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An accord with traditionalists?
Vatican talking with Society of St. Pius X
According to informed sources within the Vatican, discussions between the Holy See and the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X have reached a critical point, and a dramatic move to bring the Lefebvrist faction back into communion could come soon.
Vatican officials have refused to make any public comment on the latest discussions with the traditionalist group. Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the head of the Vatican press office, has confirmed that the discussions are ongoing, but refused to offer any further information about the content of those discussions or the schedule for further talks.
Nevertheless, sources suggest that a sort of “summit meeting” may take place in Rome, perhaps on short notice, bringing together Vatican officials with the bishops ordained by the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The purpose of that meeting would be to end the schism that began when Archbishop Lefebvre went ahead with those episcopal ordinations despite the Vatican’s opposition.
Pope John Paul II, it is generally understood, is very anxious to bring the division caused by that illicit ordination to an end as soon as possible. He has asked Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos—in his capacity as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy and president of the Ecclesia Dei commission—to make the efforts to reconcile the Society of St. Pius X a top priority.
The discussions that have taken place recently were triggered by a Jubilee pilgrimage in August of last year, which brought 5,000 traditionalists to the basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. During that visit, Bishop Bernard Fellay—the superior of the Society of St. Pius X—told the monthly magazine 30 Days that he would answer any invitation to speak with the Pope, out of “filial obedience to the head of the Church.” In September, Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos told the same magazine that the Holy See was ready to entertain proposals from the traditionalist Society, and that any such proposals “would be examined with respect from the perspective of the authentic welfare of the entire ecclesial community.”
Last December 29, at a meeting with Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, Bishop Fellay said that his group sought three concessions from the Vatican: a lifting of the ban of excommunication, a regularization of the status of the bishops ordained by Archbishop Lefebvre (and a fifth bishop ordained by them), and the establishment of the Society as an order of pontifical right. In February of this year, in a letter to the Pope (with copies to the heads of the Roman Curia) Bishop Fellay suggested a slightly different set of terms: the lifting of excommunications and the announcement that every Catholic priest has the right to celebrate the Mass according to the traditional rite. This latter condition would mean an end to the “indult” approach to the traditional Mass, which requires the approval of the diocesan bishop.
Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos replied to the traditionalist bishop’s suggestions by saying that the first condition—the lifting of the excommunication—did not present any problems. However, the cardinal indicated that the Holy See was not prepared to accept the second point.
From the perspective of the Holy See, the difficulty with the Society of St. Pius X involves more than the use of the Tridentine-rite liturgy. The traditionalist movement has raised serious questions about whether the Novus Ordo Mass is valid, and has also questioned the authority of some Vatican II documents. The Society of St. Pius X has also generally opposed Vatican statements and actions regarding ecumenism, inter-religious dialogue, and religious freedom. Thus the question of accepting the traditional Mass is bound up with larger questions about the traditionalists’ acceptance of Church authority and Catholic teachings.
The next step in the discussions between the Society and the Holy See, according to Vatican insiders, might be a meeting in Rome. Bishop Fellay would lead the traditionalist contingent at that meeting, but would also be accompanied by three of the four other bishops ordained by Archbishop Lefebvre. (The fourth, Bishop Richard Williamson, has indicated opposition to the latest efforts at reconciliation.) Another likely participant would be the Brazilian bishop, ordained by the other bishops of the Society, who now serves a “para-diocese” in Campos, Brazil, unrecognized by the Holy See.
If such a meeting does take place—again, according to reports from Vatican insiders—the Holy See might even propose a juridical solution to the status of the Society of St. Pius X. Several possible solutions have been mentioned in the rumor-mills of Rome.
One possibility would be the establishment of a new personal prelature for traditionalist Catholics. The personal prelature—a recent canonical invention—allows a good deal of latitude, and since only one personal prelature (Opus Dei) has been recognized, the “ground rules” of that structure are not firmly established. However, it seems unlikely that a personal prelature would give the traditionalists the autonomy they seek, since it would not allow for recognition of religious congregations or of the Brazilian traditionalist diocese.
Another approach would be the establishment of a new patriarchate. But while that possibility would suit the traditionalists’ needs, the prospect would appear to be unlikely. The Holy See has been reluctant to establish a patriarchate for the Ukrainian Catholic Church despite years of entreaties from that Byzantine-rite community. It seems unrealistic to suspect that a schismatic group would receive a status which has been denied to Catholics who suffered through persecution and remained loyal to Rome.
Nevertheless, rumors about the possible creation of such a new structure continue to swirl around Rome. And those rumors may help to explain the renewed interest in the discussions between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X, as well as the new sense of urgency to bring those discussions to a conclusion.
Pope John Paul II brought together the heads of the curial dicasteries on March 22 to consult with them on the possible results of the dialogue started with the Society of St. Pius X, according to the Milan newspaper Il Foglio. The newspaper reported the Pope and cardinals spoke about the possibility of rescinding the 1988 excommunication of the Lefebvrist movement. Il Foglio indicated that two suggestions for the future of the traditionalist group were made: the creation of a personal prelature or an apostolic vicariate which would offer the movement almost total autonomy from diocesan bishops.
Two cardinals were opposed to the idea, according to Il Foglio: Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, and Cardinal Mario Francesco Pompedda, prefect of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature. These two prelates reportedly renewed the arguments of French bishops who were opposed to a rapprochement with the Lefebvrist movement. Prominent among those arguments was the suggestion that the traditionalist group rejects the validity of the Novus Ordo.
Speaking to reporters two weeks after that meeting, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger indicated a resolution of the situation might not be imminent despite the recent round of talks. During a press conference in Milan, when questioned about the talks with the traditionalist group, Cardinal Ratzinger replied, “I wish, I hope, and I pray that this wound will be healed. But we still have a long way to go.”
The Italian daily Avvenire also quoted Cardinal Ratzinger as noting a “hardening” on the part of the Society of St. Pius X. The German prelate observed that the traditionalist group was “closing in on itself,” and that this attitude “complicates the process of reconciliation.”
Nevertheless, Cardinal Ratzinger continued, the Church is doing everything possible to serve the pastoral needs of all the faithful, including those who are attached to the traditional liturgy. He said that the Holy See is willing to accept “diverse rituals” for the celebration of the Mass. In return, he said, the Society of St. Pius X must make it clear that its members accept the Novus Ordo Mass as valid. As he put it, the traditionalist group “must understand that the post-conciliar liturgy is not that of another church.”
Stress on confession
Pope John Paul encourages his fellow priests
In his annual Holy Thursday letter to the world’s priests, Pope John Paul II calls for a “discreet, tenacious, and creative” approach to priestly ministry.
In the 15-page letter, made available in 7 different languages, the Holy Father acknowledges that a priest’s most important work is “often hidden,” since he deals with the secrets of the individual conscience. And priests face an ever-growing set of challenges today, he added, as they confront “the incoherence of new forms of spirituality” and the new ethical problems that arise from a technological era.
Nevertheless, the Pope reminds his brother priests, the fundamental goal of priestly work remains unchanged: to help the faithful grow “in intimacy with Christ.”
The Pope’s letter emphasizes the importance of the sacrament of reconciliation, and mentions that it was an “encouraging sign” to see so many pilgrims who made use of the opportunities for confession during the Jubilee year. He noted that many observers had been struck by the heavy use of the temporary confessionals that were put up around Rome during the year; in fact, he commented, there was a general agreement that this was one of the most noteworthy aspects of the Jubilee celebration—especially in light of the “crisis” regarding the sacrament in recent years.
Building on this trend, the Pope encouraged priests to recognize the urgent need to revive and renew the practice of Penance. The sacrament, he added, should not be confused with a form of psychological therapy; it should be recognized as an aspect of the “communion” that characterizes the life of the Church.
In presenting the papal letter to an audience of journalists in Rome, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos also took note of the Pope’s emphasis on the sacrament of penance, which is “an instrument of divine mercy for all of mankind.” He observed that the Pope’s letter includes an invitation for all priests to approach the sacrament themselves, and to offer it to their faithful as “the sublime gift of mercy.”
Sex abuse acknowledged
Vatican says scandal is a local problem
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls has acknowledged that Church leaders are investigating charges that some African nuns have been sexually abused by priests.
The Vatican spokesman was responding to a report, publicized in the US by the National Catholic Reporter, that such sexual abuse has been widespread, especially in Africa. He suggested that while the problem is a real one, it is not widespread. The National Catholic Reporter, citing the work of several researchers who had investigated the phenomenon, had indicated that the problem was “serious” not only in Africa but in “other parts of the developing world.” The Reporter said that “some Catholic clergy exploit their financial and spiritual authority to gain sexual favors from religious women,” and that the AIDS epidemic had exacerbated the problem since men views the nuns as “safe targets of sexual activity.”
“The problem is known, and is restricted to a limited geographical area,” Navarro-Valls said. “The Holy See is treating this matter in collaboration with the bishops” and the leaders of the religious communities that may be affected, he added.
The Vatican statement also indicated that Church leaders are “working on both sides of the question—the formation of persons, and the solutions to individual cases.”
Incorrupt remains
Pope John XXIII honored with predecessors
Speaking with visible emotion, Cardinal Virgilio Noe, archpriest of St. Peter’s basilica, revealed that the body of Blessed John XXIII, who died in 1963 and was beatified on September 3, 2000, has remained incorrupt.
“It is a providential coincidence, a sign of divine favor and of holiness,” he said during a March 27 meeting with reporters to introduce his book, Tombs and Monuments of St. Peter’s and the Vatican. On January 16, in the presence of Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State of the Holy See, Bishop Leonardo Sandri, and Cardinal Noe, the tomb of John XXIII was opened for the recognition of his mortal remains, which were to be transferred from the Vatican crypt (located under the basilica) into the basilica itself. After a few hours of work, the witnesses could see the face of John XXIII, “intact and serene,” said Cardinal Noe, who recalled the intense emotion which overcame the witnesses.
Pope John Paul II had ordered the transfer of the late Pope’s remains to the basilica, as a mark of the holiness of John XXIII. “It was not easy to find a place in the basilica where we can build the new tomb for John XXIII,” said the cardinal. He explained that the Pope wanted a place that would be accessible to the faithful who came to venerate Blessed John XXIII, yet would not interfere with the movement of the many pilgrims who crowd into the basilica every day. A spot was finally selected in the St. Jerome crypt, not far from the famous statue of St. Peter in the central nave of the basilica.
Blessed John XXIII will join the 47 other popes who rest in the basilica, when his remains are transferred in a ceremony that has not yet been scheduled. Among these popes is Boniface VIII, who died in 1303 and whose body was also found incorrupt in 1605.
New martyrology due soon
List includes 7,000 new names
The Vatican will soon complete a project that has been awaited since Vatican II: the publication of a new martyrology for the Catholic Church.
The Congregation for Divine Worship, which has been charged with the responsibility for producing the new martyrology, has completed its work on the project. In fact, Vatican insiders report that the work could have been produced before Easter, except that the Vatican printers were fully occupied with the programs and missalettes for special Holy Week ceremonies.
The martyrology will include all the newly canonized and beatified martyrs. In total there will be 7,000 names added to the official list of martyrs. In previous editions, the martyrology of the Church included all those who had been canonized, but only included some of the beatified martyrs. The new volume will include all those who have been beatified. The previous editions also include some martyrs whose canonization had never formally been pronounced by a pope, but whose martyrdom was acclaimed by legend or pious tradition. A commission of historians has been studying these cases, to ensure that the new martyrology only includes those for whom a solid factual case can be established.
The idea of creating an official martyrology for the Church apparently originated with St. Jerome in the 5th century. However, the first such accounting was not available until the Council of Trent finished the task in the 16th century. Under the aegis of Pope Paul III, each diocese was asked to submit the names of local saints commemorated in the archives; these histories were then assembled by the Holy See.
The martyrology takes the form of a calendar, with each martyr assigned to a particular day. The martyr’s entry on the calendar is usually matched to the date of his death, except in those cases when the date of martyrdom coincides with a major feast on the Church calendar. In some other cases, the feast day of a martyr has been fixed by longstanding tradition in the particular diocese where he lived, and that date has been preserved. But since Pope Pius XII introduced reforms in the liturgical calendar, most martyrs are remembered on days that do not conflict with other major celebrations.
The martyrology includes a short entry for each individual, including his dates of birth and death (in some cases, only approximate), the place where he was born and/or where he lived and worked, and a thumbnail history of his life and martyrdom.
The preparation of the new martyrology has been one of several major projects undertaken recently by the Congregation for Divine Worship. Another major project nearing completion by the same Congregation is the third edition of the Roman Missal in Latin—the editio typica on which all translations are based. That edition, which is expected to appear within a matter of weeks, will reflect some of the work that was done in connection with the martyrology. For example, the new Missal will list the feast of St. Edith Stein, a co-patron of Europe, on August 9.
Salute to Gregorian University
Jesuit institution marks 450th
On April 6, Pope John Paul II held an audience with the participants in a conference organized by the Gregorian University to celebrate the 450th anniversary of that institution.
The audience, held in the Paul VI auditorium, was also attended by Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, the prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education; Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, the superior general of the Jesuits (who administer the Gregorian University); and Father Franco Imoda, SJ, the rector of the pontifical university. About 2,000 people participated in the conference and attended the audience.
The Holy Father told the group that the university “has the duty to promote reasoned and systematic reflection on the faith, to promote the teaching of the Gospel and the cause of Catholic unity.” That responsibility is particularly important today, he pointed out, because of the serious divisions within society and the tendency toward alienation from the Church and even from the rule of reason.
The Pope encouraged the faculty and students of the pontifical university to work for Christian unity, through inter-religious dialogue and through studies on the phenomenon of “contemporary atheism.” Inter-religious dialogue has become markedly more important in recent years, he observed, because the globalization of the world’s markets and media structures have produced “a world in which common life is more and more pronounced.”
The conference organized by the Gregorian University had been the occasion for some reflections on the history of the famous school, and its influence on society and Christian history. Among the speakers were the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, and the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran. Archbishop Tauran (who completed his own studies at the Gregorian University in 1963), spoke of the “rigorous” training he had received there. Cardinal Sodano (who earned his degree from the Gregorian in 1954) said that his professors had “opened themselves to the future enthusiastically.”
Argentine President Fernando de la Rua also addressed the conference, speaking on “the religious and cultural work” that graduates of the Gregorian had done in the South American country. And in concluding the conference, Father Kolvenbach had remarked that “professors and students from many nations and cultures live here, in their diversity, in a form of communion that enriches them and challenges them and contributes toward the unity that the world sorely needs.”
Caution on accord with Lutherans
Catholic position on justification is unchanged
The Vatican has issued a new caution regarding last year’s joint Catholic-Lutheran statement on justification, pointing out that the statement can only be understood properly in light of the accompanying statements put forward by the Holy See.
In a new statement, jointly drafted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, the Vatican observes that while “the Lutheran conception is no longer condemned by the Catholic Church,” still there remain some important doctrinal differences. The new Vatican statement appeared in the March 25 issue of L’Osservatore Romano.
The Vatican cautions against “some interpretations that are not pertinent” to the joint Catholic-Lutheran statement. By guarding against such misinterpretation, the statement points out, both groups can protect the future development of common theological positions.
The new Vatican statement is apparently a response to the suggestions offered by some Catholics—especially in Germany, where the joint Catholic-Lutheran statement was formally signed —that members of the two faiths should now be able to celebrate the Eucharist together. Serious doctrinal disagreements remain between the faiths, the Holy See points out, and “only when they are resolved can we celebrate the Eucharist in truth, as an expression of our unity with Christ and with each other.”
Today, the statement continues, “when there is no unity on essential doctrinal matters, the common celebration of the Eucharist would not be truthful, and could suggest that the division among Christians is insurmountable.” It would, therefore, be counterproductive for the long-term goal of achieving full Christian unity.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity also recall that when the joint Catholic-Lutheran statement was issued, the Holy See also issued an accompanying statement indicating that the teachings of the Council of Trent and Vatican I were not being changed. Thus the Catholic Church is not altering her position regarding justification by faith.
Furthermore, the Vatican points out that when the Catholic-Lutheran statement was signed, Cardinal Edward Cassidy—who was, at the time, the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, and the Vatican representative at the signing ceremony—observed that while the joint statement was an important step toward theological accord, “it is not the end of the road.” The cardinal observed at that time: “A lot more work is still to be done.”
New catechetical series
Pope begins meditations of Psalms
More than 15,000 people from around the world gathered in St. Peter’s Square on March 28 for Pope John Paul II’s weekly audience, as the Pope began a teaching on a new topic, after having devoted his last set of Wednesday catechetical talks to the Virgin Mary.
“We begin today a series of catecheses on the Psalms and the canticles of the prayer of Lauds,” he announced. “I thus wish to encourage and help each person to pray with the words which were used by Jesus and which, over the millennia, have been present in the prayer of Israel and the Church.”
The Pope particularly underlined the “ecclesial dimension” of the Psalms, “the book par excellence of the prayer of the people of God.” He said the prayer of the Psalms helps Christians to understand “that it is impossible to address their Father in heaven without an authentic communion of life with their brothers and sisters.” He concluded, “This prayer implies an adequate formation.”
Leadership set for Synod
Each continent represented
Pope John Paul II has appointed three newly elevated cardinals as co-presidents of the Synod that will be held in Rome this fall. Another new cardinal will be the relator general.
The three presidents will be Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re of the Congregation for Bishops, Bernard Agre of Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, and Ivan Dias of Bombay. Cardinal Edward Egan of New York will be relator general. Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Oria, Italy will be the secretary of the Synod, which is scheduled for September 30-October 27. Thus four continents will be represented in the leadership of the Synod. The meeting will be the 10th general assembly of the Synod of Bishops and the sixth convened during the pontificate of John Paul II.
The theme for the Synod is “the role and mission of the bishop in his diocese.” The discussions will inevitably touch on the issues of collegiality and papal primacy. The instrumentum laboris that outlines the themes for the Synod discussion is now under preparation, and was expected to be made public just after CWR went to press.
Pope John Paul has also called together the College of Cardinals for a special consistory, to take place May 21 to 24, to reflect on the challenges facing the Church at the outset of the new millennium. The starting point for discussions at that consistory will be the Pope’s apostolic letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte.
Challenge of the Internet
A direct link to the people
The Pontifical Council for Social Communications concluded its annual plenary meeting in March after working on a new statement about the ethical and evangelical challenges posed by the Internet.
“The Church cannot be a simple spectator to the technological advances that have decisive effects on human lives,” Pope John Paul II told the members of the Pontifical Council, as he met with them on March 16. The Council’s week-long meeting had been centered on the development of a document on new communications technology, particularly the Internet—which the Pope characterized as “a great help for the pastors of the Church.”
The new document was presented to the public on March 14. Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, the prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, observed that “the great challenge today, in the field of information, is a unique historic opportunity for the spread of Christian thought.” The Internet, he continued, allows direct contact across the world, and is “a means of communication independent of economic and political power.”
The Pontifical Council also discussed the naming of a patron saint for the Internet, as well as for the world of cinema, and a patron saint for the media in general. Among the names put forward were those of St. Isidore of Seville, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and Blessed Titus Brandsma.
Pope John Paul offered his thanks to the members of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications for their efforts, and included a special word of praise for Archbishop John Foley, the American prelate who has headed the Council since 1986. Archbishop Foley is expected to be replaced in that post soon.
Reminder on general absolution
Only for urgent, extraordinary circumstances
At an April press conference in Rome, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos reminded reporters that the sacrament of penance ordinarily requires individual confession, and that general absolution is licit only under “exceptional” circumstances.
The prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy was briefing reporters on the Pope’s annual Holy Thursday letter to priests. Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos observed that the Pope lays heavy emphasis on the sacrament of penance in that letter.
The Code of Canon Law allows for three different forms of celebrating the sacrament, the cardinal observed. The first is ordinary individual confession; the second is a communal penitential service, with individuals making their confessions privately during the course of that service. The third form is general absolution.
While the Pope encourages the use of the second form, Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos said, the third form should be used only under very restricted circumstances. General absolution is to be used only in an “urgent” situation, when believers do not have an opportunity to make an individual confession. And it should be done only with the approval of the diocesan bishop.