• December 27
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 293 (48.026), Città del Vaticano, giovedì-venerdì 27-28 dicembre 2018, p. 7, informed that in the morning of Sunday December 23, 2018, Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana, archbishop of Toamasina, took possession of the title of San Gregorio Barbarigo alle Tre Fontane. Upon his arrival at the Roman parish in via delle Montagne rocciose, the cardinal from Madagascar was welcomed by the pastor don Luca Maffione, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. The cardinal presided over the Mass which was concelebrated, among others, by priests who collaborate in the parish. The rite was directed by Monsignor Massimiliano Boiardi, pontifical cerimoniere, who read the pontifical bull. Among those present were many members of the Malagasy community who reside in Rome.

• December 22
  New bibliographic items added to the site during the months of July to September 2018.

• December 18
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Sunday December 23, 2018, at 11 a.m., Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana, archbishop of Toamasina, Madagascar, will take possession of the title of San Gregorio Barbarigo alle Tre Fontane, Via delle Montagne Rocciose, 14, Rome.

• December 17
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 287 (48.020) Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 17-18 dicembre 2018, p. 7, informed that in the morning of Sunday December 16, 2018, Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, archbishop of Osaka, took possession of the title of Santa Pudenziana. At his arrival at the Roman basilica in via Urbana, the Japanese cardinal was welcomed by the rector, Monsignor Gianfranco Basti, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration, and who read the pontifical bull. The cardinal presided over the Mass, concelebrated, among others, by Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi, archbishop of Tōkyō; by Joseph Mitsuaki Takami, archbishop of Nagasaki; and by Josep Maria Abella Batlle, auxiliary bishop of Osaka. The rite was directed by Monsignor Diego Giovanni Ravelli, pontifical cerimoniere. Among the faithful present was the ambassador of Japan before the Holy See, Yoshio Matthew Nakamura.

• December 12
  Briefing of the Director of the Press Office, Greg Burke, about the 37th reunion of the Cardinal Counselors with Holy Father Francis, December 12, 2018.

  At 1 p.m. today, the Director of the Press Office, had a briefing on the 37th reunion of the Cardinal Counselors with the Holy Father.

  The Council has met for three days: Monday 10, Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12, December 2018. Present were Cardinals Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, S.D.B.; Reinhard Marx; Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap.; Giuseppe Bertello; and Oswald Gracias. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin was not present because he was representing the Holy See at the Intergovernmental Conference for the formal adoption on the part of the member States of the Organization of the United Nations of the Global Compact for migration, that has taken place in Marrakech (Morocco) from December 10 to 11, 2018, The Holy Father, as customary, has participated in the works, although he has been absent this morning for the General Audience.
  Following the request expressed by the Cardinals, at the end of the 26th reunion of the Council of Cardinals (September 10-12, 2018), regarding a reflection on the work, structure and composition of the Council itself, also taking into account the advanced age of some members, the Holy Father, wrote Cardinals George Pell; Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, of the Institute of the Fathers of Schönstatt; and Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, thanking them for the work they have done in these five years. Given the phase of the Council's work, the appointment of new members at the moment is not foreseen.
  The work sessions took place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Cardinal Counselors have addressed various topics, among them the containment of the costs of the Holy See; the meeting with the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church on the theme of "protection of minors", which will take place in the Vatican from February 21 to 24, 2019; and the Apostolic Constitution of the Roman Curia. Furthermore, the Cardinals have looked into issues related to the Dicastery for Communications.
  Monsignor Marco Mellino, named last October Adjunct Secretary of the Council of Cardinals to assist the Holy Father in the government of the Universal Church and to study the project of the revision of the Constitution Pastor Bonus on the Roman Curia, was presented to the Cardinals by the Pope. A new proposal of the Apostolic Constitution, which provisional title is Predicate evangelium, was given to the Holy Father.
  Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Coordinator of the Council for the Economy, addressed the matter relative to the reduction of the operating costs of the Holy See. The highest cost is undoubtedly represented by the cost related to personnel. It was reiterated that there is no project or intention to proceed with the dismissal of any redundancies, but it would be necessary to carry out job descriptions to make the work of each Dicastery more effective, also assessing the possibility of relocations through mobility, and where possible, pre-retirement. The sense of responsibility requires a long-term plan to reduce costs, and Cardinal Marx has proposed the development of multi-year budgets so that the Council for the Economy can formulate projections at 5 and 10 years to give a clearer idea about the situation and how to deal with it.
  The cardinals dwelt on the next meeting with the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences on the protection of minors scheduled for February, strongly reiterating their importance.
  The Council of Cardinals listened to Dr. Paolo Ruffini, who after having illustrated the progress of the reforma that created the Dicastery for Communications, focused on the next steps to be carried out to bring it to completion according to the Motu Proprio of June 27, 2015, bringing together all the institutions involved and ensuring a coordinated management and an increasingly effective collaboration of resources also thanks to new technological tools. The Prefect stressed the value of different media (radio, TV, web, social) in the current multimedia context and the importance of an integrated synergy between them. So Dr. Ruffini illustrated the criteria to ensure a unified strategy of communication of the Holy See, emphasizing the unique value of the multilingual offer of the Vatican media.
  Finally, Professor Vincenzo Bonomo, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University and counselor of the State of Vatican City, informed the Cardinals on the new Law on the Government of the State of Vatican City.
  The next meeting to the Council of Cardinals will take place on February 18, 19 and 20, 2019.

• December 11
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that on Sunday December 16, 2018 at 10:30 a.m., Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, archbishop of Osaka, Japan, will take possession of the title of Santa Pudenziana, Via Urbana, 160, Rome.

• December 11
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., archbishop of Dhaka, Bangladesh, special papal envoy to the celebration of the 27th World Day of the Sick, programmed for Calcutta, India, on February 9 to 11, 2019.

• December 10
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that this morning, in the presence of Holy Father Francis, started the 27th reunion of the Council of Cardinals. The works will continue until Wednesday December 12, 2018.

• December 6
  New bibliographic items added to the site during the months of April to June 2018.

• November 29
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, special papal envoy to the Eucharistic Celebration which he will preside on December 8, 2018, in the Shrine of Notre-Dame de Santa Cruz in Oran, Algeria, on the occassion of the beatification of the martyrs Pierre Claverie, O.P., bishop of Oran, and eighteen companions (religious men and religious women).

• November 26
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 270 (48.003), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 26-27 novembre 2018, p. 8, informed that in the morning of Sunday November 25, 2018, Cardinal Maurice Piat, C.S.Sp., bishop of Port-Louis, took possession of the title of Santa Teresa al Corso d’Italia. Upon arriving at the Roman church, the Mauritian cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Father Roberto Pietro Marini, O.C.D., who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Monsignor Vincenzo Peroni, the pontifical cerimoniere directed the rite and read the bull. The cardinal presided over the Mass, which was concelebrated, among others, by Bishops Gilbert Aubry, of Saint-Denis-de-La Réunion; Alain Harel, titular bishop of Forconio, vicar apostolic of Rodrigues, Mauritius; and Charles Mahuza Yava, titular bishop of Apisa Maius, vicar apostolic of Archipelago of the Comores.
  In addition, the Vatican newspaper informed that in the evening of Sunday November 25, 2018, Cardinal António Augusto dos Santos Marto, bishop of Leiria-Fátima, took possession of the title of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Upon arriving at the Roman church in via del Beato Angelico, the Portuguese cardinal was welcomed by the Rector Gianmatteo Serra, O.P., who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Monsignor Massimiliano Matteo Boiardi, pontifical cerimoniere, directed the rite and read the bull before the beginning of the Mass presided by the cardinal. Among the numerous concelebrants were two Portuguese prelates and the rector of the Shrine of Fátima.

• November 23
  In a Communique the Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father Francis has designated as members of the organizing committee for the meeting on the protection of minors in the Church, to be held in the Vatican from February 21 to 24, 2019: Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, India, and President of the Bishops’ Conference of India; Charles Scicluna, archbishop of Malta and Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; and Father Hans Zollner, S.J., president of the Center for the Protection of Minors at the Pontifical Gregorian University and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, whom he has named contact person for the committee.
  Taking part in the meeting, at which His Holiness will be present, will be the Heads of the Oriental Catholic Churches; the Superiors of the Secretariat of State; the Prefects of the Congregations for the Doctrine of the Faith, for the Oriental Churches, for Bishops, for the Evangelization of Peoples, for the Clergy, for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, and of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life; the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences; and representatives of the Union of Superiors General and of the International Union of Superiors General.
  Involved in the preparatory work for the meeting will be, among others, Dr. Gabriella Gambino, Undersecretary for the Section for Life, and Dr. Linda Ghisoni, undersecretary for the Section for the Lay Faithful, of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life; the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and some victims of abuse by members of the clergy.

• November 20
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Sunday November 25, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., Cardinal Maurice Piat, C.S.Sp., bishop of Port-Louis, Mauritius, will take possession of the title of Santa Teresa al Corso d’Italia, Corso d’Italia, 37.
  Besides, the Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Sunday November 25, 2018, at 6 p.m., Cardinal António Augusto dos Santos Marto, bishop of Leiria-Fátima, Porugal, will take possession of the title of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Via del Beato Angelico, 35.

• November 17
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Hà Nôi, Viêt Nam, presented by Cardinal Pierre Nguyễn Van Nhơn. To succeed him the Pope named Joseph Vu Văn Thiên, until then bishop of Hai Phòng.
  In addition, the Pope named Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez, auxiliary bishop of San Salvador, special papal envoy to the closing of the 525th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated in America, to be held in Isabela, Dominican Republic, on January 5, 2019.

• November 15
  Salvatore Cernuzzio, from Vatican Insider, reported that Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, of the Institute of the Fathers of Schönstatt, presented his resignation from the Council of Cardinals. The Cardinal told Radio Cooperativa that he has officially left the Council of Cardinals and noted that it was not a resignation but the end of his term. He said he traveled to Rome to bid farewell to Pope Francis and to thank him. Cardinal Errázuriz was summoned yesterday by the Rancagua Prosecutor, Sergio Moya, to answer for concealment in the case of pedophile Father Jorge Laplagne, priest of Rancagua accused of pedophilia in 2005.

• November 8
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Pietro Parolin pontifical legate to the celebrations of the 130th anniversary of the Church in Mali, which will take place in the Marian Shrine of Kita on November 17 and 18, 2018.

• November 6
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Cotabato, Philippines, presented by Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I. To succeed him, the pope named Angelito R. Lampon, O.M.I., until then titular bishop of Valliposita and apostolic vicar of Jolo.

• 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 eight cardinals, a patriarch and 154 archbishops and bishops from nearly 40 countries, who died during the course of the year. The pope also delivered the homily.
  The cardinals were Bernard Panafieu (2003), archbishop emeritus of Marseille, France, November 12, 2017; Andrea Cordero di Montezemolo (2006), archpriest emeritus of the papal basilica of S. Paolo fuori le mura, Rome, November 19, 2017; Bernard Francis Law (1985), archbishop emeritus of Boston, United States of America, and archpriest emeritus of the Papal Liberian Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, December 20, 2017; Karl Lehmann (2001), bishop emeritus of Mainz, Germany, March 11, 2018; Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien (2003), archbishop emeritus of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, March 19, 2018; Darío Castrillón Hoyos (1998), prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy and president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, May 8, 2018; Miguel Obando Bravo, S.D.B. (1985), archbishop emeritus of Managua, Nicaragua, June 3, 2018; and Jean-Louis Tauran (2003), camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church and president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialog, July 5, 2018.
  Video, vaticannews.va, 03 November 2018, 14:18.

• November 1
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo presented by Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya. He was succeeded by Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M.Cap., coadjutor archbishop.

• October 27
  The Vatican Press Office informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, archbishop of Osaka, Japan, special papal envoy to the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the erection of the archdiocese of Manila, Philippines, programmed for December 8, 2018 in the metropolitan cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

• October 26
  The Synod Fathers elected the following members of the 15th Ordinary Council, during the 20th General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops:
  Africa:
  Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., archbishop of Bangui, Central African Republic.
  America:
  Cardinal Gerald Lacroix, I.S.P.X, archbishop of Québec, Canada;
  Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, United States of America;
  Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha, archbishop of Brasília, Brazil.
  Asia:
  Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, archbishop of Manila, Philippines;
  Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, India;
  Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar.

  Europe:
  Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., archbishop of Vienna, Austria;
  Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella, archbishop of Barcelona, Spain.

• October 25
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 244 (47.977), Città del Vaticano, venerdì 26 ottobre 2018, p. 6, informed that in the evening of Wednesday October 24, 2018, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, almoner of His Holiness, took possession of the deaconry of Santa Maria Immacolata all’Esquilino. The Polish cardinal was welcomed by the rector, Don Domenico Repice, who brought holy water for the aspersion of the faithful and successively, after the kissing and veneration of the Crucifix, read from the presbytery the pontifical bull. Cardinal Krajewski presided the concelebrated Mass with Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses; Bishop Daniele Libanori, auxiliary of Roma; Monsignor Hans-Peter Fischer, rector of the Pontifical Teutonic Collegio; and with numerous other presbyters, among them the priests of the community of Santa Maria Immacolata. The rite was directed by Monsignor Krysztof Marcjanowicz, pontifical ceremoniere. Among the faithful in attendance were several poor and homeless assisted by the Almonry. During the Mass, the cardinal received the gifts of the community and the rector: a chasuble and an icon of the «Santo Mandylion».

• October 23
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal John Njue, archbishop of Nairobi, Kenya, special papal envoy to the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the evangelization of Tanzania, in program in Dar-es-Salaam on November 2 to 4, 2018.

• October 23
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that on Saturday November 3, 2018, at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Papal Vatican Basilica, Pope Francis will celebrate a Holy Mass in suffrage of the Cardinals and Bishops who have died during the course of the year.

• October 22
  Twenty years ago, on October 22, 1998, the web site The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church was published in the Internet. The possibility of sharing my research and life-time passionate interest in the cardinalate with so many people around the world, offering unlimited, free and easy access day and night, has been a source of profound satisfaction.

• October 19
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Wednesday October 24, 2018, at 6:30 p.m., Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of His Holiness, will take possession of the Deaconry of Santa Maria Immacolata all’Esquilino, Via Emanuele Filiberto, 129, Rome.

• October 15
  L'Osservatore Roman, Anno CLVIII n. 235 (47.968), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 15-16 ottobre 2018, p. 6, informed that in the evening of Saturday October 13, 2018, Cardinal Toribio Ticona Porco, bishop prelate emeritus of Corocoro, took possession of the title of Santi Gioacchino e Anna al Tuscolano. The Bolivian cardinal was welcomed by the pastor Don Alberto Contini, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration and successively read the pontifical bull. Cardinal Ticona Porco presided the concelebration of the mass with Bishops Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán, president of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference; Jorge Ángel Saldías Pedraza, auxiliary of La Paz; and Stanisław Dowlaszewicz Bilman, auxiliary of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The rite was directed by Monsignor Diego Giovanni Ravelli, pontifical cerimoniere. Among the faithful present was Julio César Caballero Moreno, Bolivian ambassador before the Holy See.

• October 14
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed at 10:15 a.m., 28th Sunday of the Ordinary Time, October 14, 2018, in the Papal Vatican Basilica, Holy Father Francis celebrated Mass and presided over the Rite of the Canonization of Blessed Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini (1897-1978)), Supreme Pontiff), and six other Blesseds. The Pope also delivered the homily. An estimated 70,000 faithful filled Saint Peter's Square.

• October 12
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Holy Father Francis has accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., United States of America, presented by Cardinal Donald William Wuerl. The pope named him apostolic administrator of the see until his successor is appointed.

• October 8
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 229 (47.962), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 8-9 ottobre 2018, p. 8, informed that in the evening of Sunday October 7, 2018, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, vicar general of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, took possession of the Title of San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio. In the Church in Piazza Venezia the Cardinal was welcomed by the Pastor Monsignor Renzo Giuliano, who presented him the Crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Then the Cardinal presided over the Eucharistic celebration of the liturgical memory of San Marco I, Pope. With Cardinal De Donatis concelebrated Bishops Luca Brandolini, his vicar as Archpriest of the Papal Lateran Basilica; and Daniele Libanori, S.J., auxiliary delegate for the permanent diaconate; and some thirty Roman priests. The rite was directed by Monsignor Vincenzo Peroni, pontifical cerimoniere. The pontifical bull was read by Monsignor Francesco Camaldo, chaplain of the Lateran Basilica. In the Church where he was the pastor from 2003 to 2015, the Cardinal Vicar prayed before the painting by Melozzo da Forlì which represent Pontiff Marco blessing.

• October 8
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Saturday October 13, 2018, at 6:30 p.m., Cardinal Toribio Ticona Porco, Bishop Prelate emeritus of Corocoro, Bolivia, will take possession of the Title of Santi Gioacchino ed Anna al Tuscolano, Viale Bruno Rizzieri, 120, Rome.

• October 7
  Open letter by Card. Marc Ouellet on recent accusations against the Holy See, vaticannews.va, 07 October 2018, 13:41.

• October 6
  The Press Office of the Holy See published a Communiqué concerning the accusations regarding the conduct of Archbishop Theodore Edgar McCarrick, 06.10.2018.

• October 6
  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, created in the Consistory of 28 June 2018:
  1) in the Congregation for the Oriental Churches Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans (Iraq);
  2) in the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Cardinals Giovanni Angelo Becciu, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints; and Désiré Tsarahazana, Archbishop of Toamasina (Madagascar);
  3) in the Congregation for the Clergy Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome;
  4) in the Congregation for Catholic Education Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, Archbishop of L'Aquila (Italy);
  5) in the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life Cardinals Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; and António Augusto dos Santos Marto, Bishop of Leiria-Fátima (Portugal);
  6) in the Dicastery for the Integral Human Development Cardinals Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of His Holiness; and Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno, S.J., Archbishop of Huancayo (Perù);
  7) in the Dicastery for Communication Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, Archbishop of Osaka (Japan);
  8) in the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialog Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Archbishop of Karachi (Pakistan).
  Furthermore, the Pope named Members of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and the Consecrated Life Cardinals Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, I.S.P.X, Archbishop of Québec (Canada); Mario Aurelio Poli, Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Ordinary for the faithful of Oriental Rite residing in Argentina and without Ordinary of their rite (Argentina); and João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life.

• October 6
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n.227 (47.960), Città del Vaticano, sabato 6 ottobre 2018, p. 8, informed that three months after the death of Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialog and Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, he has been remembered by the Apostolic Chamber with a Mass celebrated on October 4, 2018 in the Papal Vatican Basilica. The rite was presided by Archbishop Vice-Camerlengo Giampiero Gloder, president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, who recalled the most salient aspects of the life of the late Cardinal.

• October 2
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Sunday October 7, 2018, at 7 p.m., Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, will take possession of the Title of San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio, Piazza San Marco, 48, Rome.

• October 2
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on October 14, 2018, 28th Sunday of the Ordinary Time, at 10:15 a.m., in the steps of the Vatican Basilica, Holy Father Francis will celebrate Holy Mass and preside over the rite of Canonization of Pope Paul VI and six other Blesseds.

• October 1
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII, n. 223 (47.956), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 1-2 ottobre 2018, p. 6, informed that in the evening of Saturday September 29, 2018, Cardinal Joseph Coutts, archbishop of Karachi, took possession of the title of San Bonaventura da Bagnoregio. When the Pakistani cardinal arrived at the Roman church in via Marco Calido, in the popular peripheric neighborhood of Torre Spaccata, he was welcomed by the pastor, Don Stefano Cascio, who presented him the Crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Monsignor Marco Agostini, pontifical ceremoniere, who directed the rite, also read the papal bull. At the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration the pastor announced that soon he will go to Pakistan «to open a mission» in the name of the Roman parish as a way to strengthen the link «with our new sister church. To have a titular cardinal — has reminded Don Cascio — is not only an honor but above all as the possibility of opening the heart and build bridges». On his part, the Cardinal in his homily recounted the experience of the Catholics in Pakistan and also retraced the history of the new parochial community, appreciating above all the popular effort to have a place to worship. After the Mass, the cardinal inaugurated the new baptistry and guided the procession in the streets of Torre Spaccata, thus participating in the culminating moment of the patronal feast of the parish.
  The newspaper also informed that in the morning of Sunday September 30, 2018, Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., prefect of the Congergation for the Doctrine of the Faith, took possession of the deaconry of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola in Campo Marzio. When he arrived in the Roman church in via del Caravita, the Spanish cardinal was welcomed by the rector, Father Vitale Savio, who presented him the Crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Monsignor Vincenzo Peroni, pontifical cerimoniere, who directed the rite, read the papal bull. With Cardinal Ladaria Ferrer concelebrated, among others, Archbishops Giacomo Morandi and Joseph Augustine Di Noia, respectively secretary and adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Monsignor Daniele Libanori, auxiliary bishop of Rome. With them also concelebrated numerous Jesuits, representing the Pontifical Gregorian University, and all those who collaborate with the cardinal in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Present was, among others, the Ambassador of Spain Before the Holy See. At the end of the celebration, the cardinal went in front of the altar where are the remains of Saint Luigi Gonzaga for the prayer that is recited in the Roman church on the occasion of the Jubilar Aloisian Year, proclaimed for the 450th anniversary of the birth of the saint.

• September 28
  The Archdiocese of Washington issued a statement on Archbishop Theodore McCarrick’s Residence. On July 28, 2018, the Pope accepted Archbishop McCarrick's resignation from the cardinalate.

• September 27
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Saturday September 29, 2018, at 6 p.m., Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan, will take possession of the Title of San Bonaventura da Bagnoregio, Via Marco Calidio, 22, Rome.
  Moreover, the Office of Liturgical Celebrations also reported that on Sunday September 30, 2018, at 11:30 a.m., Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will take possession of the Deaconry of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio, Via del Caravita 8/A, Rome.

• September 22
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named member of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, archbishop of L'Aquila, Italy.

• September 15
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the list of participants in the 15th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Forty five cardinals will participate in the Synod.

• September 12
  Communiqué of the Council of Cardinals, September 12, 2018
  The Holy Father Francis, after hearing the Council of Cardinals, has decided to convene a meeting with the presidents of the Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church on the theme of the “protection of minors”.
  The meeting with the Pope will be held in the Vatican from February 21 to 24, 2019.
  During the 26th meeting, which took place from the 10th to the 12th of this month, the Council reflected extensively together with the Holy Father on the theme of abuse, issuing the Communiqué published by the Holy See Press Office on September 10.
  As it proceeds in the work of the reform of the Roman Curia, the Council has concluded its rereading of the texts already prepared; the pastoral care of the staff who work there has also been a cause of attention.
  Vatican City, 12 September 2018.

• September 12
  Briefing of the Vice Director of the Holy See Press Office, Paloma García Ovejero, on the 26th meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father Francis, September 12, 2018.
  At 1:00 p.m. today, the Vice Director of the Holy See Press Office, Paloma García Ovejero, gave a briefing on the 26th meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father Francis. The Council of Cardinals met, as scheduled, for three days: Monday 10, Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 September. All members were present, apart from Cardinals George Pell; Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, of the Institute of the Fathers of Schönstatt; and Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya.
  The Holy Father, as usual, participated in the work of the Council, although he was absent on three occasions: late Monday morning, for the audience with Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy; on Tuesday morning, due to the ad Limina Apostolorum visit of the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela; and this morning, for the General Audience.
  The meetings on Monday and Tuesday took place in the morning from 9:00 to 12.00, and in the afternoon from 4:30 to 7:00. The session concluded this morning at 10:30.
  The majority of the Council’s work was dedicated to the final adjustments to the draft of the new Apostolic Constitution of the Roman Curia, provisionally entitled Praedicate evangelium. The Council of Cardinals has already submitted to the Holy Father the provisional text which will however undergo stylistic revision and a canonistic review.
  As already communicated on Monday, during the first session of this 26th meeting, the Council of Cardinals asked the Pope to reflect on the work, structure and composition of the Council itself, also taking into consideration the advanced age of some members.
  All those present expressed their satisfaction at the good outcome of the Ninth World Meeting of Families, held in Dublin, and congratulated Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell and the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, which along with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, organized the event.
  Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., gave an update on the work of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Once again, the Cardinals expressed their full solidarity with Pope Francis with regard to the events of recent weeks.
  The Holy Father, after hearing the Council of Cardinals, convened a meeting with the presidents of the Episcopal Conferences of all the world to speak about the prevention of abuse of minors and vulnerable adults, as announced in the communiqué published today.
  The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on December 10, 11, and 12, 2018.

• September 10
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the Declaration of the Council of Cardinals, Vatican City, September 10, 2018.

• September 10
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that this morning, in the presence of Pope Francis, began the 26th Reunion of the Council of Cardinals. The works will continue until Wednesday September 12, 2018.

• September 4
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that on October 14, 2018, 28th Sunday of the Ordinary Time, in Saint Peter's Square, at 10:15 a.m., Pope Francis will celebrate a Capella Papale with the Holy Mass and the canonization of seven Blesseds, among them Pope Paul VI (Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini).

• August 31
  Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu started his mandate as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. On the following day, he presided in Košice, Slovakia, over the beatification of Anna Kolesárová, martyr of purity.

• August 11
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named member of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

• August 6
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Pierre Marie Gerlier (1937); Pierre Petit de Julleville (1946); Maurice Feltin (1953); Paul-Marie Richaud (1958); Pierre Veuillot (1967); Jacques Martin (1988); and Jean Honoré (2001), kindly provided by M. Alexandre Jore, from Versailles, France.

• July 28
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that yesterday evening the Holy Father received the letter in which Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, D.C., United States of America, presented his resignation as a member of the College of Cardinals. Pope Francis accepted his resignation from the cardinalate and ordered his suspension from the exercise of any public ministry, together with the obligation to remain in a house yet to be indicated to him, for a life of prayer and penance until the accusations made against him are examined in a regular canonical trial.
  After the resignation from the cardinalate of Cardinal McCarrick, the number of cardinals is now 224. The cardinal electors are 124; 18 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 47 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 59 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 100, of which 57 were created by Pope John Paul II; 28 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 15 by Pope Francis.

• July 22
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Benedetto Odescalchi (1645); Albin Dunajewski (1890); Antonio Agliardi (1896); Vicente Casanova y Marzol (1925); Luigi Lavitrano (1929); Gabriel-Marie Garrone (1967); Michele Pellegrino (1967); Jaime Lachica Sin (1976); Joseph Schröffer (1976); Dominic Ignatius Ekandem (1976); Silvano Piovanelli (1985); Jacques Martin (1988); Francis Eugene George, O.M.I. (1998); Edward Michael Egan (2001); and Lucian Mureşan (2012), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• July 20
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Nicolas Pellevé (1570); Benoît-Marie Langénieux (1886); Louis-Henri-Joseph Luçon (1907); Joseph Cordeiro (1973); Mario Nasalli Rocca (1969); Mario Luigi Ciappi, O.P. (1977); Wladyslaw Rubin (1979); Robert Coffy (1991); Fiorenzo Angelini (1991); Bernard Panafieu (2003); and Georges Marie Martin Cottier, O.P. (2003), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• July 14
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named President Delegates of the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme "The Youth, Faith and the Vocational Discernment" that will take place on October 3 to 28, 2018, Cardinals Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, head of the Synod of the Chaldean Church (Iraq); Désiré Tsarahazana, archbishop of Toamasina (Madagascar); Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., Archbishop of Yangon (Myanmar); and John Ribat, M.S.C., Archbishop of Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea).

• July 11
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 157 (47.890), Città del Vaticano, venerdì 13 luglio 2018, p. 8, informed that in the presence of Pope Francis, who had participated since the beginning next to the casket, at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Vatican Basilica, took place in the morning of Thursday July 12, 2018, the Exequies of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for the Interreligious Dialog and Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. At the end, the Pontiff presided over the rite of the «ultima commendatio» and the «valedictio». The Mass was celebrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, who delivered the homily. Together with the Dean, concelebrated twenty two other cardinals, among them Pietro Parolin, secretary of State, and twenty three other prelates. With the members of the diplomatic corp accredited before the Holy See were Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for the Relations with the States; and Monsignors Paolo Borgia, assessor of the secretariat of State, and Joseph Murphy, head of Protocol. About ten relatives of Cardinal Tauran, among them his niece, Catherine Arnould, came from France together with the mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Juppé. Numerous ecclesiastics and laymen were also present, among them those who collaborated directly with the late cardinal; Archbishop Gianpiero Gloder, vicecamerlengo; Bishop Giuseppe Sciacca, auditor general of the Apostolic Chamber, together with the College of Cleric Prelates; Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.I., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, with the officials and lay employees; among them Luigi Filippi, who had assisted the late Cardinal until his last days; and representatives of the Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist religions. Also present were members of the personnel of the Apostolic Library and the Secret Vatican Archive; members of the Opera di Nazareth and nuns of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, who had hosted Cardinal Tauran in the United States, where he died the last July 5. The late Cardinal will be buried in the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare alle Terme Neroniane-Alessandrine, of which he was titular.
  St Peter's Basilica - Funeral of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican News, published on Jul 12, 2018, YouTube.

• July 10
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Thursday July 12, 2018, at 10:45 a.m., at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Papal Vatican Basilica, will take place the Exequies of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, of the Title of Apollinare alle Terme Neroniane-Alessandrine.
  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.

• July 9
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Caracas, Venezuela, presented by Cardinal Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino.
  The Pope named Apostolic Administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Archdiocese of Caracas Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop of Mérida, Venezuela.

• July 6
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the telegram of condolence that Pope Francis sent Madame Geneviève Dubert for the death of her brother, Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church and President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialog, who died yesterday, July 5, 2018, in the evening, from Parkinson’s disease, in Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America, where he had traveled for medical treatment and was staying with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in that city.
  After the death of Cardinal Tauran, the number of cardinals is now 225. The cardinal electors are now 124; 18 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 47 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 59 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are 101, of which 58 were created by Pope John Paul II; 28 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 15 by Pope Francis.

• July 2
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 148 (47.881), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 2-3 luglio 2018, p. 7, informed that in the morning of Sunday July 1, 2018, Mexican Cardinal Sergio Obeso Rivera, archbishop emeritus of Xalapa, solemnly took possession of the title of San Leone I. In the Roman church in via Prenestina, the Cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Monsignor Vito Di Nuzzo, who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Successively, the Cardinal presided over the Mass, concelebrated, among others, by the pastor; by Hipólito Reyes Larios, current archbishop of Xalapa; and by some fifteen Mexican priests. The rite was directed by Monsignor Marco Agostini, pontifical cerimoniere, who also read the papal bull.

• June 29
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Sunday July 1, 2018, at 11 a.m., Cardinal Sergio Obeso Rivera, archbishop emeritus of Xalapa, México, will take possession of the Title of San Leone I, Via Prenestina, 104, Rome.

• June 29
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that in the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul at 9:30 a.m. in Saint Peter's Square, Pope 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 on each Metropolitan Archbishop by the Papal Representative in the respective Metropolitan Sees.
  After the blessing of the Pallia, the Pope presided over the Eucharistic Celebration with the new Cardinals and the other Cardinals; the new Metropolitan Archbishops; and the Bishops and Priests.

• June 28
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis celebrated an Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of fourteen new Cardinals.
  After the Consistory, the Pope and the new Cardinals visited Pope emeritus Benedict XVI in the Monastery “Mater Ecclesiae” in the Vatican, where he resides. Video.
  The visits of courtesy (visitas de calore) to the new cardinals took place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the following manner:
  Aula Paolo VI:
  Atrium:
  1. Louis Raphaël I Sako;
  2. Joseph Coutts;
  3. Sergio Obeso Rivera;
  4. Toribio Ticona Porco;
  5. Aquilino Bocos Merino, C.M.F..
  Aula:
  6. Angelo De Donatis;
  7. António Augusto Dos Santos Marto;
  8. Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno, S.I.;
  9. Désiré Tsarahazana;
  10. Giuseppe Petrocchi;
  11. Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda.
  Palazzo Apostolico
  Sala Regia:
  12. Giovanni Angelo Becciu;
  Sala Ducale
  13. Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.I.;
  14. Konrad Krajewski.

  To acceed to the Aula Paolo VI please use the entrance of the Petriano; to the Apostolic Palace, the Portone di Bronzo.

  After today's consistory, the number of cardinals is now 226. The cardinal electors are now 125; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 47 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 59 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 101, of which 58 were created by Pope John Paul II; 28 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 15 by Pope Francis.

• June 26
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that in a Rescriptum ex Audientia SS.MI, Pope Francis decided to co-opt in the Order of Cardinal Bishops, equating them in all to the Cardinals awarded the title of a suburbicarian Church, Cardinals Pietro Parolin, of the Title of Ss. Simone e Giuda Taddeo a Torre Angela, Secretary of State; Leonardo Sandri, of the Title of Ss. Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches; Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., of the Title of S. Maria in Traspontina, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops; and Fernando Filoni, Deacon of Nostra Signora di Coromoto in S. Giovanni di Dio, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
  The Rescriptum was communicated to Cardinal-designate Angelo Giovanni Becciu, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, on June 12, 2018 and it derogates canons 350 §§ 1-2 and 352 §§ 2-3 of the Code of Canon Law.
  The above Rescriptum will be promulgated by publication in "L'Osservatore Romano", coming into force on June 28, 2018, and then published in Acta Apostolicae Sedis.

• June 26
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father Francis accepted the resignation, presented because of age limit, by Cardinal Domenico Calcagno from the post of President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and named to succeed him in that same post Nunzio Galantino, bishop emeritus of Cassano all’Jonio, until then Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

• June 24
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Pope accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Ranchi, India, presented by Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo. To succeed him, the Pope named Felix Toppo, S.J., until then bishop of Jampshedpur.

• June 22
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Jacob Manathodath, bishop of Palghat of the Syro-Malabars, apostolic administrator, sede plena of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars. The see is currently occupied by Cardinal George Alencherry.

• June 20
  The New York Times informed that Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., United States of America, has been removed from ministry after an investigation found credible allegations that he sexually abused a teenager 47 years ago while serving as a priest in New York. The decision, the Cardinal specified, was a choice, made in obedience to the Holy See.
  In a communique, Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, archbishop of New York, United States of America, informed that "Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, under the indication of Pope Francis, asked Cardinal McCarrick not to exercise his priestly ministry in public any more".
  Older claims made by adults against Cardinal McCarrick several years ago were settled.

• June 16
  The Pope named Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, special papal envoy to the celebration of the Fifth American Missionary Congress, programmed for Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, from July 9 to 14, 2018.

• June 13
  Briefing of the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, on the 25th Meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father Francis, June 13, 2018:
  At 1:00 p.m. today, the Director of the Holy See Press Office gave a briefing on the 25th meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father.
  The Council of Cardinals met for three days: Monday 11, Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 June, 2018. All members were present apart from Cardinal George Pell.
  The Holy Father was not present this morning due to the General Audience.
  The 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.
  The majority of the works of the Council were dedicated to the examination of the draft of the new Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, which is provisionally entitled Praedicate Evangelium. The Council of Cardinals has prepared a first text to submit to the Holy Father for the considerations he may regard as opportune, useful and necessary.
  The Council considered how, in accordance with the principle of graduality, the various parts of the reform of the Curia in process have already been implemented in these five years of work.
  Monsignor Brian Ferme, secretary of the Council for the Economy, presented the reform of the financial and organizational structure of the Holy See and the Governorate. Furthermore, after illustrating the fundamental objectives and principles, including the avoidance of waste, promoting transparency, ensuring the correct application of accounting principles, following the principle of dual checking and international standards, Monsignor Ferme presented the following positive results:
  - a uniform procedure for the preparation of budgets and final balances;
  - greater attention to costs;
  - greater cooperation and understanding of financial reform;
  - a gradual change of mentality regarding transparency and accountability.
  Finally, Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., updated those present on the work of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
  The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on September 10, 11 and 12, 2018.

• June 11
  Misioneros Claretianos, Provincia de Santiago informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal-designate Aquilino Bocos Merino, C.M.F., titular archbishop of Urusi. The nomination took place on May 31, 2018.
  The episcopal consecration will take place on Saturday June 16, 2018, in the Parish of San Antonio María Claret, Madrid, at noon. The consecrator will be Cardinal Fernando Sebastián Aguilar, C.M.F., archbishop emeritus of Pamplona y Tudela, assisted by Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, archbishop of Madrid, and by Cardinal Ricardo Blázquez Pérez, archbishop of Valladolid. Present will be the Papal Nuncio in Spain, Renzo Fratini; and other bishops.

• June 11
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the 25th Reunion of the Council of Cardinals with Pope Francis started this morning. The work will continue until Wednesday June 13, 2018.
  The Council has met 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; April 24-26; June 12-14; September 11-13; December 11-13, 2017; February 26-28, 2018; and April 23-25, 2018.

• June 8
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Thursday June 28, 2018, at 4 p.m., in the Papal Vatican Basilica, Holy Father Francis will celebrate 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 visits of courtesy to the new Cardinals will take place on Thursday June 28, 2018, from 6 to 8 p.m.

• June 8
  Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, turned eighty years old and, therefore, 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 212. The cardinal electors are now 114; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 47 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 48 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 98, of which 58 were created by Pope John Paul II; 28 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 12 by Pope Francis.

• June 7
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 128 (47.861), Città del Vaticano, venerdì 8 giugno 2018, p. 8, reported that on the 20th anniversary of the death of Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, a Mass of suffrage will be celebrated on Saturday June 9, 2018, at 6:30 p.m., in the Basilica of Santi XII Apostoli, where the late cardinal is buried. Cardinal Casaroli was secretary of State of Pope John Paul II from 1979 to 1990, and died on June 9, 1998, at the Vatican at the age of 84.

• June 4
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the text of the telegram of condolence that Pope Francis sent Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano, archbishop of Managua, Nicaragua, for the death of Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo, S.D.B., archbishop emeritus of Managua.

• June 3
  La Jornada informed that Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo, S.D.B., archbishop emeritus of Managua, Nicaragua, died from a heart attack this morning in that city. He was 92 years old.

  After the death of Cardinal Obando Bravo, the number of cardinals is 212. The cardinal electors are 115; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 48 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 48 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 97, of which 58 were created by Pope John Paul II; 27 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 12 by Pope Francis.

• May 26
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Holy Father Francis has appointed, as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal designate Giovanni Angelo Becciu, titular archbishop of Roselle. He will take office at the end of August, in the meantime maintaining his role as Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State until 29 June, and continuing as special delegate to the Sovereign Order of Malta.

• May 21
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that on May 19, 2018, the 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 Supreme Pontiff authorized the same Congregation to promulgate the decrees regarding the heroic virtues of twelve Servants of God, among them, August Józef Hlond, of the Salesian Society of Saint John Bosco, archbishop of Gniezno and Warszaw, primate of Poland, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, founder of the Society of Christ for Emigrants; born on July 5, 1881 in Brzęczkowice, Poland, and died in Warszaw, Poland, on October 22, 1948.

• May 20
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that during the recitation of the Regina Coeli Holy Father Francis announced a Consistory for the creation of new cardinals. They are:
  1. Louis Raphaël I Sako - Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans;
  2. Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J. – Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
  3. Angelo De Donatis – Vicar General of Rome;
  4. Giovanni Angelo Becciu – Substitute for the General Affairs of the Secretariat of State and Special Delegate before the Sovereign Military Order of Malta;
  5. Konrad Krajewski – Apostolic Almoner;
  6. Joseph Coutts – Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan;
  7. António Augusto dos Santos Marto – Bishop of Leiria-Fátima, Portugal;
  8. Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno, S.J. – Archbishop of Huancayo, Perú;
  9. Desiré Tsarahazana – Archbishop of Toamasina, Madagascar;
  10. Giuseppe Petrocchi – Archbishop of L’Aquila, Italy;
  11. Thomas Aquinas Manyo Maeda – Archbishop of Osaka, Japan.
  Together with them I will join as members of the College of Cardinals: an archbishop, a bishop and a religious who have distinguished themselves for their service to the Church:
  12. Sergio Obeso Rivera – Archbishop emeritus of Xalapa, México;
  13. Toribio Ticona Porco – Prelate Emeritus of Corocoro, Bolivia;
  14. Rev. Fr. Aquilino Bocos Merino – Claretian.

• May 19
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that on Saturday May 19, 2018 at 10 a.m. in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, during the celebration of Terce, the Holy Father Francis held an Ordinary Public Consistory for the Canonization of six Blesseds, among them Paul VI (Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini). During the Consistory, the Pope decreed that the Blesseds be inscribed in the Book of Saints on Sunday October 14, 2018.
  Following, was the Optatio of six Cardinals of the order of Deacons to the order of Priests:
  - at the request of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Deaconry of Ss. Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari was elevated pro hac vice to presbyteral Title;
  - at the request of Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, the Deaconry of S. Maria Liberatrice a Monte Testaccio was elevated pro hac vice to presbyteral Title;
  - at the request of Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, the Deaconry of S. Lorenzo in Piscibus was elevated pro hac vice to presbyteral Title;
  - at the request of Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the Deaconry of S. Salvatore in Lauro was elevated pro hac vice to presbyteral Title; Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari, secretary of the College of Cardinals, presented the Pope the request in the name of Cardinal Comastri, who was absent;
  - at the request of Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, the Deaconry of Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re was elevated pro hac vice to presbyteral Title;
  - at the request of Cardinal Raffaele Farina, S.D.B., the Deaconry of S. Giovanni della Pigna was elevated pro hac vice to presbyteral Title.

• May 19
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father named Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, archbishop of Québec, Canada, special papal envoy to the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the evangelization of of the West and and North of Canada, beginning with the arrival of Father Norbert Provencher and missionary companions of the current archdiocese of Saint-Boniface, programmed for July 15, 2018.

• May 18
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Saturday May 19, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. in the Altar of the Cathedra of the Papal Vatican Basilica, will take place the Exequies for Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, of the Title of SS. Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano. The exequial Liturgy will be celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals together with 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.

• May 18
  Upon learning the news of the death of Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, Pope Francis sent Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, a telegram of condolence.

• May 17
  Cristovisión informed that Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy and president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, died in his residence in the Vatican at 1:15 a.m. of May 18, Roman time, of a liver disease.

  After the death of Cardinal Castrillón, the number of cardinals is 213. The cardinal electors are 115; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 48 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 48 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 98, of which 59 were created by Pope John Paul II; 27 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 12 by Pope Francis.

• May 17
  Katholisches informed that the health of Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy and president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, has deteriorated and that he is in grave condition in Rome.

• May 10
  New bibliographic items added to the site during the months of January to March 2018.

• May 3
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that on Saturday May 19, 2018 at 10 a.m., Pope Francis will preside the celebration of Terce and the Ordinary Public Consistory for the canonization of six Blesseds, among them, Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini), Supreme Pontiff.

• May 1
  Mr. Greg Burke, director of the Press Office of the Holy See, issued the following declaration: The Holy See has taken note of the decision issued by judicial authorities in Australia regarding His Eminence Cardinal George Pell. Last year, the Holy Father granted Cardinal Pell a leave of absence so he could defend himself from the accusations. The leave of absence is still in place.

• April 30
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Anders Arborelius, O.C.D., bishop of Stockholm, Sweden, special papal envoy to the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Foundation of the Abbey of Buckfast, England, programmed for May 24, 2018.

• April 30
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that on May 3, 2018, a group of German cardinals and bishops will meet in the Vatican with several heads of Dicasteries and officials of the Roman Curia to consider the theme of eventual access to the Eucharist for non-Catholic spouses in mixed marriages.

  The German delegation is composed of Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Münich und Freising and president of the German Episcopal Conference; Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, archbishop of Cologne; Felix Genn, bishop of Münster; Karl-Heinz Wiesemann, bishop of Speyer and president of the Doctrinal Commission of the German Episcopal Conference; Rudolf Voderholzer, bishop of Regensburg, vice president of the Doctrinal Commission of the German Episcopal Conference; Gerhard Feige, bishop of Magdeburg and president of the Commission for Ecumenism of the German Episcopal Conference; Father Hans Langendörfer, S.J., secretary general of the German Episcopal Conference.

  The heads of Dicasteries and officials are: Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., titular archbishop of Tibica, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; Monsignor Markus Graulich, S.D.B., under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; Father Hermann Geissler, F.S.O., office head of the Doctrinal Section of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

• April 25
  The Press Office of the Holy See published the following:
  At 1:00 p.m. today, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, held a briefing on the 24th meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father Francis.
  The Council of Cardinals met for three days: Monday 23, Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 April. All the members were present, apart from Cardinal George Pell. Cardinal Reinhard Marx was absent on Monday. The Holy Father was not present this morning due to the general audience.
  The sessions took place in the morning from 9:00 to 12:30 and in the afternoon from 4:30 to 7:00. The majority of the Council’s work was dedicated to the rereading of the draft of the new Apostolic Constitution of the Roman Curia. At the end of the drafting process, which will require a little more time, the Cardinals will approve the text to be submitted to the Holy Father for his further considerations and for his final approval.
  Among the various themes that will form the new document, many of which have already been extensively covered in the previous sessions of the Council of Cardinals, some of particular importance were highlighted:
  - the Roman Curia in the service of the Holy Father and of the particular Churches; - the institution and formation of the Third Section of the Secretariat of State;
  - the proclamation of the Gospel and the missionary spirit as a perspective that characterizes the activity of all the Curia.
  Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M.Cap., updated the Council participants on the many efforts that have been made throughout the world for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults. During the recent plenary meeting, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors heard the testimonies of the newly-appointed members from Brazil, Ethiopia, Australia and Italy. In addition, a group from the United Kingdom, the “Survivor Advisory Panel”, was heard. The Cardinal highlighted the profuse commitment and great competence of the Members of the Commission who represent very well the variety of cultures of the world. He also reiterated the priority of having to start out from lived experience, continuing the work of listening to the victims and receiving their experiences.
  The Cardinals heard Monsignor Lucio A. Ruiz, secretary of the Secretariat for Communication, who updated the Council on the current state of the reforms of the Vatican communication system.
  The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on the days June 11, 12 and 13, 2018.

• April 24
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 93 (47.826), Città del Vaticano, martedì-mercoledì 24-25 aprile 2018, p. 8, informed that in the evening of Sunday April 22, 2018, Cardinal Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, I.D.V., vicar apostolic of Vientiane, solemnly took possession of the Title of San Silvestro in Capite. In the Roman church in piazza of San Silvestro the cardinal from Laos was welcomed by the rector, Father John Fitzpatrick, of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottini), who presented him the crucifix for the kissing and veneration. Then, the cardinal presided over the Mass, concelebrated by a dozen priests. The rite was directed by Monsignor Vincenzo Peroni, pontifical cerimoniere, who also read the pontifical bull.

• April 23
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that this morning started the 24th Meeting of the Council of Cardinals in the presence of Pope Francis. The works of the Coumcil will continue until Wednesdsy April 25, 2018.

  The Council has met 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; April 24-26; June 12-14; September 11-13; December 11-13, 2017; and February 26-28, 2018.

• April 21
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Dominik Duka, O.P., archbishop of Prague, Czech Republic, special papal envoy to the celebrations of the 1050th anniversary of the first episcopal see in Polish land, programmed for June 22-24, 2018 in Poznań.

• April 20
  Czech officials, clergy and faithful gathered at the Pontifical Collegium Nepomucenum for the final Mass in Rome in celebration of the late Cardinal Josef Beran, archbishop of Prague. The Servant of God's casket was transferred to Prague, where he was warmly greeted before being granted a proper burial. Fifty years later, his wish of being buried in Prague is now being fulfilled. A Czech military plane landed in Prague with the remains of Cardinal Beran on Friday April 20. They were welcomed by government and church leaders, including Cardinal Dominik Duka, O.P., archbishop of Prague. In Prague, people will have the opportunity to pay their respects until Monday, when Cardinal Beran will be buried at St. Vitus Cathedral, the main Czech church and the seat of the archbishops of Prague.

• April 18
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that Cardinal Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, I.D.V., Vicar Apostolic of Paksé, Laos, will take possession of the Title of San Silvestro in Capite, Piazza di San Silvestro, 17/A, Rome, on Sunday, April 22, 2018, at 5:30 p.m.

• April 17
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 88 (47.821), Città del Vaticano, mercoledì 18 aprile 2018, p. 7, informed that the Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta (Lumsa) will pay tribute to the memory of Cardinal Attilio Nicora one year after his death on April 22, 2017. A Mass will be celebrated by the president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, at 5:30 p.m., April 18 in the Jubilee Hall on Porta Castello street. The ceremony will follow the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and the naming of the central library of the university after Cardinal Nicora, who had been president of its Board of Directors for a decade, from 2007 until his death.

• April 13
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, prefect of the Comgregation for Catholic Education, member of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.

• April 7
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation, presented by reason of age limit, by Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio from the office of President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and has named to succeed him in that post Filippo Iannone, O. Carm., archbishop-bishop emeritus of Sora-Cassino-Aquino-Pontecorvo, until then assistant secretary of that Pontifical Council.

• April 6
  Edinburgh News informed that the body of the late Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, archbishop emeritus of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, was buried in the grave of his mother and father in accordance to his wishes, at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Edinburgh at 1 p.m. More than 200 people paid their respects to the late Cardinal as he was buried.

• April 5
  The Tablet informed that the funeral Mass for Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, archbishop emeritus of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, took place at the Church of St. Michael in Newcastle-upom-Tyne. The main celebrant and homilist was Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols, archbishop of Westminster, England. Participating in the funeral Mass were his successor at St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Archbishop Leo Cushley; the Bishop of Dunkeld, Stephen Robson. The Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Edward Adams was also present, along with Cardinal Seán Baptist Brady, Archbishop emeritus of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. Among the 70 priests who concelebrated with the bishops was the parish priest of San Sebastiano al Palatino, Cardinal O'Brien's titular church in Rome. The church was full with about 500 lay mourners also, most having travelled from Scotland and many wearing tartan.

• April 1
  Cardinal Pierre Nguyễn Van Nhơn, archbishop of Hà Nôi, Viêt Nam, turned eighty years old and, therefore, 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 214. The cardinal electors are now 115; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 48 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 48 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 99, of which 60 were created by Pope John Paul II; 27 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 12 by Pope Francis.

• March 29
  Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro, penitentiary major emeritus, turned eighty years old and, therefore, 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 214. The cardinal electors are now 116; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 48 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are 98, of which 60 were created by Pope John Paul II; 27 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• March 24
  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 celebration of the Seventh Centennial of the Consecration of the Shrine of the “Madonna della Giustizia e dell’Amore Sociale”, situated in the city of Piekary Śląskie, archdiocese of Katowice, Poland, programmed for May 27, 2018.

• March 23
  The Scottish Catholic Observer published the details of the funeral and burial of Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, archbishop emeritus of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland.

• March 21
  Following are the details of the requiem and funeral of Cardinal Karl Lehmann, bishop emeritus of Mainz, Germany, which will be broadcast in the German TV.

  Between the Requiem Mass and Interment, there will be three short speeches delivered by Archbishop Nikola Eterović, as representative of Pope Francis; Cardinal Reinhard Marx, president of the Episcopal Conference of Germany; and Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, head of the Lutheran Church in Germany.

  The following dignitaries will attend:
  - Frank-Walter Steinmeier, president of the Federal Republic of Germany;
  - Julia Klöckner, federal minister (representing Angela Merkel, chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany);
  - Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (State of Rhineland-Palatinate) - The major part of the diocese of Mainz is located in the State of Rhineland-Palatinate
  - Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (State of Hesse) - A smaller part of the diocese of Mainz is located in the State of Hesse
  - Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (State of Baden-Württemberg)
  - Michael Ebling, mayor of Mainz
  - Anette Schavan, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Holy See
  - Norbert Lammert, former president of the German Bundestag (German Parliament)
  - Bernhard Vogel, former prime minister of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate
  - Roland Koch, former prime minister of the State of Hesse
  - Thomas Sternberg, president of the Zentralkomitee der Deutschen Katholiken
  - Irmgard Schwaetzer, president of the Synod of the Lutheran Church in Germany

  Main Celebrant:
  Bishop Peter Kohlgraf, bishop of Mainz
  Concelebrants:
  - Archbishop Nikola Eterović, Apostolic Nuncio to Germany (as representative of Pope Francis);
  - Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Münich and Freising, president of the German Episcopal Conference;
  - Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (former priest of the Diocese of Mainz);
  - Bishop Gebhard Fürst, bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart (Rottenburg-Stuttgart is, like Mainz, suffragan of the Archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau);
  - Bishop Ulrich Neymeyr, bishop of Erfurt, former auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Mainz;
  - Bishop Udo Markus Benz, auxilary in Mainz;
  - Axel Mehlmann, vicar general of the archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau as representative of the Archbishop of Freiburg im Breisgau (Metropolitan of the diocese of Mainz);
  - Heinz Heckwolf, dean of the Cathedral Chapter of the diocese of Mainz
  - Dietmar Giebelmann, former vicar general of Cardinal Lehmann
  - Wilfried Hagemann, course mate of Cardinal Lehmann in Rome and best friend
  - Wolfgang Bretz, head of the Deans Conference of the Diocese of Mainz
  - Markus Konrad, head of the Priests Conference of the Diocese of Mainz.
  Besides Cardinals Marx and Müller, the following cardinals will take part:
  - Cardinal Walter Kasper, president emeritus of the Pontificial Council for Promoting Christian Unity;
  - Cardinal Karl-Josef Rauber, apostolic nuncio emeritus, former priest of the diocese of Mainz;
  - Cardinal Adrianus Johannes Simonis, archbishop emeritus of Utrecht, Holland;
  - Cardinal Friedrich Wetter, archbishop emeritus of Münich und Freising;
  - Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, archbishop of Cologne
  Archbishops
  Hans-Josef Becker (Paderborn); Stefan Heße (Hamburg); Heiner Koch (Berlin); Roland Minnerath (Dijon, France); Ludwig Schick (Bamberg); Wiktor Skworc (Katowice, Poland); Jean-Claude Périsset (former nuncio to Germany); and Robert Zollitsch (emeritus Freiburg im Breisgau).
  Bishops:
  In addition around 30 Bishops will be concelebrating.
  Monsignor Vito Di Nuzzo, parish priest of San Leone I, Rome, title of Cardinal Lehmann, will also take part.

  Timetable of the ceremonies:
  2:00 p.m.: Statio in the seminary church (Augustinerkirche), then, funeral procession to the cathedral (priests of the diocese, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, members of the different cathedral chapters from the dioceses of Germany, cathedral chapter of Mainz, representatives of the Lutheran Church in Germany and relatives of Cardinal Lehmann)
  3:00 p.m.: Requiem Mass in the Cathedral of St. Martin, Mainz.

  Following, interment in the bishops crypt beside his predecessors Bishop Gerhard Heinrich Maria Kirschstein (1904-1921); Bishop Ludwig Maria Hugo (1921-1935); Bishop Albert Stohr (1935-1961); and Cardinal Hermann Volk (1962-1982). Also buried in the crypt are the following auxilaries: Bishop Josef Maria Reuss (1954-1978); Bishop Wolfgang Rolly (1972-2003) and Bishop Werner Guballa (2003-2012).

  Information kindly provided by Mr. Lambert Klinke, from Gießen, Germany.

• March 20
  After learning the news of the death of Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, archbishop emeritus of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolence to Archbishop Leo William Cushley of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh.

• March 19
  vaticannews.va informed that Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, archbishop emeritus of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, died at 1 a.m., in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. He had turned eighty years old two days ago, March 17. He had been in the care of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Newcastle, but was hospitalised after a fall in February of this year.

  The number of cardinals is now 214. The cardinal electors are 117; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 49 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are 97, of which 60 were created by Pope John Paul II; 26 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• March 18
  Edinburgh News informed that Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, archbishop emeritus of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, has been bedridden since suffering a fall last month in which he broke his collar-bone and suffered a head injury. His successor, Archbishop Leo William Cushley, visited him at hospital in Newcastle on Friday to administer the sacrament of the unction of the sick and sent a message to more than 200 “brother priests and deacons” to tell them of the deterioration of the cardinal's health.

• March 17
  Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, archbishop emeritus of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, turned eighty years old. On March 20, 2015, his resignation from the rights and privileges of a Cardinal, expressed in canons 349, 353 and 356 of the Code of Canon Law, had been accepted by Pope Francis.

• March 14
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entry of Cardinal Karl Lehmann, bishop emeritus of Mainz, kindly provided by Mr. Lambert Klinke, from Gießen, Germany.

• March 13
  Video of the viewing of Cardinal Karl Lehmann in Mainz, Facebook.

• March 12
  The Vatican Press Office published the text of the telegram of condolence that Pope Francis sent to Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz after learning the news of the death of Cardinal Karl Lehmann, of the Title of S. Leone I, bishop emeritus of Mainz.

• March 11
  Statement of Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz on the death of Cardinal Karl Lehmann.

• March 11
  The Diocese of Mainz, Germany informed that the funeral for Cardinal Karl Lehmann will take place on Wednesday March 21, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. in the Cathedral of Mainz. Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz will be the main celebrant of the service. The body of the late Cardinal will be exposed in the Church of the Seminary of Mainz until Wednesday 21 at 2:00 p.m., when it will be taken to the Cathedral in a funeral procession.

• March 11
  The Diocese of Mainz, Germany informed that Cardinal Karl Lehmann, bishop emeritus of Mainz, passed away at his home in that city at 4:45 a.m. At the end of September 2017, he had suffered a stroke and a cerebral hemorrhage.

  The number of cardinals is now 215. The cardinal electors are 117; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 49 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 98, of which 61 were created by Pope John Paul II; 26 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• March 8
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named the members of the pre-synodal Council which will collaborate with the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in the preparation of that Assembly. Among them are Cardinals Cláudio Hummes, O.F.M., archbishop emeritus of São Paulo, Brazil, president of the Ecclesial Panamazon Network; Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of the Integral Human Development; and Carlos Aguiar Retes, archbishop of México, México.

• March 7
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis received in an audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, on March 6, 2018. During the audience, the Pope authorized the Congregation to promulgate the decree concerning the miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini), Supreme Pontiff; born in Concesio (Italy) on September 26, 1897 and died in Castel Gandolfo (Italy) on August 6, 1978. Twelve other decrees were also promulgated.

• March 6
  Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Legislative Texts, turned eighty years old and, therefore, 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 216. The cardinal electors are now 117; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 49 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 99, of which 62 were created by Pope John Paul II; 26 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• March 5
  The Diocese of Mainz, Germany, informed that Cardinal Karl Lehmann, bishop emeritus of that see, is gravely ill. Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz asked the faithful to pray for the Cardinal.

• March 3
  The Holy See Press Office informed that the Pope named Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols, archbishop of Westminster, England, special papal envoy to the celebration of the 600th anniversary of the primatial institution in Poland, programmed for April 29, 2018 in the Archdiocese of Gniezno.

• February 28
  

  Briefing by the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, on the 23rd meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father Francis.

  At 1:00 p.m. today, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, gave a briefing on the 23rd meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father Francis.

  The Council of Cardinals met for three days: Monday February 26, Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28. All the members of the Council were present except Cardinal George Pell. Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, on the other hand, arrived only on Monday evening following the cancellation of his flight owing to bad weather. The Holy Father was absent this morning due to the General Audience.

  The work sessions were held in the morning from 9:00 to 12:30 and in the afternoon from 4:30 to 7:00, and various topics were addressed, including the theological status of the episcopal conferences, human resources and the containment of costs in the Holy See, and finally, protection of minors. In addition, the Cardinals studied the Dicasteries for Promoting Integral Human Development, for the Oriental Churches and for the Evangelization of Peoples.

  The reflection on the theological status of the Episcopal Conferences proceeded from paragraph no. 32 of Evangelii Gaudium: “... a juridical status of episcopal conferences which would see them as subjects of specific attributions, including genuine doctrinal authority, has not yet been sufficiently elaborated. Excessive centralization, rather than proving helpful, complicates the Church’s life and her missionary outreach".

  It is a re-reading of the Motu proprio “Apostolos suos”, in the spirit of healthy decentralization that the Pope often speaks of, reaffirming that it is always he who safeguards unity in the Church.

  The Cardinals listened to Archbishop Jan Romeo Pawłowski on the progress of the Third Section of the Secretariat of State recently established for the selection and training of the diplomatic staff and chaired by him.

  Cardinal Reinhard Marx presented to the Council of Cardinals the theme of human resources in presenting the work of the Council for the Economy, which is studying proposals to outline the competences of a “control room” for human resources.

  Cardinal Marx also reported on the positive progress in the areas of the presentation of financial statements, the containment of costs and the reduction of the deficit of the Holy See.
  In this context, the Council for the Economy has decided to draw up guidelines for the institutions of the Holy See with the aim of reducing costs.

  The Cardinals also discussed various options for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to process cases of child abuse within a short time.

  In addition, the Cardinals listened to the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, regarding the progress of the dicastery, and made further reflections on the Congregations for the Oriental Churches and for the Evangelization of Peoples.

  The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on April 23, 24 and 25, 2018.

• February 26
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that this morning the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Cardinals started, in the presence of Holy Father Francis. The works of the Council will continue until Wednesday February 28, 2018.

  The Council has met 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; April 24-26; June 12-14; September 11-13; and December 11-13, 2017.

• February 20
  Cardinal Paolo Romeo, archbishop emeritus of Palermo, Italy, turned eighty years old and, therefore, 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 216. The cardinal electors are now 118; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 50 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 98, of which 62 were created by Pope John Paul II; 25 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• February 17
  The Boston Pilot informed that Pope Francis reconfirmed Séan Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M.Cap., archbishop of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, as head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors for a three-year term.

• February 15
  The Archdiocese of Genoa informed that Pope Francis confirmed Angelo Bagnasco as archbishop of Genoa for at least two more years. The Cardinal had submitted his resignation according to the Code of Canon Law when he turned 75 years old on January 14.

• February 8
  ucanews.com informed that Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, India, was elected again president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) for a two year term. He had occupied the post from 2010 to 2014.

• February 5
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 29 (47.762), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 5-6 febbraio 2018, p. 7, informed that on the 140th anniversary of the death of Blessed Pope Pius IX (Cardinal Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti) on February 7, at 11 a.m., on the occasion of his liturgical feast, there will be in the Basilica of the Santa Casa in Loreto a solemn eucharistic celebration presided by Archbishop Prelate Fabio Dal Cin. At the end of the rite, it will be possible to venerate a relic of the Pontiff, whose cause of canonization is in course. His pontificate was the longest in history after Saint Peter's and he was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 3, 2000.

• February 3
  Cardinal Antonio Maria Vegliò, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, turned eighty years old and, therefore, 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 216. The cardinal electors are now 119; 19 have been created by Pope John Paul II; 51 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 49 by Pope Francis. The cardinal non-electors are now 97, of which 62 were created by Pope John Paul II; 24 by Pope Benedict XVI; and 11 by Pope Francis.

• January 28
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Anastasio Alberto Ballestrero, O.C.D. (1979); Alfonso López Trujillo (1983); Luigi Dadaglio (1985); Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy (1985); Édouard Gagnon, P.S.S. (1985); Silvano Piovanelli (1985); James Aloysius Hickey (1988); Edmund Casimir Szoka (1988); László Paskai, O.F.M. (1988) Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua (1991); Carlos Oviedo Cavada, O. de M. (1994); Bernardino Echeverría Ruiz, O.F.M. (1994); Pierre Eyt (1994); William Henry Keeler (1994); Jorge María Mejía (2001); Rodolfo Quezada Toruño (2003); and Georges Marie Martin Cottier, O.P. (2003), kindly peovided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• January 22
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLVIII n. 17 (47.750), Città del Vaticano, lunedì-martedì 22-23 gennaio 2018, p. 7, informed that Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella, archbishop of Barcelona Spain, solemnly took possession of the title of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in the morning of Sunday January 21, 2018. In the Roman basilica, the cardinal was welcomed by the pastor, Monsignor Gino Amicarelli, who presented him a relic of the Holy Cross for the kissing and veneration. Then, the pastor delivered the welcome address and read in Italian the text of the papal bull, read in Latin by Monsignor Lucio Bonora, prelate cleric of the Apostolic Chamber. Concelebrating were Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, archbishop of Madrid; Apostolic Nuncio Francisco-Javier Lozano, titular archbishop of Penafiel; Sergi Gordo Rodríguez, titular bishop of Cene, and Antoni Vadell Ferrer, titular bishop of Urci, auxiliary bishops of Barcelona; and some priests. The rite was directed by Monsignor Marco Agostini, pontifical cerimoniere.

• January 19
  The Czech News Agency, quoting Cardinal Dominik Jaroslav Duka, O.P., archbishop of Prague, Czech Republic, informed that Pope Francis has given permission for the remains of Cardinal Josef Beran, archbishop of Prague from 1946 to 1969, to be transferred in April to that city and buried at St. Agnes of Bohemia Chapel in the metropolitan cathedral of St. Vitus at Prague Castle, the seat of kings and presidents. In his last will and testament, Cardinal Beran had asked that he be returned to his homeland. The return will be funded by the Czech bishops' conference, Cardinal Duka said. The cardinal said that the burial ceremony will be low-key and private. The process of Cardinal Beran's beatification began in 1998.

• January 17
  L'Osservatore Romano informed that the urn with the body of Pope Saint John XXIII (Cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli) will be taken to Bergamo, Italy, from May 24 to June 10, 2018.

• January 15
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Sunday January 21, 2018, at 11 a.m., Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella, archbishop of Barcelona, Spain, will take possession of the title of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, 12, Rome.

• January 13
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that Pope Francis named Cardinal Roger Michael Mahony, archbishop emeritus of Los Angeles, California, United States of America, special papal envoy to the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the erection of the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, programmed for March 4, 2018.

• January 6
  New bibliographic items added to the site during the months of October to December 2017.

• As of January 1, 2018, the members of the College of Cardinals are 216; 120 are electors and 96 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, seven cardinals will turn 80. They are: Antonio Maria Vegliò, February 3, 1938; Paolo Romeo, February 20, 1938; Francesco Coccopalmerio, March 6, 1938; Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, March 17, 1938 (1); Manuel Monteiro de Castro, March 29, 1938; Pierre Nguyễn Van Nhơn, April 1, 1938; and Angelo Amato, S.D.B., June 8, 1938.

  (1) On March 20, 2015 he resigned all the rights and privileges of a Cardinal, expressed in canons 349, 353 and 356 of the Code of Canon Law. His resignation was accepted by Pope Francis.

• 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 2018.

• From January 1 to December 31, 2017, the cardinals' site received 181,787 visits as well as numerous 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, 2017, the number of visitors to the site since January 1, 2002, was 2,095,513. The site contains the biographical entries of the 4,423 pre-cardinals, cardinals, quasi-cardinals and pseudocardinals identified between 494 and 2017.

©1998-2021 Salvador Miranda.