Bergoglio's Contradictory Models for Cardinals

What connects Cardinals Casaroli and Nguyên Van Thuân, what makes them different?

On August 27, Pope Francis created new cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica, modeling them on two well-known more recent confreres.

(Rome) Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals during an extraordinary consistory on Saturday 27 August. For the first time in recent Church history, a cardinal uprising took place in midsummer. Francis suggested role models for the new wearers of the purple.

Three months ago, the head of the Church had unexpectedly announced a renewed expansion of the College of Cardinals, although the electoral body had not yet needed to be filled up. The maximum number of papal electors was expanded by Paul VI., but at the same time fixed at 120 cardinals. This number is now significantly exceeded.

More unusual was that Francis scheduled the consistory for the creation of cardinals in midsummer, fueling two kinds of speculation: his possible resignation or plans for renewed corona restrictions in the winter half-year (or concerns about such) that would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the College of Cardinals to meet.

All the cardinals-elect were present in Rome on Saturday, including Msgr Richard Kuuia Baawobr, the unknown bishop of Wa in Ghana. It was still possible for him to get there, but then he suffered a fainting spell, "something with the heart," said Francis, which is why his creation will only take place soon. A date for this has not yet been given.

In his homily, Francis named two deceased confreres as role models for the cardinals to aspire to - two quite contrasting churchmen: Cardinal Secretary of State Agostino Casaroli (1914-1998) and Cardinal François Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân (1928-2002), Archbishop of Saigon in Vietnam.

Cardinal Casaroli, as the Vatican's top diplomat, was responsible for the controversial "Ostpolitik" towards the communist dictatorships. According to the official interpretation, the Holy See thereby eased the fate of the persecuted Church behind the Iron Curtain. However, this had its price: the Church remained silent on Marxism and its real-socialist derivatives. In fact, since John XXIII. a current in the Church, some of which openly sympathized with socialism and strived for the unification of socialism and Christianity. 

Cardinal Nguyên Van Thuân, on the other hand, was a victim of communism and was considered one of the "living martyrs". He had to spend thirteen years in a real-socialist prison belonging to his tormentors, from 1975 to 1988, when his release was obtained through diplomatic channels on condition that he go into exile. John Paul II called him to the Roman Curia and made him head of a dicastery. 

In his homily, Francis, in connection with Cardinal Casaroli, had Pope John XXIII. mentioned, while in the official text version of the website of the Holy See John Paul II appears. A Freudian slip of the tongue, as some Vaticanists thought with a smile?

How do two such contradictory moments in recent Church history fit together? This question was heard repeatedly over the past weekend. Pope Francis did not ask them, because the relationship to socialism that shaped both figures was not an issue. Cardinal Casaroli was mentioned by Francis because he frequently visited a prison for juvenile delinquents in Rome; Cardinal Nguyên Van Thuân for praying for his jailers. Both cases had pastoral aspects. The reasons and background why Nguyên Van Thuân had "jailer" remained hidden.

Pope Francis said:

"A cardinal loves the Church, always with the same spiritual fire, whether he is concerned with big or small issues, whether he is meeting the great of this world - he must do that, very often - or the little ones who are great before God. I am thinking, for example, of Cardinal Casaroli, justly famous for his open-mindedness, with which he accompanied the new possibilities of Europe after the Cold War with an intelligent and patient dialogue - and God forbid that human short-sightedness should close horizons from him again! But in God's eyes the visits he made regularly to the young inmates of a juvenile prison in Rome, where he was called "Don Agostino," are equally valuable. He practiced great diplomacy - the martyrdom of patience, such was his life - and at the same time he visited the youth of Casal del Marmo weekly.  And how many such examples could be cited! I remember Cardinal Van Thuân, who in another significant historical context of the 20th century was called to shepherd the people of God and at the same time inspired by the fire of Christ's love to care for the soul of the jailer who guarded his cell door. These people were not afraid of the "big", of the "maximum", but they also got involved with the everyday "small". After a meeting where Cardinal Casaroli reported to John Paul II on his last mission - I don't know, whether in Slovakia or in the Czech Republic, one of these countries, it was a question of high politics – the Pope called him on leaving and said: “Ah, monsignor, one more thing: do you keep going to these young prisoners?” – “Yes ’ – ‘Never leave them!’. The great diplomacy and the small pastoral matter. That is the heart of a priest, the heart of a cardinal.”

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image : Vatican.va (screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Cardinal Zen: "I must choose between rebellion against the Pope, and silence."

"Global Times on the Vatican delegation in the People's Republic of China. Cardinal Zen: "I have to decide".

(Rome / Beijing) Vatican spokesman Greg Burke indirectly confirmed the Vatican operation in the People's Republic of China to force legitimate, faithful bishops to resign, giving way to schismatic, bishops.
 

"Practical steps"

 

On Saturday, December 15, the Global Times, a regime friendly, English-language newspaper in the People's Republic of China, reported the presence of a Vatican delegation in China. This had taken place in the Communist empire because of "practical steps in the implementation of the agreement on the bishops".

 
Last September, for the first time since the Communist takeover in 1949, a bilateral agreement was signed between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China, but its contents are kept secret by both sides. As the Global Times confirmed, this is about episcopal appointments.
 
In 1958, the Communist regime established its own religiously dependent Catholic Church, independent from Rome, the so-called "Patriotic Association," and has since appointed its own bishops without the consent of Rome. These bishops were excommunicated from Rome.
 
Simultaneously with the signing of the secret agreement, Pope Francis lifted the excommunication of these bishops and recognized them as legitimate bishops. The agreement also appears to require that these bishops be appointed and recognized as diocesan bishops by Rome. Since autumn 2017, it is known that the Vatican is urging two faithful bishops to resign to make way for bishops excommunicated so far.
 
Last week, as the newspaper reported, a Vatican delegation was in the "Middle Kingdom" to hold "talks on the implementation of an agreement on the appointment of bishops."These," said a spokesman for the Holy See,  "talks were conducted with both government and church representatives."
 
The spokesperson, according to the article, was Vatican spokesman Greg Burke, who was contacted by the Chinese newspaper last Friday.
 
The newspaper also quoted Wang Meixiu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences as saying that the talks were about filling vacant episcopal chairs. 

The "new model"

The Global Times also confirmed that a bishop appointed by the regime is being used by the Vatican as a legitimate diocesan bishop. Underground Bishop Guo Xijin of Mindong accepted the papal call to resign last Friday. He is replaced by the regime's Bishop Zhan Silu.
 
Bishop Guo Xijin was a dialogue partner of the Vatican delegation. He will be, as the Vatican wishes, auxiliary bishop of Bishop Silu in his former diocese. He confirmed this to Global Times after the meeting with the delegation from the Vatican.
 
Global Times presented the unusual resignation and role reversal as a "normal castling," which goes back to "practical", ecclesiastical "necessities."
 
There is talk of a "new model" that, if accepted by both sides "with good will", could be established with regard to episcopal nominations. Should that translate to mean that the diocesan bishops in future come from the Patriotic Association and the auxiliary bishops from the Underground Church?
 
Global Times concludes:

"The Press Office of the Holy See did not respond to questions as to whether the delegation's mission also included discussions on the establishment of diplomatic relations or a possible visit by Pope Francis to China."

Cardinal Zen: "Unacceptable, so I'll be silent from now on"

Meanwhile, Cardinal Joseph Zen, emeritus bishop of Hong Kong and gray eminence of the Chinese Underground Church, commented on recent events. He was disappointed with the monthly Tempi that Rome forces legitimate and faithful bishops to resign to establish bishops who have been unfaithful and have turned away from Rome.

"I have told these two bishops that they should not resign voluntarily so as not to cooperate with evil. But I have also advised them to obey if the Pope orders it, because a pope's command must always be obeyed."

At the beginning of the year, Cardinal Zen experienced the great defeat when it became clear that Pope Francis is against all warnings, for the agreement with Beijing (see also "The problem is who sits in the cage" ). Because of this disappointment, the cardinal reasons, since it is impossible for him because of his office and as a Catholic, to criticize the Pope, he will at last to retire to a monastery and to keep silent.

He said to Tempi :

"There is the problem of the seven bishops excommunicated and pardoned by Francis. So far none of them has been placed at the head of a diocese. If this happens, I will be silent for ever, because that would be unacceptable and would force me to decide to rebel against the Pope or to remain silent. I will be silent."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Global Times / Wikicommons (Screenshots)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Cardinal Zen: Vatican-China Agreement Will Be Disastrous for Entire Church — Parolin Doesn’t Have Faith, He Should Resign

Edit:
a few days ago there was an article in the Catholic Herald about the unofficial custodian of China relations with the Vatican and millions of Chinese Catholics, the disgraced and rotten Archbishop Theodore McCarrick. In the Italian Monthly, 30 Days, he was already on record.

Cardinal Zen sharply criticized the Vatican-China agreement and calls for the resignation of Cardinal Secretary Parolin "He should resign, I do not believe he has faith"

Hong Kong (kath.net) Joseph Cardinal Zen, the well-known Emeritus Archbishop of Hong Kong, sharply criticized the Vatican agreement with China. This is reported by Reuters. This agreement is an "incredible betrayal" of the Catholic faith. At the core of the agreement is that Chinese Catholics recognize the Pope, for which the Vatican will recognize the excommunicated bishops of the communist state church. In the end, two Catholic bishops would have to give up their diocesan seats.

Zen was especially critical of Cardinal Secretary of State Parolin. "He should resign, I do not think he has any faith, he's just a good diplomat in a very secular sense." The consequence of this agreement is serious for the whole world. It will be unbelievable for the Church. That's why, according to Zen, the Vatican agreement is kept as secret as possible. According to Zen, the agreement with the Vatican will be accepted by at most half of the Roman Catholic Church in China. "I'm afraid they'll do something irrational, they'll make a revolution."

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Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

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Pope Francis May be the First Pope to Visit Russia

(Rome) The Vatican is preparing a possible journey by Pope Francis to Russia. The Corriere della Sera of today quotes Cardinal Secretary Pietro Parolin with the words:

"A trip to Russia to strengthen the bridges between East and West."

The Cardinal Secretary will visit Moscow in August. The main theme of the talks he is going to present there will cover an official visit of the Pope in Russia. Francis would be the first pope in the history of the Church to set foot on Russian soil, Cardinal Parolin told Corriere della Sera .

"The preparation of a possible visit by the Holy Father Francis in Russia is a reason for my visit," said the Cardinal.

Last March, Pope Francis was asked by Die Welt about his travel projects, replied, he could not visit Russia, but only to Ukraine.

The Cardinal Secretary was not consulted on this statement. He will meet Moscow State President Vladimir Putin and high representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, including Patriarch Cyril I of Moscow.

Parolin said:

"In this historical moment, where we experience an increase in tensions and conflict in different parts of the world, peace is the highest priority for Pope Francis, but also for me personally."

The Holy See has a "special interest" in Eastern Europe, because of its rich cultural and religious traditions, but also because it is a key to greater stability of the continent and greater unity, including East-West relations. "

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Communist Vientam's Head of State and Party Chief: "Guest of Pope Francis"

Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam: The new
State and Party Chief Will Visit Pope Francis on November 23rd

(Rome) In 2016, the "Ostpolitik" was reactivated by the Vatican. This "New Ostpolitik"  mainly concerns the relationship with the People's Republic of China . Yet it still seems ready to embrace another communist country: Vietnam.

This refers to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, of the Communist Party of Vietnam  which rules dictatorially as the Unity Party. The Communists have dominated North Vietnam since 1945 and  United Vietnam since 1976.

Asthe Vietnamese press agency VNA news site, Vietnam Plus  reported yesterday, Vietnam's state and party leader Tran Dai Quang I will pay a state visit to Italy. "On 23 November he will also visit the Vatican as a guest of Pope Francis."

There is no freedom of press in Vietnam, which is why the news is official. The phrase "as a guest of Pope Francis" indicates that this is not an official visit, but rather one of the privileges of Francis, which Francis prefers in contrast to his predecessors, and which account for more than half of all audiences. In contrast to the official audiences, the Vatican does not share anything that happens in private audiences.

The first meeting of a communist Vietnamese president with a Pope took place in 2009. Nguyen Minh Triet met with  Benedict XVI. in an official audience. It was an encounter that was interpreted as a sign of the desire to normalize relations.

Tran Dai Qaung has made his career in the police and intelligence, most recently holding a general's rank. Since 1997, he became a member of the political office of the Communist Party Vietnam. In 2006, he became Deputy Secretary of Defense, 2011 Security Minister. In 2011, he was elected to the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

Since 2 April 2016, Tran Dai Quang is State and Party Chairman and Chairman of the National Security and Defense Council.

The regime praises the religious freedom that prevails in the country. However, most Christians disagree.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Asianews

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

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New Ostpolitik: The "Russicum" in Rome is to be Closed

(Rome) "Russicum Addio," writes Vatican expert Sandro Magister. "For the glorious Pontifical College founded in 1929 by Pope Pius XI. to train Russian seminarians, but even more to keep alive   the Catholic faith in the Soviet Union, the closure is a done deal."

The Pontifical College of the Russicum is in close proximity to the Patriarchal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The church is dedicated to the Father of Monasticism, St. Anthony.

The founder of the institution, which, after the bloody persecution of Christians by the Bolsheviks was entrusted to the Society of Jesus from the beginning on,  whom Pope Pius XI. entrusted this haven for Russian Catholics but also Orthodox Russians who converted under the influence of apocalyptic events in the former Russian Empire after the October Revolution, to the Catholic faith.

Refuge during the Soviet era

Missionaries were trained in the Russicum, who had the courage to go for their faith into the Soviet Union in order to evangelize. "There was a certain enthusiasm to go to Russia to preach the Gospel, and if necessary to die for it," said the Austrian-Swiss Jesuit born i 1915, Father Ludwig Pichler, about his memories on Russicum.

Among the students of Russicum belonged Blessed Theodore Romscha (1911-1947), Eparch of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church of Mukachevo, martyred.  Likewise, Father Pietro Leoni (1909-1995), Father Paul Chaleil (1913-1983), Father Walter Ciszek (1904-1984), Father Viktor Novikov (1905-1979), all of whom belonged to the Jesuits, all were doing missionary work in the Soviet Union and all were interned in the gulag.

Iconostasis in the Church the Russicum in Rome

Among the forgotten figures of this Pontifical College was Julia Nikolaevna Dansa, who from 1939 until her death in 1942 taught in the Russicum. The descendant of an ancient Byzantine aristocratic family, among whose ancestors was Emperor Romanos III. Agyros (968-1034), who had been occupied in her youth with occult practices, studied history and philosophy in Paris, was maid of honor of the Russian Empress and fought after the October Revolution in a Cossack regiment against the Bolsheviks. In 1920 she later met the beatified Leonid Fyodorov and converted to Catholicism. She joined the newly founded Catholic Nuns in St. Petersburg. In 1923 she was arrested in the wake of the communist persecution of Catholics and was interned on the Solovetsky Islands. In 1932 she was released and allowed to leave the country for Berlin in 1934 under the condition that she sign a declaration of silence about Soviet concentration camps. In France, she entered a convent of the Dominicans   and wrote in her last years several writings in which she contrasted Marxism with Christianity, and criticized Marxism. The writings, including her book, Catholic Knowledge of God and Marxist Atheism, which drew little attention not only in the field of philosophy, but also within Church circles under the changed conditions of the post-war period.

The Pontifical Oriental Institute Takes Over the Building

The building in which the Russicum is housed is adjacent to the Pontifical Oriental Institute, also run by the Jesuit Order. The Oriental Institute, which is celebrating the 100th year of its existence in the coming year, will be expanded. The number of faculty is increased and at the same time the rank of the institution into a university.

In this case, which enjoyed Orient Institute of the Pope last none too good health.A year ago it was about turbulence came at the Institut tip.

In May 2014. Pope Benedict XVI visited the seminarians of the Russicum  

The new Rector at the Oriental Institute is Father David Nazar, a Canadian Jesuit of Ukrainian descent. From 2005-2015 he was religious superior in Ukraine. He is determined to lead the Institute to the headlines and bring new glory. The Oriental Institute was nevertheless already a showcase of "historical encounters" and welcomed "illustrious guests".

Father Nazar expects that he will  soon get the green light for the takeover of the Russicums  from  the Congregation for Eastern Churches, whose prefect, the Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, is also Grand Chancellor of the Orient Institute as well as the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and from Pope Francis, but "not least from the benevolence of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Kremlin," said Magister. The Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Novgorod was "at home" in the Brezhnev era with the Jesuits in Rome. In his Rome stays he slept either in Russicum or "with honor" in the Villa Cavalletti Frascati as a guest of the then Jesuit Father General, Pedro Arrupe.

Nikodim turn summoned the Jesuit Miguel Arranz as a professor at his Theological Academy in Leningrad, while a crowd of Russian students to study could be sent to the pontifical universities in Rome.

As intercommunion between Catholics and Russian Orthodox  prevailed

The Pontifical College of the Russicum next to the church of the father of monasticism, Saint Antonius

Father Arranz was in use as a translator with that audience on September 5, 1978 at the Vatican  when Nikodim was received by Pope John Paul I.. During the audience the Metropolitan suffered a heart attack and died before the Pope's eyes. "The Jesuit never wanted to reveal what the Metropolitan said to the Pope at this meeting, who himself was to die even three weeks later," says Magister.

With the death of Nikodim, winter again froze over  the relations between Rome and Moscow. "Under the Metropolitan, the dialogue between the Church of Rome and the Patriarchate of Moscow had reached a peak," said Magister. The Moscow Patriarchate even allowed inter-communion at that time even   between Orthodox and Catholics, a short time later  it was banned under the pressure of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and rivals again.

The intercommunion had existed from 1439-1453, as the Council of Florence brought full unity between Western and Eastern Church which had been realized under the leadership of the Pope. The Turkish conquerors proceeded then, however, for political reasons to place anti-Western religious leaders at the head of the Patriarchate. Only more than 500 years later, were they reestablished again briefly under Nikodim.

"The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople does not allow intercommunion with Catholics, despite its super friendly dialog reputation until now," said Magister.

"It is curious that Father Antonio Spadaro," the editor of the Roman Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica and the close Pope's confidant, "has not mentioned this happy, ecumenical spring" when went over the history in his journal on March 12,  celebrating the embrace between Francis and the Moscow Patriarch Cyril in Havana as an unprecedented new beginning.  It's an omission which corresponds entirely to the revisionist style of the Soviet Union, such as the upcoming extinction of glorious Russicums. "

The following video shows a report of the Italian newsreel of 15 April 1940, the Russicum .



Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Photo: Wikicommons/Youtube
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
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