About half a million people filled Rome to overflowing for a week, for what has been defined as the first great Jubilee event, namely, the transfer from their respective lands of the mortal remains of St. Pio of Pietrelcina and St. Leopold Mandić, the two Capuchin friars who spent practically their entire priestly life in the confessional and for this reason have been chosen by Pope Francis as examples of the "ministers of Mercy" in this Jubilee year.
The faithful, mostly devotees of these two saints, came from all over the world and venerated them first in the Basilica of San Lorenzo Outside the Walls, where they stayed for two days, and then in the Basilica of San Salvatore in Lauro, both churches included in the Jubilee itinerary. The prayer was constant and lasted throughout the day, a sign of "a spirituality so participatory and spontaneous that it has impressed the whole city".Rino Fisichella said.
Also very impressive was the massive procession of the urns with the relics of the two "saints of Mercy". to St. Peter's Basilica, where they remained for several more days for the veneration of the faithful, before returning to their respective places of origin.
Padre Pio Prayer Groups
Taking advantage of this Roman Jubilee period, a large representation of members of the so-called "Padre Pio Prayer Groups". -a lay spiritual movement linked to the Saint and spread throughout the world- were received in audience in St. Peter's Square by Pope Francis. They were also joined by the employees of the Suffering Relief HouseThe hospital was founded by the friar himself and inaugurated in 1956. These two works, born in parallel, were dear to the friar's heart. "in favor of the sick, their families, the elderly, the needy in general."as "place of prayer and science where the human race is gathered together in Christ Crucified as one flock with one shepherd".Padre Pio said on the day of its inauguration.
Present at the audience were the faithful of the Archdiocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo, in whose territory in southern Italy are located the monastery that welcomed the friar of Pietrelcina, the hospital and the hospital of the friar of Pietrelcina. Suffering Relief House and the sanctuary erected after his death and which preserves his relics, the destination of constant and numerous pilgrimages.
On this occasion, Francis outlined a profile of Padre Pio as "servant of mercy"who has practiced "sometimes to the point of exhaustion, 'the apostolate of listening'".. Through the ministry of the Confession, the Capuchin friar has become "a living caress from the Father, who heals the wounds of sin and refreshes the heart with peace.".
For being "always united to the source: he clung continually to Jesus Crucified."has been able to transform itself into a "great river of mercy, which has watered many a desolate heart.".
The same prayer groups founded by St. Pio have become "oasis of life in many parts of the world".: "prayer, in fact, is an authentic missionwho brings the fire of love to all mankind"..
He then addressed the employees of the Suffering Relief Housewhich is now in its sixtieth year, has invited them, in addition to "treat the disease", a "caring for the sick".
With the Capuchin Friars Minor
In the same days, Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass at the altar of the Chair of St. Peter's Basilica with the Capuchin Friars Minor from all over the world, gathered on the occasion of the translation of the relics of their intercessors.
In his homily, the Pontiff focused his words on the importance of the Sacrament of Confession, of forgiveness and of the ability to grant it, which is born of a deep life of prayer, where each one discovers that he too is in need of forgiveness. "When someone forgets the need he has for forgiveness, he slowly forgets God, forgets to ask for forgiveness and does not know how to forgive."Francisco explained. On the other hand, "the person who comes [to the confessional], comes to seek comfort, forgiveness and peace in his soul.". Therefore, it is very important to "that he finds a father who embraces him, who says: 'God loves you very much' and who makes him feel it!"The same is true of St. Pius and St. Leopold, who in the many hours they spent sitting in the confessional have done the following "the office of Jesus, who forgives by giving his life"..
Reform of the Roman Curia
Also in February, the thirteenth meeting of the Council of Cardinals took place in the presence of the Holy Father, and among the topics discussed were, as usual, the aspects inherent to the reorganization of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as information on the progress of the structures created by the new structures. ex novo Francis, from the guardianship of minors to reforms in the economic field and in the canonical process on the validity of marriage.
In particular, the final proposals for the creation of two new dicasteries, the one on "Laity, Family and Life" and the one on "Justice, Peace and Migration," were approved and placed in the hands of the Holy Father for his decision. There followed a further exchange of views on the Secretariat of State and on the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. U.S. Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley reported on the activity of the Commission for the Protection of Minors, over which he presides, while the juridical-disciplinary questions concerning the competencies of the dicasteries of the Curia were referred for further study. Cardinal Georg Pell was also heard, who reported on the status and performance of reforms in the economic field. Finally, the Cardinals of the Council were given the documentation on the so-called "vademecum" prepared by the Tribunal of the Roman Rota for the implementation of the reform of the canonical process on the validity of marriage.
Synodality and decentralization
The Council had begun with the study of some themes of the speech delivered by the Pontiff last October 17, during the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Synod of Bishops, when he spoke about the "synodality" and the "need to proceed with a healthy decentralization".. All these indications constitute an important reference for the reform of the Curia, and in these same days they were also the central focus of a study seminar organized by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.
The symposium was attended by numerous professors of ecclesiology and canon law from universities and ecclesiastical faculties from all over the world, who agreed on the wish for a "greater listening and involvement" of the People of God in the Synod, as reported in a communiqué. Such involvement must take place both in the preparatory phase, foreseeing "stably" a consultation of the faithful, as was the case with the questionnaire sent to the parishes on the occasion of the Extraordinary Synod of 2014, as well as offering more space for the intervention of the auditors during the assembly, even without granting them the right to vote. The faithful would also be involved in the successive phase of the "performance"where they should take care of "to translate the decisions taken at the central level into the various socio-cultural situations"..
These indications could converge in "a review of the regulations on the Synod of Bishops" and the tasks of the Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops"., "in which the permanent character of the synodal body can be projected in a certain way".as is the case with the Catholic Churches of the East. "for an evolution of the Synod from 'event' to 'process'.".
