Columns
from issue no.10 - 2003
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30Days in brief
Sacred College
Consistory announced for 21 October
Despite the electricity blackout which struck Italy and also Vatican City, and despite his strained voice, during the Angelus of 28 September John Paul II announced his IXth Consistory, to be held on October 21. This new Consistory had been planned for February 2004 but, it seems, the decision to anticipate it was taken immediately after the Pontiff’s journey to Slovakia and after the recent health problems which prevented the Pope from participating in the general audience of Wednesday 24 September.
The Pope announced the creation of 31 new cardinals, one whose name he did not reveal keeping it ‘in pectore’. There are seven prelates from the Roman Curia (the absence of the 77 year old Sardinian Archbishop Luigi De Magistris, the High Propenitentiary, caused surprise; as did that of the 66 year old English Archbishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue). Nineteen of them are Bishops of local Churches. Finally, there are four ecclesiastics who are over eighty years.
Following is the list of the Cardinals designate, according to the order supplied by the Vatican Press Office.
Jean-Louis Tauran, 60 year old, French, Vatican “Minister of Foreign Affairs” since 1990, who after this nomination will receive a new posting.
Renato Raffaele Martino, 71 years old from Salerno, president since last year of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, after having been for sixteen years the Holy See Observer at the UN.
Francesco Marchisano, 74 year old Piedmontese, since last year Dean of the Vatican Basilica and since 1994 also Vatican“Minister of Cultural Heritage”.
Julián Herranz, of the Opus Dei clergy, a 73 year old Spaniard, President since 1994 of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; he is the second Opus Dei Cardinal, after the Archbishop of Lima, Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne.
Javier Lozano Barragán, 70 year old Mexican, President since 1996 of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral of Health.
Stephen Fumio Hamao, 73 year old Japanese, President since 1998 of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, after having been for nineteen years Bishop of Yokohama. A few years ago he signed an appeal, launched by some bishops of progressive leanings, in favor of the convocation of a third Vatican Council.
Attilio Nicora, 66 years old from Varese, President of APSA since last year after having been Auxiliary in Milan, Bishop of Verona and delegate of the presidency of the CEI for juridical questions.
Angelo Scola, 62 years old from Lombardy, Patriarch of Venice since January 2002, having formerly been Bishop of Grosseto and Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University.
Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, 67 years old, Archbishop of Lagos in Nigeria since 1973.
Bernard Panafieu, 72 years old, Archbishop of Marseille in France since 1995, having been Archbishop of Aix for 16 years.
Gabriel Zubeir Wako, 62 years old, Archbishop of Khartoum in Sudan since 1981.
Carlos Amigo Vallejo, a 69 year old Franciscan, Archbishop of Seville in Spain since 1982, after having been Bishop of Tangiers for nine years.
Justin Francis Rigali, 68 years old, of Italian descent on his father’s side, Archbishop of Philadelphia in the USA for the last few months, having formerly been for nine years Archbishop of Saint Louis and formerly Secretary of the Congregation for the Bishops.
Keith Michael Patrick O’Brien, 65 years old, Archbishop of Saint Andrew’s and Edinburgh since 1985, President of the Scottish Episcopal Conference. His stance in favor of the abolition of obligatory celibacy for the Latin clergy is known.
Eusébio Oscar Scheid, a 71 year old Dehonian, Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janiero in Brazil, after having formerly been Archbishop of Florianopolis for ten years.
Ennio Antonelli, a 67 year old from Umbria, Archbishop of Florence since 2001, after having been Secretary General of the CEI for more than five years.
Tarcisio Bertone, a 69 year old Salesian from Piemonte, Archbishop of Genoa since the end of last year, having formerly been Secretary of the Congregation for Doctrine and Faith for seven years.
Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 55 years old, Archbishop of Cape Coast since 1992, President of the Episcopal Conference of Ghana.
Telesphore Placidus Toppo, 64 years old, Archbishop of Ranchi since 1985, President of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).
George Pell, 62 years old, Archbishop of Sydney in Australia since 2001, formerly Archbishop of Melbourne for five years.
Joseph Bozanic, 54 years old, Archbishop of Zagabria since 1997, President of the Croatian Episcopal Conference.
Jean Baptiste Pham Minh Mân, 69 years old, Archbishop of Hôchiminh Ville since 1998. His nomination was first criticised and then evaluated positively by the Vietnam regime.
Rodolfo Quezada Toruño, 71 years old, Archbishop of Guatemala since 2001, and President of the Guatemalan Episcopal Conference.
Philippe Barbarin, 53 years old, Archbishop of Lyons in France since 2002, having been previously Bishop of Moulins for four years and previously a missionary in Madagascar.
Péter Erdö, 51 years old, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest in Hungary since the end of 2002; on receiving the red cap he will become the youngest cardinal in the Sacred College.
Marc Ouellet, a 59 year old Sulpician, Archbishop of Québec in Canada since the end of 2002, after having been for twenty months Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the Unity of Christians.
George Marie Martin Cottier, an 81 year old Swiss Dominican, theologian of the Pontifical Household since 1989.
Gustaaf Joos, 80 year old Canon of Gand Cathedral, classmate of Karol Wojtyla, when as a young priest, between 1946 and 1948, he was a guest of the Pontifical Belgian College.
Thomas Spidlik, 83 year old Jesuit from the Czech Republic, a specialist in the spiritual theology of the Christian Orient.
Stanislas Nagy, an 82 year old Polish Dehonian thelogian, a personal friend of the Pope whom he meets frequently, especially during the vacation period in Castel Gandolfo.
The Pope announced the creation of 31 new cardinals, one whose name he did not reveal keeping it ‘in pectore’. There are seven prelates from the Roman Curia (the absence of the 77 year old Sardinian Archbishop Luigi De Magistris, the High Propenitentiary, caused surprise; as did that of the 66 year old English Archbishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue). Nineteen of them are Bishops of local Churches. Finally, there are four ecclesiastics who are over eighty years.
Following is the list of the Cardinals designate, according to the order supplied by the Vatican Press Office.
Jean-Louis Tauran, 60 year old, French, Vatican “Minister of Foreign Affairs” since 1990, who after this nomination will receive a new posting.
Renato Raffaele Martino, 71 years old from Salerno, president since last year of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, after having been for sixteen years the Holy See Observer at the UN.
Francesco Marchisano, 74 year old Piedmontese, since last year Dean of the Vatican Basilica and since 1994 also Vatican“Minister of Cultural Heritage”.
Julián Herranz, of the Opus Dei clergy, a 73 year old Spaniard, President since 1994 of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; he is the second Opus Dei Cardinal, after the Archbishop of Lima, Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne.
Javier Lozano Barragán, 70 year old Mexican, President since 1996 of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral of Health.
Stephen Fumio Hamao, 73 year old Japanese, President since 1998 of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, after having been for nineteen years Bishop of Yokohama. A few years ago he signed an appeal, launched by some bishops of progressive leanings, in favor of the convocation of a third Vatican Council.
Attilio Nicora, 66 years old from Varese, President of APSA since last year after having been Auxiliary in Milan, Bishop of Verona and delegate of the presidency of the CEI for juridical questions.
Angelo Scola, 62 years old from Lombardy, Patriarch of Venice since January 2002, having formerly been Bishop of Grosseto and Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University.
Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, 67 years old, Archbishop of Lagos in Nigeria since 1973.
Bernard Panafieu, 72 years old, Archbishop of Marseille in France since 1995, having been Archbishop of Aix for 16 years.
Gabriel Zubeir Wako, 62 years old, Archbishop of Khartoum in Sudan since 1981.
Carlos Amigo Vallejo, a 69 year old Franciscan, Archbishop of Seville in Spain since 1982, after having been Bishop of Tangiers for nine years.
Justin Francis Rigali, 68 years old, of Italian descent on his father’s side, Archbishop of Philadelphia in the USA for the last few months, having formerly been for nine years Archbishop of Saint Louis and formerly Secretary of the Congregation for the Bishops.
Keith Michael Patrick O’Brien, 65 years old, Archbishop of Saint Andrew’s and Edinburgh since 1985, President of the Scottish Episcopal Conference. His stance in favor of the abolition of obligatory celibacy for the Latin clergy is known.
Eusébio Oscar Scheid, a 71 year old Dehonian, Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janiero in Brazil, after having formerly been Archbishop of Florianopolis for ten years.
Ennio Antonelli, a 67 year old from Umbria, Archbishop of Florence since 2001, after having been Secretary General of the CEI for more than five years.
Tarcisio Bertone, a 69 year old Salesian from Piemonte, Archbishop of Genoa since the end of last year, having formerly been Secretary of the Congregation for Doctrine and Faith for seven years.
Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 55 years old, Archbishop of Cape Coast since 1992, President of the Episcopal Conference of Ghana.
Telesphore Placidus Toppo, 64 years old, Archbishop of Ranchi since 1985, President of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).
George Pell, 62 years old, Archbishop of Sydney in Australia since 2001, formerly Archbishop of Melbourne for five years.
Joseph Bozanic, 54 years old, Archbishop of Zagabria since 1997, President of the Croatian Episcopal Conference.
Jean Baptiste Pham Minh Mân, 69 years old, Archbishop of Hôchiminh Ville since 1998. His nomination was first criticised and then evaluated positively by the Vietnam regime.
Rodolfo Quezada Toruño, 71 years old, Archbishop of Guatemala since 2001, and President of the Guatemalan Episcopal Conference.
Philippe Barbarin, 53 years old, Archbishop of Lyons in France since 2002, having been previously Bishop of Moulins for four years and previously a missionary in Madagascar.
Péter Erdö, 51 years old, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest in Hungary since the end of 2002; on receiving the red cap he will become the youngest cardinal in the Sacred College.
Marc Ouellet, a 59 year old Sulpician, Archbishop of Québec in Canada since the end of 2002, after having been for twenty months Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the Unity of Christians.
George Marie Martin Cottier, an 81 year old Swiss Dominican, theologian of the Pontifical Household since 1989.
Gustaaf Joos, 80 year old Canon of Gand Cathedral, classmate of Karol Wojtyla, when as a young priest, between 1946 and 1948, he was a guest of the Pontifical Belgian College.
Thomas Spidlik, 83 year old Jesuit from the Czech Republic, a specialist in the spiritual theology of the Christian Orient.
Stanislas Nagy, an 82 year old Polish Dehonian thelogian, a personal friend of the Pope whom he meets frequently, especially during the vacation period in Castel Gandolfo.
Curia
Dziwisz, Harvey and Marini promoted Archbishops
Stanislaw Dziwisz
Pope
Monsignor Michalski, confessor of John Paul II dies
On 20 September Monsignor Stanislaw Michalski, 87 year old former official of the Polish army, canon of the patriarchal basilica of Saint Mary Major and confessor of the Pope, died. At the funeral rites, celebrated in the same Basilica on 25 September, the particular secretary to the Pope, Bishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, participated. In the Osservatore Romano of 29-30 September, in an article devoted to the funeral ceremony, the text of a telegram sent by John Paul II for the occasion is given, in which, among the other things, one reads: «After defending the country as an officer in the Polish army, he was arrested by the Germans and, once released, joined the army corps of General Anders participating in the liberation of Italy. Remaining in Rome he began preparation for the priesthood and for many years offered his competent service to the Roman Polish community, especially to the religious, testifying zeal for the Gospel and fidelity to the Church. While I raise fervent prayers for the well-deserved eternal repose of this respected priest of profound asceticism and of great spiritual passion, I recall the exemplary ministry from which I too was enabled to benefit directly».
Cardinals/1
Martini: "All peoples should look at the suffering of others. And peace will be nearer".
"It is the most profound and radical statement which lives in the heart of every man and woman in this world: do not set up idols for yourselves! This phrase re-echoes through the Bible from the first words of the Decalogue and continues throughout, from Genesis to the Apocalypse.
It is a commandment therefore which deeply touches the heart of Jews and Christians and denotes an undeniable principle of life and action. And it is also a commandment very dear to Islam, which makes of it one of the pillars of its religious conception: there is only one God, powerful and merciful, and nothing is comparable to him…
But there are not only the visible idols. More powerful and rooted, reluctant to die, are the invisible idols, those which remain even when every religious reference seems to be excluded. Among them are the idols of violence, of revenge, of power (political, military, economic …) felt as a definitive and ultimate resource. And the idol of wishing to triumph in everything, of not being willing to cede in anything, of not accepting any of those solutions in which one is willing to lose something to gain an overall good. These idols, even if they present themselves in the respectable garments of justice and law, are in reality thirsty for human blood…
Instead of constructing cement walls in order to separate the contending parties, a bridge of men is preferable which, along with guaranteeing the security of both groups, would allow both communities to communicate and understand each other ever more on essential and daily matters.
Certainly the hatred which has accumulated is great and weighs on the hearts. There are persons and groups who feed off it as off a poison which while it maintains life also kills at the same time. To overcome the idol of hate and violence, it is very important to learn to look at the suffering of others".
Excerpts from an article by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, Archbishop Emeritus of Milan, which appeared on the first page of the Corriere della Sera of August 27 with the title, All people should look at the suffering of others. And peace will be nearer.
Cardinals/2
Tettamanzi’s way: more sacraments, less politics.
On 8 September, the Archbishop of Milan, Dionigi Tettamanzi, presented his triennial pastoral plan for the Ambrosian diocese. It is a text of about 240 pages, entitled You will be my witnesses — the missionary face of the Church in Milan, which was widely commented on in a positive way in the press (the issue of the Padania also on the 14-15 September published a page of praise of the document).
Of particular interest was the leading article written in the Corriere della Sera on 10 September by Alberto Melloni under the title Tettamanzi’s way: more sacraments, less politics. Among other things one reads in the article: "against the chipping away at the community the Cardinal of Milan does not, in fact, propose the rediscovery of the cultural role of Catholics or of their political visibility, but he speaks of a simple fact of faith; rather than taking part in discussions with Parliaments, the Archbishop talks of sacraments… The case of Confirmation is the most evident: for some time Confirmation has been postponed from after Communion up to the threshold of adolescence. A little "blackmail" to keep the young people in the shadow of the Church steeple a few months longer. All useless… the Church itself should, on the other hand, renew the discourse about itself and its presence, beginning with the sacraments which it safeguards and by which it is safeguarded".
Cardianals/3
The resignation of Sin accepted
On 15 September the resignation of Cardinal Jaime Sin as Archbishop of Manila was accepted. The Cardinal who was 75 years old on August 31, and who has had serious health problems for some time, guided the diocese of the Philippine capital from 1974, the year in which he was also created cardinal. In his place 71 year old Gaudencio B. Rosales was nominated, who was Sin’s auxiliary from 1974 to 1982 to then become co-adjutor of Malaybalay, Bishop of the same diocese two years later, and Archbishop of Lipa at the end of 1992.
Cardinals/4
Cardinals Ursi and Otunga die
On 29 August Cardinal Corrado Ursi, Archbishop of Naples from 1966 to 1987, who was 95 on 26 July last, died. He was the only living cardinal who was made cardinal in the same consistory as Karol Wojtyla on June 26 1967.
On 6 September Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga, 80 years old, Archbishop of Nairobi from 1971 to 1997, also died.
On that date therefore the Sacred College was composed of 164 cardinals, of whom 109 are electors. With the Consistory planned for October 21, the cardinals will be 194, of whom 135 will be electors.
Curia/1
Stafford Penitentiary, Rylko President of the Laity, Robles Díaz Vice of the CLA
On 4 October three nominations were announced in the Roman Curia. Cardinal James Francis Stafford, a 71 year old American, and President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity since 1996, was nominated Grand Penitentiary in place of Luigi De Magistris, 77 years old, Propenitentiary since November 2001.
The 58 year old Pole Stanislaw Rylko who was Secretary of the same Pontifical Council takes over as head of the Department which has to do with the laity.
The Mexican Archbishop Luis Robles Díaz was nominated Vice president of the Pontifical Council for Latin America, taking the place of the 76 year old Spaniard Cipriano Calderón Polo, who held this position since 1989. Robles Díaz, 65 years old and a priest since 1963, entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1967. After having served in the pontifical representations of Honduras, South Africa, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Colombia, he was promoted Archbishop and Pronuncio in Sudan. In 1990 he was transferred as Pronuncio to Uganda and from 1999 as Nuncio in Cuba.
Curia/2
Lajolo, Nuncio in Germany, new Vatican "foreign minister".
On 7 October Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo was nominated Secretary of the Section for Relations with States in the Secretariat of State. The new Vatican "foreign minister" takes the place of cardinal designate Jean-Louis Tauran. Lajolo, a 68 year old Piedmontese from Novara, became a priest in 1960 and entered the pontifical diplomatic corps in 1970. He worked in the Nunciature in Germany and then in the Secretariat of State until 1988 when he was made Archbishop and nominated Secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA). From 1995 he was Nuncio in Germany. As well as Italian he knows English, French and German.
Curia/3
Sorrentino Secretary of Worship
On 2 August the new Secretary of the Congregation of Divine Worship and Sacramental Discipline was nominated. He is the Italian Domenico Sorrentino, until now Bishop-Prelate of Pompeii, who takes over from another Italian, the Benedictine Francesco Pio Tamburrino, transferred to the leadership of the Archdiocese of Foggia-Bovino. Sorrentino, 55 years old, originally from the diocese of Nola (NA) in Campania, has been a priest since 1972. He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University where he pursued his doctorate in theology. He also has a degree in Political Science from the La Sapienza university in Rome. After having collaborated for nine years with the Vatican Secretariat of State, where he helped the Pope’s ghost writer, Archbishop Paolo Sardi, he was bishop-prelate of Pompeii since 2001. He is also postulator of the cause for beatification of Giuseppe Toniolo (1845-1918). A curiosity: with the nomination of Sorrentino none of the three ecclesiastics who lead the Vatican Department which deals with the liturgy is a "liturgist". The Prefect, Cardinal Francis Arinze, as well as the newly nominated Secretary and the Under Secretary, Monsignor Mario Marini, all pursued theological studies, but none of the three did specific studies in liturgy. Loïc Merian, President of the CIEL (Centre international d’etudes liturgiques), wrote in the French monthly La Nef in October: "The wish of the Holy See to nominate thelogians at the head of this Congregation rather than liturgists is significant… popular good sense says at times that the liturgy is something too serious to be entrusted to solely liturgists. It seems that this good sense is shared in Rome".
Nominations/1
Tamburrino Archbishop of Foggia, Russotto bishop of Caltanissetta, Nosiglia of Vicenza
On 2 August the Benedictine Francesco Pio Tamburrino was nominated Archbishop of Foggia-Bovino. The 64 year old bishop, originally from the Province of Potenza, a priest since 1965, was for four years Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Sacramental Discipline. He had formerly been Ordinary Abbot of Montevergine (1989-1998) and Bishop of Teggiano-Policastro (1998-1999).
On August 2 also, 51 year old Monsignor Mario Russotto, originally from the Province of Ragusa, was nominated Bishop of Caltanissetta. A priest since 1981, from last year he was adjunct secretary of the Sicilian Episcopal Conference for the pastoral sector.
On 6 October Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia, originally from Rossiglione (Province of Genoa and diocese of Acqui), and vice-gerent of the diocese of Rome since 1996, was nominated Bishop-Archbishop of Vicenza. Nosiglia, who was 59 years old the day before his nomination, has been a priest since 1968 and worked in the CEI from 1971 to 1991 as an attaché, then as Vice Director and Director of the National Catechetics Office. In 1991 he was made Auxiliary of the diocese of the Pope.
Nominations/2
After eleven years the Bishop of Hung Hoá in Vietnam is nominated
On 5 August Antoine Vu Huy Chuong, 59 years old and a priest since 1971, was nominated Bishop of Hung Hoá, in the north of Vietnam, a diocese that had been vacant since 1992.
Nominations/3
A Bishop for the Hebrew-speaking faithful is nominated in Palestine
On 14 August Father Jean-Baptiste Gourion, a Benedictine Olivetan, was nominated auxiliary to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem with the charge of pastoral care of the Catholic Hebrew-speaking faithful living in the territory of the same Patriarchate. Gourion, 69 years old of Jewish descent, was baptized in 1958 at 24 years old, and was ordained a priest in 1967. From 1976 he has been head of the monastic community of Abu-Gosh (Israel).
History
of the Church/1
Pius XI wanted to meet Hitler
The issue of Civiltà Cattolica dated 4 October published an article by Father Giovanni Sale about The non-visit of Hitler to the Vatican. In it, thanks also to previously unpublished documents, account is taken of the attempts made by the Holy See to get Chancellor Adolf Hitler, during the one visit he made to Rome, from 3-9 May 1938, to request an audience with Pius XI. A request which was not made however, because of the wish of the Nazi leader to "carry his battle against the Church and against Christianity through to the very end".
History of the Church/2
Pius XII and the reception of the Jews in 1943-44
The CSR, the newly founded Co-ordination of Religious Historians, which brings together numerous historians belonging to institutes of the consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, held an interesting seminar in Rome on 24 September about the reception of Jews in the religious institutes of Rome, in the years 1943 and 1944, confirming among other things the positive role of Pius XII. About twenty institutes participated in the historiographical research, to which they furnished information and evidence. During the seminar three documents were displayed, emanating at the time from the Holy See, and offered by the archive of the Marianum: a declaration of 28 September 1943 with which the Secretary General of Propaganda Fide places the College of Sant’Alessio Falconieri dei Servi di Maria under protection certifying its dependence on the Congregation; a letter of 28 October 1943 with which the Secretary of State transmits the manifesto issued by the German command in Rome safeguarding the religious houses and the other properties belonging to the Holy See; the declaration of the Governorate of Vatican City, dated September 25 1943 and countersigned by the German command in Rome, which by order of the Secretary of State attests the dependence of the religious house (the Procura of the Servants of Mary) on the Sacred Congregation for Religious . The authentication in German says: "The above written statements are confirmed, entrance is severly forbidden to members of the Wehrmacht".
Documents/1
Considerations about legal recognition of homosexual couples
On 31 July the document Considerations about the projects for legal recognition of the union between homosexual persons was published. It is a document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved by the Pope on 28 March, and signed by the Cardinal Prefect Joseph Ratzinger and by the Archbishop Secretary Angelo Amato on 3 June. The document is a grave warning by the Holy See against any suggestion of "legal recognition" of homosexual couples and of their rights, beginning with that of adoption. In the document it is affirmed that for a Catholic member of Parliament to give his vote to provisions in favor of these rights "is a gravely immoral act".
Documents/2
Norms against liturgical abuses
At the end of September the monthly magazine Jesus and the agency Adista published some excerpts from the draft of a joint instruction from the Congregations for the Doctrine of the Faith and Divine Worship against abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist. It is a document, "with warnings also of a juridical nature", expressly forecast by the last encyclical signed by the Pope on 17 April, Ecclesia de eucharistia.
The published draft, however, goes back to the first days of last June. Later, on 27 June, an ordinary joint assembly of the two departments took place where this draft was discussed. On that occasion the overwhelming majority of about fifty cardinal and bishop members of both departments voted in favor of the document in question, even though there was no lack of proposals for amendment. The radically negative judgements could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
There is a mixed commission from both Congregations presently involved in work on a new draft which will be examined at the end of October in another joint ordinary meeting, which should authorize a definitive text to be submitted for the approval of the Pope. The instruction in question, complications apart, could be issued before next Christmas.
Adista mischievously noted that the text published, even though "strictly confidential", was released to the same agency "and to other press organs […] in the hope of wrecking within the Vatican a type of Lefevrian operation that takes advantage of the decline of this pontificate".
Diplomacy/1
The signing of the Georgia-Holy See agreement is annulled
"I am very surprised, especially by the violence of this campaign conducted by the Orthodox Church in Georgia, which has spread false information. For example, I have been told that an Orthodox bishop has published information according to which the agreement would be unacceptable because it entailed the conversion of all of Georgia to Catholicism". The Vatican "foreign minister" Jean-Louis Tauran thus commented on Radio Vatican on 20 September on the decision of the Georgian government — under pressure from the local Orthodox Church — to suspend at the last minute the signing of an agreement between Tbilisi and the Holy See planned for the same day. The Georgian incident took place during a seven day trip (18-25 September) undertaken by Tauran to the Caucasus, where he also visited Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Diplomacy/2
New Nuncios in Costa Rica, Croatia and South-East Asia
On 31 July the 61 year old Philippine Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla was nominated Nuncio in Costa Rica; since August 1998 he was Nuncio in Nigeria.
On 4 August the 60 year old Spaniard Francisco-Javier Lozano was nominated Nuncio in Croatia: he has served since December 2001 in the First Section of the Secretariat of State where he directed the Office of Information and Documentation; formerly he had been Nuncio in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
On 20 September the 51 year old Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, originally from the Province of Naples, was nominated Nuncio to Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia and Apostolic Delegate to Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia and Brunei. Ordained priest in 1976, Pennacchio entered the pontifical diplomatic service three years afterwards and worked in the nunciatures of Panama, Ethiopia, Australia, Turkey, Egypt, Yugoslavia and Ireland. Promoted Archbishop in 1998, he was from the same year Nuncio in Ruanda.
On 5 August the new Archbishop Antonio Ariotti, 55 years old, originally from the Province of Cremona, who on 17 July was nominated Nuncio to Cameroon, was also nominated Nuncio to Equatorial Guinea.
Diplomacy/3
New Bolivian Ambassador to the Holy See
On 8 September the new Bolivian Ambassador to the Holy See presented his credentials. He is Valentin Abecia Baldivieso who was 78 years old the following day, a lawyer, Lecturer in Law, a politician (Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1989), former Ambassador to Spain (1986-1989), President of the Board of Directors of the Cultural Foundation of the Central Bank of Bolivia.
Serbia
An exarchate created for the faithful of Oriental rite
On 28 August the Apostolic exarchate of Serbia and Montenegro was created for the almost 23,000 Catholics of Byzantine rite out of the last fragment of former Yugoslavia. The 49 year old Bishop Djura Dzudzar, a Croatian, and former head of office in the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and Auxiliary of the Greek-Catholic diocese of Mukacheve in the Ukraine, since March 2001, was nominated as the first exarch, and will reside in Ruski Krstur.
Pontifical Universities
Cavallotti Rector of the Urbanian
Monsignor Giuseppe Cavallotti, 63 years old from Asti, is the new rector of the Pontifical Urbanian University, where he was dean of the faculty of Missiology. He takes over from 53 year old Monsignor Ambrogio Spreafico, of the Community of Sant’Egidio, whose term of office had ended.
Congo
The resignation of the Pope’s former secretary is accepted
On 14 August the resignation of the Bishop of Luebo, Emery Kabongo Kanundowi, 59 years old, who before being Titular of the diocese of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was, from 1982 to 1988, the second secretary of John Paul II, was accepted. Kabongo received the nomination of Canon of the Chapter of the Vatican Basilica of Saint Peter’s.
Books
Father Grieco: Gantin seen from close up
Father Gianfranco Grieco, special envoy of the Osservatore Romano, is the author of a slim volume dedicated to the figure of Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, Dean Emeritus of the Sacred College, for thirteen years Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops. The book, Benin, my Africa, my Church (Piemme, 115 pp., ¤ 9.90), as the author writes in the introduction, "does not aim to recount the life and the works of Cardinal Gantin. It is only a long reportage on some significant moments of his dynamic and itinerant life, lived always in the sign of the gift. For many years, on tiptoe, along with other fortunate "friends of the Cardinal", we have walked together. This book aims only to offer, in a new and original manner, the passion of the Cardinal for the missionary Church, for John Paul II, for Benin: three "loves", gathered in a great unique love which is Christ ‘Redeemer of man’".
Martini: "All peoples should look at the suffering of others. And peace will be nearer".
"It is the most profound and radical statement which lives in the heart of every man and woman in this world: do not set up idols for yourselves! This phrase re-echoes through the Bible from the first words of the Decalogue and continues throughout, from Genesis to the Apocalypse.
It is a commandment therefore which deeply touches the heart of Jews and Christians and denotes an undeniable principle of life and action. And it is also a commandment very dear to Islam, which makes of it one of the pillars of its religious conception: there is only one God, powerful and merciful, and nothing is comparable to him…
But there are not only the visible idols. More powerful and rooted, reluctant to die, are the invisible idols, those which remain even when every religious reference seems to be excluded. Among them are the idols of violence, of revenge, of power (political, military, economic …) felt as a definitive and ultimate resource. And the idol of wishing to triumph in everything, of not being willing to cede in anything, of not accepting any of those solutions in which one is willing to lose something to gain an overall good. These idols, even if they present themselves in the respectable garments of justice and law, are in reality thirsty for human blood…
Instead of constructing cement walls in order to separate the contending parties, a bridge of men is preferable which, along with guaranteeing the security of both groups, would allow both communities to communicate and understand each other ever more on essential and daily matters.
Certainly the hatred which has accumulated is great and weighs on the hearts. There are persons and groups who feed off it as off a poison which while it maintains life also kills at the same time. To overcome the idol of hate and violence, it is very important to learn to look at the suffering of others".
Excerpts from an article by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, Archbishop Emeritus of Milan, which appeared on the first page of the Corriere della Sera of August 27 with the title, All people should look at the suffering of others. And peace will be nearer.
Cardinals/2
Tettamanzi’s way: more sacraments, less politics.
On 8 September, the Archbishop of Milan, Dionigi Tettamanzi, presented his triennial pastoral plan for the Ambrosian diocese. It is a text of about 240 pages, entitled You will be my witnesses — the missionary face of the Church in Milan, which was widely commented on in a positive way in the press (the issue of the Padania also on the 14-15 September published a page of praise of the document).
Of particular interest was the leading article written in the Corriere della Sera on 10 September by Alberto Melloni under the title Tettamanzi’s way: more sacraments, less politics. Among other things one reads in the article: "against the chipping away at the community the Cardinal of Milan does not, in fact, propose the rediscovery of the cultural role of Catholics or of their political visibility, but he speaks of a simple fact of faith; rather than taking part in discussions with Parliaments, the Archbishop talks of sacraments… The case of Confirmation is the most evident: for some time Confirmation has been postponed from after Communion up to the threshold of adolescence. A little "blackmail" to keep the young people in the shadow of the Church steeple a few months longer. All useless… the Church itself should, on the other hand, renew the discourse about itself and its presence, beginning with the sacraments which it safeguards and by which it is safeguarded".
Cardianals/3
The resignation of Sin accepted
On 15 September the resignation of Cardinal Jaime Sin as Archbishop of Manila was accepted. The Cardinal who was 75 years old on August 31, and who has had serious health problems for some time, guided the diocese of the Philippine capital from 1974, the year in which he was also created cardinal. In his place 71 year old Gaudencio B. Rosales was nominated, who was Sin’s auxiliary from 1974 to 1982 to then become co-adjutor of Malaybalay, Bishop of the same diocese two years later, and Archbishop of Lipa at the end of 1992.
Cardinals/4
Cardinals Ursi and Otunga die
On 29 August Cardinal Corrado Ursi, Archbishop of Naples from 1966 to 1987, who was 95 on 26 July last, died. He was the only living cardinal who was made cardinal in the same consistory as Karol Wojtyla on June 26 1967.
On 6 September Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga, 80 years old, Archbishop of Nairobi from 1971 to 1997, also died.
On that date therefore the Sacred College was composed of 164 cardinals, of whom 109 are electors. With the Consistory planned for October 21, the cardinals will be 194, of whom 135 will be electors.
Curia/1
Stafford Penitentiary, Rylko President of the Laity, Robles Díaz Vice of the CLA
On 4 October three nominations were announced in the Roman Curia. Cardinal James Francis Stafford, a 71 year old American, and President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity since 1996, was nominated Grand Penitentiary in place of Luigi De Magistris, 77 years old, Propenitentiary since November 2001.
The 58 year old Pole Stanislaw Rylko who was Secretary of the same Pontifical Council takes over as head of the Department which has to do with the laity.
The Mexican Archbishop Luis Robles Díaz was nominated Vice president of the Pontifical Council for Latin America, taking the place of the 76 year old Spaniard Cipriano Calderón Polo, who held this position since 1989. Robles Díaz, 65 years old and a priest since 1963, entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1967. After having served in the pontifical representations of Honduras, South Africa, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Colombia, he was promoted Archbishop and Pronuncio in Sudan. In 1990 he was transferred as Pronuncio to Uganda and from 1999 as Nuncio in Cuba.
Curia/2
Lajolo, Nuncio in Germany, new Vatican "foreign minister".
On 7 October Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo was nominated Secretary of the Section for Relations with States in the Secretariat of State. The new Vatican "foreign minister" takes the place of cardinal designate Jean-Louis Tauran. Lajolo, a 68 year old Piedmontese from Novara, became a priest in 1960 and entered the pontifical diplomatic corps in 1970. He worked in the Nunciature in Germany and then in the Secretariat of State until 1988 when he was made Archbishop and nominated Secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA). From 1995 he was Nuncio in Germany. As well as Italian he knows English, French and German.
Curia/3
Sorrentino Secretary of Worship
On 2 August the new Secretary of the Congregation of Divine Worship and Sacramental Discipline was nominated. He is the Italian Domenico Sorrentino, until now Bishop-Prelate of Pompeii, who takes over from another Italian, the Benedictine Francesco Pio Tamburrino, transferred to the leadership of the Archdiocese of Foggia-Bovino. Sorrentino, 55 years old, originally from the diocese of Nola (NA) in Campania, has been a priest since 1972. He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University where he pursued his doctorate in theology. He also has a degree in Political Science from the La Sapienza university in Rome. After having collaborated for nine years with the Vatican Secretariat of State, where he helped the Pope’s ghost writer, Archbishop Paolo Sardi, he was bishop-prelate of Pompeii since 2001. He is also postulator of the cause for beatification of Giuseppe Toniolo (1845-1918). A curiosity: with the nomination of Sorrentino none of the three ecclesiastics who lead the Vatican Department which deals with the liturgy is a "liturgist". The Prefect, Cardinal Francis Arinze, as well as the newly nominated Secretary and the Under Secretary, Monsignor Mario Marini, all pursued theological studies, but none of the three did specific studies in liturgy. Loïc Merian, President of the CIEL (Centre international d’etudes liturgiques), wrote in the French monthly La Nef in October: "The wish of the Holy See to nominate thelogians at the head of this Congregation rather than liturgists is significant… popular good sense says at times that the liturgy is something too serious to be entrusted to solely liturgists. It seems that this good sense is shared in Rome".
Nominations/1
Tamburrino Archbishop of Foggia, Russotto bishop of Caltanissetta, Nosiglia of Vicenza
On 2 August the Benedictine Francesco Pio Tamburrino was nominated Archbishop of Foggia-Bovino. The 64 year old bishop, originally from the Province of Potenza, a priest since 1965, was for four years Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Sacramental Discipline. He had formerly been Ordinary Abbot of Montevergine (1989-1998) and Bishop of Teggiano-Policastro (1998-1999).
On August 2 also, 51 year old Monsignor Mario Russotto, originally from the Province of Ragusa, was nominated Bishop of Caltanissetta. A priest since 1981, from last year he was adjunct secretary of the Sicilian Episcopal Conference for the pastoral sector.
On 6 October Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia, originally from Rossiglione (Province of Genoa and diocese of Acqui), and vice-gerent of the diocese of Rome since 1996, was nominated Bishop-Archbishop of Vicenza. Nosiglia, who was 59 years old the day before his nomination, has been a priest since 1968 and worked in the CEI from 1971 to 1991 as an attaché, then as Vice Director and Director of the National Catechetics Office. In 1991 he was made Auxiliary of the diocese of the Pope.
Nominations/2
After eleven years the Bishop of Hung Hoá in Vietnam is nominated
On 5 August Antoine Vu Huy Chuong, 59 years old and a priest since 1971, was nominated Bishop of Hung Hoá, in the north of Vietnam, a diocese that had been vacant since 1992.
Nominations/3
A Bishop for the Hebrew-speaking faithful is nominated in Palestine
On 14 August Father Jean-Baptiste Gourion, a Benedictine Olivetan, was nominated auxiliary to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem with the charge of pastoral care of the Catholic Hebrew-speaking faithful living in the territory of the same Patriarchate. Gourion, 69 years old of Jewish descent, was baptized in 1958 at 24 years old, and was ordained a priest in 1967. From 1976 he has been head of the monastic community of Abu-Gosh (Israel).
History
of the Church/1
Pius XI wanted to meet Hitler
The issue of Civiltà Cattolica dated 4 October published an article by Father Giovanni Sale about The non-visit of Hitler to the Vatican. In it, thanks also to previously unpublished documents, account is taken of the attempts made by the Holy See to get Chancellor Adolf Hitler, during the one visit he made to Rome, from 3-9 May 1938, to request an audience with Pius XI. A request which was not made however, because of the wish of the Nazi leader to "carry his battle against the Church and against Christianity through to the very end".
History of the Church/2
Pius XII and the reception of the Jews in 1943-44
The CSR, the newly founded Co-ordination of Religious Historians, which brings together numerous historians belonging to institutes of the consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, held an interesting seminar in Rome on 24 September about the reception of Jews in the religious institutes of Rome, in the years 1943 and 1944, confirming among other things the positive role of Pius XII. About twenty institutes participated in the historiographical research, to which they furnished information and evidence. During the seminar three documents were displayed, emanating at the time from the Holy See, and offered by the archive of the Marianum: a declaration of 28 September 1943 with which the Secretary General of Propaganda Fide places the College of Sant’Alessio Falconieri dei Servi di Maria under protection certifying its dependence on the Congregation; a letter of 28 October 1943 with which the Secretary of State transmits the manifesto issued by the German command in Rome safeguarding the religious houses and the other properties belonging to the Holy See; the declaration of the Governorate of Vatican City, dated September 25 1943 and countersigned by the German command in Rome, which by order of the Secretary of State attests the dependence of the religious house (the Procura of the Servants of Mary) on the Sacred Congregation for Religious . The authentication in German says: "The above written statements are confirmed, entrance is severly forbidden to members of the Wehrmacht".
Documents/1
Considerations about legal recognition of homosexual couples
On 31 July the document Considerations about the projects for legal recognition of the union between homosexual persons was published. It is a document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved by the Pope on 28 March, and signed by the Cardinal Prefect Joseph Ratzinger and by the Archbishop Secretary Angelo Amato on 3 June. The document is a grave warning by the Holy See against any suggestion of "legal recognition" of homosexual couples and of their rights, beginning with that of adoption. In the document it is affirmed that for a Catholic member of Parliament to give his vote to provisions in favor of these rights "is a gravely immoral act".
Documents/2
Norms against liturgical abuses
At the end of September the monthly magazine Jesus and the agency Adista published some excerpts from the draft of a joint instruction from the Congregations for the Doctrine of the Faith and Divine Worship against abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist. It is a document, "with warnings also of a juridical nature", expressly forecast by the last encyclical signed by the Pope on 17 April, Ecclesia de eucharistia.
The published draft, however, goes back to the first days of last June. Later, on 27 June, an ordinary joint assembly of the two departments took place where this draft was discussed. On that occasion the overwhelming majority of about fifty cardinal and bishop members of both departments voted in favor of the document in question, even though there was no lack of proposals for amendment. The radically negative judgements could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
There is a mixed commission from both Congregations presently involved in work on a new draft which will be examined at the end of October in another joint ordinary meeting, which should authorize a definitive text to be submitted for the approval of the Pope. The instruction in question, complications apart, could be issued before next Christmas.
Adista mischievously noted that the text published, even though "strictly confidential", was released to the same agency "and to other press organs […] in the hope of wrecking within the Vatican a type of Lefevrian operation that takes advantage of the decline of this pontificate".
Diplomacy/1
The signing of the Georgia-Holy See agreement is annulled
"I am very surprised, especially by the violence of this campaign conducted by the Orthodox Church in Georgia, which has spread false information. For example, I have been told that an Orthodox bishop has published information according to which the agreement would be unacceptable because it entailed the conversion of all of Georgia to Catholicism". The Vatican "foreign minister" Jean-Louis Tauran thus commented on Radio Vatican on 20 September on the decision of the Georgian government — under pressure from the local Orthodox Church — to suspend at the last minute the signing of an agreement between Tbilisi and the Holy See planned for the same day. The Georgian incident took place during a seven day trip (18-25 September) undertaken by Tauran to the Caucasus, where he also visited Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Diplomacy/2
New Nuncios in Costa Rica, Croatia and South-East Asia
On 31 July the 61 year old Philippine Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla was nominated Nuncio in Costa Rica; since August 1998 he was Nuncio in Nigeria.
On 4 August the 60 year old Spaniard Francisco-Javier Lozano was nominated Nuncio in Croatia: he has served since December 2001 in the First Section of the Secretariat of State where he directed the Office of Information and Documentation; formerly he had been Nuncio in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
On 20 September the 51 year old Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, originally from the Province of Naples, was nominated Nuncio to Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia and Apostolic Delegate to Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia and Brunei. Ordained priest in 1976, Pennacchio entered the pontifical diplomatic service three years afterwards and worked in the nunciatures of Panama, Ethiopia, Australia, Turkey, Egypt, Yugoslavia and Ireland. Promoted Archbishop in 1998, he was from the same year Nuncio in Ruanda.
On 5 August the new Archbishop Antonio Ariotti, 55 years old, originally from the Province of Cremona, who on 17 July was nominated Nuncio to Cameroon, was also nominated Nuncio to Equatorial Guinea.
Diplomacy/3
New Bolivian Ambassador to the Holy See
On 8 September the new Bolivian Ambassador to the Holy See presented his credentials. He is Valentin Abecia Baldivieso who was 78 years old the following day, a lawyer, Lecturer in Law, a politician (Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1989), former Ambassador to Spain (1986-1989), President of the Board of Directors of the Cultural Foundation of the Central Bank of Bolivia.
Serbia
An exarchate created for the faithful of Oriental rite
On 28 August the Apostolic exarchate of Serbia and Montenegro was created for the almost 23,000 Catholics of Byzantine rite out of the last fragment of former Yugoslavia. The 49 year old Bishop Djura Dzudzar, a Croatian, and former head of office in the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and Auxiliary of the Greek-Catholic diocese of Mukacheve in the Ukraine, since March 2001, was nominated as the first exarch, and will reside in Ruski Krstur.
Pontifical Universities
Cavallotti Rector of the Urbanian
Monsignor Giuseppe Cavallotti, 63 years old from Asti, is the new rector of the Pontifical Urbanian University, where he was dean of the faculty of Missiology. He takes over from 53 year old Monsignor Ambrogio Spreafico, of the Community of Sant’Egidio, whose term of office had ended.
Congo
The resignation of the Pope’s former secretary is accepted
On 14 August the resignation of the Bishop of Luebo, Emery Kabongo Kanundowi, 59 years old, who before being Titular of the diocese of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was, from 1982 to 1988, the second secretary of John Paul II, was accepted. Kabongo received the nomination of Canon of the Chapter of the Vatican Basilica of Saint Peter’s.
Books
Father Grieco: Gantin seen from close up
Father Gianfranco Grieco, special envoy of the Osservatore Romano, is the author of a slim volume dedicated to the figure of Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, Dean Emeritus of the Sacred College, for thirteen years Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops. The book, Benin, my Africa, my Church (Piemme, 115 pp., ¤ 9.90), as the author writes in the introduction, "does not aim to recount the life and the works of Cardinal Gantin. It is only a long reportage on some significant moments of his dynamic and itinerant life, lived always in the sign of the gift. For many years, on tiptoe, along with other fortunate "friends of the Cardinal", we have walked together. This book aims only to offer, in a new and original manner, the passion of the Cardinal for the missionary Church, for John Paul II, for Benin: three "loves", gathered in a great unique love which is Christ ‘Redeemer of man’".
