VATICAN INSIDER: FR. MARK LEWIS, RECTOR OF “THE GREG” (PART II) – VATICAN RELEASES LIST OF PARTICIPANTS IN OCTOBER SYNOD

VATICAN INSIDER: FR. MARK LEWIS, RECTOR OF “THE GREG” (PART II)

On “Vatican Insider” this weekend, my guest in the interview segment is Jesuit Fr. Mark Lewis, rector of Rome’s celebrated Gregorian University, known in Rome simply as “The Greg.”

A native of Miami, Florida, Fr. Lewis has degrees in Philosophy and Theology, a Doctorate in History and a career marked by long Rome-based assignments before being named rector a year ago.

In Part II of our conversation, we look at how the Greg, preparing for the 2025 Holy Year, will offer a new Diploma in the History and Art of Jubilees, a one-year course that will be start from the academic year 2023-2024 at the Faculty of History and Cultural Heritage of the Church. We also talk about the University’s decision“to strengthen the formation of its students on the themes of safeguarding and care for human dignity through the establishment of a course whose attendance will be considered a necessary requirement for the completion of the Baccalaureate, Licentiate and Doctorate academic degrees. The course is offered by the Institute of Anthropology.

This photo was taken by EWTN’s Daniel Ibanez –

IN THE UNITED STATES, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (stations listed at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio, or on http://www.ewtn.com. OUTSIDE THE U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” VI airs at 5am and 9pm ET on Saturdays and 6am ET on Sundays. On the GB-IE feed (which is on SKY in the UK and Ireland), VI airs at 5:30am, 12 noon and 10pm CET on Sundays. Both of these feeds are also available on the EWTN app and on www.ewtnradio.net ALWAYS CHECK YOUR OWN TIME ZONE! For VI archives: go to https://www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive and write the name of the guest for whom you are searching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear.

VATICAN RELEASES LIST OF PARTICIPANTS IN OCTOBER SYNOD

Ahead of the October General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality, the Vatican unveils the list of participants which – for the first time – contains non-bishops.

By Joseph Tulloch (Vatican news)

The General Secretariat of the Synod has unveiled the list of participants in the upcoming October synodal Assembly.

For the first time, non-bishops are among the list of attendees (which can be found here, in Italian).

Many of the non-bishop participants (who are a minority at around 21%), were proposed by bishops’ conferences around the world, before being approved by Pope Francis. Others were appointed directly by the Pope.

Prominent names from around the English-speaking world include Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay; Professor Anna Rowlands, a theologian at Durham University in the United Kingdom; and US-based writer and commentator Fr James Martin, SJ.

A “mixture” of the People of God

Speaking at a press conference in the Vatican, Cardinal Grech stressed that the delegates had been selected so as to produce a “mixture” from various parts of the Church.

Most obviously, there will be an even mix of participants from six different continents, and the non-bishop members will be evenly divided by gender. Cardinal Grech also stressed, however, that there will be representatives from the various sui juris Eastern Catholic churches, and that an effort was made to include disabled Catholics too.

Cardinal Grech went on to explain that not everyone named on the list will be a “member”, and thus able to participate in discussions at the Assembly and vote on proposals. Those in section B on the list, “Special Envoys,” will be able to discuss but not to vote, while those in section C, “Other Participants,” will play a role in facilitating and or/advising on the process, but will neither intervene nor vote in discussions.

The cardinal also highlighted that the list of participants is not final – the lists of delegates from other Christian churches are still to arrive, and some names will likely be changed if members fall ill ahead of the assembly. FOR MORE: Vatican releases list of participants in October Synod – Vatican News

 

VATICAN INSIDER: FR. MARK LEWIS, RECTOR OF “THE GREG”

VATICAN INSIDER: FR. MARK LEWIS, RECTOR OF “THE GREG”

This is a holiday weekend in the U.S. and I hope everyone’s travel plans go smoothly and that July 4^th is a wonderful happy, healthy celebration for all of you, your families and friends.

Monday, on “At Home with Jim and Joy,” I tell you how we ex-pats celebrate July 4th in Rome and I also bring you some moving words on the flag by Vermont-born Servant of God Joseph Dutton!

As to “Vatican Insider” this weekend, my guest in the interview segment is Jesuit Fr. Mark Lewis, rector of Rome’s celebrated Jesuit-run Gregorian University. The last time we spoke for Vatican Insider, he was the vice Rector for Academics at the University – known in Rome simply as “The Greg.” By the way, same last name but we are not related! He was appointed rector on June 14, 2022.

A native of Miami, Florida, Fr. Lewis was ordained a Jesuit on June 8, 1991. He has Licentiates in Philosophy and Theology and a Doctorate in History (and explains what a licentiate degree is at a pontifical university). His Rome experience started in 1996 when he worked at the Historical Institute of the Society of Jesus in Rome and was Director from 1998 to 2004. Back in the U.S. for a few years, he was Provincial Superior of the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus. He returned to the Gregorian University in January 2017 as a member of the faculty of Church History and Cultural Heritage and was appointed Academic Vice Rector in 2019.

This photo was taken by EWTN’s Daniel Ibanez –

IN THE UNITED STATES, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (stations listed at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio, or on http://www.ewtn.com. OUTSIDE THE U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” VI airs at 5am and 9pm ET on Saturdays and 6am ET on Sundays. On the GB-IE feed (which is on SKY in the UK and Ireland), VI airs at 5:30am, 12 noon and 10pm CET on Sundays. Both of these feeds are also available on the EWTN app and on www.ewtnradio.net ALWAYS CHECK YOUR OWN TIME ZONE! For VI archives: go to https://www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive and write the name of the guest for whom you are searching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear.

 

 

BIG APPOINTMENTS IN ROME AT GREGORIAN UNIVERSITY AND ORDER OF MALTA

Those who follow me regularly know of my many trips to Hawaii and my love of the islands and their history, the many friends I have there and how I am involved in promoting the cause of canonization of Joseph Dutton, a layman who for 44 years worked alongside Sts. Damien and Marianne Cope in caring for victims of leprosy on Kalaypapa, Molokai. I read this article today and it is one of my favorite stories of the islands, once the Kingdom of Hawaii. I thought you might enjoy reading about an amazing and beautiful princess who was, among many things, a wonderful surfer. The Tragic Life and Global Legacy of the Last Hawaiian Princess – Atlas Obscura

BIG APPOINTMENTS IN ROME AT GREGORIAN UNIVERSITY AND ORDER OF MALTA

It’s been an interesting few days here from the point of view of a few nominations made by Pope Francis because two of the people named this week I know: Fr. Mark Lewis (no relation), SJ, was named the new rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University, to take office on September 1, and Fra’ John Dunlap named the new Lieutenant of the Grand Master of the Order of Malta.

THE GREGORIAN – In May 2021, I had a long, wonderful visit at the Greg, as the Gregorian is known here in Rome, with Fr. Mark and interviewed him for “Vatican Insider.” At the time he was vice rector for Academics at this Jesuit-run university in Rome. We had an in-depth conversation about his work, how the Greg dealt with the pandemic – everything from classes online requiring all new technology to turn-styles that measure the temperature of those entering the university. I also asked him why he thought Pope Francis was the first ever Jesuit to be elected to the papacy when cardinals of other orders – Dominicans, Franciscans, etc – had been elected. And much, much more! (Gregorian photo)

ORDER OF MALTA – John Dunlap and I became acquainted at the May dinner in New York of the Path to Peace Foundation that honored King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan. The Foundation is associated with the Holy See Mission to the United Nations, and John is on the organizing committee for this annual event. We’ve corresponded since that dinner and since his arrival in Rome in late May, and yesterday I sent my congratulations for his nomination. (Malta photo)

Although the information was public on Monday, only today did the Vatican release a statement about Fra’ John Dunlap’s nomination by the Pope as Lieutenant to the Grand Master of the Order of Malta.

That press release stated that, “in this moment made difficult also following the premature death of the Lieutenant of the Grand Master Fra’ Marco Luzzago, Pope Francis has therefore established the appointment of the new Lieutenant of the Grand Master in the person of Fra’ John Dunlap, who will collaborate closely with the Special Delegate, His Em. Card. Silvano Maria Tomasi, C.S., in the preparation of the Extraordinary General Chapter.”

John Dunlap is one of the elected members of the current Sovereign Council of the Order.

It was also noted that “between the end of August and the first days of September the Pope will convene a meeting of the Joint Working Group for further communications on the upcoming celebration of the Extraordinary General Chapter.”

More to come …….