VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 030
DATE 12-02-2015

Summary:
- The Extraordinary Consistory opens in a spirit of collaboration
- Reform of the Curia, at the centre of the Extraordinary Consistory
- Children: a gift from God that opens up the future
- Francis prays for the victims of the Lampedusa tragedy
- Eighth session of the Council of Cardinals
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

 The Extraordinary Consistory opens in a spirit of collaboration
 Vatican City, 12 February 2015 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. this morning, in the
Vatican's Synod Hall, the Extraordinary Consistory of the College of Cardinals
began, attended by the Holy Father and by those who will be created cardinals
in next Saturday's consistory. The works will take place over two days, today
and tomorrow, with sessions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 Following the Terce prayer and greetings from Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of
the College of Cardinals, the Holy Father Francis gave a brief address to
those present. "Welcome to this communion, expressed in collegiality", he
began, thanking the Comission of the nine cardinals and its coordinator,
Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga and the secretary, Bishop Marcello
Semeraro who presented a summary of the work carried out during these months
in drafting the new Apostolic Constitution on the reform of the Curia. This
summary, noted Pope Francis, "has been prepared on the basis of many
suggestions, also on the part of the heads and officers of the dicasteries,
alongside experts on the subject".
 "The aim is always that of promoting greater harmony in the work of the
various dicasteries and offices, in order to achieve more effective
collaboration in that absolute transparency that edifies authentic synodality
and collegiality", he continued, commenting that "reform is not an end in
itself, but a way of giving strong Christian witness; to promote more
effective evangelisation; to promote a fruitful ecumenical spirit; and to
encourage a more constructive dialogue with all".
 "Reform, strongly advocated by the majority of cardinals in the context of
the general congregations before the Conclave, must continue to enhance the
identity of the Roman Curia itself, that is, that of assisting Peter's
Successor in the exercise of his supreme pastoral office for the good and in
the service of the universal Church and the particular Churches, in order to
strengthen unity of faith and the communion of the people of God, and to
promote the mission of the Church in the world", continued the Pontiff.
 "Certainly, reaching this objective is not easy: it requires time,
determination and, above all, the collaboration of all. But to achieve this we
must first of all trust in the Holy Spirit, Who is the true guide of the
Church, imploring in prayer the gift of authentic discernment", he concluded.
"With this spirit of collaboration our meeting begins; it will be fruitful
thanks to the contribution that each one of us is able to express with
parrhesia, fidelity to the Magisterium and the awareness that all this
contributes to the supreme law, that is, the 'salus animarum'. Thank you".

___________________________________________________________

 Reform of the Curia, at the centre of the Extraordinary Consistory
 Vatican City, 12 February 2015 (VIS) - A total of 165 cardinals participated
in this morning's first session of the Extraordinary Consistory with the Holy
Father. Twenty-five were unable to attend due to illness or other serious
problems, according to a report from the director of the Holy See Press
Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., following the morning meeting.
 Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga explained that the meeting of the
Council of Cardinals (the so-called "C9") which came to an end yesterday
afternoon, focused primarily but not exclusively on the reform of the Curia;
other themes addressed were the regulation of the Synod, the work of the
Commission for the Protection of Minors, and relations with the economic
entities of the Holy See (COSEA and IOR).
 Bishop Marcello Semeraro, secretary of the C9, presented the main lines of
reform of the Roman Curia, in the light of the meeting of heads of the
dicasteries that took place in November 2014. The issues to be considered are
the functions of the Roman Curia, its relationship with other entities such as
the episcopal conferences, the criteria for rationalisation and simplification
that must guide it in its tasks, the Secretariat of State, the coordination of
the dicasteries of the Curia, the relationship between religious and
laypersons and the procedures that must govern the preparation of the new
constitution.
 Reference was also made to the institution of two congregations. The first
would encompass those organisms that until now have been concerned with the
laity, the family and life. The second would deal with matters linked to
charity, justice and peace. The collaboration of the Pontifical Councils and
Academies dedicated to these themes could be strengthened.
 Twelve prelates intervened during the morning session, observed Fr. Lombardi:
mainly cardinals who have a profound knowledge of the workings of the Curia,
although there have been contributions from a diverse range of contexts. It
has been observed that reform is twofold, theological and juridical, and many
of its assumptions relate to canon law and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, as
well as relationships with the episcopates. It was also noted that the Pope is
assisted not only by the Curia, but also by the College of Cardinals and the
Synod of Bishops. In this regard, the themes of synodality and collegiality
were discussed, and preference was expressed for the latter denomination
rather than the former.
 The issue of the ongoing training of staff of the Roman Curia was not
overlooked, and consideration was given to the possibility of a rotation of
duties to counteract routine. In this sector, both favourable and contrary
opinions were expressed by the cardinals, who emphasised that some fields
require a high level of specialisation and that for this reason, change would
be inadvisable.

___________________________________________________________

 Children: a gift from God that opens up the future
 Vatican City, 12 February 2015 (VIS) - The Pope held this Wednesday's general
audience in St. Peter's Square. In his catechesis, the Holy Father continued
his reflections on the family, referring on this occasion to children as a
gift from God to their parents and to society as a whole. "There is a close
link between the hope of a people and harmony between the generations", he
said. "The joy of children makes their parents' hearts leap and opens up the
future. Children are the joy of the family and of society. They are not a
matter of reproductive biology, or one of the many ways of producing them,
much less their parents' possession. Children are a gift. They are a gift.
Each one is unique and unrepeatable, and at the same time unmistakably linked
to his or her roots. Indeed, to be a son or a daughter according to God's
plan, means carrying in oneself the memory and hope of a love that has become
tangible by kindling the life of another human being, original and new. And
for parents each child is him- or herself, different, unique".
 Francis emphasised the gratuitous dimension of the love that we receive as
sons and daughters: "children are loved before they are born. I often
encounter expectant mothers in the square who ask me to bless their unborn
babies. These children are loved before they come into the world. This is
gratuitousness, this is love; they are loved before they are born, like the
love of God, Who always loves us first. They are loved before having done
anything to deserve it, before being able to speak or to think, even before
being able to come into the world. To be sons and daughters is the fundamental
condition for knowing God's love, which is the ultimate source of this
authentic miracle. In the soul of every child, although vulnerable, God places
the seal of this love, which is the basis of his or her personal dignity, a
dignity that nothing and no-one can destroy".

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)