Six Cardinals attended the silver jubilee congress held at the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) here to mark the promulgation of the New Code of Canon Law, January 11.
UPS vice-chancellor, Dr. Mario Toso SDB, in his welcome address recalled former professor of the UPS Canon Law Faculty, Salesian Cardinal Castillo Lara, pro-president of the preparatory commission of the Code, at the time of its promulgation in 1983.
He was to deliver a talk on the History of the present Code of Canon Law. He died last October.
Dr. Toso also recalled another Salesian, the late Cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler, who was pro-president of the Interpretative Committees of the New Code of Canon Law.
“UPS has begun the first among a series of congresses to be held in Rome to commemorate the silver jubilee of the promulgation of the Code of Canon Law, even ahead of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts,” said Dean of the UPS Canon Law Faculty, Dr. Sabino Ardito SDB.
Highlighting the mystery of the baptism of Jesus, as well as the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Benedict asked churches to understand and welcome immigrants. The pope also asked young migrants not to be swayed by violence.
Hailing from Europe and the United States, Catholic bishops will visit with the Vatican's representative to Israel and the leaders of Israel and Palestine to support peace process. “The entire effort is to help people understand how Canon Law is at the service of the Church,” he explained.
The Presentations
The Vatican secretary of State and former Dean of the UPS Canon Law Faculty, Salesian Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, spoke on “The concern of the Roman Pontiff for the Universal Church and the development of the ties of communion.”
He was professor, dean and later the vice-chancellor of the UPS. He was also the director of the group of experts, which made the Italian translation of the New Code.
While Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, spoke on “The teaching of Canon Law after the promulgation of the 1983 Code,” Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, presented a paper on “Canon Law and Ecumenism.”
President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Archbishop Francesco Coccopalmerio, spoke on “The knowledge of Church Law by the People of God” and deputy secretary general of the Vatican City State Administration, Monsignor Giorgio Corbellini, spoke on the “Commemoration of Cardinal Rosalio José Castillo Lara SDB”.
Also present were Salesian Cardinal Rafaele Farina, archivist of the Vatican Secret Archives; Cardinal Jean-Luis Tauran, secretary for the Relations with the Governments of the Holy See and President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; and Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
“This is a global theme trying to see the impact of Canon Law in the life of the Church from different perspectives,” said secretary of the UPS Canon Law Faculty, Dr. Jesu Pudumai Doss SDB. He is also external judge for matrimonial cases in the Tribunal of the Vicariate of Rome as well as commissioner for the marriage cases in favorem fidei at the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.
“Other pontifical faculties will focus on one of the aspects of this holistic picture presented here today,” he added.
Over 400 students and professors from various pontifical universities and Canon Law faculties participated in the five-hour congress.
The UPS Canon Law Faculty, which started some 70 years ago in Turin, organised the meeting entitled: “The Code of Canon Law at the service of the mission of the Church.”
This year marks its 50th year in Rome.
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