Rome & the World: begging Kirill • US tour of Bernadette’s relics • & more …

In his blog Settimo Cielo, Italian Vatican expert and journalist Sandro Magister highlights the criticism directed at the Vatican tribunal judging those involved in the purchase of a building on Sloane Avenue, London (UK). Magister emphasizes that the main issue is that the Pope has supreme power over legislation and cannot be judged. He cites the four “rescripta” signed by Francis in the initial phase of the investigation for the trial and claims they were all “ issued contrary to the laws in force and to the rights of defense.” Having obtained the documents of these decrees, Magister publishes them publicly for the first time and delves into the details of the changes and the actions that resulted from them. The Italian journalist says Francis figures as both “director of the trial, with his “rescripta” that have steered its development in disregard of the rights of the defense, and as co-star of the twisted plot that the trial is called to judge.” “Judge and defendant at the same time,” concludes Magister. 

Settimo Cielo, English

A letter hangs on the walls of a Russian Orthodox church in Jerusalem signed by 150 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim representatives from all over the world, calling for Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to do everything in his power to stop the war in Ukraine. The leaders of these religious communities gathered in front of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in the “Russian compound” of Jerusalem on Monday to plead for an end to the suffering, destruction, and death caused by Russia’s invasion. The initiative was promoted by the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD) and the Interfaith Elijah Institute. Notable figures present were: Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Rabbi Rasson Arousi, president of the Commission of the Grand Rabbinate of Israel for Dialogue with the Holy See, Sheikh Hassan Abu Galion, of Rahat, and more.

Fides, English 

In light of World Down Syndrome Day, March 21, American outlet The Pillar has updated its 2021 reading list featuring Catholic voices, insights, and resources on disability. For example, one of the first links is a video on the Little Sisters, Disciples of the Lamb, the only religious community known to invite women with Down syndrome to enter religious life. The list also cites texts from American archbishops, Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis on disability. The Argentinian pontiff said in 2017, for example, that “the Church cannot be voiceless or out of tune in the defense and promotion of people with disabilities.”  The list also includes a speech by a theologian on the theology of disability and the guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on making sacraments accessible to people with disabilities. 

The Pillar, English

For some time now, the discontent of journalists accredited to the Vatican, representing news outlets from all over the world, has been growing. In fact the pool of journalists authorized to accompany the heads of state’s visits to the pope has disappeared since the pandemic began, the texts read after the Angelus are no longer shared, and questions to the Pontiff during the in-flight press conference are increasingly restricted and prepared in advance. The straw that broke the camel's back was the surprise publication of the Apostolic Constitution "Praedicate Evangelium," a fundamental normative text, the most awaited of the pontificate and which had been in gestation for at least 7 years. It was published without notice on Saturday, March 19, with only an announcement in the daily bulletin. Loup Besmond de Senneville, French correspondent for La Croix and newly elected president of the Association of Journalists Accredited to the Vatican (Aigav), expressed, on behalf of the organization, "astonishment at the modalities: the publication of such an important text, which has been awaited for several years, on a Saturday at noon, without prior announcement or with distribution under embargo (...) Not to mention the fact that the text is only in Italian, which seems to be in contradiction with the universality promoted in the text itself.”

Il Messaggero, Italian

The relics of St. Bernadette, the Marian visionary of Lourdes (France), will tour the United States for the first time beginning April 7. The relics will start their trip in Miami, Florida, and then travel to a couple more dioceses in the state. Then they will zigzag across the country to 23 other dioceses, visiting 34 churches, cathedrals, and shrines. The last stop will be St. Bernadette Church in Los Angeles, where the relics will stay from July 31 to Aug. 4. “I saw a great opportunity here, particularly with the current state of our world,” said Father Kenneth Schwanger, pastor of Miami’s Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, who was instrumental in making this tour happen. He made the request to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France over three years ago but said the pandemic delayed the process. The Vatican has granted a plenary indulgence for those praying before the relics during the tour. 

Our Sunday Visitor, English