Rome & the World : Pope Francis’ new appointments • Germans don’t understand criticisms of Synodal War

The U.S. Catholic website The Pillar discusses the new architecture of the Roman Curia, pointing out the appointments that could take place in the dicasteries after the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium comes into effect on June 5, the date of Pentecost. The new Dicastery for Culture and Education could be assigned a lay prefect, the site anticipates, noting the advanced ages of Cardinal Versaldi, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, and Cardinal Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, at 78 and 79, respectively. Other cardinals could remain in office for a year or two to ensure some continuity in the running of the structures: Cardinal Ouellet, in charge of the bishops, and Cardinal Sandri, in charge of the Eastern Churches, are presented as men whom the Pope trusts even though they are well over 75 years old. The question of the dissolution or transformation of the Council of Cardinals, in charge of preparing the reform of the Curia, is also raised.

The Pillar, English  

In the April issue of the Herder Korrespondenz, the German journalist Benjamin Leven recalls how German Catholics have been receiving with incomprehension, and even contempt, the criticisms of the German Synodal Way coming from Poland and Northern Europe. He underlines the extent to which, in his country, the positions taken by the Synodal Way - women deacons, marriage of priests, ordination of women, intercommunion - are part of the "dominant societal evidence." According to Leven, this explains why some German members of the Synod are “stunned” that there is even a debate around these issues, which they consider to be “obvious.” The Germans trivialize the "massive differences" between themselves and other churches in the world because those who do not support the Synodal Way are in a clear minority in Germany. Benjamin Leven estimates that only "one fifth or one sixth" of German Catholics do not support the demands for reform, and that the gap is even more pronounced (90% in favor) within the Synodal Way. However this homogeneity is an illusion which German Catholics should be aware of, the German journalist says, because at the end of their synodal journey "the essentials cannot be decided unilaterally in Germany.”

Herder Korrespondenz, German.

It has been six years since Israel has experienced such a series of attacks. In one week there have been three attacks, which ISIS has claimed responsibility for, and that have left 11 people dead. Terre Sainte magazine reports that the Israeli security services fear that the situation will degenerate, especially with the beginning of Ramadan this weekend. "This period, which sees more than 90,000 Muslims flock every Friday to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is regularly a source of tension, due to an increased police presence and reinforced controls," the article says. The French consular authorities have also said they fear agitated weeks. The current economic context does not help to ease tensions, as the region is also affected by a sharp rise in prices of basic goods. 

Terre Sainte, French

São Paulo’s state court of appeals has reversed a 2019 decision that had stopped the construction of a giant statue of the Virgin Mary in Aparecida, where Brazil’s major Catholic shrine is located. Crux explains that the work had been interrupted due to a lawsuit filed by the Brazilian Atheists and Agnostics Association (ATEA), which claimed that public funds were being used to pay for religious symbols, which is forbidden by the Brazilian constitution. Gilmar Pinna, the artist who donated the statue in 2017 as part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of the apparitions, said almost all the elements of the project had been donated, including the materials for the sculpture and the land where it is built. The stainless steel statue will measure 164-feet (around 50 meters) making it taller than Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer. 

Crux, English 

Cardinal Albino Luciani, better known as John Paul I, can rejoice from Heaven. The house where he was born, an ancient building located in the center of the village of Canale d'Agordo, in Veneto, has been restored and will be inaugurated on April 23. The festivities will begin in the village church and will be introduced by the Bishop of the Vittorio Veneto diocese, where the house is located. Several interventions will follow, including that of Cardinal Pievigino Beniamino Stella, postulator of the cause of beatification of Albino Luciani. The architect in charge of the restoration and the patriarch of Venice, Monsignor Francesco Moraglia, will also be present. The work and a statue made by the artist Carlo Balljana will then be blessed. The ceremony, which is dear to the hearts of the people of the Italian village, is a further step towards the beatification of Pope John Paul I, which is scheduled for September 4. 

Quotidiano del Piave, Italian