Council of Cardinals adjourns until April

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

The Council of Cardinals, or "C9", has concluded its February session and will resume their discussions after Easter, the Holy See Press Office announced Wednesday afternoon.

Pope Francis presided over the Session, which took place 5-7 February at the Pope's residence of Casa Santa Marta, in which the C9 Cardinals, and the Secretary of the Council, participated.

Council of Cardinals, or C9

The Council of Cardinals, after the Pope's renewal of the body on 7 March 2023, is composed of Cardinals Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State; Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and the Governorate of Vatican City State; Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa; Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay; Seán Patrick O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston; Juan José Omella Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona; Gérald Lacroix, Archbishop of Québec; Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg; Sérgio da Rocha, Archbishop of San Salvador de Bahia. The secretary is Monsignor Marco Mellino, titular bishop of Cresima. The first meeting of the new C9 took place on 24 April 2023.

Pope Francis established the Council with a chirograph of 28 September 2013, giving it the the task of assisting him in the governance of the Universal Church and studying a project for the renewal of the Roman Curia. The re-organization of the Curia was realized with the new Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, published on 19 March 2022. The first C9 meeting took place on 1 October 2013.

Women, synodality, evangelization

After reflecting on the role of women in the Church on Monday morning, and welcoming women's contributions, the discussion continued in the afternoon on current synodal paths, particularly that of the universal Church.

The women who shared their reflections with the Council were Sister Linda Pocher, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians and professor of Christology and Mariology at the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences Auxilium in Rome; Giuliva Di Berardino, a consecrated member of the Ordo Virginum of the Diocese of Verona, teacher and head of spirituality courses and spiritual exercises; and the Rev. Dr. Jo Bailey Wells, Bishop of the Church of England and Under-Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.

Tuesday, on the other hand, was dedicated to the theme of evangelization, accompanied by the reports of the Pro-Prefects of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

Wednesday, the Council met only in the afternoon, given the Holy Father maintained his General Audience with the faithful in the Vatican in the morning. The Wednesday afternoon session provided an opportunity to further explore the topics discussed during the session, always in the Holy Father's presence.

The next Council meeting will be held in April 2024.