Catholic News
- Cardinal Re, at Mass for election of Roman Pontiff, emphasizes Church's unity in fidelity to the Gospel (CWN)
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, celebrated the Mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff in St. Peter’s Basilica on the morning of May 7 (booklet, video). The Mass took place hours before the 133 cardinal electors were scheduled to enter the conclave that will elect the 267th pope. - Wall Street Journal examines Vatican's financial crisis (Wall Street Journal)
Noting that the Vatican’s budget deficit tripled under Pope Francis, The Wall Street Journal has published a lengthy article entitled “The Vatican Financial Mess Pope Francis Couldn’t Fix.” “To understand the combination of deficit spending and mismanagement that is driving the Vatican into unsustainable debt, Wall Street Journal reporters met officials from the Vatican’s bank, pension fund and regulatory institutions and with cardinals attending this week’s conclave,” the newspaper reported. “Several met in secret, in locations arranged over Signal, citing an atmosphere of suspicion as the Vatican’s balance sheet deteriorates and blame circulates.” - Cardinals discuss importance of supporting new Pope (CWN)
On the afternoon of May 5, members of the College of Cardinals met in their eleventh general congregation since Pope Francis’s death. “About 170” of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals—including 132 of the 133 cardinal electors—were in attendance, the Vatican newspaper reported. - Cardinal McElroy: 'I have no guess' who the next Pope will be (CNS)
At a May 5 Mass at his titular church in Rome, Cardinal Robert McElroy said that he had “no guess” about who the next Pontiff will be. “It has become ever clearer to me how profound and mysterious this process is, to find a successor to Peter who meets the needs of the present,” he said. “I can give you no insights into who is ahead,” he continued—“not because I cannot do so because of my promise, although I can’t, but because I have no guess.” - Vatican prefect reflects on the servant leadership of St. Peter and the popes (Vatican News)
Paolo Ruffini, the layman who was prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication from 2018 until Pope Francis’s death, published an editorial on the eve of the conclave, in which he reflected on the servant leadership of St. Peter and his successors. “A group of the successors of the apostles, gathered in a chapel, will choose the servant of the servants of God,” he wrote. “This is what Peter’s successors are called to in order to lead the Church.” Ruffini said that “this paradox disorients. It confuses both the media and the many centers of power, both large and small, who rack their brains over the identity and the name that will be taken by whoever is elected, and perhaps even try to influence the decision, drawing up scenarios and interpretations that appear to be written in the sand.” - Leading German bishop congratulates new chancellor, calls for social cohesion (Deutsche Bischofskonferenz)
The president of the German Bishops’ Conference congratulated Friedrich Merz upon his parliamentary election as the nation’s chancellor. “From the bottom of my heart, I wish you every success in your work, necessary and courageous decisions, and above all, God’s abundant blessing,” said Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg. He continued: Necessary reforms in various areas are just as important as strengthening internal security. Above all, however, social cohesion must prevail, which the Federal Republic needs more than ever. Separatism and nationalist tones must not gain the upper hand. “You know that the Catholic Church is a reliable and constructive partner in many issues concerning your government program,” the prelate concluded. “Please draw on the expertise that we as a Church can contribute to the political context.” - Vatican spokesman: Pius XII's message at end of World War II is more relevant than ever (CWN)
L’Osservatore Romano devoted two pages in its May 6 edition to the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II in Europe (May 8, 1945), and Pope Venerable Pius XII’s radio message (Italian, English) the following day. - US bishops publish new edition of document on pornography (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published a new, 10th anniversary edition of Create in Me a Pure Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography. The edition includes a new preface by the bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. “During the decade since the first publication of this pastoral response to pornography, opposition to this grave evil has weakened among the general population,” the committee states. “The document was needed then, and it is still needed today.” - Swiss Guardsmen remember fallen confrères (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
At a wreath-laying ceremony on May 6, members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard remembered their 147 confrères who died during the Sack of Rome on May 6, 1527. Msgr. Javier Domingo Fernández González, chief of protocol of the Secretariat of State, attended the ceremony, at which Christoph Graf, the Swiss Guard’s commander, spoke. The Swiss Guard’s swearing-in ceremony, which typically takes place annually on May 6, has been postponed until the fall. - Cardinals discuss papal priorities in final pre-conclave meeting (Vatican News)
On May 6, at their final general congregation before the papal conclave, the members of the College of Cardinals continued their discussion of the challenges facing the universal Church and the priorities that the next Pontiff should face. Matteo Bruni, the director of the Vatican press office, reported that 26 cardinals had addressed the assembly. The previous day, the cardinals had held an extra afternoon session to accommodate all the prelates who wished to speak. Bruni identified the topics only in general terms, saying that the talks covered “the reforms of Pope Francis that need to be carried forward: legislation on abuse, economic issues, the Roman Curia, synodality, work for peace, and care for creation.” - Pontifical commission calls on cardinals to act against abuse, support rigorous disciplinary measures (Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors)
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has published a call to prayer for the cardinals of the Church. The commission prayed that the cardinals “give priority to the safeguarding and protection of the people of God and the importance of effective policies and procedures. May they contemplate their responsibility for the children, women and men who have been harmed in the life of the Church.” The commission added: Let no consideration for reputation impede our paramount responsibility to take action on behalf of those who have been abused. Inspire our cardinals to be leaders for protection and safeguarding, defenders of the innocent, and advocates for the abused. Inspire a conversion to safeguarding to accountability, transparency, and protection of the vulnerable. May they embrace the priority of accountability for rigorous policies and procedures and disciplinary measures. - Cardinals issue call for peace (Vatican News)
At their last general congregation before the opening of the papal conclave, the College of Cardinals issued an appeal for world peace. The statement issued from May 6 meeting noted “with regret that there has been no progress in advancing the peace processes in Ukraine, the Middle East and so many other parts of the world, and that on the contrary, attacks have intensified, especially against the civilian population.” The cardinals made a plea for a ceasefire “without preconditions of further delay,” and negotiations to resolve in both conflicts. - Conclave officials take secrecy oath (Vatican News)
Vatican officials who will assist the cardinals during the coming papal conclave took an oath of secrecy on May 6, following the procedures set forth by Pope John Paul II in Universi Dominici Gregis for the conduct of the conclave. The support staff—including those who will provide security, transportation, health care, and technical services for the cardinals, as well as confessors—each swore individually to maintain the secrecy of the proceedings in perpetuity, unless specifically released by a new Pope. - Ring and seal of Pope Francis ceremoniously destroyed (CNA)
At their May 6 meeting, the College of Cardinals witnessed the destruction of the papal ring worn by Pope Francis and the seal he used for official documents. The destruction of the papal ring and seal—the symbols of his authority—are among the last tasks carried out by the camerlengo after the death of a Pontiff. - 'Stir things up,' late Pope urged young people in video (Vatican News)
More than 100,000 people gathered in Mexico City for Vitae Fest, a youth festival. During the festival, the youth watched a video recorded by Pope Francis for the occasion. “You are not gathered to stay silent, but to stir things up, to create some movement, with joy, to receive a message and to share a message,” Pope Francis said. “There are many ugly things in the world, and we have to fix them.” - Trump administration to investigate state law challenging confessional seal (Department of Justice)
The Department of Justice has announced an investigation into a new law in the state of Washington that would require priests to divulge information about child abuse even if it was obtained in a sacramental confession. The Justice Department said that the legislation “appears on its face to violate the First Amendment” by infringing on religious freedom. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dillon added, “Worse Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Worse, the law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals.” - Trump administration defends mail delivery of abortion pills (Politico)
The Trump administration is defending regulations set by the Biden administration that allow for online sales and mail distribution of the abortion pill mifepristone. Federal attorneys are defending the regulations against legal challenges brought by three states seeking to restrict distribution of the abortion pills. During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump said that he would not restrict access to the pills, but would leave regulation up to the states. - New bishop withdraws opposition to New Jersey grand-jury probe (Philadelphia Inquirer)
The Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, has announced that it will no longer oppose a grand-jury investigation of the Church’s handling of sex-abuse complaints. Legal challenges by the Camden diocese have blocked a statewide investigation since 2021. Last month New Jersey’s top court heard arguments in the case, in which the diocese contended that the state lacks authority to investigate a religious body. But Bishop Joseph Williams, who was installed in March, has directed diocesan attorneys to withdraw the opposition. “We’re not going to block a grand jury,” he said. - AI image of Trump as pope was 'not good,' Cardinal Dolan tells reporters (CNS)
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said that an AI-generated image of President Donald Trump as pope, posted on presidential and White House social media accounts, was “not good.” “I hope he didn’t have anything to do with that,” said Cardinal Dolan. The New York State Catholic Conference tweeted: There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us. - Trump denies posting papal meme (New York Times)
President Trump has denied that he was personally involved in posting an image that showed him arrayed in papal vestments, which appeared on his social-media accounts. “I had nothing to do with it,” the President told reporters, saying that someone else had posted the image. Asked about people who were offended by the image, Trump replied: “They can’t take a joke.” He said that Catholics were not offended: “The Catholics loved it.” - More...