Members of the Apostolic Movement in Italy cheer during Pope Benedict XVI's general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Nov. 24, 2010. Photo: CNS Vatican secretary of state urges Catholic Church in Germany to unite
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, urged German Catholics to put aside visions and individual needs, noting, “the community must take precedence”.
Addressing several German bishops during a church service June 29, Cardinal Parolin referred to Pope Francis’ 2019 letter on the Synodal Path of the Catholic Church in Germany, reported the German Catholic news agency KNA. This reform dialogue deals with controversial issues such as Catholic sexual morality, priestly life, power and the separation of powers as well as the role of women in the Church.
Cardinal Parolin urged the Church in Germany “to return to a unity that does not depend on agreeing to common orientations, as is usual in politics, but on being rooted in God”.
KNA reported that among those attending the service were Limburg Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ Conference; Cardinals Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising and Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne; Berlin Archbishop Heiner Koch; and several other German bishops.
Bishop Bätzing had an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican June 24 and said afterward that the Pope had encouraged the Catholic Church in Germany to “continue on the Synodal Path”.
Vatican suppresses Italy-based lay movement
With the approval of Pope Francis, the Vatican has ordered the dissolution of an Italy-based lay movement, citing problems with the group’s origins, catechesis, governance, respect for members’ consciences, handling of donations and with the divisions it allegedly has created among clergy of the Archdiocese of Catanzaro-Squillace, where it is based.
“The presumed revelations that gave birth to the Apostolic Movement through its founder, Mrs Maria Marino, are to be considered not of supernatural origin,” the decree said.
While Mrs Marino has not been public about what she says were apparitions of Mary to her, she said they inspired her to establish the movement in 1979 and form the basis of the two key texts used to educate members.
The decree ordering the suppression of the “Apostolic Movement” founded 40 years ago by Maria Marino was dated June 10 and signed by Cardinals Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy; and Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life.
Pope and the US Secretary of State Blinken meet
Climate change, migration and geopolitical hot spots were on the agenda as Pope Francis met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken June 28.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that during the 40-minute meeting, which “took place in a cordial climate”, the Pope recalled his 2015 visit to the US and expressed “his affection and concern for the people of the United States of America”.
While the Vatican provided scarce detail of the meetings, US Secretary of State spokesman Ned Price said that during his meeting with the Pope, Mr Blinken reiterated the “United States’ commitment to working closely with the Holy See to address global challenges and the needs of the world’s least fortunate and most vulnerable, including refugees and migrants.
“The secretary and Pope Francis also discussed China as well as the humanitarian crises in Lebanon, Syria, the Tigray region of Ethiopia and Venezuela,” Mr Price said.
Pope Francis and Mr Blinken’s discussion on the issue of human rights and religious freedom in China is a particular area of concern for the Vatican.