Paul Keenan
Vatican employees convicted in Vatileaks II trial
Two Vatican officials have been convicted for their parts in the so-called Vatileaks II scandal. Facing a Vatican tribunal for their roles in passing confidential documents to journalists, Msgr Lucio Vallejo Balda was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his part in the leak, while Francesca Chaouqui, a consultant at the Vatican, was handed a 10-month sentence, suspended for five years. Despite being identified by prosecutors as the instigator of the leaks, Chaouqui was spared jail time as no firm evidence of her passing documents to journalists was presented to the court. An assistant to Msgr Balda, Nicola Maio, was cleared of all wrongdoing.
Meanwhile two journalists implicated in the case, Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipaldi, were acquitted, but only on the basis that, as Italian citizens, the Vatican tribunal had not jurisdiction over them. Both journalists published books based directly on the documents leaked by Msgr Balda.
American Archbishop named for Congregation of Bishops
Pope Francis has named Archbishop Blase J. Cupich of Chicago as a member of the Congregation for Bishops, in replacement for fellow American, Cardinal William J. Levada. Archbishop Blasé, 67, now joins the body which advises Pope Francis on the nomination bishops throughout the Universal Church.
Reacting to his appointment, the archbishop said: “I am humbled by the Holy Father’s trust and confidence in me… I look forward to joining other members of the Congregation for Bishops to serve the Pope and the Church in this ministry.” The appointment of Archbishop Cupich was made possible by Cardinal Lavada reaching the automatic retirement age of 80 in June.
Pope encourages daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament
Pope Francis has encouraged all faithful to visit the Blessed Sacrament every day as he delivered a message for the forthcoming Italian Eucharistic Congress.
Referencing the Sacrosantum Concilium document of the Second Vatican Council, the Pontiff described the Eucharist as “a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity”.
“I want to encourage everyone to visit – if possible, every day – especially amid life’s difficulties, the Blessed Sacrament of the infinite love of Christ and His mercy, preserved in our churches, and often abandoned, to speak filially with Him, to listen to Him in silence, and to peacefully entrust yourself to Him,” he said.
The Eucharistic Congress takes place September 15-18 in the northern Italian city of Genoa.
Pope accepts resignation of scandal-hit Brazilian Bishop
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Aldo di Cillo Pagotto of Paraiba, Brazil, following accusations that the prelate ignored evidence of clerical abusers in his diocese.
The move comes just a year after the Pontiff stripped Bishop Pagotto of his power to ordain priests as a local investigation against him got underway. In a letter of the diocesan website announcing his departure, Bishop Pagotto stated: “I welcomed priests and seminarians with the intention of offering them new opportunities in life. Some were later suspected of committing serious wrongdoings … I made mistakes by trusting too much, with naive mercy.”