A total of 165 cardinals participated in yesterday’s first session of the Extraordinary Consistory with the Holy Father. Twenty-five were unable to attend due to illness or other serious problems, according to a report from the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., following the morning meeting.

Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga explained that the meeting of the Council of Cardinals (the so-called “C9”) which came to an end on Wednesday afternoon, focused primarily but not exclusively on the reform of the Curia; other themes addressed were the regulation of the Synod, the work of the Commission for the Protection of Minors, and relations with the economic entities of the Holy See (COSEA and IOR)…

Pope Francis has appealed for solidarity and aid for migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of refuge.

His call for increased attention and aid follows news of the death of over 300 migrants who have drowned or died of hypothermia  in the latest deadly tragedy of the sea.

In his appeal at the end of the weekly General Audience, the Pope said he is “following with preoccupation news from Lampedusa where there have been more deaths amongst the migrants caused by cold during their journey across the Mediterranean”…

It-Tnejn, 9 ta’ Frar 2015, fil-festa ta’ San Pawl Nawfragu ġiet iċċelebrata mill-komunita’ Maltija f’Ruma. L-Ambaxxata ta’ Malta f’Ruma ħadet ħsieb tpoġġi l-bnadar ta’ Malta u tal-UE, fil-Knisja ta’ San Lorenzo in Damaso fejn il-Kardinal Prospero Grech ċċelebra l-Quddiesa flimkien ma’ tletin qassis u patri Malti u madwar 70 lajk Malti li joqogħdu f’Ruma.

Il-Kardinal Grech waqt l-omelija saħaq li kollox jiddependi mill-Insara sabiex jibqgħu jħaddnu l-Fidi Nisranija tagħna fost ambjent ta’ Nsara li qegħdin imorru kontra l-prinċipji tagħhom u b’hekk qegħdin iħabbtu lill-Ewropa…