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Greetings, dear readers! Today, we are thrilled to bring you the latest updates from the C9 Council of Cardinals as they gather for their third meeting of 2024 at the Vatican.
Vatican News:
The June meeting of the Council of Cardinals kicked off on Monday in the esteemed presence of Pope Francis himself.
Established by Pope Francis in 2013, the “C9” Council was created to support him in the important work of reforming the Roman Curia and overseeing the governance of the Church. This week’s assembly marks the third meeting of the Council in 2024.
Highlights from April
The previous session in April delved into the implementation of the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium within diocesan Curias, and engaged in discussions on conflicts worldwide – specifically in the Middle East and Ukraine. Pope Francis and the cardinals expressed their hopes for increased efforts towards peace and negotiation in these troubled regions.
Previous meetings also saw in-depth discussions on “the role of women in the Church,” featuring insightful reflections from Sister Regina da Costa Pedro and Professor Stella Morra.
The ‘New’ C9
Following Pope Francis’ revitalization of the Council on March 7, 2023, the current Council of Cardinals comprises esteemed members such as Cardinals Pietro Parolin, Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Oswald Gracias, Seán Patrick O’Malley, Juan José Omella Omella, Gérald Lacroix, Jean-Claude Hollerich, and Sérgio da Rocha. The Council’s secretary is Bishop Marco Mellino, and the first meeting of this freshly configured C9 occurred on April 24.
The Council’s Inception
Pope Francis established the Council of Cardinals with a chirograph on September 28, 2013. Their duties include aiding in the governance of the universal Church and formulating a reform plan for the Roman Curia. With the release of the groundbreaking apostolic constitution, Praedicate Evangelium, on March 19, 2022, the Council has made significant strides since their inaugural meeting on October 1, 2013.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates and insights from the Council of Cardinals in future posts. Thank you for joining us on this informative journey!
