Council of Cardinal meets to discuss ongoing Synod, child protection

By Devin Watkins

In a meeting on 26-27 June, the Council of Cardinals, accompanied by the Holy Father, convened to deliberate on several matters regarding the life of the Church.

The meeting saw the participation of all Cardinals involved in the Council, along with the Secretary of the Council, Bishop Marco Mellino.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Holy See Press Office, Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda led a reflection on the implementation of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate evangelium within diocesan curias.

This endeavor aims to align diocesan curias with the “spirit, principles, and criteria” set forth in the Constitution.

Synod and Safeguarding

The Council of Cardinals also spoke about the topic of synodality as the Church nears the upcoming General Assembly in October.

Cardinal Mario Grech provided updates on the progress made in recent months, particularly in preparation for the upcoming October Assembly.

The Council then discussed the protection of minors within the Church.

Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley shared information regarding the recent Plenary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which was held in May.

The Council was apprised of the Commission's efforts to update regulations and practices across all dioceses, ensuring that safeguarding mechanisms are effective and consistent throughout the Church.

The Council of Cardinals also dedicated time for reflection on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Looking ahead, the Council of Cardinals scheduled their next session for December of this year.