Saint Joseph Catholic Church

L’Osservatore Romano devoted two pages in its May 6 edition to the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II in Europe (May 8, 1945), and Pope Venerable Pius XII’s radio message (Italian, English) the following day.

“It has become ever clearer to me how profound and mysterious this process is, to find a successor to Peter who meets the needs of the present,” he said. “I can give you no insights into who is ahead,” he continued—“not because I cannot do so because of my promise, although I can’t, but because I have no guess.”

“From the bottom of my heart, I wish you every success in your work, necessary and courageous decisions, and above all, God’s abundant blessing,” said Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg. He continued:

Necessary reforms in various areas are just as important as strengthening internal security. Above all, however, social cohesion must prevail, which the Federal Republic needs more than ever. Separatism and nationalist tones must not gain the upper hand.

“You know that the Catholic Church is a reliable and constructive partner in many issues concerning your government program,” the prelate concluded. “Please draw on the expertise that we as a Church can contribute to the political context.”

The edition includes a new preface by the bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. “During the decade since the first publication of this pastoral response to pornography, opposition to this grave evil has weakened among the general population,” the committee states. “The document was needed then, and it is still needed today.”

“To understand the combination of deficit spending and mismanagement that is driving the Vatican into unsustainable debt, Wall Street Journal reporters met officials from the Vatican’s bank, pension fund and regulatory institutions and with cardinals attending this week’s conclave,” the newspaper reported. “Several met in secret, in locations arranged over Signal, citing an atmosphere of suspicion as the Vatican’s balance sheet deteriorates and blame circulates.”

“A group of the successors of the apostles, gathered in a chapel, will choose the servant of the servants of God,” he wrote. “This is what Peter’s successors are called to in order to lead the Church.”

Ruffini said that “this paradox disorients. It confuses both the media and the many centers of power, both large and small, who rack their brains over the identity and the name that will be taken by whoever is elected, and perhaps even try to influence the decision, drawing up scenarios and interpretations that appear to be written in the sand.”

Msgr. Javier Domingo Fernández González, chief of protocol of the Secretariat of State, attended the ceremony, at which Christoph Graf, the Swiss Guard’s commander, spoke.

The Swiss Guard’s swearing-in ceremony, which typically takes place annually on May 6, has been postponed until the fall.

On the afternoon of May 5, members of the College of Cardinals met in their eleventh general congregation since Pope Francis’s death. “About 170” of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals—including 132 of the 133 cardinal electors—were in attendance, the Vatican newspaper reported.