Saint Joseph Catholic Church

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The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has published a call to prayer for the cardinals of the Church.

The commission prayed that the cardinals “give priority to the safeguarding and protection of the people of God and the importance of effective policies and procedures. May they contemplate their responsibility for the children, women and men who have been harmed in the life of the Church.”

The commission added:

Let no consideration for reputation impede our paramount responsibility to take action on behalf of those who have been abused. Inspire our cardinals to be leaders for protection and safeguarding, defenders of the innocent, and advocates for the abused.

Inspire a conversion to safeguarding to accountability, transparency, and protection of the vulnerable. May they embrace the priority of accountability for rigorous policies and procedures and disciplinary measures.

More than 100,000 people gathered in Mexico City for Vitae Fest, a youth festival. During the festival, the youth watched a video recorded by Pope Francis for the occasion.

“You are not gathered to stay silent, but to stir things up, to create some movement, with joy, to receive a message and to share a message,” Pope Francis said. “There are many ugly things in the world, and we have to fix them.”

The Trump administration is defending regulations set by the Biden administration that allow for online sales and mail distribution of the abortion pill mifepristone.

Federal attorneys are defending the regulations against legal challenges brought by three states seeking to restrict distribution of the abortion pills. During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump said that he would not restrict access to the pills, but would leave regulation up to the states.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Peter Nolasco (1182-1258), born in France, but later settled in Barcelona, Spain. After taking part in the Crusades against the Albigensians, he used his inheritance to free Christian prisoners held by the Moors. He later founded the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians) beginning in 1218 devoted to ransoming Christians.

At their May 6 meeting, the College of Cardinals witnessed the destruction of the papal ring worn by Pope Francis and the seal he used for official documents.

The destruction of the papal ring and seal—the symbols of his authority—are among the last tasks carried out by the camerlengo after the death of a Pontiff.

Vatican officials who will assist the cardinals during the coming papal conclave took an oath of secrecy on May 6, following the procedures set forth by Pope John Paul II in Universi Dominici Gregis for the conduct of the conclave.

The support staff—including those who will provide security, transportation, health care, and technical services for the cardinals, as well as confessors—each swore individually to maintain the secrecy of the proceedings in perpetuity, unless specifically released by a new Pope.

At their last general congregation before the opening of the papal conclave, the College of Cardinals issued an appeal for world peace.

The statement issued from May 6 meeting noted “with regret that there has been no progress in advancing the peace processes in Ukraine, the Middle East and so many other parts of the world, and that on the contrary, attacks have intensified, especially against the civilian population.” The cardinals made a plea for a ceasefire “without preconditions of further delay,” and negotiations to resolve in both conflicts.