Vatican City, 29 April 2014 (VIS) – The Council of Cardinals met yesterday, Monday 28 April, for the first sessions of its fourth Meeting. The Holy Father participated most of the time, except when he had other commitments of particular importance, such as the audiences with the King and Queen of Spain on Monday morning and with the president of Paraguay on Tuesday morning, and the Wednesday morning general audience.

 

Alongside the eight cardinal members of the Council, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin participated regularly.

 

On Monday afternoon, the Council heard a report from the president of the Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Organisation of the Economic-Administrative Structures of the Holy See (COSEA), Joseph F.X. Zahra, in relation to some of the areas of activity within its remit.

 

Following its review in previous Meetings of the Congregations of the Roman Curia, the Council is now focusing on the Pontifical Councils, first in terms of general considerations, followed by an individual appraisal of each one. The Council is expected to complete a first report of its considerations regarding the Pontifical Councils during this Meeting.

 

The Council of Cardinals will hold a further four-day meeting in July (1-4 July).

 

There is still much work to be done, and it is therefore to be expected that it will be completed not this year, but instead during the next.

 

The previous Meetings of the Council took place on 1-3 October 2013, 3-5 December 2013, and 17-19 February 2014.

 

The first meeting of the new Council for the Economy will be held on Friday, 2 May.