Pope Meets Cardinals to "Restore Serenity and Trust" in Curia

By Edward Pentin
National Catholic Register
June 23, 2012

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/pope-meets-cardinals-to-restore-serenity-and-trust-in-curia

Pope Benedict XVI addressing a gathering of the Italian social organisation "Coldiretti" yesterday.

Pope Benedict XVI held a meeting this morning with heads of the various dicasteries of the Roman Curia and will be meeting six other cardinals later this evening.

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said reason for the meetings is because the Holy Father wishes to “speed up” the conclusion of the “Vatileaks” scandal and to “restore serenity and trust” in the Curia.

“In regard to the situation created following the dissemination of confidential documents, the Holy Father deepens his reflections in continuous dialogue with the people who share with him the responsibility for the government of the Church," Fr. Lombardi said in a statement.

He said the meeting this morning with the Heads of the Dicasteries "is usually devoted to issues surrounding the better coordination of the work of the Curia," but which today is "particularly important and urgent for the effective witness to their harmony of purpose and the spirit which animates it."

Last Saturday, Pope Benedict held a meeting with the three cardinals who head a commission of investigation into the leaking of documents, in order to be “informed more broadly of the progress of the investigations.”

The Vatican also announced that at 6pm this evening, in an apartment on the “Terza Loggia”, or third floor, of the apostolic palace, the Holy Father will meet a group of other cardinals. Fr. Lombardi said he Pope wishes to meet them because of their "great and varied experience in the service of the Church, not only in Rome but also internationally," adding they can "usefully exchange with the Pope ideas and suggestions to help restore the desired atmosphere of serenity and trust towards the service of the Roman Curia."

The cardinals include Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Vicar General Emeritus for the Diocese of Rome, and Slovak Cardinal Jozef Tomko, former prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples who also co-heads the commission of investigation.

The Vatican spokesman added that such discussions and reflections will “continue in the coming days”, also taking advantage of the many pastors who are coming to Rome at this time for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Fr. Lombardi said this presents “an extraordinary opportunity for the community of the Universal Church to be united with him in prayer, service, and the witness of faith for the people of our time."

Yesterday evening, a prayer vigil was held for the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square, promoted by the Italian Movement for the Family. Another prayer vigil for the Pope will be held by the "Papaboys" group, on June 29 in St. Peter's Square.