Before tomorrow's consistory,
Pope prays and reflects with
133 cardinals and 22 incoming
February 17, 2012
This morning, Friday 17 February, in preparation for tomorrow's consistory, the members of the College of Cardinals and the new cardinals-elect met in the Vatican's New Synod Hall for a day of reflection and prayer called by the Holy Father.
The Day began with the celebration of Lauds, followed by an introductory address by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals.
The main theme of the day - "the announcement of the Gospel today, between 'missio ad gentes' and new evangelisation" - was introduced with a long talk by one of the cardinals-designate: Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York. He was followed by Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, who delivered a report on the forthcoming Year of Faith, and its significance in the light of the Apostolic Letter 'Porta fidei'. He also outlined a series of initiatives for that Year, currently being studied by various dicasteries.
The participants in the day of reflection and prayer then rose to speak. There was time for seven addresses on various themes, before the praying of the Angelus guided by the Holy Father.
This afternoon, following the celebration of Vespers at 5 p.m., the participants will continue to make their contributions.
Of the total of 213 members of the College of Cardinals, including the twenty-two new cardinals, 133 were present. The absentees presented their excuses for reasons of age, health or earlier appointments.
Pope Benedict XVI meets cardinals
to battle growing secularism
VATICAN CITY, Fe. 17 (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Friday met with 133 current and future cardinals to ponder how to counter growing secularism in Western societies with a "new evangelization" - a key priority for his papacy.
The German Pope's closed-door meeting with international Catholic leaders included 22 cardinal-designates who will be officially elevated to the status of "princes of the Church" at a
lavish Vatican ceremony on Saturday.
[Strange and unwarranted adjective to use for any ceremony at the Vatican, where every papal ceremony has been celebrated 'uniformly' for decades, according to established rites and rubrics that are not more 'lavish' or less according to the occasion. Paul VI did away with the last vestiges of pomp and circumstance associated with the papal court (which he also abolished) such as the ostrich plumes, liveried attendants and the sedia gestatoria, and without them, papal ceremonies are fairly subdued compared to the inherent Byzantine features of Orthodox and Eastern rites.].]
The consistory on Saturday comes after high-profile leaks revealed deep tensions in the administration of the Holy See, including allegations of corruption and even a rumoured plot to assassinate the pope.
At Friday's meeting, Rino Fisichella, the head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation, was set to outline the Vatican's plans for a Year of Faith decreed by the Pope that will start in October.
Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, an influential figure in the U.S. Catholic Church
{Doesn't AFP think it relevant to say he is the current president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops???], also gave a speech on how to promote a Christian message in secularized societies.
In a message to a meeting of European and African bishops on Thursday the p\Pope condemned "the weight of secularism" and "a deep social malaise that is favouring phenomena like pornography and prostitution."
Following Saturday's consistory, the Roman Catholic Church will have a total of 213 cardinals including 125 under the age of 80 who can therefore take part in the conclave to elect a new Pope.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 17/02/2012 23:06]