Pope Francis announced the decision to convene the consistor, or assembly of cardinals. His date has not been given due to the fact that the Pope has been in the infirmary since February 14. The pope's decision sparked a wave of speculation. Questions arose as to whether there were another motives for the decision to conven the consistor. Will Francis resign from office like Benedict XVI?
In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced an unexpected decision to resign during the consistory on the canonization of martyrs from Otranto in Apulia in the 15th century. Questions arose as to whether Francis wanted to communicate something more to them during specified a gathering with Cardinals. Earlier, the Vatican State Secretary Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who visited the Pope at the hospital, declared that the voices of his eventual resignation were “unnecessary speculation”.
During almost 12 years, Francis presided over 10 consistors on the appointment of fresh cardinals and 12 on canonization. The planned consistory concerns the canonization processes of the 2 blessed: Giuseppe Gregorio Hernandez Cisnerosa from Venezuela and Bartolo Longo from Italy. It will take place after the commission of cardinals and bishops in the Dicastery of Canonization Affairs has advocated the announcement of the saints of 2 seculars.
The date of the consistory has not yet been established due to Francis' illness and the deficiency of further forecasts of its course. Initially, it was announced that Francis would stay in the Gemelli Polyclinic until at least 2 March. But after these announcements, his condition deteriorated, and it has only been 2 days since the doctors reported a slight improvement. They besides explained that even after the Pope returned to the Vatican, he would gotta proceed a treatment that would not be short.
Consistor's announcement can besides be interpreted as a clear signal of Pope's determination to overcome the illness and proceed the ministry, even in a limited formula. According to Vatican sources, Francis is active in preparing for the consistor and wants it to be a success. The consortium will take place in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican and will be attended by cardinals and bishops from all over the world.
According to statistics, since registration in 1587, the consistory has been held 137 times. Pope Francis is the ninth pope to call the consistory in the 21st century. In Polish media, the consistory is commented on as a historical event that can have a crucial impact on the Catholic Church.
The manager of the Press Office of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni, stated that the consistory would take place “in due time” and that the Pope was “involved” in the preparation. The consitor will be broadcast live by Vatican tv and will be available on the authoritative Vatican website.
In Poland, the consistor is commented on by experts and journalists. The manager of the Institute of Sociology of the University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, prof. Janusz Mariański, stated that the consistory is simply a “important event” for the Catholic Church and may have a “significant” impact on the future of the Church. The editor-in-chief of the weekly “Sunday Guest”, Marek Raus, stated that the consistory is simply a “event” that can “change” the Catholic Church.
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