ol’ s s e rvator e romano€¦ · nation of bishop ratko perić from his office as bishop of...

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Price € 1,00. Back issues € 2,00 L’O S S E RVATORE ROMANO WEEKLY EDITION Unicuique suum IN ENGLISH Non praevalebunt Fifty-third year, number 29 (2.656) Vatican City Friday, 17 July 2020 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith A ‘Va d e m e c u m ’ on certain points of procedure in treating cases of sexual abuse of minors committed by clerics Sea Sunday message and prayer Upholding seafarers’ human rights PAGE 6 Feast of Mary Magdalene A historian investigates PAGE 7 At the Angelus the Pope thanks those who are close to the sick in this time of pandemic Saddened over Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (AFP) To ‘curas villeros’ The Holy Father expresses his closeness PAGE 3 “I think of Hagia Sophia, and I am very saddened”, Pope Francis said following the recitation of the Marian Prayer on Sunday, 12 July, referring to Turkey’s de- cision to convert Istanbul’s museum com- plex back into a mosque. Earlier, the Holy Father reflected on the day’s Gospel Reading on the Parable of the Sower. For God’s seed to bear fruit in the soul, one must first learn to listen to him. “Often one is distracted by too many interests, by too many enticements, and it is difficult to distinguish, among the many voices and many words, that of the Lord, the only one that makes us free. This is why it is important to accustom oneself to listening to the Word of God, to reading it”, the Pope said. Reiterating his advice that a Christian should always keep at hand a pocket copy of the Gospel, he rec- ommended reading “a short passage every day, so that you become used to reading the Word of God, understanding well the seed that God offers you”. Recalling the celebration of the Interna- tional Day of the Sea, which is celebrated on the second Sunday in July, the Holy Father also extended warm “greetings to all those who work at sea, especially those who are far from their loved ones and their country”. PAGE 8 Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church, 21-24 February 2019, at the Vatican In response to numerous questions about the procedures to be fol- lowed in those penal cases for which it is competent, the Congreg- ation for the Doctrine of the Faith has prepared a Vademecum , intended primarily for Ordinaries and other personnel needing to apply the ca- nonical norms governing cases of the sexual abuse of minors by cler- ics. The manual is meant to serve as a handbook for those charged with ascertaining the truth in such criminal cases, leading them step by step from the notitia criminis to the definitive conclusion of the case. While not issuing new norms or al- tering current canonical legislation, the manual seeks to clarify the vari- ous stages of the procedures in- volved. Its use is to be encouraged, since a standardized praxis will contribute to a better administra- tion of justice. Reference is made above all to the two Codes presently in force (CIC and CCEO); the Norms on Delicts Reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the revised 2010 version, is- sued with the Motu Proprio Sacra- mentorum Sanctitatis Tutela, taking account of the revisions introduced by the Rescripta ex Audientia of 3 and 6 December 2019; the Motu Proprio Vos Estis Lux Mundi; and, not least, the praxis of the Con- gregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which has in recent years be- come increasingly clear and consol- idated. Intended to be flexible, this manual can be periodically updated if the norms to which it refers are modified, or if the praxis of the Congregation calls for further clari- fications and revisions. A choice was made not to include in this Va- demecum guidelines for carrying out the judicial penal process in the first grade of judgment, since it was felt that the procedure set forth in the present Codes is sufficiently clear and detailed. It is hoped that this handbook will assist Dioceses, Insti- tutes of Consecrated Life and Soci- eties of Apostolic Life, Episcopal Conferences and the various ecclesi- astical circumscriptions to better un- derstand and implement the require- ments of justice regarding a delictum gravius that constitutes for the whole Church a profound and pain- ful wound that cries out for healing. Presentation of the manual CARD. LADARIA, PAGE 4/5 Interview with Msgr Morandi TORNIELLI, PAGE 4/5

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Page 1: OL’ S S E RVATOR E ROMANO€¦ · nation of Bishop Ratko Perić from his office as Bishop of Mostar-Duvno and from the office of Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedisof

Price € 1,00. Back issues € 2,00

L’O S S E RVATOR E ROMANOWEEKLY EDITION

Unicuique suum

IN ENGLISHNon praevalebunt

Fifty-third year, number 29 (2.656) Vatican City Friday, 17 July 2020

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

A ‘Va d e m e c u m ’ on certain points of procedure in treatingcases of sexual abuse of minors committed by clerics

Sea Sunday message and prayer

Upholding seafarers’human rights

PAGE 6

Feast of Mary Magdalene

A historianinvestigates

PAGE 7

At the Angelus the Pope thanks those who are close to the sick in this time of pandemic

Saddened over Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (AFP)

To ‘curas villeros’

The Holy Fatherexpresses his closeness

PAGE 3

“I think of Hagia Sophia, and I am verysaddened”, Pope Francis said followingthe recitation of the Marian Prayer onSunday, 12 July, referring to Turkey’s de-cision to convert Istanbul’s museum com-plex back into a mosque.

Earlier, the Holy Father reflected on theday’s Gospel Reading on the Parable ofthe Sower. For God’s seed to bear fruit inthe soul, one must first learn to listen tohim. “Often one is distracted by too manyinterests, by too many enticements, and itis difficult to distinguish, among the manyvoices and many words, that of the Lord,the only one that makes us free. This iswhy it is important to accustom oneself tolistening to the Word of God, to readingit”, the Pope said. Reiterating his advicethat a Christian should always keep athand a pocket copy of the Gospel, he rec-ommended reading “a short passage everyday, so that you become used to readingthe Word of God, understanding well theseed that God offers you”.

Recalling the celebration of the Interna-tional Day of the Sea, which is celebratedon the second Sunday in July, the HolyFather also extended warm “greetings toall those who work at sea, especially thosewho are far from their loved ones andtheir country”.

PAGE 8

Meeting on the Protection of Minors in theChurch, 21-24 February 2019, at the Vatican

In response to numerous questionsabout the procedures to be fol-lowed in those penal cases forwhich it is competent, the Congreg-ation for the Doctrine of the Faithhas prepared a Va d e m e c u m , intendedprimarily for Ordinaries and otherpersonnel needing to apply the ca-nonical norms governing cases ofthe sexual abuse of minors by cler-ics. The manual is meant to serveas a handbook for those chargedwith ascertaining the truth in suchcriminal cases, leading them step bystep from the notitia criminis to thedefinitive conclusion of the case.While not issuing new norms or al-tering current canonical legislation,the manual seeks to clarify the vari-ous stages of the procedures in-volved. Its use is to be encouraged,since a standardized praxis willcontribute to a better administra-tion of justice. Reference is madeabove all to the two Codespresently in force (CIC and CCEO);the Norms on Delicts Reserved to theCongregation for the Doctrine of theFa i t h in the revised 2010 version, is-sued with the Motu Proprio S a c ra -

mentorum Sanctitatis Tutela, takingaccount of the revisions introducedby the Rescripta ex Audientia of 3and 6 December 2019; the MotuProprio Vos Estis Lux Mundi; and,not least, the praxis of the Con-gregation for the Doctrine of theFaith, which has in recent years be-come increasingly clear and consol-idated. Intended to be flexible, thismanual can be periodically updatedif the norms to which it refers aremodified, or if the praxis of theCongregation calls for further clari-fications and revisions. A choicewas made not to include in this Va -demecum guidelines for carrying outthe judicial penal process in the firstgrade of judgment, since it was felt

that the procedure set forth in thepresent Codes is sufficiently clearand detailed. It is hoped that thishandbook will assist Dioceses, Insti-tutes of Consecrated Life and Soci-eties of Apostolic Life, EpiscopalConferences and the various ecclesi-astical circumscriptions to better un-derstand and implement the require-ments of justice regarding a delictumg ra v i u s that constitutes for thewhole Church a profound and pain-ful wound that cries out for healing.

Presentation of the manual

CA R D. LADARIA, PA G E 4/5

Interview with Msgr Morandi

TORNIELLI, PA G E 4/5

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L’OSSERVATORE ROMANOWEEKLY EDITION

Unicuique suumIN ENGLISHNon praevalebunt

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page 2 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 17 July 2020, number 29

VAT I C A NBULLETIN

AUDIENCES

Friday, 10 July

Cardinal Angelo Becciu, Prefect ofthe Congregation for the Causes ofSaints

CHANGES IN EP I S C O PAT E

The Holy Father accepted the resig-nation of Bishop Stanisław Gębickifrom the office of Auxiliary Bishopof Wło cławek, Poland (8 July).The Holy Father appointed Fr Ân-gelo Ademir Mezzari, R C J, as Auxili-ary Bishop of the MetropolitanArchdiocese of São Paulo, Brazil, as-signing him the titular episcopal Seeof Fiorentino. Until now he hasserved as parish priest of Nossa Sen-hora das Graças in Bauru (8 July).

Bishop-elect Mezzari, 63, wasborn in Forquilhinha, Brazil. Amember of the Rogationists of theHeart of Jesus, he was ordained apriest on 22 December 1984. Heholds a degree in journalism and alicence in dogmatic theology.

The Holy Father appointed BishopGonzalo de Villa y Vásquez, S J, asMetropolitan Archbishop of Santi-ago de Guatemala, Guatemala. Un-til now he has served as Bishop ofSololá-Chimaltenango, Guatemala(9 July).

Archbishop de Villa y Vásquez,66, was born in Madrid, Spain. Amember of the Society of Jesus, hewas ordained a priest on 13 August1983. He was ordained a bishop on25 September 2004, subsequent tohis appointment as titular Bishop ofRotaria and Auxiliary of the Arch-diocese of Santiago de Guatemala.On 28 July 2007 he was appointedBishop of Sololá-Chimaltenango.

The Holy Father accepted the resig-nation of Bishop José Câmnate naBissign from his office as Bishop ofBissau, Guinea-Bissau (11 July).The Holy Father accepted the resig-nation of Bishop Ratko Perić fromhis office as Bishop of Mostar-Duvno and from the office ofApostolic Administrator ad nutumSanctae Sedis of Trebinje-Mrkan,Bosnia and Herzegovina (11 July).The Holy Father appointed BishopPetar Palić as Bishop of Mostar-Duvno and Apostolic Administratorad nutum Sanctae Sedis of Trebinje-

Mrkan. Until now he has served asBishop of Hvar, Croatia (11 July).

Bishop Palić, 48, was born inPriština, Kosovo. He was ordained apriest on 1 June 1996. He was or-dained a bishop on 30 April 2018,subsequent to his appointment asBishop of Hvar.

The Holy Father appointed BishopD ražen Kutleša as Coadjutor Arch-bishop of the Metropolitan Arch-diocese of Split-Makarska, Croatia.Until now he has served as Bishopof Poreč i Pula, Croatia (11 July).

Archbishop Kutleša, 51, was bornin Tomislavgrad, Bosnia andHerzegovina. He was ordained apriest on 29 June 1993. He was or-dained a bishop on 10 December2011, subsequent to his appointmentas Coadjutor Bishop of Poreč i Pula.On 14 June 2012 he was appointedBishop of Poreč i Pula.

The Holy Father appointed as Aux-iliary Bishop of the MetropolitanArchdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka,Fr Anton Ranjith Pillainayagam,from the clergy of the said Arch-diocese, assigning him the titularepiscopal See of Materiana. Untilnow he has served as vice-rector ofSaint Joseph’s College in Colombo

and director of the Tamil Theolog-ate (13 July).

Bishop-elect Pillainayagam, 53,was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Hewas ordained a priest on 16 Septem-ber 2000. He holds degrees in math-ematics, education and philosophy.

The Holy Father appointed BishopEdward Charles Malesic as Bishopof Cleveland, USA . Until now he hasserved as Bishop of Greensburg, USA(16 July).

Bishop Malesic, 59, was born inHarrisburg, USA . He was ordained apriest on 30 May 1987. He was or-dained a bishop on 13 July 2015,subsequent to his appointment asBishop of Greensburg.

VICAR APOSTOLIC

The Holy Father appointed Fr JesúsMaría Aristín Seco, C P, as VicarApostolic of the Apostolic Vicariateof Yurimaguas, Peru. Until now hehas served as Apostolic Administrat-or of the said vicariate (8 July).

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FORINTERRELIGIOUS DIALO GUE

The Holy Father appointed asMembers of the Pontifical Councilfor Interreligious Dialogue the fol-lowing: Cardinal Luis Antonio G.

Tagle, Prefect of the Congregationfor the Evangelization of Peoples;Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga,CSSp., Archbishop of Bangui; Car-dinal Louis-Marie LingMangkhanekhoun, IVD, VicarApostolic of Vientiane; Cardinal Ig-natius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo,Archbishop of Jakarta and MilitaryOrdinary for Indonesia; CardinalJean-Claude Höllerich, S J, Archbish-op of Luxembourg; and CardinalMichael Czerny, S J, Undersecretaryof the Section for Migrants andRefugees of the Dicastery for Pro-moting Integral Human Develop-ment; Archbishop Lawrence Hucu-lak, OSBM, of Winnipeg for Ukraini-ans; Archbishop Felix AnthonyMachado, Bishop of Vasai; Arch-bishop George Frendo, O P, of Tir-anë-Durrës; Archbishop Marco TinWin of Mandalay; Archbishop Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille; BishopPaul Yoshinao Otsuka of Kyōto;Archbishop Thomas Chung An-zuof Taipei; Bishop Raphy Manjaly ofAllahabad; Bishop Ambrogio Spre-afico of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino;Bishop Michael Joseph McKenna ofBathurst; Bishop William HannaShomali, titular of Lydda; BishopDenis Chidi Isizoh, titular of Legia;Bishop Patrick Joseph McKinney ofNottingham; Bishop James Massa,titular of Bardstown; ArchbishopPaul Desfarges, S J, of Alger; andBishop Joseph Đình Đúc Đao ofXuân Lôc (8 July).

PONTIFICAL ACADEMY OFSO CIAL SCIENCES

The Holy Father appointed as Or-dinary Members of the PontificalAcademy of Social Sciences the fol-lowing: Prof. Pedro Morandé Court,professor emeritus of sociology atthe Pontifical Catholic University ofChile; Prof. Mario Draghi, formerPresident of the European CentralBank; Prof. Kokunre AdetokunboAgbontaen Eghafona, professor ofsociology and anthropology at theUniversity of Benin, Nigeria (10 Ju-ly).

NECROLO GY

Bishop José Antonio Pérez Sánchez,OFM, Bishop emeritus of Nayar,Mexico, at age 72 (8 July)Bishop Edward Urban Kmiec, Bish-op emeritus of Buffalo, USA, at age84 (11 July)Bishop Camilo Lorenzo Iglesias,Bishop emeritus of Astorga, Spain,at age 79 (13 July)Archbishop Moses Costa, CSC, ofChattogram, Bangladesh, at age 69(13 July)Bishop Milan Šášik, CM, ofMukachevo, Ukraine, at age 67 (14July)

Congregation for the Causes of Saints

Promulgation of DecreesOn Friday, 10 July, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal An-gelo Becciu, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Dur-ing the audience, the Supreme Pontiff authorized the said Congregationto promulgate the Decrees regarding:

— the miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Ser-vant of God Maria Antonia Samà, lay woman, born on 2 March1875 in Sant’Andrea Jonio, Italy, and died there on 27 May 1953;

— the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Eusebio FrancescoChini (in the world: Eusebio Francisco Kino), professed priest ofthe Society of Jesus, born on 10 August 1645 in Segno, Italy, anddied in Magdalena, Mexico, on 15 March 1711;

— the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Mariano José deIbargüengoitia y Zuloaga, diocesan priest, co-founder of the Insti-tute of the Servants of Jesus of Charity, born on 8 September 1817in Bilbao, Spain, and died there on 31 January 1888;

— the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Maria Félix Torres,Foundress of the Company of the Saviour, born on 25 August 1907in Albelda, Spain, and died in Madrid, Spain, on 12 January 2001;

— the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Angiolino Bonetta,layman of the Association of Silent Workers of the Cross, born on18 September 1948 in Cigole, Italy, and died there on 28 January1963.

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number 29, Friday, 17 July 2020 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 3

Pope expresses closeness to Buenos Aires’“curas villeros” impacted by the virus

Pope Francis is close to the parishpriests who are carrying out theirministry in the poorest and mostdensely populated neighbourhoodsof Buenos Aires, and he prays inparticular for those who have beenaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic.The Pontiff wished to express hissolidarity to the priests in a videomessage sent on Thursday, 9 July, tothe “curas villeros” through BishopEduardo Horacio García of SanJusto.

“I want to be close to you in thismoment in which I know you ares t ru g g l i n g ”, the Holy Father says inthe video. Francis’ thoughts are forthe priests stricken by the virus:“Three of the priests who workamong you”, he notes, “are ill. Ithink primarily of Fr ‘Bachi’, the pi-oneer of Villa Palito, who laterworked in San Petersburgo, Puertade Hierro, in all those neighbour-hoods to which he has dedicated hislife. At this time he is struggling”.Pope Francis is referring to Fr Basi-licio Brítez, who has been hospital-

ized since 21 June at the San Camil-lo clinic in Buenos Aires after test-ing positive for Covid-19. He livesand performs his pastoral work inthe parish of San Roque González ycompañeros mártires of the Al-mafuerte neighbourhood. “He iss t ru g g l i n g ”, the Pontiff adds, “b e-cause he is not well. I want to saythat I am close to you, that I ampraying for you, that I am accompa-nying you at this time”.

The Pope then assures the ecclesi-al community’s solidarity with itspastors and, in particular, with the“curas villeros”, priests who are onthe front lines and who face theemergency caused by the pandemiceach day with all its difficulties andits many shortages. “All the Peopleof God”, he emphasizes, are “withtheir sick priests. It is the time tothank God for the witness of thosepriests, to pray for their health andto move forward”. Francis concludesthe video with a blessing and his re-quest that they pray for him as well.

Diocesan communities of Mumbai helping the poor inflicted with the Covid-19 virus

Witness of faith, hope and charityIn this particular moment of thehealthcare emergency since the startof the government-imposed lock-down, Catholic communities in theArchdiocese of Bombay have tire-lessly continued their great charit-able commitment to meet the needsof the poorest and the least, whosesocial or work situation has beenfurther aggravated.

Among the many activities pro-moted is the programme “Manna onWheels”, in which volunteers travelby automobile through the poorestareas to offer their support. The ini-tiative is organized by Saint Peter’sparish in the Bandra neighbour-hood, and is animated by faithfulwho help to satisfy the needs ofpeople suffering from hunger andliving on the streets of Bandra West,among them many children. Startedby a Catholic married couple(Richard Pereira and his wifeCanice) with Jesuit Fr GerardRodricks, the programme began

with the distribution of 25 boxedlunches on 30 March and still con-tinues. It has grown over time,thanks to the involvement of othervolunteers, in particular the youngpeople of Saint Peter’s parish andpeople from other religious com-munities. There are now some 14automobiles delivering 1,850 foodpackages each day. In total, morethan 40,000 meals have been de-livered, helping to satisfy the nutri-tional needs of migrant workers, thehomeless and others in need, thanksalso to over 200 donors who havecontributed more than $50,000.

Another similar initiative began inthe Holy Magi Church of Gorai-Culvem to help farmers and fisher-men in economic difficulty. Parishpriest Fr Edward Jacinto explainedto Fides that “Covid-19 has had animpact on people’s social, psycholo-gical and mental health. The mostaffected are migrants, domestic

workers, wage workers, small fisher-men who have also had problemswith survival. In the midst of thecrisis, the parish of the Holy Magisaw the difficulty and tried to givean answer”. Volunteers of the com-munity provide food and supplies topeople of other faiths, tribes, mi-grants, widows with the support of

local governments and other civil so-ciety organizations. For over threemonths some 80 young Catholicshave been “p a t ro l l i n g ” the territory24/7, creating an effective network ofs o l i d a r i t y.

Fr Mario Mendes, director of the“Center for Social Action”, an or-ganization of the Archdiocese ofBombay, explained that “several par-ishes, associations, movements of thelocal Church are feeding the hungry.Many associative realities and manyCatholic faithful are showing genu-ine courage and compassion. Thisspontaneously born charity, which isdoing good for thousands of peoplewho would otherwise be abandoned,is one of the most beautiful and en-couraging aspects in this time ofpandemic and social distancing. Thelove of Christ”, he concluded, “go esbeyond every barrier and reachesevery man. This is the testimonythat the Catholic Church in Indiaoffers today”.

The Holy Father donates2500 coronavirus tests to Gaza

Pope Francis has donated 2,500 Covid-19 tests to Gaza’s Ministry ofHealth, through the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. The testkits were delivered by Caritas Jerusalem and Fr Gabriel Romanelli of theSacred Family parish in Gaza. The donation is part of the initiative pro-moted by the emergency fund established by Pope Francis to help thecountries most impacted by the spread of the coronavirus. According toFr Romanelli, “the kits sent by the Pope will help to make more precisediagnoses and as soon as we received them we took them to the laborat-ory at the Ministry of Health. In fact, there is only one machine in all ofGaza that is able to perform the analysis”.

Pop e’s gift for the children aided byU N I TA L S I at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital

In order to help many children being treated in the paediatric oncologyward at Rome’s Gemelli Policlinico, U N I TA L S I , the Italian National Unionfor the Transportation of the Sick to Lourdes and International Shrines,is auctioning off an electric bicycle personally donated by Pope Francis.The initiative aims to offer “a unique experience of friendship, faith andsharing that only a pilgrimage to Lourdes can give”. The programme issponsored by U N I TA L S I ’s Roma-Lazio section which, on 31 May 2013, ac-companied 22 sick children to Casa Santa Marta to meet the Pope. Andwith the important gift of the electric bike — a model of the latest genera-tion by Piaggio — Francis wished to once again express his personalcloseness to U N I TA L S I ’s unique mission. Offers for the bicycle can be sub-mitted online at www.unitalsiromanalaziale.it.

Close to the victims of the pandemic

‘Curas villeros’ during a meeting on 24 June 2020

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number 29, Friday, 17 July 2020 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 4/5

Presentation of the Document by the Prefect

A text that will be keptup to date with contributions

from local ChurchesA manual to help bishops

and religious superiorsInterview with Archbishop Giacomo Morandi, Secretary of the Dicastery

The Penitential Liturgy celebrated on Saturday afternoon, 23 February 2019, during the Meeting on the Protection of Minors

CO N G R E G AT I O N FOR THE DO CTRINE OF THE FAITH: A new ‘Va d e m e c u m ’ for handling cases of sexual abuse of minors by clerics

nesses. But that does not mean that we cannot arriveat certainty. There are procedural tools that allowthis: the reliability of the persons involved, the con-sistency of the facts declared, the possible seriality ofthe crimes, the presence of documents containingevidence, etc. It must be said that on several occa-sions the accused, aware in conscience of the evilcommitted, admits to it in court.

How can we avoid that an innocent person be unjustlyaccused and condemned?

When the facts are not sufficiently proven, theprinciple of in dubio pro reo applies. This principleunderpins our legal culture. In these cases, ratherthan declaring innocence, one declares not guilty.

Why can a cleric, when accused of abuse, immediately askfor dispensation from celibacy?

That is true: when a cleric recognizes the crime andhis unfitness to continue in ministry, he can ask to bedispensed. Thus, he remains a priest (the Sacramentcannot be revoked or lost) but no longer a cleric: heleaves the clerical state not by resigning but by mak-ing a conscious request addressed to the Holy Father.This is a different way of achieving the same resultregarding the juridical condition of the person: aformer cleric who can never again present himself asa minister of the Church.

One final question: Can you provide some data on thedimension of the phenomenon? Are the new norms onlybringing to light cases from the past, or is the scourge ofchild abuse still present within the Church?

The phenomenon is present on all continents, andwe are still witnessing reports emerge of old cases,sometimes many years later. Certainly, some crimesare also recent. But when this phase of past casesemerging comes to an end, I am convinced (and weall hope so) that the phenomenon we are witnessingtoday can recede. It must be said, however, that thepath of truth and justice is one of the Church’s waysof response. Necessary, certainly, but not sufficient.Without adequate formation, careful discernment,and serene but decisive prevention measures, thiswound we are witnessing today will not be able toheal.

The Cardinal Prefect of the Congregationfor the Doctrine of the Faith presents thenew Vademecum for handling cases of sexu-al abuse of minors by clerics. The followingis a translation from the original Italian.

LUIS F. LADARIA FERRER, SJ

The “Va d e m e c u m on certain pointsof procedure in treating cases ofsexual abuse of minors committed

by clerics” is the result of numerous re-quests sent by Bishops, Ordinaries, Su-periors of Institutes of consecrated lifeand Societies of apostolic life to theCongregation for the Doctrine of theFaith, to have at their disposal a toolthat could help them in the delicate taskof correctly conducting cases regardingdeacons, priests and bishops when theyare accused of the sexual abuse ofminors. Recent history attests to greaterattention on the part of the Church re-garding this scourge. The course ofjustice cannot alone exhaust theC h u rc h ’s response, but it is necessary inorder to come to the truth of the facts.This is a complex path that leads into adense forest of norms and proceduresbefore which Ordinaries and Superiorssometimes find themselves lacking thecertainty of how to proceed.

Thus, the Va d e m e c u m was primarilywritten for them, as well as for legal pro-fessionals who help them handle thecases. This is not a normative text. Nonew law is being promulgated, nor arenew norms being issued. It is, instead,an “instruction manual” that intends tohelp whoever has to deal with concretecases from the beginning to the end,that is, from the first notification of apossible crime (notitia de delicto) to thedefinitive conclusion of the case (re siudicata). Between these two points thereare periods of time that must be ob-served, steps to complete, communica-tion to be given, decisions to take.

The request for this tool was formal-ized during the global Meeting of thePresidents of the Episcopal Conferenceson the Protection of Minors in theChurch (21-24 February 2019). On thatoccasion, the Holy Father provided 21Reflection Points to direct the work. Thefirst of these points states: “To prepare apractical handbook indicating the stepsto be taken by authorities at key mo-ments when a case emerges.” The pro-posal was picked up and reaffirmed bythe participants. Thus, during the finalpress conference, the preparation of sucha text was included among the concreteproposals to be implemented.

The sources for this text are both jur-idical and practical. On the normativelevel, the principal references are the cur-rent Code of Canon Law, the SubstantiveNorms and procedural norms regardingdelicts (crimes) reserved to the Congreg-ation for the Doctrine of the Faith pro-mulgated by the Motu Proprio S a c ra -mentorum Sanctitatis Tutela (2001, up-dated in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI),and the more recent Motu Proprio Vo sestis lux mundi (2019).

Alongside these normative texts is an-other source for the Va d e m e c u m : thepraxis of the Congregation, maturedover the course of the years, particularlyfrom 2001 on, in which the first normsappeared that were specifically dedicatedto the more serious crimes. The Con-gregation availed itself of the contribu-tion of numerous canonists, both intern-al and external to the Congregation,from local and diocesan tribunals, who,through the years, have conducted in-vestigations and processes by mandate ofthe Congregation. At this point, thispraxis has been consolidated and ma-t u re d .

This version of the Va d e m e c u m nowbeing released is designated as version“1.0”, a number that indicates future up-dates. Being a “manual,” it will need tofollow the eventual developments of thenormative canons, and will need to beadapted. It will also need to respond tonew challenges that experience will offerto the juridical treatment of the cases inquestion. Lastly, it will need to treasurethe considerations that arrive from thevarious ecclesiastical realities: dioceses,institutes, ecclesiastical faculties, coun-selling centres set up at diocesan andinter-diocesan levels. Their qualifiedcontribution will help to correct, integ-rate, specify and clarify those pointsthat, as is only natural, require deeperre f l e c t i o n .

In an interview with Vatican Media released onThursday, 16 July, Archbishop Morandi describes the ‘Va -demecum’ as a manual to help guide bishops and reli-gious superiors in dealing with cases of reported abuse.The path of truth and justice must be pursued, he says,but the wound of abuse will not be healed “without ad-equate formation” and “decisive prevention measures”. Thefollowing is a translation of the complete interview fromthe original Italian.

ANDREA TORNIELLI

Who prepared this document, and why has it taken solong to reach publication after it was first announced inFebruary 2019?

It was prepared by the Congregation, thanks aboveall to the contribution of the Discipline Office, whichin recent years has acquired particular experience re-garding the cases in question. The apparently longdrafting time is due to extensive analysis work, notonly within the Congregation but also beyond it,with experts in the field, other Dicasteries, and inparticular with the Secretariat of State.

What is the purpose of this Vademecum, and to whom isit addressed?

I prefer to define it, along with the Prefect of ourCongregation, as a “manual”. It is not, therefore, anormative text, but a tool at the disposal of Bishops,Religious Superiors, ecclesiastical tribunals, legal pro-fessionals, and also those in charge of counsellingcentres set up by Bishops’ Conferences. Given thecomplexity of norms and best-practices, this guideaims to point out a path, to assist in not getting lost.

Does this document contain new indications with respectto previous ones?

No. No new rules are being promulgated. The realnovelty, however, is that for the first time the proced-ure is described in an organized way, from the firstreport of a possible crime to the definitive conclusionof the cause, uniting the existing norms and the prax-is of the Congregation. The norms are well-known,while the practice of the Congregation, that is, thepractical way of applying the norms, is known onlyby those who have already dealt with these cases.

Is the Vademecum a closed and set document, or will itbe updated?

Precisely because it is a tool, a manual, it lends it-self to continuous updating. Updates will be madebased both on possible future changes in penal law,and on clarifications and requests that may comefrom local Ordinaries and legal practitioners. In thissense, the version that comes out today is called “Ve r -sion 1.0”, which can be updated. Any assistance inimproving it is a welcome service to justice.

What cases fall under the competence of your Congrega-tion?

In general, the crimes reserved to our Congrega-tion are all those against the faith, and only the mostserious (in the language now in use we commonlyspeak of delicta graviora) against morality and the ad-ministration of the Sacraments. The Va d e m e c u m ,however, refers to only one of these crimes, which art-icle 6 of the Motu Proprio Sacramentorum Sanctitatis

Tu t e l a applies to a cleric when he commits an offenseinvolving a minor that violates the Sixth Command-ment of the Decalogue. These are the cases that makethe most headlines in the media, also because of theirseriousness.

When does the Church consider it a matter of abuse of“m i n o rs ”? How has the age limit changed?

In the criminal sphere, a minor is a person whohas not yet reached the age of 18. Other age distinc-tions, which refer to ages below 18, are not relevant inthis sense. The Latin Code of Canon Law, in can.1395 § 2, still speaks of 16 years of age, but the MotuProprio Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela p ro m u l g a t e dby John Paul II in 2001 raised the age to 18. Cases of“abuse” (as just said, an ‘offense involving a minorthat violates the Sixth Commandment of the Deca-logue’) are often easy to delineate, for example sexualrelations as such, or other instances of physical con-tact that are not properly “re l a t i o n s ” but have a clearsexual intent. Other times, however, cases are not soeasy to delineate, involving nuances that must beevaluated to determine if they are delicta graviora inthe juridical sense according to laws in force at thetime.

What is most striking is the change in attitude towardsanonymous complaints, which were once simply thrownout. What has changed, and why should an anonymouscomplaint still be taken into consideration?

This is a delicate question. It has become clear thata peremptory attitude in one sense or another is notconducive to the search for truth and justice. Howcan a complaint which, even if anonymous, containscertain evidence (e.g. photos, films, messages, au-dio...), or at least concrete and plausible clues of thecommission of a crime, be thrown out? Ignoring itjust because it is not signed would be unjust. On theother hand, how can all reports of abuse be accepted,even generic ones and those without a sender? In thiscase, it would be inappropriate to proceed. It istherefore necessary to carry out a careful discernment.Generally speaking, we do not fully credit anonym-ous complaints, but we also do not forego a prioritheir initial evaluation, in order to see if there are ob-jective and obvious determinants, those which we callfumus delicti in legal language.

How much have the most blatant cases of recent years in-fluenced the development of this document and other re-cent texts on the subject?

More publicized cases are treated in the same wayas the lesser known cases, always according to therule of law. We do not have “subjects” before us, butpeople: the accused, alleged victims, possible wit-nesses.... In general, there is always a picture of par-ticular suffering. Certainly, media attention regardingthe issues in question has multiplied in recent years,and this is a further stimulus to the Congregation totry to do justice in an ever more correct and effectiveway. For this reason, also, the Va d e m e c u m will be ofhelp.

Are Bishops and Religious Superiors obliged to reportnews of alleged abuses committed by clerics even to civilauthorities?

On this point the national Bishops’ C o n f e re n c e shave prepared guidelines that take into account local

regulations. It is impossible to give a single response.In some countries the law already provides for thisobligation, in others it does not. In fact, the MotuProprio Vos estis lux mundi promulgated last year byPope Francis expresses in these terms that theChurch acts in cases of this kind “without prejudiceto the rights and obligations established in each placeby state laws, particularly those concerning any re-porting obligations to the competent civil authorities”(Art. 19). On the other hand, paragraph 17 of the Va -demecum also states: “Even in cases where there is noexplicit legal obligation to do so, the ecclesiastical au-thorities should make a report to the competent civilauthorities if this is considered necessary to protectthe person involved or other minors from the dangerof further criminal acts.”

What is an “extrajudicial penal process”? When and whyis this path pursued?

It is a procedure provided for by the two Codes ofCanon Law in force. It is a more expeditious route.At the conclusion of the extrajudicial penal process,the Ordinary (or one of his delegates), assisted bytwo assessors, comes to a decision on whether or notthe accused is guilty and (if guilty, with moral cer-tainty) on the proportionate penalty to be imposed.There are pros and cons in this procedure, which isalso known as an “administrative” procedure. The ex-trajudicial path is pursued when, for example: thefacts are clear; the criminal activity reported is alreadyconfirmed by the accused; the Ordinary asks that thisbe done for well-founded reasons; the Congregationconsiders that it is appropriate on the basis of theparticular circumstances (qualified personnel, geo-graphy, timeliness, etc.). Naturally, the right of de-fense of the accused must always be absolutely guar-anteed. For this reason, also, the extrajudicial processin Latin law provides for up to three possible degreesof appeal, in order to ensure as much as possible theobjectivity of the judgment.

We are talking about crimes that are usually committedwithout the presence of witnesses. How is it possible toverify the validity of the charges to ensure that the guiltyparties are punished and can no longer harm others?

We use trial tools which are commonly employedto verify the reliability of evidence. Many crimes, notonly those in question, are committed without wit-

Visit www.vatican.vato access the complete text of the Va d e m e c u m .

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page 6 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 17 July 2020, number 29

Cardinal Turkson’s message for Sea Sunday

Upholding seafarers’ labour and human rights

Generally, Sea Sunday is celebrated on thesecond Sunday of July. It is a day setaside to remember and pray in a specialway for the people who work at sea, faraway from their countries, loved ones andlocal Churches. We are aware that,because of the difficult situation created bythe global spread of Covid-19, somenational Stella Maris have decided topostpone the celebration of Sea Sunday toa later date. For this reason, this messagecan be used anytime.

Prayer for Sea Sunday

CONTINUED ON PA G E 7

On the occasion of Sea Sunday, which took place on12 July, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Hu-man Development sent a message of gratitude tochaplains, volunteers, friends and supporters of theStella Maris, recalling the difficult work that sea-farers carry out around the world at this time of thehealth emergency caused by Covid-19. The following isthe English text of the message, signed by the Prefectof the Dicastery, Cardinal Peter Kodwo AppiahTurkson, and the prayer of the Dicastery inspired bythe message.

The celebration of this year’s Sea Sunday shouldhave been a joyous one in view of the Octobercentenary celebration in Glasgow — Scotland(now postponed to 2021). Rather it is going to becelebrated in an exceptional and challengingtime, which Pope Francis has expressed in thesewords: “Like the disciples in the Gospel we were

In this unprecedented situation crewmembers,who had already spent between six to ten monthson board, had to suffer the great inconvenience ofhaving their employment period extended, withthe consequent increase of personal fatigue andprolonged absence from loved ones and the com-fort of homes. Estimates suggest that, everymonth, 100,000 seafarers who finish their con-tracts and look forward to flying home were pre-vented from doing so by the outbreak of Covid-19and the subsequent closure of borders and flights.Accordingly, thousands of seafarers who wereready to leave for a new contract were stranded inhotels and dormitories around the globe, reducedto beggarly dependence on charitable institutionsfor their basic needs such as foods, toiletries, simcards, etc.

Because of the absence of shore leave, and re-stricted port entry for ships visiting, seafarers on

a long and dramatic journey have to undergoquarantine or suffer discrimination or stigmatiza-tion in their own country, because they are con-sidered as carriers of the corona virus.

Regrettably, we have also to deplore the factthat while seafarers endeavor to keep the supplychains moving with dedication and at the cost ofhuge personal sacrifices, some unscrupulous ship-owners, crewing agencies and managers use theexcuse of the pandemic to dismiss their obliga-tions to guarantee their labour rights, includingproper wages and the promotion of safe and se-cure working environments for all of them.

According to a report the first three months of2020 have seen a 24% increase in piracy attacksand attempted attacks over the same period in2019. Apparently, the coronavirus is not stoppingarmed robberies which continue to be a threatfor seafarers, adding further anxiety and appre-hension to lives which are already lived under thepressure of uncertainties caused by the coronav i ru s .

To all of the experiences above of the seafarers,which describe a dangerous form of livelihood,we must now consider the real threat of losingeven this precarious livelihood, because it willmean for many the total loss of income and inab-ility to assume social and domestic responsibilit-ies, such as payment of utility bills, education ofdependants, welfare of family.

In the light of the above, the celebration of SeaSunday especially by Christians should invite usall to exercising a “preferential option for thep o or” seafarers, a pledge to live in solidarity withthem. Pope John Paul II called solidarity a “vir-tue”, and defined it as an “unfailing commitmentto the wellbeing of another”. This should be ourattitude towards these seafarers; for, people whoare not poor, just because they constantly exposetheir lives to danger, but do so, precisely, to en-sure the movements of goods for a healthy globaleconomy, really deserve our esteem and gratitude.

For this reason, we would like to re-launch themessage of the IMO General-Secretary KitackLim: “You are not alone. You are not forgotten”.

You are not alone: the Stella Maris Chaplainsand volunteers are with you wherever you are, notnecessarily at the top of the gang way but with a“virtual chaplaincy” keeping in touch with youthrough social media, always ready to answer

caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm.We have realized that we are on the same boat, all ofus fragile and disoriented, but at the same time im-portant and needed, all of us called to row together,each of us in need of comforting the other. On thisboat… are all of us” (Extraordinary Moment ofPrayer, 27 March 2020).

Our heart is going out to the relatives andfriends of the countless victims (among themmany seafarers) of the coronavirus and we feeldistressed and disoriented for the uncertaintiesabout the future.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought many coun-tries to a complete shut down and to enforce anextended lockdown for many businesses in an ef-fort to prevent the spread of the virus. However,the maritime industry continued its operation,adding a multitude of challenges to the alreadyproblematic lives of the seafarers, and puttingthem on the front line in fighting against thec o ro n a v i ru s .

Vessels that are transporting almost 90% ofproducts that are badly needed to carry on ournormal lives in these taxing circumstances such asmedication and medical equipment, remain atseas. Before it came to a complete stop, the cruiseindustry struggled to convince governments andport authorities to open their ports where theycould safely disembark their guests. At the sametime, they frantically tried to find ways to containthe spread of infections among passengers andcrew in ships that became incubators for the Cov-id-19.

Despite the fundamental role that seafarers playfor the global economy, a role whose great signi-ficance and need organizations and institutionstried to uphold during the Covid-19 crisis, currentand prevailing legislations and policies simplyglanced over them. That is why Sea Sunday is anopportunity for us to revisit the role of seafarers,and to recall some of the issues that negatively af-fect the seafarer’s life and which are aggravatedby the suspicion and fear of contamination.

board the vessels suffer isolation, severe physicaland mental stress that brings many crews to theverge of desperation and, unfortunately, commit-ting suicide.

We have reports of many seafarers with seriousand potentially life treating medical conditionswhich are unrelated to Covid-19. These still needemergency medical care in land-based nationalhospitals, which unfortunately were denied themor delayed until they had to be carried on stretch-ers. Furthermore, seafarers who return home after

Holy Virgin Mary, sign of the maternal face ofGod,with filial confidence we turn to youin the current pandemic.Keep in your Immaculate Heart the seafarers,the fishermen and their families,who with their work are ensuring the humanfamily with food and other basic needs.

Sign of the closeness of the Father,support them in their trials and protect themfrom all dangers: isolation and severephysical and mental stress, long periodsspent on board ships, distance from theirfamily, friends and from their own country,fear of contamination, piracy attacks andattempted attacks, armed robberies.

Sign of the mercy of the Son,help Stella Maris chaplains and volunteers tolisten to the people of the sea,

trying to respond to their material andspiritual needs,standing by their side, raising their concerns,upholding their labour rights andpreventing discrimination.

Sign of the fruitfulness of the Spirit andadvocate of seafarers,bring unscrupulous ship-owners, crewingagencies and managersback to the way of justice who,using the excuse of the pandemic,dismiss their obligations towards seafarers.Let us stand in solidarity with those whohave lost their income.

Sign of consolation and sure hope,tenderly embrace coronavirus victims,especially the seafarers who committedsuicide.

Star of the Sea, pray for us. Am e n !

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number 29, Friday, 17 July 2020 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 7

Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, 22 July

A historian investigates her storyAs of 22 July 2016, at the behest of Pope Francis, the Church no longer celeb-rates the memorial but rather the liturgical Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene (seeDecree in ORE n. 24, 2016). Recently published by Il Mulino, the latest book byhistorian and theologian Adriana Valerio, “Maria Maddalena — Equivoci, stor-ie, rappresentazioni” (Mary Magdalene — Misunderstandings, Narratives, Rep-re sentations), is dedicated to the Saint. The following is a translation of a pas-sage from her book.

Sea Sunday

your call, to lend you a compas-sionate ear and praying for yourwellbeing and the safety of yourfamilies.

You are not forgotten: the StellaMaris Chaplains and volunteerswill be with you in the nextmonths when your resilience willbe put to test and we will try torespond to your material andspiritual needs. We will be alwaysat your side, raising your con-cerns, upholding your labour andhuman rights and preventing dis-crimination.

You are not alone. You are notf o rg o t t e n : because this comingmonth of August the universalprayer intention that expressesthe great concern for humanityand the mission of the Church ofPope Francis, is dedicated to Th eMaritime World. All the Catholiccommunities around the worldwill be invited to pray for all thosewho work and live from the sea,among them sailors, fishers andtheir families.

We entrust to Mary, Star of theSea, the wellbeing of the peopleof the sea, the commitment anddedication of the Chaplains andvolunteers, and we pray OurLady to protect us from alldangers, especially from the evilof Covid-19.

C a rd i n a l PETER A. TU R KS O N

P re f e c t

CONTINUED FROM PA G E 6

Hagia Sophia from museum to mosqueTurkish Council of State moves despite appeals of Christian representatives

The status of the renowned Hagia Sophia — establishedas a Byzantine Christian basilica (inagurated in 537 underEmperor Justinian) as the Greek Orthodox PatriarchalSee, which then became a Catholic cathedral, then amosque (when the Ottomans conquered Constantinoplein 1453, re-baptizing the city as Istanbul), and then a mu-seum — is to be changed back to a mosque once again.On 10 July — after a decision by the Council of State toannul the 1934 decree by which Mustafa Kemal Atatürk,the founding father of modern Turkey, transformed thestructure into a museum — the President of the Republic,Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, signed a provision decreeing thetransfer of management of the Byzantine site from theMinistry of Culture to the presidency of Religious Af-fairs, converting it to the Hagia Sophia mosque. In aspeech to the nation, the Turkish head of state an-nounced that on Friday, 24 July, the first Muslim prayerwould be held there. The petition to the Council ofState was filed in 2016 by a small local Islamic associ-ation for the protection of historic monuments.

In the days that followed, there were many appeals,especially from the Orthodox, asking that Hagia Sophia

remain a museum. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholo-mew, Archbishop of Constantinople, admonished thatits return as a mosque would “push millions of Christi-ans around the world against Islam”. As he describedthe role of Hagia Sophia as a centre of life “in whichEast and West embrace”, he cautioned that converting itback into a place of Islamic worship “will cause a breakbetween these two worlds” . In the twenty-first century,Bartholomew emphasized, it is “absurd and harmful thatHagia Sophia, from a place that now allows the twopeoples to meet us and admire its greatness, can againbecome a reason for contrast and confrontation”. TheRussian Orthodox Church, which through PatriarchKirill had launched a heartfelt appeal, received the de-cision with “deep pain”. Metropolitan Hilarion, head ofthe Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for ExternalChurch Relations, described the situation as a “slap inthe face of the Orthodox Church”, while church spokes-man Vladimir Legoida stated to Interfax that “the con-cern of millions of Christians were not heard”. Arch-priest Nikolai Balashov, deputy head of External ChurchRelations, noted that “this is an event that may have ser-ious consequences for the entire human civilization”.

From Washington to Brussels and Athens: many triedto stop the rift. Even UNESCO is deeply upset by Tur-key’s decision, which changes the “universal value ofthis exceptional heritage” which is a “powerful symbolfor dialogue”. The UN agency also stressed that coun-tries “have an obligation to ensure that modifications donot affect the Outstanding Universal Value of inscribedsites on their territories”, noting that “UNESCO must begiven prior notice of any such modifications, which, ifnecessary, are then examined by the World HeritageCommittee”.

Erdoğan has responded to critics by invoking nationalsovereignty and assuring that the doors of Hagia Sophiawill continue to be open to all, Muslims and non-Muslims, as they are in all mosques.Hagia Sophia in Instanbul

women church world women church world women church world

ADRIANA VALERIO

The disciples’ recollections, includ-ing those of the women who fol-lowed Jesus — with different out-comes depending on who transmit-ted these memories and the specificsituations of the groups of reference— have merged into the differentwritten redactions that gave rise tothe Gospels. The stories of the Pas-sion, which are very different fromeach other, refer to a double experi-ence, the discovery of the emptytomb and the post-Easter appari-tions, but they do not always con-verge on the role and emotions thatthe individual characters played andfelt. However, in all the Easter nar-ratives it is women who are presen-

ted as the first witnesses of theempty tomb (...)

At the head of the female group isMagdalene, and she is described ashaving different approaches. InMark, she flees in fear — togetherwith Mary, the mother of James, andSalome — before the “apparitions ofangels” that attest to the Resurrec-tion, and is silent about what hashappened (16:1-8); in Matthew, to-gether with “the other Mary”, sherecognizes the Risen One and runsto announce it to the other disciples(28:1-8); in Luke her testimony isconsidered unreliable (24:1-12). John,more than anyone else, pays specialattention to her and places her atthe centre of faith in the Risen One(...) The fourth evangelist, in saying

that “Mary stood weeping outsidethe tomb, and as she wept” (20:11),emphasizes how she was left alonecrying in front of the empty tomb(...) Only by hearing herself calledby name — “Mary!” — could she re-cognize the voice of the Master, whoappeared in the garden in the guiseof a gardener (...)

Jesus said to her, “Do not holdme, for I have not yet ascended tothe Father; but go to my brethrenand say to them, I am ascending tomy Father and your Father, to myGod and your God”. Mary Mag-dalene immediately went toannounce this to the disciples: “Ihave seen the Lord” and also whathe had told her (John 20:16-18).This narrative is a powerful symbol-ic reminder of that search for thebeloved one, who was lost, foundand kept. This is celebrated in theSong of Songs (3:1-4) and formsthe background to this dramaticand passionate encounter. Maryhere embodies the ideal type of dis-ciple who sees, recognizes, witnessesand announces. The Risen One, in

fact, appears to her personally, andin breaking free of all restraint,sends her as the Living One’s wit-ness to the community of discipleswho have now become her“b re t h re n ”. We find ourselves in thepresence of a true and properapostolic mandate.

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page 8 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 17 July 2020, number 29

ANGELUS

“I think of Hagia Sophia, and I am very saddened”, PopeFrancis said at the end of the Angelus on Sunday, 12 July,referring to Turkey’s decision to convert Istanbul’s museumcomplex back into a mosque. Earlier, the Holy Father hadcommented on the day’s Gospel Reading on the Parable of theSower. The following is a translation of his reflection which heshared in Italian.

The Pope thanks those who are close to the sick in this time of pandemic

Saddened over Hagia SophiaDear Brothers and Sisters,Good morning!In this Sunday's Gospel passage(cf. Mt 13:1-23), Jesus tells a greatcrowd the Parable — that we allknow well — of the Sower, whocasts seeds over four differenttypes of terrain. The Word ofGod, symbolized by the seeds, isnot an abstract Word, but ratherChrist himself, the Word of theFather who became flesh inMary's womb. Embracing theWord of God therefore, meansembracing the personage ofChrist; of Christ himself.

There are several different waysto receive the Word of God. Wemay do so like a path, wherebirds immediately come and eatthe seeds. This would be distrac-tion, a great danger of our time.Beset by lots of small talk, bymany ideologies, by continuousopportunities for distraction in-side and outside the home, wecan lose our zest for silence, forreflection, for dialogue with theLord, to the point that we risklosing our faith, not receiving theWord of God, as we are seeingeverything, distracted byeverything, by worldly things.

Another possibility: we may re-ceive the Word of God like rocky

ground, with little soil. There theseeds spring up quickly, but theyalso soon wither away, becausethey are unable to sink roots toany depth. This is the image ofthose who receive the Word ofGod with momentary enthusiasm,which however, remains superfi-cial; it does not assimilate theWord of God. In this way, at thefirst difficulty, such as a discom-fort or disturbance in life, thatstill-feeble faith dissolves, as theseed that falls among the rockswithers.

We can also — a third possibil-ity that Jesus mentions in the par-able — receive the Word of Godlike ground where thorny bushesgrow. And the thorns are the de-ceit of wealth, of success, ofworldly concerns.... There, theWord grows a little, but becomeschoked, it is not strong, and itdies or does not bear fruit.

Lastly — the fourth possibility— we may receive it like goodsoil. Here, and here alone doesthe seed take root and bear fruit.The seed fallen upon this fertilesoil represents those who hear theWord, embrace it, safeguard it intheir heart and put it into prac-tice in everyday life.

This Parable of the Sower issomewhat the ‘mother’ of all par-ables, because it speaks aboutlistening to the Word. It remindsus that the Word of God is aseed which in itself is fruitful andeffective; and God scatters iteverywhere, paying no mind towaste. Such is the heart of God!Each one of us is ground onwhich the seed of the Word falls;no one is excluded! The Word isgiven to each one of us. We canask ourselves: what type of terrainam I? Do I resemble the path,the rocky ground, the bramblebush? If we want, with the graceof God, we can become goodsoil, ploughed and carefully cul-tivated, to help ripen the seed ofthe Word. It is already present inour heart, but making it fruitfuldepends on us; it depends on theembrace that we reserve for thisseed.

Often one is distracted by toomany interests, by too many en-ticements, and it is difficult todistinguish, among the manyvoices and many words, that ofthe Lord, the only one that makesus free. This is why it is import-ant to accustom oneself to listen-ing to the Word of God, to read-ing it. And I return once more tothat advice: always keep a handy

copy of the Gospel with you, apocket edition of the Gospel, inyour pocket, in your purse … andthen, read a short passage everyday, so that you become used toreading the Word of God, under-standing well the seed that Godoffers you, and thinking withwhat soil do I receive it.

May the Virgin Mary, perfectmodel of good and fertile soil,help us, with her prayer, to be-come willing soil without thornsor rocks, so that we may beargood fruit for ourselves and forour brothers and sisters.

After praying the Angelus, the HolyFather continued:

Dear brothers and sisters, the In-ternational Day of the Sea fallson this second Sunday in July. Iextend warm greetings to allthose who work at sea, especiallythose who are far from their lovedones and their country. I greet allthose who gathered this morningat the port of Civitavecchia-Tar-quinia for the Eucharistic Celeb-ration.

And the sea carries me a littlefarther away in my thoughts: toIstanbul. I think of HagiaSophia, and I am very saddened.

I greet all of you, the faithfulfrom Rome and pilgrims fromvarious countries, in particular,the families from the FocolariMovement. I greet with gratitudethe representatives of the PastoralMinistry for Health from theDiocese of Rome, thinking of themany priests, women and men re-ligious and lay people who havebeen, and remain, beside the sick,in this time of pandemic. Thankyou! Thank you for what youhave done, and for what you aredoing. Thank you!

I wish everyone a happySunday, Please do not forget topray for me. Enjoy your lunch.Ar r i v e d e rc i !