During two days of meetings, Pope Francis and his closest cardinal advisers discussed the relationship between local churches and other institutional Church assemblies, a main topic of discussion to come out of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality. Source: NCR Online.
The Pope and his international Council of Cardinals met on Monday and Tuesday in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Pope’s residence, the Vatican press office said.
The discussion on collegiality in the Church and “the relationship between the particular churches and ecclesial assemblies” was led by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, who is not a member of the council, but served as its secretary from 2013 to 2020.
The council also discussed the recently concluded Synod of Bishops on Synodality, the Vatican said.
“In addition, the theme of the role of women in the Church was explored, seeking a synthesis of the issues that emerged during the last four council sessions,” the statement added.
At their meetings in December 2023 and February, April and June 2024, the Pope and cardinals invited women experts – including religious sisters, a consecrated virgin and an Anglican bishop – to their meetings to continue conversations on the role of women in the Church.
The council also dedicated time at their December meeting to discussing the implementation of Francis’ 2022 apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium (Preach the Gospel) in dioceses.
The Pope and cardinals discussed the work of a study group, led by council member Cardinal Oswald Gracias, on the role of nuncios and other representatives “in a synodal perspective,” the statement said.
“As always, the council was an opportunity for an overall reflection on the situation of the Church and the world in the cardinals’ various areas of origin, to share concerns and hopes about the current conditions of conflict and crisis,” the Vatican statement said.
The next meeting of the council is scheduled for April 2025.
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Pope, cardinal advisers discuss collegiality, role of women (By Justin McLellan, CNS via NCR Online)
