(Vatican Radio) The future of the Church in Europe, especially in light of the migration crisis, was at the top of the agenda as leaders of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, or CCEE, met with Pope Francis in the Vatican this week. Following that audience, CCEE President, Cardinal Peter Erdo from Hungary, along with the two vice presidents, Italian Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco and Albanian Archbishop Angelo Massafra, gave a press conference on Tuesday to share some of the Pope’s concerns.Listen to Philippa Hitchen's report: Cardinal Erdo told journalists the Pope had strong words of encouragement for all members of the CCEE as they seek to rediscover and reinforce the Christian roots at the heart of European society. Cardinal Bagnasco stressed the need to form consciences and build a “culture of relationships”, opposing those “economic forces” that seek to manipulate people and promote instead a culture of consumerism and indivi...
(Vatican Radio) The future of the Church in Europe, especially in light of the migration crisis, was at the top of the agenda as leaders of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, or CCEE, met with Pope Francis in the Vatican this week. Following that audience, CCEE President, Cardinal Peter Erdo from Hungary, along with the two vice presidents, Italian Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco and Albanian Archbishop Angelo Massafra, gave a press conference on Tuesday to share some of the Pope’s concerns.
Listen to Philippa Hitchen's report:
Cardinal Erdo told journalists the Pope had strong words of encouragement for all members of the CCEE as they seek to rediscover and reinforce the Christian roots at the heart of European society. Cardinal Bagnasco stressed the need to form consciences and build a “culture of relationships”, opposing those “economic forces” that seek to manipulate people and promote instead a culture of consumerism and individualistic identity.
Britain's referendum reveals 'unease'
Cardinal Bagnasco also spoke about the upcoming British referendum on whether or not to remain in the EU, saying regardless of the result, the unease which many people feel must make European institutions reflect on how they can better respect and value the cultures of the different member countries.
Welcome and integration for migrants
All the Church leaders spoke at length about the migration crisis, saying it’s vital to distinguish between the different challenges facing countries of origin, of transit and of destination. As well as welcoming those in need, they stressed the importance of European countries supporting one another in the longer term integration process.
Mgr Duarte da Cunha, secretary general of the CCEE, said the first rule is that Churches have to “receive everyone with love and mercy, to help all in need”. At this moment, works are more important than words and the testimony of so many Church organisations are a “witness of what this means concretely”.
Secondly, Mgr Duarte said ‘union’ does not mean everyone should do the same thing but rather understand the different situations of countries and the realities of what the refugees want, or where they want to go. “A common policy doesn’t mean the same policy in each country, but a policy that coordinates the different situations”, he said.
Churches can model dialogue and solidarity
Mgr Duarte says Church leaders have an advantage over politicians since they share the same faith and live their lives by the same principles and values. That enables them to listen, to avoid conflict, to respect differences but also to help and welcome those most in need. It doesn’t mean that bishops in one country should say what bishops in another country should do, he said, adding that Pope Francis had been “very aware of this” during the meeting on Monday. Rather than abstract solutions “in the air”, he said, Europe needs concrete solutions responding to the reality on the ground.
Chuck Robbins, the chief executive of the multinational digital communications conglomerate Cisco, signs the Rome Call for AI Ethics, a document by the Pontifical Academy for Life, on April 24, 2024, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican MediaRome Newsroom, Apr 24, 2024 / 11:06 am (CNA).The CEO of Cisco Systems signed the Vatican's artificial intelligence ethics pledge on Wednesday, becoming the latest technology giant to join the Church's call for ethical and responsible use of AI.Chuck Robbins, the chief executive of the multinational digital communications conglomerate, met privately with Pope Francis on April 24 before signing the Rome Call for AI Ethics, a document by the Pontifical Academy for Life. Pope Francis meets with Chuck Robbins, the chief executive of multinational digital communications conglomerate Cisco, on April 24, 2024, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaThe document, first published by the pontifical academy in February 2020, has previously been signed ...
null / Credit: Brian A Jackson / ShutterstockCNA Staff, Apr 24, 2024 / 13:35 pm (CNA).Catholics Charities Corporation in Ohio was found partially negligent this week in the 2017 death of a 5-year-old boy who was being supervised by one of the organization's caseworkers at the time he died.A jury in Cuyahoga County ruled in the wrongful death suit that the Catholic charity group was 8% responsible for Jordan Rodriguez's September 2017 death, local media reported. Rodriguez's body was discovered buried in his mother's backyard three months after he died.The boy's mother and her boyfriend earlier pleaded guilty to several charges stemming from his death, including involuntary manslaughter. Jordan was developmentally disabled and incapable of speaking.In the civil wrongful death trial this week, Catholic Charities Corporation was ordered to pay $960,000 into Jordan Rodriguez's estate. Several ...
null / ShutterstockCNA Staff, Apr 24, 2024 / 14:15 pm (CNA).As euthanasia and assisted suicide are legalized in more jurisdictions throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world, one Catholic-focused ministry is promoting end-of-life resources that the group's founder says will help Catholics finish their earthly journeys while remaining faithful.Aging with Dignity, a nonprofit that for years has been promoting end-of-life support in line with Church teaching, announced this month the release of "Finishing Life Faithfully," a booklet that "makes complex end-of-life decisions easier." The materials address "basic questions" on how to approach end-of-life topics such as pain management, feeding tubes, and other matters surrounding death.The document "summarizes the Catholic Church's guidance on end-of-life decision-making and the ethical considerations involved and helps patients and families better understand these teachings and follow them," the group said this month.Jim Towey, ...