Council of Cardinals discusses new Apostolic Constitution

By Vatican News

The Council of Cardinals gathered in the Vatican this week for their previously planned meeting. Cardinals Pietro Parolin; Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, S.D.B.; Reinhard Marx; Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap.; Giuseppe Bertello; and Oswald Gracias were present for the meeting, along with the Secretary of the Council, Archbishop Marcello Semeraro. Pope Francis also took part in the work of the Council.

During the meeting, the Cardinals continued to discuss the draft of the new Apostolic Constitution, focusing in particular on the relationship between the Roman Curia and the various episcopal conferences; and on the presence of the lay faithful — both men and women — in decision making roles in the Church.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., delivered a report on the Synod for the Amazon, and the Cardinals also had the opportunity to reflect on some considerations proposed by Cardinal O’Malley on the preparation of the post-synodal document. Cardinal Marx spoke about the “Synodal Path” being undertaken by the Church in Germany, and on the themes that will be focused on.

Since the previous meeting of the Council of Cardinals, in September of this year, suggestions concerning the new Apostolic Constitution have continued to arrive. The Cardinals will continue their reading and evaluation of that document during their next session, set for February 2020.