Inside the Vatican magazine September-October 2023

INSIDE THE

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 $5 / EUR 5 / £3.30

30 YEARS

VATICAN WyD LisBon 2023

Francis to the young:

Photo - KATARZYNA ARTYMIAK

Love is at the center” ““L

NEW CARDINALS FOR A NEW CATHOLIC DOCTRINE

What Is Christianity ?

The Last Writings of Benedict XVI

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his final work by Benedict XVI takes up an array of themes close to his heart: the Christian faith’s relationship with other religions, especially Judaism and Islam; the theology and reform of the liturgy; the priesthood; the saints; the Eucharist; the travesty of abuse; the beauty of nature; Italian and German culture; and much more.

With prophetic insight into our times, Benedict XVI warns of a “radical manipulation of man” in the name of tolerance, insisting that the only “authentic counterweight to every form of intolerance” is Christ himself—and Christ crucified. He also pays tribute to some giant figures of Christianity who have been his guiding stars, including Pope John Paul II, the 20th-century German Jesuit martyr, Fr. Alfred Delp, and the silent carpenter St. Joseph, his patron saint.

This book is a frank spiritual testament from a theological master, a churchman who loved the faith of simple Christians but who always stood ready, even in his last days, to dialogue about every aspect of human life—in love and in truth.

WCSTH . . . Sewn Hardcover, $24.95

“May all who draw from Pope Benedict’s last book come closer to Jesus Christ, whom he knew to be the definitive revelation of God in human history. ” — Cardinal Robert Sarah, Author, The Power of Silence

“ For decades I have treasured every word published by this man. These last words are among his greatest.”

— Scott Hahn, Author, Rome Sweet Home

“ The texts in this volume—in their clarity of expression, felicity of style, and depth of insight— remind us how much we miss Pope Benedict XVI. Anyone who loves theology and good writing will delight in this collection.” — Bishop Robert Barron, Founder, Word on Fire Catholic Ministries

Other Important Works of Benedict XVI

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THE SPIRIT OF THE LITURGY

A profound, beautifully written work on the liturgy, this Commemorative Edition includes a new foreword by Cardinal Robert Sarah, and the full text of the classic work of the same title by Romano Guardini, which helped Ratzinger rediscover the beauty and grandeur of the liturgy.

SPLCEP . . . Sewn Softcover, $19.95

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THE DIVINE PROJECT

A forgotten box of cassette tapes was found after 30 years in an Austrian abbey, and on these remarkable recordings, the voice of Joseph Ratzinger walks us through the thick terrain of contemporary theology. With his profound insights on creation and the Church, this treasure is an accessible tour of the whole theological world of Joseph Ratzinger. DVPP . . . Sewn Softcover, $18.95

BENEDICT XVI

Servant of Love Through stunning photographs, glorious art, insightful commentary by Benedict, and others, this deluxe special commemorative book celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of Pope Benedict XVI. Lavishly illustrated.

BSLP . . . Large Deluxe Softcover, $17.95

www.ignatius.com P.O. Box 1339, Ft. Collins, CO 80522

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EDITORIAL by Robert Moynihan

Giving Stones Instead of Bread The Church in the post-Vatican II period has, in many ways, downplayed teaching the doctrine of the Faith in favor of teaching social justice and humanitarian outreach. This impoverishes us all, but particularly the young

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?”—Matthew 7:9 “We have a high percentage of Catholics on paper, but we haven’t done a very good job of forming our people well in the faith.” —Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, 67, archbishop of San Francisco, California since 2012, in an interview with Fox News Digital published August 10, 2023 As children, we were taught in catechism class the “old-fashioned” answer to the inescapable question “Why am I here?” It was, “To know, love and serve God and be happy with Him forever in Heaven.”

But no more. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, California, USA, lamented recently that “we haven’t done a very good job of forming our people well in the faith and helping them understand the faith and love it and live it out.”

He went on: “Unfortunately, there are a lot of Catholics who don’t really follow everything our Church teaches because they probably were never taught what the Church really does teach and the wisdom underlying it. So their lives aren’t informed by the Faith.”

So the teaching of the faith, the transmission of the faith, is of supreme importance. We seem unaware that real happiness here on earth actually comes with virtue and holiness — which come to us through our Faith. Yet we seem to be denying this real happiness to our children. Why are we giving them stones when they ask for bread?

And it is ultimately eternal salvation — the destiny of blessedness with God desired by Christ for each human being — that is at stake. In each life, everything, every thought, word and deed, should aim for this outcome.

Will the new cardinals in the Church (profiled in this issue) remember this? In particular, will Cardinal-designate Victor Fernández, the Pope’s choice to lead the dicastery that protects and transmits the Faith (profiled in our Lead Story), also remember this? Will he be vigilant in warning against those ideas and ideologies that draw individuals and society away from Christ and His Gospel? We hope and pray that he will be vigilant, as were his predecessors before him.

Roughly a month after Pope Francis named his 21 new cardinals in early July, another event took place: World Youth Day, August 1-6, in Lisbon, Portugal. (Our cover photo captures two young attendees holding the South Korean flag.) The gathering, first instituted during the pontificate of John Paul II in 1985, was in many ways a beautiful and encouraging sign that, despite the intense secularization and even nihilism of the “youth culture,” faith is not dead among the young.

Yet, there were also disturbing signs that once again, the Church is failing to nourish the young with the substance of Catholic truth. Commentator Austin Ruse writes of his daughter’s experience at World Youth Day: “Lucy looked forward to hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament and then maybe a few hours of

sleep… And then, instead of all-night adoration, they brought out the Blessed Sacrament and then took Him away after a mere 30 minutes. Lucy cried…Why? she asked. Why would they do that?

“Then, a truly appalling thing happened; they replaced the Blessed Sacrament with a propaganda documentary on ‘climate change.’ Yes, climate change... My daughter and others were appalled. And what a missed opportunity to have the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the company of more than a million kids all night long.”

Once again, the hearts of the young cry for bread, and they are given stones.

And it seems to be of a piece, in fact, with the whole apparatus surrounding the upcoming October 4-29 Synod on Synodality, which, according to its working document, its Instrumentum laboris, is focused on accommodating those who feel “hurt” or “unwelcome” due to the Church’s moral teachings.

Comments Swiss theologian Martin Grichting, former vicar general of the diocese of Chur, “The words ‘repentance’ (2 times) and ‘conversion’ (13 times) are found in the Instrumentum laboris. But if one takes into account the respective context, one notices these terms almost never refer to man’s turning away from sin, but signify a structural action, that is, of the Church.”

The individual sinner, the one who needs and longs for the saving grace of Christ acting in his own soul, is thus ignored in favor of social and institutional concerns like same-sex blessings and… climate change.

So a storm is gathering on the horizon of the Church, a storm not caused by “climate change” but by “doctrinal change.”

Just for the record — since we had no space in this issue to cover the news — Pope Francis on August 8, just after World Youth Day ended, changed articles of canon law that regulate “personal prelatures,” of which there is only one in the Church: Opus Dei. Early assessments suggest that the effect of the transfer of the lay members of Opus Dei — the Numeraries and Supernumeraries — from the jurisdiction of the Opus Dei prelate to that of the bishop of each individual’s diocese will be a change of the character of Opus Dei into more of a formal association primarily for religious. What else it entails remains to be seen.

Also, for the record, on August 10, Archbishop George Gänswein, 67, former personal secretary to the late Pope Benedict XVI, made his first public appearance since Pope Francis more or less sent him packing back to his home archdiocese in Freiburg, Germany. “I’m here now, I’m looking for a job, so to speak,” he joked. The event was the presentation of the German-language edition of his 2023 book Nothing But the Truth. Observed Catholic journalist Elise Ann Allen, “Gänswein in both his book and his media remarks indicated that Benedict and Francis were at odds on several big decisions Francis had made, including the pontiff’s reversal of Benedict’s decision to liberalize use of the Traditional Latin Mass.”

So amid all these events, let us hold fast to the “true bread,” Christ, and faith in Christ, and draw ever nearer to Him.m SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

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CONTENTS SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

Year 31, #5

LEAD STORY A new Vatican approach to doctrine begins

by Robert Moynihan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 NEWS VATICAN/Synod on Synodality: Walking together...but which way?

by ITV staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 VATICAN/The Pope’s Surprise Announcement: 21 New Cardinals

by Andrea Tornielli/ITV staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 Year 31, #5

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Robert Moynihan ASSOCIATE EDITOR: George “Pat” Morse (+ 2013) ASSISTANT EDITOR: Christina Deardurff CULTURE EDITOR: Lucy Gordan CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: William D. Doino, Jr. WRITERS: Anna Artymiak, Alberto Carosa, Giuseppe Rusconi, David Quinn, Andrew Rabel, Vladimiro Redzioch, Serena Sartini PHOTOS: Grzegorz Galazka LAYOUT: Giuseppe Sabatelli ILLUSTRATIONS: Stefano Navarrini CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER: Deborah B. Tomlinson ADVERTISING: Katie Carr Tel. +1.202.864.4263 kcarr@insidethevatican.com

v EDITORIAL OFFICES FOR MAIL: US: 14 West Main St. Front Royal, VA 22630 USA Tel +1.202.536.4555 Rome: Inside the Vatican via delle Mura Aurelie 7c, Rome 00165, Italy Tel: +39.06.3938.7471 Fax: +39.06.638.1316 POSTMASTER: send address changes to Inside the Vatican c/o St. Martin de Porres Lay Dominican Community New Hope, KY 40052 USA Tel: +1.800.789.9494 Fax: +1.270.325.3091 Subscriptions (USA): Inside the Vatican PO Box 57 New Hope, KY 40052 USA www.insidethevatican.com Tel. +1.800.789.9494

v INSIDE THE VATICAN (ISSN 1068-8579, 1 yr subscription: $ 49.95; 2 yrs, $94.95; 3 yrs, $129.95), provides a comprehensive, independent report on Vatican affairs published bimonthly (6 times per year) with occasional special supplements.

Inside the Vatican is published by Urbi et Orbi Communications, PO Box 57, New Hope, Kentucky, 40052, USA, pursuant to a License Agreement with Robert Moynihan, the owner of the Copyright. Inside the Vatican, Inc., maintains editorial offices in Rome, Italy.

Periodicals Postage PAID at New Hope, Kentucky, USA and additional mailing offices.

Copyright 2023 Robert Moynihan

4 INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

Interview/Benedict biographer Seewald: “The flood could destroy what’s held so far” by kath.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 ANNIVERSARY/30 Years of ITV: Interview with Founding Editor Robert Moynihan

by Christopher Hart-Moynihan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Footsteps on the Way/Norcia’s Sacred Drama

by ITV staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 SPECIAL INSERT COMMUNIQUÉ: A Newsletter of Urbi et Orbi Communications Reflecting on the “Golden Age” of Church and Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 A New Voice in Urbi’s Digital Media: Fr. Charles Murr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 The Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch: “There must be a return to Christ” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Papal Apostolic Letter/Pascal and “The Grandeur and Misery of Man”

by Pope Francis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 CULTURE Interview/Thomas Storck: The Prosperity Gospel vs. Catholic Social Teaching

by Christina Deardurff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Interview/Sr. Prudence Allen: Answering the question “What is a Woman?”

by Barbara Middleton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Education/”Trans” Culture and College Kids: Where is the Church? (Part Two)

by Christina Deardurff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Scripture /”Male and Female He Created Them”

by Anthony Esolen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Spirituality Behind Bars/Kindling an Eastern Fire

by Marcellus Roberts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 URBI ET ORBI: CATHOLICISM AND ORTHODOXY Icon/The Creed: The Incarnation

by Robert Wiesner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 East-West Watch/The Cardinal and the Patriarch

by Peter Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 News from the East/Joint commission addresses synodality, primacy; Constantinople Patriarch criticized; Zelensky moves Christmas; Pope Francis proposes Russian meeting

by Matthew Trojacek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 FEATURES Tradition and Beauty/Why is Gregorian chant a model for sacred music?

by Aurelio Porfiri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Art/Tuscany, Umbria and the Marches commemorate painter Luca Signorelli

by Lucy Gordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Lord of the World/“They intend destroying the Abbey”

by Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Vatican Watch/A day-by-day chronicle of Vatican events: June-July 2023

by Matthew Trojacek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 People/Mongolian cardinal dreams of monastery; Cardinal Sarah on crisis of faith; Cambodians honor Khmer Rouge martyrs; Pope approves “illicit” bishop; Becciu trial

by Matthew Trojacek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Food for Thought/Photo and Food: “Eating with a smile”

by Mother Martha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Inspiring Works for the Eucharistic Revival HEART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

BREAD THAT IS BROKEN Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen

Pope Benedict XVI

This book shows how receiving the Eucharist has profound consequences, because the Eucharist is not only the great Sacrament that brings oneness with Christ, but also the foundational norm for all Christian behavior.

The Pope’s profound thoughts on the Holy Mass and the Mystery of the Eucharist, a rich source of reflection and personal prayer for every Christian, that reveal the depth and breadth of his lifelong love for the Holy Eucharist.

BBP . . . Sewn Softcover, $12.95

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THE HIDDEN MANNA GOD IS NEAR US

Fr. James T. O’Connor

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

This acclaimed masterpiece on the theology of the Eucharist presents and comments on substantial excerpts from the major sources of the Church’s rich Tradition, all the way back to apostolic times.

Ratzinger compellingly shows us the biblical, historical, and theological dimensions of the Eucharist, beautifully illustrating how the omnipotent God comes intimately close to us in the Holy Eucharist, the Heart of Life.

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THE SPIRIT OF THE LITURGY Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger A profound, beautifully written work on the liturgy, this Commemorative Edition includes a new Foreword by Cardinal Robert Sarah, and the full text of the classic work of the same title by Romano Guardini which helped Ratzinger rediscover the beauty and grandeur of the liturgy.

SPLCEP . . . Sewn Softcover, $19.95

7 SECRETS OF THE EUCHARIST Vinny Flynn The Holy Eucharist is “the greatest treasure of the Church,” and yet many Catholics have a limited understanding of this profound sacrament. This book gives you a completely new awareness of the transforming power of the Eucharist.

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COULD YOU NOT WATCH WITH ME ONE HOUR? Fr. Florian Racine This unique work presents beautiful reflections, profound insights and practical ideas for deepening our Eucharistic Adoration, that can transform our spiritual life, and our union with Christ.

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ALIVE : The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist This powerful film presents compelling testimonies of five men and women with inspiring stories of how their lives were completely transformed by experiencing the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. DVD includes bonus film, “The Power of the Eucharist”.

In Spanish with English subtitles.

ALIVEM . . . 81 min, $17.95

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Classic Italy: Journey to the Face of Christ June 1 - 12, 2024 From the ancient rooms where St. Peter lived for seven years, to the bishop’s residence in Assisi; from the treasure trove of art and faith at the Vatican Museum, to the Benedictine monastery of Norcia; we will encounter some of the “living stones” of our Church, as we journey toward the Face of Christ — both spiritually and physically – in the form of the miraculous Face of Manoppello. Visit us online to learn more!

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I N S I D E T H E VAT I CA N PI LG R I M AG E S .C O M

Start Planning for 2024!

Signature ITALY: Easter

Classic IRELAND: Saints & Scholars

March 25 - April 4, 2024

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Classic UNITED STATES:

Signature LEBANON: Ancient

Wisconsin – September 1 - 9, 2024

Monasteries and Modern Saints: Fall 2024

Classic ITALY: Annual ITV Mag Pilgrimage

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Inside the Vatican Magazine 30th Anniversary Fall 2024

Winter 2024

Our unique encounters on pilgrimages give us insights that enlighten and strengthen us interiorly.

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Our Signature Pilgrimages (intimate, limited to 15 pilgrims) are impossible to mass-produce. Like the products of an artisan, they are works of painstaking preparation that reflect our unswerving commitment to create something of great and unique beauty.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR INSIDE THE VATICAN welcomes letters but cannot reply to all. Each is read and considered carefully. Printed letters may be edited for clarity. You may email us at editor@insidethevatican.com

STEP BACK AND ASSESS OURSELVES

We get requests like these everyday.

Dear Friends: I’ve just received your latest issue, and even a cursory perusal reveals your usual incisive and relevant articles and stellar photography.

I also noticed, however, that it was marked “last issue” of my subscription. If possible, may I request another year’s extension?

In this prison—deep in rural Georgia—there is no Catholic ministry, ergo, no sacraments; Inside the Vatican is therefore a vital part of my communion with the Church—second, of course, to prayer, in which I always include you and your staff.

I appreciate your kindness.

With love in Christ, Richard J. T. Clark, T.O.M.

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Thank you, Dr. Moynihan and Iben Thranholm, for your interesting live show on July 27 [the Urbi et Orbi Show on our Urbi et Orbi YouTube channel].

I listened to it four times to better understand; Iben clarified her stance regarding the previous discussion (stating that Taylor Marshall, Michael Matt, and Archbishop Viganò are “trying to get clicks and become YouTube stars” and “they want to be small popes with their own kingdoms”) that elicited vigorous reactions from your viewers, including me.

You are wise to have her on your program, as controversial as she may be.

She is bold (and spot-on) with her thoughts, which strike a nerve for those not ready to hear her opinion.

Open-minded viewers will realize she makes sense: As laity we need to step back and assess ourselves. How could we amend the situation? The results would be astounding if people grew in intimacy with God, and evil would be trampled.

We cannot change Rome, but we can change ourselves.

Jacqueline jmacphee@bellsouth.net P.S. I hope to go on one of your pilgrimages, perhaps the shorter one to Garabandal. [Ed. note: This August 31September 7, 2023 pilgrimage to Garabandal and other destinations in Spain and Portugal is sold out, but go to InsideTheVaticanPilgrimages.com to see the roster of our upcoming pilgrimages.]

PAPAL CRITICS NOT JUST “ARCHTRADITIONALISTS” I found your comments and those of Iben Thranholm very disappointing when you suggest that most of the criticism of Pope Francis arises mainly from arch-traditionalists.

This is not my experience. Virtually all the serious Catholics I know, from

INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

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traditionalist to charismatic, are deeply disturbed by the Pope’s seeming unconcern for doctrinal integrity.

This is evidenced by the unleashing of the “synodal way,” by appointments of pro-homosexual prelates and by changes in the catechism to please homosexuals. The latest appointments to important Vatican councils, including Fernandez to head the DDF, is similarly disappointing.

Nicholas Healy nhealy333@gmail.com

THRANHOLM OR VIGANÒ?

Should we take our teachings from your YouTube guest Iben Thranholm or, in my opinion, the very brave apostle of God Archbishop Viganò, who teaches the Gospel without compromise? He is against the apostasy of the SorosClinton-Obama-Gates new world order and the Masons, who control the Vatican thanks to the hard work of Cardinals Casaroli and O’Connor-Murphy, and the St. Gallen Mafia.

Patrick Finnegan trotter2002p@gmail.com

THE GREAT WARNING Pope Francis plans to visit Moscow near the end of August, the first time that a Pope has ever gone to Russia. October 2023 will subsequently mark the conclusion of the historic pro-LGBT Synod on Synodality, which seeks to end Catholic tradition and fully merge the Church with the world.

The prophecies of Garabandal (19611965) state that the Pope will go to Russia and upon his return to the Vatican, there will be an outbreak of war in Europe. Also, the “worldwide warning” will occur on the heels of a Vatican Synod. War and revolution in Europe immediately precede the warning, and it indeed appears that both are on the immediate horizon.

David Martin jmj4today@att.net

WONDERFUL CONVERSATIONS I am a faithful viewer of your YouTube videos and recently became a subscriber to Inside the Vatican magazine. I am wondering if you would consider addressing the topic of the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago in 1893 and its impact on our Church and culture.

Perhaps one day in the not-toodistant future, I will be able to go on one of your pilgrimages; it would be a great blessing!

Michelle LoCoco piclogallo24@yahoo.com

ATTACKING THE POPE Great YouTube show on “Attacking the Pope.” Thanks, because I struggle with this. How should I and my family respond to what is occurring within the Church? I also found this article helpful: “The Church's final passion...” at the website newdailycompass.com/en/godnot-man-will-save-the-Church.

Terry Duerr Ohio, USA

VIGANÒ AND THE RESET [Re: Moynihan Letter 110: Viganò] This Great Reset Archbishop Viganò speaks of is the manifestation of 666 as written of in Daniel and in the Book of Revelation; it is not wise to go into battle not armored up (Eph. 6 and Rom. 13:1214). What is needed as our “armor”: Repent for all of our sins and have a firm purpose of amendment.

Pray for those who persecute us.

Spend time with God our Father, with Jesus and with the Holy Spirit, every day.

Raise our children to know, love and serve God with their whole being.

Avail ourselves of the sacraments.

Do all of that, and expect possible persecution... for Jesus said, “If they persecute Me, they will persecute you.”

And remember He will be with us always.

Claudia Person personcm@comcast.net Thank you for publishing Viganò’s text. We’re not surprised that he is being deplatformed — again. Iben Thranholm is remarkable. While she has made some

sobering and thoughtful comments about some of today’s Catholic “conservative” media personalities, I don’t agree with all her comments, especially on Viganò.

Certainly, some have crossed boundaries in their dislike of Francis, but Holy Mother Church will be the arbiter.

Bill Zupancicč milehi.bz@gmail.com

TEARING THE POPE APART I appreciated your discussion with Iben Thranholm. Although I am a mere lay Catholic, I too worry about unity.

In my humble opinion, a unified voice from prominent writers, priests, podcasters, etc. like Archbishop Viganò, yours, Michael Matt, Michael Voris, and a bit less so Taylor Marshall, Father Altman, Patrick Coffin and perhaps a few others, would provide a cohesive whole, a resource for people to turn to.

But I wonder: would there be unity among these voices? There is a great deal of naïvete and confusion among the flock. The LGB, the T, the Covid scandals, come fast and furious. This confusion is not just among the youth, but the older generations too, whom many would say were led astray after Vatican II. Many, I imagine, will ultimately fall in line with gay Church unions/marriages, should it come to this.

I pray I am wrong. But if countercultural voices came together, wouldn’t more people find them?

“Kathy” I am no theologian, and it has taken 84 years to become a convinced Catholic.

American food American owner

Via di Porta Cavalleggeri, 25 ✆ 338 13 71 344 home baked

homebakedrome

But I disagree with Iben Thranholm’s opinion on traditional Catholic websites.

They, like you, me, Iben and many others are trying to find some way to understand Pope Francis (I was overjoyed when he took the name Francis, my baptismal name. Sadly, I am no longer that “overjoyed.”) He says he likes ambiguity, which I don't believe is an admirable trait in a Pope whose primary responsibility is to protect and transmit Church teaching.

He seems, repeatedly, to damn everything that we were taught previous to the Second Vatican Council, including the Mass. That which was holy is now not holy and can be condemned; while that which was condemned is now allowed.

As former Communist operative and then Catholic convert Bella Dodd testified, Stalin’s plan was to infiltrate the Church using 1100 homosexuals to do the job. Today we can see its success.

Then we have Fr. Charles T. Murr’s books on Archbishop Annibale Bugnini and “his” Novus Ordo, which should be called “The Bugnini Mass”; after all, let’s give credit where credit is due! Plus the report on the Curia called for by Pope Paul VI and ignored by every Pope from Paul VI on. Does it still exist?

And, finally, why doesn’t anybody talk about the actual changes that Sacrosanctum Concilium calls for? Pope Paul VI “ordered” that it be “promulgated,” yet no one touches it. It would be a beautiful Mass, with the laity actively involved, that would draw people back to church. It is the possible “missing link” that could turn things around.

Frank W. Russell philosophicallyfrank@msn.com

JEFFREY SACHS ON RUSSIA [Re: Moynihan Letters #113: Sachs on Russia] It looks like visiting Russia, even for many months, didn’t really teach Jeffrey Sachs much: I see instead just totally naïve, blind love for Russia, ignoring neighboring nations. It’s sad!

I grew up in the Soviet Union, and want to ask: did the US or Biden teach Russians to do the atrocities they are doing in Ukraine? Is it America’s fault?

No! It’s the Russian system of totalitarianism, destroying human dignity.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NATO being a reason for Putin to start the war is fake news. Russia wanted to enter NATO as the USSR in 1954, and then again starting from the ‘90s. Why is Russia silent about Finland and Sweden joining NATO, but not Ukraine? Maybe Russia is just a totalitarian, imperialistic country? And Putin is a devil who follows the satanic plans of another devil—Stalin?

Thousands of children kidnapped, missile strikes killing civilians, thousands tortured, missing priests…remember the words of Our Mother of Fatima, to pray for the repentance of Russia!

Olha Zarichynska zarichyn@ucu.edu.ua So sad that you are fighting on the side of a brutal dictator. Mr. Sachs talks of the media spreading the lies of Joseph Biden.

Why are Americans always so self-serving, vindictive of their own and selfrighteous? Robert, since leaving America almost 10 years ago, I see the land of my birth being torn apart from both sides. I keep thinking of the old saying, “United we stand, divided we fall.” Considering Biden our enemy and Putin a righteous man is sheer madness. I watch only German, British and Danish news.

Interesting that when Sachs talks about the lying media, he only knows American media. That is his first big mistake. Study history. Ukraine is the 21st-century Sudetenland. If Putin will win as Sachs seems to think, then what will be next — what will be his Poland?

America’s long-term enemies are from without, not from within.

Kurt Behrel schwaben49@gmail.com I read the Sachs letter in its entirety. It appears to be slanted toward the Russian perspective, e.g., no mention of the Russian invasion on 2-24-22. However, it also appears the Biden administration has not pursued peace vigorously and is indeed seeking regime change — a “be careful what you wish for” proposition.

Some Americans (RFK Jr. comes to mind) have pointed this out. Also, I note that Biden has been wrong on every

foreign policy issue for over 40 years, per a former Secretary of Defense.

Matt Novak Cleveland, Ohio, USA

The Holy Father is doing all that he can. May God mightily bless his efforts.

Charles Parlato parlato_charles@yahoo.com

My first reaction when I saw you were writing on Jeffrey Sachs was “Oh no, what has happened to Dr. M?” However, going forward I was delighted to read his take on the disastrous and nonsensical bloodbath taking place in Ukraine.

I couldn’t agree more with him. The main perpetrator, Joe Biden, is causing thousands of deaths. It must be stopped.

I am glad he gives support to President Putin, who is correct in his analysis of the situation. I hope Sachs’ article is translated into Italian, Spanish, Russian, French… Pope Francis should read it.

Maria United Kingdom

The horrifying effects of the war sound so terrible, dear Robert; I am in tears... It is the same, I hear, on both sides.

We have to pray and sacrifice!

Katharina Achammer katharina_achammer@hotmail.com

PROMOTING PEACE [Re: Moynihan Letter #114: Ukraine] It would be nice if giving relics to Ukraine and Russia produced the desired effect [of promoting peace in Ukraine].

Unfortunately, I am not holding my breath for the Russian Orthodox Church to change its warmongering stance against Ukraine as long as the present leadership (Kirill, etc.) is in place. For the ROC to regain any dignity and respect they will have to undergo a purge of the imperialist warmongering leadership, put in new leadership, issue apologies, do reparations, and re-educate their flock.

Yuri Mykolayevych yuri_my@yahoo.com Hungary seems somewhat pivotal. I pray that, God willing, a Pope Erdo will bring the peace of Christ.

Msgr. John Myler jtm300@aol.com Thank you for your continual coverage of this terrible, very stupid tragedy.

The United States could bring this war to an end within days if the US State Dept. wanted to. This is bloodier, more tragic and stupider than Vietnam.

Stay connected. Sign up to receive

The Moynihan Letters Visit www.InsideTheVatican.com 10 INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

VATICAN NEEDS TO CLEAN HOUSE I just listened to your YouTube video on Rumble about “The Crises of the Church” and agree that we don’t have clear guidance and clarity on the Faith.

I’ve been reading the book The War of the Antichrist with the Church and Christian Civilisation by Monsignor George F. Dillon. We are at a crossroads as the Freemason and communist infiltration inside the Catholic Church is causing these divisions. As has been rightly said, the devil is behind this and wants to destroy the Catholic Church and faith, so the Antichrist can make his appearance and rule the world.

One solution is to clean house and excommunicate all priests, bishops and cardinals who are involved with Freemasonic lodges and communists.

And ask Our Lady of Fátima to renew the Church and accept our prayers, fasting and supplication to save the Church.

Elisabeth Viegas jb33ptnw@gmail.com

SOFTBALL TAKE ON POPE JOHN PAUL II Your continuous hard work is daunting to a converted boomer like me. Thank you for being there to ask incisive questions.

You are doing His work.

Re. your YouTube interviews with Fr. Charles Murr: Why your and Fr. Murr’s softball take on Pope John Paul II’s dismissal of Cardinal Gagnon, precipitating the cardinal’s disconsolate return to South America (driven to the airport by a young Fr. Charles Murr)?

JPII’s many tremendously important failures, I believe, have not been incisive-

❖ Gain valuable insights on the Vatican and Pope Francis ❖ Read behind-the-scenes news and exclusive interviews ❖ Find links to scholarly sources and unique research

ly assessed: 1. Failure to fearlessly identify the causes of our Church’s collapse after Vatican II; 2. Appointing the worst possible bishops over decades; 3. Pettiness in dealing with the large soul of Archbishop Lefebvre; 4. A blind and profoundly inappropriate response to sexual sins and perversions in high places; 5. Questioning Our Lord’s Second Word from the Cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” which led to the theological disaster now in the CCC’s section on capital punishment.

Could you and Fr. Murr consider revisiting JPII’s part in our present distress… this time with a fearlessness and incisiveness rarely found outside of the society of a… well, a Robert Moynihan and a Fr. Charles Murr?

Gary Matthews, Sr. garymatthews302@icloud.com

NUNS WHO SAVED JEWS DURING WWII Over the last couple of years I have been researching the rescue of the Jews during the Second World War in Croatia.

It all began in 2018 when I accidentally received an email containing documents from Belgrade’s History Museum. They contained data on medical admission of Jews to the Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Zagreb in order to protect them from the Nazis. At the time, the hospital was owned by the Order, which coordinated all its activities.

Please find attached my book Medical Treatment and Harboring of Jews at Mercy Hospital. It was printed by Rabbi Jack Bemporad. I would also like to congratulate ITV contributing editor William Doino on his great publications on the Catholic response to the Holocaust.

Marko Danon ema5@zg.t-com.hr

dedicated to the ceiling fresco and the altar wall. For over a year I’ve been working on my monumental body of work called the “Florentine Collection,” containing 101 large canvases dedicated to every one of the Cantos of the Divine Comedy. Unlike all my predecessors, including my famous mentor Ernst Neizvestny, whose sculpture Heart of Christ was in the private chapel of Papa John Paul II, I am not simply creating a series of illustrations of the Comedy.

Instead, I took a completely different path, removing from the picture both Dante and Virgil and placing my viewer in the front row. What takes place on each canvas is for the viewer a profoundly personal and intimate experience.

In order to comprehend what transpires in front of one’s eyes, one must read the text and study it in depth. This way, this great epic poem will guide people to learn, to ask questions, and thus become closer to Christ and His work.

I think it was divine providence when I saw your link and signed up for your Moynihan Letters. It will be a massive help in my work, because one should never be ashamed of constant learning. I always remember the words of Buonarroti when asked: “How are you, Maestro?”

His reply: “I am still learning...”

I am planning to complete my collection by 2025 because that will be a Jubilee Year. I plan to bring it to Florence first. After that, I am writing the libretto for a ballet, also dedicated to the Divine Comedy, and all the canvases will become 3D projections on the stage.

I look forward to reading your letters and learning.

Vardan Michigan, USA

PARENTS, WAKE UP The story in the article, “A Mother’s Love,” is a profound tragedy and not uncommon. It was difficult to read. It sadly highlights the complacency among Catholic parents, who are all too ready to blame everyone but themselves.

The biggest red flag was her daughter’s adolescent “distrust of the Catholic Church.” My question: what did she and her husband say in response?

Did they even engage in discussions about “social inequities” and “clerical abuse?” If your children have questions about the faith that you, school or your priest can’t answer, it is your duty to discover the truth and refute rhetoric misleading your children. Don’t just hope your child will “mature.” Give them the tools they need to engage with the culture. Relying on your child to just figure out the Catholic faith on their own is a dereliction of your duties as a Catholic parent.

And what is with this trend of American parents treating college as an extension of childhood? A university’s job is to provide an education. Its function is not to babysit your now-adult child and protect them from ideology contrary to our Catholic faith.

Parents need to wake up, stop listening to our consumer culture, start prioritizing Catholic education, and center their lives around Christ again.

Perhaps all of these problems stem from poor catechesis?

The public school system is a cesspool for Catholics. I’m ecstatic that the Newman Guide has expanded to include elementary and secondary schools.

Eleanor C. Kolb eleanor.kolb@gmail.com

ART INSPIRED BY DANTE My name is Vardan, and I am a thirdgeneration sculptor. By birth I belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church; one of my ancestors was Catholicos Gukas I Garnetzy, house of Cilicia.

My love and unexplainable appreciation for the Vatican and everything that came from it is simply impossible to describe. For the past 10 years, I’ve been working on my Ph.D. thesis on Capella Sistina [Sistine Chapel]. To be exact, it is SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

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LEAD STORY

A new ApproAch to cAtholic Doctrine begins At the VAticAn newly-AppointeD DoctrinAl heAD, cArDinAl Victor Fernández, intenDs to Do things “my own wAy” n

BY ROBERT MOYNIHAN

Left, Argentine Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández, 61, who was named on July 1 to be the new head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. He will be created a cardinal on September 30 in Rome.

(Photo from spa NovusOrdoWatch)

P

ope Francis has appointed his longtime collaborator and fellow Argentinian, Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández, as the new head of the Dicastery (formerly “Congregation”) for the Doctrine of the Faith, replacing the Spanish Jesuit Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, whose term ran from July 1, 2017 to July 1, 2023.

Francis then announced a week later, on July 9, that Fernández would be among the 21 new cardinals he will create on September 30 in Rome.

When he announced his appointment of Archbishop Fernández on July 1, Pope Francis quoted his own apostolic exhortations Evangelii Gaudium and Gaudete et Exsultate.

In a letter addressed personally to Archbishop Fernández, which was released along with news of his appointment (full text below), the Pope explained his reasons for the appointment: “The Dicastery over which you will preside in other times came to use immoral methods. Those were times when, rather than promoting theological knowledge, possible doctrinal errors were pursued. What I expect from you is certainly something very different.”

Francis continued by saying that Fernández’ task as the new head of the Vatican’s doctrine office “should express that the Church ‘encourages the charism of theologians and their theological research efforts’ as long as ‘they are not content with a desk

12 INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

theology,’ with ‘a cold, hard logic that seeks to dominate everything.’

It will always be true that reality is superior to the idea.”

So, through this appointment, the Pope’s vision — that Catholic theology be explored in an intimate and continuing relationship with “reality,” and not just in conformity with an “idea” or teaching — will be put into practice in a definitive way in the Catholic Church, beginning now.

“ON MANY ISSUES, I AM FAR MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN THE POPE” Archbishop Fernández is a theologian, professor and prolific writer who has contributed as one of Pope Francis’ “ghostwriters” to

Curriculum vitae of Archbishop Fernández, published by the Vatican

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rchbishop Victor Manuel Fernández was born on 18 July, 1962, in Alcira Gigena, in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. He was ordained a priest on 15 August, 1986, for the diocese of Villa de la Concepción del Río Cuarto, Argentina.

He was awarded a licentiate in theology with biblical specialization from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and subsequently a doctorate in theology from the Faculty of Theology of Buenos Aires.

From 1993 to 2000 he was parish priest of Santa Teresita in Río Cuarto, Córdoba. He was the founder and director of the Institute for Lay Formation and the Jesús Buen Pastor Formation Centre for Teachers in the same city. In his diocese he was also a seminary formator, director for ecumenism and director for catechesis.

In 2007 he participated in the Fifth Conference of Latin American Bishops (Aparecida) as a priest representing Argentina and later as a member of the drafting group for the final document.

From 2008 to 2009 he was dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina and president of the Argentine Theological Society.

From 2009 to 2018 he was rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina.

On 13 May, 2013, he was appointed archbishop by Pope Francis.

He participated, as a member, in the 2014 and 2015 Synods of Bishops on the Family, in which he was also part of the drafting groups.

In the 2017 Assembly of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, he was elected president of the Episcopal Commission for Faith and Culture (Doctrinal Commission).

In June 2018 he assumed the office of archbishop of La Plata.

He has been a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture and Consultor for the Congregation for Catholic Education. He is currently a member of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.

He has published more than 300 books and scientific articles, many of which have been translated into various languages. These works demonstrate an important biblical foundation and a constant commitment to the dialogue between theology and culture, the evangelizing mission, spirituality and social issues.n

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio with Archbishop Victor Fernández at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina in 2009 (Photo: UCA)

documents like his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium and his encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si. Likewise he is credited as the major author of the 2016 Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia.

Some of his views on doctrine and morality are controversial.

It took two years for Fernández’ appointment by then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to the post of rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina to be approved by the Vatican due to questions about Fernández’ orthodoxy, as evidenced in some of his writings.

Fernández himself has said that “on many issues, I am far more progressive than the Pope.”

So, on the one hand, he has made it clear in his writings that he is of a “new” disposition regarding Church teaching on divorce and remarriage, toward sexuality and same-sex relationships, and perhaps toward the very issue of “doctrine” itself.

On the other hand, he seems to be quite in step with the pontiff, who has promoted Fernández every step of the way since he was made head of the drafting committee for the Aparecida Conference of CELAM in 2007.

The fact that the Vatican many years ago resisted Fernández’ appointment by Cardinal Bergoglio as rector of the Catholic University of Argentina only seems to have strengthened Bergoglio’s support of

the theologian, and, after Fernández was made the university’s rector, Francis, as Pope, made Fernández an archbishop — a first for a rector of the university.

With Fernández’ appointment, therefore, the doctrinal office of the Catholic Church may have entered a new (and unprecedented) era, in which teachings and opinions at odds with Catholic Tradition may no longer be considered highly problematic and needing to be condemned as dangerous.

In fact, it seems implied that correcting problematic teachings, as was the purpose of the Inquisition of prior centuries, may not be done at all under Fernández’ leadership of the doctrinal office.m

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN 13

LEAD STORY

new approach to catholic Doctrine begins at the Vatican

The holy FaTher’s leTTer along wiTh The noTice oF The appoinTmenT, Francis chose To publish a personal leTTer To archbishop Fernández Dear Brother, peers, who have thus valued As the new prefect of the your theological charisma. As Dicastery for the Doctrine of rector of the Pontifical Catholic the Faith, I entrust to you a University of Argentina you task that I consider very valuencouraged a healthy integraable. Its central purpose is to tion of knowledge. On the guard the teaching that flows other hand, you were parish from the faith in order to “give priest of “Santa Teresita” and reasons for our hope, but not as until now archbishop of La an enemy who critiques and Plata, where you knew how to condemns.”1 bring theological knowledge The Dicastery over which into dialogue with the life of you will preside in other times the holy People of God. came to use immoral methods.

Given that for disciplinary Those were times when, rather matters — especially related to than promoting theological the abuse of minors — a speTwo old friends. On May 2, 2019, Francis received the Argentine knowledge, possible doctrinal cific Section has recently been bishops in audience, including Fernández (Vatican Media/Ag.Siciliani) errors were pursued. What I created with very competent expect from you is certainly something very different. professionals, I ask you as prefect to dedicate your personal You have served as dean of the Faculty of Theology of commitment more directly to the main purpose of the DicasBuenos Aires, president of the Argentinean Society of Thetery which is “keeping the faith.”2 ology and president of the Faith and Culture Commission of In order not to limit the significance of this task, it should the Argentinean Episcopate, in all cases voted by your be added that it is a matter of “increasing the understanding

“What is wrong is wrong, and I defend objective morality” Víctor Manuel Fernández spoke to Javier Arias of InfoVaticana shortly after the former’s July 1 appointment to the DDF. The interview is excerpted here: What will be your main lines of work as Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith?

ARCHBISHIOP FERNÁNDEZ: Yesterday I sent a letter to the members of the Dicastery telling them that I admired Cardinal Ladaria as a theologian and also for his style of work, which I consider exemplary, but I added that I would do it “in my own way,” as the Italian song says.

Given the Pope’s call for synodality, I will have to listen a bit first before making decisions, but there are certainly considerations from the letter the Pope sent me that we will have to apply in some way.

The controversial German Synodal Path, how do you intend to address this problem? [...] Germans always attract attention, and in my style as an Archbishop that concern for ordaining women or the like has not been present. Obviously, now it is up to me to update myself on the matter, listen, talk, consult. For now, I have to tell you that I don’t think there isn’t something good in this German “movement.” Once Cardinal Ladaria told me that he hoped there was some heretic who would force us to deepen our faith.

In 2021 this Dicastery affirmed that homosexual couples cannot be blessed: do you agree?

Look, just as I am firmly against abortion (and I chal14 INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

lenge you to find someone in Latin America who has written more articles against abortion than I have), I also understand that “marriage” in the strict sense is one thing only: that stable union of two beings as different as male and female, who in that difference are capable of generating new life. There is nothing that can be compared to that, and using that name to express something else is not good or correct. And so, I believe that gestures or actions that may express something different should be avoided.

That is why I think that the greatest care that must be taken is to avoid rites or blessings that could feed this confusion. Now, if a blessing is given in such a way that it does not cause that confusion, it will have to be analyzed and confirmed. As you will see, the doctrine does not change.

For you, is the doctrine something that can change or has to be kept intact as it has been received for hundreds of years?

The doctrine does not change, because it is ultimately the unfathomable, marvelous and immutable mystery of the Trinity expressed in Christ. Everything is there, and that cannot be improved or changed. There is nothing to add to it. Another thing is our understanding of that doctrine, and that in fact has changed and will continue to change. That is why in Dei Verbum it is said, for example, that the work of exegetes can mature the opinion of the Church.

—Javier Arias (InfoVaticana)

and transmission of the faith in the service of evangelization, so that its light may be a criterion for understanding the meaning of existence, especially in the face of the questions posed by the progress of the sciences and the development of society.”3 These issues, incorporated in a renewed proclamation of the Gospel message, “become tools of evangelization”4 because they allow us to enter into conversation with “our present situation, which is in many ways unprecedented in the history of humanity.”5 Moreover, you know that the Church can “grow in her interpretation of the revealed word and in her understanding of truth”6 without this implying the imposition of a single way of expressing it. For “differing currents of thought in philosophy, theology and pastoral practice, if open to being reconciled by the Spirit in respect and love, can enable the Church to grow.”7 This harmonious growth will preserve Christian doctrine more effectively than any control mechanism.

It is good that your task expresses that the Church “encourages the charism of theologians and their scholarly efforts” as long as they are not “content with a deskbound theology,” 8 with a “a cold and harsh logic that seeks to dominate everything.”9 It will always be true that reality is superior to the idea. In this sense, we need theology to be attentive to a fundamental criterion: to consider that “all theological notions that ultimately call into question the very omnipotence of God, and his mercy in particular, are inadequate.”10 We need a way of thinking

which can convincingly present a God who loves, who forgives, who saves, who liberates, who promotes people and calls them to fraternal service.

This happens if “the message has to concentrate on the essentials, on what is most beautiful, most grand, most appealing and at the same time most necessary.”11 You are well aware that there is a harmonious order among the truths of our message, and the greatest danger occurs when secondary issues end up overshadowing the central ones.

In the horizon of this richness, your task also implies a special care to verify that the documents of your own Dicastery and of the others have an adequate theological support, are coherent with the rich humus of the perennial teaching of the Church and at the same time take into account the recent Magisterium.

May the Blessed Virgin protect and watch over you in this new mission. Please do not cease to pray for me.

Fraternally, Vatican City, 1 July 2023 — FRANCIS __________________ [1] Evangelii gaudium (24 November 2013), 271 [2] Motu proprio Fidem servare (11 February 2022), Introduction .[3] Ibíd., 2. [4] Evangelii gaudium, 132. [5] Laudato si’ (24 May 2015), 17. [6] Evangelii gaudium, 40. [7] Ibid. [8] Evangelii gaudium, 133. [9] Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et exsultate (19 March 2018), 39. [10] International Theological Commission, The Hope of Salvation for Infants who die without being baptized (19 April 2007), 2. [11] Evangelii gaudium, 35.

Cardinal Müller reacts to new appointment The following is an interview Cardinal Gerhard Müller gave to LifeSiteNews via email.

Cardinal Müller served as Prefect of the CDF (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) from 2012 through 2017.

Your Eminence, you have gone on record previously calling some of Archbishop Fernández’ statements “heretical.” What danger does he pose now as head of the CDF, especially given his writing and promotion of Amoris Laetitia as opening Communion to the divorced and “re-married”?

CARDINAL GERHARD MÜLLER: The decision as to who will become Prefect of the principal congregation (or dicastery) that directly assists the Roman Pontiff in his universal magisterium belongs to the Holy Father alone. He must also answer for it in his conscience before Christ, the Lord and Head of His Church. This does not exclude the concern of many bishops, priests, and faithful throughout the world. They have the right to freely express their concerns (Lumen gentium 37). [...] The Church of the Triune God also does not need a new foundation or modernization, as if she had become a dilapidated house and as if weak men could surpass the divine master builder. She is already historically established in Christ once for all and perfectly conceived in her doctrine, constitution and liturgy in God’s plan of salvation.

Archbishop Fernández has also argued that sexual relations between cohabiting couples are not always sinful. What danger does this pose for him to hold such a position in the CDF? Invoking the original will of the Creator, Jesus himself termed divorce and “remarriage” as adultery in discussions with the hard-hearted Pharisees, who made the argument about the reality of life of their contemporaries and an inability to fulfill God’s commandments (Mt 19:9).

All grave sin excludes us from the kingdom of God until it is repented of and forgiven (1 Cor 6:10). God’s mercy consists in reconciling the repentant sinner back to Himself through Jesus Christ. In no way can we justify ourselves with reference to our fragility, to persist in sin, that is, in fatal contradiction to the holy and sanctifying will of God. Something quite different is the pastorally sensitive treatment of the many people whose marriages and families have been damaged or broken due to their own fault or the fault of others. However, the Church does not have the authority to relativize the revealed truths about the unity of marriage (monogamy), its indissolubility and its fruitfulness (acceptance of children as a gift of God).

Good pastoral care is based on good dogmatics, because only a good tree with healthy roots also produces good fruit.

—(LifeSite News) SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN 15

NEWS

synod document: walking together… but towards what? a bishop’s critique Following, belatedly, the path oF the protestant reFormation? n BY ARCHBISHOP HÉCTOR AGUER November 11, 2016, Paul VI Hall. Pope Francis’ audience for homeless and poor people on the Jubilee of Socially Excluded People (Photo-Grzegorz Galazka)

The author of this article, Archbishop Héctor Aguer (photo below) is the Archbishop Emeritus of La Plata, a province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. A native Argentine, he was a frequent collaborator with thenArchbishop Jorge Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) in CELAM, the Latin American Episcopal Conference, and was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to several Pontifical Councils and Commissions. He retired in 2018.

“Stupor” is the word that rises to my lips upon learning the contents of the 50 pages of the Instrumentum laboris for the Synod on Synodality [October 4-29, 2023] “democratically” programmed since 2021.

La Prensa of Buenos Aires on June 20 headlined the news as follows: “The Vatican has published the thorny road map for the next Synod.”

The document includes the claim of a “profound need to imitate our Master and Lord in terms of the ability to live an apparent paradox: aggressively proclaiming His authentic teaching, while at the same time serving as a witness for radical inclusion and acceptance.”

What an aggressive, paradoxical imitation of Christ!

This purpose is unusual: the “synodal Church” sets forth a “progressive” gloss on the Gospel.

The Instrumentum laboris sets out how to ecclesially assume the globalist “Agenda 2030.” The pontifical monarchy makes the “synodal democracy” say just what it wants this “democracy” to say.

It is something like throwing a stone but hiding the hand that throws.

16

The itinerary of the Synod, which has already been two years in preparation, makes the “crowd” speak and vote — especially and novelly, the feminine one. This is what I implied with the wellknown example of the stone.

When the design of this other Church is completed, the Supreme Pontiff, faced with the criticisms that will not be lacking, will be able to say: “I did not do it!”

The document that I have been commenting on, in taking up the result of the path followed since 2021, addresses the question of a new ecclesiology: Synodality.

A digression: “synod” means “to walk with” (from the Greek syn and hodós) but does not express “towards what.” The goal, then, can be a new “progressive” Church, at cross purposes with the great ecclesial Tradition. Let us all go there together!

One of the topics on the agenda, which quickly attracts attention, is

INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

“how can the Church be more responsive to LGBTQ+ people.” It is noteworthy that the expression “persons with homosexual tendencies,” which appears in several documents from Rome, and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is no longer used.

Nor is the name of other “collectives” mentioned, which have felt marginalized or ignored. It continues to affirm that the poor “occupy a central place”; new areas are introduced, such as climate change and migratory movements, to which pontifical preaching frequently refers.

In the projected Synod Assembly, 75 percent of those who participate will be bishops, and 25 percent laity, including women, with the right to speak and vote. If I read correctly, it seems to me that priests are ignored, which is very striking, and points out how their numbers are continually decreasing in all dioceses. Priestly vocations are no longer a priority.

Once again, “the hour of the laity” has arrived.

Christus Consolator by Carl Heinrich Bloch

The text goes on to indicate that (IX A 264). On the same page he “there are those who do not feel speaks of “the unfortunate illusion of accepted in the Church, such as the ‘Christianity,’ which replaces being divorced and remarried, people in Christian with being human.” marriages that used to be called irregIt is this unfortunate illusion that ular, or LGBTQ+ people, and there now deceives the Catholic Church. are forms of racial, ethnic, class or The synodal program, like that of caste discrimination that lead some to the German Synod, designs another feel less important, or less welcome Church, heterogeneous with respect within the community.” The purpose to the great and unanimous Tradition. of overcoming this is formulated, How will faithful Catholics react? then: “How can we create spaces in In various countries, a reaction is which those who feel hurt by the already, happily, taking a shape that is Church and rejected by the communiusually disqualified as “conservaty can feel acknowledged, not judged, tive” by official progressivism. The and free to ask questions? And what Providence of the Bridegroom and concrete steps are needed to reach out Lord of the katholiké inspires and to people who feel excluded from the illuminates that contemporaneity Church because of their affecwith Christ that expresses the tivity and sexuality?” These fulfillment of the Gospel THE SYNOD AS will be questions to be asked by promise: “I will be with you “CONVERSATION IN THE SPIRIT” the Synod Assembly. always (every day) until the I risk an interpretation: obend of the world” (Mt 28:20).

Theologian Yves Congar, O.P. wrote voljective truth and the recognition The Greek text says: umes about pneumatology (study of the Holy of precepts by which virtue, and until the synteléias of the Spirit) and reached this conclusion: “There is sin, are judged and recognized cosmos. The formula “end no Christology without pneumatology and there is no pneumatology without Christology.” no longer count. What matters of the world” is an ambiguby Robert P. Imbelli now is how those who consider ous translation; the fulfillment themselves excluded feel; it is is the completion of History, Congar was inspired by the image of Saint Irenaeus, their feeling that matters, not according to the mysterious for whom God always works, in creating and saving, the objective state in which they plans of Providence. In the using his two hands: the Word and the Spirit. [...] Congar find themselves. mysterious sphere of Divine finds the necessary balance when he writes: “The Spirit Another key point is the Providence is inscribed the play shows something that is new, in the novelty of history and in the variety of cultures, but it is a new reality that need “for women’s participaof secondary causes, which it comes from the fullness that has been given once and tion in governance, decisionorders according to inscrutable for all by God in Christ.” making, mission and ministries designs. In Providence, the jusHowever, when one reads the long and wordy Instruto be addressed at all levels of tice and mercy of God alike are mentum laboris which will guide the work of the Synod, the Church, with the support of manifested. This Providence, one is struck by the rather pale Christological vision preappropriate structures so that then, includes the dialectic of sent in the document. [...] There is little reference to the this does not remain a mere secondary causes, and for this “Paschal mystery” of Christ, a concept so prominent in general aspiration.” Clearly, reason it can be said that it perVatican II. Indeed, there is not even mention of the cross, to the point that one begins to fear that it is among the program does not dare raise mits evil. those “outcasts” that the “Instrumentum” pities. the possibility of “female The designs of the authors Only a broad Christological vision can provide relipriesthood,” but this specific of the Synod are those “secable orientation and guidance for “conversations in the remark about “appropriate ondary causes,” free to do evil.

Spirit” [...] Congar only echoes the New Testament and structures” returns to the wellHow dare I express myself the Fathers when he writes: “Jesus Christ is for the worn aspirations for structural in these terms!?! I recognize Christian the measure and criterion for the discernment change. and venerate Francis as the of spirits.” (Espresso.repubblica.it) Although it may seem curiSuccessor of Peter, Vicar of ous to observe, the Catholic Church is what a Danish Lutheran who was a Christ. But Francis is still Jorge belatedly beginning to follow the path great Christian philosopher, Søren Bergoglio. Now, I have known Jorge opened by the Protestant Reforma- Kierkegaard, wrote in his Diary in Bergoglio for 45 years. He is a “section, at a time when Protestantism has 1848: “Just now, when there is talk of ondary cause.” This explains what has long since been swallowed up by the reorganizing the Church, it is clear been said... and even much more that world. This is the moment to quote how little Christianity there is in it” might have been said.m SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

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Francis’ 21 new cardinals M n BY ANDREA TORNIELLI

Victor Manuel Fernández, 61, was born in Alcira Gigena, Argentina and ordained a priest in 1986. He was awarded a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and a doctorate in theology from the Faculty of Theology of Buenos Aires. From 1993 to 2000 he was parish priest of Santa Teresita in Río Cuarto, Córdoba. He was the founder and director of the Institute for Lay Formation and the Jesús Buen Pastor Formation Centre for Teachers in the same city. He was also a seminary formator, director for ecumenism and director for catechesis. In 2007 he participated in the Fifth Conference of Latin American Bishops (Aparecida) and the drafting group for the final document. From 2008 to 2009 he was dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina and president of the Argentine Theological Society.

From 2009 to 2018 he was rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.n

HOLY LAND

ARGENTINA

Víctor manuel Fernández Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the faith

and 77-year-old Christophe Pierre, nuncio to the United States, a man of great equilibrium, who continues to play an important role in the choice of new bishops for the US Church.

Also striking is the nomination of Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the first Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem — the Latin Church of a land that continues to be a breeding ground for hatred, clashes and violence.

With the September 30 consistory, the number of cardinal electors in the event of a conclave will rise to 137. That’s well above the ceiling of 120 set by Paul VI, but the ceiling had already been exceeded on several occasions by both John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Statistics at the end of September will mean Europe will have 53 electors (including 15 Italians); 15 electors from North America (11 from the USA, 4 from Canada); 24 electors from Latin America; 19 electors from Africa; 23 electors from Asia; and 3 electors from Oceania.m

SWITZERLAND

any were convinced that the year 2023 would end with a consistory for new cardinals, but no one expected an announcement in July that Pope Francis would create 21 cardinals at the end of September (September 30) — on the eve of the start of the first of the two Synods on Synodality.

Scrolling through the list of the 21 names, 18 of whom are under 80 and therefore electors in a possible conclave, there are both confirmations within the Holy See (for example, the three new prefects of Dicasteries, that of Bishops, Oriental Churches and the Doctrine of the Faith) and in the world (for example, the red hat for the new Archbishops of Madrid, Spain, and of Bogotà, Colombia). But there are also “surprises” that are in line with the choices made to date by the Successor of Peter. Two nuncio-electors now nearing the end of their diplomatic service constitute the most significant novelty: 76-year-old Emil Paul Tscherrig, apostolic nuncio to Italy,

emil Paul tscherrig aPostoLic nuncio to san marino

Pierbattista Pizzaballa Latin Patriarch of JerusaLem

Emil Paul Tscherrig, 76, was born in Unterems, Switzerland and ordained to the priesthood in 1974. He received his doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University and was incardinated in the diocese of Sion, Switzerland. Pope John Paul II appointed him a member of the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 1978, as secretary of the apostolic nunciature, serving in Uganda, South Korea, Mongolia and Bangladesh.

As Apostolic Nuncio, he has served in Burundi (1996-2000), Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Bahamas (2000-2004) and from 2001 also to Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname and Saint Kitts and Nevis; South Korea and Mongolia (2004-2008); the Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway, 20082012); Argentina (2012-2017); and in Italy and San Marino, the first non-Italian to hold the post (2017).n

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 58, was born in Bergamo, Italy. He obtained his diploma in classical studies at the Archiepiscopal Seminary of Ferrara in 1984, and received the Franciscan habit later that year, spending the year of novitiate at the Franciscan Shrine of La Verna (Arezzo, Italy). He made his temporary profession in La Verna in 1985, and his solemn profession in 1989, in Bologna. In 1990, he was ordained a priest. After spending one year in Rome, he was transferred to the Holy Land, in Jerusalem, in 1990. From July 2, 1999, he formally entered in service to the Custody of the Holy Land. After his philosophical-theological studies, he obtained a licentiate in Biblical Theology at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem. In 2020, Pope Francis appointed him the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. He is the first Latin Patriarch to be made a cardinal.n

18 INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

Agostino MARCHETTO

Grzegorz RYS

Christophe L. Y. G. PIERRE

François-Xavier BUSTILLO Claudio GUGEROTTI

Américo M. ALVES AGUIAR

Stephen Chow SAU-YAN POLAND

Diego R.PADRON SANCHEZ FRANCE

UNITED STATES

SPAIN

PORTUGAL

UKRAINE

SWITZERLAND ITALY

Emil Paul Tscherrig

ISRAEL

HONG KONG

Luis J. RUEDA APARICIO VENEZUELA

Ángel FERNANDEZ ARTIME

Sebastian FRANCIS

SOUTH SUDAN

COLOMBIA

Pierbattista PIZZABALLA TANZANIA MALAYSIA

PERU

Víctor M. FERNANDEZ Robert F. PREVOST

José COBO CANO

ARGENTINA SOUTH AFRICA

Luis Pascual DRI

Stephen A. M. MULLA

Protase RUGAMBWA

Stephen BRISLIN

Ángel Sixto Rossi

TTRUE RUE TO TO P POPE OPE F FRANCIS RANCIS’’ PROMISE PROMISE TO TO BRING BRING TO TO THE THE FORE FORE THE THE “C “CHURCH HURCH OF OF THE THE P PERIPHERIES ERIPHERIES,” ,” HE HE HAS HAS CHOSEN CHOSEN NEW NEW CARDINALS CARDINALS WORKING WORKING FOR FOR THE THE C CHURCH HURCH ON ON FIVE FIVE CONTINENTS CONTINENTS..

W ITH THIS CONSISTORY , ALMOST 75% OF THE CARDINALS WITH THIS CONSISTORY, ALMOST 75% OF THE CARDINALS VOTING VOTING IN THE NEXT CONCLAVE WILL BE F RANCIS APPOINTEES IN THE NEXT CONCLAVE WILL BE FRANCIS APPOINTEES..

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COLOMBIA

ARGENTINA

SOUTH AFRICA

UNITED STATES

Christophe Pierre, 77, earned a doctorate ever, some also accused him of giving the Pope “bad advice” on the Mexican Church after in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, and then was sent to Rome’s Francis sharply criticized the Mexican bishops during a 2016 visit.

Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy — the Vatican school for diplomacy. He entered the VatiArchbishop Pierre, in his June 2023 address can diplomatic service in 1977, serving first in to a gathering of the American bishops, defended Pope Francis’ vision of a “synodal Church” in Wellington, New Zealand, then in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Brazil, and as the Perwhich there is an “encounter of ideas, cultures and traditions which can help build bridges and manent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva. build community rather than divide.” chRistophe pieRRe In 1995, Pierre was consecrated a french archbishop appointed Possibly speaking to traditionalists, bishop and became papal nuncio to papal nuncio to the united he said the Church must be “more Haiti, which had experienced years of states by pope francis in 2016 deeply committed to her mission than to the maintenance of structures which church-state conflict; he was described as non-political. In 1999, he was transferred to Uganda, may no longer adequately serve her mission.”

Regarding the moral lives of the faithful, he said, “we where he campaigned against government promotion of condom use to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. In 2007, show respect for persons, not by abolishing objective standards of morality, but by helping everyone to recogPope Benedict named him nuncio to Mexico, where he nize the call to holiness and creating the conditions in was credited with “bridging the gap” between Mexico’s which they can live their call…”n secular establishment and the Catholic populace. How-

stephen BRisLin archbishop of cape town

ÁngeL sixto Rossi, s.J. archbishop of córdoba

Luis José Rueda apaRicio bishop of bogotá

Stephen Brislin, 66, was born in Welkom, South Africa. He conducted his seminary studies in philosophy at St. John Vianney, Pretoria and in theology at the Missionary Institute, London. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1983. Pope Benedict appointed him the Bishop of Kroonstad, South Africa, and he was consecrated in 2007. He was installed as Archbishop of Cape Town in 2010, on the Solemnity of Our Lady of the Flight into Egypt, the patronal feast of the Archdiocese of Cape Town. From 2013 to 2019 he was the President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference.n

Ángel Sixto Rossi, S.J., 64, was born in Córdoba, Argentina. In 1976 he began his novitiate in the Society of Jesus. After his studies in philosophy and theology in Ecuador, he was ordained in 1986; in 1994 he made his solemn vows. He graduated in spiritual theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He has held the following offices: rector of the Church of El Salvador (1990-92), founder of the Hogar San José reception centre and the Fundación Manos Abiertas (1992). From 1992-1995, he served as master of novices and superior of the community in Córdoba. He has published numerous texts and essays of a spiritual and pastoral nature and has offered the 30 days of Ignatian Spiritual Exercises for many years. In 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Córdoba.n

Luis José Rueda Aparicio, 61, was born in San Gil, Santander, Colombia.

He was ordained a priest in November 1989. He obtained a licentiate in moral theology at the Alphonsianum Academy of Rome. He served as parish priest in various parishes, professor of the major seminary, deputy director of the diocesan secretariat for the pastoral care of charity, rector of the diocesan institute for rural development, and diocesan vicar for pastoral ministry. In 2012 he was appointed as bishop of Montelíbano and received episcopal ordination the following April.

In May 2018, he was appointed as metropolitan archbishop of Popayán, Colombia. In 2020, Pope Francis appointed him the metropolitan archbishop of Bogotá.

In July, 2021 he was elected President of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia for a three-year term.n

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Claudio Gugerotti, 67, born in Verona, supported the 2016 “Pope for Ukraine” relief appeal. But, above all, he has consistently Italy, earned degrees in Eastern languages and literature and in sacred liturgy and taught pacalled for a Russian-Ukrainian reconciliation that goes beyond politics and political needs. tristics and, later, theology and Eastern liturgy in Verona. Despite his not having attended the As Vatican journalist Andrea Gagliarducci Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy as is usual, noted in 2022, “Pope Francis wanted a diplomat to lead the dicastery, so it stayed active at Pope John Paul II tapped him to serve as nuncio to Georgia and Armenia in 2001, as well as the diplomatic level. In this, Gugerotti is a disciple of Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, another Azerbaijan; later he served successively as nuncio in Belarus, in Ukraine, and in Italian and diplomat, who served as Claudio GuGerotti Great Britain.

Prefect of the Congregation of the He reportedly speaks Armenian, Archbishop, hAs been prefect Eastern Churches — and succeeded of the DicAstery for Kurdish, English, and French, alongCardinal Sandri. the eAstern churches since “From this perspective, the Pope side his native Italian. He also knows n ovember 2022 Latin, classical Greek and classical Arwanted to signal to Russia he was appointing a known nuncio who was not considered menian.

From 2015 to 2020, Gugerotti was nuncio to Ukraine, hostile.

“Finally, the Pope needed a diplomat who supported inheriting a situation of conflict after the 2014 Russian his line of neutrality but who at the same time showed annexation of Crimea. He was able to reach the conflict sympathy and understanding for Ukraine.”n zones, even celebrating one Easter in the Donbas, and

GrzeGorz ryś Archbishop of ŁóDź

stephen ameyu martin mulla Archbishop of JubA

José Cobo Cano Archbishop of mADriD

Grzegorz Ryś, 59, was born in Krakow, Poland. In 1982–1988, he studied theology and history at the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Krakow, as well as at the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of Krakow. He was ordained a priest in 1988 in the Cathedral of Wawel. From 1988 to 1989, Ryś worked as a vicar in the parish of Saints Margaret and Catherine in Kęty. From 2004 to 2007, he was the director of the Archives of the Metropolitan Chapter in Krakow. From 2007 to 2011, he was rector of the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of Krakow. In the years 2010 and 2011, he also served as chairman of the Conference of Rectors of the Theological Seminary in Poland. In 2011, he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Kraków. In 2017 Pope Francis appointed him archbishop of Łódź.n

Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, 59, was born in Ido, Eastern Equatoria, Sudan. He received priestly ordination in 1991 for the diocese of Torit. After carrying out pastoral work in Khartoum, he obtained a doctorate in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Urban University in 1997.

The title of his thesis was Toward Religious Dialogue and Reconciliation in Sudan. He then taught at the seminary of Juba, South Sudan, eventually becoming its rector. Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Torit on 3 January 2019, a diocese which had remained vacant for 5 years after the death of Bishop Mutek in 2013. On 12 December 2019, Pope Francis appointed him archbishop of Juba and he was installed on 22 March 2020. He remained Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Torit. He was Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Wau from 21 September 2020 to 24 January 2021.n

José Cobo Cano, 57, was born in Sabiote, Spain. After obtaining a licentiate in civil law, he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in theology from the Universidad Eclesiástica San Dámaso (1992).

He was ordained a priest in 1994 for the archdiocese of Madrid. Following ordination, he served as chaplain of Hermandades del Trabajo (1994-2000) and parish vicar of San Leopoldo (19952000). He studied social morality at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid (1996), and went on to serve as parish priest of San Alfonso María de Ligorio (2000-2015), member of the Presbyteral Council (2000-2012) and episcopal vicar of the Vicariate II (2015-2018), and Bishop of Madrid in 2018. Within the Spanish bishops’ conference, he was a member of the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral Care (2018-2020) and, since 2020, member of the Commission for Social Pastoral Care and Human Promotion. On 12 June, 2023, Pope Francis named him Archbishop of Madrid. He was installed on 8 July.n

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MALAYSIA

pRotaSe Rugambwa coadjutor archBishop of taBora

SebaStian FRanCiS president of the conference of catholic Bishops of malaysia, singapore and Brunei

Archbishop Protase Rugambwa, 63, was born in Bunena, Tanzania, and was ordained a priest by Saint John Paul II on 2 September 1990 for the diocese of Rulenge-Ngara. In 1998 he was awarded a doctorate in pastoral theology from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.

He was Vicar General of the diocese of Rulenge-Ngara from 2000 to 2002. From 2002 to 2008 he served as an official of the former Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. On 18 January 2008 he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Kigoma, Tanzania. Later, on 26 June 2012, he was appointed adjunct secretary of the same Dicastery and president of the Pontifical Mission Societies, with the personal title of archbishop. On 9 November 2017 he was appointed secretary of the same Congregation. On 13 April 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Coadjutor Archbishop of Tabora (Tanzania).n

Bishop Sebastian Francis, 71, was born in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. After completing his studies in philosophy and theology at the Major Seminary in Penang, he was ordained a priest for the diocese of Malacca-Johor on July 28, 1977. After several assignments, he studied in Rome, receiving a licentiate in Dogmatic Theology from the Angelicum.

After several other pastoral assignments, he received a Law degree in 1991 and subsequently went on to Maryknoll School of Theology in New York. On July 7, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Bishop of Penang, and he was ordained on 20 August with 10,000 Catholics in attendance. Since 1 January 2017, he has been president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.n

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HONG KONG

TANZANIA

PERU

Archbishop Robert Francis Prevost, Since the promulgation of the Pope’s 2019 motu proprio Vos estis lux mundi, its impleO.S.A., 67, has served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops since April 2023. An mentation and the overseeing of investigations into allegations of abuse and negligence American Augustinian priest, he previously served as Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, after by bishops is now part of the dicastery’s role. having spent many years as a parish pastor, Speaking in a May 4 interview with Vatican News, Archbishop Prevost said bishops diocesan official, seminary teacher and administrator in Peru. In 2001 and again in “must not hide behind an idea of authority 2007, he was elected to six-year terms as that no longer makes sense today. The authorhead of the Augustinian Order, head- RobeRt FRanCiS pRevoSt ity we have is to serve, to accompany quartered in Rome, where he worked priests, to be pastors and teachers. the Bishop’s first tasK is “We are often preoccupied with before being sent to the U.S. to be- to “communicate the Beauty come Director of Formation for the teaching doctrine, the way of living our of the faith” faith, but we risk forgetting that our Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago, and then Provincial Vicar for the order’s midwestern first task is to teach what it means to know Jesus province.

Christ and to bear witness to our closeness to the Prevost’s current position is an influential one, as Lord,” Prevost said. “This comes first: to communihis dicastery recommends to the Pope most of the cate the beauty of the faith, the beauty and joy of knowing Jesus.”n Church’s Latin-rite shepherds all over the world.

Stephen Chow Sau-Yan Bishop of the diocese of hong Kong Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-Yan, S.J., 63, of Hong Kong, was born in Hong Kong. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from the University of Minnesota. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1984. After completing his novitiate in 1986, he was awarded a licentiate in philosophy in Ireland, before continuing his studies in theology from 1988 to 1993 in Hong Kong, where, in 1994, he was ordained a priest. He then obtained a master’s degree in organizational development from the Loyola University of Chicago (19931995) and was awarded a doctorate in human development and psychology (Ed. D) from Harvard (2000-2006). He professed his final religious vows in 2007.

From 2018 to 2021, he served as provincial of the Chinese Province of the Jesuits. In 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of the diocese of Hong Kong after the See had remained vacant since January 2019, when Bishop Michael Yeung died after less than two years as its bishop. He was consecrated bishop in December 2021.n

PORTUGAL

FRANCE

SPAIN

February 14, 2015, Vatican Basilica. Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of 20 new cardinals created by Pope Francis. Present during the ceremony: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (Photo Grzegorz Galazka).

Ángel FernÁndez Artime RectoR MajoR of the salesians

FrAnçois-XAvier Bustillo Bishop of ajaccio

Américo mAnuel Alves AguiAr Bishop of Dagno

Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, 63, was born in Gozón-Luanco in Asturia, Spain, and is Rector Major of the Salesians. He made his perpetual vows in 1984 at Santiago de Compostela, and was ordained a priest in 1987 in León. Originally from the Province of León, he gained his degree in pastoral theology and licentiate in philosophy and theology. After being part of the technical commission that prepared for the 26th General Chapter, in 2009 he was appointed Superior of the South Argentine Province with headquarters in Buenos Aires. He had the opportunity in this role to get to know and personally collaborate with the then-Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, today Pope Francis. In December 2013 he was appointed Superior of the new Province of Mediterranean Spain dedicated to “Mary Help of Christians,” but before taking up this new role, in 2014 he was elected by the 27th General Chapter as Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation and the 10th Successor of Don Bosco. In 2020 he was reconfirmed as Rector Major for a second 6-year term.n

Bishop François-Xavier Bustillo, 54, Bishop of Ajaccio since 2021 and a Conventual Franciscan, was born in Pamplona, Spain. He entered the Minor Seminary of Baztán and began his postulancy in the Order of Conventual Franciscans in Padua, Italy, where he completed his philosophical and theological studies. He made his solemn profession on 20 September 1992; two years later he was a priest. In the same year he founded, with some brothers, the Convent of St. Bonaventure in Narbonne (France).

From 2018 until his appointment as bishop, he has been custodian of the SaintMaximilien Kolbe convent in Lourdes, episcopal delegate for the sanctuary of Lourdes and for the protection of minors, and since 2020 a member of the episcopal council of the Diocese of Tarbes et Lourdes. Bustillo is the author of the book published by the Vatican Publishing House Witnesses, Not Officials, which the Pope gave to priests at the Chrism Mass in 2022 and also on other occasions, mainly to priests.n

Bishop Américo Manuel Alves Aguiar, 50, born on 12 December 1973 in Leça do Balio, Matosinhos, has been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon since 2019. In 1995, he entered the Major Seminary of Porto. He completed his academic studies at the Catholic University, first in theology and then a Masters in Communication Sciences. In 2001, he was ordained a priest and became, in 2016, the Director of the National Secretariat of Social Communication. He was ordained titular Bishop of Dagno on 31 March 2019, in the Church of Trindade, in Porto. He is President of the WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation and Director of the Communication Department of the Patriarchate of Lisbon.n

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Archbishop José Goméz, tention on Ukraine with daily video upmong those dates (just recently made weekly) on the 71, a native of Mexico, became the first Opus Dei war. Shevchuk is, understandably, critical overlooked member to be consecrated a of the Russian state — but perhaps too bishop in the U.S., and the for the red hAt critical for the Pope’s purposes, as the first Latino to be elected head Pope focuses on helping end the bloodof the USCCB. As Archbishop of San Antonio and then Los shed by diplomatic means.

Angeles, he has made his mark as an orthodox leader — outspoken against Catholic pro-abortion politicians like Joe Bishop Francesco Moraglia, Patriarch of Biden, and praising Pope Benedict’s Summorum Pontificum Venice, one of only four “patriarchs” of local expanding the Traditional Mass, as preserving “the rich herchurches in the world — is allowed to wear itage and legacy of the Church.” So, Goméz is not exactly red even if not a cardinal, although Venice is “of one mind” with the Pope on every issue — which may traditionally a cardinal’s see and gave the Church explain why the head of the largest diocese in the U.S. and two 20th-century Popes: John XXIII and John Paul I. a see traditionally honored with a cardinal’s red hat, has so Moraglia’s concerns seem very much in line with Pope far gone without one.

Francis’, including his promotion of welcoming immigrants, emphasis on caring for the “marginalized” of sociSviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev, 53, Major ety, and simplicity of life (he insisted on Ikea furniture for Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic his residence and a Volkswagen Golf to drive), yet the Pope Church, has been laboring since the February continues to overlook him to be made a cardinal, in favor of 24, 2022, Russian incursion to focus world atprelates from the “peripheries” of the Church.n

Agostino mArchetto apostoliC nunCio Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, 83, Apostolic Nuncio, was born in Vicenza, Italy. He attended schools at the Patronage Leone XIII in Vicenza, then entered the seminary and was ordained a priest at Vicenza Cathedral in 1964. In 1985, he was appointed titular archbishop of Astigi with the office of apostolic nuncio to Madagascar and Mauritius. In 1990, he was transferred as Apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania, and in 1994, as Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus. In 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed him secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. In 2010, upon reaching the age of 70, he retired from his post to devote himself to studying, in particular the hermeneutics of the Second Vatican Council, for which Pope Francis has praised him. In addition to Italian, he speaks French, English and Spanish.n

diego rAfAel PAdrón sánchez Bishop of the arChdioCese of Cumaná Archbishop Diego Rafael Padrón Sánchez, 84, is currently parish priest of La Inmaculada de Camoruco, in the Archdiocese of Valencia in Venezuela.

Born in Montalbán, he holds a degree in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and a diploma in Oriental Biblical Sciences from the Franciscanum Institute in Jerusalem-Israel. He is a professor of Spanish, literature and Latin, and a graduate of the Professional Institute of Teaching at the Pedagogical Institute in Caracas. Ordained a priest on 4 August 1963, he was parish priest in several parishes in Valencia. In 1990, Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Caracas and Titular Bishop of Gisipa. In 1994 he was Bishop of the Diocese of Maturín and in 2002 Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cumaná. He was President of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference for two consecutive periods.n

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ITALY

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A

luis PAscuAl dri CapuChin Father Luis Pascual Dri is 96 years old and continues to serve the Lord every day by administering the sacrament of reconciliation. He was born in Federación, Entre Ríos Province, Argentina, into a family where all but one of the children consecrated themselves to God in the religious life. From a very young age he worked in the fields, tending animals and also planting corn and alfalfa.

He entered the Capuchin seminary in January 1938 at the age of 11, and took the Capuchin habit on 21 February 1945.

On 29 March 1952, he was ordained a priest in the Cathedral of Montevideo.

Director of the San Francisco de Carrasco Minor Seminary in 1953, in 1961, he specialized in Europe as formator of novices. In 1962 he began his mission as educator at the Colegio y Liceo Secco Illa de Uruguay, until 1974. A parish priest in several churches, at the beginning of 2000, he was transferred to the Shrine Ntra. Sra. De Pompeya, Buenos Aires, where he spent three years, then was appointed parish priest in Mar del Plata. In 2007, he returned again to the Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Pompeya.n

NewS

“thE flood could dEstroy what has still hEld out” ExcErpt from a rEcEnt kath.net intErviEw with papal biographEr Peter Seewald about francis’ “brEak” with his prEdEcEssor, bEnEdict xvi Papal biographer Peter Seewald with Pope Benedict XVI in 2022.

Benedict died on December 31, 2022 — the final day of the year

KATH.NET: Mr. Seewald, on the occasion of the announcement of the newly nominated cardinals (July 9) and the future prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (June 30), Der Spiegel headlined: “Pope Francis is cleaning up Benedict’s legacy.” The Frankfurter Rundschau wrote: “Francis finally breaks with Benedict.”

Were you surprised?

PETER SEEWALD: Not really. On the one hand, they correspond to the wishful thinking of the relevant media; on the other hand, it was observed that Pope Francis’ course became more radical with age, or let’s say: unveiled. When a deserving employee like Archbishop Georg Gänswein is then also banned from the Vatican and at the same time a protégé whose qualifications for the most important office in the Catholic Church seem questionable is appointed supreme guardian of the faith, that is already an announcement.

The future head of the [Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith], the Argentinian Victor Fernández, defined his future task with the words, “Harmonious growth will preserve Christian teaching more effectively than any control mechanism.”

That not only sounds vague, but also downright grotesque in view of the dramatic crisis of the Church in the West.

The fact that Pope Francis at the same time declared that in the past the dicastery had “used immoral methods” gives us something to think on. How could that not be seen as a reference to the former Prefect of the Faith, Joseph Ratzinger?

As well as an attempt to legitimize the course change.

Francis is still considered a “reformer pope.”

The beginning (of Francis’ papacy) made one sit up and take notice. I was impressed by his commitment to the poor, to refugees, to the protection of life.

At the same time, the astonished public observed that Bergoglio did not keep many of his promises, blowing hot and cold, contradicting himself again and again, and thus causing considerable confusion. Added to this were the many cases in which he ruled harshly, deposed people he did not like, and closed key institutions created under John Paul II. Bergoglio certainly saw other tasks for himself than Benedict.

You can’t blame him for that. However, the latest developments point to a veritable dam bursting. And in view of the dramatic decline of Christianity in Europe, this could result in a flood that destroys what has still held out.

Strong words...

The latest news from the Vatican reminded me of an essay by Georgio Agamben that has become famous. In his text about the “mystery of evil,” the most discussed philosopher of our time [Agamben] brings Benedict XVI into the discussion. As a young theologian, Ratzinger once distinguished between a Church of the wicked and a Church of the just, in an interpretation of Augustine.

From the beginning, the Church was

inextricably mixed. It is both the Church of Christ and the Church of Antichrist.

According to Agamben, there is also the idea of the katechon...

What do you mean by that?

With regard to the Second Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians, this means the principle of stopping. It is a term that is also interpreted as a “barrier,” [referring to] something or someone who holds back the end of time. Benedict XVI was something like this “stopper,” says Agamben. Against this background, his resignation inevitably provoked a separation of the “beautiful” from the “black” Church, that span of time in which the wheat is separated from the chaff. This is a very pointed thesis. But the Pope Emeritus apparently saw it the same way. When I asked him why he couldn’t die, he replied that he had to stay. As a memorial to the authentic message of Jesus, as a light on the mountain.

“In the end, Christ will triumph,” he added.

The full interview with Peter Seewald originally appeared on Kath.net, a German Catholic news website, on July 25.m

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

25

anniVeRSaRy

30 YeArs of itv An interview with founding editor-in-Chief RobeRt Moynihan n BY CHRISTOPHER HART-MOYNIHAN Here, Robert Moynihan and Grzegorz Galazka meeting with Pope John Paul II in August 1993. They were in their 30s, and John Paul was 73. They presented him the “Zero Issue” of their new magazine, and explained that they wanted to narrate the story of the Church under his pontificate in the English-speaking world. He encouraged them to continue. We are now, in 2023, celebrating exactly 30 years since that 1993 conversation Below, Domenico Del Rio, Fr. Robert Graham, S.J., Dominik Morawski, and a young Robert Moynihan about 1988.

Into what “eras” do you divide the past 30 years of Inside the Vatican in your mind?

Robert Moynihan: First, there was a period of two years which I would call the “launch”— the years 1993 to 1995.

Every detail of every issue was labored over. We did not have internet then; we were still making the film for the magazine in the old way — a film about 20 inches wide and 12 inches high for every two pages of the magazine. It would take several hours to lay out the film, and at 8 or 9 at night I would drive out in my old Alfa Romeo 33 to Fiumicino Airport which had a late-night TWA flight to the United States, and ship the films. There were 32 films for each issue, making 64 pages.

For 17 years we had the office, and then we stopped –– they raised the rent. I didn’t know what I was going to do. We met in people’s houses, had tea and crackers, it was very nice. But it broke the cohesion of the editorial team not to have a physical office.

But we continued to meet for 4-5 more years, and then around 2014 the practice of physical editorial meetings declined. It became email, and then, with COVID, Zoom meetings...

Which people would come by the office?

I had a dear friend, Maurizio 26

INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

Di Giacomo, who had written lots of articles in Italian newspapers. His skill was observing very particular details: if a cardinal was on a promotion committee and the person who was promoted had studied with that cardinal, etc. He watched events, and most of all, people, very closely. What he taught me was, you’ve got to observe the friendships, the alliances, the rivalries. When you understand these, you are much closer to explaining Vatican decisions. The decisions all depended on a multiyear, underground process of cross-fertilization which explained why certain things and certain people popped up and flourished at different times.

Dominik Morawski, a reporter for magazines and television in Poland. People forget that [the Poles] had been Communist, there were two world blocs. And it wasn’t clear that Communism would go under.

Even the highly intelligent, cultured Cardinal Agostino Casaroli (1914-1998) — he was the number two man in the Vatican in the 1980s because he was Secretary of State, and very savvy and cultured. One of the high moments of my life was walking up the stairs of the Columbus Hotel where there was a reception (it must have been in 1987 or 1988) celebrating Casaroli’s 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood (he was ordained in May of 1937, so it must have been

in the spring of 1987). And I States. Marcinkus was, remarkwas there in the line with peoably, one of the kindest men I’ve ple and well-wishers. I was by met. I had brought a Sanyo transpure chance in line behind portable computer over in 1986 – Giulio Andreotti (1919-2013), a 6 by 8 inch screen in a 45-pound many times Prime Minister of case, all green text, the most Italy, and he was chatting with advanced computer at the time. the person next to him. He was But I could not run it on the eleca figure… well, we actually trical current we had. He was don’t have a comparable figure smoking a cigar with his feet on [in the United States]. He probhis desk and said, “I can solve that ably was the most important problem for you, Bob.” political figure in Italy after He hopped up like an NBA Above, from left to right, John Allen, Robert Moynihan, and Delia World War II. He was elected Gallagher power forward from his chair (he on April 6, 2005, four days after the passing of Pope John PM seven times for 2-4 year Paul II. Allen and Gallagher headed up CNN’s coverage of the Vatican was 6’6”). He went to his armoire during that time. Below, May 20, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI greets terms because the government and gave me a transformer that Robert Moynihan following a concert Moynihan helped organize, kept falling apart—fragile featuring the music of Metropolitan Hilarion (center, in the background) could change current. “You can coalitions kept coming apart. have it,” he said. It cost $200, So Andreotti goes up the which was a fortune at that time. stairs, bows slightly to the car“You are going to do good work dinal, reaches out his hand –– with it,” he said. the hands touch... and it was He gave me a sense of confilike the Sistine Chapel, where dence because he was the right the hand of God is about to hand of Pope John Paul II for touch the hand of man, and financial matters. In the Philipdivine power is conferred. I pines in the 1970s, he saved Paul felt a blast of power from that VI from a would-be stabber — handshake. Their eyes locked he reached out and with one and I felt an explosive power in hand, encircled the entire arm of their gaze. I said to myself, the attacker and grabbed it, and “These are the two most powerful men in Italy.” I shook hands Pope Paul VI realized that his life had been saved. with Casaroli and I felt fascinated, like a character watching How did your work with Russia and the Orthodox the slow dance of a cobra.

Church arise?

The Vatican was an alternative world where decisions John Paul and his election in 1978 began another era. He were made, and meetings were held, that was completely difwas the first non-Italian Pope after 500 years of the Church ferent from the United States. So I came to understand the as an Italian operation. The Second Vatican Council (1962Vatican as an institution in play between the old Catholic tra65) had opened the Church up. ditionalists, sotto voce, as they said, going back to the Then I met and became friends with Frank Shakespeare, Renaissance — carried predominantly by the Italians, but the second U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, in the 1980s. He which others, like Ciceronian elites, also shared. always told me that in the world there was a preeminent temIn my lifetime many of these tradiporal power in the United States, and a tions have been set aside under the preeminent spiritual power in the Roman unceasing onslaught of the cell phone Catholic Church. If these two aspects and the globalization of the Roman could work together, they could do Curia — from 70-80% Italian to now tremendous good in the world. And in perhaps 40% Italian, with Africans, 1984, the United States decided to use the Poles, Spaniards, Americans… So the Vatican in its efforts to slowly unravel the Church has been going through a passage U.S.S.R. Frank Shakespeare said the Unitfrom a locally-focused institution with a ed States should be friends with a powerglobal reach to, now, one globally-focused ful, confident, Christian Russia—and that with local nostalgia. this friendship would determine the course I had already met American Archbishop Paul Casimir of the 21st century.

Marcinkus (head of the Vatican Bank) and other Americans During this time we had a group of young journalists — who thought they might predominate, and fully command this Andrea Kirk, Sheena Muldoon, Micaela Biferali, who did institution. That’s not so clear now — for example, Africa has “Vatican Watch” for the magazine, and Delia Gallagher, who embraced the Church in a way it has not embraced the United went on to work at CNN. It was a bustling office. Giuseppe SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

27

ANNIVERSARY 30 YEARS of INSIDE thE VatIcaN Sabatelli was running everysee the advantages and disthing when I was in the U.S. advantages of each tradition.

The years from 1999 to 2005, On July 7, 2007, Benedict the last five years of John Paul published Summorum pontifiII’s pontificate, were good cum… the old liturgy could still years, active years. We began be respected, as the Church consome initiatives with Russia tinued on a modernizing path — through the Bradley Foundaso it would not be a backward or tion — trips to Kazan, to inward-looking Church. Then Novosibirsk, Moscow, severBenedict resigned — fundaal times. We wrote about these mentally because there was an in the magazine. Then John effort to enroll the Church in the Paul died, and people were USA-led globalist initiatives saying he hadn’t restored the and ideologies, which didn’t tradition of the Church… exist prior to 2000: militant Some of the staff of Inside the Vatican in Rome in the early years of the What would you choose century. Left to right: Andrea Kirk, Giuseppe Sabatelli, Micaela Biferali and insistence on the LGBT agenda, Shena Muldoon (who typed 120 words per minute without a single error) as the three most significant and insistence that any objecstories Inside the Vatican covered in its 30 year history? tions were opposed to human rights. The “Wikileaks” emails First, the pivot of John Paul II from focusing on the USSR show that, after having sparked Color Revolutions in Tunisia, and Poland to focusing on the West and its malaise, the probUkraine, Georgia, and Libya — in order to break away from lem of man’s dignity, and creating a coherent culture in favor ethnic or socialistic or pre-modern forms of social organizaof life. He argued that we had become selfish, self-centered, tion, inserting these countries into the developing new world consumerist, had created a culture of death. To read each of his order — American elites wanted a color revolution also in the encyclicals on this was the endeavor of the first years of Inside Vatican (2010-2012). John Podesta, Hilary Clinton, etc. shared the Vatican magazine. I was privileged to have Cardinal emails stating that the Church must change its teaching, still Ratzinger tell me that was an appropriate hermeneutic through characterized by Benedict’s reasoned traditionalism. which to analyze the encyclicals.

Benedict in turn was criticized by so-called “rigid” Catholics Second was the transformation, spearheaded by the “Neoas being much too modern and being friends with Hans Küng, cons” of the United States, of the US into a warlike power after who questioned the divinity of Christ and life after death. But 9/11 — a force for “regime change.” John Paul in 2003 sent his Ratzinger was by no means willing to take the Church all the advisors to George W. Bush in Washington and said the war in way to where the Anglican Church, and liberal elites, and Iraq would be a “useless slaughter,” and in the end 1 million Atlantic Monthly, and NPR went: a liberalism of private enterIraqis did die — 500,000 of them children. John Paul cited the prise, enriching the few but causing impoverishment and slow words of Pope Benedict XV, who became Pope in evisceration of the middle class. It’s a rather unatsummer of 1914, on World War I: “inutile strage” tractive set of principles.

— “useless massacre.” We made this the cover of The point is, the Church was viewed as retaining the magazine in March 2003. a model of human life unacceptable to this modern We Americans harmed millions, we set off a liberal vision — a vision which bombed Serbia, great Middle Eastern migration, then accentuated sought the breakup of the USSR, sought to change it with Ghaddafi’s overthrow and execution. I and domesticate Churches like the Anglican trace the coming of this present Ukrainian war to Church, and insisted that old patriarchal models decisions taken back then, and Francis is now takwere against human dignity. According to this ing a certain line back to Benedict and John Paul, vision, old religions have to be reformed — Confua line skeptical that the elites are actually altruistic cianism under Chinese communism, old Russian when carrying out these regime changes and revways under communism and oligarchs, and, in the olutions. All this has frittered away the reputation western world, the re-education of religious denomthe US had at the end of World War II. All this has inations. One by one, they have embraced this vision caused harm to millions and put the next generations of our as a new morality and new will of God — but the god is a country into a more challenging, contentious context than if the George Soros-sponsored one.

United States had allowed itself to be influenced by the millenFrancis is the fourth great story, with the Vatican’s reformanial wisdom of the Church. tion, which Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò had called for, and The third great story was the resignation of Benedict XVI — which the Vatican tried to perform… and Francis has taken preceded by the story of a pontificate which was punctuated by four or five decisions in recent weeks which set up the last his decision to come to an unprecedented, unique solution to the stages of his pontificate. And any day he could say, “I am done, tensions between conservatives and liberals by saying the two I am too weak” — at his age and with his health, he may even should flourish together: let’s work out our differences later and die. What comes next would be the fifth story.m 28

INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

Thank you for 30 years of Inside the Vatican ITV Founders: Dr. Robert Moynihan and Grzegorz Galazka with Pope Benedict XVI

We’ve been helping Catholics like you understand what’s happening in Rome and the world since 1993.

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FOOTSTEPS On ThE WAY

norcia’S Sacred drama Stepping back in time to that “night of nightS” n BY ITV STAFF

P

ilgrimage to places that are holy and beautiful — places filled with rich spiritual meaning that also immerse the pilgrim in the sacred beauty of the created world — is a tradition going back almost as long as Christianity itself.

Italy is one such land, with a breathtaking array of lovely and ancient churches, shrines and miraculous sites. They are to be found in venerable old cities and on mountainsides, on the seacoast and in the gently rolling hill country. And none is more naturally beautiful and spiritually moving than Norcia, located more or less in the center of Italy.

Norcia rests on a wide valley at the foot of the soaring Sibillini Mountains, known for its pristine air and majestic scenery.

The walled city, originally dating to the fifth century B.C., is the birthplace of St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism, and his twin sister St. Scholastica, in 480 A.D. It is the site of the 8th-century Basilica of St. Benedict and Benedictine monastery, abandoned in the Napoleonic era, and then restored as a new re-foundation

by American-born Benedictine Fr. Cassian Folsom and a handful of companions in 2000. A 2016 earthquake destroyed most of the historic basilica and monastery; the monastery’s 20 current monks moved to another nearby abandoned monastery and have proceeded to restore and rebuild, and continue to produce their world-famous beer, Birra Nursia.

NORCIA’S “LIVING STATIONS” To travel on pilgrimage to Norcia (traditionally known in English by its old Latin name, Nursia) is an enriching

journey of faith at any time; but to experience Norcia at the climax of the Church’s liturgical year, the Holy Triduum and the Feast of the Resurrection, leaves a deep impression on the heart of the faithful pilgrim.

Once pilgrims arrive at the town’s central piazza, they take their places alongside the many Italians who journey here year after year to witness, participate in and in a way, relive, the poignant events of the First Good Friday. Everyone gathers here for a living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, including the local people of Norcia, many of whom are actors with roles in the sacred performance, as well as visitors, pilgrims, religious and clergy.

The crowd grows with the presence of the horses that will carry the Roman soldiers as they trot into the procession. For many, it feels as if Jerusalem has been transported to Norcia, and the experience borders on the extraordinary.

The sacred drama begins with the conferring of a priestly blessing. We see — but more than that, we experience — the touching, key scenes of the Stations, portraying Jesus Christ making His way to Calvary.

At the same time, we, too, make our walk outside the walls of the city. As we stop at each of the Stations depicted, we find ourselves perhaps stepping back in time to that Night of Nights, two millennia ago. From His arrest and appearance before Pilate, to meeting His sorrowful Mother, to encountering the weeping women of Jerusalem, and culminating at the hill of the Cross, pilgrims witness the Passion of Christ as few Christians can. Though only an hour and a half in duration, this moving experience is the memory of a lifetime.m

JOIN US! INSIDE THE VATICAN PILGRIMAGES You can experience this Holy Week tradition in person, as part of Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages’ Signature Easter in Italy 2024 pilgrimage March 25-April 4, 2024.

Besides Norcia, we travel to Assisi, the lovely small town of St. Francis and St. Clare; to Manoppello, and the shrine of the miraculous Holy Face; and to Rome, where we attend the Pope’s Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

JOIN US! insidethevaticanpilgrimages.com

Email: pilgrimage@InsidetheVatican.com phone: +1.202.536.4555 30

INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

Summer 2023

Issue 5

Reflecting on the “Golden Age”

Robert Moynihan in December 2014 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., with fellow speakers invited from Russia and Ukraine

This is the text of a talk given by Dr. Moynihan to a group of supporters of our Unitas: Come Rebuild My Church initiative in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A., on May 25, 2023 – Ed.

T

hank you all for being present here, old friends. I am reminded today of a line from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians (4:7): “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God, and not of us.”

Being here with all of you reminds me of the “Golden Age” of Church and country, an age that we lived through.

I have a vivid memory of my father, William Moynihan, in the 1950s in Connecticut, sitting in the garden on Good Friday afternoon, every Good Friday, contemplating the sacrifice of Christ.

This was a mentality that slowly slipped away as I grew older. When I was in college, the Supreme Court passed Roe v. Wade, an action that would have been

unimaginable 20 years prior. I was impacted by these events, and by my studies under Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan, who discussed with me the concept of Catholic-Orthodox friendship, and even possible eventual reunion between the Catholics and the Orthodox, as a way for men and women of good will to resist the onslaught of the secular humanist world, which might otherwise be unopposed.

I went to Rome in the early 1980s.

I was working on a dissertation on the early Franciscans, and Joseph Ratzinger had written a book on the subject. I met Ratzinger in 1984 and he told me, “You are the only one in Rome who has read that book of mine…”

Then we began Inside the Vatican magazine in 1993.

It was a time of transition to the “second phase” of John Paul II’s pontificate: the first phase was focused on the Soviet Union, and the second was focused on the West, what he called the “Culture of Death.”

Ratzinger was a key figure throughout these years. We had covers with Ratzinger on them throughout the 1990s,

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1

The “Golden Age” discussing his actions, defending him; and this culminated us into the splendor of God’s light, into true life. It is really in his election in 2005. true: as we follow Christ in this mission to be fishers of A few days after he was elected, on April 24, 2005, he men, we must bring men and women out of the sea that is gave a long homily which included, near the end, these salted with so many forms of alienation and onto the land words: “Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the of life, into the light of God. wolves.”

“It is really so: the purpose of our lives is to reveal God Then, after that, we have Benedict’s splendid but highto men. And only where God is seen does life truly begin. ly attacked pontificate, and his resignation, and then the “Only when we meet the living God in Christ do we election of Francis, and his request to “pray for me,” and know what life is. We are not some casual and meaninghis 10 years of “reform.” less product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a Then in recent years, we have the denunciation of Franthought of God. cis by Archbishop Viganò in 2018, then my personal meet“Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is ings with Viganò in 2019, and my necessary. There is nothing more book on Viganò in 2020. (My beautiful than to be surprised by weight dropped to 132 pounds as I the Gospel, by the encounter with worked on the book.)

Christ. There is nothing more The world passed through the beautiful than to know Him and to COVID virus in 2020, the vaccispeak to others of our friendship nations and travel restrictions in with Him. The task of the shep2021, and the Ukraine-Russia war herd, the task of the fisher of men, began in February 2022, leading can often seem wearisome. But it us to 2023, and the launch of this is beautiful and wonderful, “Unitas” initiative, with our print because it is truly a service to joy, media, the Mary issue, the special to God’s joy which longs to break Pope John Paul II hands a rosary as a gift to William Benedict issue, podcasts, and Moynihan after a morning Mass in his private chapel at the into the world.”

Vatican in 1998, 25 years ago. Robert Moynihan, editor of fundraising.

So, all of us have seen confuthis magazine, is in the middle in the background On May 15, 2019, Cardinal sion increase, in the culture, in Gerhard Müller, former Prefect of the Congregation for families, around the world. the Doctrine of the Faith, told Die Tagespost that “the And yet, there is also great faith, as we see in the monks Church indeed finds herself in one of the gravest crises of of Norcia, and local parishes in many places, including her whole history. She will not continue to exist when she Dallas, and many small colleges, and many podcasters, is being turned into a religious-political NGO and when who are keeping the faith. the teaching on faith and morals, as it has been revealed to We want to hand on what we saw and heard and learned us by Christ, is being relativized or fully abandoned.” in the “Golden Age,” to be one more link in a long chain Benedict XVI in 2005 ended his first homily by saying that stretches from the beginning toward the end, in the what his mission was: to be a “fisher of men.” future.

Benedict said: “Today too the Church and the succesThis is why I have written and published the magazine, sors of the Apostles are told to put out into the deep sea of and books on Benedict, Cardinal Erdo, Pope Francis, and history and to let down the nets, so as to win men and Archbishop Viganò. women over to the Gospel — to God, to Christ, to true life.

This is why we have started podcasts, and efforts to “The Fathers made a very significant commentary on build bridges with the East. this singular task. This is what they say: for a fish, created We need help to continue, to write, to do podcasts, to for water, it is fatal to be taken out of the sea, to be hold round-tables, to be pilgrims, and to help build a culremoved from its vital element to serve as human food. ture of pilgrimage, and to support the Christians of the “But in the mission of a fisher of men, the reverse is Middle East. The best help for us is over several years, true. because it enables us to plan. We do not presume to know “We are living in alienation, in the salt waters of sufferyour plans for all the apostolates and charities you suping and death; in a sea of darkness without light. The net port, but we dare to hope that you might include us among of the Gospel pulls us out of the waters of death and brings those apostolates… m 2

A new Voice in urbi’s digital Media A tAlk with Fr. ChArles Murr, Friend oF the lAte CArdinAl GAGnon Urbi et Orbi Communications spoke with Fr. Charles Murr, a regular guest on “The Urbi et Orbi Show,” hosted

by Dr. Robert Moynihan on Urbi’s YouTube channel.

ready.” He’s seeing that this is a serious moment in human history. He’s ready to call for some changes. It’s his show and his voice.

I think talking with me has had an impact on Dr. MoyniHow did you and Dr. Moynihan first meet? han. I’ve told him a lot of things that nobody would tell him.

Fr. Charles Murr: We met through Fr. Joseph Fessio, Robert has a good nose and a sixth sense for things. One S.J., some years ago. He told major thing we’ve discussed is me to give Inside the Vatican a the Freemasons in the Roman call and I did an interview with Curia. The head of the CongreITV on The Godmother (Fr. gation for Bishops was a Murr’s book on the life of Freemason [Cardinal SebasJosephine Lehnert, a.k.a. tiano Baggio — Ed.], and it was Madre Pascalina, the Secrepresented to the Pope. That’s tary of Pope Pius XII) for the when Gagnon resigned. I drove October 2020 issue. him to the airport and he said, “I But what really got me quit. I’m out of here.” inspired to contact him was Which years were you servRobert’s article about his ating in the Curia in Rome?

Pope John Paul II with a young Fr. Murr, in about 1978, just after tempt to visit Cardinal Gagnon John Paul was elected Pope. Below, the Murr-Moynihan podcast...

In the 1970s, during the ponright before he died. “The tificates of Paul VI, John Paul I Apostolic Visitation of Cardiand John Paul II. I was in Rome nal Gagnon to the Roman during John Paul II’s pontificate Curia” — I told him I know a lot for two years. I wasn’t imabout that. pressed. We would not be where That intrigued him, so he we are today if he had stayed invited me on the show. Robert home long enough to take care mentioned that Cardinal Gagof his own house. Pope John non had tried to give him the Paul II made 140 trips — two name of a person to contact, but months’ preparation for each. he could not hear it because the But the rats at home had taken Cardinal was too weak to over. speak. We both think that he might have been sending him Do you speak of issues in the current culture on the to me. program?

Do you think you are carving out a new space with As much as I can. We are trying to diagnose the probthis program on the Urbi et Orbi Show? lems, in order to propose solutions. If we can’t do that, then Yes. Before, I thought I was going to retire and fade into what we [Catholics] are presenting to the world is… miloblivion, and then, hopefully, be with God. quetoast. There is an old saying — Popes come and go, the But with communications today, I think you can hear Roman Curia remains. There are a lot of people in the Curia and have access to any voice and ideology you wish. This who can’t stand Francis, and for 10 years they have smiled is fabulous. We have always had scandals in Church and and nodded. The Curia takes care of itself — it is the oldest government, and because of this new media, finally, the bureaucracy in the world. They train people to be diplopeople responsible are answerable and they have to answer. mats. Instead of protecting the deposit of faith, they are People are demanding accountability. asked to play politics.

And do you think you and Dr. Moynihan have So you think that there is a trend within the Church changed or influenced one another’s views through of not taking a stand, of playing both sides? these programs?

Yes. With Pius XII, there was nothing that was gray. It Finally I’m beginning to hear from him that we should was always “yes” or “no.” And the reasons for yes or no be more straightforward, aggressive. I said, “That depends were always clearly presented. And then at some point we on you: all you have to do is blow my whistle and I’m lost that and everything became gray.m 3

news

“the Monks returned in 2000...”

Presenting the work of Unitas to the syriac catholic Patriarch of antioch us to continue our work and invited us to visit him at his seat in the suburbs of Beirut during our pilgrimage to Lebanon from September 17-25. he Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Patriarch Younan told me that his summer patriarchal Ephrem Joseph III Younan, visited the United seat, at Sharfeh Monastery in the mountains 25 kilomeStates and Canada in July and August. ters to the northeast of Beirut, is now home to the Order During his visit to the Syriac Catholic parish of Our of Ephremite Monks. This order, founded in 1705, was Lady of Deliverance in New Jersey, I had the incredible nearly wiped out during the Sayfo, the mass killing of honor and good fortune of meeting with the Patriarch, Christians during the breakup of the Ottoman Empire at discussing with him the current challenges of Christian the end of World War I. “The monks returned and began communities in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, and presenting living once again at Sharfeh in the year 2000,” the Patrito him the work of our Unitas initiative and our Friends arch told me. “Just a handful of monks, and it is very cold of Lebanon project. in the winter. But this small community slowly grew, and Our Lady of Deliverance, located in Woodland Park, it is a living monastery once New Jersey, was the first parish again. It is a very beautiful established by Patriarch Youmonastery, on the road from nan in 1986, when he was sent Beirut to Damascus. Many as a young priest to the United important manuscripts in the States to minister to the Syriac language are kept there.” increasing numbers of Syriac At the conclusion of our Catholics living in the country. meeting, I presented the PatriOn Sunday, July 23, the arch and Bishop Habash with a Patriarch returned once again to printed booklet containing artiWoodland Park to celebrate cles that I have written over the Mass alongside Bishop Yousif past two years as part of these Behnam Habash, the current Lebanon Reports.

Eparch of Our Lady of DeliverWe discussed, for a moment, ance — an eparchy which the current political situation in encompasses all of the Syriac Catholic parishes within the [Patriarch Younan celebrating Mass at Our Lady of Deliverance in Lebanon, and for Christians Woodlawn, New Jersey on July 23, 2023] throughout the Middle East.

United States. Patriarch Younan The Patriarch told me that people in Western countries, and Bishop Habash celebrated Mass in the presence of sevsuch as France, Canada and the United States, need to eral other priests and bishops — including Bishop become more engaged and informed about the ongoing Gabriele Giordano Caccia, the Permanent Observer of removal of Christians in the Middle East. the Holy See to the United Nations and the former Apos“There has to be a return to Christ,” he told me. “For tolic Nuncio in Lebanon — and the congregation. At the example, it is strange, when there was a film that claimed conclusion of the Mass, the Patriarch spoke warmly of his Jesus had relations with a woman [likely referring to the memories of arriving in the United States 37 years ago, and film The Last Temptation of Christ], only Muslims Bishop Habash spoke about his lifelong friendship with protested this. Christians in the West did not speak out.” and respect for the Patriarch, who “had called me to serve the Church as a young priest who spoke no English.”

After his visit to New Jersey, the Patriarch continued on The following morning, I had the opportunity to meet to Montreal, to visit another Syriac congregation, and then the Patriarch personally and discuss the work of Unitas to Orlando, Florida for the 141st Supreme Convention of and the Friends of Lebanon with him. The Patriarch told the Knights of Columbus, held from August 1-3.m

By Christopher Hart-Moynihan

T

JOIN US!... BE THE HANDS THAT BRING UNITAS TO THE CHURCH! Visit https://urbietorbicommunications.com/unitas-come-rebuild-my-church/ email us at USoffice@InsidetheVatican.com or call +1.202.536.4555 to see how you can join us.

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APOSTOLIC LETTER

“the grAndeur And misery of mAn” An excerpt from pope frAncis’ June 2023 Apostolic letter SublimitaS et miSeria hominiS, honoring BlAise pAscAl (1623-1662), philosopher And defender of the fAith A youthful portrait of Blaise Pascal (he died at the age of 39), and the title page of the Pensées (Thoughts), a collection of fragments, Pascal’s reflections on and defense of the Christian religion

In 1654, Pascal had a mystical experience he called his “night of fire”; he wrote of encountering “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob — not of the philosophers and the sages.

Certainty. Certainty. Feeling. Joy. Peace. God of Jesus Christ.” Here below, excerpts from Pope Francis’ recent letter on this great thinker and believer. —RM THE GRANDEUR AND MISERY OF MAN This paradox is central to the thought and enduring message of Blaise Pascal, born four centuries ago, on June 19, 1623, in Clermont in central France. From childhood, Pascal devoted his life to the pursuit of truth. By the use of reason, he sought its traces in the fields of mathematics, geometry, physics and philosophy, making remarkable discoveries and attaining great fame even at an early age. Yet he was not content with those achievements. In a century of great advances in many fields of science, accompanied by a growing spirit of philosophical and religious skepticism, Blaise Pascal proved to be a tireless seeker of truth, a “restless” spirit, open to ever new and greater horizons. [...]

If Blaise Pascal can attract everyone, it is above all because he spoke so convincingly of our human condition. Yet it would be mistaken to see in him merely an insightful observer of human behavior. His monumental Pensées, some of whose individual aphorisms remain famous, cannot really be understood unless we realize that Jesus Christ and Sacred Scripture are both their center and the key to their understanding. For if Pascal proposed to speak of man and God, it was because he had arrived at the certainty that “not only do we know God solely through Jesus Christ, but we know ourselves solely through Jesus Christ. We do not know life and death except through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ, we understand neither our life nor our death, neither God nor ourselves. Hence without the Scriptures, which

speak solely of Jesus Christ, we know nothing and we see only darkness.”[...]

FAITH, LOVE AND FREEDOM As Christians, we need to avoid the temptation to present our faith as an incontestable certainty evident to everyone. Clearly, Pascal was concerned to make people realize that “God and truth are inseparable,” yet he also knew that belief is possible only by the grace of God, embraced by a heart that is free.

Through faith he had personally encountered “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, not the God of the philosophers and the learned,” and had acknowledged Jesus Christ as “the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6). For this reason, I would suggest that everyone who wishes to persevere in seeking truth — a never-ending task in this life — should listen to Blaise Pascal, a man of prodigious intelligence who insisted that apart from the aspiration to love, no truth is worthwhile. “We make truth itself into an idol, for truth apart from charity is not God, but his image; it is an idol which must in no way be loved or worshipped.”

Pascal would thus shield us from the false teachings, superstitions and libertinism that avert so many people from the lasting peace and joy of the One who desires that we should choose “life and good,” not “death and evil” (Deut 30:15.19). Yet the tragedy of this life is that we at times fail to see clearly, and as a result, we choose poorly. For we cannot savor the joy of the Gospel unless “the Holy Spirit fills us with his power and frees us from our weakness, our selfishness, our complacency and our pride.”

What is more, “without the wisdom of discernment, we can become prey to every passing trend.” That is why an appreciation of the living faith of Blaise Pascal, who sought to demonstrate that the Christian religion is “venerable because it truly knows man” and “lovable because it promises true good,” can help us make our way through the shadows and sorrows of this world.m INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

35

INTERVIEW

tHe “ProsPerity GosPel” vs. cAtHolic sociAl teAcHinG How AmericA’s ProtestAnt roots HAve borne bitter socio-economic fruit n BY ITV STAFF

Thomas Storck has written several books and many articles on Catholic social teaching. Inside the Vatican spoke with Mr. Storck about his latest book, The Prosperity Gospel: How Greed and Bad Philosophy Distorted Christ’s Teachings.

ratists (Pilgrims) and Puritans established quite rigid societies, by the middle of the eighteenth century these were dissolving under the weight of contradictions within their own theology and Enlightenment currents of thought. So it was their individualism, the idea that each one of us could seek and find his INSIDE THE VATICAN: This year is own religious truth, that influenced the 120th anniversary of the death of American culture so deeply. By 1800 or Pope Leo XIII. In his Rerum novarum, so, many of the Calvinist congregations Leo says that Catholicism can corin New England were already becoming rectly animate society’s economics Unitarian and any public support for and politics because it is the true relireligion became divorced from concern gion. What were Leo’s key thoughts in with doctrine. Religion had now this encyclical? become simply a prop for morality, an THOMAS STORCK: As the first modern idea which can also be seen in Washingsocial encyclical, Rerum novarum was THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL ton’s Farewell Address. Economic life cautious in its discussion of the economy was left to itself – or rather, left to the HOW GREED and of the role of workers and employers. greed that without clear dogmatic teachAND BAD PHILOSOPHY Leo emphasized the right of private prop- DISTORTED CHRIST'S TEACHINGS ing people are apt to live by. There was erty, within limits; the duty of employers no authoritative religious body in the TAN Books to pay a living wage; and the role which Protestant world that could teach what revived guilds could play in achieving both industrial was licit or illicit in economic life. There was only the peace and justice. He also showed how the socialists of Bible, a book that can be interpreted in many different his time offered false solutions that would in the end ways. make the condition of the workers even worse. It is only in the second major social encyclical, Quadragesimo You speak in your book of the huge influence that anno of Pius XI (1931), that one sees a fuller presentaJohn Locke had on American thought. Can you tion of Catholic social teaching and a more hard-hitting explain what that is and why it is important? critique of the existing economy.

John Locke’s (d. 1704) political philosophy fit very well with radiIn your new book, The Prospercal Protestant individualism. He ity Gospel, you lament the absence held that the natural state of of Catholic social principles in mankind was to live without any American society. How did the political structure, the so-called Protestantism of the U.S. founders state of nature. But this is not true. influence American culture?

God created us to live in community Protestantism, especially the kind and necessarily the community of radical Protestantism that shaped must concern itself with questions American culture, at its heart is radabout how we are to live. ically individualistic. Although But in Locke’s view the state, and Pope Leo XIII (pontificate 1878-1903).

Pope Pius XI (pontificate 1922-1939). originally the New England sepaby extension society as a whole, was 36

INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

Arrival of the Calvinist Pilgrim Fathers to America in 1620 by Charles Lucy.

Right, John Locke (1632-1704) whose political philosophy fits very well with radical Protestant individualism

to have no concern with religion or matters of ultimate meaning. The state was to be secular, interested only in this-worldly affairs, chiefly the protection of property.

Religious belief was a personal matter, of no concern to anyone else. And since the state was to legislate solely on secular lines, when a religious practice conflicted with the secular concerns of the state, the state’s objectives usually were to prevail. You see an interesting example of this kind of reasoning in Justice Scalia’s majority opinion in Employment Division vs. Smith (1990).

we would end up with Catholics whose outlook on many questions came from the surrounding Protestant secular culture, not from the Catholic faith. And that is exactly what happened, and why, as Cardinal George of Chicago said some years ago, American Catholics are cultural Calvinists.

And of course we must recognize that the resources of the Church at the time were severely stretched simply to provide the sacraments to the Catholic immigrants arriving here. So it was a matter of insufficient resources and lack of recognition of the need for cultural conversion.

What are some contemporary phenomena that continue to spring from Protestant theology and How can we as Catholics influence economic culLockean philosophy? ture? For example, let’s say a Catholic landlord In the 1992 Supreme Court case, Planned Parentwants to practice justice and charity as commanded hood v. Casey, Justice Anthony Kennedy infamously by the Church, and not merely “whatever the market wrote that “At the heart of will bear” capitalism, in liberty is the right to define providing the necessity one’s own concept of exisof housing for families. tence, of meaning, of the When a conscientious universe, and of the mysCatholic is living and tery of human life.” He working within an ecowas widely criticized for nomic system that is this statement, but in fact it unjust, difficulties arise. is only a working out of No one answer can cover the principles which John every situation, of Locke bequeathed to our course. But in the case nation and which have you mention here, he been enshrined in many of our should try to set his rent at a level that AS CARDINAL GEORGE SAID, covers his needs to maintain the rental founding documents.

Both liberals and conservatives AMERICAN CATHOLICS ARE property, make repairs, etc., and which in the U.S. appeal to this individualprovides him with a reasonable return CULTURAL CALVINISTS istic liberty, the liberty to shape on his investment. What is a reasonable one’s thought and life based on personal preference. return? One that mirrors the return that he might receive This is not to say that a Catholic should favor governfrom another kind of investment, as a savings account or ment imposing the Faith. However, we must acknowlperhaps stocks. This is a very rough calculation, but it’s edge that these matters “of existence, of meaning, of the based on the idea that we can’t take advantage of opporuniverse, and of the mystery of human life” are not simtunities to make easy money whenever we have an overply private matters – they concern society as a whole, whelming advantage over others. One of the chief points and when society as a whole is imbued with a Catholic of the social encyclicals has concerned the enormous understanding of these matters, this makes for a healthy disparities in economic and political power that exist polity. At the very least, we cannot proclaim that such and how these can be used to make unreasonable ecofundamental matters are of no concern to the communinomic demands. ty, for it is our understanding “of existence, of meaning, Speaking more broadly, Pope Pius XI in his 1937 of the universe, and of the mystery of human life” that encyclical Divini Redemptoris, spoke of the difficulties shapes how we live as a community. of acting justly when the economy is run on false principles, and of the duty to try to make fundamental Did the Church make a serious effort to evangelize changes in the economy to orient it toward justice. He American culture, as opposed to simply trying to wrote, “It happens all too frequently, however, under the convert individuals? salary system, that individual employers are helpless to Historically the Catholic Church in the U.S. did not ensure justice unless, with a view to its practice, they make a serious effort to convert the culture, as such. organize institutions the object of which is to prevent There were laudable attempts made to convert individcompetition incompatible with fair treatment for the uals, but it was not understood that the conversion of the workers” (no. 53). But usually employers, or landlords, culture was vitally important and that if we did not do so can take steps even as individuals to act justly.m SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

37

INTERVIEW

whAt is A womAn? A religious sister devotes her life’s work to ArticulAting An Answer n BY BARBARA MIDDLETON Sr. Prudence Allen today at the Motherhouse of the Religious SIsters of Mercy in Alma, Michigan, USA

Inside the Vatican correspondent Barbara Middleton interviews Sr. Prudence Allen, RSM, Ph.D., a Catholic philosopher whose 1997 magnum opus, The Concept of Woman, Volumes 1, 2 and 3, is a pioneering three-volume study tracing the fundamental concept of woman through more than 70 philosophers over two thousand years. Pope Francis appointed Sr. Allen to the International Theological Commission in 2014. This is part one of that interview.

the same location where they were married.

How did you come to know Christ and that He wanted you to be a religious?

In my junior and senior years at Northfield School for Girls in New England, 1956-58, I sang in the choir for our daily chapel services. It opened my heart to the beauty of worshiping through music.

The sense of being in the presence of something greater also came to me when I was outside in nature during summer visits to my extended family’s log cabins in upstate New York.

INSIDE THE VATICAN: Tell us Then, in Spain, in 1961, travelabout your background and ing in Europe with three comfamily. panions during my junior year of uniSr. Prudence Allen: I was born in versity, we came upon a large monu“PHILOSOPHY HAS 1940 in Kenwood, Oneida, New York ment with a cross on top. Even though A DEFINITE PRACTICAL as a direct descendant of the Oneida three of us were not Catholic, we Community (1848-1888), a Utopian decided to stop the car and explore, APPLICATION TO THE LIVES Evangelical community of “Christian entering a tunnel at the monument’s OF STUDENTS WHO perfectionists.” After the official end base. We heard men’s voices chanting ARE SEEKING THE PURPOSE of the original structure of the Oneida so beautifully that it drew us to go Community, many descendants kept down into the chapel inside and listen.

OF THEIR LIVES.” living in or near the community’s cenA monk came over and gave us his ter of activities there. blessing. It was only later that we learned this was the My male Allen ancestors had built and worked for Monastery of “The Valley of the Fallen”: my first meetOneida Community in the silver manufacturing departing with the presence of Christ in a Catholic Church. ment. During World War II, my father married Mildred What led you to the Religious Sisters of Mercy?

Twenty years passed before I entered the Religious Beatrice Gorman, a woman of strong Christian faith Sisters of Mercy in 1983. First, during my years studyfrom an Irish and some Cherokee Indian background. I ing for a Doctorate in Philosophy in Claremont College was the oldest of five children. in Southern California, I was encouraged by a friend to We were all baptized, but told that each of us could consider becoming a Roman Catholic. attend the particular church denomination we wanted to.

I asked two of my philosophy professors to introduce I chose the Methodist; other siblings chose Quaker or me to the principles of their faith, one a Protestant and remained with the Episcopal church where we were bapthe other a Roman Catholic; it was the Catholic faith to tized. which I was progressively attracted, and I was received My father was not baptized as a young man, but had into the Church at St. Andrew’s Benedictine Monastery a character of strong Christian charitable and utilitarian in the Mojave Desert on December 13, 1964. It was an principles. When my mother had cancer, my father exciting time, waiting with the whole world for the secretly took instruction and surprised her with the preresults of Vatican II. cious gift of being baptized into the Christian Church in 38

INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

Here, a portrait of the Foundress of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, Mother Catherine McCauley, in the convent.

Bottom, The Concept of Woman, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 by Sr. Prudence Allen, RSM, Ph.D. (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co)

For the next several years I lived in Montreal, Quebec, completing my doctorate for Claremont, then teaching on the History of Philosophy at Sir George Williams University, now Concordia University. I went to retreats at two French Benedictine monasteries, but was told by each that, although I seemed to have a religious vocation, it was not to them!

Meanwhile my main work was university teaching and research. Those years were rather violent, not only in the United States but also in Quebec. There were bombs in mailboxes, murders and student uprisings. Concordia was not spared. A small group of people invited to a conference there incited significant violence. I decided it was time to leave for Washington, D.C. for my sabbatical year.

That is when I began to write The Concept of Woman — and I also met the Religious Sisters of Mercy.

What is the charism of the Religious Sisters of Mercy?

Mother Catherine McAuley founded a House of Mercy on Lower Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland in 1831, at the age of 52. There, she and her Sisters of Mercy attempted to incarnate the mercy of God the Father in their service to the poor, sick and ignorant. She made several foundations in Ireland and England in the ten years before her death. There are now 20 worldwide.

Most central to the life of a Religious Sister of Mercy is our life of daily common prayer. We pray (chanting when possible) in the early morning the Divine Office and 30 minutes of meditation. Following this we attend Holy Mass together, have a common breakfast, and then go to our professional work — we are teachers, doctors, nurses, etc. Returning at the end of the day, we pray a Holy Hour together which includes times of common prayers, silence, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and Evening Prayer. Following a common supper nearly every day, we have a time of recreation, then night prayer together, followed by a quiet time of rest.

In 1973, there was a re-foundation of the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Alma, Michigan, according to the order’s original charism — after many of the convents had begun to abandon it during this time of general deterioration of religious life. Required to begin our new community in a location where there were no previous Sisters of Mercy, we ended up with our Motherhouse in Alma, Michigan.

How has Venerable Catherine McAuley influenced your own personal spirituality?

One of my younger sisters, a psychotherapist, also converted to the Roman Catholic Faith. When she was discerning her own religious life, she was advised to spend time at three different convents, Franciscan, Mercy, and Benedictine. After two of them she called me to say she was entering the Religious Sisters of Mercy—and thought I was called to them too; she invited me (with the permission of the Superior General) to come and see for myself!

I loved Mother Catherine’s joyful spirit, her courageous decisions, and her understanding of the Mercy of God. Mother Catherine always prayed a 30 days’ prayer for her new foundations — sometimes just one professed sister and a couple of young novices — and went to work cleaning the place that would become their new convent. She walked miles with the sisters through slush, rain and mud to visit the sick or poor. She could also see the humor in any reversal and enjoyed writing funny limericks, and she encouraged folk dancing for the sisters’ health.

How has philosophy influenced your formation?

My dissertation was actually a study of the approach to the human person by 20th-century philosopher P. F. Strawson’s in his Individuals, and four different modern philosophers.

I loved going back and forth from and to different periods in Western philosophy to analyze the pros and cons of each approach.

These studies in ancient, modern and contemporary philosophy also made me eager to learn about medieval philosophy, which, as it turned out, is the expertise of Mother Mary Quentin, our Mother General Emerita, who often gave us conferences on St. Thomas’ philosophy and theology.

I have loved discovering and then teaching the beautiful works of medieval thinkers such as Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy, Augustine’s Confessions, Hildegard of Bingen’s Scivias, and Herrad of Landsberg’s Hortus Deliciarum to university students. It made me a strong advocate for medieval studies: philosophy has a definite practical application to the lives of students who are seeking the purpose of their life.

For more information on the Religious Sisters of Mercy, visit almamercy.org.

(END PART ONE) SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

39

EDUCATION

“trAns Culture” And College kids: where is the ChurCh? A CAtholiC mother tAlks About her dAughter’s College “trAnsition” — And whAt she leArned Along the wAy (part two) n BY ITV STAFF

M

ary’s daughter Kate (not their real names) left for her freshman year — at a mid-sized private secular college in the northeast — a “normal” Catholic teenager, only to decide in a matter of months to become “trans” and undergo both hormonal intervention and surgery, without informing her parents. Mary was left aghast, confused and adrift.

She and her husband never considered approaching the pastor at the Catholic parish for any sort of help or guidance: “We were quite certain at the time that he would have been quite as confused as we were.”

She added: “I did reach out to other Catholics at the time who were abreast of the situation. Again, I was naïve in believing that if anyone would care about this issue and actually do anything about it, it would be Catholics.”

“Certainly there were some,” she continues, “but what I learned was that the schism that had already torn asunder just about every other Christian religion was also knocking on the doors of the Catholic Church.”

Mary had assumed that most Catholics would automatically be “gender-critical” (a term for people who do not subscribe to today’s “gender theory”). She was wrong. “Sadly, to be ‘gender critical,’ I found, was not necessarily the norm among all Catholics. In other words, faith and doctrine had now fallen to the wayside — to be replaced by a strange rendition of secular culture.”

Among the “gender critical” Catholics with whom Mary did speak were members of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, who went on to create the Person and Identity website. The website’s homepage identifies its mission as “to assist the Catholic Church in promoting the Catholic vision of the human person and responding to

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INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

the challenges of gender ideology,” and to respond to the “urgent need for clarity, education, and compassionate guidance for Catholic families and young people.” (eppc.org/program/person-and-identity-project/) Why was the Catholic Church of so little help to Mary, Mary’s daughter and her family?

“Sadly, Catholic bishops and clergy have been slow to the game and I believe too mired in past scandals to be much use in the present situation,” says Mary. “Just as the ‘T’ is riding on the coattails of the political success of ‘LGB,’ it seems the ‘LGB’-friendly priests have sadly taken the ‘T’ agenda also under their wings.”

Mary is quick to point out the continual support heaped on the LGBT cause by media-friendly Catholics like Jesuit Fr. James Martin, who seems to have the ear of Pope Francis, as one prominent example.

“Besides Fr. Martin’s shenanigans, just check out the Trevor project, or the various art projects taken on by socalled Catholics such as the ‘God is Trans’ exhibit at a Manhattan church in the Diocese of New York,” she adds.

“Past sexual abuse crimes of the Catholic clergy, the causes of which we know are not fully resolved, have compromised the moral fabric of the Church; her credibility is damaged, and her ability to teach and to heal is crippled, making the trans crisis that much more intractable,” she adds.

Mary points the finger at “big money” when it comes to identifying who is bringing about this gender ideology crisis among the young with such breathtaking speed.

“Those pushing the ‘trans’ agenda are largely billionaires keen on ushering in a transhumanist agenda,” she argues. “We are being primed for it: to deny that a human

The home pages of three websites cited in the article: “Person and Identity,” “Family Watch International,” and “Minnesota Family Council”

being has an inborn human ‘nature’ — and can thus be endlessly manipulated, ‘transformed’ by technology — is just one step away from the current denial that a human being has an inborn, unchangeable gender.”

The other segments of “big money” that are working in tandem with gender ideologues are the pharmaceutical and medical industries, set to make billions off the “trans” trend, she maintains.

“They are all fully aware of how easily the ‘T’ can be — and has been — snuck into the existing, LGB-friendly political and cultural milieu,” Mary says.

HOPE AND HELP FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES But there is resistance out there, and there is help for young people and families going through experiences similar to Mary’s.

“Besides the Person and Identity website (above), especially for the parents of younger children, I would also point to the work of Family Watch International (right). I believe there are some states that have good resources exposing what is happening — Minnesota Family Council (right) is one, but I know there are others.

“Be aware that it is exponentially more difficult when a child succumbs to a transgender identity after age 18 (which is our scenario). It is like a gate is suddenly erected between you and your child. Parents are now considered in the wrong for not believing in the proven medical harms that are the only possible outcome of ‘trans’ medical interventions and surgeries. Where once there was parental love to guide and help your child, there is now only ‘institutional capture’ by ideologically-driven institutions.”

For parent peer support, there is a group called Parents of ROGD Kids. While parental support groups can be helpful, says Mary, “I will say it can be discouraging too, as they largely support the LGB agenda and do not understand the intrinsic psychological and moral harms of taking on these false identities, or the overarching agenda behind the push for ‘trans’ identities. As a faith-based parent you might have to walk a fine line to find a place there.”

In fact, it seems faith-based parents in the Catholic Church are even encountering confused messages from the Vatican. Pope Francis himself, in an in-flight press conference on February 5, 2023, discussed the “LGBT” issue using one of his favorite concepts, “accompaniment,” when he said, “People with homosexual tendencies are children of God. God loves them. God accompanies them. To condemn someone like this is a sin.”

“ACCOMPANIMENT”?

Mary is not so sanguine about the idea of “accompanying” people experiencing sexual confusion of any type.

“To be honest, I despise the word ‘accompanying.’ In my opinion, it has no place in the current lexicon of what is happening. I believe this of both the homosexual and the trans movements, but in different ways.

“Actions cannot be undone or easily forgotten, so to get caught up in destructive relationships unworthy of a human being — people need help avoiding this. Even if the body is not physically scarred, there are mental scars.

“And the speed at which the trans movement wants to scar the bodies of the confused precludes any chance of ‘accompaniment.’

The trans movement tears down a person and tells them they are all wrong as they are. They then attempt to re-build a false identity in its place using harmful drugs and surgeries. The attempt will fail, of course, and it is the job of families to support their confused loved ones in their God-given reality.

“To do otherwise — to ‘accompany’ their child in their attempt to surrender their true identity — is to cooperate in their harm.

Body parts do not grow back, voices do not fully return to normal and long-term damage such as infertility can result from the drugs and surgeries.”

Mary is now battle-weary but not beaten; she continues to have trust in the Lord and hope for her child.

“If a child becomes lost in the trans cult, reserve your anger for those perpetuating it — not your child. Luke 23:24 is a reminder: ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ They have been led astray by evildoers.

“Prayer is essential, and leaving breadcrumbs for a child to find their way back is important. Just this morning, a detransitioner echoed these thoughts in her eloquently written piece for the parent substack PITT, ‘Back from the Other Side.’

“She says: ‘One day, history will remember you parents as courageous visionaries who fought the politically correct culture of transgender insanity out of love for your children, respect for your intellect and clear understanding of scientific realities and biological facts... When that day comes, let there be no lecture, no judgment. Just welcome your child back, knowing that the healing will take as long as the delusion lasted.’

Mary concludes: “I would remind suffering parents that Saint Monica waited many years for her son to come to terms with the truth. But he eventually did.’”m SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

41

SCRIPTURE

“male and female he creaTed Them” The union of Two disTincT sexes pre-eminenTly embodies The oneness of God n BY ANTHONY ESOLEN

From the mosaics of the Palatine Chapel of the Norman Palace in Palermo, Sicily.

Here, the creation of Eve from a rib of Adam.

On the facing page, God presents Adam with his life partner

“S

author stresses the fact that they bear seed, o God created man in his own “G OD TAKES SOMETHING so that they too will be fruitful, to cover the image, in the image of God he THAT ALREADY EXISTS, earth. And seed, rendered so often in our created him; male and female current English translations as descenhe created them” (Gen. 1:27).

NAMELY ADAM’S RIB, dants, runs as a recurring motif throughout When a verse in Scripture is, for TO FASHION FROM IT, AS Torah: God blesses Abraham, saying, “I the thousands of years, considered a matter A SCULPTOR MIGHT, will make you exceedingly fruitful,” and “I of course, especially if it is as profound THE WOMAN E VE WHO WAS will establish my covenant between me and and lovely as this one is, and then sudTO BE AT ADAM’S SIDE; you and your seed” (Gen. 17:6, 7). denly it becomes controversial, we ADAM AND EVE, MAN Now the kind, as the ancients knew, is must suspect that something is wrong in the seed, and this is as true of preserved not with the verse but with the people AND WOMAN, MEANING whom it unsettles. Let us consider this ALSO HUSBAND AND WIFE” man as it is of the birds and the fish and the beasts of the field, and of every plant and matter. tree. No seed, no fruit. The atheist and scoffer at religion God has, in the account of the sacred author, created all Steven Pinker has written that the words of Genesis imply other living creatures in the world. He has blessed the that man has no relation at all to the other living things in birds of the air and the creatures of the sea, commanding the world. I do wish that the atheists of our time would them to be fruitful and to multiply, and we know that they learn how to read Scripture with but an ordinary degree of and male made been have cannot do so unless they attention and sensitivity. For the account does exactly the female; likewise he has commanded the earth to “bring opposite of what Pinker says. When God blesses man, he forth living creatures according to their kinds” (1:24). He uses the same words he used to bless the birds and the seahas also created “plants yielding seed according to their creatures, though he adds to them the command, rather own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, the invitation, to assume a divine authority over the each according to its kind” (1:12). I suppose the ancients world, to exercise dominion. The word “fruitful,” too, did not know that plants also possess male and female which our translators have rendered with the less physical organs and characteristics, but it is important that the 42

INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

term “fertile,” thus obscuring the image of the fruit, cruare the first of Adam’s words that are reported to us. They cial to this chapter and to the following account of man’s continue his exercise of intellect and authority, but they fall, connects man to the lowliest of living things here are also words of grateful wonder, and the only words of described, the green plants and the trees. innocence and blessing that we will hear Adam utter.

The peculiar thing about the verse “male and female he Some theologians have said that the creation of man in created them” is that male and female are mentioned at the image and likeness of God is incomplete until woman all, when the sexes are simply taken for granted in the is created, and I am inclined to agree, because there is not other animals. We can easily imagine their not being meneven a human race otherwise; seed without soil does not tioned, and the story continupossess the function of a ing with the first human couseed; and the prime comple, assumedly male and mand of God, to be fruitful female, already having been and multiply, and in procrecreated. But that is not what ation to participate in divine happens. Critics now say, a creation, must end up as a bit too quickly, I believe, that dead letter. the second chapter of GeneIf someone replies that sis is a wholly separate this interpretation reduces account of creation from the man and woman to their first. Let us pause. “Male and biological functions, I must female he created them,” the ask what he can possibly sacred author says, and lest understand as reduction, that be considered a mere when every child-begetting afterthought, much of what action brings into being follows is a development of another human creature, that verse. We must also bind made in the image of God, it closely to what it means for possessing by his kind, his man to have been made in the nature, the powers of intelimage and likeness of God. lect and divine love.

For God brings all the beasts If a Christian still obto Adam, who gives them names — who jects, I must ask him whether he believes HE WAKES, AS FROM A recognizes their kinds, which is an intelthat it was only happenstance that Christ lectual act, and who names them, which GOOD DREAM, AND HE SEES took upon himself our human form, a is an act of dominion, and in both body, distinctively and irreducibly male.

THE WOMAN, AND CRIES respects, Adam bears forth the divine For if he believes that the maleness of OUT WITH JOY, “THIS AT image within him.

Christ was of no consequence, I fail to see LAST IS BONE OF MY BONE But all is not right. “It is not good for how anything at all pertaining to the AND FLESH OF MY FLESH; the man to be alone,” says God (2:18). human body could be of consequence.

SHE SHALL BE CALLED The creation of woman is presented as “Therefore,” the author continues, “a both artistic and intimately physical. We WOMAN [ISHAH], BECAUSE man leaves his father and mother and can well imagine something else. God clings to his wife, and they become one SHE WAS TAKEN OUT OF might have created Eve and brought her flesh” (2:24). English fails us here, beMAN [IYSH]” (2:23) to Adam, just as he has created the other cause the word that concludes this reliving things. But for the first time in the text, God takes sounding verse in Hebrew is echad, one. It has already something that already exists, namely Adam’s rib, to fashbeen used, likewise at the end of a sentence, with mighty ion from it, as a sculptor might, the woman Eve who was force: “And there was evening and there was morning, to be at Adam’s side; Adam and Eve, man and woman, one day” (1:5; Hebrew yom echad). And it will be used in meaning also husband and wife. So Adam has passively that tremendous prayer that Jesus will cite, just as he cites contributed something to the making of Eve, though he the verse about man and woman and their becoming one did so while he was asleep; and what he has contributed flesh: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one” is not a thought or an imagination, but flesh and bone. He (Dt. 6:4; Hebrew echad). Thus is the union of man and wakes, as from a good dream, and he sees the woman, and woman a reflection of the oneness of God, and the prime cries out with joy, “This at last is bone of my bone and instantiation, in the physical world, of the wisdom and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman [ishah], love that on that one day said, “Let there be light,” and because she was taken out of Man [iysh]” (2:23). These there was light (Gen. 1:3).m SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

43

SPIRITUALITY BEHIND BARS

Kindling an easTern fire This reflecTion is The firsT in a new series from The pen of a caTholic inmaTe and prison oblaTe of sT. benedicT’s abbey in aTchison, Kansas n BY MARCELLUS ROBERTS * The icon of Our Lady of Kazan, miraculously found after a fire in 1579 almost completely destroyed the city

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intends to keep, and to improvise his hen was it that you first felt betrayal so that it results in carnage, holy fear, your mind atspiritual death, and maximum collatertempting to sip God and al damage. swallow all creation in a single Sarge landed in the Houston-sized draught? Sarge was a dark-haired city of Baghdad for his second tour of boy of eight when it happened to duty at the age of 26. By then, an him, and he still remembers that oppressive evil had settled over the visit to his mother’s native Russian warzones of Iraq and Afghanistan for a Orthodox church in Kazan. long-term stay, cloaking the atmosBeneath the cupola ceiling, he phere in death-like diseased garments. saw the universe as it truly is, govThe brutality of mankind was in full erned by the iconic Christ and his flower; decisions were made with the haloed host of holy ones. With a basest of primitive instincts. “I’m serious, unflinching love, the alive!” became the morbid cry of saints gazed into his brown eyes thanksgiving the men used to cope while the congregation stood with the fear, pain and traumas of swaying about him, an oriental forurban warfare. est alive with the singing of Sarge was spiritually ill-prepared. The sonorous mysteries. Some congre“I T WAS THERE IN K AZAN he was eyewitness to were atrocities gants prostrated themselves like felled THAT C HRIST RAPPED accepted by the breath and body odor logs, their foreheads touching the which suffocated the interrogation rooms ground, penitent in the grip of glory.

AT THE ROYAL DOORS where he was tasked with coaxing detailed Sunlight rolled in soft waves through OF SARGE’S HEART the windows and exposed the wispy AND IGNITED AN EASTERN testimonies from enemy combatants: Al Qaeda guerillas, Taliban loyalists, Sunni streams of spiced air that wafted FIRE IN HIS SOUL” insurgents, and Shia militiamen. The through his nostrils. assignment taxed and chewed away at his It was there in Kazan, in that vulnerable conscience as he wondered church, from somewhere beyond the how so much hatred could spawn from disagreements iconostasis, that Christ rapped at the royal doors of about belief.

Sarge’s heart and ignited an Eastern fire in his soul.

In his own words, he was exposed to “every evil a The Benedictine spiritual master, Dom Hubert human being could possibly inflict on another human Von Zeller, said, “To smother the spiritual claims being.” His belief in the dignity of man waffled; warfare within us is to produce the corporal or sensual perhad scarred the core of his Christian upbringing. son, and in order to prevent this from happening, we Sarge lost compassion and mercy for people on the have to work at the spiritual potential which is in us he lost it even for those nearest to his heart. battlefield; by grace.” (And So To God) Returning home was difficult. Like many combat vetHere, he is reminding us that each human being is erans, Sarge had been morally wounded: the ethics of born onto a battlefield. The wick and wax of sufficient war had disfigured his perception of right and wrong, grace waits to be combusted, it desires to become an and it was a daily struggle to keep up appearances at effective flame, but there is an ungodly opposition that home. When it was proper to show emotions to his loved would rather see men’s hearts remain darkened, every ones, he was unable — and his hidden sadness came off fire doused, the light all but invisible, tucked untouchas hardness, even coldness. He attended church and with able behind a thickening wall of barberry thorn. Without consistency, but his Christianity at this point was “norwe faith, in the proper training and a loving response mal.” No one was allowed a glimpse of his inner life; no allow the enemy to negotiate terms of peace he never 44

INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

Marine Regiment Chaplain speaks to U.S. Marines assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment during Catholic Mass at one of Saddam Hussein's palaces in Tikrit, Iraq, in 2003 (U.S. Marine Corps Photo — 2003)

word was permitted to penetrate the darkness that had they relished the opportunity to exercise with a special swallowed him whole; the light he had carried from operations combat veteran. But it was only a small flame Kazan was extinguished. that was flickering in his heart, not a fire; something was “Divine forgiveness is therefore offered with super missing. abundant generosity, but repentance has become “We cannot come before Christ, the Lord of history, scarce.” —Robert Cardinal Sarah, Catechism of the as divided as we have unfortunately been in the course Spiritual Life of the second millennium. These divisions must give If God is constantly showering down a thousand way to rapprochement and harmony; the wounds on the graces, why don’t we respond in repentance and receive path of Christian unity must be healed.” —Pope John all that He offers? Why must our heads be burst widePaul II, Address to the Extraordinary Consistory, cited open before we sincerely in Orientale Lumen ask God to renew our Around Thanksgiving of minds?

2022, Sarge turned to his There are two answers Catholic brothers for help in to these questions: either the investigation of his mothwe don’t want God’s help, er’s native Russian Orthodox believing we can do the faith. First, we gave him St. will of the Father on our Pope John Paul II’s Orientale own, or we have no need of Lumen to read and he discovGod’s help, because we ered the deep admiration and have no intention of doing respect the Catholic Church the will of the Father. Neihas for the Eastern Churches. ther frame of mind serves Then, we gathered all the Orthe purposes for which we thodox literature we had in our were created: to know, book collection. Finally, we love, and serve God in this took up a collection and life and live happily with bought Sarge a copy of St. PhiHim forever in the life to laret’s classic Orthodox Catecome. Let’s pause for a brief examinachism and watched as, almost instantly, “WE CANNOT COME tion of our conscience. Two questions: Divine Providence reignited the Eastern BEFORE CHRIST, THE LORD fire in his soul.

Do I desire God’s will …?

Do I desire God’s help …?

Today, Sarge enjoys an abiding OF HISTORY, AS DIVIDED AS Lord, help my unbelief. Amen. peace.

Christ has placed him in our care, WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY Now commit yourself to accepting not to proselytize, but to dwell within a BEEN IN THE SECOND God’s will as He reveals it and receiving mutual exchange of gifts between East MILLENNIUM ” — His help in whatever way He chooses to and West. We will see him safely enfoldORIENTALE LUMEN deliver it. ed into the Russian Orthodox Church.

I met the 41-year-old Sarge in a Why? Because the fear of the Lord is the Texas state prison. In the words of St. Basil, “...you beginning of wisdom, and Wisdom, everywhere, ought to regard this as a sign of God’s love rather than prompts the people of God, those who with the Lord’s his hatred, because in this life God wishes to correct us, help desire to do the will of the Father, to breathe with his children, so that our spirit may be received by him in both lungs. Sarge sends his gratitude with these words a spotless and pristine condition.”

“Blagaslaviti!” (Russian for “God Bless you!”) And the (St. Basil, The Treatise on Consolation in Adversity) Church replies “Dah! Blagaslaviti! Slava Bog!” (“Yes! Sometime between his sentencing and our meeting, God Bless You, Glory to God!”) Sarge had responded to God’s offer of forgiveness during a service in the chapel and made an act of perfect *Marcellus Allen Roberts is a 40-year-old Prison contrition which cleansed him in a baptism of tears. His Oblate of St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison, Kansas. He is anger and frustration towards God abated, along with serving a 25-year sentence in the state of Texas. He the accusations of abandonment. entered the Catholic Church in 2015, completed his From a distance, I watched Sarge seek the Lord using novitiate year in 2016, and now serves the Catholic the tools at his disposal. He began a serious study of the community on George Beto Unit as cantor and catechist.

Bible, and followed his father’s teaching and example.

He spends his free time studying small business entreHe served the men who lived on his cell block by sharing preneurship and songwriting with the help and interceshis knowledge of mental toughness and physical fitness; sion of his patron saint, St. Caedmon.m SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

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C AT H O L I C I S M A N D O R T H O D O X Y E D I T E D B Y: C H R I S T I N A D E A R D U R F F

The Message of the Icon

BY ROBERT WIESNER

THE CREED: THE INCARNATION “FOR US MEN AND FOR OUR SALVATION HE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN;

BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HE WAS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY AND BECAME MAN.”

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ncient mythology is replete with accounts of the itself, the utter blackness of the tomb and the complete gods visiting earth for various purposes, usually cessation of activity. It can represent despair, as seen in for the sake of vengeance or in pursuit of a fair the icon of the Prophet Elijah sitting in desolation before maiden. These gods never, however, came for the exhis desert lair, begging God for death rather than his conpress purpose of actually sharing in human life. Certinued conflict with both his own nation and the surtainly they did not have the intention of effecting the rounding pagan cultures. The icon of St. George shows general betterment of humanity and a a black field as the abode of the old deliverance from the more miserable dragon, the devil. The Ladder of Diaspects of human existence. vine Ascent, the icon for St. John CliOn the contrary, the Incarnation of macus, depicts a number of souls the Second Person of the Trinity was falling into the abyss of hell. accomplished precisely for the purThe manger is shaped like a sarpose of righting the massive wrong of cophagus, a coffin, carrying yet fursin. God could simply have made the ther the theme of death. Even the whole problem disappear with a metadetail of Him lying in a manger calls phorical wave of His hand, but given to mind the unpleasant notion of a the overwhelming creative love bebaby being offered as food; the Euhind His fashioning of Adam and Eve, charist, that most mysterious gift of it certainly makes sense that He would God to humanity, is only possible desire a more intimate way of dealing through an agonizing death on a cross. with His suffering people.

In so many ways, then, the icon of Archbishop Fulton Sheen in his the Nativity serves as a necessary Life of Christ repeatedly made the corrective to an overly sentimental point that Jesus actually came to die; approach to the Incarnation. Jesus rein His human flesh, He even willed to ally did come to die, and through His experience the most terrifying human Nativity of the Lord, icon by St. Andrei death to achieve salvation for His enemy, face it down and put it to flight suffering people. True, there is great Rublev (1405), Cathedral of the Annunciation, Moscow Kremlin forever. joy to be found in the event, but to The icon of the Nativity of the Lord focus only on the endearing detail of is a rich tapestry depicting all the various elements a newborn infant with no reference to the larger ramwhich surrounded the story: angels, shepherds, Magi, ifications is to do grave injustice to the total picture of Joseph tempted to doubt by the devil. However, taking salvation history. pride of place is the cave with the manger. With this deAnd what of us? Where do individual Christians fit tail, the icon brings home to the viewer the central reality into the picture? Well, look again at St. Joseph, sitting of the Incarnation. The death of this Infant is foreseen in dejected confusion, being tempted by the devil to give even in the depiction of His birth. in to worldly values and to disown the Virgin and the A stark black abyss, the cave is a common method in Child. He stays the course at the urging of an angel, just icons of calling to mind all the most horrendous realities as we, too, must remain in the picture despite our conof human life. Ultimately, it is used to represent death fusion and lack of understanding.m

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East-West Watch

BY PETER ANDERSON

THE CARDINAL AND THE PATRIARCH Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Porfirije presents Archbishop Schönborn of Vienna with the Serbian Church’s highest award at a ceremony in Vienna on June 11, 2023

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n June 11, 2023, in a ceremony at the famous Belvedere Palace in Vienna, Patriarch Porfirije, the recently elected primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC), presented to Catholic Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna the Order of Saint Sava, First Class, the highest award of the SOC. According to the Patriarch, the award was in recognition of the Cardinal’s fraternal love and respect shown to the Serbian Orthodox Church and to the Serbian people.

On June 9, at an event sponsored by the Pro Oriente Foundation, the Patriarch stressed that ecumenical dialogue is “one of the essential manifestations of the Church’s way of being.” He stated: “Dialogue, on the other hand, does not exist if the freedom and dignity of the Other is not respected and if we do not have love for him. In this case, it loses the character of Christian dialogue and acquires utilitarian outlines. On the other hand, narrow-minded introspection and self-sufficiency, even when they hide behind supposedly justified reasons, do not correspond to the nature of the Church and, at the very least, neglect the words of Christ’s prayer addressed to the Father that all may be one (John 17:21). If for us Christians there is no higher principle than the Gospel, then we should not allow fears and prejudices to hinder us on the way to unity, and let their destructive effect triumph over Gospel freedom.”

In another meeting with the Cardinal, the Patriarch thanked him for the “extraordinary” fraternal gift to the SOC of two “magnificent” churches in Vienna.

In September 2022 the Cardinal had handed to the SOC the keys of St. Francis Church in Vienna-Meidling.

In May 2014 the Cardinal had given the SOC the Neulerchenfeld Church in Vienna.

At the present time, the Serbian Orthodox Church has approximately 350,000 members, 25 parishes, 30 priests, and a bishop in Austria.

Even before becoming Archbishop of Vienna in 1995, Schönborn had been very involved in ecumenical relations with the Orthodox. According to Schönborn, his vocation as a Dominican seminarian was saved in 1967 by a Romanian Orthodox monk, Father André Scrima, who gave him a great appreciation for the Church Fathers. At the Sorbonne in Paris, Schönborn studied Byzantine and Slavic Christianity. Beginning in 1978, he taught theology of the Christian East at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.

As Archbishop, Cardinal Schönborn has had even greater involvement in Orthodox-Catholic relations. To give only a few examples, he is chair of the board of trustees of the Pro Oriente Foundation, which is one of the world’s leading organizations promoting communion between the Churches of the East and West. He has been a member and a host of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.

Like Cardinal Schönborn, Patriarch Porfirije has also sought to improve the relations between the Churches of East and West. In his seven years as Metropolitan of Zagreb (2014-21), he developed very good relations with Catholics, and Catholics acquired a great respect for him.

However, there are many conservative bishops in the SOC. Of the 14 Local Orthodox Churches, the SOC remains the only one whose primate has not met a Pope.

Hopefully, with Porfirije as Primate, this may change.

The relationship between Cardinal Schönborn and Patriarch Porfirije can serve as a model for excellent ecumenical relations between Orthodox and Catholics. In the words of the Patriarch, one must respect “the freedom and dignity of the Other” and have love for the Other. One should pray that many similar close relationships between Orthodox and Catholics will develop in the future.m

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page 47

C AT H O L I C I S M A N D O R T H O D O X Y

NEWS from the EAST

BY MATTHEW TROJACEK

CATHOLIC, ORTHODOX THEOLOGIANS AGREE ON July 11, Fides news agency reported. The jubilee year is “a speFIRST NEW TEXT SINCE 2016 cial time in which we are called to commemorate the 300th anA joint commission of Catholic and Orthodox theologians niversary of the restoration of the full communion between the reached agreement during the first week of June on a new docuMelkite Church and the Church of Rome,” Absi said. (UCANews) ment addressing synodality and primacy in the modern era.

Members of the Joint International Commission for TheologRUSSIAN BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE ADDRESSES ical Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox UKRAINE, CONSTANTINOPLE Church approved the text Synodality and Primacy in the Second A host of hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church gathered Millennium and Today at a meeting in the Egyptian city of at the Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra (outside of Moscow) on Alexandria.

July 19 “for a fraternal discussion of curIt is the first time in almost seven years rent issues of Church life.” that the commission has approved a new The Bishops’ Conference was held in document, following the 2016 text “Synlieu of a Bishops’ Council, which has been odality and Primacy During the First Milpostponed several times in recent years, lennium.” first due to the COVID pandemic, then to The meeting, hosted by the Greek Orthe war in Ukraine. thodox Patriarch Theodore II of AlexanA Bishops’ Council is much larger than dria, took place at a time of considerable a meeting of the Holy Synod, including ecumenical turbulence, driven by the every hierarch of the Russian Church.

Ukraine war.

The last Bishops’ Council was held in In addition to an 18-strong Catholic The Bishops’ Conference of hierarchs of the Russian 2017. delegation — led by Cardinal Kurt Koch, Orthodox Church gathered at the Holy Trinity-Saint The present Bishops’ Conference was Sergius Lavra on July 19 (Photo: patriarchia.ru) prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promandatory for all hierarchs on the territory moting Christian Unity — 24 representatives of 10 autonomous of Russia, while bishops from abroad were to come if conditions Orthodox Churches took part. (ThePillar) allowed.

The conference began with a comprehensive report on various issues of Church life by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All RusPOPE FRANCIS GREETS DELEGATION OF sia, followed by a discussion of the report.

ORTHODOX LEADERS Then Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary preAll wars are “utter disasters” for everyone, especially families, sented a report on the preparation of the document On the Dischildren, the elderly, refugees, communities and creation, Pope tortion of the Orthodox Teaching About the Church in the Acts of Francis said at the end of June in Rome. the Hierarchy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the “As followers of Christ, we must not grow resigned to war Speeches of Its Representatives by the Synodal Biblical and Thebut work together for peace,” he told a delegation of Orthodox ological Commission. The hierarchs then held an open discussion leaders during a meeting at the Vatican June 30. about the document. (OrthoChristian) “At the same time, (peace) remains a gift that requires acceptance by men and women, particularly believers, who are called to share in God’s work of peacemaking,” he said in a written adNEW CONSTANTINOPLE BISHOP EXPLAINS WHY dress handed to the delegation.

HE RECITED CREED WITH FILIOQUE The delegation representing the Orthodox Ecumenical PatriThe newly-consecrated Bishop Theophan of Philomelion isarchate of Constantinople was in Rome for the June 29 feast of sued a “Declaration and Clarification” on July 27, addressing the Sts. Peter and Paul. Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, the Orthodox scandal surrounding what happened during his episcopal conseco-president of the joint international commission for Catholiccration in Istanbul.

Orthodox theological dialogue, led the delegation, which met After his consecration on July 25, presided over by Archwith officials at the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity June bishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Archdiocese of America, the 29 and with the Pope June 30. (UCANews) Albanian Church reported that the new Bishop Theophan had recited the Nicene Creed with the “heretical” Filioque, pointing to MELKITE CHURCH TO MARK THREE CENTURIES it as evidence of his unworthiness.

OF UNION WITH ROME The news quickly spread and caused a scandal in the OrthoThe Melkite Greek Catholic Church has announced a series dox Church. of programs to mark 300 years of union with the Roman Catholic Bishop Theophan responded with a statement on the controChurch, terming the occasion a “sign of unity among all Chrisversy, saying he recited the Creed with the Filioque out of the tians.” Patriarch Yossef Absi of the Eastern-rite Church made the high emotion and anxiety of the moment, but that he, in fact, conannouncement during a press conference in Raboué, Lebanon on fesses the Orthodox faith. (OrthoChristian) page 48

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UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT REACTS TO SPASOPREOBRAZHENSKY CATHEDRAL DESTRUCTION IN ODESSA President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Odessa July 28 in order to show the consequences of the Russian missile strike on the cathedral.

“A Russian missile hit the altar – it was completely destroyed and the entire structure of the building was damaged,” he mentioned in his post on Facebook.

And he added: “Architecture experts are currently working to assess the possibility of restoring the church. I am grateful to our partners in Europe for their willingness to join the reconstruction.” He also related that “the Kasperov Icon of the Mother of God has been saved.” (OrthodoxTimes) ZELENSKY SIGNS LAW MOVING CHRISTMAS IN UKRAINE TO DECEMBER 25 Ukraine will now celebrate Christmas on December 25 instead of January 7, following a law ratified by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky July 28, which is another move made by Kiev towards”deRussification.”

“For a long time, the Ukrainian people were subjected to Russian ideology in almost all aspects of life, including the Julian calendar and the celebration of Christmas on January 7,” said the explanatory text of the bill voted by lawmakers in mid-July.

The latter law demonstrates the ever-growing gap between the churches of Kyiv and Moscow, a gap that deepened further following the commencement of Russia-Ukraine hostilities.

(OrthodoxTimes) METROPOLITAN HILARION QUESTIONS THE COMPETENCES OF CONSTANTINOPLE Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary gave his first major interview after his expulsion from Moscow and the Metropolis of Volokolamsk to the Russian network RIA Novosti on July 25.

He had previously appeared at the Synaxis of Bishops organized by the Patriarchate of Moscow, which took place in mid-July.

There, Metropolitan Hilarion, who had disappeared from the public eye for more than a year, presented his

almost 40-page report entitled On the Alteration of the Orthodox Teaching on the Church in the Actions of the Hierarchy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Interventions of its Representatives.

Metropolitan Hilarion stresses that the text is a “compilation” of the positions of the Moscow Patriarchate against the “deviations from the canonical principles” observed by the Patriarchate in the actions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

“This is a disagreement not only with some specific actions but also with the general stance. We set out this position and presented our arguments against it. This is the purpose of the text,” he says in the interview.

The main issue in this document is the issue of primacy of Constantinople as an Ecumenical and authoritarian jurisdiction.

“We never questioned the primacy of honor of the Patriarch of Constantinople. However, the primacy of honor is one thing and the powers beyond the boundaries of his local Church are another,” he said.

(OrthodoxTimes) POPE FRANCIS PROPOSES TO MEET PATRIARCH KIRILL IN MOSCOW A state-controlled Russian news outlet claims that Pope Francis has proposed to meet with Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow en route to or from Mongolia for his August 31-September 4 apostolic trip there.

“The Pope proposes to meet Patriarch Kirill without delay at one of Moscow’s airports, Domodedovo or Vnukovo, when he flies to Mongolia. Then he will have to refuel in Moscow at one of the airports,” Leonid Sevastyanov, chairman of the World Union of Old Believers (WSU), apparently told TASS in early August.

Sevastyanov cited a personal conversation with the Pope, saying, “The airport is considered a transit zone, it’s neutral, it would not provoke opposition from those who oppose the pontiff’s visit to Russia. If there is a response from the Patriarch, such a meeting could take place on August 31 on the Pope’s way to Mongolia, or on his way back on September 4.”

Newsweek reported that a spokesperson for the Holy See told them, “A meeting was planned for last year in June in Jerusalem. At the moment, a new place and time have not been determined.” (LifeSiteNews)m

The Christian Churches, the communities of the disciples of Christ, were intended to be united as one; Pope John Paul II proclaimed, “The Church must breathe with Her two lungs!” Unfortunately, the Churches are not united.

This is a great scandal, an impediment to the witness of the Church. Since unity was desired by Christ Himself, we must work to end this disunity and accomplish the will of the Lord.

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page 49

TradiTion and BeauTy

why is GreGorian chant a model oF sacred music?

Four reasons why it is eminently superior to the contemporary “Four-hymn sandwich” n BY AURELIO PORFIRI Graduale (collection of Gregorian chants) from 1280 known as the Maestro di Gerona and collaborators.

Museo Civico Medievale, Bologna, Italy

I

n his important document on sacred music dated November 22, 1903, Saint Pius X reminds us that Gregorian chant should be considered a model for all sacred music.

In fact, he says, after listing the qualities necessary for sacred music (holiness, true art and universality) that “these qualities are to be found, in the highest degree, in Gregorian Chant, which is, consequently the Chant proper to the Roman Church, the only chant she has inherited from the ancient fathers, which she has jealously guarded for centuries in her liturgical codices, which she directly proposes to the faithful as her own, which she prescribes exclusively for some parts of the liturgy, and which the most recent studies have so happily restored to their integrity and purity. On these grounds Gregorian Chant has always been regarded as the supreme model for sacred music, so that it is fully legitimate to lay down the following rule: the more closely a composition for church approaches in its movement, inspiration and flavor the Gregorian form, the more sacred and liturgical it becomes; and the more out of harmony it is with that supreme model, the less worthy it is of the temple. The ancient traditional Gregorian Chant must, therefore, in a large measure be restored to the functions of public worship, and the fact must be accepted by all that an ecclesiastical function

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INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

loses none of its solemnity when accompanied by this music alone. Special efforts are to be made to restore the use of the Gregorian Chant by the people, so that the faithful may again take a more active part in the ecclesiastical offices, as was the case in ancient times.”

The affirmation is very solemn and certainly does not intend to exclude other genres of sacred music, but intends to indicate what is the term of comparison for all sacred music.

But why exactly is Gregorian chant a model for sacred music? Let’s try to list four reasons: 1. It is a song of tradition.

Gregorian chant is a repertoire that can boast the characteristic of antiquity to a very high degree. Although scholars are not sure about the origins of this repertoire, we know that it comes to us from many centuries ago; it is truly a form of song that possesses the authority and seal of tradition, and tradition has always had (at least in the past) a value important in the life of the Church.

The fact that it is a traditional repertoire assures us that it has been handed down to us through a process of long maturation and attention to fidelity to the authorities of antiquity: “Even at a general level, it is perceived that permanence over time, in a sense, strengthens a given tradition. You might have heard someone say of a particular custom that has perhaps been going on for a

few years that ‘now it’s a tradi3. It is an eminently liturgition.’ Even for repeated occurcal chant. rences of something over a short Gregorian chant is truly liturtime, when one perceives a cergical chant par excellence, betain age (even if it is not all that cause it is tailored to the needs of old), one thinks of the concept of the liturgy. Gregorian chant tradition. Therefore, in the great teaches us how the liturgy is unitraditions, the concept of antiqtary in a variety of possibilities. uity has a certain importance” Gregorian chant “inhabits” (Aurelio Porfiri, 2023: Non the liturgy in a fully effective nova, sed noviter. The four pilway and breathes within it, lars of tradition). So the fact that Gregorian chant is a forming an almost inseparable bond with the liturgy traditional chant adds another level to its value. itself. It is a model of liturgical chant because in it the 2. It is a song of prayer. liturgy appears to us in all its colors and in the multiple Gregorian chant is not music to pray with, but prayer articulation of its forms. Think how different it is from made into music. what is called a “four-hymn sandwich,” the custom of Due to its solemnity and reverence, it is ideal in helpreplacing the Mass Propers with hymns, often of Protesing the faithful to elevate themselves to the things of the tant origin. For heaven’s sake, some of these hymns are spirit. It is precisely because of its modal musical laneven beautiful, but this use greatly flattens the multidiguage that it is particularly suitable for transfiguring mensionality of the liturgy. Gregorian chant makes us feelings by sublimating them into constant prayer to discover the liturgy in its enormous variety, and through God. It is song in its highest its specific language, Gregorian meaning, the one that refers to chant gives this variety a prothe Creator of everything. That found unity. is why sacred music is the high4. It is inclusive singing. est form of music, because it Today the term “inclusive” is addresses the ultimate end of all very fashionable, so let’s use it things. also for Gregorian chant. In this We must not think of this repertoire there are songs for prayer as an indistinct murmur, expert singers but also songs for because in Gregorian chant we the simple folk. It does not exfind expressed all the feelings and clude other repertoires; indeed, as “GREGORIAN CHANT IS: aspirations of the human soul, but in the case of polyphony, GregoriA SONG OF TRADITION; they are elevated to the conteman chant was the premise for their A SONG OF PRAYER; plation of that God who is the credevelopment. It sounds solemn ator of all things.

AN EMINENTLY LITURGICAL CHANT; when sung by male voices and Pius XII, in Musicae sacrae angelic when sung by children’s INCLUSIVE SINGING” disciplina of 1955, observed: voices, soft when sung by female “The ordination and direction of man to his ultimate end voices and vibrant when performed by boys’ voices.

— which is God — by absolute and necessary law based Gregorian chant is for everyone, and everyone finds in on the nature and the infinite perfection of God Himself it a treasure of spiritual life. is so solid that not even God could exempt anyone from In short, these are just a few reasons, among many, it. This eternal and unchangeable law commands that which make us understand how important Gregorian man himself and all his actions should manifest and imichant should be in the liturgy and in the life of the tate, so far as possible, God’s infinite perfection for the Church. Unfortunately, today all this has been abanpraise and glory of the Creator. Since man is born to doned due to an unhealthy idea of “participation” which attain this supreme end, he ought to conform himself and has practically relegated Gregorian chant to the memothrough his actions direct all powers of his body and his ries of a past time. We can all see what the absence of soul, rightly ordered among themselves and duly subGregorian chant means when we look at the level of jected to the end they are meant to attain, to the divine music used in many — too many — modern liturgies. model. Therefore even art and works of art must be judged in the light of their conformity and agreement AURELIO PORFIRI is an extensively published composer, with man’s last end.” conductor, writer and educator. He has lived and worked Gregorian chant certainly developed with this ultifor 7 years in Macau, China, and is the founder of the pubmate goal in mind, which is God, in whom everything is lishing company Chorabooks. Find him on his YouTube lived and in whom everything is transfigured. channel Ritorno a Itaca and on Facebook.m SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

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Of Books, Art and People

Tuscany, umbria and The marches commemoraTe Luca signoreLLi n BY LUCY GORDAN

Here below, Tondo of the Madonna and Child with the Patron Saints of Cortona: Michael, Vincent, Margaret of Cortona, and Mark (Courtesy of the Museum of the Etruscan Academy and of the City of Cortona)

F

(Naples), Foundation Jacquemart-André (Paris), rom June 23 until October 8, the Tuscan National Gallery (London), Museo dell’city of Cortona and its Museum of Opera del Duomo (Orvieto), Pinoteca the Etruscan Academy are dediComunale (Sansepolcro), National cating a major exhibition to native Gallery of Ireland (Dublin), The Nason Luca Signorelli (c. 1445tional Gallery (Washington, D.C.) 1523) on the 500th anniversary and the High Museum of Art (Atof his death and 70 years after lanta, Georgia), to name a few. the last exhibition dedicated to Displayed in chronological him in Cortona. The exhibit is order, selected on the basis of entitled “Signorelli 500. Maetheir very high quality and to stro Luca da Cortona, Painter represent Signorelli’s changing of Light and Poetry.” style in each decade of his 60At the pre-exhibition press year-long career, the exhibition conference held at the Ministry opens with Presentation at the of Culture, Vittorio Sgarbi, the Temple (1464-65) on loan from a outspoken but erudite art critic private collection in New York. and member of the Italian ParliaCommissioned to Pietro della Franment, provided journalists with sevcesca for the Chiesa della Santissima eral insights into Signorelli’s life and Trinità di Arezzo according to Vasari, Proart: he was highly admired by his distant fessor Henry considers it Signorelli’s earliest cousin, the biographer and artist Giorgio work, painted when Signorelli was probably still an apVasari, who called him “the lighthouse of the great artists prentice in Piero della Francesca’s workshop, where he of the Renaissance,” and wrote that Signorelli was “the learned about foreshortening, refined backgrounds, and the man who, with his profound mastery of design, particularuse of light. ly in nudes, and with his grace in invention and the comCortona’s exhibition has three other American connecposition of scenes, opened to the majority of craftsmen tions: the financing of the restoration of his Tondo of the the way to the final perfection of art.” In fact, his work Madonna and Child with the Patron Saints of Cortona: greatly influenced both Raphael and Michelangelo, who Michael, Vincent, Margaret of Cortona, and Mark, one of both overshadowed him into near obscurity until he was Signorelli’s few paintings never to have left his birthplace; rediscovered by the Pre-Raphaelites and beloved by the and the loans of two panels of the predella of the two-sided art critic Bernard Berenson. Sadly, while unappreciated, altarpiece that still stands on the high altar of the small many of his works were cut into pieces and dispersed Church of the Oratory of San around the world, several being Niccolò in Cortona: The Birth miraculously reassembled for and the Miracle of St. Nicholas the first time in this exhibition. from Atlanta, for the first time Curated by Tom Henry, Proback in Italy from the United fessor Emeritus of the University States, as well as the Calvary of Kent and former director of panel mentioned below from the the School of Classical and ReMatelica altarpiece. naissance Studies at the English Another reassemblage for the University of Rome, the 30first time are six of the seven pansome paintings on display are on els of the Matelica altarpiece, loan from private collections and made in 1504-5 for the Chiesa di from 24 museums worldwide: Sant’Agostino in Matelica, cut Uffizi Galleries (Florence), The Birth of St. Nicholas and The Miracle of St. Nicholas apart and dispersed around the Museo Nazionale Capodimonte (1508-10), on loan from Atlanta’s High Museum of Art 52 INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

world in the mid-18th century. Two come Pope Sixtus IV in 1478 to fresco the “Old From the Chapel of San Brizio: Paradise and Hell. from private collections, one in England, Testament” wall of the Sistine Chapel and the other in Italy; one from London’s Na- Bottom, Preaching of the Antichrist then again with several colleagues in 1508 surrounded by various scenes that tional Gallery, two from Bologna, and one refer to the social and political life by Pope Julius II to decorate his apartfrom Washington’s National Gallery. Yet ments. They began operations, but were of the time another reassemblage, for shortly superseded to make the first time, is the central way for Raphael, and their panel of the polyptych of the work was taken down. Earlier Chiesa di Santa Lucia in patrons of Signorelli had been Montepulciano, depicting Lorenzo de’ Medici, known the Madonna and Child Enas “The Magnificent,” and the throned, with its predella powerful politician Pandolfo composed of three panels: Petrucci. the Annunciation, the AdoraAfter studying with Piero tion of the Shepherds, and della Francesca in Arezzo, the Adoration of the Three Signorelli painted in Città di Kings, all on loan from the Castello, the Monastery of Uffizi. Not only the SigMonte Oliveto Maggiore norelli works mentioned south of Siena, Orvieto, Siena, above were dismembered Rome (Moses’ Testament and and dispersed, but also othDeath are still visible in the ers on display here; thus it Sistine Chapel), Montone, was an enormous challenge Umbertide, Morra, Citerna, and overwhelming research Paciano, Perugia, Loreto, and project for Professor Henry and his collaborators to asArcevia, leaving us many works to admire in each place. semble the exhibition.

In addition to the exhibition catalog (33.25 euros), Another extraordinary feat of Professor Henry was Skira will be publishing a guide with five different itinto put on display eleven paintings by Signorelli which eraries (including museums) outside of Cortona, all in date to before 1500, especially since no works painted central Italy within 70 kilometers of Cortona, where it during the first 35 years of Signorelli’s career have rewill always be possible to admire works by Signorelli mained in Cortona. after “Signorelli 500” has closed (12.25 euros). Both Several other later paintings by Signorelli, not in the volumes are only available in Italian. exhibition, are permanently located in Cortona in the Although “Signorelli 500. Maestro Luca da Cortona.

Museo Diocesano, the Churches di San Niccolò, di San Painter of Light and Poetry,” the centerpiece of the celeDomenico and di Santa Maria Delle Grazie al Calcinaio brations, opened on June 23, commemorations began earand in il Palazzone. lier this spring with concerts and lectures in both Cortona It’s true that Signorelli was born in Cortona, a place he and Orvieto and will continue to the end of 2023. always loved and returned to frequently, and where he In March, members of the Foreign Press Association died by falling off a scaffold while painting a fresco in a were invited to Orvieto to admire Signorelli’s masterpiece: cardinal’s summer residence nearby, but he was peripatethis frescoes (1499-1502) in the Duomo’s Chapel of San ic, traveling frequently in Tuscany, Umbria, and twice to Brizio, murals initially begun on the ceiling by Fra Angelico Rome. He was first summoned along with other artists by 50 years earlier, but abandoned.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN 53

Of Books, Art and People To Fra Angelico’s ceiling, Signorelli ment and said it was the most fantastic added the Madonna leading the Apostles, work of art he’d ever seen. the Patriarchs, Doctors of the Church, In an essay he published the next year, Martyrs, and Virgins.

The Physical Mechanism of Forgetfulness, Signorelli’s frescoes in the vaults and Freud revealed that for a long time he on the upper walls represent the events could not remember the name of the artist surrounding the Apocalypse and the Last of Orvieto’s frescoes, even if in his mind’s Judgment. The Apocalyptic frescoes begin eye he could picture each fresco and dewith the Preaching of Antichrist where scribe it in detail. This situation became a Signorelli painted his self-portrait next to central theme of Freud’s psychoanalytical one of Fra Angelico, and proceed to research and is known as “Signorelli’s Doomsday and The Resurrection of the Parapraxis.”

Body. Those of the Last Judgment depict In addition to the Duomo’s Chapel of Paradise, the Elect and the Condemned, San Brizio, we visited the Duomo’s Hell, The Resurrection of the Dead, and archives where we saw Signorelli’s two Detail of the Preaching of Antichrist The Destruction of the Reprobate. contracts. The first, dated April 5, 1499, where Signorelli portrays himself next Signorelli paid great attention to anatofor 200 ducats, was a kind of trial to comto Fra Angelico my. It seems he carried on his studies in plete Fra Angelico’s ceiling; the second, cemeteries and his mastery of the human form implies he dated April 27, 1500, for 600 ducats, to paint the walls, also may also have assisted at medical dissections. Michelanincluded lodging and a monthly payment of two measures gelo is said to have borrowed some of Signorelli’s human of wine and two quarters of corn. (Today the equivalent of figures or combinations thereof for his Last Judgment in 1 ducat is about 50 euros.) the Sistine Chapel.

For a definitive picture of this masterful artist, purchase Apparently in 1897, when Sigmund Freud visited the first book-length study of Signorelli, The Life and Art Orvieto during his first trip to Italy, he remained as if of Luca Signorelli by Tom Henry, published by Yale Unistruck by lightning in front of the fresco of the Last Judgversity Press (2012), hardback, 94 pounds sterling.m

54 INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

Join the Catholic Counter-Revolution!

Since the 1960s much of Catholicism has veered o昀 in a revolutionary direction — its Marxism deriving as much from Groucho as from Karl — and the results are in: Two out of three Catholics no longer believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Weekly Mass attendance has dropped from 70 percent to 30 percent (and that was before ill-advised COVID-19 policies reduced it even further). The number of priests, brothers, sisters, Catholic schools and parishes, marriages, baptisms, and con昀rmations has declined — dramatically in many cases.

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THE END EXCERPTS FROM LORD OF THE WORLD

“They intend destroying the Abbey” MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, MONSIGNOR ROBERT HUGH BENSON FORESAW THE RISE OF SECULAR HUMANISM, THE CONTRACTION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND THE COMING OF THE ANTICHRIST... n BY ITV STAFF Editor’s Note: The passage below is from the novel Lord of the World, written by the English Catholic convert Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson (the son of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury) in 1907. He attempts a vision of the world more than a century in the future — in the early 21st century… our own time… predicting the

LORD OF THE WORLD

BY ROBERT HUGH BENSON (1907) Book II, The Encounter, Chapter V, Section II (Note: The hero of the story, a young English priest, Fr. Percy Franklin, has gone to Rome to report to the Pope on what he has seen in England: the arrival of a leader named Felsenburgh proposing global harmony, leaving aside Christ. Hearing this, the Pope summons the Curia to establish a new “Order of Christ Crucified.” He then makes Percy the Cardinal Protector of England.

The scene shifts to England and the creation of... a new liturgy... then shifts back again to Rome... where Percy is now spending the Christmas season... He knows the new “humanist liturgy” will be imposed soon... then learns to his dismay that some Catholics in England are so outraged they may take violent action... so he will have to leave Rome and try to prevent the possible violence...)

It was a strange Christmas.

Percy was ordered to attend the Pope at his second mass, and himself said his three at midnight in his own private oratory.

For the first time in his life he saw that of which he had heard so often, the wonderful old-world Pontifical procession, lit by torches, going through the streets from the Lateran to St. Anastasia, where the Pope for the last few years had restored the ancient custom discontinued for nearly a century-and-a-half.

The little basilica was reserved, of course, in every corner for the peculiarly privileged; but the streets outside along the whole route from the Cathedral to the church—and, indeed, the other two sides of the triangle as well, were one dense mass of silent heads and flaming torches.

The Holy Father was attended at the altar by the usual sovereigns; and Percy from his place watched the heavenly drama of Christ’s Passion enacted through the veil of His nativity at the hands of His old Angelic Vicar.

It was hard to perceive Calvary here; it was surely the air of Bethlehem, the celestial light, not the supernatural darkness, that beamed round the simple altar. It was the Child called Wonderful 56

INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

rise of Communism, the fall of faith in many places, the advance of technology (he foresees helicopters) and so forth, up until... the Second Coming of the Lord, with which his vision ends. For this reason, and also because Pope Benedict and Pope Francis have repeatedly cited Benson’s book, saying its clarification of the danger of a type of humanitarianism without God is a true danger that we do face, we are printing selections from it in ITV, now and in the months ahead.

that lay there beneath the old hands, rather than the stricken Man of Sorrows.

Adeste fideles sang the choir from the tribune.— Come, let us adore, rather than weep; let us exult, be content, be ourselves like little children. As He for us became a child, let us become childlike for Him. Let us put on the garments of infancy and the shoes of peace. For the Lord hath reigned; He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength and hath girded Himself. He hath established the world which shall not be moved: His throne is prepared from of old. He is from everlasting. Rejoice greatly then, O daughter of Zion, shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold thy King cometh, to thee, the Holy One, the Saviour of the world. It will be time, then, to suffer by and bye, when the Prince of this world cometh upon the Prince of Heaven.

So Percy mused, standing apart in his gorgeousness, striving to make himself little and simple. Surely nothing was too hard for God! Might not this mystic Birth once more do what it had done before—bring into subjection through the might of its weakness every proud thing that exalts itself above all that is called God? It had drawn wise Kings once across the desert, as well as shepherds from their flocks. It had kings about it now, kneeling with the poor and foolish, kings who had laid down their crowns, who brought the gold of loyal hearts, the myrrh of desired martyrdom, and the incense of a pure faith. Could not republics, too, lay aside their splendour, mobs be tamed, selfishness deny itself, and wisdom confess its ignorance?…

Then he remembered Felsenburgh; and his heart sickened within him.

III Six days later, Percy rose as usual, said his mass, breakfasted, and sat down to say office until his servant should summon him to vest for the Pontifical mass.

He had learned to expect bad news now so constantly—of apostasies, deaths, losses—that the lull of the previous week had come to him with extraordinary refreshment. It appeared to him as if his musings in St. Anastasia had been truer than he thought, and that the sweetness of the old feast had not yet wholly lost its power even

God as seen by the British poet William Blake as the Architect of the world in his 1794 watercolor etching Ancient of Days, now held in the British Museum, London. The name “Ancient of Days” is a name for God used by the Prophet Daniel: “I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool....” (Daniel 7:9)

over a world that denied its substance. For nothing at all had happened of importance. A few more martyrdoms had been chronicled, but they had been isolated cases; and of Felsenburgh there had been no tidings at all. Europe confessed its ignorance of his business.

On the other hand, to-morrow, Percy knew very well, would be a day of extraordinary moment in England and Germany at any rate; for in England it was appointed as the first occasion of compulsory worship throughout the country, while it was the second in Germany. Men and women would have to declare themselves now.

He had seen on the previous evening a photograph of the image that was to be worshipped next day in the Abbey; and, in a fit of loathing, had torn it to shreds. It represented a nude woman, huge and majestic, entrancingly lovely, with head and shoulders thrown back, as one who sees a strange and heavenly vision, arms downstretched and hands a little raised, with wide fingers, as in astonishment—the whole attitude, with feet and knees pressed together, suggestive of expectation, hope and wonder; in devilish mockery her long hair was crowned with twelve stars. This, then, was the spouse of the other, the embodiment of man’s ideal maternity, still waiting for her child….

When the white scraps lay like poisonous snow at his feet, he had sprung across the room to his prie-dieu, and fallen there in an agony of reparation.

“Oh! Mother, Mother!” he cried to the stately Queen of Heaven who, with Her true Son long ago in Her arms, looked down on him from Her bracket—no more than that. ***** But he was still again this morning, and celebrated Saint Silvester, Pope and Martyr, the last saint in the procession of the Christian year, with tolerable equanimity. The sights of last night, the throng of officials, the stately, scarlet, unfamiliar figures of the Cardinals who had come in from north, south, east and west—these helped to reassure him again—unreasonably, as he knew, yet effectually. The very air was electric with expectation. All night the piazza had been crowded by a huge, silent mob waiting till the opening of the doors at seven o’clock. Now the church itself was full, and the piazza full again.

Far down the street to the river, so far as he could see as he had leaned from his window just now, lay that solemn motionless pavement of heads. The roof of the colonnade showed a fringe of them, the house-tops were black—and this in the bitter cold of a clear, frosty morning, for it was announced that after mass and the proceeding of the members of the Order past the Pontifical Throne, the Pope would give Apostolic Benediction to the City and the World.

Percy finished Terce, closed his book and lay back; his servant would be here in a minute now.

His mind began to run over the function, and he reflected that the entire Sacred College (with the exception of the Cardinal-Protector of Jerusalem, detained by sickness), numbering sixty-four members, would take part. This would mean an unique sight by and by. Eight years before, he remembered, after the freedom of Rome,

there had been a similar assembly; but the Cardinals at that time amounted to no more than fifty-three all told, and four had been absent.

Then he heard voices in his ante-room, a quick step, and a loud English expostulation. That was curious, and he sat up.

Then he heard a sentence.

“His Eminence must go to vest; it is useless.”

There was a sharp answer, a faint scuffle, and a snatch at the handle. This was indecent; so Percy stood up, made three strides of it to the door, and tore it open.

A man stood there, whom at first he did not recognise, pale and disordered.

“Why—” began Percy, and recoiled. “Mr. Phillips!” he said.

The other threw out his hands.

“It is I, sir—your Eminence—this moment arrived. It is life and death. Your servant tells me—” “Who sent you?”

“Father Blackmore.”

“Good news or bad?”

The man rolled his eyes towards the servant, who still stood erect and offended a yard away; and Percy understood.

He put his hand on the other’s arm, drawing him through the doorway.

“Tap upon this door in two minutes, James,” he said.

They passed across the polished floor together; Percy went to his usual place in the window, leaned against the shutter, and spoke.

“Tell me in one sentence, sir,” he said to the breathless man.

“There is a plot among the Catholics.

They intend destroying the Abbey to-morrow with explosives. I knew that the Pope...”

Percy cut him short with a gesture.

CHAPTER VI I The volor-stage [a type of airport] was comparatively empty this afternoon, as the little party of six stepped out on to it from the lift. There was nothing to distinguish these from ordinary travellers. The two Cardinals of Germany and England were wrapped in plain furs, without insignia of any kind; their chaplains stood near them, while the two men-servants hurried forward with the bags to secure a private compartment.

The four kept complete silence, watching the busy movements of the officials on board, staring unseeingly at the sleek, polished monster that lay netted in steel at their feet, and the great folded fins that would presently be cutting the thin air at a hundred and fifty miles an hour.

Then Percy, by a sudden movement, turned from the others, went to the open window that looked over Rome, and leaned there with his elbows on the sill, looking. ***** (To be continued) m INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

57

VATICAN WATCH

By Matthew Trojacek with CNA Reports - Grzegorz Galazka and CNA photos

JUNE SATURDAY 3

group from the McDonald’s Corporation visited; they told me that they have abolished plastic and use only recyclable paper, for everything.” The Pope then mentioned the banning of plastic in the Vatican and added, “These are steps, real steps that we have to continue — real steps.” (Zenit)

ACT OF REPARATION OFFERED FOR THE DESECRATION OF THE ALTAR OF SAINT PETER’S BASILICA After the desecration of the main altar of the Vatican MONDAY 12 Basilica on June 1, in which a Polish man stripped naked SATELLITE WITH POPE FRANCIS’ WORDS and stood upon the altar in protest of the war in Ukraine, LAUNCHES INTO SPACE a Liturgy of Reparation was held on June 3.

The “Spei Satelles” mission, Latin for “Satellites of Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of Saint Peter’s Hope,” launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from the VandenBasilica, presided over the liturgical berg Space Force Base in California act. He was accompanied by the Canon June 12. ons and some faithful.

According to the Vatican, the The Rite of Penance began at midminiature satellite, called a CubeSat, day in front of the Main Altar, under “is now en route to a heliosynchroBernini’s canopy, with the petition to nous orbit, approximately 525 km God for forgiveness. Cardinal Gam[32 miles] above the Earth’s surface.” betti said in front of the altar: “We are While in orbit, the satellite will gathered here to confess our faith once broadcast decipherable statements again and to invoke mercy.” from Pope Francis in English, Italian, In the words the Cardinal spoke and Spanish on the theme of hope after the Liturgy of the Word, he referand peace. (CNA) enced the structures of sin that Pope Saint John Paul II frequently spoke TUESDAY 13 about: “It is also this structure of sin POPE FRANCIS LAMENTS THE that causes a person who, perhaps, SPIRITUAL POVERTY IN A doesn’t feel heard, who wants to call CULTURE THAT LEADS TO TEEN attention to the world’s poverty, such SUICIDES as the situations being lived by the Pope Francis and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula Pope Francis has said that the rise children of Ukraine that, perhaps, imin teen suicides points to a deeper da Silva at the Vatican on June 21 pels a person to be heard, to make an spiritual poverty in our culture today inappropriate gesture, truly frightful here, at the Altar of that leads young people to believe they are failures. the Confession, as happened the other day.” Cardinal In his message for the 2023 World Day of the Poor, the Gambetti added: “We are here to say to the Lord: ‘We acPope wrote that he could not fail to mention “an increasknowledge that these structures of sin condition our peringly evident form of poverty that affects young people.” sonal actions and those of society’ and ‘Lord, we ask your “How much frustration and how many suicides are forgiveness. Purify us. Purify us.’” (Zenit) being caused by the illusions created by a culture that leads young people to think that they are ‘losers,’ ‘good MONDAY 5 for nothing,’” he said.

POPE FRANCIS REVEALS THAT PLASTIC IS BANNED “Let us help them react to these malign influences and IN THE VATICAN find ways to help them grow into self-assured and generOn June 5, Pope Francis received in audience the parous men and women.” (CNA) ticipants in the Green and Blue Festival. The audience was held in the context of the World Environment Day WEDNESDAY 21 “Earth for All.” During his address, the Holy Father POPE FRANCIS AND BRAZIL’S PRESIDENT LULA shared with them that “in the Vatican plastic has been EMBRACE DURING VISIT banned, and I understand that we are now 93% plasticPope Francis said a meeting with Brazil’s President free.”

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Vatican on June 21 took During the same address, the Holy Father shared what place in an atmosphere of “great sympathy and friendhe had heard shortly before when receiving Christopher ship.” The two can be seen embracing in photos shared by John Kempczinski, President of the McDonald’s Corpothe Brazilian president’s photographer. Pope Francis and ration, together with his wife and entourage: “Today a Lula have known each other for years.

58 INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

The statue of St. Thomas Aquinas at the entrance to the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (called “the Angelicum” because Aquinas was the “Angelic Doctor”). In the circle, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, who will preside at the 700th aniversary of the saint’s canonization

Francis wrote a letter to Lula in May 2019 when the influential statesman was imprisoned on corruption charges of which he was later cleared.

According to the Vatican, the 45-minute meeting, which included Lula’s wife, took place in a study next to the Paul VI Hall rather than in the apostolic palace. The Paul VI Hall is closer to Francis’ residence, where he is currently convalescing following his recent abdominal surgery.

Lula also spoke with Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the number two in the Secretariat of State, during the visit. The topics of conversation included the socio-political situation in Brazil, the promotion of peace and reconciliation, the fight against poverty and inequality, respect for the indigenous population of Brazil, and protection of the environment, the Vatican said in a brief statement. (CNA)

JULY WEDNESDAY 5

POPE FRANCIS HOSTS BILL CLINTON, FOUNDATION HEAD ALEX SOROS Pope Francis met with former U.S. President Bill Clinton in a private audience at the Casa Santa Marta papal residence on July 5. Clinton’s delegation included several prominent Americans, including Alex Soros of the Open Society Foundations.

Clinton, who now focuses his efforts on philanthropy and public affairs, had visited Albania July 3-4 and received from the Albanian prime minister a public gratitude medal for his support of Albania and for NATO’s intervention in the Kosovo War, the news site Euractiv reported.

Soros, son of the billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros, accompanied Clinton in both Albania and at the Vatican. Soros is the new chairman of the Open Society Foundations, a philanthropic giant that his father founded.

The Pope presented Clinton with a statue of a woman holding a dove. The pontiff said it represents “a work for peace.” (CNA) THURSDAY 6

POPE CREATES COMMISSION TO IDENTIFY MODERN-DAY MARTYRS A quarter of a century after John Paul II held an ecumenical celebration during the Great Jubilee of 2000 to honor Christian martyrs, Pope Francis has decided to update the work of his Polish predecessor.

His plan: to compile a new martyrology of Christians of all denominations.

The Vatican announced on July 5 that the 86-year-old Pope has formed a commission of experts whose task is to identify the Christian martyrs of the last 25 years. It will be a part of his intention to create a new martyrology of those more recently killed for the faith in preparation for the Church’s upcoming Jubilee in 2025.

“The research will concern not only the Catholic Church, but will extend to all Christian denominations,” the Pope states in his letter constituting the “Commission of New Martyrs-Witness of the Faith.”

(LaCroix) TUESDAY 11

POPE RECALLS GREAT SPIRITUAL AND HUMAN WISDOM OF THOMAS AQUINAS In a letter written in Latin, Pope Francis recalled the legacy of Saint Thomas Aquinas, describing him as “a man of the Church,” priest and doctor who shared his “great spiritual and human wisdom” through prayers and writings.

Released on July 11, the letter announced the appointment of Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, as the Pope’s special envoy to the celebration of the 700th anniversary of the canonization of Thomas Aquinas, marked on July 18 at the Abbey of Fossanova, in the town of Priverno, in central Italy.

“Never having an air of superiority from his knowledge, but always edified by charity,” the Dominican friar, whom contemporaries already called the “Angelic Doctor,” was “full of astonishing culture,” the Pope points out in the letter. “He wrote many works and taught countless subjects, and was well qualified in the philosophical and theological disciplines. He manifested righteous intelligence and lucidity, and while reverently investigating the divine mysteries with reason, he contemplated them with fervent faith.”

(VaticanNews) MONDAY 24

POPE MEETS WITH HEAD OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Pope Francis met with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, the morning of July 24 in a private Vatican audience, the Holy See’s press office announced. No additional details were provided, and requests for comment to both the Holy See and WHO were not returned before publication.

Francis also met Ghebreyesus, an Ethiopian public health official and Orthodox Christian who has served as WHO’s director-general since 2017, at a 2018 Vatican meeting. (CNA)m SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN

59

PEOPLE B M Y

ATTHEW TROJACEK with G. Galazka, CNA and CNS photos

n CATHOLIC RELIEF CARDINAL MARENGO SERVICES REPORTEDLY IN MONGOLIA DREAMS HELPING BIDEN USE AID OF ESTABLISHING PROGRAM TO PROMOTE A CATHOLIC MONASTERY ABORTION TO ADVANCE Six African bishops joined a number EVANGELIZATION of other African leaders in signing a When Italian Cardinal Giorgroup letter protesting America’s use of gio Marengo first arrived as a AIDS relief funds to promote abortion missionary priest in Mongolia 20 in their countries. The letter was orgayears ago, his mission set up two nized by the Heritage Foundation, a yurts (round tents) in the steppe — one for activities and one conservative American advocacy instifor offering Mass. tution.

“We were sent to a faraway area where the Church had “We now know that never been before,” the cardinal recalled. “After a long Catholic Relief Services process of getting the necessary permissions, we finally (CRS) told some Senate got a piece of land—empty, nothing.” offices that the bishops The Catholic missionaries, who had each spent three years studying denied signing such a letthe Mongolian language in preparation, asked themselves: “Where do ter,” said CatholicVote Presiwe start?”

They decided to begin by praying. dent Brian Burch.

“We were praying, celebrating the Holy Eucharist in Mongolian, so CRS’s “story shifted” quickly, howthe people in the neighborhood started entering the ger [Mongolian word ever. Next, CRS claimed the African for yurt] and watching these funny foreigners who were praying,” bishops had signed the protest letter, but Marengo said. didn’t know what they were signing.

“They told us, ‘We felt there was something special in this ger, this “Heritage reached out to the bishops, yurt.’”

(CNA) who said they knew exactly what they were signing,” Burch said. “A seventh During the assembly’s closing Mass, Bishop Kouadio African bishop sent a statement to point out that he wasn’t blasted “the generalized corruption, tribalism, and selecin the original letter and wanted to be added.” tive justice” of Ivory Coast. (LaCroix) (CatholicVote) n PECTORAL CROSS OF BENEDICT XVI STOLEN FROM BAVARIAN CHURCH A pectoral cross bequeathed by the late Pope Benedict XVI to a parish in his native Bavaria has been stolen from the church where it was on display.

Unknown perpetrators broke open a display case on the wall of Saint Oswald’s Church in the city of Traunstein during daylight hours June 19. Police said cash was also stolen from the cash register of a literature stand in the church.

The value of the cross to the Catholic Church is “not quantifiable,” the police said. (CNA) n CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF IVORY COAST ELECT “OUTSPOKEN” LEADER Catholic leaders in the Ivory Coast have elected Bishop Marcellin Yao Kouadio, a notoriously outspoken Rome-trained prelate, as the president of their national episcopal conference (CECCI).

The 63-year bishop, who heads the Diocese of Daloa in the western part of the country, was elected to the post on June 4 at the end of the CECCI plenary assembly. On the same day, Bishop Bruno Essoh Yedoh, head of the eastern Ivorian Diocese of Bondoukou, was elected the conference’s vice-president.

60 INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

n POPE RECOGNIZES “ILLICITLY TRANSFERRED” CHINESE BISHOP Pope Francis has recognized Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Shanghai who was allegedly transferred and installed by the Chinese regime without prior consultation in an apparent breach of the 2018 Sino-Vatican agreement.

The Pope recognized Bishop Shen on July 15 for the “greater good of the diocese,” Vatican News reported.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that the Pope had “decided nevertheless to rectify the canonical irregularity” after Beijing unilaterally transferred Bishop Bin from Haimen diocese.

In an interview with the Vatican media, Cardinal Parolin reiterated the Vatican’s stand on the need for “open dialogue” and “respectful encounter with the Chinese side,” regarding bishop appointments and transfers.

(UCANews)m n CAMBODIAN CATHOLICS HONOR MARTYRS KILLED BY KHMER ROUGE More than 3,000 Catholics including bishops, priests, and laypeople in Cambodia participated in a Mass to commemorate clergy, religious, and laypeople who were martyred by the Pol Pot regime in the 1970s.

PROSECUTOR SEEKS SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR CARDINAL BECCIU Effectively resting the prosecution’s case, on July 26, Promoter of Justice Alessandro Diddi requested stiff prison sentences, fines, confiscation of assets, and other penalties for all ten defendants in the Vatican’s “trial of the century” for financial crimes, including an especially stern punishment recommended for Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu.

All in all, Diddi requested a total of 73 years and one month of imprisonment for the 10 defendants, mostly related to charges arising from a failed $400 million real estate deal in London which, according to Diddi, cost the Vatican somewhere between $155 million and $210 million. The prosecution claims those losses were the result of a criminal scheme to defraud the Vatican, while defendants have insisted they were simply acting on decisions fully authorized and approved by the appropriate officials, including, in some cases, Pope Francis himself.

For the 75-year-old Becciu, a former papal chief of staff who was stripped of his privileges as a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020, Diddi recommended seven years and three months in prison, citing among other things what he described as a “strategy” by Becciu of seeking to “delegitimize” the legal process. (CatholicHerald.uk) During the program, Church officials called the martyrs the “fathers” of today’s Catholic community in Cambodia.

“The testimony of the martyrs guides us along the way” Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh and an MEP missionary, said during the program.

In 2015, the Cambodian Church opened the diocesan phase of the beatification process for Bishop Joseph Chhmar Salas and 34 other martyrs who were killed during the Khmer Rouge regime. (UCANews) n CARDINAL SARAH OFFERS FIVE WAYS TO DEAL WITH “CRISIS OF FAITH” IN THE WORLD African Cardinal Robert Sarah, 78, prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, gave a keynote address June 26 at La Salle University in Mexico City on being “witnesses to the truth in a world in crisis.”

The cardinal offered five ways to deal with the current situation: First, he stressed that “our main weapon in spiritual combat is the Word [of God] and, therefore, we must know [Scripture] very well.”

“The other fundamental weapon is prayer. Pope Benedict gave us a great lesson in the power of prayer in his last 10 years of life,” he noted.

He then stressed the inner life: “When we withdraw into the desert of the interior life, we discern the truth that creation is at war against man, who claims to care for ecology and defend the environment but at the same time promotes abortion, euthanasia, and homosexuality.”

Next, he encouraged silence, for, “In silence, we enter into the presence of God in our hearts. In the silence, all the noises, the distractions, and even the most legitimate concerns are opportunely relativized, put in relation to the cross, and there the light of the Gospel appears.”

Finally, he reminded the faithful: “The struggle of today and every day takes place in the heart and is, as Saint Paul says, against the spirits of evil.

The demons seek my ruin and my estrangement from God at all costs.”

(CNA)

n FRANCISCAN FRIAR JAILED FOR ABORTION CLINIC PROTEST Father Fidelis Moscinski, 53, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in the Bronx, received his longest jail sentence so far—a federal conviction of six months—on June 27 for obstructing a Planned Parenthood clinic in Hempstead, a community on Long Island, New York, last year.

In the incident, according to New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Father Moscinski placed six industrial locks and chains on the front gates of the clinic, blocking the driveway into the parking lot and pedestrian access gates. When police removed the locks, Father Moscinski lay down in the driveway and had to be physically removed. (UCANews)

n CATHOLICS BURN VATICAN APPOINTEE’S CIRCULAR ON INDIAN LITURGY ROW On June 26, parishioners of Saint Mary’s Basilica, the cathedral in Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, burned copies of the circular issued by their Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Andrews Thazhath that insisted on a controversial form of Mass, which has been the center of a five-decadeold liturgical dispute.

The majority of the priests and laity in the archdiocese have rejected an order of the Mass approved by the Church’s synod, which demanded priests turn to the altar during the Eucharistic prayer. The archdiocesan laity and priests want the celebrants to face the people throughout the Mass. (UCANews)m SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 INSIDE THE VATICAN 61

Food FoR THoUGHT n BY MOTHER MARTHA

O

years of the Economic Boom. The n January 27, 2007, the genial photographs here show conviviality and indefatigable Piemontese and large gatherings and concentrate entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti on photographs of the VIPS of those opened his first mega food store of exdecades, for example, Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, clusively Italian food products, Eataly, in Turin; now they Alfred Hitchcock, and Muhammad Ali, and their rapport are in 46 locations in 15 countries. In the US they are located with food at public events and at home. in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Also on display here are Phillipe Halsman’s shots of SalYork, San Francisco, and the Silicon Valley. A decade later, vador Dali’s surreal compositions and of Andy Warhol’s 2017, he opened an Italian food theme park outside Bologna. pop-art Campbell’s soup cans, with food products idealized In the fall of 2022, with Chiara Ventura and his son as art and when a product of nature became merchandise.

Francesco Farinetti, president of the “Green Pea” retail park The third section, From the Producer to the Consumer, ilin Turin’s Lingotto neighborhood, he founded E.ART.H, an lustrates the food production chain from the farmer to the acronym for “Eataly Art House.” market, beginning with Eve Arnold’s Created with the aim of making shots of bread-making in the Chinese contemporary art accessible to the countryside, to Ferdinando Scianna’s general public, E.Art.H. is located at of making homemade tomato sauce Via Santa Teresa 12, in central Veroin Bagheria near Palermo, to Alex na, in Eataly’s newest store.

Majoli’s of Palermo’s most famous Its building, restored, after a long market, Ballarò, and ending with period of neglect, by architect Mario shots of supermarkets, the symbol of Botta, most famous for his churches globalization. and museums, had been Europe’s The photos in Section Four, Exlargest cold storage in the 1930s, with treme Food, cover genetically mamore than 10,000 square meters of renipulated foods by Jonas Bendiksen frigerated cells under a reinforced American film star Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) at a drive-in and hydroponic cultivation by Alex concrete dome.

On display here until September restaurant in 1952. She was 26 (Philippe Halsman/Magnum) Webb, the excessive use of plastic in packaging food by Cristina De Middel, and consuming junk 17 and not travelling afterwards, is “Photo & Food,” an exfood by Martin Parr. hibition of 125 photographs of food, its social role and its A contrast is Jérôme Sessini’s series “Living the Good traditions during the past 80 years.

Life in Vrmdza” (Vrmdza is a village in southeast Serbia The works are by 29 international photographers, all which is presented as a model of rural sustainable developmembers of the Agency Magnum. ment). These photos focus on the desire to rediscover the Displayed in chronological and thematic order in five rhythms and ways of life of the past, definitely a challenge sections, the exhibition considers the social, economic and for all of us. symbolic meanings of food, highlighting its inextricable The photos in Section Five, The Sacred Table, concern connection to human life, both as nourishment and agriculthe choice of foods we eat and how we prepare them during ture, as well as food’s connection to nature. religious celebrations, both joyous and sad.

The first section, From War to the Boom, all works in The photos show special moments in the ritual of a numblack and white, concerns the immediate aftermath of the ber of world religions: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, HinSecond World War and the struggle to survive. Procuring duism, and Buddhism. Less noteworthy is Guy Le Querrec’s enough food not to suffer from hunger was the daily preocdocumentation of the preparation of Taan beer, drunk during cupation. long funerary celebrations in Burkina Faso.

The second section, The Food of Stars, covers the 1950s A bilingual “catalog” (20 euros) is available from Eataly and 1960s when once again food and prosperity were accesArt House’s online shop (www.eatalyarthouse.it).m sible to most people in Europe and the USA—the so-called

Eat With a SmilE!

From left: Oscar Farinetti, Wikipedia; E.Art.H., courtesy of E.Art.H; an Italian child in a refugee center in Ticino, Switzerland, in 1945, just after the Second World War, copyright Werner Bischof/Magnum Photos; and Making Steamed Bread, China, 1979, copyright Eve Arnold/Magnum Photos

62 INSIDE THE VATICAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

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CELEBR ATE THE TR IUMPH OF JESUS CHR IST

Easter in Italy March 25 - April 4, 2024 Our Easter 2024 pilgrimage will begin almost a week before Easter in Assisi — the city of St. Francis — in the Umbrian hills near the very center of Italy. Assisi is one of the loveliest, most peaceful cities in the world. The very light and air of the city seem filled with the presence of the spirits of St. Francis and St. Clare.

During this Holy Pilgrimage, we will also travel to Norcia, the birthplace of St. Benedict. Tucked beneath sparkling, snow-caped mountains, Norcia is the scene of a poignant and unforgettable Good Friday procession.

Our final and climactic destination is the eternal City itself – Rome – where we will attend Easter Vigil Mass, and then Easter Sunday Mass, celebrated by Pope Francis and continue the festivities on Easter Monday (“la Pasquetta”) in Manoppello, at the shrine of the miraculous Holy Face. These liturgies, celebrating the triumph of Jesus Christ over sin and death, are among the most splendid and joyous in the Church’s calendar.

Join us for this joyous Easter celebration! Visit us online for more information on this moving spiritual pilgrimage.

PILGRIMAGE@INSIDETHEVATICAN.COM ∞ +1.202.536.4555 ∞ InsideTheVaticanPilgrimages.com