CARDINAL FERNANDEZ’ INTERVIEW WITH GERMAN PAPER ON “SYNODAL WAY”

CARDINAL FERNANDEZ’ INTERVIEW WITH GERMAN PAPER ON “SYNODAL WAY”

The following is from the Pillar’s January 4 Starting Seven Starting Seven | The Pillar (pillarcatholic.com). If you do not subscribe to the Pillar and do not also get the daily bulletin Starting Seven, you are really losing out on a terrific news site. You can count on accuracy and clarity with every report that comes out of The Pillar. I felt this piece was important because what we should expect from a prefect of the most important dicastery of the Catholic Church, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is total clarity and that is not what we have been hearing and reading. You might have seen my earlier post today (DICASTERY ISSUES CLARIFICATION OF FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS | Joan’s Rome (wordpress.com)

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More ‘pastoral developments’?  Initial reports on Cardinal Víctor Manuel “Tucho” Fernández’s interview with Germany’s Die Tagespost newspaper focused on the Vatican doctrine czar’s criticisms of the country’s “synodal way.”

Fernández did indeed offer some sharp words about the German initiative’s perceived elitism.

• He said: “When you hear some of the reflections that have been made in the context of the German synodal path, it sometimes seems as if one part of the world feels particularly ‘enlightened’ in order to understand what the other poor wretches are unable to grasp because they are closed or medieval, and then this ‘enlightened’ part naively believes that thanks to it the whole universal Church will be reformed and freed from the old schemes.”

But when the full interview was published Wednesday, another remark jumped out.

Excluded topics  Fernández, who was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in July, spoke about talks that are due to take place between German bishops and Vatican officials in January, April, and June this year.

He noted that the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin had written to H\the German bishops in October, enclosing a “Nota” from the doctrine office ruling out two topics from the conversations: women priests and Church teaching on homosexual acts.

But Fernández then made a comment that is likely to raise eyebrows around the Catholic world.

• “But after it was said that two topics would not be discussed, the door remains open for the discussion of the other questions,” the cardinal said. “Not to move towards a liberal answer, but perhaps to find a better understanding anda pastoral development similar to that on the blessing of irregular couples [my italics].”

The cardinal added: “So let us move forward in dialogue on these topics, which, as the ‘Nota’ says, may have aspects that cannot be reformed, but also some that can be deepened. And let’s not waste time on the two topics that have been excluded.”

Germany’s ‘other questions’  What are the “other questions” raised by the synodal way? They are many and various.

At five synodal assemblies from 2020 to 2023, participants produced 150 pages of resolutions calling for, among other things, women deacons, a re-examination of priestly celibacy, regular lay baptisms, lay preaching at Masses, an official handout with a text for same-sex blessings, a revision of the Catechism on homosexuality, and a greater lay role in choosing bishops.

Could some of these topics be subject to a “pastoral development” along the lines of Fiducia supplicans? That is a prospect that Cardinal Fernández has himself just raised.

Tucho and triangulation  There are a seemingly infinite number of ways to interpret Fiducia supplicans. One way is to see it as Rome’s response to questions raised by the blessings of same-sex couples in Belgium and Germany.

In the Die Tagespost interview, Fernández said that there was “now a clear answer to this that bears the pope’s signature.”

• “It is not the answer that one would like to have in two or three countries,” he said. “Rather, it is a pastoral answer that everyone could accept, albeit with difficulty. And so the Church is growing in its pastoral ministry without this being a rupture for some parts of the world, a disregard for hundreds of years of reflection guided by the Holy Spirit.”

Observers might see this as a form of “triangulation” — a political strategy in which a leader presents an idea as being either between or above the opposing positions of the “left” and “right.” It often involves the partial adoption of the contending ideas, followed by their reformulation.

How might this work with the synodal way? The initiative endorsed lay preaching at Masses, while canon law says that the homily is “reserved to a priest or deacon.” It might be possible to triangulate the two positions by adding a clause to canon law saying that the homily is “reserved to a priest or deacon, unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise.”

This is a crude example, presented only to convey a general idea. There is no evidence that the Vatican is considering this, especially as it recently ruled out the synodal way’s demand for lay homilists.

It is also worth underlining that the triangulation theory is only one among many and may not be Fernández’s strategy at all. But it might be worth bearing in mind as one possibile interpretation as the Rome-Germany talks unfold.

 

CARDINAL PAROLIN: ATTACK ON ISRAEL “INHUMAN”, LEGITIMATE DEFENSE SHOULD NOT HARM CIVILIANS

CARDINAL PAROLIN: ATTACK ON ISRAEL “INHUMAN”, LEGITIMATE DEFENSE SHOULD NOT HARM CIVILIANS

(From Dicastery for Communcation) Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin speaks to Vatican Media about the outbreak of war in the Holy Land, saying the priority is the release of hostages and affirming that the Holy See is willing
to mediate.

By Andrea Tornielli & Roberto Cetera
“The Holy See is ready for any necessary mediation, as always.” Six days after the terrorist attack on Israel, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, describes the attack last Saturday as “inhuman”. In an interview with Vatican Media, he also reiterates Pope Francis’s appeal for the
release of all hostages held by Hamas, and calls for proportionality in Israel’s legitimate defense.

The Cardinal expresses concern for the civilian casualties in Gaza due to bombings, emphasizing that despite the ongoing events a truly just peace requires a two-state solution, “which would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side in peace and security.”

Q: Your Eminence, all conflicts are terrible, but as we learned last Saturday, there has been a crescendo of unprecedented cruelty. We are witnessing a total loss of humanity. Do you think there is still room to avoid the worst?

The terrorist attack carried out by Hamas and other militias last Saturday against thousands of Israelis who were about to celebrate the day of Simchat Torah, concluding the week of the Sukkot festival, is inhuman. The Holy See expresses complete and firm condemnation. Furthermore, we are
concerned for the men, women, children, and the elderly held hostage in Gaza. We express our solidarity with the affected families, the vast majority of whom are Jewish, and we pray for them, for those still in shock, for the wounded. It is necessary to regain a sense of reason, abandon the blind logic of hatred, and reject violence as a solution. It is the right of those who are attacked to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the parameter of proportionality. I do not know how much room for dialogue there can be between Israel and the Hamas militia, but if
there is—and we hope there is—it should be pursued immediately and without delay. This is to avoid further bloodshed, as is happening in Gaza, where many innocent civilian victims have been caused by the Israeli army’s attacks.

Q: Pope Francis reiterates that peace is built on justice. There is no peace that is not just. How is this call for justice for both parties in conflict articulated today?

Peace can only be based on justice. The Latins liked to say, “Opus iustitiae pax,” there can be no peace among men without justice. It seems to me that the greatest possible justice in the Holy Land is the two-state solution, which would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side in peace
and security, meeting the aspirations of the majority. This solution, which is supported by the international community, has recently seemed to some, on both sides, to be no longer feasible. For others, it never was. The Holy See is convinced of the opposite and continues to support it. Now, however, what is just? It is just for the hostages to be returned immediately, even those held by Hamas since previous conflicts. In this sense, I strongly renew the heartfelt appeal made and
repeated by Pope Francis in recent days. It is just that in Israel’s legitimate defense, the lives of Palestinian civilians living in Gaza should not be endangered. It is just—indeed, essential—that in this conflict, as in any other, humanitarian law be fully respected.

Q: Pope Francis, at the end of this Wednesday’s General Audience, made an appeal for the release of the hostages and asked for the lives of the innocent to be spared. Do you see room for a diplomatic initiative by the Holy See, similar to what has been undertaken for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine?

Yes, the release of Israeli hostages and the protection of innocent lives in Gaza are at the heart of the problem created by Hamas’s attack and the response of the Israeli army. They are at the center of all of our concerns: the Pope and the entire international community. The Holy See is ready for any
necessary mediation, as always. In the meantime, we try to speak with the institutions whose channels are already open. However, any mediation to end the conflict must take into account a series of elements that make the issue very complex and articulated, such as the issue of Israeli settlements, security, and the issue of the city of Jerusalem. A solution can be found in direct dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis, encouraged and supported by the international community, even though it will be more difficult now.

Q: In two recent interviews granted to L’Osservatore Romano by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, both expressed their appreciation for the constant words of peace that come from the Christian minority of the Holy Land, which is the ‘salt’ of this land. However, Christians are hemmed in by the conflict and in a situation of suffering. The situation of the small Christian community in Gaza, which is at risk of extinction, is a cause for concern. How can the Christians of the Holy Land be helped concretely now?

First and foremost, with prayer and spiritual and material support. These words of mine are meant to be a renewed affirmation of the affectionate closeness of the Pope and the Holy See. Christians are an essential part of the land where Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again. No one can
imagine Palestine or Israel without a Christian presence, which has been there from the beginning and will be there forever. It is true that the small Catholic community in Gaza, about 150 families, is suffering immensely. When one member suffers, the whole Church suffers, and so we all suffer. We
know they have gathered in the parish. The parish priest could not return and remains in Bethlehem. Everything is at a standstill, paralyzed, as if gripped by fear and anger. Let us pray for the Israelis; let us pray for the Palestinians; let us pray for Christians, Jews, and Muslims: For the peace of
Jerusalem pray… For the sake of my brothers and friends I say, ‘Peace be with you.’ For the sake of the house of the Lord, our God, I pray for your good.” (Psalm 122:6-9)

EWTN INTERVIEWS ABP. GAENSWEIN, BENEDICT XVI’S SECRETARY

EWTN INTERVIEWS ABP. GAENSWEIN, BENEDICT XVI’S SECRETARY

EWTN interview of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI’s secretary Abp. Georg Gaenswein by Rome bureau chief Andreas Thonhauser (with English voice over) :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYx4PCQaF1o&feature=youtu.be

CNA image:

 

 

GENDARME COMMANDER INTERVIEWED BY VATICAN MEDIA

GENDARME COMMANDER INTERVIEWED BY VATICAN MEDIA

Following is my English translation of the interview that Vatican Gendarme Commander Domenico Giani gave to Vatican media that was sent to media outlets today:

Giani: Gratitude for having been able to serve the Pope with honor until the end

The Commander of the Gendarmerie, Domenico Giani, in talking to Vatican media, emphasizes his gratitude to the Pope for the service he has been able to perform in the Vatican in recent years

By Alessandro Gisotti, Deputy Editorial Director of the Communication Department

A delicate moment of great personal trial, but lived inwardly with serenity, encouraged by the trust and support of the Holy Father, his family and the many collaborators and people who in various ways in these years have known him and appreciated his human and professional qualities. Domenico Giani, Commander of the Gendarmerie Corps, in an interview with the Vatican media, talks about the feelings with which he leaves the service, and underlines his gratitude to the Pope who recognized his honor, loyalty and fidelity in his daily work.

After 20 years of service to the Pope and the Holy See as head of the Gendarme Corps, you leave it at a delicate moment and certainly one that is not easy for you. What are your feelings as you live this moment?

I’m living this difficult moment with the inner serenity that those who know me know has marked my lifestyle, even in the face of painful events. I have dedicated 38 years of my life to institutions, first in Italy, and then for 20 years in the Vatican to the Roman Pontiff. In these years I have spent all my energy to ensuring the service entrusted to me. I tried to do it with self-denial and professionalism, but with the feeling, as the Gospel two weeks ago reminded us, of being a serene “useless servant” who did his small part up to the end.

In the press release issued by the press office, it was underlined that you resigned while not having “any subjective responsibility” in the affair …

The recent events caused serious pain for the Holy Father and this deeply affected me. Fifteen days have passed since the publication of the document that was forwarded for internal use exclusively by the Gendarmes and the Swiss Guards. As indicated in the October 1 press release, an investigation is underway and the persons involved have been reached by an administrative provision. The release of this document, published by some media outlets, has certainly trampled on the dignity of these people. I too, as Commander, felt ashamed at what happened and at the suffering caused to these people. For this reason, having always said and testified to being ready to sacrifice my life to defend that of the Pope, with this same spirit I made the decision to resign so as not to damage the image and activity of the Holy Father in any way. And this, assuming that “objective responsibility” that only a commander can feel.

The Pope stressed that both the resignation and the service performed in these years “do honor to your person”. How important is this for you?

During the talks I had with the Holy Father these days, I always felt the paternity that marked the special relationship I had with him, since the beginning of the Pontificate, and I think I can say that this was visible to everyone. In these meetings, I have always felt the human suffering of the Holy Father in a shared decision. The Pope, however, also knew some personal hardships that I had been carrying for months and my desire to devote more time to my family, my wife and my children. I am therefore deeply grateful to the Holy Father because his attesting to my loyalty, honor and fidelity with which I carried out my service helps me to face the future and the new commitments that I’ll be able to take on within the framework of my skills with serenity after this extraordinary experience.

In 20 years the Gendarmerie has served three Popes. For the media, this corps is the Pope’s “guardian angel” for its role in protecting the person of the Holy Father. What does this unique experience bring you personally?

I’ve had the honor of serving three Popes. First of all, I remember with great emotion Saint John Paul II who called me to serve in the Vatican and whom I accompanied up to the end of his life. I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy the esteem and affection of Benedict XVI at whose side I’ve faced very delicate questions but always receiving his appreciation and his trust. The pontificate of Pope Francis, because of his style marked by proximity to people and spontaneity in gestures, was a further great challenge with significant and particular moments: I especially remember his pilgrimage to Lampedusa, the apostolic journey to Brazil for the WYD and that taken to the Central African Republic. If I close my eyes, endless scenes of the almost 70 international apostolic journeys I have followed, of countless pastoral visits to Rome and Italy, and of so many private moments with three Pontiffs, pass before me. Alongside this, I like to recall that, under my command, the Gendarmerie has developed a whole series of charitable activities and service to the least of our brothers as the Gospel asks us.

What message do you leave to your men, to the Gendarme Corps, that you led in these difficult years?

On the occasion of the last celebration of the Gendarme Corps, I focused on some qualities that should distinguish our men: discipline, obedience, fraternity, charity and humanity. To this I wish to add unity in fidelity, despite some physiological situations that have caused me understandable sorrows. The Corps, as I also emphasized to the Holy Father these days, is healthy and well prepared. I have always tried, together with my collaborators, to train people who could be good gendarmes and, with the precious help of chaplains, even good Christians. I am sure that the person who succeeds me in this delicate task will find fertile ground, the same that that I received from the late Commander Cibin to whom I dedicate a deferential memory. One last thought, filled with my gratitude and my love, goes to my wife Chiara and my children Luca and Laura. They supported a life filled with satisfactions but also of great sacrifices and denials. Despite the current moment of uncertainty, even the personal moment that I am experiencing, I know that Providence, to which I always refer, will show us the way that certainly is that of the Lord.