• December 23
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis has included among the members of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia the following Cardinals:
  1) in the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Cardinal Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio in Syria (Italy).
  2) in the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella, archbishop of Barcelona (Spain);
  3) in the Congregation for Catholic Education, Cardinals Carlos Osoro Sierra, archbishop of Madrid (Spain); Blase Joseph Cupich, archbishop of Chicago (United States of America);
  4) in the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, Cardinals Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, archbishop of Mérida (Venezuela); Jozef De Kesel, archbishop of Mechelen‑Brussel (Belgium); Jean Zerbo, archbishop of Bamako (Mali);
  5) in the Dicastery for the Service of the Integral Human Development, Cardinals Patrick D'Rozario, C.S.C., archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh); Maurice Piat, C.S.Sp., bishop of Port‑Louis (Mauritius); John Ribat, M.S.C., archbishop of Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea); Louis‑Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, I.V.D., apostolic vicar of Vientiane (Laos); Gregorio Rosa Chávez, auxiliary of San Salvador (El Salvador);
  6) in the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella, archbishop of Barcelona (Spain);
  7) in the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Anders Arborelius, O.C.D., bishop of Stockholm (Sweden);
  8) in the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life (United States of America).

• December 21
  At 3:30 p.m., in the Papal Vatican Basilica, took place the solemn funeral Mass for the late Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archbishop emeritus of Boston and archpriest emeritus of the Papal Liberian Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. It was presided by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, bishop of the title of the suburbicarian sees of Ostia and Albano, dean of the College of Cardinals, who also delivered the homily. Concelebrating at the Altar were Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, bishop of the title of the sububurbicarian see of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto, vice-dean of the College of Cardinals, and Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., bishop of the title of the suburbicarian see of Frascati. Also concelebrating were twenty-nine other cardinals, among them Pietro Parolin, secretary of State; and Americans Raymond Leo Burke, patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta; Edwin Frederick O'Brien, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; and James Harvey, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura; and seven archbishops and bishops. Also concelebrating was Monsignor Paul Brendan McInerny, secretary of the late Cardinal. At the end of the ceremony, Pope Francis presided over the rites of the Ultima Commnedatio and the Valedictio. About 200 people were present, among them Callista L. Gingrich, U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, and her husband, Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; as well as other members of the diplomatic corps accredited before the Holy See, accompanied by Archbishops Angelo Giovanni Becciu, substitute of the Secretariat of State; Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with the States; and Monsignor José Avelino Bettencourt, head of protocol of the Secretariat of State. The late Cardinal was buried in the crypt of the Papal Liberian Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore.

• December 20
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Thursday December 21, 2017, at 3:30 p.m., at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Vatican Basilica, will take place the Exequies for Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, of the title of Santa Susanna.
  The Exequial Liturgy will be celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, together with the other Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops.
  At the end of the Eucharistic Celebration, Holy Father Francis will preside the rite of the Ultima Commendatio and the Valedictio.

• December 20
  The Boston Globe informed that Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archpriest emeritus of the Liberian Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome, died early this morning in a Roman hospital. Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M.Cap., successor of the late cardinal, issued a statement on his death. After learning the news of the death of the Cardinal, Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolence to Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals.
  After the death of Cardinal Law, the number of cardinals is 216. The cardinal electors are 120; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 52 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 96, of which 62 were created by Pope John Paul II; 23 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• December 19
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that on December 18, 2017, Holy Father Francis received in audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. During the audience, the Holy Father authorized that Congregation to promulgate among others, the decree regarding the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, archbishop of Gniezno and Warsaw, primate of Poland, who was born in Zuzela, Poland, on August 3, 1901 and died in Warsaw on May 28, 1981.

• December 18
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Thomas Benjamin Cooray, O.M.I. (1965); Léon-Étienne Duval (1965); Nicolás Fasolino (1967); Patrick Aloysius O'Boyle (1967); John Joseph Krol (1967); Benno Walter Gut, O.S.B. (1967); Gordon Joseph Gray (1969); Mario Casariego y Acevedo, C.R.S. (1969); Sergio Guerri (1969); Sergio Pignedoli (1973); Paul-Pierre Philippe, O.P. (1973); Maurice Otunga (1973); Emile Biayenda (1973); Opilio Rossi (1976); and Mario Luigi Ciappi, O.P. (1977), kindly peovided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• December 17
  Whispers in the Loggia informed that Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archpriest emeritus of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, is gravely ill in a Roman hospital.

• December 16
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane, Laos, Cardinal Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, I.V.D., until then Apostolic Vicar of Paksé.

• December 15
  The Vatican Radio informed that Cardinal Anders Arborelius, O.C.D., was named "Swede of the Year" by the nation’s leading news magazine Fokus.

• December 13
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that at 1 p.m. today, the Director of the Press office of the Holy See, Greg Burke, gave a briefing about the Twenty-First meeting of the Council of Cardinals with Holy Father Francis.
  The Council of Cardinals met for three days: Monday 11, Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 December. All the members of the Council were present, except Cardinal George Pell, and Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, the latter arriving on Monday evening due to the cancellation of his flight because of bad weather.
  The Holy Father was present at all the meetings, except for this morning’s, owing to the General Audience.
  The meeting yesterday afternoon was shorter than expected to allow the Cardinals to participate in the Mass presided at by the Pope for the liturgical celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.
  The working sessions took place in the morning from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and in the afternoon from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and were partly dedicated to reflecting on the Curia as an instrument for evangelization and service for the Pope and for the local churches.
  In addition, the Cardinals further examined issues concerning four dicasteries: for the Clergy, for the Evangelization of Peoples, for Catholic Education and for Culture.
  A significant part of the work was dedicated to the reports presented by the Superiors of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life; of the Secretariat for Communication; and of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Department for the Integral Promotion of Human Development.
  Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, presented the new dicastery, established on September 1, 2016, with special emphasis on the dicastery’s relationship with young people.
  Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò, prefect of the Secretariat for Communication, presented the last part of the path of reform. The organization of the dicastery and of the different departments was presented, from which the organic table of the new dicastery will be drawn up and submitted for the approval of the Secretary of State. Furthermore, returning to the project presented at the beginning of the process of the reform of the Vatican media, it was shown how the works have been respected so far in terms of the timeline, the reduction of personnel (as far as possible) and the reduction of costs. The new multimedia production process and the new portal, which will be presented in the next days in Beta version and which does not constitute the reform itself, but is certainly a first visible and concrete expression, was then illustrated. The new logos were then presented, showing unity in difference.
  It was reiterated that the Secretariat for Communication is not an office but a dicastery of the Holy See, and matters related to economic and administrative aspects have also been addressed. Lastly, it was confirmed that as of January 1, 2018, the group of the Vatican Press, which includes L'Osservatore Romano and the Vatican Photographic Service, will become part of the SPC.
  The Cardinals then heard Father Michael Czerny, S.J. and Father Fabio Baggio, C.C., the two under-secretaries of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Department for the Promoting Integral Human Development. Fathers Czerny and Baggio explained the process of organizing the Section ad tempus under the guidance of the Holy Father. The staff now has 21 full-time staff and volunteers. All the activities promoted in 2017 are the emanation of its mission within the dicastery, which consists of assisting local Churches in the design and implementation of an effective pastoral response adapted to the challenges of the contemporary world with regard to migrants, refugees and victims of trafficking. Its main activities include the collection and codification of information on migration issues directly from source, the implementation of various social media campaigns to promote a positive narrative about migrants and refugees, the production of a document (20 Action Points) in view of the Global Compacts on migrants and refugees in 2018 and the development of a global strategy with the main Catholic actors (Secretariat of State, Episcopal Conferences, Catholic NGOs and religious congregations), and direct assistance to some episcopal conferences.
  Cardinal Séan Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M.Cap., updated the other members of the Council regarding the work of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, especially regarding the task of assisting local Churches.
  The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on February 26, 27 and 28, 2018.

• December 11
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that this morning started the twenty-second reunion of the Council of Cardinals. The work will continue until Wednesday December 13, 2017.

• December 7
  The Archdiocese of Paris, France informed that a Thanksgiving Mass for the twelve years of the episcopacy of Cardinal André Vingt-Trois in the service of the Church of Paris will be celebrated on Saturday December 16, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris.

• December 7
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the archdiocese of México presented by Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera. The Pope named metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese of México Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, until then archbishop of Tlalnepantla.
  Also, the Press Office informed that the Pope accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Paris, France, presented by Cardinal André Vingt-Trois. The Pope named metropolitan archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit, until then bishop of Nanterre. Cardinal Vingt-Trois will be apostolic administrator of the archdiocese of Paris until the taking of possession of Archbishop Aupetit on January 6, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.

• December 7
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 282 (47.716), Città del Vaticano, venerdì 8 dicembre 2017, p. 8, informed that Pope Francis at 8 a.m. on Thursday December 7, 2017, in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, presided over a eucharistic celebration in the occasion of the ninety years of Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals. Thirty eight cardinals concelebrated. Among them was Pietro Parolin, secretary of State; as well as numerous prelates, among them, Archbishops Giovanni Angelo Becciu, substitute of the Secretariat of State; Jan Romeo Pawłowski, delegate for the Pontifical Representations; and Georg Gänswein, prefect of the Pontifical Household. Among those present were the Sisters of Santa Marta who assist in the service of the apartment of Cardinal Sodano. After reading the passage of the Gospel of John dedicated to the Good Shepherd, the dean delivered the homily. At the end of the ceremony, the Pope addressed those present.

• December 6
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 282 (47.716), Città del Vaticano, venerdì 8 dicembre 2017, p. 6, informed that in the evening of Wednesday December 6, 2017, Discalced Carmelite Cardinal Anders Arborelius, bishop of Stockholm, solemnly took possession of the title of Santa Maria degli Angeli. In the Roman church in via Cernaia 9, the Swedish cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Don Franco Cutrone, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration, and who, during the Mass — concelebrated by 23 priests — delivered the welcoming greetings to the cardinal. Among the concelebrants were, among others, Father Saverio Cannistrà, superior general of the Discalced Carmelitestani, and Dominican Father Pascal René Lung, vicar general of the diocese of Stockholm. Among those present was the ambassador of Sweden before the Quirinale. The rite was directed by Monsignor Diego Ravelli, pontifical cerimoniere.

• November 27
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced that on Wednesday December 6, 2017, at 6 p.m., Cardinal Anders Arborelius, O.C.D., bishop of Stockholm, Sweden, will take possession of the title of Santa Maria degli Angeli, via Cernaia, 9, Rome.

• November 23
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 270 (47.704), Città del Vaticano, venerdì 24 novembre 2017, p. 7, informed that on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday the dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, celebrated in the morning of Tuesday November 23 the Mass of thanksgiving to the Lord in the collegiate church of San Secondo, in Asti. Together with the cardinal, who also delivered the homily, concelebrated Bishop Francesco Ravinale of Asti, who delivered greeting at the beginning of the rite; the pastor, Don Giuseppe Gallo; Cardinal Severino Poletto, archbishop emeritus of Turin; Bishop Alfonso Badini Confalonieri of Susa; Bishop Edoardo Aldo Cerrato of Ivrea; and the bishop emeritus of Cuneo and Fossano, Giuseppe Cavallotto; together with one hundred priests. In the liturgy participated representatives of the highest civil authorities and of all the Catholic associations and movements of the diocese of Asti.

• November 21
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 268 (47.702), Città del Vaticano, mercoledì 22 novembre 2017, p. 8, informed that the exequies for Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza de Montezemolo, who died on Sunday November 19, 2017, were celebrated in the morning of Tuesday November 21 in the Altar of the Cathedra of the papal Vatican basilica. The rite was presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, vice-dean of the College of Cardinals. Concelebrating were twenty cardinals, among them Pietro Parolin, secretary of State; and thirteen archbishops and bishops. Together with the relatives of the late cardinal, among them two sisters, Adriana and Lidia; a cousin, Alberto; and a nephew, Luca; were present the representatives of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and numeros persons who in different capacities had collaborated with the cardinal. With the members of the diplomatic corps accredited before the Holy See were Archbishops Giovanni Angelo Becciu, substitute of the Secretariat of State; and Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for the Relations with the States; and Monsignors Paolo Borgia, assessor of the Secretariat of State; and José Avelino Bettencourt, head of Protocol of the Secretariat of State. At the end of the eucharistic celebration, Pope Francis presided over the rite of the Ultima Commendatio and the Valedictio. The late cardinal will be buried in the papal basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura.

• November 20
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that upon learning the news of the death of Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza de Montezemolo, of the title of S. Maria in Portico, Pope Francis sent his sister, Marchioness Adriana Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo a telegram of condolence.

• November 20
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Tuesday November 21, 2017, at 11:30 a.m., at the Altar of the Cathedral of the Vatican Basilica, will take place the exequies of Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, of the title of S. Maria in Portico.
  The exequial liturgy will be celebrated by Cardianl Giovanni Battista Re, vice dean of the College of Cardinals, together with the other cardinals, archbishops and bishops.
  At the end of the eucharistic celebration, Holy Father Francis will preside over the rite of the Ultima Commendatio and the Valedictio.

• November 19
  targatocn.it informed that Cardinal Andrea Cordero di Montezemolo, archpriest emeritus of the papal basilica of S. Paolo fuori le mura, in Rome, died today. He was 92 years old and had been ill for some time.
  After the death of Cardinal Cordero di Montezemolo, the number of cardinals is 217. The cardinal electors are 120; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 52 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 97, of which 63 were created by Pope John Paul II; 23 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• November 18
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha, archbishop of Brasília and president of the episcopal conference of Brazil, relator general of the Fifteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme "The youth, faith and vocational discernment" that will take place from Wednesday October 3, 2018 until Sunday October 28, 2018.

• November 17
  The exequies for Cardinal Bernard Panafieu, archbishop emeritus of Marseille, France, took place in the cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille on Friday November 17 at 3 p.m, presided by Archbishop Georges Pontier of Marseille, who also read a message from Pope Francis.
  Before the celebration began, the bishops gathered in the chapel where the coffin had been placed.
  Concelebrating the exequial Mass were Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeaux; Luigi Ventura, apstolic nuncio to France; Pierre d'Ornellas, archbishop of Rennes; Jean Legrez, archbishop of Albi; Yves Boivineau, bishop of Annecy; Benoît Rivière, bishop of Autun, who pronounced the homily; Christophe Dufour, bishop of Aix et Arles; Monsignor Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas, secretary general of the Conference of Bishops of France; as well as hundreds of priests.
  Present in the first benches on one side of the asile of the cathedral were members of the family of the late cardinal; and on the other side, the personalities of the city, the Major of Marseille, M. Jean-Claude Gaudin; the prefect of equal opportunities, Mme. Marie-Emmanuelle Assidon; and M. Renaud Muzelier; M. Jean-Noël Guerini; and Mme. Martine Vassal.
  Cardinal Ricard presided over the absolution. Jean-Marc Aveline, titular bishop of Simidicca, auxiliary of Marseille, read a text of Saint François de Sales. All the bishops and priests blessed the coffin before being deposited in the crypt with the other bishops of Marseilles accompanied by the singing of the Magnificat.
  The body of the late cardinal was buried in the crypt of the bishops in that cathedral, next to the tomb of Cardinal Robert Coffy.

• November 13
  France 3 informed that Cardinal Bernard Panafieu, archbishop emeritus of Marseilles, France, died last night in the hospital of Carpentras, Vaucluse, from pneumonia at 86. He had been ill for several years. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday November 16 in Notre-Dame-de-Vie. The exequies will take place in the cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille on Friday November 17 at 3 p.m.. The body of the late cardinal will be buried in the crypt of the bishops in that cathedral.
  Upon learning the news of the death of the cardinal, Pope Francis sent Georges Pontier, archbishop of Marseille, a telegram of condolence.
  After the death of Cardinal Panafieu, the number of cardinals is 218. The cardinal electors are 120; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 52 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 98, of which 63 were created by Pope John Paul II; 24 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• November 13
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n.261 (47.695), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 13-14 novembre 2017, p. 7, informed that in the morning of Sunday Novembre 12, 2017, Cardinal Jean Zerbo, archbishop of Bamako, Mali, solemnly took possession of the title of Sant’Antonio da Padova in via Tuscolana. In the steps of the Roman church in piazza Asti, the cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Pasquale Albissini, Rogazionist, who presented him the Crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Successively, the cardinal presided over the Mass, concelebrated by sixteen priests, at the beginning of which he was greeted by the retiring pastor, Giuseppe Magodi. The religious family of the Rogazionists of the Heart of Jesus, through its superior general, Bruno Rampazzo, donated the cardinal a pectoral cross. The rite - in the presence of the Ambassador of Mali before Italy - was directed by Monsignor Pier Enrico Stefanetti, who was helped by Monsignor Ján Dubina, both pontifical cerimonieri.

• November 9
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that on November 8, 2017, Holy Father Francis received in audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. During the audience, the Holy Father authorized that Congregation to promulgate among others, the Decrees regarding the heroic virtues of the Servant of God John Paul I (Albino Luciani), Supreme Pontiff, born on October 17, 1912 in Forno di Canale, now Canale d’Agordo, Italy, and died on September 28, 1978 in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City.

• November 5
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Sunday November 12, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., Cardinal Jean Zerbo, archbishop of Bamako, Mali, will take possession of the title of Sant’Antonio da Padova in Via Tuscolana, Piazza Asti, 10.

• November 4
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Pope named Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general emeritus of His Holiness for Rome, pontifical legate for the Basilicas of San Francesco and Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, Italy.

• November 3
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that at 11:30 a.m. at the Altar of the Cathedra of the papal Vatican basilica, Pope Francis presided over the celebration of the Holy Mass in suffrage of the cardinals and bishops who died during the course of the year. The pope also delivered the homily.
  The cardinals were Paulo Evaristo Arns, O.F.M. (1973), archbishop emeritus of São Paulo, Brazil, December 14, 2016; Gilberto Agustoni (1994), prefect emeritus of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, January 13, 2017; Demond Connell (2001), archbishop emeritus of Dublin, Ireland, February 21; Miloslav Vlk (1994), archbishop emeritus of Prague, Czech Republic, March 18; William Henry Keeler (1994), archbishop emeritus of Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America, March 23; Attilio Nicora (2003), president emeritus of the Financial Information Authority; president emeritus of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See; and pontifical legate for the basilicas of San Francesco and of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, April 22; Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U. (2001), archbishop major emeritus of Kyiv and Halyć, Ukraine, May 31; Ivan Dias (2001), prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, grand chancellor emeritus of the Pontifical Urbanian University and archbishop emeritus of Bombay, India, June 19; Joachim Meisner (1983), archbishop emeritus of Cologne, Germany, July 5; Dionigi Tettamanzi (1998), archbishop emeritus of Milan, Italy, August 5; Cormac Murphy-O'Connor (2001), archbishop emeritus of Westminster, England, September 1; Carlo Caffarra (2006), archbishop emeritus of Bologna, Italy, September 5; Velasio de Paolis, C.S. (2010), president emeritus of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, September 9; and Ricardo Jamin Vidal (1985), archbishop emeritus of Cebu, Philippines, October 18.

• October 30
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Agustín Parrado y García (1946); Norman Thomas Gilroy (1946); Celso Costantini (1953); Valerio Valeri (1953); Pietro Ciriaci (1953); Georges-François-Xavier-Marie Grente (1953); Giovanni Urbani (1958); Alfonso Castaldo (1958); Laurean Rugambwa (1960); Antonio Bacci (1960); Joseph Elmer Ritter (1961); Ildebrando Antoniutti (1962); Juan Landázuri Ricketts, O.F.M. (1962); and Joaquín Anselmo María Albareda, O.S.B. (1962), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• October 26
  The funeral for Cardinal Ricardo Jamin Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu, Philippines, took place today at the metropolitan cathedral of Cebu presided by José S. Palma, archbishop of Cebú. Concelebrating were the country's three cardinals, Luis Antonio Tagle, archbishop of Manila; Gaudencio Borbon Rosales, archbishop emeritus of Manila; and Orlando Quevedo, archbishop of Cotabato; Giuseppe Pinto, titular archbishop of Anglona, the papal nuncio to the Philippines, who read a message from Pope Francis; around 24 other bishops; and about 500 priests. Cardinal Vidal's casket was placed on top of a century-old carriage, which was adorned with flowers and candles, and covered with red velvet, during the funeral procession around the city. It was estimated that about 55,000 people attended the Mass and joined the funeral procession. Some 800 police officers were deployed to ensure order during the ceremony.
  The liturgy was aired live over the Cebu Catholic Television Network. At the start of funeral Mass, a large white cloth or “pall” was laid on Cardinal Vidal’s coffin by four priests who were given the title of “monsignor” during his service as cardinal. They were Monsignors Guillermo Gorre, Arthur Navales, Alfredo Romanillos and Vicente Tupas.
  The coffin bearers were Msgr. Rey Penagunda and Msgr. Daniel Sanico – the two vicar generals of the archdiocese; Msgr. Achilles Dakay, the media liaison officer during Cardinal Vidal’s time; Msgr. Joseph Tan, who served as treasurer; Msgr. Agustin Ancajas, the former private secretary of the late cardinal; Msgr. Roberto Alesna, the former vicar general; Msgr. Adelito Abella, the former chancellor; Fr. Joseph de Aquino, the last secretary of Cardina Vidal; Fr. Expedito Torrevillas, Cardinal Vidal’s master of ceremonies; and Msgr. Ildebrando Leyson, the vice postulator of the cause for sainthood of Saint Pedro Calungsod.
  A nun of the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese read the first reading; the responsorial psalm was sung by a seminarian; the prayers of the faithful were read by representatives of the different local religious congregations. Hymns during the funeral Mass were sung by the San Carlos Seminary College Choir led by the renowned composer and musician, Msgr. Rodolfo Villanueva.
  President Rodrigo Duterte declared October 26 a holiday in the entire city and province of Cebu to give people the chance to attend the late cardinal's funeral. The President, at midnight on Monday, visited the wake of the cardinal who had been the Catholic Church official who visited him in Malacañang days after he assumed his post in July 2016.
  After the funeral, the body of the late cardinal was buried in a mausoleum inside the metropolitan cathedral compound.

• October 24
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that on Friday November 3, 2017 at 11:30 a.m., at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Vatican Basilica, Holy Father Francis will celebrate the Holy Mass in suffrage of the Cardinals and Bishops who have died in the course of the year.

• October 19
  The Diocese of Mainz, Germany, informed that its bishop emeritus, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, has been hospitalized since the end of September to recover from the effects of a stroke. His condition is stable. Currently, rehabilitation therapy is at the forefront of his medical treatment. The Cardinal needs a lot of rest on the road to recovery in the coming weeks.

• October 19
  The Catholic Register informed that a wake for Cardinal Ricardo Jamin Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu, Philippines, has begun at Cebu’s cathedral. On October 21 his body will be brought to the St. Pedro Calungsod Shrine, inside the compound of the archbishop’s residence. His funeral will take place October 26 at 9 a.m. in the cathedral. He will be laid to rest in the mausoleum at the back of the cathedral’s sacristry.

• October 18
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the text of the telegram of condolence that the Pope sent Jose S. Palma, archbishop of Cebu, Philippines, for the death of Cardinal Ricardo Jamin Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu, Philippines.

• October 18
  CNN Philippines reported that Cardinal Ricardo Jamin Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu, Philippines, died at 7:28 a.m., said Father Joseph Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' Public Affairs Office. The cardinal had been in a coma at Perpetual Succor Hospital in Cebu City due to an infection leading to septic shock.
  After the death of Cardinal Vidal, the number of cardinals is 219. The cardinal electors are 120; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 52 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 99, of which 64 were created by Pope John Paul II; 24 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• October 16
  The Manila Times reported that prayers have been asked for Cardinal Ricardo Jamin Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu, Philippines, who is in the intensive care unit of the Perpetual Succor Hospital in Cebu City. The Cardinal is now responsive but remains in critical condition after he suffered a heart attack on Friday.

• October 16
  The Vatican Press Office informed that the Pope named Cardinal Francesco Monterisi, archpriest emeritus of the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls, special papal envoy to the celebrations of the ninth centenary of the arrival of the Icon of Our Lady of Madia in Monopoli, Italy, programmed for December 15 and 16, 2017.

• October 12
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Rafael Merry del Val y Zulueta (1903); Pietro Maffi (1907); Pietro Gasparri (1907); Antonio Vico (1911); Gennaro Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte (1911); Domenico Serafini, O.S.B. (1914); Donato Raffaele Sbarretti (1916); Giovanni Bonzano, P.I.M.E. (1922); Stanislas-Arthur-Xavier Touchet (1922); Lorenzo Lauri (1926); Jusztinián György Serédi, O.S.B. (1927); Jean Verdier, P.S.S. (1929); Giulio Serafini (1930); Maurilio Fossati, O.SS.G.C.N. (1933); Carlo Cremonesi (1935); Nicola Canali (1935); and Giuseppe Pizzardo (1937), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• October 7
  The Vatican Press Office informed that the Pope named Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, special papal envoy to the inauguration of the Dome dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., National Shrine of the United States of America, programmed for December 8, 2017.

• October 4
  The Vatican Press Office informed that the Pope appointed as members of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Cardinals Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy; Giuseppe Versaldi, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education; Dominique Mamberti, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature; Jean Zerbo, archbishop of Bamako, Mali; and Louis‑Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, vicar apostolic of Paksé, Laos.

• October 3
  New bibliographic items added to the site during the months of July to September 2017.

• September 30
  The Vatican Press Office informed that Pope Francis named Cardinals Agostino Vallini, Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Lateran University, apostolic administrator of Ostia and prefect emeritus of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature; Edoardo Menichelli, archbishop emeritus of Ancona-Osimo; and Raymond Leo Burke, patron of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, members of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature.

• September 27
  Biographical entry of Quasi-Cardinal Áron Márton (1969).

• September 22
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Michelangelo Celesia, O.S.B.Cas. (1884); Guglielmo Massaia, O.F.M.Cap. (1884); Camillo Siciliano di Rende (1887); Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro (1887); Domenico Svampa (1894); Andrea Carlo Ferrari (1894); Domenico Ferrata (1896); Giovanni Battista Casali del Drago (1899); Gennaro Portanova (1899); Jakob Missia (1899); José de Calasanz Vives y Tutó, O.F.M.Cap. (1899); and Jan Puzyna (1901), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• September 20
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 215 (47.649), Città del Vaticano, mercoledì 20 settembre 2017, p. 4, reported that «Il Cittadino», from Genoa, has collected and published in DVD the over four hundred homilies delivered by Cardinal Giuseppe Siri during his episcopal ministry in Genoa from 1946 to 1987. The initiative of the Genoese weekly was possible thanks to the care that during years Monsignor Mario Grone, who was secretary of the cardinal and kept the testimonies of the past.

• September 17
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 213 (47.647), Città del Vaticano, domenica 17 settembre 2017, p. 8, informed that Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will go to Japan on a pastoral visit from Sunday September 17 to Tuesday September 26, 2017. The cardinal will go first to Tokyo, then to Fukuoka, and later to Nagasaki, the city martyr from the nuclear bombing, and Hiroshima, Osaka and Sendai, and finally, again to the capital. The Pope sent the Japanese bishops a letter on the occasion of the visit.

• September 13
  Briefing of the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, on the twenty-first Meeting of the Council of Cardinals (September 11-13, 2017).
  At 1:00 p.m. today, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, gave a briefing on the twenty-first meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father Francis. The Council met for three days: Monday September 11, Tuesday September 12 and Wednesday September 13. All members of the Council were present, apart from Cardinals George Pell and Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya. The Holy Father joined the group only from Tuesday morning onwards, following his apostolic trip to Colombia, and was absent this morning for the General Audience.
  The working sessions took place in the morning from 9:00 to 12:30 p.m., and in the afternoon from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and were dedicated to study of the status of the proposals offered by the Council to the Holy Father for the reform of the Curia.
  There was also a reflection on the Pope’s texts regarding the reform of the Curia, led by Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga. The texts were mostly those of the traditional Christmas meeting with the Roman Curia, but also of the two Consistories – February and October 2015 – and of the fiftieth anniversary of the Synod of Bishops. Some of the themes under discussion were: the Curia as a tool for evangelization and service to the Pope and for the local churches; decentralization; the role of the apostolic nunciatures; and the selection and competence of staff, less clerical and more international, with an increase in young people and women.
  Among other matters, the Cardinals reflected on the recent Motu Proprio “Magnum Principium” with regard to its impact on the work of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, spoke on the work of his dicastery. This afternoon Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, was also heard.
  The Cardinals re-read the Statutes of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, established on September 1, 2016.
  Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M.Cap., updated the other members of the Council on the work of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
  The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on December 11, 12 and 13, 2017.

• September 13
  The Requiem Mass for Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop emeritus of Westminster, England, took place in the metropolitan cathedral of that see at noon, presided by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Westminster. The Archbishop of Cardiff, George Stack, delivered the homily. Concelebrating were forty seven bishops and more than 300 priests. Among the concelebrants was Archbishop Joseph Adams, apostolic nuncio to England and Wales, who read a message from Pope Francis.
  Representatives of other Christian churches including the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and his predecessor Dr. Rowan Williams, Baron Williams of Oystermouth, and the former Bishop of London Richard Chartres, all of whom took part in the procession, at which the Duke of Norfolk, Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, represented the Prince of Wales. Also present were the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Sally Axworthy as well as members of the House of Commons and the Lords including Lord Patten, Lord Alton and Baroness Williams of Crosby. Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church and Archbishop Gregorios Theocharous of Thyateira of the Orthodox Church of Great Britain also attended. 1,200 mourners attended the funeral, including former Irish president Mary McAleese and her husband, and Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, for North East Somerset, and his mother, Lady Gillian as well as Lord Alton of Liverpool and Damian Green, First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office.
  Patrick Murphy-O'Connor, nephew of the late cardinal, paid tribute to his uncle's devotion to his family and said that there were around ninety five relatives at the funeral. As the Mass concluded, the choir performed Faure’s Requiem.
  Condolences were also received from the Queen Elizabeth II; the Prime Minister, Theresa May; and the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Ephraim Mirvis.
  The body of the late cardinal was buried in the metropolitan cathedral of Westminster, in a vault at the Tenth Station of the Cross, parallel to the vault of Cardinal John Carmel Heenan and across from the vault of Cardinal George Basil Hume, O.S.B., his immediate predecessors.

• September 12
  The Tablet informed that the body of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop emeritus of Westminster, England, was received into the metropolitan cathedral of Westminster for his funeral tomorrow.
  The reception was a quiet and moving service with the participation of the Cathedral Chapter and eight bishops including the present Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols; the Archbishop of Birmingham, Bernard Longley; and the Bishop of Plymouth, Mark O’Toole.
  The service began at the West Door where the coffin was sprinkled with holy water before it was carried in procession through the cathedral to organ music by Bach. Special prayers accompanied the placing of Christian symbols on the cardinal’s coffin: his book of the Gospels, cross, chalice, stole and mitre.
  The celebrant, Canon Michael Brockie, Canon Provost of Westminster Cathedral, recited a litany that included the prayer “Lord Jesus, gentle Shepherd who brings rest to our souls, give peace to Cormac for ever.”

  After the service, a kneeler was placed at the foot of the coffin and a steady stream of people came throughout the day to pay their last respects.

• September 11
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 208 (47.642), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 11-12 settembre 2017, p. 6, informed that the exequies of Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, C.S., president emeritus of the prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, were celebrated at 9 a.m., at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Vatican Basilica. The rite was presided by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, who also delivered the homily. Concelebrating were twenty one cardinals, eight archbishops and bishops and eighty priests. Together with the family of the late cardinal — among them two brothers and a sister — were present the representatives of the entire scalabriniana religious family, to which belonged the late cardinal; and numerous persons who in various capacities had collaborated with him. With the members of the diplomatic corp accredited before the Holy See were Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with the States; and Monsignors Paolo Borgia, assessor of the secretariat of State; Antoine Camilleri, under-secretary for the Relations with the States; and José Avelino Bettencourt, head of Protocol. Cardinal De Paolis was buried in the chapel of the scalabriniani in the Roman Campo Verano Cemetery.

• September 9
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that this morning started the twenty-first reunion of the Council of Cardinals. The work will continue until Wednesday September 13, 2017.

• September 9
  Radio Vaticana informed that Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, C.S., president emeritus of the prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, died today in Rome.
  After the death of Cardinal De Paolis, the number of cardinals is 220. The cardinal electors are 120; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 52 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 100, of which 65 were created by Pope John Paul II; 24 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• September 7
  The Vatican Press Office published the telegram of condolence that Pope Francis sent to Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, Italy, for the death of Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, archbishop emeritus of Bologna.

• September 6
  Avvenire.it informed that Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, archbishop emeritus of Bologna, Italy, died suddenly this morning in Villa Revedin, Bologna, where he had lived since he retired. He was 79 years old and had been ill for some time.
  The ardent chapel will be in the Sala Bedetti of the archepiscopate of Bologna from September 7 at 4 p.m. A vigil of suffrage will take place on Friday September 8 at 9 p.m. in the metropolitan cathedral. The funeral will be on Saturday September 9, 2017 presided by Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna.
  After the death of Cardinal Caffarra, the number of cardinals is 221. The cardinal electors are now 120; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 52 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are 101, of which 65 were created by Pope John Paul II; 25 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• September 4
  The Archdiocese of Westminster announced the funeral rites for Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop emeritus of Westminster, England. The arrangenments are as follows:
  Sunday September 10 - 8 p.m. - Reception of the mortal remains of the Cardinal at the Church of Our Lady of Grace and St Edward, Chiswick (where the Cardinal retired to for the last eight years of his life) - The Church will remain open until 10 p.m. for parishioners and vistors to pay their respects. The rosary will be recited and at 9:50 p.m., the celebration of Compline - Night Prayer.
  Monday September 11, - 12 noon - a Mass for the Cardinal at the Church of Our Lady of Grace and St Edward, Chiswick - the celebrant will be Mark O'Toole, Bishop of Plymouth, who had served as secretary to the late Cardinal. Bishop O'Toole will also preach. After the Mass, the mortal remains of the Cardinal will be solemnly transfered to Westminster Cathedral.
  Tuesday September 12 - from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. - lying-in-state of the mortal remains of the Cardinal at Westminster Cathedral. At 5 p.m. there will be a celebration of Solemn Vespers, presided by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. The homily will be preached by Bernard Longley, archbishop of Birmingham. The Cathedral will remain open until 8 p.m.
  Wednesday September 13 - 12 noon - Solemn Mass of Christian Burial for Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor at Westminster Cathedral. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, will be the principal celebrant. The homily will be delivered by George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff.

• September 1
  BBC informed that Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop emeritus of Westminster, England, died today in London at 3:35 p.m. He had been suffering from cancer for sometime.
  After the death of Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, the number of cardinals is 222. The cardinal electors are 121; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 53 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 101, of which 65 were created by Pope John Paul II; 25 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• August 29
  The Vatican Press Office informed that Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, will go to Astana, Kazakhstan, from August 30 to September 4, 2017, for events connected to the Internation Exposition EXPO 2017. The event, close to the closure, scheduled for September 10, is dedicated to the theme "Future Energy". The Holy See is present with its own pavilion entitled "Energy for the Common Good: Caring for our Common Home". In the mission, Cardinal Turkson, who was appointed last year as Commissioner for the participation of the Holy See at EXPO 2017, will be accompanied by Francis Assisi Chullikatt, titular archbishop of Ostra, apostolic nuncio to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstanda and Tadjikistan, by local Church representatives and by the staff of the Dicastery.

• August 28
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Michelangelo Celesia, O.S.B.Cas. (1884); Guglielmo Massaia, O.F.M.Cap. (1884); Camillo Siciliano di Rende (1887); Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro (1887); Domenico Svampa (1894); Andrea Carlo Ferrari (1894); Domenico Ferrata (1896); Giovanni Battista Casali del Drago (1899); Gennaro Portanova (1899); Jakob Missia (1899); José de Calasanz Vives y Tutó, O.F.M.Cap. (1899); and Jan Puzyna (1901), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• August 23
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Father Carlos Alberto Sánchez, pastor of Our Lady of la Merced in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, metropolitan archbishop of Tucumán. Cardinal Luis Héctor Villalba, archbishop emeritus of Tucumán, had been elected diocesan administrator of the archdiocese of Tucumán, by the College of Consultors on August 19, 2017. The cardinal will continue in that post until the taking of possession by the new archbishop.

• August 21
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Egidio da Viterbo, O.E.S.A. (1517); Pierre de Bérulle, Orat. (1627); Ludovico Micara, O.F.M.Cap. (1824); Remigio Crescini, O.S.B.Cas. (1829); Gabriele Della Genga Sermattei (1836); Ludovico Altieri (1840); Francesco de' Medici di Ottaiano (1856); Teodolfo Mertel (1858); Angelo Ramazzotti (quasi-cardinal) (1861); Lucien-Louis-Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte (1868); Raffaele Monaco La Valletta (1868); and Alessandro Franchi (1873), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• August 19
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of State, pontifical legate to the celebration of the eighth centenary of the consecration of the Basilica of the Cistercian Abbey of Casamari, Italy, programmed for September 15, 2017.

• August 19
  The Brighton & Hove News informed that Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, archbishop emeritus of Westminster, England, is seriously ill in a hospital.

• August 17
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Bishops and president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, special papal envoy to the celebrations of the third centenary of the finding of the statue of Our Lady of Aparecida, patroness of Brazil, programmed for October 10 to 12, 2017 at the National Shrine of Aparecida.

• August 16
  aica.org, Agencia Informativa Católica Argaentina, informed that Cardinal Luis Héctor Villalba, archbishop emeritus uf Tucumán, Argentina, was elected diocesan administrator of the archdiocese of Tucumán, by the College of Consultors. The archdiocese is vacant because of the resignation of Archbishop Alfredo Horacio Zecca for reasons of health. Cardinal Villalba will occupy the post until the installation of the new archbishop.

• August 8
  The Archdiocese of Milan informed that the funeral of Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop emeritus of Milan, Italy, took place in the Duomo of Milan. It was presided by Cardinal Angelo Scola, apostolic administrator of Milan, who also delivered the homily; and concelebrated by Mario Delpini, archbishop-elect of Milan; by Cardinals Gualtiero Bassetti, archbishop of Perugia and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference; Severino Poletto, archbishop emeritus of Turin; Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa; Edoardo Menichelli, apostolic administrator of Ancona; Giuseppe Betori, archbishop of Florence; and Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture. Present were 27 bishops and archbishops. Also in attendance were the Minister of Agriculture, Maurizio Martina; the Major of Milan, Giuseppe Sala; the Prefect of Milan, Luciana Lamorgese; the Superintendent of Milan, Marcello Cardona; a representative of the Lombardia region; Senators Mario Monti and Roberto Formigoni; and the Honorable Milena Santerini. Present also were about forty mayors of the Diocese of Milan and the cities where the late cardinal had worked.

• August 6
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 181 (47.615), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 7-8 agosto 2017, p. 8, reported that in the morning of August 6, 2017, feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord and thirty ninth anniversary of the death of Pope Paul VI, Pope Francis went to the Vatican Grottoes to pray before the tomb of his predecessor. In precedence, the Mass in suffrage of the Brescian Pontiff had been presided by Marcello Semeraro, bishop of Albano and secretary of the Council of Nine Cardinals. With him concelebrated, among others, Bishop Giuseppe Sciacca, secretary of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature; Monsignor Lucio Adrián Ruiz, secretary of the Secretariat for Communications. Among those present were Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, regent of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household; and some persons, who, in different capacities collaborated with Pope Montini.

• August 6
  The Archdiocese of Milan published the details of the funeral of Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop emeritus of Milan:
  From Saturday August 5 the ardent chamber will be open in the chapel of Villa Sacro Cuore di Triuggio, Via Sacro Cuore 1, Triuggio MB. It will be possible for all to pay homage to the remains of the Cardinal and to pray. Inside Villa Sacro Cuore and in the ardent chapel are not allowed photographers and television operators. It is not allowed to make images.
  This is the schedule:
  Saturday August 5, the ardent chamber will be opened until 9:30 p.m. At 6 p.m. a Mass of suffrage will be celebrated and at 8:30 p.m. a Rosary will be recited.
  Sunday August 6, the ardent chamber will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m. a Mass of suffrage will be celebrated and at 8:30 p.m. a Rosary will be recited.
  Monday August 7, the ardent chapel will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. At 8 a.m. a Mass of suffrage will be celebrated.
  The ardent chamber in the Duomo in Milan Monday at 4 p.m.
  Monday August 7, the body will be transferred to the Duomo in Milan where from 16.00 to 22.00 it will be possible to pray in front of the closed casket.
  Also on Monday August 7, at 5:30 p.m., in the Duomo, will be celebrated by Monsignor Gianantonio Borgonovo, archpriest of the Duomo, a Mass of suffrage.
  And at 6:30 p.m., Cardinal Angelo Scola will preside in the Duomo the recitation of the Rosary.
  The funeral will be celebrated on Tuesday August 8 at 11 a.m., in the Duomo of Milan.
  It will be presided by the Apostolic Administrator Cardinal Angelo Scola and concelebrated, among others, by the Archbishop-elect of Milan Mario Delpini.
  At the end of the celebration, the body of Cardinal Tettamanzi will be buried on the right side of the cathedral at the foot of the Virgo Potens Altar, where is also the urn of Blessed Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster, O.S.B., archbishop of Milan.

• August 5
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the telegram of condolence that Pope Francis sent to Cardinal Angelo Scola, apostolic administrator of Milan, Italy, and to Mario Delpini, archbishop elect of Milan, for the death of Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop emeritus of Milan.

• August 5
  adnkronos informed that Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop emeritus of Milan, Italy, died this morning at 83, in Villa Sacro Cuore di Triuggio, in Brianza, Milan, a house of spirituality to which he had retired at the end of his ministry as archbishop of Milan in 2011.
  After the death of Cardinal Tettamanzi, the number of cardinals is 223. The cardinal electors are 121; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 53 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 102, of which 66 were created by Pope John Paul II; 25 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• August 4
  repubblica.it informed that Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop emeritus of Milan, Italy, is in very serious condition, sedate and artificially fed. He is in Villa Sacro Cuore di Triuggio, in Brianza. He has been ill for some time now. Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop emeritus of Milan, and Mario Delpini, archbishop elect of Milan, asked the faithful to pray for Cardinal Tettamanzi.

• August 1
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the diocese of Hong Kong, China, presented by Cardinal John Tong Hon. He was succeeded by Michael Yeung Ming-cheung, coadjutor of that same diocese.

• July 26
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 171 (47.605), Città del Vaticano, giovedì 27 luglio 2017, p. 8, informed that in the evening of July 26, 2017, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, celebrated a solemn Mass in the parish of Sant’Anna in the Vatican on the occasion of the patronal feast, dedicating the homily to the role of the grandparents in the transmission of the faith. At the end of the rite was recitated the prayer for the youth, in view of the synodal meeting of 2018.
  At noon, the vicar general of His Holiness for Vatican City, Cardinal Angelo Comastri presided over the eucharistic celebration in the pontifical parish. In the homily, the cardinal spoke of the education in the faith in the family, particularly, that of the Mother of Christ. At the end, Cardinal Comastri remembered the twentieth anniversary of the death of Saint Teresa di Calcutta, foundress of the Missionaries of Charity.

• July 22
  New bibliographic items added to the site during the months of April to June 2017.

• July 15
  A word of greeting from Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus, on the occasion of the funeral Mass of Cardinal Joachim Meisner, on 15th July 2017. Translated by Rt. Rev. Michael G. Campbell, O.S.A., Bishop of Lancaster, United Kingdom.

• July 15
  The funeral Mass for Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop emeritus of Cologne, Germany, took place at the metropolitan cathedral of that city presided by Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelcki, archbishop of Cologne, and concelebrated by Cardinals Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Múnich und Freising; Gerhard Ludwig Müller, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Friedrich Wetter, archbishop emeritus of Münich und Freising; Paul Josef Cordes, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Laity; Dominik Duka, archbishop of Prague, Czech Republic; and Péter Erdö, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, primate of Hungary. Not concelebrating but sitting next to the main Altar was Cardinal Adrianus Johannes Simonis, archbishop emeritus of Utrecht, Holland. Present were 56 archbishops and bishops, and a very large number of priests. The metropolitan cathedral was filled to capacity with about 4500 faithful, according to the archdiocese of Cologne.
  Also present were Armin Laschet, prime minister of North Rhine-Westphalia; and Henriette Reker, mayor of Cologne.
  At the beginning of the Mass, Archbishop Nikola Eterović, apostolic nuncio to Germany, read a message of condolence sent by Pope Francis.
  At the invitation of Cardinal Woelki, Cardinal Meisner's long-time friend Cardinal Erdö preached the sermon. Cardinal Erdö praised the achievements of the late cardinal as bishop of Berlin and archbishop of Cologne.
  After the Mass, the body of the late Cardinal was buried in the crypt of the cathedral next to his immediate precedecessors.

• July 15
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education.
  In addition, the Press Office informed that the Pope named Cardinal Ernesto Simoni special papal envoy to the consecration of the church dedicated to Saint Teresa of Calcutta in the city of Pristina, Apostolic Administration of Prizren, Kosovo, programmed for September 5, 2017.

• July 14
  List of planned attendees to the funeral of Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop emeritus of Cologne, published by the archdiocese of Cologne.
  Note: Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala, Uganda, did not attend.

• July 14
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Ancona-Osimo, Italy, presented by Cardinal Edoardo Menichelli. To succeed him the Pope named Angelo Spina, until then bishop of Sulmona-Valva. Cardinal Menichelli will be apostolic administrator of the archdiocese until the installation of his successor.

• July 13
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Joint Commission of Catholic Croatians and Orthodox Serbians for a common reading of the figure of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, archbishop of Zagreb, met at the Vatican.
  On July 12 and 13, 2017, the Commission met at Domus Sanctae Marthae in the Vatican for the sixth and last reunion under the presidency of Most Reverend Father Bernard Ardura, president of the Pontifical Commmitee of Historical Sciences.
  For the Croatian Episcopal Conference were present Cardina Josip Bozanić, archbishop of Zagreb; Antun Škvorčević, bishop of Požega; Ratko Perić, bishop of Mostar-Duvno; and Doctor Jure Krišto and Doctor Mario Jareb of the Croat Institute of History.
  For the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church were present Amfilohije, metropolitan of Montenegro and the Litoral; Porfirije, metropolitan of Zagreb and Lubliana; Irinej, bishop of Novi Sad and of Bačka; Jovan, bishop of Pakrac and of the Slavonia; and Professor Doctor Darko Tanasković, representative of Serbia before UNESCO.
  All those present acknowledged the magnanimity of Pope Francis, who graciously accepted the request of the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Irinej, and decided the formation of the Commission.
  They have been aware, since the beginning of the work, that Cardinal Stepinac's canonization process is of the Pope's exclusive competence. They also recognize that each Church has its own criteria to proceed with canonizations.
  The members of the Commission also acknowledged that their work has allowed a better understanding of the history of the years between World War I and 1960, the year of Cardinal Stepinac's death. It was also able to illustrate the life and ministry of an important Catholic Pastor in a particularly troubled period of history.
  The Commission has come to the conclusion that various events, interventions, writings, silences and positions are still subject to various interpretations. In the case of Cardinal Stepinac, the predominant interpretations given by Catholic Croats and Orthodox Serbs remain divergent.
  The study of the life of Cardinal Stepinac has taught that historically all the Churches have cruelly suffered various persecutions and have their martyrs and confessors of the faith. In this respect, the members of the Commission agreed on the possibility of future collaboration for a common work to share the memory of the martyrs and confessors of the two Churches.

• July 10
  Catholic News Service informed that Pope Francis is sending Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez to South Korea for a meeting on how to achieve peace with North Korea. During a homily in San Salvador's Metropolitan Cathedral on July 8, Cardinal Rosa Chávez said that although he will "continue to be the least of my brother bishops" as auxiliary bishop, he is also entrusted to other matters by Pope Francis. "I already received my first invitation to go to Seoul, South Korea, to attend a meeting to see how we can achieve peace between North and South Korea," the cardinal said; his remarks were followed by applause and cheers by the faithful. Cardinal Rosa Chávez, who worked closely with Blessed Óscar Arnulfo Romero before he was assassinated in 1980, was praised for his role in negotiations that brought peace to El Salvador after 12 years of civil war. His participation in negotiations between the Salvadoran government and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front culminated in the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords in 1992.

• July 7
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Milan, Italy, presented by Cardinal Angelo Scola. To succeed him, the Pope named Mario Enrico Delpini, titular bishop of Stefaniaco, until then auxiliary bishop and vicar general of that same archdiocese. Cardinal Scola will be apostolic administrator of the archdiocese until the installation of the new archbishop.

• July 7
  In L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 154 (47.588), Città del Vaticano, venerdì 7 luglio 2017, p. 8, Bruno Lutti informed that Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi for the tenth time, a few days ago, presided over the annual celebration in memory of the Saint Roman Protomartys in the Church of Santa Maria in Camposanto Teutonico in the Vatican. Commenting on the evangelical passage (Luke, 9, 23-26), the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture underscored the verse that admonishes: «If somebody wants to follow me, deny himself, take his cross and follow me». Words that the cardinal referred to the figure of the martyrs of yesterday and today. At the end, Cardinal Ravasi led the Eucharistic procession on the Vatican streets, ancient terreno di Agrippina, where Nero immolated the protomartyrs. Took part in the commemoration representatives of religious families that work in the Vatican; diplomatic delegations; representatives of the Orders of Malta and of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; the Marian Congregation of the Assunta from the Gesù Church; some Roman archconfraternities; and faithfuls of the nearby parishes. The liturgical service was done by the Association of Saints Peter and Paul.

• July 6
  The Archdiocese of Cologne published the details of the funeral services of Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop emeritus of Cologne.
  The body of Cardinal Meisner will arrive tomorrow, Friday July 7, in Cologne. According to the tradition of the archdiocese, the body of the late cardinal will be exposed in a open coffin in the church St. Gereon to which parish the archbishop's house belongs. At 6 p.m. Cardinal Ranier Maria Woelki, archbishop of Cologne, will preside the Vespers. The church will be opened for prayers until 10 p.m. From July 8 to 10, the church of St. Gereon will be open to the public from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. The coffin and the church will be closed after praying the Complete on Monday, July 10 at 7:45 p.m.
  Next prayers with the closed coffin will be on Friday, July 14 from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. At 6 p.m., the Vespers of the Dead will be celebrated.
  On Saturday, July 15, at 9:15 a.m., the coffin will be taken in a procession to the Cathedral, where at 10 a.m. the Funeral Mass will take place. After this, the body of the late cardinal will be buried in the crypt of the Cathedral beside his precedessors.

• July 5
  The first prayers for Cardinal Joachim Meisner were held at 12 noon in the Cathedral of Cologne by Monsignor Robert Kleine, dean of the Cathedral Chapter. In the evening, at 6 p.m., Cardinal Ranier Maria Woelki, archbishop of Cologne, celebrated a Mass in presence of the auxiliary and retired auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese, the cathedral chapter, many priests and around 2,000 faithful. In his homily Cardinal Woelki read the spiritual testament of Cardinal Meisner.

• July 5
  The Archdiocese of Cologne announced that Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop emeritus of Cologne, Germany, died suddenly this morning during his holiday in Bad Füssing, in the Bavarian diocese of Passau. He died peacefully just as he prepared for Holy Mass and was sitting on a chair at his bedside to pray the breviary. A few minutes later he was found dead by a friend, Monsignor Michael Schlede (a priest of the archdiocese of Berlin and longtime-friend, since Cardinal Meisner was bishop of Berlin), with the breviary on his knees. The Cardinal and Monsignor Schlede wanted to concelebrate Holy Mass together at 7 a.m. and at 6:55 a.m. Monsignor knocked on his door to pick him up. Before, after 6 a.m., the prelate had heard from his room that Cardinal Meisner prepared his day showering and cleaning up the room. After there was no response, Monsignor Schlede opened the door and found the Cardinal sitting on his chair, the breviary on his knees, with upwards open arms and with wide opened eyes.
  After learning the news of the death of Cardinal Meisner, Pope Francis sent Cardinal Ranier Maria Woelki, archbishop of Cologne, a telegram of condolence.
  After the death of Cardinal Meisner, the number of cardinals is 224. The cardinal electors are 121; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 53 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 103, of which 67 were created by Pope John Paul II; 25 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.
  Video, Rome Reports, 2017-07-05.

• July 4
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Pope named Cardinal Raúl Eduardo Vela Chiriboga, archbishop emeritus of Quito, Ecuador, special papal envoy to the conclusive celebration of the Archdiocesan Jubilee of Lima, Perú, in program on August 30, 2017, on the occasion of the fourth centennial of the death of Saint Rosa de Lima.

• July 3
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 151 (47.585), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 3-4 luglio 2017, p. 8, informed that in the evening of Sunday July 2, 2017, Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez, auxiliary bishop of San Salvador, solemnly took possession of the title of Santissimo Sacramento a Tor de’ Schiavi. At the entrance of the Roman church in largo Agosta, at Prenestino, the Salvadoran cardinal was welcomed by the pastor Don Maurizio Mirilli, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Successively, the cardinal presided over the eucharistic concelebration before a painting of Blessed Óscar Arnulfo Romero, placed at the foot of the altar. Cardinal Rosa Chávez in his youth was a friend and close collaborator of the martyred bishop. Among those present in the rite, which was directed by Monsignor John Richard Cihak, pontifical cerimoniere, was the ambassador of El Salvador together with other diplomatic representatives accredited before the Holy See.

• July 1
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis thanked Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller at the conclusion of his five-year mandate as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and of the International Theological Commission, and named to succeed him in those charges Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., titular archbishop of Tibica, until then secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
  The Press Office also informed that the Pope named Cardinal Giuseppe Betori member of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.

• June 30
  Photographs and biographies of the Cardinals created in the Consistory of June 28, 2017, in Italian, L'Osservatore Romano, 30 giugno 2017.

• June 30
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Sunday July 2, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez, Auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador, El Salvador, will take possession of the title of Santissimo Sacramento a Tor de’ Schiavi, Largo Agosta, 10, Rome.

• June 29
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed the following:
  On the Solemnity of the Saints Apostles Peter and Paul, at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, Holy Father Francis blessed the Pallia, taken from the Confession of the Apostle Peter and destined for the metropolitan archbishops appointed during the year. The Pallium will then be imposed upon each metropolitan archbishop by the Papal Representative in the respective metropolitan see.

  After the rite of the blessing of the Pallia, the Pope presided at the Eucharistic Celebration with the new Metropolitan Archbishops, the new Cardinals created yesterday, and the other Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops. As is customary on the occasion of the Feast of the Saints Apostles Peter and Paul, patrons of the City of Rome, the Holy Mass was attended by a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, sent by His Beatitude Bartholomew and led by His Eminence Job, archbishop of Telmessos, accompanied by the Rev. Fathers Ambrosios Chorozidis and Agathanghelos Siskos.

  During the Eucharistic Celebration, after the Gospel reading, the Pope pronounced the homily.

• June 29
  The Press Office of the Holy See issued the following Communiqué concerning the news of charges filed in Australia against Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, for decades-old actions that have been attributed to him.

• June 28
  After today's consistory, the number of cardinals is 225. The cardinal electors are 121; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 53 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are 104, of which 68 were created by Pope John Paul II; 25 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• June 28
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed the following:
  At 4 p.m., in the Papal Vatican Basilica, Holy Father Francis celebrated an Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of five new cardinals, for the imposition of the biretta, the consignment of the ring and the assignment of the titles.
  The celebration began with the greeting, oration and reading of a passage from the Gospel according to Mark (10: 32-45). The Pope then pronounced the homily.
  The Holy Father then read the formula for the creation of cardinals and solemnly pronounced the names of the new cardinals, announcing their presbyteral order. The rite continued with the profession of faith of the new cardinals before the people of God and the oath of fidelity and obedience to Pope Francis and his successors.
  The new cardinals, following their order of creation, kneeled before the Holy Father, who imposed upon them the cardinals’ zucchetto and the biretta, consigned the ring and assigned to each one a church of Rome as a sign of participation in the Pope’s pastoral care for the city.
  After the consignment of the Bull of the creation of cardinals and the assignment of the titles, the Holy Father exchanged an embrace of peace with each new cardinal.
  Among those in attendance were Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals; Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, vice-dean of the College of Cardinals; Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of State; around seventy Cardinals. With the diplomatic corps accredited before the Holy See were Archbishops Angelo Giovanni Becciù, substitute of the Secretariat of State; Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States; Monsignors Paolo Borgia, assessor of the Secretariat of State; and José Avelino Bettencourt, head of protocol of the Secretariat of Sate. Also in attendance were many bishops and prelates of the Roman Curia, including Archbishop Goerg Gänswein, prefect of the Papal Household; and Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, R.C.I., regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Hosehold. The rite was directed by Monsignor Guido Marini, master of papal liturgical celebrations; and the chants were provided by choir of the Sistine Chapel, directed by Monsignor Massimo Palombella.
  At the end of the celebration, Holy Father Francis and the new Cardinals went to the Monastery Mater Ecclesiae in the Vatican to visit Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
  Notification of the Consistory, Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.
  Libretto of the Consistory.
  Assignation of the titles to the new Cardinals.
  Photographs of the Consistory.

• June 27
  aciprensa reported that the Press Office of the Holy See confirmed that the five new Cardinals that will be created in the Consistory of Wednesday June 28, 2017 in a ceremony presided over by Pope Francis will be present in the same, as was planned from the beginning. The clarification by the Vatican came after the archdiocese of Bamako, Mali, reported that its Archbishop, Jean Zerbo, would not attend for health reasons, specifically due to an intestinal obstruction, that prevented him from making the trip.

• June 27
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that this morning at 8:00, in the Paoline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis presided over the Eucharistic celebration with the Cardinals present in Rome, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his episcopal consecration.

• June 26
  Il Sismografo informed that Cardinal Jean Zerbo, archbishop of Bamako, Mali, will not attend the consistory for his creation as a cardinal for reasons of health.

• June 26
  The Pope’s Cardinals: A New Era for Red Hats, National Catholic Register, Editorial | Jun. 26, 2017.

• June 24
  The distribution of cardinals to change after the consistory on Wednesday, video, Rome Reports, 2017-06-24.

• June 22
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 143 (47.577), Città del Vaticano, venerdì 23 giugno 2017, p. 7, informed that in the afternoon of Wednesday June 21, 2017, at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Vatican Basilica, Pope Francis presided over the rite of the ultima commendatio and the valedictio at the end of the exequies of Cardinal Ivan Dias, archbishop emeritus of Bombay, India, and prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, who died in Rome on Monday June 19.
  Accompanied by Archbishop Georg Gänswein, prefect of the Pontifical Household, the Pope joined, at the end of the funeral Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who also delivered the homily. With him concelebrated twenty seven cardinals, among them Pietro Parolin, secretary of State; seventeen prelates, including Archbisp Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for the Relations with the States; and seventy priests. Present at the rite, among others, were Monsignors Antoine Camilleri, under-secretary for the Relations with the States; and José Avelino Bettencourt, head of Protocol of the Secretariat of State; together with members of the diplomatic corp accredited before the Holy See. Among those present were the brother of the late cardinal. The remains of Cardinal Dias were buried in the chapel of Propaganda Fide in the Roman cemetery of Campo Verano.

• June 21
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Wednesday June 28, 2017, at 4 p.m., in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Father Francis will have an Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals, for the imposition of the biretta, the consignment of the ring and the assignment of the Titles or Deaconries.
  The courtesy visits to the new Cardinals will take place on Wednesday June 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Atrium of Pope Paul VI Hall.

• June 20
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 141 (47.575), Città del Vaticano, mercoledì 21 giugno 2017, p. 5, informed that In the Solemnity of Corpus Domini with a special occasion for the detained in the house of reclusion in the Island of Gorgona, Albanese Cardinal Ernest Simoni celebrated for them Mass in the small church of San Gorgonio, from whom the island gets its name. In the celebration participated inmates, Christians or Muslims, with him the cardinal shared the dramatic moments of his own imprisonment in Albania. The inmates and the personnel of the penitentiary police gave the cardinal a letter for Pope Francis, with which they invite him to visit the jail. Cardinal Simoni is the first cardinal to visit the island.

• June 20
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the telegram of condolence for the death of Cardinal Ivan Dias, of the title of Spirito Santo alla Ferratella, archbishop emeritus of Bombay, sent by Holy Father Francis to the brother of the late Cardinal, Mr. Francis Dias.

• June 20
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Wednesday June 21, 2017, at 3 p.m., in the Altar of the Cathedra of the Vatican Basilica, will take place the exequies for Cardinal Ivan Dias, of the title of Spirito Santo alla Ferratella.
  The Exequial Liturgy will be celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, together with the other cardinals, archbishops and bishops. At the end of the Eucharistic Celebration, Holy Father Francis will preside over the rite of the Ultima Commendatio and the Valedictio.
  After the funeral the body of the late Cardinal will be buried in the Chapel of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide in Campo Verano Cemetery, Rome.

• June 19
  The Archdiocese of Bombay informed that Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, grand chancellor emeritus of the Pontifical Urbanian University and archbishop emeritus of Bombay, India, died today in Rome at 8 p.m. Funeral arrangements are pending.

  After the death of Cardinal Dias, the number of cardinals is 220. The cardinal electors are 116; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 53 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 104, of which 68 were created by Pope John Paul II; 25 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• June 17
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B., archbishop of Santiago, Chile, special papal envoy to the celebration of the centennial of the birth of Blessed Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, in program in San Salvador, El Salvador, on August 15, 2017.

• June 14
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that at 1 p.m., the Director of the Press Office, Greg Burke, had a briefing about the 20th meeting of the Council of Cardinals with Holy Father Francis.
  The Council of Cardinals met with the Holy Father for three days: Monday 12, Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14, 2017. Present were all the members of the Council except Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M.Cap., archbishop of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, who is recovering from successful knee surgery.
  Pope Francis was absent this morning because of the General Audience.
  The work sessions took place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. and were dedicated to study in depth the ways in which the Roman Curia could better serve the local Church. For example, a wider consultation with the members of the consecrated life and the laity for the candidates proposed for the nomination to bishop.
  Among other proposals were the possibility of transferring some faculties from the Roman Dicasteries to the local bishops or to the Episcopal Conferences, in a spirit of a healthy discentralization. For example, the transfer from the Dicastery for the Clergy to the Episcopal Conference of the examination and authorization of ordaining priest an unmarried permanent deacon; the remarriage of a deacon who had become a widower; the request to receive the priestly ordination of a permanent deacon who had become a widower.
  The Cardinals gave further consideration to different Dicasteries of the Curia, particularly to the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples.
  They have studied and re-read the texts proposed to be submitted to the Holy Father concerning the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue; the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches; the Dicastery for the Legislative Texts; and three Tribunals: the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Supremte Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature and the Roman Rota.
  Cardinal George Pell provided an update on the work of the Secretariat for the Economy, which he presides. Special attention was given to the steps taken in the process of planning economic resources and the monitoring of the financial plans for the first trimester of 2017 which substantialy have confirmed, with few exceptions, the data of the budget. Soon wil begin the process for the budget of the year 2018 and the monitoring of the second trimester of 2017.
  The Prefect of the Secretariat for Comunications, Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò, presented a report on the status of the reform of the communications systems of the Holy See: he illustrated the economic and managerial structure of the SPC, showing the postive results. Later, he explained the projects during the realization of the new communication system, in line with what the Holy Father said on the occasion of the first Plenary Meeting of the Dicastery.
  The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on September 11-13, 2017.

• June 13
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 136 (47.570), Città del Vaticano, mercoledì 14 giugno 2017, p. 7, informed that in the evening of Sunday June 11, 2017, Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, archbishop of Mérida, Venezuela, took possession of the title of Santi Giovanni Evangelista e Petronio dei Bolognesi. In the Roman church in via del Mascherone, the cardinal was welcomed by the rector, Monsignor Fabrizio Capanni, who presented him the curcifix for the kissing and veneration, and who, before the Eucharistic celebration, read the papal bull of the cardinalitial nomination. After the greetings of the prior of the archconfraternity of Santi Giovanni Evangelista e Petronio dei Bolognesi, Gian Franco Moschetti, Cardinal Porras Cardozo concelebrated Mass together with five bishops and some thirty Venezuelan priests. Among those present were the ambassadors of Venezuela before the Holy See, Germán José Mundaraín Hernández; and of Colombia, Guillermo León Escobar Herrán. The rite was directed by Monsignor Diego Ravelli, pontifical cerimoniere.

  The Vatican newspaper also reported that on Sunday June 11, 2017, in the late evening, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, archbishop of Tlalnepantla, México, took possession of the title of Santi Fabiano e Venanzio a Villa Fiorelli. In the Roman church in via Terni, the cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Don Fabio Fasciani, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Monsignor John Richard Cihak, pontifical cerimoniere, directed the rite and also read the papal bull. At the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration the pastor addressed his greetings to the cardinal and concelebrated together with the archbishop of Panamá, José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta; with Archbishop Jorge Carlos Patrón Wong, secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy; with Bishop Guillermo Rodrigo Teodoro Ortiz Mondragón of Cuautitlán, México; with the rector of the church; and with some twenty priests from the Pontifical Mexican Collegio. For the occasion, Cardinal Aguiar Retes gave the parish a statue of the Blessed Virgin.

• June 13
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Willem Jakobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht, Holland, ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

  Also, the pope named as members ad honorem of the Pontifical Academy for Life Cardinals Carlo Caffarra, archbishop emeritus of Bologna, Italy, and former president of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family (Italy); and Elio Sgreccia, president emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life; and president of the International Federation of Centers and Institutes of Bioethics of the Personalist School, President of the Ut Vitam Habeant Foundation (Vatican City).

• June 12
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that this morning started the meeting of Pope Francis with the Council of Cardinals. The work of the "Council of Nine" will continue until Wednesday June 14, 2017.

  The previous meetings of the “Council of Nine” have taken place on October 1-3 and December 3-5, 2013; February 17-19, April 27-30, July 1-4, September 15-17, and December 9-11, 2014; February 9-11, April 13-15, June 8-10, September 14-16, and December 10-12, 2015; February 8-9, April 11-13, June 6-8, September 12-14, and December 12-14, 2016; February 13-15 and April 24-26, 2017.

• June 10
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis accepted the request presented by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, bishop of the title of the suburbicarian see of Porto-Santa Rufina, to be dispensed from the office of the Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals and approved the election done by the Cardinals and the Order of Bishops, of the new Vice Dean of the College, of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, of the title of the suburbicarian see of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto.

• June 10
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, member of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

• June 7
  The Press office of the Holy See informed that Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, will visit Astana, Kazakhstan, as the “Commissioner for participation of the Holy See” at the inauguration of the EXPO 2017 Exposition, “Future Energy”, that will take place from Jun 8 to 11, 2017.

• June 5
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Sunday June 11, 2017, at 5:30 p.m., Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, archbishop of Mérida, Venezuela, will take possession of the title of Santi Giovanni Evangelista e Petronio, Via del Mascherone, 61.
  Also, on Sunday June 11, 2017, at 6 p.m., Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, archbishop of Tlalnepantla, México, will take possession of the title of Santi Fabiano e Venanzio a Villa Fiorelli, Via Terni, 92.

• June 5
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the text of a letter sent by Pope Francis to Sviatoslav Shevchuk, archbishop major of Kyiv and Halyć, Ukraine, on the occasion of the exequies for Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U., archbishop major emeritus of Kyiv and Halyć.

• June 1
  The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church published the Order of Funeral Liturgies in Memory of Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U., archbishop major emeritus of Kyiv and Halyć.

• June 1
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the telegram of condolence that Pope Francis sent to Sviatoslav Shevchuk, archbishop major of Kyiv and Halyć, Ukraine, for the death of Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U., archbishop major emeritus of Kyiv and Halyć.

• May 31
  The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church announced that Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U., archbishop major emeritus of Kyiv and Halyć, Ukraine, died today in a hospital in Kyiv where he had been a patient for some time due to a grave illness.

  After the death of Cardinal Husar, the number of cardinals is 221. The cardinal electors are 116; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 53 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 105, of which 69 were created by Pope John Paul II; 25 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• May 26
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis accepted the resignation presented by Cardinal Agostino Vallini from the posts of Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome and Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano and named to succeed him in the same posts Angelo De Donatis, titular bishop of Mottola, until then auxiliary of Rome, elevating him at the same time to the archiepiscopal dignity.

• May 25
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 120 (47.554), Città del Vaticano, giovedì 25 maggio 2017, p. 5, informed that the Center of Bonaventuran Studies will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the birth of the Doctor Seraphicus, Saint Bonaventura, O.F.M., with the convention «Il vertice e l'abisso. La signoria di Gesù nella profezia francescana», which will take pleace on May 26 to 28, 2017. The works will be opened in Viterbo with a lectio magistralis by Marc Ozilou (Institut Catholique de Paris); and will conclude on Sunday in Civita di Bagnoregio with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

  Participating, among others, will be Lino Fumagalli, bishop of Viterbo; Monsignor Fortunato Frezza (Chapter of St. Peter's Basilica); and Maurizio Malaguti (University of Bologna), president of the Center of Studies. Among the initiatives planned during the year 2017 to celebrated the occurrance is a work of "Street Art" : a mural painted by the children of the Church of Saint Bonaventura di Bagnoregio in Torrespaccata in Roma.

• May 24
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis, according to Article 26 § 1 of the Statute of the Italian Episcopal Conference, named Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

• May 21
  After the recitation of the Regina Coeli, Pope Francis announced that he will celebrate a consistory for the creation of five new cardinals. They are Jean Zerbo, archbishop of Bamako, Mali; Juan José Omella Omella, archbishop of Barcelona, Spain; Anders Arborelius, O.C.D., bishop of Stockholm, Sweden; Loius Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, of the Institute Voluntas Dei, titular bishop of Acque Nuove di Proconsulare, apostolic vicar of Paské, Laos; and Gregorio Rosa Chávez, titular bishop of Mulli, auxiliary of San Salvador, El Salvador. The consistory will take place on June 28, 2017. On Thursday June 29, Solemnity of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, the Pope will concelebrate Mass with the new cardinals, the College of Cardinals, and the new metropolitan archbishops named this year.

• May 20
  The Press office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Governatorate of the State of Vatican City, special papal envoy to the celebration of the bicentennial of the erection of Diocese of Cuneo, Italy, which will take place in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta on July 16, 2017.

• May 17
  The mortal remains of Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family and archbishop emeritus of Medellín, Colombia, who died in Rome nine years ago, were transferred to Colombia, the country of his birth, at the request of Pope Francis to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. The body of the cardinal arrived on Monday May 15, 2017. Archbishop Ricardo Tobón Restrepo of Medellín celebrated the liturgical ceremony of the reception of the body. The late cardinal was buried in the crypt of the archbishops in the metropolitan cathedral.

• May 15
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n.112 (47.546), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 15-16 maggio 2017, p. 7, informed that on the evening of Saturday May 13, 2017, Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., archbishop of Dhaka and president of the Episcopal Conference of Bangladesh, solemnly took possession of the title of Nostra Signora del SS. Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi. In the Roman Church in via Giovanni Battista De Rossi, the cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Sacramentine Father Maurizio Zorzi, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. The cardinal, religious of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, presided over the Mass, which was concelebrated by Bishop Arthur Joseph Colgan, C.S.C., auxiliary of Chosica, Perú; by the pastor; and by the superior general of the Sacramentini, Eugênio Barbosa Martin. Among those present was the Ambassador of Canada before the Holy See, Dennis A. Savoie. The rite was directed by Monsignor John Richard Cihak, pontifical cerimoniere, who also read the pontifical bull.

  The Vatican newspaper also informed that in the morning of Sunday May 14, 2017, Cardinal Renato Corti, bishop emeritus of Novara, solemnly took possession of the title of San Giovanni a Porta Latina. The Italian cardinal was welcomed in the Roman basilica by the superior general of the rosminiani, Father Vito Nardin, I.C., who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. After the greetings from the rector, Geoffrey Feldman, I.C., Cardinal Corti concelebrated Mass with numerous priests of the Istituto della Carità, among them were Fathers Nardin and Feldman; and also some fathers provincial. At the beginning of the celebration, after the liturgical greeting, Monsignor Pier Enrico Stefanetti, pontifical cerimoniere, who directed the rite, read the pontifical bull.

• May 15
  Catalog of Cardinal-prefects of the S.C. of the Residence of Bishops, from 1635 to 1908, kindly provided by Mr. Tomasz Karlikowski, from Poznań, Poland.

• May 8
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed the following:
  On Saturday May 13, 2017, at 6 p.m., Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., archbishop of Dhaka, Bangladesh, will take possession of the title of Nostra Signora del SS. Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi, Via Giovanni Battista De Rossi, 46.
  On Sunday May 14, 2017, at 11:30 a.m., Cardinal Renato Corti, bishop emeritus of Novara, Italy, will take possession of the title of San Giovanni a Porta Latina, Via di Porta Latina. 17.

• May 4
  At 10:30 a.m., Holy Father Francis received in audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During the audience, the Pope authorized that Congregation to promulgate twelve Decrees concerning miracles attributed to four Servants of God; the martyrdom of one Servant of God; and the heroic virtues of seven Servants of God. Among the latter were Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa; and Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân.

• May 3
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 102 (47.536), Città del Vaticano, giovedì 4 maggio 2017, p. 4, informed that to commemorate the centennial of the birth of Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci (1917-2013), for a long time director of the Pontifical Musical Cappella, the foundation named after him has organized a series of cultural and musical activties that will take place in in Italy between May and December 2017. The rich calendar was presented on Wednesday May 3 during a press conference held in Palazzo Madama. In memory of the musican, created cardinal in 2010 — «Quando scrivete musica per la liturgia, siate predicatori della parola di Dio», he always said to his young students — the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of Vatican City has published a CD and has emitted a stamp. Both have been presented during a press conference moderated by Rosi Fontana and in which, after the greetings from Gianni Letta, Pier Ferdinando Casini and Aldo Di Biagio, intervened Dorina Bianchi, undersecretary of Cutural Hereitage; Senator Andrea Marcucci; Deputies Paola Binetti and Flavia Piccoli Nardelli; Monsignor Vincenzo De Gregorio, president of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music; Mauro Olivieri, director of the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Vatican; and Alessandro Biciocchi, general secretary of the Bartolucci Foundation.

• April 29
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Pope named Cardinal Josip Bozanić, archbishop of Zagreb, Croatia, special papal envoy to celebration of the 650th anniversary of the arrival in the Shrine of Trsat, archdiocese of Rijeka, Croatia, of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, donated by Pope Urban V to the Croatian pilgrims to Loreto in 1367, in program on July 1, 2017.

• April 29
  Cardinal Lluís Martínez Sistach, archbishop emeritus of Barcelona, Spain, turned eighty years of age and according to the regulation in the seventh paragraph of the introduction of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, lost the right to participate in the conclave.

  The number of cardinals is 222. The cardinal electors are now 116; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 53 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 106, of which 70 were created by Pope John Paul II; 25 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• April 26
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 97 (47.531), Città del Vaticano, giovedì 27 aprile 2017, p. 6, informed that in the evening of Wednesday April 26, 2017, was celebrated in the Roman basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme a Mass in suffrage of Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, archbishop emeritus of Prague, Czech Republic, who died on March 18. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Bishops, pronounced the homily.

• April 26
  At 1 p.m., the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Greg Burke, had a briefing about the 19th meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father Francis.
  The Council of Cardinals met with the Holy Father for three days: Monday April 24, Tuesday April 25, and Wednesday April 26. Present were all the members of Council.
  Pope Francis was absent in the morning of Wednesday 26 because of the General Audience.
  The work sessions took place in the morning from 9:00 to 12:30 and in the afternoon from 4:30 until 7:00 and were dedicated to further considerations about the different Dicasteries of the Curia: particularly, the discussion about the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (Propaganda Fide), and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization continued.
  The Cardinals also have studied texts to propose to the Holy Father concerning the Pontifical Council for the Interreligious Dialog; the Pontifical Council for the Legislative Texts; and the three tribunals: the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature and the Tribunal of the Roman Rota.
  The Council of Cardinals, in these days, also studied the the selection and the formation of the personnel at the Service of the Holy See, lay and cleric. Participated officials and superiors of the Secretariat of State, of the Council for the Economy, and of the Office of Work of the Apostolic See (ULSA).
  For the Secretariat of State were present Archbishop Angelo Giovanni Becciù, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher and Archbishop Jan Romeo Pawłowski. For the Council for the Economy, besides Cardinal Reinhard Marx, intervened Professor Franco Vermiglio, member of the same Council. Bishop Giorgio Corbellini and Avvocato Salvatore Vecchio presented a report on the ULSA to the Council of Cardinals. Another important theme addressed by the Council of Cardinals was the relations between the Episcopal Conferences and the Roman Curia.
  Cardinal George Pell gave an update about the work of the Secretariat for the Econmy, which he presides, with special attention to the monitoring of the budget of the year in course.
  Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M.Cap., updated the Council on the work of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, with particular attention to the global education programs, the latest plenary meeting and the visit to the different dicasteries.
  The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on June 12, 13 and 14, 2017.

• April 25
  The funeral for Cardinal Attilio Nicora took place on Tuesday April 25, 2017 at 3 p.m. in the cathedral of Verona. It was presided by Bishop Giuseppe Zenti of Verona, who also delivered the homily. In attendance were Cardinals Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, and Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Syria, as well as several bishops; many priests; relatives of the late Cardinal; military and civil authorities; priests religious and nuns; and friends of Cardinal Nicora. After the funeral Mass, the late cardinal was buried in the crypt of the bishops of the cathedral of Verona, according to his expressed will.

• April 24
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 95 (47.529), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 24-25 aprile 2017, p. 6, informed that Pope Francis presided, in the early afternoon, of April 24, 2017, at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Papal Vatican Basilica, the rite of the last «commendatio» and of the «valedictio» at the end of the exequies of Cardinal Attilio Nicora, pontifical legate for the Basilicas of San Francesco and of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, who died in Rome on April 22. Accompanied by Archbishop Georg Gänswein, prefect of the Papal Household, the Pope celebrated the rites at the end of the Mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, who delivered the homily. With him, concelebrated twenty five cardinals, among them Pietro Parolin, secretary of State; and sixteen prelates. Among them, Bishops Giuseppe Zenti of Verona and Franco Maria Giuseppe Agnesi, auxiliary of Milan; with the Ambrosian prelates who work in Rome: Carlo Maria Polvani, Luigi Mistò, Samuele Sangalli, Mauro Pace and Andrea Ciucci. From Assisi came the Custodian of the Sacred Convent Mauro Gambetti and of Santa Maria degli Angeli Father Rosario Gullotta, O.F.M. In attendance at the rite were, among others, Archbishop Angelo Giovanni Becciù, substitute of the Secretariat of State; and Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for the relations with the States; with Monsignor José Avelino Bettencourt, head of protocol of the secretariat of State; togther with members of the diplomatic corp accredited before the Holy See. Among those present were the brother of the late cardinal, Carlo Nicora with the nephews Emanuele, Chiara, Luigi and Laura. The remains of the late cardinal will be buried in the cathedral of Verona.

• April 24
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 95 (47.529), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 24-25 aprile 2017, p. 7, informed that in the morning of Sunday April 23, 2017, Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha, archbishop of Brasília, Brazil, solemnly took possession of the title of Santa Croce in via Flaminia. In the Roman church in via Guido Reni, the cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Father Andrea Meschi, C.S.S., who presnted him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Then, the cardinal presided over the Eucharist, which was concelebrated by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life; by the pastor; and by the superior general and the provincial superior of the Stimmatina Congregation, Maurizio Baldessari and Gianni Piccolboni, respectively. Among those present was the Brazilian ambassador before the Hole See, Luiz Felipe Mendonça Filho. The rite was directed by Monsignor Ján Dubina, pontifical cerimoniere.

• April 24
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that this morning started the 19th meeting of the Pope with the Council of Cardinals. The work of the "Council of Nine" will continue until Wednesday April 26, 2017.

  The previous meetings of the Council were held on October 1-3 and December 3-5, 2013; February 17-19, April 27-30, July 1-4, September 15-17 and December 9-11, 2014; February 9-11, April 13-15, June 8-10, September 14-16 and December 10-12, 2015; February 8-9, April 11-13, June 6-8, September 12-14 and December 12-14, 2016; and February 13-15, 2017.

• April 23
  The Archdiocese of Milan informed that the Requiem Mass for Cardinal Attilio Nicora will take place at 2:45 p.m. on Monday April 24, 2017, in the Papal Vatican Basilica. Later, the body will be taken to Verona for the funeral and burial on Tuesday April 25 at 3 p.m.

• April 23
  Upon learning the news of the death of Cardinal Attilio Nicora, the Pope sent his brother, Carlo Nicora, and the family a telegram of condolence.

• April 22
  The Archdiocese of Milan informed that Cardinal Attilio Nicora, president emeritus of the Financial Information Authority; president emeritus of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See; and pontifical legate for the basilicas of San Francesco and of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, died today at 8 p.m. in a Roman clinic where he had been convalescing for several weeks.

  After the death of Cardinal Nicora, the number of cardinals is 222. The cardinal electors are 117; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 54 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 105, of which 70 were created by Pope John Paul II; 24 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• April 22
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Pope named Cardinal Paul Poupard, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture, special papal envoy to the celebrations of the 7th centennial of the enclave of the Popes in Avignon, France, programmed for June 23-25, 2017.

• April 19
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Pope named Cardinal Franc Rodé, C.M., prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, special papal envoy the celebration to be held on April 26, 2017 at the National Shrine of Shkodër (Scuttari), Albania, on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the arrival of Our Lady of Shkodra at the Church of Genazzano, dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel.
  Also, the Pope named Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, special papal envoy to the Fifth World Ultreya of the Cursillos de Cristiandad, that will take place at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, Portugal, from May 4 to 6, 2017.
  Besides, the Pope named Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”, as special papal envoy to the concluding celebration of the Marian Congress of Kazakhstan, to be held on May 13, 2017 in the Cathedral of “Our Lady of Fátima” in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, on the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima.

• April 16
  New bibliographic items added to the site during the months of January to March 2017.

• April 11
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that Cardinal Sergio da Rocha, archbishop of Brasília, Brazil, will take possession of the title of Santa Croce in via Flaminia, Via Guido Reni, 2/D, Rome, on Sunday April 23, 2017, at 11 a.m.

• April 8
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Manuel José Macário do Nascimento Clemente, patriarch of Lisbon, Portugal, special papal envoy to the first National Eucharistic Congress of Angola programmed for Huambo from June 12 to 18, 2017.

• April 5
  Catalog of Cardinal-prefects of the S.C. for Bishops and Regulars, from 1576 to 1908, kindly provided by Mr. Tomasz Karlikowski, from Poznań, Poland.

• April 1
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Karl-Josef Rauber special papal envoy to the celebration of the 375th anniversary of the foundation of the Shrine of Kevalaer, Germany, dedicated to the Madonna Consolatrix Afflictorum programmed for June 3, 2017.

• March 28
  The Mass of Christian Burial for the late Cardinal William Henry Keeler, archbishop emeritus of Baltimore, was celebrated at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland and presided by Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore. Thirty prelates and dozens of priests and deacons concelebrated the Requiem Mass. Among them were Cardinals Timothy Michael Dolan, archbishop of New York, who delivered the homily; Edwin Frederick O'Brien, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and archbishop emeritus of Baltimore; Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, president of the Episcopal Conference of the United States; and Justin Francis Rigali, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia. Dignitaries and officials paid their respects, including Maryland Governor Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.; Baltimore County Executive Kevin B. Kamenetz; retired U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski; State Senator James “Ed” DeGrange Sr; and Rabbi Abie I. Ingber, executive director of the Center for Interfaith Community Engagement at Xavier University in Cincinnati. The apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, read a message from Pope Francis expressing his condolences for the death of Cardinal Keeler. At the conclusion of the Mass, Archbishop Lori, thanked the members of the late cardinal’s family for sharing him with us all so many years. He also thanked the Little Sisters of the Poor, who operate St. Martin’s Home, for welcoming Cardinal Keeler into their home as you would welcome Christ.

  Cardinal O'Brien offered the final commendation, and the eight pallbearers carried the coffin out of the cathedral, where deacons, priests, bishops and cardinals chanted Salve Regina. A funeral procession brought the remains to their final resting place.

  The Rite of Committal in the crypt of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore was performed by Archbishop Lori at 4:30 on Tuesday March 28, 2017, followed by the late cardinal's entombment. In attendance in the Rite were family members of the late cardinal as well as Cardinals O'Brien, DiNardo and Rigali.

  Photo album.

• March 27
  L'Osservatore Romano Anno CLVII n. 72 (47.506), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 27-28 marzo 2017, p. 5, informed that in the afternoon of Saturday March 25, 2017, Belgian Cardinal Jozef De Kesel, archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, solemnly took possession of the title of Santi Giovanni e Paolo. In the Roman basilica in Celio, the cardinal was welcomed by the rector, Don Augusto Matrullo, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Before the Eucharistic celebration presided by the cardinal, the rector read the papal bull of assignation. Then, the superior general of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, Joachim Xavier Rego, greeted the cardinal in the name of the community to whom is entrusted the ancient church. Among those present was the ambassador of Belgium before the Holy See, Bruno Nève de Mévergnies. The rite was directed by Monsignor Diego Ravelli, pontifical cerimoniere.
  Likewise, the newspaper informed that in the late afternoon of Saturday March 25, 2017, Cardinal Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio in Syria, solemnly took possession of the deaconry of Santa Maria delle Grazie alle Fornaci fuori Porta Cavalleggeri. The Italian cardinal was welcomed in the Roman church near piazza San Pietro by the pastor, Trinitarian Father Giovanni Martire Savina. After the kissing and the veneration of the curcifix, the cardinal put on the sacred vestments and went to the altar where Prelate Winfried König, cleric of the Apostolic Chamber, read the papal bull and the pastor delivered the greetings. The Mass followed presided by Cardinal Zenari and conconcelebrated by Cardinal James Michael Harvey; by Archbishops Angelo Acerbi and Orlando Antonini, apostolic nuncios; by Carlo Liberati, prelate emeritus of Pompei; and by about thirty priests. The rite was directed by Monsignor Marco Agostini, pontifical cerimoniere.

• March 25
  The cikev.cz, the Catholic Church in the Czech Republic, website provided by Czech Bishop Conference, informed that today shortly after 1 p.m., the body of Cardinal Miloslav Vlk was buried in the archbishops' sepulchre in the metropolitan cathedral of Sts. Vitus, Wenceslas and Adalbert in Prague, thus concluding a three-day-long farewell to the late archbishop emeritus of Prague.

  Presiding over the Requiem mass was Cardinal Dominik Duka, O.P., archbishop of Prague; Bishop František Radkovský, Emeritus of Plzeň, delivered the homily; and Archbishop Jan Graubner of Olomouc led the funeral ceremony.

  About four thousand people attended the ceremony, among them all the diocesan bishops from the Czech Republic, several auxiliary bishops, the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza and representatives of religious orders and church movements.

  Members of the Bishops' Conferences of neighboring countries were present; and members of the "Work of Mary" - Focolare Movement - were represented by Archbishop Stanislav Zvolenský of Bratislava. Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij of Bangkok, Thailand; Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop emeritus of Cologne, Germany; Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, archbishop emeritus of Kraków, Poland; Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., archbishop of Vienna, Austria; Cardinal Josip Bozanić, archbishop of Zagreb, Croatia; and Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg, concelebrated the Mass. Among the guests were the president of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in the Czech Republic Daniel Fajfr; Czech ministers Pavel Bělobrádek, Daniel Herman, Marian Jurečka and Karla Šlechtová; representatives of the Army of the Czech Republic - chief of the general staff Josef Bečvář - and main chaplain Father Jaroslav Knichal; and the rector emeritus of the Charles University of Prague, Ivan Wilhelm.

  "I bid farewell to everyone and look forward to meet you again," wrote Cardinal Vlk in his last will.

  Article in Czech with Photogallery.

• March 24
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the text of the telegam of condolence that Pope Francis sent Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America, for the death of Cardinal William Henry Keeler, of the title of S. Maria degli Angeli, archbishop emeritus of that city.

• March 24
  Fom March 24 until June 25, 2017, the Museum Pio Cristiano of the Vatican Museums will present the exhibit «Dilectissimo fratri Caesario Symmachus». Tra Arles e Roma: le reliquie di san Cesario, tesoro della Gallia paleocristiana.
  Simmaco, a deacon cardinalis of the Holy Roman Church, was consecrated pope on November 22, 498 and died in Rome on July 19, 514.

• March 24
  The Archdiocese of Baltimore published the funeral arrangements for the late Cardinal William Henry Keeler, archbishop emeritus of that city.

• March 23
  witf.org informed that Cardinal William Henry Keeler, archbishop emeritus of Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America, died this morning at St. Martin's Home for the Aged in Catonsville, Maryland. No cause of death was released. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore issued a statement on the death of Cardinal Keeler. Cardinal Edwin Frederick O'Brien, archbishop emeritus of Baltimore, also issued a statement on the death of the Cardinal.

  After the death of Cardinal Keeler, the number of cardinals is 223. The cardinal electors are 117; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 54 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 106, of which 71 were created by Pope John Paul II; 24 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• March 22
  Program of the funeral of Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, archbishop emeritus of Prague, Czech Republic, published by the Archdiocese of Prague, in Italian, 21. 03. 2017. The requiem and the funeral liturgy will take place in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sv. Vít, Václav and Vojtěch on Saturday March 25, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. The funeral Mass will be presided by Cardinal Dominik Duka, O.P., archbishop of Prague. After the Mass, will take place the oration of the final farewell delivered by Jan Graubner, archbishop of Olomouc. The homily will be pronounced by František Radkovský, bishop emeritus of Plzeň. The Mass will be concelebrated by the bishops of the Bohemian and Moravian dioceses, together with the cardinals and bishops from other countries and the bishops friends of the Movement of the Focolari (Opera di Maria). The funeral will be boradcasted by the Czech National TV.

• March 22
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 67 (47.501), Città del Vaticano, mercoledì 22 marzo 2017, p. 7, informed that Cardinals Jozef De Kesel, archbishop of Mechelen-Brussel, Belgium; and Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio in Syria, will take possession respectively of the title of Santi Giovanni e Paolo and the deaconry of Santa Maria delle Grazie alle Fornaci fuori Porta Cavalleggeri. In the news given by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff it was reported that the possession of the Belgian cardinal will take place on Saturday March 25, 2017 at 5 p.m. in the Church in piazza dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, 13; and the one of the Italian cardinal will take place on that same day at 6:30 p.m. in the Church in piazza di Santa Maria alle Fornaci, 30.

• March 20
  iDNES.cz informed that the funeral for Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, archbishop emeritus of Prague, will be held on Saturday March 25 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sv. Vít, Václav and Vojtěch. His body will be exposed in that cathedral on Thursday and Friday afternoon. The funeral will be presided by Cardinal Dominik Duka, O.P., archbishop of Prague. At the funeral, are expected to attend cardinals and bishops from neighboring countries and also from the Focolare Movement, to which the late cardinal belonged.

  The body of the late cardinal will be exposed in the metropolitan cathedral on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and on Friday, at the convent of Sv. Benedikta of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Hradčanské square, Prague 1, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

  The remains of Cardinal Vlk, will be buried in the funeral chapel of the archbishops in the Metropolitan Cathedral. In the chapel are buried the Prague archbishops of the last century Cardinals František Tomašek (1899-1992) and Karel Kašpar (1870-1941).

• March 18
  iDNES.cz informed that Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, archbishop emeritus of Prague, Czech Republic, died today in that city after battling lung cancer for several years; it metastazised in the bones. The Prague Archbishopric urged the faithful to pray for the salvation of the soul of the deceased cardinal. The serious illness of Cardinal Vlk became evident around the spring of last year. At Christmas, the cardinal's condition deteriorated so much that he had to be hospitalized for a few days. The illness was diagnosed after the New Year. He underwent chemotherapy treatment in one of Prague's hospitals. In late January, Pope Francis spoke by telephone with the Cardinal and assured him that he would pray for his health. Video, Rome Reports, 2017-03-21.

  Upon learning the news of the death of the Cardinal, Pope Francis prayed for the eternal repose of the Cardinal and sent a telegram of condolence to Cardinal Dominik Duka, O.P., archbishop of Prague. The President of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman, and the Prime Minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, expressed their sorrow for the death of Cardinal Vlk. Culture Minister Daniel Herman, who, in the early 90s, his secretary, said that he felt as if his father had left: "He was not only my boss, but also a great spiritual friend. I liked him very much".

  After the death of Cardinal Vlk, the number of cardinals is 224. The cardinal electors are 117; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 54 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 107, of which 72 were created by Pope John Paul II; 24 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• March 16
  Cardinal Attilio Nicora, president emeritus of the Financial Information Authority, president emeritus of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and pontifical legate for the basilicas of San Francesco and of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, turned eighty years old and according to the regulation in the seventh paragraph of the introduction of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, lost the right to participate in the conclave. Video, Rome Reports.

  The number of cardinals is 225. The cardinal electors are now 117; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 54 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 108, of which 75 were created by Pope John Paul II; 24 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 9 by Pope Francis.

• March 14
  Ecclesia Digital informed that Cardinal Ricardo Blázquez Pérez, archbishop of Valladolid, Spain, was re-elected president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference for the triennium 2017-2020. The same source also informed that Cardinal Antonio Cañizares LLovera, archbishop of Valencia, was elected vice-president of the Conference for the same period.

• March 12
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 59 (47.493), Città del Vaticano, domenica 12 marzo 2017, p. 7, informed that the work of the annual course on the foro interno will begin in the afternoon of Tuesday March 14, 2017 in the Roman Palace of the Chancery with the lectio magistralis of Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, penitentiary major, on «Eredità e prospettive del giubileo della misericordia nella missione pastorale della Chiesa», followed by a conference of the regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary on «Penitenzieria apostolica: un dicastero al servizio dei confessori e dei penitenti». The program includes interventions by prelates of the Penitentiary: Archbishop Arthur Roche; Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru; Monsignor Giacomo Incitti; Jesuit Father Ján Ďačok; Salesian Father Paolo Carlotti; and Franciscan Fathers Edoardo Brentari and Maurizio Faggioni. The course will end on Friday March 17, 2017 with a papal audience and, in the evening, at 5 p.m., with a penitential celebration presided by Pope Francis in the Basilica of Saint Peter. For the occasion, eighty priests will be available to hear the confessions of the faithful, placed at the disposition of the Apostolic Penitentiary, most of them being ordinary and extraordinary pentitentaries of the Papal Basilicas of Rome.

• March 11
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Catholic Education, special papal envoy to the ceremony of the coronation of the image of “Our Lady Health of the Sick” (Matki Bożej Uzdrowienia Chorych), in the Cathedral-Shrine of Świdnica, Poland, which will take place on May 13, 2017, in the centennial of the apparitions of the Virgin of Fatima.

• March 8
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Holy Father Francis confirmed as President of the Italian Episcopal Conference Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa, until the nomination of the new President on the occasion of the General Assembly programmed for May 22 to 25, 2017.

• March 5
  Catalog of Cardinal prefects of the S.C. of the Index, from 1572 to 1916, kindly provided by Mr. Tomasz Karlikowski, from Poznań, Poland.

• March 1
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 50 (47.484), Città del Vaticano, giovedì 2 marzo 2017, p. 7, informed that Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of the papal basilica of Saint Peter, vicar general of His Holiness for the State of Vatican City, and president of the Fabric of St. Peter's, celebrated the Mass of Ash Wednesday for the Vatican employees in the Altar of the Cathedra of Saint Peter's Basilica. Concelebrating were, among others, Oscar Rizzato, titular archbishop of Viruno, almoner emeritus of His Holiness; Giorgio Corbellini, titular bishop of Abula, president of the Labor Office of the Apostolic See and president of the Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia; and Vittorio Lanzani, titular bishop of Labico, secretary of the Fabric of St. Peter. During the celebration, the cardinal presided over the rite of the imposition of the ashes, explaining in the homily that they were a visible sign of the invitation to "convert with humility".

• February 27
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 48 (47.482), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 27-28 febbraio 2017, p. 6, informed that in the evening of Saturday February 25, 2017, Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, archbishop of Madrid, Spain, solemnly took possession of the title of Santa Maria in Trastevere. In the Roman church in the square of the same name, the cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Monsignor Marco Gnavi, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration, and read the papal bull. With the cardinal concelebrated, among others, Archbishops José Rodriguez Carballo, O.F.M., secretary of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life; Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses; the bishop of Nancy-Tours, France, Jean-Louis Papin; and the archbishop of Cambrai, François Garnier. The rite was directed by Monsignor Ján Dubina, pontifical cerimoniere. Among the faithful present were the Ambassador of Spain before the Holy See, Eduardo Gutiérrez Sáenz de Buruaga; and Andrea Riccardi and Marco Impagliazzo, respectively founder and president of the Community of Sant’Egidio.

  Likewise, the Vatican newspaper informed that in the morning of Sunday February 26, 2017, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Kutwa, archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, solemnly took possession of the title of Santa Emerenziana a Tor Fiorenza. In the Roman church situated on via Lucrino, the cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Don Carlo Purgatorio, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. After the reading of the bull by the pontifical cerimoniere, Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, who also directed the rite, Cardinal Kutwa concelebrated the Mass together with Bishop Barthélemy Adoukonou, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture; with the clergy of the parish; and with some priests from the country of origin of the cardinal. Present, among others, was the Ambassador of Ivory Coast before the Holy See, Séverin Mathias Ake.

• February 24
  The Archdiocese of Dublin, Ireland, informed that Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin delivered the homily at the funeral for the late Cardinal Desmond Connell, archbishop emeritus of Dublin.

• February 24
  RTÉ.ie, the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland's National Public Service Broadcaster, informed that most of the country's hierarchy joined the Papal Nuncio, Charles John Brown, titular archbishop of Aquileia, and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin concelebrating the Mass for the late Cardinal Desmond Connell, archbishop emeritus of Dublin. The late cardinal's sister-in-law, Peggy Connell, was the chief mourner. The President and Taoiseach were represented by their respective Aides de Camp and Independent Senator Rónán Mullen appeared to be the only member of the Oireachtas present. The cathedral was filled to capacity. After the ceremony, the cardinal’s remains were taken in procession to a crypt in the cathedral vault where he was buried alongside six of his recent predecessors.

• February 24
  The Archdiocese of Dublin informed that as a mark of respect to the late Cardinal Desmond Connell, the Dublin Diocesan Offices, Holy Cross College, Clonliffe, will remain closed today, Friday February 24th.

• February 23
  The Irish Times informed that the reception of the remains of the late Cardinal Desmond Connell, archbishop emeritus of Dublin, took place in Saint Mary's Pro-Cathedral of that city. The remains were received by the two archbishops of the city, Catholic Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Church of Ireland Archbishop Michael Jackson. Bishop Eamonn Walsh, titular bishop of Elmham and auxiliary of Dublin, delivered the homily. Participating in the ceremony were Bishop Ray Field, titular bishop of Ard Mór and auxiliary of Dublin; Bishop John Kirby of Clonfert; Vicar General of Dublin, Monsignor Paul Callan; Father Damian McNeice, who worked as spokesman for Cardinal Connell; and Canon Damian O’Reilly, administrator of the pro-cathedral. Among those who carried the coffin to the altar were Monsignor Dan O’Connor and Monsignor John Wilson, who worked at the archbishop’s house with the late cardinal. The symbols placed on his coffin included a pall, a book of the Gospels, a cross, a stole and a mitre. Chief mourners were the late cardinal’s’s sister-in-law, Peggy; nephews John, Denis and Mark; grandnieces, grandnephews, a wide family circle and his carers.

• February 22
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the telegram of condolence sent by the Pope to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, Ireland, for the death of Cardinal Desmond Connell, archbishop emeritus of Dublin.

• February 21
  Sympathies expressed on passing of Cardinal Desmond Connell by Dan Griffin, The Irish Times, Tue, Feb 21, 2017, 18:52.

• February 21
  The Irish Times informed that Cardinal Desmond Connell, archbishop emeritus of Dublin, Ireland, died in his sleep early this morning in that city. The cardinal had been ill for some time. Video, Rome Reports, 2017-02-21.

  After the death of Cardinal Connell, the number of cardinals is 225. The cardinal electors are 118; 20 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 54 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 107, of which 74 were created by Pope John Paul II; 24 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 9 by Pope Francis.

• February 21
  ucanews.com informed that underground Catholic Bishop John Wang Ruowang of Tianshui, the brother of another bishop, Casimir Wang Milu of Tianshui, who passed away on February 14, 2017 in northwestern China, did not preside over the funeral to avoid endorsing a claim that his dead sibling was a cardinal.

• February 21
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 43 (47.477), Città del Vaticano, mercoledì 22 febbraio 201l, p. 8, informed that Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialog, accompanied by the secretary, Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.I., titular bishop of Luperciana, and by the head of the office for Islam, Monsignor Khaled Akasheh, went to Cairo to participate on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 February, 2017 in a seminar at the University of Al-Azhar on the theme: «The role of al-Azhar al-Sharif and of the Vatican in countering the phenomena of fanaticism, extremism and violence in the name of religion». The cardinal will head the Catholic delegation of which will also be part Bruno Musarò, titular archbishop of Abari, nuncio in Egypt.

• February 20
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 42 (47.476), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 20-21 febbraio 2017, p. 8, informed that in the morning of Sunday February 19, 2017, in the parish of San Leonardo da Porto Maurizio ad Acilia, pontifical cerimoniere Pier Enrico Stefanetti, assisted by Monsignor Ján Dubina, officially read the bull with which Pope Francis elevated that church to cardinalitial presbyteral title. The announcement was made at the beginning of the Mass concelebrated by the two pontifical ceremonieri together with pastor, Franciscan Father Paolo Maiello. In the ceremony the bull assigning the new title to Cardinal Sebastian Koto Khoarai, O.M.I., bishop emeritus of Mohale’s Hoek, was read. For reasons of health the aged cardinal from Lesotho was not able to attend the Ordinary Public Consistory of November 19, 2016, during which the pope had created him a cardinal.

• February 20
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Saturday February 25, 2017, at 8 p.m., Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, archbishop of Madrid, Spain, will take possession of the title of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere.
  Likewise, the Office informed that on Sunday February 26, 2017, at noon, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Kutwa, archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, will take possession of the title of Sant’Emerenziana a Tor Fiorenza, Via Lucrino, 53.

• February 18
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father named Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Governatorate of the State of Vatican City, special papal envoy to the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Ghana and the Holy See and the 60th anniversary of the Independence of that Republic, programmed in Accra on March 3-6, 2017.

• February 18
  Ecclesia Digital, Madrid, Spain, reported that the Holy Father sent Cardinal Ricardo Blázquez Pérez, archbishop of Valladolid, Spain, a letter, dated December 22, 2016, for the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination.

• February 15
  Crux reported that Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, patron of the Sovereign Order of Malta, arrived in Guam today to be the presiding judge in a church trial investigating allegations of sexual abuse leveled against Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron of Agaña.

• February 15
  The Press Office of the Holy See issued the following:

  Briefing of the Vice-director of the Press Office on the 18th reunion of the Council of Cardinals (February 13-15, 2017)

  At noon today, the Vice-director of the Press office, Paloma García Ovejero, had a briefing on the 18th reunion of the Council of Cardinals with Pope Francis.

  The Council of Cardinals met with the Holy Father during three days: Monday 13, Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 February. Present were all the members of the Council.

  Pope Francis was absent during the second part of the session on Monday morning because of the “ad Limina Apostolorum” of the bishops of Costa Rica; and during the morning session of Wednesday February 15 because of the General Audience. He will be present to the session number 105 planned for this evening.

  On Monday and Tuesday the Cardinals concelebrated Holy Mass with the Pope.

  On February 13, after the first consultation, the Cardinals, throught the Press Office of the Holy See, released the follwoing declaration:

  “The Council of Cardinals initiated today its 18th working session.

  At the beginning, Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, coordinator of the group, after having greeted the Holy Father, has thanked him in the name of all the Members for his words in the Christmas discourse to the Roman Curia on December 22, 2016, recognizing and encouraging the Council's work.

  In relation to recent events, the Council of Cardinals expressed its total support to the Pope's work, assuring at the same time their total adhesion and support to his person and his Magisterium."

  The working sessions took place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and were dedicated to further consideration of the different Dicasteries of the Curia: particularly, have continued the discussion about the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (Propaganda Fide); the Congregation for the oriental Churches; and the Pontifical Council for the Interreligious Dialog.

  The Cardinals began to examine the “Diaconate of Justice”, and a considerable time was dedicated to the Tribunals: Apostolic Penitentiary, Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura and Tribunal of the Roman Rota.

  The Council has also studied, during these day, the process for the selection of candidates to the Episcopate.

  Cardinal George Pell spoke about the work of the Secretariat for the Economy, entrusted to him, for the full implementation of the economic reform requested by the Holy Father, with particular attention to the the activities of personnel training and human resources.

  The Prefect of the Secretariat for Communications, Most Reverend Dario Edoardo Viganò, presented the current state of the reform of the communications of the Holy See, after the unification of the Vatican Radio and the Vatican Television Center in the Dicastery entrusted to him. Working sessions were held with the Secretariat of State, the Secretariat for the Economy, the (Apsa) and the Office of Labor to accompany this new phase of the reform. In addition, the plan to reestructure the radio frequency and the new policy for the world of social networks, was presented.

  Finally, the group reflected on the project to start the reform of the Vatican Publishing House.

  The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on April 24, 25 and 26, 2017.

• February 15
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Pope had decided to grant the title of Advocate of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota to Cardinals Oswald Gracias, metropolitan archbishop of Mumbai (ex Bombay), India; Lluis Martínez Sistach, archbishop emeritus of Barcelona, Spain; and Béchara Boutros Raï, O.M.M., patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites.

• February 15
  Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis, archbishop emeritus of Aparecida, Brazil, turned eighty years old and according to the regulation in the seventh paragraph of the introduction of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, lost the right to participate in the conclave.

  The number of cardinals is 226. The cardinal electors are now 118; 20 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 54 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 108, of which 73 were created by Pope John Paul II; 24 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• February 13
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 36 (47.470), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 13-14 febbraio 2017, p. 7, reported that in the evening of Sunday February 12, 2016, Albanese Cardinal Ernest Simoni solemnly took possession of the deaconry of Santa Maria della Scala. The cardinal was welcomed in the Roman church in piazza della Scala by the rector, Carmelite Father Ivan Clifford Pinto, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. After the greeting words of the rector, the vice-provincial of the Carmelites, Father Rocco Visco, and the vice-rector of the deaconry, Father Rodolfo Pinto, presented a gift to the cardinal, who presided over the Eucharistic celebration. The rite was directed by Monsignor Vincenzo Peroni, pontifical cerimoniere.

• February 13
  The Press Office of the Holy See reported that this morning, at the beginning of the 18th reunion of the Council of Cardinals with Pope Francis, Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, coordinator of the group, after having addressed his greetings to the Holy Father, thanked him on behalf of all the members for his words in the Christmas address to the Roman Curia last December 22, 2016, recognizing and encouraging the Council's work. In relation to recent events, the Cardinals expressed their full support to the work of the Pope, while ensuring complete adhesion and support to his person and his Magisterium.

• February 13
  The Press Office of the Holy See reported that this morning took place the 18th reunion of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father. The work of the "Council of Nine" will continue until Wednesday February 15, 2017.

• February 12
  Catalog of Cardinal Grand Penitentiaries taken from the website of the Apostolic Penitentiary.

• February 9
  A note in the website of the Archdiocese of Lima, Perú, informed that the pope confirmed Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, archbishop of that see, as member for a quienquennium of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. The note indicates that the reappointment took place on December 20, 2016 and that the cardinal was informed during his last visit to the Vatican.

• February 7
  In a letter addressed to the clergy of the Archdiocese of Santiago, Chile, dated January 19, 2017, Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B., archbishop of that see, informed that the pope had asked him to continue indefintely in that post after having turned seventy five years old on January 7 of that month.

• February 6
  ucanews.com informed that Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, India, was elected president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CCBI) for a two year term, by unanimous decision of the more than 130 bishops attending the 29th plenary of the Latin rite bishops in Bhopal.

• February 6
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Saturday February 11, 2017, at 6 p.m., Cardinal Ernest Simoni will take possession of the deaconry of Santa Maria della Scala, Piazza della Scala, 23.

• February 6
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 30 (47.464), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 6-7 febbraio 2017, p. 7, informed that in the morning of Sunday February 5, 2017 Cardinal John Ribat, M.S.C., archbishop of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, solemnly took possession of the title of San Giovanni Battista de’Rossi. In front of the Roman church in in via Cesare Baronio, the cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Monsignor Mario Pecchielan, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. The rite was preceded by a procession inspired by the traditional rhythms of the peoples of Oceania, animated by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, confreres of Cardinal Ribat, and by his co-nationals who reside in Rome. Inside the parish church the cardinal presided over the Eucharist. Concelebrating were the bishop of Bereina, Rochus Josef Tatamai, and some twenty priests, among them the parish pastor. The rite was directed by Monsignor Massimiliano Matteo Boiardi, pontifical cerimoniere.

• February 6
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 30 (47.464), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 6-7 febbraio 2017, p. 6, informed that on the evening of February 4, 2017, during his visit to the Republic of Congo, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of State, visited the metropolitan cathedral of Brazzaville, where he was welcomed by the archbishop, Anatole Milandou, by all the bishops of the Republic of Congo; priests, religious and a multitud of faithfuls. He imparted the Eucharistic benediction and had a moment of prayer before the tomb of Cardinal Emile Biayenda. Then, he went to the old episcopal palace and visited the rooms where Servant of God Cardinal Biayenda lived. The prime minister of the Republlic of Congo, Clemente Mouamba, asked the cardinal to accelerate the process of beatification.

• February 3
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII n. 28 (47.462), Città del Vaticano, sabato 4 febbraio 2017, p. 7, informed that Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, archpriest of the Papal Basilica Liberiana, presided over the concelebration a mass in the evening of Thursday February 2, 2017 on the occasion of the inauguration of his pastoral ministry as archpriest of that basilica. Concelebrating were Cardinal Santos Abril y Castelló, archpriest emeritus; Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, archbishop emeritus of Kraków, Poland; and other prelates and priest related to Cardinal Ryłko because of friendship and ministry, such as Józef Kowalczyk, archbishop emeritus of Gniezno and former primate of Poland; and Bishops Josef Clemens, secretary emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Laity; and Claudio Giuliodori, emeritus of Macerata-Tolentino-Recanati-Cingoli-Treia. Among others, participated in the rite the ambassador of Poland before the Holy See and the representatives of several ecclesial movements and new communities.

• February 1
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Sunday February 5, 2017, at 10 a.m., Cardinal John Ribat, M.S.C., archbishop of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, will take possession of the title of San Giovanni Battista de’ Rossi, Via Cesare Baronio, 127.

• February 1
  Cardinal Audrys Juozas Bačkis, archbishop emeritus of Vilnius, Lithuania, turned eighty years old and according to the regulation in the seventh paragraph of the introduction of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, lost the right to participate in the conclave. Video, Rome Reports.

  The number of cardinals is 226. The cardinal electors are now 119; 20 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 55 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 107, of which 73 were created by Pope John Paul II; 23 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

January

• January 30
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVII, n. 24 (47.458), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 30-31 gennaio 2017, informed the following:
  On Sunday morning, January 29, 2017, the American Redemptorist Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, archbishop of Newark, New jersey, solemnly took possession of the title of Santa Maria delle Grazie a via Trionfale. In the Roman church the cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Don Antonio Raimondo Fois, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Concelebrating the Mass were Cardinal João Braz de Aviz and Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo, O.F.M., respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life. Also concelebrating were Antonio De Luca, bishop of Teggiano-Policastro, Italy; and José Luiz Ferreira Salles, bishop of Pesqueira, Brazil, both Redemptorists. Also concelebrating were forty-three priests, among them, Monsignor Stefano Sanchirico; the superior general of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, Father Michael Brehl; and the parochial vicar, Don Carol Iakel. Monsignor Pier Enrico Stefanetti, pontifical cerimoniere, assisted by Monsignor Ján Dubina, directed the rite and read the papal bull.
  In the morning of Sunday January 29, 2017, American Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, solemnly took possession of the deaconry of San Giuliano Martire. In the Roman church in via Cassia, the cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Don Massimo De Propris. Concelebrating were Bishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, secretary general of the Governatorate of the State of Vatican City; and Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, brother of the cardinal. The rite was directed by Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, pontifical cerimoniere, who read the papal bull.

• January 28
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father Francis confirmed Cardinal Blase Joseph Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, as member of the Congregation for Bishops; Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., archbishop of Bangui, Central African Republic, as member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, C.SS.R., archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, United States of America, as member of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life; and Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, archbishop of Tlalnepantla, México, as member of the Pontifical Council for the Interreligious Dialog.

• January 24
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed the following:

  On Sunday January 29, 2017, at 10:15 a.m., Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, C.SS.R., archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, United States of America, will take possession of the title of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Trionfale, Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, 5.

  On Sunday January 29, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, will take possession of the deaconry of San Giuliano Martire, Via Cassia, 1036.

• January 23
  Catalog of Cardinal prefects of the S.C. for Catholic Education from 1588 to 1908, kindly provided by Mr. Tomasz Karlikowski, from Poznań, Poland.

• January 20
  The newspaper Avvenire published an article written by Angelo Scelzo, former vice-director of the Holy See Press Office, in which he informed that Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, bishop of the title of the suburbicarian see of Porto-Santa Rufina and vice-dean of the College of Cardinals, was leaving Rome and going to live in Cambo-Les Bains, in the diocese of Bayonne, a few kilometers from his native Espelette, in a retirement home, with his sister Maïté.

• January 19
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father named Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of State, pontifical legate to the celebration of the 25th World Day of the Sick programmed for Lourdes, France, on February 11, 2017.

• January 17
  L'Osservatore Romano informed that this morning at 10 a.m., at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Vatican Basilica, took place the cappella papale for the exequies of Cardinal Gilberto Agustoni, of the title of Santi Urbano e Lorenzo a Prima Porta, prefect emeritus of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature.

  The exequial liturgy was presided by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, who also delivered the homily. Concelebrating were eighteen cardinals, among them, Pietro Parolin, secretary of State; as well as five bishops. At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the Holy Father Francis presided over the rite of the Ultima Commendatio and the Valedictio. The chants were sung by the Sistine Chapel choir.

  In attendance were, among others, Archbishops Angelo Giovanni Becciù, substitute of the Secretariat of State; and Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for the relations with the States; together with the members of the diplomatic corp. Also present were Archbishop Georg Gänswein, prefect of the Papal Household; some nieces and nephews of the late cardinal; and the Sisters Daughters of Santa Maria di Leuca, who assisted Cardinal Augustoni for many years. The late cardinal was buried in the Chapel of the Sisterse in the Roman Cemetery of Prima Porta (Cimitero Flaminio).

• January 14
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Tuesday January 17, 2017, at 10 a.m., at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Vatican Basilica, will take place a cappella papale for the exequies of Cardinal Gilberto Agustoni, of the title of Santi Urbano e Lorenzo a Prima Porta.

  The exequial liturgy will be celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, together with other cardinals, archbishops and bishops. At he end of the Eucharistic Celebration, the Holy Father Francis will preside over the rite of the Ultima Commendatio and the Valedictio.

  Upon learning the news of the death of Cardinal Agustoni, the pope sent his niece a telegram of condolence.

• January 14
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M.Cap., archbishop of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, and president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

  The Press of Office also informed that the pope appointed Cardinals Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, archbishop of Mérida, Venezuela; Sérgio da Rocha, archbishop of Brasília, Brazil; and Carlos Aguiar Retes, archbishop of Tlalnepantla, México, as members of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

• January 13
  RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera reported that Cardinal Gilberto Agustoni, prefect emeritus of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, died today in the late afternoon. The cardinal died in Rome.

  After the death of Cardinal Agustoni, the number of cardinals is 226. The cardinal electors are 120; 21 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 55 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 44 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 106, of which 72 were created by Pope John Paul II; 23 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• January 12
  Catalog of Cardinal prefects of the S.C. of Rites and Ceremonies from 1588 to 1908, kindly provided by Mr. Tomasz Karlikowski, from Poznań, Poland.

• January 9
  New bibliographic items added to the site during the months of October to December 2016.

• January 5
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the pope named Cardinal Francesco Monterisi, archpriest emeritus of the Papal Basilica of San Paolo fuori lemura, special papal envoy to the celebration of the bicentennial of the diocese of Caltagirone, Italy, programmed for January 11, 2017.

• January 2
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the pope named Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon, France, special papal envoy to the Fourth World Apostolic Congress of Mercy (WACOM IV), that will take place in Manila, Philippines, on January 16-20, 2017.

• January 2
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the pope had accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the Military Ordinariate of the Dominican Republic presented by Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, archbishop emeritus of Santo Domingo. The pope named Francisco Ozoria Acosta, metropolitan archbishop of Santo Domingo, to succeed him.

• January 1
  The motu proprio Humanam progressionem instituting the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, became effective "ad experimentum" today. Therefore, the Pontifical Council Iustitia et Pax, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, and the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers merged into the new dicastery. Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, currently president of the Pontifical Council Iustitia et Pax, became the prefect of the new dicastery as of today.

• Cardinal deacons Leonardo Sandri, deacon of Ss. Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari; Giovanni Lajolo, deacon of S. Maria Liberatrice a Monte Testaccio; Paul Josef Cordes, deacon of S. Lorenzo in Piscibus; Angelo Comastri, deacon of S. Salvatore in Lauro; Stanisław Ryłko, deacon of S. Cuore di Cristo Re; and Raffaele Farina, S.D.B., deacon of S. Giovanni della Pigna, who were promoted to the cardinalate in the consistory of November 24, 2007, after having been in that order for ten years, will be able to opt for the order of cardinal priests in 2017.

• As of January 1, 2017, the members of the College of Cardinals are 227; 120 are electors and 107 are non-electors, having lost their right to participate in the conclave when they turned 80 years old, according to the regulation in the seventh paragraph of the introduction of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis. During this year, four cardinals will turn 80. They are: Audrys Juozas Bačkis (2001), February 1, 1937; Raymundo Damasceno Assis (2010), February 15, 1937; Attilio Nicora (2003), March 16, 1937; and Lluís Martínez Sistach (2007), April 29, 1937.

• From January 1 to December 31, 2016, the cardinals' site received approximately 109,150 visits as well as innumerable electronic messages with comments, corrections, and additional information, both textual and pictorial. The counter records only the initial visit to the site and not the ones to other sections on the same occasion. On January 1, 2016, the number of visitors to the site since January 1, 2002, was 2,095,513. The site contains the biographical entries of the 4,413 pre-cardinals, cardinals, quasi-cardinals and pseudocardinals identified between 494 and 2016.

©1998-2018 Salvador Miranda.