Council of Cardinals reviews synodal processes, financial supervision

By Vatican News

In a virtual meeting held Thursday afternoon, the Council of Cardinals discussed the importance of synodal paths in the dioceses of the world, expressed satisfaction with the Moneyval report and progress in financial supervision, and updated itself on the state of the pandemic in the various continents.

Virtual meeting

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions in international travel, the Council of Cardinal met virtually.  The Vatican Press Office said the Pope joined the meeting in which Cardinals Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga of Honduras, Reinhard Marx of Germany, Sean Patrick O'Malley of USA, Oswald Gracias of India and Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo participated via live link from their respective countries.  Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and Bishop Marco Mellino, Secretary of the Council of Cardinals were connected from the Vatican.  Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin was unable to attend due to previous commitments.

Pope’s closeness to Myanmar

The Press Office said, “After a greeting by Pope Francis, the cardinals offered brief contributions to present the situation, also with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic, in the various continents. In this context, Cardinal Gracias thanked the Pontiff for the words and closeness expressed for the painful situation in Myanmar.”

Synodal process

Pope Francis “reiterated the importance of the synodal processes underway at the diocesan and national levels, and how they must be reflected in the broader movement initiated by the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in recent weeks”.

All the participants expressed satisfaction with the recent Moneyval report and the progress made in the Holy See's economic and financial oversight methods. 

The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals has been scheduled for September.

The “Council of Cardinals” was created by Pope Francis in 2013 to assist him in the governance of the universal Church, and to study the project for the revision of Pastor Bonus, the 1988 Apostolic Constitution of Saint Pope John Paul II on the Roman Curia, the central government of the Catholic Church in Rome.