Is Bergoglio Going After Poland's Radio Maryja Next?

Radio Maryja, the idiosyncratic Catholic radio station in Poland, is a thorn in the side of some.

(Rome) Since in Poland the Catholic national conservative party Law and Justice (PiS) is in power, the country is "under observation" by the EU. In Brussels, political forces set the tone, which are much further to the left and can hardly stand it when the sovereign electorate chooses other political forces. In turn, the EU Commission, the EU Parliament or the EU jurisdiction and, of course, the Western media, both Poland's and Hungary's government are disparaged as a "dirty children" of the "community."  The aim of the permanent pressure is either to induce the government to give in or to urge the electorate to choose a government to the left. Does the Vatican also participate in this under Pope Francis?

Specifically, it's about the radio station Radio Maryja. In 1991, soon after the end of Communist rule, a launched station was started that was modeled upon Radio Maria Italy . The founder and program director is the Redemptorist, Father Tadeusz Rydzyk. With the so-called “world family” of the Radio Maria stations, however, there was a split in the mid-1990s. In the Federal Republic of Germany in particular, efforts were made to keep a distance because of a different approach to one's own history. Radio Maryja is one of the five most listened to channels in Poland. In contrast to the other Radio Maria stations,  Fr. Rydzyk  pursued - since Poland had just over 40 years of an anti-church Communist dictatorship -   a political line and cultivated clearer language.

This was mainly due to the fact that the dictatorship had been overcome, but that the former Communist rulers outside the government and parliament were still at many levers, not least in the judiciary. Under the changed name, they even briefly returned to power in the 1990s. The way to overcome the dictatorship personally and above all, spiritually proved to be long and rocky.

The radio station, to which the TV station TV Trwam now belongs, supports the PiS without, however, becoming dependent. From left media, especially the left-liberal Gazeta Wyborcza, has repeatedly campaigned against the channel. A look at the German Wikipedia page provides an insight into this.

But the Church hierarchy was not always happy with the broadcaster, which has more to do with its independent willfulness. Pope Benedict XVI congratulated Radio Maryja on its 20th anniversary.

The leftist opposition in Poland, but also outside, is a thorn in the side because of its Catholic and conservative positions and even more because of its influence on public opinion. The most recent attempt to silence the transmitter has just started.

According to Wirtualna Polska, a mainstream medium owned by France Telecom, a request to the Vatican Secretariat of State was sent in December 2019 on "limiting" the political positioning of Radio Maryja. The transmitter should have a purely "religious character."

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The initiators of the claim, an Adam N. and a Witek M., remain anonymous. They sent their petition to the Vatican in several languages through Canadian middlemen. Wirtualna Polska is one of the mass media, of which Radio Maryja has been attacked in the past. In 2018, a Warsaw court sentenced the online portal to apologize to P. Rydzyk for spreading false allegations.

According to La Fede Quotidiana the request to the Vatican to proceed against Radio Maryja  was treated on March 26 by Pope Francis. He asked Msgr. Roberto Cona of the Secretary of State to review the matter and prepare a response.

A central role in the new attack on the conservative radio station is played by the Polish-Canadian politician Thomas Lukaszuk who actively supported the petition against Radio Maryja. The internet portal onet.pl , with good connections to Lukaszuk, promoted the petition to the Vatican for a long time last year. Onet.pl is largely owned by Ringier Axel Springer Media AG and is comparable to Web.de and Gmx.at in the left- justification of news reporting .

Lukaszuk's father had fled to Canada from Communist Poland. In 1982 his family was also able to follow him. Thomas Lukaszuk was a member of Parliament in Alberta from 2001 to 2015. From 2010 to 2014, he was Minister of the Government of the Canadian state, including 2012/2013 as Deputy Prime Minister.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Radio Maryja (screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Benedict Addressed as Pope in Secretariat Stationary

Letter from the State Secretariat of 18 February 2019.

(Rome) There have been some concerns and annoyances in the Vatican, because not a few believers in Benedict XVI. see a pope or even "the" Pope. However, the Holy See should not wonder about it, as it contributes to it.

Benedict XVI. laid the foundation for this by stipulating, as a pope, what his life would look like after his resignation on February 28, 2013. He retained the name and clothing of the Pope and also signed as such, but with the addition of a Papa emeritus, an emeritus pope, hitherto unknown in Church history. If one uses the term analogously to the retirement of bishops, then it would mean that he remained pope with all rights, but was released from the leadership duties.

One difficulty is that one does not emeritus himself but is retired. It is related to the person concerned, to a passive verb. So can a pope emeritus himself?

For the clarification it is not helpful, but the interpretation was of two Pope’s was rather aggravating, who perform the function of Peter together in different ways. It was offered by Curial Archbishop Georg Gänswein and was certainly well-intentioned, but in the matter irrationally transfiguring. Emeritus Curial Cardinal Walter Brandmuller replied to the general question with a serious warning and the statement that there could only ever be one legitimate pope. There has recently been a private correspondence between the Cardinal and Benedict XVI. (See also the essay "Divine Providence compels Benedict XVI to witness the debacle he has caused" by Roberto de Mattei.)

However, the Holy See, of all people, promotes this ambiguous interpretation of a situation that is perceived as an anomaly and has repeatedly been described as such.

The State Secretariat of the Vatican, the supreme governing body of the Holy See serving the Pope, addresses Benedict XVI in a letter of 18 February 2019. as if he were still ruling pope.

The First Section - General Affairs answered a priest in the USA. The occasion and content of the letter do not matter. It is noteworthy that the Vatican Secretariat of State Benedict XVI. designated and titled like an incumbent Pope. The letter could not have been written differently before 28 February 2013.

Benedict XVI. is called by his pope name and as "holiness". That's exactly how a Pope feels, and that's exactly what Benedict XVI wanted. also. To distinguish him from his successor, he added but with the "emeritus" retirement. This distinction is missing in the letter of reply from the Secretariat of State, signed by Msgr. Paolo Borgia, after all, number two in the First Section behind the substitution of the Secretary of State.

Ob es sich um ein Versäumnis oder um eine besondere Form der Höflichkeit handelt, sei dahingestellt. Man sollte auch nicht zuviel hineininterpretieren. Allerdings sollte man sich im Vatikan auch nicht wundern, wenn Gläubige es anders auslegen und darin Zeichen sehen. Sie sind Ausdruck einer Verunsicherung und der erwähnten Anomalie, und beide gehen vom Vatikan aus.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Ann Barnhardt

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Pope Taking Swipe at Legacy of Pope Benedict

Benedict XVI. with Pope Francis

"Two More Threads That Connect Pope Francis With His Predecessor Are Severed"

(Rome) The Italian daily Libero today published the following text, which is reproduced in full.

"The thesis is one of the most serious. This is also shown by the evidence. Pope Francis has a plan to eliminate the legacy and disciples of Benedict XVI. The operation has stirred up the Vatican, which has not by any means significantly opposed the incumbent Pope.

The thesis is voiced by Riccardo Cascioli [chief editor of the Catholic Internet newspaper Nuova Bussola Quotidiana ] in the daily Il Giornale:

"It's just a matter of days and two more threads that connect Pope Francis with his predecessor are severed. More voices are being raised that the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household is being abolished, its incumbent - and at the same time personal secretary to Benedict XVI. - Msgr. Georg Gänswein, and the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, established in 1988 for dialogue with the Society of St. Pius X (the Lefebvrians), is today the reference point for the application of Summorum Pontifiicum, the motu proprio of Benedict XVI, with which the Latin Mass in the traditional rite was freed."

These are two decisions of very grave symbolic value, similar to the expulsion of Cardinal Raymond Burke, whom Joseph Ratzinger had called to Rome in 2008 as Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura. In November 2014, he was deposed by Pope Francis, who had already replaced him as a member of the Congregation of Bishops the year before. The same fate befell Cardinal Gerhard Müller.

Now one has arrived at the last link, with Msgr. Gänswein, a person inconvenient to Francis. The abolition of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, with the relocation of duties (appointments and audiences of the Pope) to a section of the Secretariat of State, would allow the Pope to get rid of Gänswein and to justify the operation with the need for a reform of the Curia.

As for the end of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, which has been talked about for some time: The consequences are explosive. This would give more weight to those who want to eliminate Summorum Pontificum and Mass in the 'Extraordinary Form' of the one Roman rite whose 'proper form' is the Missal enacted in 1969. This is the next blow against Ratzinger's legacy, which Francis seems to want to eradicate.

Translation: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Libero (screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

The Vatican "Admonishes" the Communist Venezuelan Government

The events in Venezuela have made the Holy See a rare gesture

Venezuela (kath.net) Events in Venezuela have led the Holy See to a rare gesture as "Radio Vatican" reported. The Vatican Secretariat of State has called on the government under Socialist President Maduro to refrain from dissolving the constitutional assembly. Initiatives such as these are "to be avoided or suspended" because, "instead of favoring reconciliation and peace, fuel a climate of tension and struggle and burden the future," the Vatican says. It was only on Thursday that Cardinal Secretary Pietro Parolin, in an interview, had made it clear that the diplomacy of the Holy See for Venezuela was characterized by low tones and "proactive, non-reactive diplomacy." According to the report, Pope Francis very closely follows the events in Venezuela and continues to pray for the country and its people. The letter from the Vatican reminds Venezuela's politicians and, in particular, the government that the crisis should be solved through negotiations. Venezuela should follow the guidelines which the State Secretariat had indicated to the government in its letter of December 1. This included, inter alia, the release of political prisoners for the opening of negotiations. The armed forces were called upon to refrain from an "excessive and disproportionate use of force". Cardinal Secretary Pietro Parolin is known as Venezuelan, since he was previously nuncio in Caracas.

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Father Cavalcoli: "Pope Francis is Not Heretical. But He Surrounds Himself With False Friends and Bad Advisors"

Pater Giovani Cavalcoli: "There is a lot of disinformation.  The signs
of a confused Church. It appears there is a masonic maneuver against
Radio Maria in process."

(Rome) Last Saturday, the 5th of November, Radio Maria Italy has dismissed Father Giovanni Cavalcoli, one of the best-known moral theologians in Italy, who is close to Pope Benedict XVI. The Vatican dissociated itself publicly from the statements by the Dominican, which the latter, really need had not have done at all.  He was alleged to have claimed that the earthquakes in Central Italy was the punishment of God for the legalization of "homosexual marriage." [Homosexual is such a ridiculous word.]

The Catholic online daily La Fede Quotidiana (LFQ) spoke to the 75-year-old priest about the criticism from the Vatican. The moralist found clear words of disapproval for the Vatican's approach. The Secretariat of State publicly "contradicted" him and the Vatican media prepared the spreading of blame against him worldwide.

Father Cavalcoli had not used public criticism of Pope Francis in the past. Rather, he has defended Pope Francis against a "too quick" criticism, which "goes astray in some Catholic circles." Nevertheless, he became a victim of his faithfulness to ecclesiastical wretchedness.

"I confirm everything I said about the earthquake. What should I apologize for? If anyone needs to correct themselves, and to ask for forgiveness, it is they who should ask for forgiveness for their valorization of the heretic, Luther. "

LFQ: Father Cavalcoli, do you regret it?

Father Giovanni Cavalcoli: No. To me, many have rushed at me with wild methods, including many journalists, and this proves how great the disinformation and the ignorance of theology, doctrine, and catechism are. We are at the point where whoever observes these categories, causes  commotion and outrage.  Signs of a confused Church.

"No one is authorized to change the teaching and the Scripture."

LFQ: Does God send punishments or not?

Father Giovanni Cavalcoli: The Catechism, the Holy Scripture and the Doctrine are clear, and no one is authorized to change them. God sends penalties, and the earthquake stands like our catastrophe before our eyes. The punishment of God is a response to the action of man. A simple example: If I drink ten liters of liqueur and then die, I have to attribute the blame to myself, that is my punishment. The Holy Scriptures are full of God's punishments. "

Interview with Father Cavalcoli

LFQ: You have spoken of civil unions (gay marriage) ...

Father Giovanni Cavalcoli: I was misunderstood, or perhaps I expressed myself incorrectly. I have not referred to this law in the narrower sense. An explicit connection with a particular action can never be produced with ultimate certainty. But it involves vice and sinful and disordered behavior like homosexuality. God sends punishment to him who sins and knows what he is doing, consciously acting against the law of God.

LFQ: The State Secretariat, on the other hand, is in revolt ...

Father Giovanni Cavalcoli: I worked there myself. I see with bitterness that today everything is different. And there are also Masonic infiltrations there.

"Freemasonry maneuvers against Radio Maria"

LFQ: This is where your reflections are called pagan ...

Father Giovanni Cavalcoli: The true heathens are those who attack me. I am of the opinion that there is a masonic maneuver underway against Radio Maria, which is disturbing, and the station is probably at risk. Satan has long since penetrated into the Church and also into the Vatican. The pope is not heretical, but he surrounds himself with false friends and bad advisors like Kasper, Ravasi, Bianchi, Ronchi and Cantalamessa.

"Perhaps to apologize to those who have recently revaluated Luther"

LFQ: Will you correct yourself or apologize?

Father Giovanni Cavalcoli: I do not think of it, and confirm everything I said. In actuality they should apologize, those  Catholics who had lately valorized Luther, who may have done good, but is a heretic, and thus have caused much confusion. I am a serious Dominican with a straight backbone and not a bootlicker.

LFQ: And if Radio Maria should finally dismiss you?

Father Giovanni Cavalcoli: Then I will draw my conclusions from it. But I do not think so. I will not change my orthodoxy. The point is that a humanitarianism and a "misericordism" are being spread, but justice is neglected. This is a disservice. God is infinitely good, but He desires repentance and punishes us if that does not happen. The mercy as a scatter gun principle, of which they are telling us, is really a deceit of a Lutheran manufacture. I do not think they will attack me any further, or put me on the sidelines. I have wide shoulders. They'll think twice about that.

Translation: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Conventosandomenico.org/La Fede quotidiana (Screenshots)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Vatican Starts Its Own Internet Domain .Catholic

Top Level Domain .catholic will be activated.

(Rome) In October 2013, the Holy See secured the address for the top-level domain .catholic. from the international domain administration ICANN. Now the web pages of the Catholic Church are to be taken seriously with the move. Instead of the top-level domains such as .org , .info or country domains,   in future  URL addresses are to be used with its own top-level domain.

The State Secretariat of the Holy See announced the establishment of a working group for the launch of the new top-level domain. They will put it  into effect and coordinate the activation and move technically. The head of the group is Mauro Milita, the former computer science manager of Vatican Radio. When exactly will the URL addresses with the new top-level domain appear on the net, is not yet known.

All canonically recognized Catholic institutions such as dioceses and parishes, schools and universities, religious communities and organizations at the international, national or local level may obtain a URL address with the top-level domain .catholic (or in German-speaking .katholisch ).

To begin with it was to secure the rights in particular to protect against abuse. The Vatican did not want   the top-level domain to fall into the wrong hands. In addition to the English version, the rights were secured for all other language versions such as .katholisch , .catholique , .cattolico.

Securing the rights with ICANN cost the Vatican 165,000 euros. It wants to make sure that the web pages with the new top-level domain really originate from the Catholic Church and are operated by Catholic institutions.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Riposte Catholique

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

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Priestly Celibacy "in the Example of Christ" -- Cardinal Secretary: "One can talk about it, but without haste"

(Rome) at the Pontifical Gregorian University  a star-studded conference on priestly celibacy was held in the past week. Celibacy was talked about from the 4th-6th February  as a constitutive element of the priesthood and defend to this. The planning for the conference began in the last period of the pontificate of Benedict XVI. It was carried out now at a time, since there is   grumbling around Pope Francis and a number of his collaborators, claiming he was thinking abandoning  priestly celibacy, which only the Latin Church had realized and preserved in the two thousand year history of Christianity. Therefore,  the opening address by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and the closing speech by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin were awaited with particular anticipation.

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Both defended their remarks on priestly celibacy energetically and brought a wealth of theological arguments. Priestly celibacy has remained in practice, despite the challenges and many difficulties. 

"The tradition of priestly celibacy goes back to the Apostles and follows the example of Jesus Christ"

Cardinal Ouellet founded his remarks in the New Testament and the example of Jesus Christ, from which priestly celibacy is deduced. He confirmed, however, that the issue is conceived as "controversial" after 2000 years.

"The Church tradition of celibacy and abstinence of the cleric did not arise just at the beginning of the 4th century as something new, but rather, was - both in the East and the West - the confirmation of a tradition that goes back to the apostles. As the Council of Elvira in Spain 306  confirmed  that the priests have the duty to live in perfect continence, it is important to understand that this need in the early years of the Church was for both celibacy and the ban against marriage as well as also the perfect abstinence for those who were already married."

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops

The remarks made by Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin were expected with more expectation. When the then Nuncio was appointed by Pope Francis at the head of the Roman Curia in September 2013, he stressed in an interview the striking fact that priestly celibacy was  "no dogma" and could therefore be "discussed". As the institutionally highest ranking appointee of Pope Francis and personally selected as well, his statements have special weight.

Cardinal Secretary of State Parolin: "You can talk about it, but without haste and constructively"

The Cardinal Secretary of State it was then, that where in the conference the door was closed, he yet  opened the door relatively the widest towards possible exceptions. The door to exceptions had already been opened in the Second Vatican Council. The most visible manifestation of this are since then in the Latin Church, permanent deacons who may be married at the time of the diaconate. These so-called "viri probati"  are considered by some since then as a "precursor" the abolition of celibacy   following the example of the Greek Church.

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin

The Eastern churches have not kept celibacy and allowed wide exemptions. The bishops and monks are celibate, while the diocesan clergy is married. This has the consequence that all bishops come from the monastic life. Whoever is married at the time of consecration, he can remain as a secular priest. After the consecration, marriage or remarriage is excluded also in the Eastern Church. An inner-Church ascent for lowly married  secular clergy is not possible.

Cardinal Parolin said:

Celibacy is a vocation, which is seen in the Latin Church as particularly appropriate for those who are called to the priestly office. The celibate spirituality of the presbyter is a "positive" constructive intent, aiming that the people of God has always defended from the danger of corruption and bourgeoisification of the radical free shepherd.

And further:

To acknowledge the level, which this intent brings  with it, but it does not exclusively, as the Second Vatican Council in Presbyterorum ordinis said,  by declaring that it was not " demanded by the nature of the priesthood itself (is), as the practice of the earliest Church and the tradition of the Eastern Churches show where there are also married priests of the highest merit,  along with those who choose the celibate life out of the grace-like appeal together with all the bishops."

And as well:

The Catholic Church has never forced upon the Eastern Churches the celibate decision. On the other hand, it has allowed exceptions in the course of history as in the case of married Lutheran, Calvinist or Anglican pastors who - received into the Catholic Church - received a dispensation to receive the Sacrament of Orders. This happened already during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII. in 1951

Recently, 2009, the motu proprio Anglicanorum coetibus of Benedict XVI. allowed the establishment of territorial dioceses of the Latin Church allowed where  Catholic priests were consecrated to hold office who were former Anglican pastors.

In the wake of the massive emigration of Catholics from the Middle East, Pope Francis allowed in 2014 with the papal decree, Praecepta de clero uxorato orientali,  married oriental priests to act in the Christian communities of the diaspora and thus outside their historical areas, where previous bans forbid it.

In the current situation then,  a kind of "sacramental emergency" is frequently emphasized by the lack of priests, particularly in some areas. This has given rise to the question of contingency from multiple sides in the question  to consecrate the so-called "viri probati".

If the problem does not appear to be unimportant, it is surely not imperative to make hasty decisions and only due to emergencies. Yet it is also true that with the needs of evangelization, together with the history and the diverse traditions of the Church, the opportunity for legitimate debate leaves open the door, when they are motivated by the proclamation of the Gospel and are led in a constructive manner, while always preserving the beauty and importance of the celibate decision.

Celibacy is a gift that requires it to be accepted with joyful perseverance and maintained, so that it can bring real fruits. To live it profitably it is necessary that every priest all his life long feels as a disciple on the road, which sometimes requires the rediscovery and strengthening of his relationship with the Lord and also "healing".

The Department of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin " The in persona Christi ordained priests " in full length (the original in Italian).

Text: Giuseppi Nardi

Image: MiL/ Chiesa e postconcilio/ kairosterzomillenio (screenshots) 

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

The Memoirs of Cardinal Bertone -- Does the Ex-Secretary Want to Pluck Some Hens?

(Rome) The former Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, who was not confirmed in his office by Pope Francis,  has written  his memoirs. "He writes calmly and with precision, but it is for sure - say people who are close to him - that he would pluck some hens," said Vaticanist Marco Tosatti.

Cardinal Bertone has not only been removed from his office by Pope Francis. The reigning Pope has appointed Bertone's predecessor, the Anti-Ratzinger, Angelo Cardinal Sodano himself, to the recently concluded Synod of Bishops on the family, but not Bertone who is too close to Ratzinger.

Considerable Part of the Criticism of Bertone Affirmed Benedict XVI.

Throughout his tenure, Cardinal Bertone has faced heavy bombardment. Contributed to by his own weaknesses in the quality of his leadership, but especially the enmity of Cardinal Sodano and his followers, who could never live down his deposition by Pope Benedict XVI.  The church circles that increasingly felt Benedict XVI. was a burden, but did not dare to criticize the Pope, fired  more eagerly at the Cardinal Secretary of State.

The internal tug of war went so far that a group of cardinals, two years before the resignation of Benedict XVI. called for the dismissal  of Bertone. A claim that contradicted the German Pope's understanding of  loyalty, "although he was not always happy about the work of his most important representative, he defended him," said Tosatti. Bertone Secretary of the Congregation 1995-2002 during Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger's tenure as its Prefect. In the same year he was named by Pope John Paul II. as Archbishop of Genoa.  When Pope Joseph Ratzinger was elected, he picked him in 2006 as Cardinal Secretary of State in the Vatican, because he trusted his long-time employees.

"Victims of Moles and Snakes"

Benedict XVI. should have understood that the growing  pressure being directed at the Cardinal Secretary of State, was in reality meant for him. This led to the unusual situation that a pope had to defend his Secretary of State, who would have had actually to defend the Pope. A skewed situation that did not make the Pontificate of Benedict XVI any easier.

Cardinal Bertone, who speaks very good German, has been writing his memoirs since his retirement as Secretary of State. It should have  been replaced already on 15 August 2013, but this has dragged on due to the health problems of his successor, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, until 15 October.  "It is very well documented and follows a precise calendar in which  his meetings, talks and discussion topics were posted every day," said Tosatti.

The literary genre of memoir is rare, especially when a Cardinal Secretary of State picks up his pen and writes about his work in the vicinity of the then reigning Pope. To be precise, there is still be no precedent for it. The Cardinal in certain circumstances seems to be directly focused on  relating  the attacks against his person and with his retirement. At that time, Bertone spoke of being the victim of "moles and snakes".

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: La Stampa (Screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMGD

New "Foreign Minister" in the Vatican? --- Continuing Reassignments by the Pope

Vatican Foreign Minister Dominque Mamberti

(Vatican) Pope Francis is preparing for the renovation of the Vatican "foreign ministry". The former "foreign minister" of the Holy See, the French Curial Archbishop Dominique Mamberti  will probably  be dismissed. While the overall reform of the Roman Curia is still written in the stars, Pope Francis is making more heads of Benedict XVI's  Curia roll. A few days ago  the Curial Cardinal Prefect Cañizares, then the secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, was hit. Another of his Prefects, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, had to vacate his seat a year ago.

In mid-September,  the C8-Kardinalsrat , formed by Pope Francis as an advisory body for the reform of the Curia and the management of the world Church will meet. In the beginning of July  it's been the fifth meeting of a C9-Council, since  Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin  then was also added to the C8-Council. A formal act of the membership of the Cardinal Secretary of State in this body, has not yet taken place, as the Vatican expert Sandro Magister mentions.

It will be at the sixth meeting of this committee. The seventh meeting follows from 9-11 December and the eighth meeting on 9-11 February 2015.  The work of the Cardinal Council  still seems to be in the preliminary phase. "There are no designs for a new apostolic constitution," said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi at the end of the fifth meeting, "It takes time."

 "Little Ratzinger" Promoted to Valencia

Benedict XVI. and the "Little Ratzinger" Cardinal Antonio Cañizares

The "ruling bishop of Rome" (Sandro Magister)  already related soon after his election  that he did not intend to wait for the reform of the Curia to make personnel decisions.  It had been expected for months when on August 28th, the removal of the Spanish Cardinal Cañizares Llovera of the Roman Curia took place.  Cardinal Cañizares was   Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship under Benedict XVI. and became a supporter of the "reform of the liturgical reform". He had a close relationship to the Church understanding of the German Pope, which he shared with Cardinal Mauro Piacenza. Too close for  Pope Francis.  He  "promoted" the "little Ratzinger", as the Cardinal is known for his bodily stature, who is content but not necessarily aptly, called back to his home and named him Archbishop of Valencia, after all, "one of the most vibrant Dioceses of the Iberian Peninsula," says Sandro Magister.

What responsibilities will remain the Congregation for Divine Worship?

Officially, Francis Pope had the transfer not imposed, but only responded to the wishes of the Cardinal to want to accept "the smell of the sheep". Cardinal Cañizares that, if they did, "dear Madrid would have preferred Valencia, is a different story," said Master.

A successor to Prefect Cañizares  of the important Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has not yet been appointed. For Sandro Magister  it appears as "unlikely" that Pope Francis will seek a "break" with   Benedict XVI. in his choice of successor. Rather it would is much more to be what responsibilities the Pope leaves the Congregation,  transferring them to the Episcopal Conferences, such as responsibility for the review and revision of the liturgical books.

The Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy is Also Promoted Back to Spain

Celso Morga Iruzubieta: Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy is Coadjutor Archbishop in Spain

According to Spanish media reports, the return of another high prelate to Spain is imminent, who currently holds a leading position in the Roman Curia. It is Curial Archbishop Celso Morga Iruzubieta. The priest of Opus Dei has been since 2010 the Secretary of the Congregation for  Clergy . Now he is to be Coadjutor Archbishop in the Archdiocese of Merida Badajoz in Extremadura.

This completes the repluisti Pope Francis, the "repudiation" of one of the most important offices of the Roman Curia. The Congregation for the Clergy is concerned among other things with  disputes between priests and bishops, with the dispensing of the priestly duties (except the delicta graviora ), with the sale of church property over a certain value. By the will of Benedict XVI.  it was give charge of the seminaries. Above all, it is also about the image of priesthood and thus  the self-image of the priest. The successful prevention of the appointment of the saintly Curé of Ars Patron of Priests, which Benedict XVI. wanted to make, is still vividly remembered.

The removal of the Number Two of the Congregation follows that of the number one, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, which Pope Francis had already carried out in September 2013. Both were by Pope Benedict XVI. been appointed. Cardinal Piacenza still comes from the Genoese school of Cardinal Giuseppe Siri. On him the diplomat Beniamino Stella followed. For the seminars appointed Francis one additional Assistant Secretary, the Sino-Mexican Curia Archbishop Jorge Carlos Patron Wong. In addition, over the past year such a strong exchange of employees in this Pontifical Council was held that Roman observers speak of an unprecedented precedent.

"Foreign Minister" Mamberti Before Dismissal

The new curial organization chart of Pope Francis stands at the edge of another reshuffle. Curial Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, head of the Section for Relations with States in the Secretariat of State and thus "foreign minister" of the Holy See is to be replaced. The reasons for the action are not known. It can at best be speculated about as a change of course in the relations with the states and international bodies.

"It will be interesting to see whether the Pope in this case will follow the unwritten law that the Vatican's 'foreign minister' is awarded  at the end of his service with the dignity of Cardinal," said Sandro Magister. The predecessors Mambertis were  given this honor,  from Giovanni Lajolo, Jean-Louis Tauran, Angelo Sodano, Achille Silvestrini, Agostino Casaroli to Antonio Samore, etc.

Vengeful Bergoglio

Jean-Louis Bruguès, archivist and Librarian of the Holy Catholic Church, but not Cardinal

Or is Pope Francis denying Mamberti  the cardinal's purple, as he is - in spite of unwritten law - the Archivist and Librarian of Holy Roman Church, rejected Curial Archbishop Jean-Louis Bruguès? The French Dominican Bruguès had, as Secretary of the Congregation for Education (2007-2012), skirmishes with the rector of the Catholic University of Buenos Aires, and was discharged  Victor Manuel Fernández. Fernández is considered a "foster son" of Jorge Mario Bergoglios,  and he was -  just as soon as Bergolio was elected pope - quite unusually, immediately promoted him to  Archbishop, while he avenged  himself on Father Bruguès for his criticism of Fernández.

Pope Francis justifies his appointments  in the Diplomatic Corps of the Vatican on renewal. For this reason, it seems very likely that the successor of Mambertis will come from the ranks of diplomats. It is likely he will also be  valued by Cardinal Secretary of State Parolin nuncio.

With the exception of the two French Archbishops Mamberti and Cardinal Tauran and  Poland's Wlodzimierz Czacki at the end of the 19th century,  all were the "foreign minister" of the Vatican in Italy. Just  as both the Cardinal Secretary of State and his substitute, the Sarde (Sardinian) Curial Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, come from Italy, it seems unlikely that the third high position in the State Secretariat is to be staffed by an Italian. "Unlikely, but not impossible," said Sandro Magister.

Text: Settimo Cielo / Giuseppe Nardi
image: Settimo Cielo / Wikicommons
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
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