By Matthew Trojacek with CNA Reports – Grzegorz Galazka and CNA photos
April
Thursday 11
Pope decries how “the unborn with disabilities are aborted”
Pope Francis decried how “the unborn with disabilities are aborted” in a speech on April 11 to a Vatican conference on disability inclusion.
The Pope warned that “the throwaway culture” turns into “a culture of death” when people “presume to be able to establish, on the basis of utilitarian and functional criteria, when a life has value and is worth being lived.”
He pointed out that we see this today especially on the two extremes of the spectrum of life — “the unborn with disabilities are aborted and the elderly close to the end are administered an ‘easy death’ by euthanasia.”
According to the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, it is estimated that there are as many as 27,000 abortions annually due to a poor prenatal diagnosis in the United States.
“Every human being has the right to live with dignity and to develop integrally. Even if they are unproductive, or were born with or develop limitations, this does not detract from their great dignity as human persons, a dignity based not on circumstances but on the intrinsic worth of their being,” the Pope declared. (CNA)
Thursday 18
Italian police arrest “most wanted” U.S. fugitive in Saint Peter’s Square
On April 10, Italian police arrested a “most wanted” U.S. fugitive who was carrying three concealed knives in a crowded Saint Peter’s Square outside the Vatican, a judicial source said on April 18.
The fugitive, now in police custody, was identified as Moises Tejada, who is classified as violent by the New York state prison service’s investigations unit. The 53-year-old is listed among the department’s most wanted individuals.
Tejada, whose name has the alternative spelling of Teiada, attracted the suspicion of police who detained him and found he was carrying knives that were 20 cm (8 inches) long.
Saint Peter’s Square was busy with pilgrims and tourists as Pope Francis was holding a general audience that day. It was not clear if Tejada, who has convictions for robbery and kidnapping, posed any threat to the Pope.
Investigators found that Tejada had recently arrived in Rome from Moldova, having previously spent time in Ukraine, fighting against the Russian invasion, la Repubblica reported. (Reuters)
Friday 19
Pope Francis issues motu proprio on Vatican judiciary retirement age and benefits
In the latest move in Pope Francis’s reform of the Vatican judiciary, the Pope issued a new motu proprio on April 19 on the retirement age and benefits for cardinal judges and magistrates in the Vatican’s court system.
The motu proprio states that Vatican magistrates will retire at the end of the judicial year in which they turn 75, and cardinal judges at the age of 80, unless Pope Francis asks them to remain in office beyond the age limit.
The Pope also has the prerogative to dismiss magistrates at any time. Upon the termination of their duties, magistrates will retain the rights to assistance and welfare provided to Vatican citizens and employees. (CNA)
Thursday 25
Papal audience for Catholic President of Hungary
Pope Francis met with Tamás Sulyok, President of the Republic of Hungary, who visited Rome on April 25
On April 25, Pope Francis met with Tamás Sulyok, President of the Republic of Hungary, who later also discussed geopolitical matters with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, accompanied by Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
On social media, President Sulyok, who is Catholic, stated: “Pope Francis received me in a personal audience, and I had a meeting with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. As a devout Catholic, it is a great honor for me to meet the successor of Saint Peter.” (Zenit)
May
Sunday 5
Priest is arrested who sought to enter the Vatican with weapons
On May 5, a Catholic priest of Czech nationality was arrested by the Vatican City Police while carrying a weapon in his hand luggage.
He was trying to enter Saint Peter’s Square, but the Police arrested him after searching his backpack and finding a BB gun, a cutter, and a screwdriver. Although the priest explained that it was a self-defense weapon for personal use, the agents arrested him and confiscated the weapon. The priest also said that the objects in the bag weren’t his.
The priest’s name is Milan Palkovic, 58. He was in Rome with a group of Catholic pilgrims from the Czech Republic. Together with the priest was a companion, probably the owner of the luggage, who gave the backpack to the priest in the belief that he wouldn’t be searched. (Zenit)
Sunday 12
Vatican museums under fire from workers, local residents
Nearly 50 employees of the Vatican Museums have initiated a dispute with the Holy See over alleged poor, unfair, and unsafe working conditions, which could result in a class action lawsuit against Pope Francis’s administration. In a petition sent to Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Government of the Vatican City State, which was first reported on in the press on May 12, attorney Laura Sgrò, who is representing the workers, claimed that current rules cause “labor conditions undermining each workers’ health and dignity.” Sgrò’s letter marks the first step in a mandatory conciliation process under Vatican law, which, if the process fails, could result in the first-ever class action suit being brought to a Vatican court. The Vatican has 30 days to respond with any measures they intend to take before judicial proceedings would be opened. (Crux)
Wednesday 15
Pope blesses “Voice of the Unborn” bell destined for Kazakhstan
Pope blesses “voice of the unborn” bell destined for Kazakhstan.
“The Holy Spirit always raises us to a higher level of selfless and practical love towards the poor, the sick and the vulnerable, such as conceived children.”
Pope Francis offered that reflection during his greetings to Polish pilgrims at his General Audience on May 15.
He praised an initiative that will bring a bell called the “Voice of the Unborn” to Kazakhstan, saying it will “serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting human life from conception to natural death.”
Ahead of the General Audience, the Pope blessed the bell and rang it with two Polish children. The initiative was promoted by the Yes to Life Foundation of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, based in Poland. (VaticanNews)
Monday 20
Vatican envoy attends presidential inauguration in Taiwan
Vatican envoy Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, attended the inauguration ceremony of Taiwan’s new president Lai Ching-te on May 20.
Lai, 64, a member of the ruling nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was elected 8th president of Taiwan on January 13.
The DPP won the election for the third consecutive term despite mounting threats from China, which attempted to influence the polls on the island. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province. (UCANews)
June
Saturday 1
Cardinal Parolin: Possible direct attack on Russia “disturbing”
Speaking to journalists on the margins of a book presentation in Milan June 1, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, said the use of NATO weaponry on targets within Russia — now being considered by NATO members — “should concern every person that cares about the fate of our world.”
“It could lead to an escalation that no one will be able to control; it is a disturbing prospect,” he said.
Sunday 2
Pope joins Corpus Christi procession for first time in years
Pope Francis gave a solemn blessing with the Blessed Sacrament from the steps of the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
Pope Francis gave a solemn blessing with the Blessed Sacrament from the steps of the Basilica of St. Mary Major on June 2, in the culmination of a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Rome.
Holding the monstrance in his hands, the pope offered the blessing on the solemnity of Corpus Christi on June 2, following prayers of adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Crowds lined the streets as the Eucharist was carried under a canopy from the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran to the Basilica of St. Mary Major along the Via Merulana, following the historic route Pope Gregory XIII created for religious processions between the two basilicas during the Jubilee of 1575.
Cardinals, bishops, priests, religious sisters, and families walked together in the one-hour procession, singing hymns and reciting prayers. Curious tourists stopped to ask what was happening and onlookers leaned out their windows to watch as the real presence of Christ passed by.
“We are not doing this to show off or to flaunt our faith but to invite everyone to participate in the bread of the Eucharist, in the new life that Jesus has given us,” Pope Francis said.
