8. General congress of cardinals: scandals, liturgy, canon law and continuity of the topics mentioned – Zenit

(Zenit News / Vatican City, 02.05.2025) .- After a day off at the festival of St. Joseph, the cardinals gathered in the new synod hall in the Vatican City for the 8th General Community. The meeting started on Friday morning, May 2, at 9:00 a.m. with the usual prayer. More than 180 cardinals were present, including more than 120 voters. During the session, the presence of some cardinals that had arrived on that day was announced. They were sworn in during the interval at 10:30 a.m.

25 cardinals spoke in the morning.

What did you talk about?

The contributions dealt with special relevance for the future of the church. It was reminded that the evangelization was the heart of Pope Francis' Pontificate: a church of fraternal and evangelizing community, which can speak in particular to younger generations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpkeqjpnjjs

Special attention was made aware of the eastern churches, shaped by suffering, but also by a strong testimony of faith.

In several interventions, the urgency was emphasized effectively at all levels of church life, from communities to the curia, and remembered that the witness of mutual love is the first proclamation, as the gospel reminds us.

Some of the opposite were also called back, such as sexual abuses and financial scandals.

Matto Bruni, spokesman for the press time, reported at noon that these problems have to be tackled as “a wound” that must be kept “open” so that awareness of the problem remains alive and concrete ways to heal must be determined.

Among other things, the centrality of liturgy, the importance of canonical law and the value of synodality, which was expressed in its relationship to mission, collegiality and overcoming secularism.

Finally, they reflected on the hermeneutics of continuity between the pontificates of St. John Paul II, the Benedict XVI and the Pope Francis and the role of the Eucharist in the Evangelization Mission of the Church. The work was completed at 12:30 p.m.

Names are announced by cardinals that will not participate in the conclave

It was confirmed that two cardinal voters will not participate in the conclave, as collected by college: Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, emeritus of Metropolitan Archbishop of Valencia, and Cardinal John Njue, Stetropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Nairobi, Kenya. Four cardinal voters are currently still expected in Rome.

Wrong: Cardinal Pietro Parolin is not in bad health

During the meeting with journalists, the director of the Stuhl press office, Matteo Bruni, denied the hypothesis that Cardinal Pietro Parolin fell sick, and explained that no such episode had taken place. He also contested the use of interventions by medical or nursing staff.

Sixtine Chapel Chimney is installed

The chimney was now installed on the roof of the Sistine chapel. Information on the technical tests will be communicated later.

The Sistine chapel has been closed to the public since Sunday. These days, the staff is working on ending the preparations for the conclave .

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