InTeRnatIonaL
2 December 6, 2020 catholicregister.org
BY MICHAEL SWAN The Catholic Register
Science, medicine and economics are going to all play important roles in the global post-pandemic recovery, but from the Church's point of view there needs to be a moral recovery first, Cardinal Michael Czerny explained in a Nov. 27 address at Tokyo's Sophia University. "We will not exit from it (COVID-19) better if we fall back into the temptation of individual- ism, whether personal or collec- tive, often expressed in the form of political nationalisms and narrow e c o n o m i c interests," the C a n a d i a n cardinal told students and faculty at the Jesuit university. Quoting extensively from Pope Francis' recent encyclical Fratelli Tutti and the Pope's Wednesday audiences, Czerny lays out a moral framework for a COVID recovery. "The prescription offered by Pope Francis unleashes the 'anti- bodies of justice, charity and soli- darity,' " Czerny said. The response to the great unknowns of the post-pandemic world falls on our collective duties in political, economic, social and cultural life. "We must reject the ruinous ideologies of indifference, invis- ibility and individualism," Czerny said. "We must not foster divisions. We must not be hypocrites. We must reject an economic model based on greed, zeal for profit and instant gratification. We must put people first, rejecting purely tech- nocratic solutions." Czerny emphasized the Pope's teaching against narrow national- ism and go-it-alone economics. "Individual states acting alone cannot implement adequate solutions," he said. As a Jesuit, Czerny turned to the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Now is the time "to give and not to count the cost," he said. "What Pope Francis teaches, es- pecially in Fratelli Tutti , gives us a moral road map to emerge strong, less fearful and more human." Czerny emphasized the ways in which COVID-19 has exposed divisions, flaws and widespread suffering that had been growing long before the pandemic. "The pandemic appeared in a particular context," he said. "One of widespread injustice, inequal- ity and assaults on our common home." Though there's nothing new to Catholic social teaching in Czerny's speech, it sets out a clearly global perspective that should be heeded by the Church in Canada, said University of Sudbury sys- tematic theologian Christopher Duncanson-Hales. "For the Canadian Church it's a warning against falling back into individualism, either as individu- als or as nations," he said. In presenting Pope Francis' teaching, Czerny forces important questions to the surface, said Regina archdiocesan theologian Brett Salkeld. "We could start with sin and say, 'What failed? Where does the system fail? What's wrong with our politics, with our social cohesion?' " Salkeld said. By paying attention to who suffers during COVID lockdowns we can see more clearly the moral shape of the world, said Salkeld. "Here's a chance to see clearly," he said. "And we can take the op- portunity to see clearly because this tragedy shows us things that are hard to see, or that we don't like to see. But now it's right in front of our face."
BY CINDY WOODEN Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY
One by one, 11 senior churchmen knelt before Pope Francis to receive their red hats, a cardinal's ring and a scroll formally declaring their new status and assigning them a "titular" church in Rome. But with the consistory Nov. 28 occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis actually created 13 new cardinals. Cardinals Jose F. Advincula of Capiz, Philippines, and Cornelius Sim, apostolic vicar of Brunei, did not attend the consistory because of COVID-19 travel restrictions; they will receive their birettas and rings at a later date. For the cardinals, the Pope said, the red must symbolize a whole- hearted following of Jesus, who willingly gave His life on the cross to save humanity. The Gospel reading at the service, Mark 10:32-45, included the account of James and John asking Jesus for special honours. "Grant that in Your glory we may sit one at Your right and the other at Your left," they said. But Jesus re- proaches them. "We, too, Pope and cardinals, must always see ourselves reflected in this word of truth," Pope Francis said. "It is a sharpened sword; it cuts, it proves painful, but it also heals, liberates and converts us." While many Rome-based cardinals attended the consistory, more members of the college were "present" online. The pandemic also meant the gathering was small; each cardinal was accompanied by a priest-secretary and could invite a handful of guests, so there were only about 100 people in the con- gregation at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica. Following the consistory, the Pope and new cardinals visited Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the chapel of the Mater Ecclesiae monastery at the Vatican. The cardinals were introduced individ- ually to the 93-year-old Benedict, who joined them in the recitation of "Salve Regina" and blessed them. In addition to some Rome- based cardinals, the congrega- tion at the consistory included the pastors or rectors of the 13 Rome churches to which the new cardinals were associated. Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, addressed the Pope on behalf of the new cardinals. "Convoked in consistory at such a serious time for all humanity because of the pandemic, we want to turn our thoughts to all our brothers and sisters enduring hardship," the cardinal said. He prayed that people would react to the pandemic as an "opportu- nity to rethink our lifestyles, our relationships, the organization of our societies and, especially, the meaning of our lives." The cardinals coming from outside Europe were tested for COVID-19 before flying to Rome and again upon arrival. They were required to quarantine for 10 days and were tested again immediately before the consistory. With the consistory the College of Cardinals now has 229 members, 128 of whom are under the age of 80 and eligible to enter a conclave to elect a new pope. Joining Advincula, Sim and Grech in the college were Cardinals: Wilton D. Gregory of Washington; Silvano M. Tomasi, a U.S. citizen born in Italy; Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congre- gation for Saints' Causes; Antoine Kambanda of Kigali, Rwanda; Celestino Aos Braco of Santiago, Chile; Paolo Lojudice of Siena, Italy; Mauro Gambetti, custos of the Sacred Convent of Assisi in Assisi; Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel of Mexico; Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher of the papal household; and Enrico Feroci, former director of Rome's Caritas.
New cardinals called to a life of service
Morality needed at the forefront of COVID recovery
Cardinal Czerny Cardinals unable to come to Rome for the consistory because of the COVID-19 pandemic join their confreres by video link.
(CNS photo/Fabio Frustaci, Reuters pool)
ON THE COVER: Pope Francis greets retired Pope Benedict XVI at the retired pope's residence during a visit with new cardinals after a con- sistory at the Vatican Nov. 28. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
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