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_WORLD WATCH______________________________
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The VATICAN ________________
Synod closes
Reflections on bishop’s duties and on sanctity
The 10th Synod of Bishops closed on Saturday, October 27.
Pope John Paul II
was the principal celebrant at a closing Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, with
dozens of patriarchs, cardinals, and bishops concelebrating. In his homily, the
Pope said that the message of the Synod—which deliberated on the role of the
diocesan bishop—could be summed up in the image of the Good Shepherd, “who,
configured to Christ in sanctity, spends himself generously for the Church that
is entrusted to him, while at the same time bearing care in his heart for all
the churches around the world.”
There were 238 Synod fathers present at the closing liturgical celebration. Although 247 had participated, several left Rome early to be with their people because of the international crisis. The Pope also sent his greetings to the Chinese bishops who had been prevented from attending the Synod.
In his homily the Pope emphasized the duty of bishops to “have the courage to teach and defend the true doctrine” of the Church. That role is particularly important today, “because of a mentality based on human criteria” that often rejects the demands of God’s law.
The Pontiff reminded the Synod fathers of the 15 bishops who were canonized during the 20th century, including St. Robert Bellarmine (a Doctor of the Church) and the eight Vietnamese bishops who were martyrs. Their example, he said, should encourage today’s bishops toward “an every greater commitment to be servants of the Gospel and of hope in the world.”
23rd anniversary
Another papal milestone
Pope John Paul II celebrated the 23rd anniversary of his election to Peter’s
throne on Tuesday, October 16. The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano
produced a special 10-page supplement on the pontificate to commemorate the
anniversary, and the Italian Catholic television network Telepace aired a
special documentary. The bishops of Poland announced that October 16 would be a
special day of prayer for the Pontiff. At a public audience the Holy Father
commented on that Polish gesture, saying: “I always count on the support of my
compatriots, and I always get it.”
John Paul II now ranks 7th among all Roman pontiffs in length of service. Only four popes have led the Church for more than 23 years: Pius VI (24 years), Leo XIII (25 years), Pius XI (31 years), and St. Peter (exact dates unknown).
In recent months, Vatican-watchers have become accustomed to seeing the signs of age and physical infirmity in the Pope, who was a robust 58-year-old when he was elected in 1978. Parkinson’s disease has caused a hardening of his facial muscles, severe trembling in his hands, and an occasional slurring of his speech. He sometimes moves through the apostolic palace in a motorized cart, since he can no longer walk easily. He has been forced to slow the pace of his activities—although his doctors still complain about his punishing work schedule. Yet there has never been any indication that he is any less mentally alert.
Married couple beatified
New models for the laity
On Sunday, October 21, Pope John Paul II presided at another “first” in St.
Peter’s Basilica: the beatification of a married couple,
Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrochi.
Maria Corsini was born in Florence on June 24, 1881; Luigi Beltrame was born in Catania on January 12, 1880. They met in Rome as teenagers, and were married in the basilica of St. Mary Major on November 25, 1905. They were devout Catholics, who attended Mass daily, and continued to do so as their children arrived.
In 1913, the young family went through a crisis when Maria became pregnant, and doctors told her that due to complications, she could not survive the pregnancy. The unborn child, the doctors added, was also certain to die. Although the doctors said that an abortion could save the mother’s life, Maria —in consultation with her husband—chose to trust in God’s protection. In fact, although the pregnancy was a difficult one, both mother and child survived. The experience prompted the entire family to reach a new level of devotion to their faith.
In all, there were four children born into the family: two boys and two girls. Both boys became priests. Filippo is now Msgr. Tarcisio, of the Diocese of Rome. Cesare is now Father Paolino, a Trappist monk. The older daughter Enrichetta—the survivor of that difficult pregnancy—became a consecrated lay woman. Her sister Stefania became a Benedictine nun, Mother Cecilia, who died in 1993. The three surviving children were all present at their parents’ beatification.
The Beltrame Quattrochi family was noted for its involvement in various Catholic organizations. Luigi was a respected lawyer, who was an important figure in Italian politics. Maria worked in relief efforts during the war in Ethiopia and World War II. Luigi died in 1951, Maria in 1965.
In proceeding with the beatification of the Beltrame Quattrochi couple, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints treated their case as a single cause, and—with the hearty approval of Pope John Paul II—cleared the way for their beatification after recognizing a single miracle attributed to their intercession.
Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, said that the Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrochi were considered together because it was impossible to “distinguish their experience of sanctity, lived together so intimately.” He added that “their extraordinary and shining example could not remain hidden.”
About 40,000 people attended the beatification ceremonies, which were held inside the Vatican basilica because of inclement weather; the original plan had been for the ceremony to take place outdoors in St. Peter’s Square. The beatification was scheduled in conjunction with a National Encounter for the Family, organized by the Italian bishops’ conference.
In his homily at the beatification ceremony, Pope John Paul said that Maria and Luigi Beltrame Quattrochi “took full responsibility for assuming their duty, collaborating with God in procreation, dedicating themselves generously to their children, educating them and guiding them to discover the designs of God’s love.” The Holy Father urged all married couples to learn from the example of the newly beatified couple as they “face difficulties and trials in being faithful to your vocation, in cultivating conjugal and family harmony, in carrying out the mission of parents and participating in the life of society.”
No just war?
Prelate explores Catholic tradition
In an article published in the Italian magazine Famiglia Cristiana, Cardinal
Roger Etchegaray has insisted that there cannot be a “holy” war, and questioned
whether even a “just” war is possible.
Cardinal Etchegaray, the former president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, wrote that war must never be waged “in the name of God,” and emphasized the duty of religious leaders to promote peace.
The French-born cardinal condemned the characterization of warfare as “divine, holy, or simply just.” He pointed out that Nazi soldiers in World War II wore the inscription, “Gott mit uns”—”God with us.”
Cardinal Etchegaray did not directly address the traditional Catholic teaching on justice in warfare—which indicates that under some circumstances, the use of force in defense of innocent lives might be a moral obligation for a state.
Back to Catholic World Report December 2001 Table of Contents