come our way And indeed pastors and lay people from every part of the world have come to Rome bringing the voice of their particular Churches in order to help today’s families walk the path the Gospel with their gaze fixed on Jesus in which we have lived synodality and collegiality and felt the power of the Holy Spirit who constantly guides and renews the Church For the Church is called to waste no time in seeking to bind up open wounds and to rekindle hope in so many people who have lost hope For the gift of this Synod and for the constructive spirit which everyone has shown in union with the Apostle Paul “we give thanks to God always for you all constantly mentioning you in our prayers” (1 Th 1:2) who during these busy days has enabled us to work generously is bringing us to the Ordinary Synod of Bishops in October 2015 in the certainty that it is the Lord who gives growth to what we have sown (cf On this day of the Beatification of Pope Paul VI I think of the words with which he established the Synod of Bishops: “by carefully surveying the signs of the times we are making every effort to adapt ways and methods… to the growing needs of our time and the changing conditions of society” (Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Apostolica Sollicitudo) Thank you for your humble and prophetic witness of love for Christ and his Church at the conclusion of its final session: “Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this service not because I am particularly fit for it In this humility the grandeur of Blessed Paul VI shines forth: before the advent of a secularized and hostile society with farsightedness and wisdom – and at times alone – to the helm of the barque of Peter while never losing his joy and his trust in the Lord Paul VI truly “rendered to God what is God’s” by devoting his whole life to the “sacred solemn and grave task of continuing in history and extending on earth the mission of Christ” (Homily for the Rite of Coronation: Insegnamenti I loving the Church and leading her so that she might be “a loving mother of the whole human family and at the same time the minister of its salvation” (Encyclical Letter Ecclesiam Suam catholicnews.org.uk/family-synodOur web section on the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family This site is maintained by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales what3words.com/leader.nodded.tiger You can sign-up to receive regular newsletters from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales 1920s - Chardin in China seeking the needed "missing link" to support the evolutionary theory Paul VI praised Chardin's theory of evolution Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.