Contenuti per la categoria: Chiesa cattolica

Constitutional-canonical considerations on the margins of the Study Document on Primacy and Synodality in Ecumenical Dialogues

ABSTRACT: L’articolo esamina la valenza costituzionale-canonica del recente Documento di studio Il Vescovo di Roma. Primato e sinodalità nei dialoghi ecumenici e nell’enciclica Ut unum sint elaborato dal Dicastero per la Promozione dell’Unità dei Cristiani (2024). La prima parte (ricognitiva generale) descrive la struttura complessiva del Documento ed evidenzia la portata degli argomenti a favore del primato e i principi fondamentali della comunione ecclesiale individuati, sottolineando le principali convergenze e i contrasti ermeneutici. La seconda parte (giuridico-esplorativa), prendendo spunto dall’utilità di una lettura anche giuridica del testo, analizza la ristretta impostazione giuridica di fondo del Documento, le potenzialità e i limiti dei livelli dell’articolazione della comunione ecclesiale (locale, regionale e universale) e della struttura comunitaria, collegiale e personale proposti. Gli spunti e le aperture sostanziali dei dialoghi ecumenici superano le insufficienze metodologiche ed epistemologiche. Il bene del primato universale rappresenta un valore largamente riconosciuto e anelato. La sensibilità ecumenica spinge a cercare una forma di esercizio del papato più autorevole e ponderata e a rispettare la flessibilità e diversificazione disciplinare tipica del sistema ecclesiale.

ABSTRACT: The article examines the constitutional-canonical significance of the recent Study Document The Bishop of Rome. Primacy and Synodality in Ecumenical Dialogues and the Encyclical Ut unum sint prepared by the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity (2024). The first part (general recognitions) describes the overall structure of the Document and highlights the scope of the arguments in favor of primacy and the fundamental principles of ecclesial communion identified, pointing out the main convergences and hermeneutical contrasts. The second part (juridical-exploratory), taking its cue from the usefulness of a juridical reading of the text as well, analyzes the Document's narrow underlying juridical approach, the potentialities and limitations of the levels of the articulation of ecclesial communion (local, regional and universal) and the proposed communal, collegial and personal structure. The substantive insights and openings of ecumenical dialogues overcome methodological and epistemological inadequacies. The good of universal primacy represents a widely recognized and yearned-for value. Ecumenical sensitivity urges the search for a more authoritative and thoughtful form of exercise of the papacy and respect for the flexibility and disciplinary diversification typical of the ecclesial system.

Some ‘adjustments’ to the regulations on Vatican magistrates. Criticalities of the Apostolic Letter in the form of a «Motu Proprio» by the Supreme Pontiff Francis amending the Law on the Judicial Order, the Law on Provisions for the Professional Dignity and Economic Treatment of Ordinary Magistrates of the Court and the Office of the Promoter of Justice and the General Regulations of the Pension Fund dated March 27, 2024 

ABSTRACT: Il contributo prende in esame i contenuti della recente Lettera Apostolica in forma di “Motu Proprio” tramite cui sono state introdotte significative modifiche all’ufficio e allo status dei magistrati vaticani, sotto più profili (da quelli riguardanti la disciplina della responsabilità civile a quelli in materia economica e previdenziale) dai quali traspare, trasversalmente, un indirizzo di tendenziale agevolazione. Esse appaiono tanto più degne di nota in considerazione del particolare momento in cui sono state adottate, ponendosi a margine di una vicenda processuale che a suo modo può offrire perlomeno delle suggestioni al loro riguardo. In modo specifico, però, i cambiamenti apportati incontrano un termine di paragone di notevole utilità non solo nel raffronto con la situazione precedente alla riforma, ma soprattutto nelle innovazioni che hanno riguardato negli ultimi anni il diritto canonico (da cui emerge il ricorrere di errori di stesura normativa di stampo analogo) e nella disciplina italiana che regola la stessa materia (dal confronto con la quale si rendono manifeste analogie e divergenze potenzialmente rivelatrici).

ABSTRACT: The essay examines the content of the recent Apostolic Letter in the form of a “Motu Proprio” through which significant changes were introduced in relation to the office and status of Vatican magistrates, about multiple profiles (from those concerning the discipline of civil liability to those in economic and social security matters) from which a general trend in their favor emerges. They appear all the more noteworthy in consideration of the peculiar moment in which they were adopted, placing themselves on the sidelines of a court case which, in its own way, can offer at least some suggestions in their regard. In particular, however, the changes that were made find a considerably useful term of comparison not only in the situation prior to the reform, but above all in the innovations that have affected canon law in recent years (from which one can notice the recurrence of errors of legislative

The mediation of the Holy See in the process of normalization of Cuban-American bilateral relations 

ABSTRACT: This article aims to illustrate the fundamental stages and final moments of the singular and complex mediation conducted by the Holy See in the Cuban-American dispute, whose greatest success was the signing in the Vatican in 2014 of a protocol for the normalization of relations bilateral agreements interrupted in the aftermath of the Castro Revolution. In particular, the specificity, in terms of diplomatic dynamics, of this pontifical initiative is analysed, which inaugurated a new phase of negotiations in the stagnant talks that had already begun secretly in Canada between the two parties in 2011. Finally, the system of agreements of medium level concluded between the parties after the re-establishment of normal diplomatic channels, achieved thanks to the proactive role of the Pope and Vatican diplomacy.

SOMMARIO: 1. L’attitudine della Santa Sede nell’affaire cubano. Prodromi e primi segnali di disgelo - 2. Lo stallo dei negoziati tra Washington e L’Avana e l’intervento vaticano. La proposta di facilitazione di Papa Francesco - 3. Portata e natura dell’iniziativa pontificia: ‘mediazione’ o ‘buoni uffici’? - 4. Conclusione dell’accordo e ripristino di rapporti diplomatici e bilaterali - 5. Notazioni finali.

About a recent formal Note of the Holy See on the legal doctrine of 'discovery'. Towards a revirement of the traditional orientation? 

ABSTRACT: This article intends to conduct an brief analysis on the significance of some recent pronouncements of the Catholic Church that question the foundations of the traditional doctrine of discovery, which has been forged by the colonial powers since the sixteenth century and has found particular expression in the nineteenth-century legislation and jurisprudence of the courts of several countries, including the United States and Canada.

SOMMARIO: 1. Gli esordi del colonialismo nel ‘Nuovo Mondo’ e il ruolo della Chiesa cattolica - 2. Presupposti teorici e ricadute della doctrine of discovery sulla giurisprudenza circa gli American Indians. Il sistema canadese delle Residential Schools - 3. La Nota formale a cura del Dicastero per la Cultura e l’Educazione e per il Servizio dello Sviluppo Umano Integrale del 30 marzo 2023 – 4. Prime reazioni delle Conferenze episcopali della regione a margine del pronunciamento curiale - 5. Aspetti internazionali del problema e rilievi conclusivi

Christian conception of history in Carl Schmitt’s Thought

ABSTRACT: The aim of this essay is to analyse the Christian conception of history in Carl Schmitt’s thought, already developed in his previous works, but again recalled and reworked in the 1950s, in order to hinder the technological drift of society. In particular, in outlining this new and different temporal horizon, Schmitt, on the one hand, recalled the solitary and prophetic intuitions of Donoso Cortés and, on the other, the mysterious figure of the katéchon, or rather, one of the most meaningful concepts of Schmitt’s theological-political Weltanschauung.

SOMMARIO: 1. Un nuovo e terrificante scenario - 2. Tramonto o rinascita dell’eone cristiano? - 3. Katéchon versus Éschaton.

Mutual Collaboration in the Service of the Human Person between the Catholic Church and States after the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and the Villa Madama Agreements

ABSTRACT: The article examines the ways of expressing the sana cooperatio between the Holy See and the political community in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council and the Villa Madama Accords. It will focus on the its characteristic traits as emerging from the pontificates of John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis and then examine the instruments of cooperatio, in particular the role of the Secretariat of State, the papal nuncios and the concordats.

SOMMARIO: 1. Premessa - 2. Chiesa e comunità politica all’epoca dei tre papi “stranieri” - 2.1 Giovanni Paolo II - 2.2 Benedetto XVI - 2.3 Francesco - 3. Gli strumenti della sana cooperatio.

The Supervision of the economic administration of the Roman Curia

ABSTRACT: This paper analyses the new system of supervision of the economic administration of the Roman Curia introduced by the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium. Then, it focuses on the role that has been recently assigned in this area to the ‘Istituto per le Opere di Religione’ (IOR) and on that of the Vatican penal jurisdiction, both of which constitute highly innovative elements.

SOMMARIO: 1. Le fonti normative della riforma - 2. Gli organismi di vigilanza - 3. Le plurime tipologie di vigilanza - 4. Analisi del nuovo sistema di vigilanza sull’amministrazione economica della Curia Romana - 5. Il ruolo peculiare dell’Istituto per le Opere di Religione - 6. La duplicazione del sistema di vigilanza tra Curia Romana e IOR - 7. Aspetti positivi del sistema e sue criticità - 8. Vigilanza canonica e supplenza della giurisdizione penale vaticana - 9. Osservazioni conclusive.

The perspective of 'Praedicate Evangelium' regarding liturgical abuses

ABSTRACT: The paper examines the transformations made by the Ap. const. Praedicate Evangelium [= EP] regarding the contrast of liturgical abuses. Beginning with the problem of celebratory propriety that emerged in the context of postconciliar disbandment, it first examines the essential features of the case of abusiveness (the frequency of the conduct, the erroneous presumption of justification for the conduct, and the prominence of the authoritative condition) and, then, the main magisterial and papal directive interventions. Article 66 PB outlined a specific supervisory function on the part of the Congregation for Worship. PE, indulging the criterion of decentralizing co-responsibility, stimulates awareness of its own attributions and the specific responsibility of the bishops in ensuring the observance of liturgical norms. Article 96 EP therefore makes explicit the duties of the episcopal office and the supporting and assisting role of the Dicastery. The elimination of abusiveness is expressly linked with increased liturgical formation. The normative change does not change the essence of ecclesial discipline; however, it requires a qualitative leap in the pastoral solicitude of bishops (the most significant contribution is the deontological call). An in-depth theoretical and practical study of the problem of liturgical abusiveness, without trespassing on casuistry, can help complete the cultural and regulatory turnaround underway.

SOMMARIO: 1. Il sentito problema della correttezza celebrativa - 2. L’inquadramento della fattispecie abusiva - 3. Gli interventi magisteriali e direttivi pontifici - 4. La disciplina dell’art. 66 della ‘Pastor bonus’ - 5. Il nuovo approccio di ‘Praedicate Evangelium’ - 5.1. Il contesto della riforma curiale - 5.2. L’art. 96 di ‘Praedicate Evangelium’ - 5.3. La responsabilità episcopale - 6. L’opportuno collegamento con la formazione liturgica - 7. Un mutamento disciplinare o attitudinale?

Environmental protection in the Catholic social teaching

ABSTRACT: This short essay aims to analyse the evolution of the Catholic social teaching regarding environmental protection. Starting from a famous article by T. Lynn White in 1966, the Judaic-Christian doctrine on the men-nature relationship has been frequently qualified as a strongly anthropocentric one, being also considered as an ideological premise of men's exploitation of the environment and, as a consequence, of the actual ecological crisis. This contribution, moving from the analysis of the Catholic social teaching on environmental safeguard and of some relevant theological, historical and social issues, explains why this idea needs to be rejected and try to imagine which role the Catholic Church, and Christianity in general, can have in facing the environmental crisis in the future.

SOMMARIO: 1. Introduzione - 2. Il rapporto uomo-ambiente nel contesto teologico contemporaneo - 3. Nascita e primo sviluppo del magistero pontificio in materia di tutela ambientale. - 4. Questione ambientale, interesse sociale e responsabilità morale - 5. Cultura, morale e rispetto dell’ambiente - 6. Le prospettive di una ecologia integrale - 7. Riflessioni conclusive.

Financing of the Holy See, transparency of destination and patrimonial administration

ABSTRACT: The essay analyzes the topic of the economic and financial management of the Holy See’s patrimony and in particular the reforms implemented during the pontificates of Benedict XVI and Francis which ensure greater transparency of financial operations. In carrying out its universal mission, the Church relies on transparent and efficient asset management. All those who manage the Church’s patrimony must administer it wisely, avoiding the performance of speculative operations in order to preserve the economic value of the assets, which are instrumental to all Church activities. Because of this, the Vatican judicial system has also been strengthened to prevent and eventually repress abuses in the management of ecclesiastical patrimony. It must be stressed, however, that, excessive garantism in the management of Vatican finances could risk hindering the Holy See’s activities. In this sense, the essay also reflects on the advisability of bypassing the ordinary system of financial transparency in peculiar circumstances in order to guarantee the Holy See’s evangelization activities.

SOMMARIO: 1. Introduzione - 2. La gestione finanziaria - 3. Le norme di gestione patrimoniale della Santa Sede: dalla Pastor Bonus alla Praedicate Evangelium - 4. Riflessioni conclusive.