Council of Cardinals discusses global situation, Synod, role of women in Church

Vatican News

The meeting of the Council of Cardinals that began on Monday 15 April concluded the following day in the afternoon at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. Tuesday's session began with a report by Cardinal Mario Grech and Msgr. Piero Coda on the current Synod, according to a Holy See Press Office comunique. The meeting concluded "after a reflection on the implementation of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium in diocesan curias, and with reports by each Cardinal on the social, political and ecclesial situation of the different regions of origin." During the meetings "there were references - and prayers on several occasions - dedicated to realities of war and conflict" in different parts of the world, "particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine." The Council members and the Pope "expressed concern about what is happening and the hope that efforts to find paths of negotiation and peace will be strengthened."

15 April session

On Monday 15 April the Cardinals discussed "the role of women in the Church" and listened to the reflections of Sister Regina da Costa Pedro of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Immaculate, "who shared real life stories and thoughts of a number of Brazilian women," and Professor Stella Morra of the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University who spoke about the way various cultures appreciate the role of women in different parts of the world.

Council of Cardinals

Present at the working session along with Pope Francis were Cardinals who are members of the Council of Cardinals - Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State; Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and the Governorate of Vatican City State; Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay; Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston; Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona; Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, Archbishop of Québec; Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg; Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha, Archbishop of San Salvador de Bahia; and Council secretary, Bishop Marco Mellino, Titular Bishop of Cresima. The Council of Cardinals will meet again in June.