Catholic News

• Vatican police make new raid in investigation of London property deal (Reuters)
  Vatican investigators raided the office and residence of Msgr. Alberto Perlasca, former administrative office head in the First Section of the Secretariat of State.
• 'Blessed are the meek': Pope Francis continues reflections on the Beatitudes (Vatican News)
  On January 29, Pope Francis began a series of Wednesday general audiences devoted to the Beatitudes. On February 19 (video), he reflected on the third of the eight Beatitudes: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:3).
• Council of Cardinals editing document to reorganize Roman Curia (Vatican Press Office)
  The Council of Cardinals met at the Vatican this week to read through a draft of the apostolic constitution, Pastor Bonus, which will redefine the organization of the Roman Curia. The draft is now being revised to incorporate suggestions received from prelates in Rome. This week’s working sessions—held Monday through Wednesday, with Pope Francis in attendance at all but the final session—were the 33rd meeting of the Council of Cardinals. The editing process will continue at the next working session in April.
• God asks of us an open heart full of compassion, Pope preaches at weekday Mass (Vatican News)
  At a Mass celebrated in the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae on February 18, Pope Francis preached on Mark 8:14-21, the Gospel reading of the day.
• Kidnapped Nigerian priest has been set free (National Catholic Register)
  Father Nicholas Oboh was abducted last week and has been released after five days in captivity.
• Pope redefines purpose of Caritas Internationalis (Vatican Press Office)
  Caritas Internationalis is the Church’s federation of relief and development agencies. While the Vatican press office announced that there was a “need to redefine the purpose and order of Caritas Internationalis,” Caritas “did not disclose the changes to its statues and internal rules,” CNA reported.
• Bari trip gives Pope a chance to help save Christianity in the Middle East (Crux)
  Fifty bishops from 19 Mediterranean nations have gathered in the Italian city for a five-day meeting; the Pope will meet with them on February 23.
• Cuba's bishops are 'extraordinarily realistic,' New York cardinal says (CNS)
  “My major observation would be my admiration of my brother bishops who seem to be extraordinarily realistic, without losing hope, knowing it’s very difficult times but they have a phenomenal sense of serenity and confidence,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan said following his trip to the Communist nation. “They take opportunities. They have to dialogue with the government. They just seem radiantly confident and serene, while never naïve.”
• 'Bring the novelty and joy of the Gospel wherever you are,' Pope tells Spanish laity (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis sent a message to the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference on the occasion of the National Congress of the Laity in Madrid.
• Italian president honors anti-trafficking nun (Talitha Kum)
  Founded in 2009, Talitha Kum is an international network of consecrated life against trafficking in persons.
• Philadelphia's new archbishop sounds call to 'welcome the outcast' (CatholicPhilly.com)
  “It’s time to come back to the Church,” Archbishop Nelson Pérez emphasized during his installation homily, in which he paid tribute to his predecessor, Archbishop Charles Chaput.
• +Virgil Dechant, 89 (CNS)
  Dechant was supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus from 1977 to 2000.
• Burkina Faso church attack leaves 24 dead (The Guardian)
  The West African nation of 20.3 million (map) is 56% Muslim, 15% Catholic, and 9% Protestant, with 20% adhering to ethnic religions.
• Cardinal Zenari warns of risk of a humanitarian catastrophe in Syria (AsiaNews)
  Cardinal Mario Zenari, 74, has been apostolic nuncio to Syria since 2008.
• Raphael tapestries on display in Sistine Chapel (Vatican News)
  In commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the great Italian Renaissance artist (Encyclopaedia Britannica article), the tapestries “are being displayed in the original location for which they were intended,” the report notes.
• Bishops call for urgent Cameroon peace talks (Global Campaign for Peace & Justice in Cameroon)
  The Anglophone crisis has displaced over 500,000 people in the Central African nation (map).
• Leading South African bishop emphasizes importance of worship, Third Commandment (SACBC)
  “Catholics do not receive communion in the Anglican Church, and vice versa,” Bishop Sithembele Sipuka of Mthatha, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, preached at an episcopal ordination on February 15. “We have not reached this level of communion, and we must not pretend that we have reached it for the sake of being nice to each other, but we must work hard towards it.”
• Indian cardinal decries new abortion act (CBCI)
  “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception,” Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai (Bombay), a member of the Pope’s advisory Council of Cardinals, said following the Indian government’s decision to allow abortion through the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. “The Church has been unwavering in its protection of the sanctity of human life, from conception until natural death. Bishops have the responsibility to spread Christ’s message about the dignity of all human life.”
• Bolivian bishops' official calls for consistency from Christian political candidates (Vatican News)
  “The life we lead is what makes us Christ’s—Christians,” the general secretary of the bishops’ conference preached. “This is fundamental for believers, but it is more fundamental for candidates and, more generally, for politicians who declare themselves Christians. It is not the profession of faith that makes them similar to Christ, but the decisions they make, their morals, the life they lead.”
• Foundation donates $47.5M to Chicago Catholic schools (Archdiocese of Chicago)
  “The Big Shoulders Fund will donate $47.5 million to these 30 [Catholic] schools over ten years and take on their financial risk, with the Archdiocese of Chicago providing $44.9 million,” according to the statement.
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