Council of Cardinals discusses global situation, Synod, role of women in Church

The meetings took place from 15-16 April at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. Tuesday’s session began with a report by Cardinal Mario Grech and Msgr. Piero Coda on the current Synod. The meeting concluded after a reflection on the implementation of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium in diocesan curias, and with reports by each Cardinal on the social, political and ecclesial situation of the different regions of origin. During the meetings “there were references dedicated to realities of war and conflict” in different parts of the world, “particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine”. The Council members and the Pope “expressed concern about what is happening and the hope that efforts to find paths of negotiation and peace will be strengthened”.

The Cardinal also discussed “the role of women in the Church”, and participants listened to the reflections of Sr Regina da Costa Pedro of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Immaculate, “who shared real life stories and thoughts of a number of Brazilian women”, and Prof. Stella Morra of the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University who spoke about the way various cultures appreciate the role of women in different parts of the world.

The Council of Cardinals will meet again in June.