Photograph: Franco Origlia/Getty Francis recognises new martyrs of the 20th Century
Pope Francis has recognised the martyrdom of six religious priests and brothers and seven laypeople who were killed in the 20th Century “in hatred of the faith”, clearing the way for their beatification.
Among the soon-to-be blesseds are three Spanish priests of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and seven laymen who were killed in Guatemala between 1980 and 1991.
Sacred Heart Missionary Frs Jose Maria Gran Cirera, Juan Alonso Fernandez and Faustino Villanueva were all serving in different parts of the Guatemalan department of Quiche, where almost 90% of the population is indigenous Maya.
The guerrilla movement was very strong in Quiche, making it a scene of severe repression and horrific violence during Guatemala’s 36-year civil war. Priests and religious were often targeted by government forces as they were often accused of supporting or carrying out subversive activities.
The Pope also recognised the martyrdom of three Capuchin priests, including Fr Jose Domenech Bonet, from Spain who were killed in 1936 during their country’s brutal civil war.
During the meeting with Cardinal Becciu, the Pope approved decrees recognising the heroic virtues of an Italian bishop, a Brazilian nun, a French Capuchin priest and three founders of religious institutes, including Fr Jose Plancarte Labastida of Mexico.
Cardinal Battista Re elected new dean of College of Cardinals
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re has been elected the new dean of the College of Cardinals with Cardinal Leonardo Sandri as vice-dean.
Re, 85, will serve a five-year term under the new term limits created by Pope Francis in a motu proprio issued on December 21. The dean of the College of Cardinals presides at the conclave for the election of the Pope and represents the Holy See during the sede vacante.
As Cardinal Re is over the age of 80, he is ineligible to take part in a conclave. The responsibility of presiding over the conclave will therefore fall to 76-year-old vice-dean, Cardinal Sandri.
Both Re and Sandri’s elections were approved by Pope Francis on January 18 and January 24 respectively.
The College of Cardinals is structured in three orders, or ranks: the order of “cardinal deacons”, the order of “cardinal priests”, and the order of “cardinal bishops”.
Pontiff condemns clergy who engage in simony
In a homily, Pope Francis condemned priests and bishops who use money to advance their careers.
To be a priest or bishop, like being a Christian, is a free and undeserved gift of God, not something to be bought, he said last week during Mass in the chapel of the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse.
“We have paid nothing to become Christians. We priests, bishops have paid nothing to become priests and bishops,” he continued, “at least I think so.”
Francis went on to note there are those who try to move upward in their “so-called ecclesiastical career”, who “look for influences to get here, there…” as well as those “who behave in a simoniac manner”.
He said that anyone who does that “is not a Christian. Being Christian, being baptised, being ordained priests and bishops is pure gratuitousness. The gifts of the Lord cannot be bought”.
The same thing can happen in “ordinary life”, he said, such as in business, when people try to get ahead at their work by asking for favours.