NEWS BRIEFS: THE VATICAN, UKRAINE AND RUSSIA
Ukraine: According to the director of the Holy See Press Office, a delegation of wives of Ukrainian diplomats is in Rome and attended the Pope’s general audience this morning where they met the pontiff, together with the Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See. They will be present tomorrow at the papal Mass for the feast of St. Peter and Paul, Apostles.
Russia: ANSA news agency and Italian journalists in Moscow to cover the visit of the papal envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, report that the cardinal’s agenda is top secret. A report this morning from a RAI TV correspondent at 11 am Moscow time said Cardinal Zuppi had just returned to the nunciature where he is staying. He was out several hours but nothing has been said of where he was, whom he saw, etc. “Mouths are sewed shut,” wrote the journalist. The Kremlin spokesperson Peskov did confirm that a meeting was scheduled between the cardinal and Putin’s foreign policy advisor Ushakov. Cardinal Zuppi will say Mass in Moscow’s cathedral tomorrow night at 7, Moscow time, for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. No word at all on whether the cardinal will meet or not with Orthodox Patriarch Kirill
MARY MACKILLOP’S APOSTOLIC ZEAL WITH AUSTRALIA’S ABORGINES
At the Wednesday general audience, his first since June 7 and the last before the July summer break, Pope Francis reflected on the apostolic zeal of St. Mary MacKillop, praising her desire to bring Christ and good education to the aboriginal peoples of rural Australia. She founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Born near Melbourne to Scottish immigrants to Australia, Mary felt called from a young age to serve God in a special way.
Pope Francis said Mary MacKillop believed she was sent “to spread the Good News and invite others to encounter the living Christ.”
She read the signs of her times, he said, and felt drawn to found several schools to spread the Gospel through Catholic education.
“One essential characteristic of her zeal for the Gospel,” he said, “was her desire to care for the poor and marginalized. This pushed her to go where others refused or were unable to go.”
The Pope highlighted her belief that education should promote “the integral development of the person both as an individual and as a member of the community, which requires wisdom, patience, and charity on the part of every teacher.”
“Education consists not in filling heads with ideas,” he said, “but is about accompanying and encouraging students along their path of human and spiritual growth, showing them how friendship with the Risen Jesus opens their hearts and makes their lives more human.”
Pope Francis praised this insight as relevant to our own times, as shown in his own calls for a Global Compact on Education to unite families, schools, and societies. For a ton of great photos, click here: General Audience – Activities of the Holy Father Pope Francis | Vatican.va
ARE THE WORLD’S DIOCESES TO FOLLOW THE VATICAN CURIA RENEWAL?
The following communique was released last evening just before 7 pm by the Vatican press office. As I read it, I began to wonder if the second paragraph was alerting the world’s bishops that the renewal of the Roman Curia, as seen in Apostolic Constitution Praedicate evangelium, was now coming to a diocese near them! The key word seems to be “implement.” I could be reading too much into this but am going to see if, indeed, there is a deeper meaning to Cardinal Ghirlanda’s words.
“The Council of Cardinals met on 26 and 27 June. Together with the Holy Father, all the Cardinals who are part of it and the Secretary of the Council participated.
“During the session, with the collaboration of Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, the first steps were taken in reflecting on how to implement the spirit, principles and criteria of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate evangelium in diocesan curias.
“The theme of synodality was the subject of discussion, with reference to the ongoing Synod, with an update on the passages of recent months brought by Cardinal Mario Grech, in view of the October Assembly.
“Cardinal O’Malley briefed on the recent Plenary of the Commission for the Protection of Minors in May and the work of the Commission to update regulations and practices throughout the Church so that child protection mechanisms are effective in each diocese.
“The ongoing conflict in Ukraine was the subject of reflection.
“The next session will be in December of this year.”
Joan's Rome 