The lack of religious freedom is
not only due to violence and discrimination, found in many parts of the
world, from the Middle East to China, but also to what Benedict XVI
today called "the great challenge of relativism , which seems to
complete the concept of freedom but in reality is likely to destroy it
like a true 'dictatorship”.
Freedom of religion, liturgy, openness to Anglicans, and sexual
abuse are the most pressing issues that the Catholic Church is facing
today and of which Benedict XVI wants the cardinals from around the
world to be informed, in their role as the closest papal advisers.
For this reason, on the eve of the consistory in which he will
create 24 new cardinals, the Pope met today in the Vatican Synod Hall
about 150 cardinals. meeting, which is an expression of
that collegiality that is “particularly important to the Pope” said
Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican Press Office.
A press office statement informs that this morning, speaking at
the beginning of the meeting, Benedict XVI recalled that in the Lord's
command to proclaim the Gospel implies the need for the
freedom to do so and yet, in the course of history, it has meet several
obstacles. The relationship between truth and freedom is essential, but
now faces the challenge of relativism, which at first glance, seems to
complete the concept of freedom but in reality threatens to destroy it
like a veritable "dictatorship."
We find ourselves in a time where we
must work hard to assert the freedom to proclaim the truth of the Gospel
and the great achievements of Christian culture. As to the second
theme, the Pope recalled the crucial importance of the liturgy in the
Church, because it is the place of God's presence with us. Thus, the
place where truth lives with us”.
In the next intervention card. Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of
State, presented a panoramic overview of current attempts to restrict
the freedom of Christians in various parts of the world, inviting people
to reflect on the situation of religious freedom in Western States. We
are witnessing, he said, a process of secularisation accompanied by
attempts to remove spiritual values from social life”.
The Cardinal Secretary went on to address the situation of
religious freedom in Muslim countries, recalling the conclusions reached
during the recent Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of
Bishops. Finally, he explained the activities the Holy See and local
episcopates make to defend Catholics, in both East and West.
On this
subject he also recalled the great efforts made by the Holy See at a
state level and also at United Nations organisations to promote respect
for the religious freedom of believers.
In the course of extensive discussions have taken 18 cardinals
studied the issue of religious freedom and the difficulties encountered
by the Church in different parts of the world: specific situations in
Europe, the Americas, Africa, in Asia, the Middle East and in Muslim
majority countries were discussed.
The serious difficulties currently
encountered by the Church in defending the basic values of natural law,
such as respect for life and family, were also mentioned.
For his part Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, prefect of the
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments,
addressed the question of the liturgy in the Church today.
In the
afternoon reports will be presented by Mgr. Angelo Amato, prefect of the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints, on "Dominus Iesus," the
instruction on the Catholic doctrine of salvation; by card. William
Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on
the "Church's response to cases of sexual abuse" and the Apostolic
Constitution "Anglicanorum coetibus" for the welcoming of groups from
the Anglican Communion into the Catholic Church.
Returning, finally, to tomorrow's consistory, Father Lombardi
explained that Benedict XVI, in selecting the new cardinals " the Pope
takes many different criteria into account, first among which are
certainly duties in the service of Church and the universality of
representation"
"In this way – he explains in his editorial for Octava
Dies, the weekly information of the Vatican Television Center - the Pope
forms a group of prominent personalities, who are entrusted with the
crucial task of the election of the Successor of Peter, but who must
also cooperate and support the Pope in his ministry with full spiritual
solidarity".
SIC: AN/INT'L