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Barcelona, Spain, Jun 30, 2017 / 11:50 am (CNA/EWTN News).- “Enough with the jokes,” then-Archbishop Juan José Omella Omella of Barcelona said when he got the call.

But it wasn’t a joke: A friend was calling him from St. Peter’s Square to tell him that Pope Francis had just announced his name among the five men who were to become cardinals at a consistory which was held June 28.

After receiving the announcement, Omella continued with his plans for the day, including visiting prisoners. He met with journalists the next morning.

“Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city where people from all over the world go,” he told journalists in Rome this week when asked what it means to serve from the peripheries in his city. “You only have to be at the plaza where the door of the cathedral of Barcelona is for a moment to see that there they speak all the languages, and all races and all cultures pass. Or go to the Sagrada Familia to see the amount of people who come everyday.”

“(T)he Church, after the Council, wants to be the Samaritan Church that accompanies the people of this world and picking up those who suffer, those who don’t have a sense of life, who are in complicated situations such as war,” he said. “I think that the Church must be present in these worlds, and to make them understand that the Pope, [in] drawing and creating cardinals from these areas, [says it’s important that] the Church is present in these areas.”

Cardinal Omella was born in the small town of Cretas in a Catalan-speaking region of Aragon in 1946. In his priestly formation, he studied in Belgium as well as Jerusalem. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Zaragoza in 1970, at the age of 24. He served for a year as a missionary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In 1996, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Zaragoza, and in 1999 made Bishop of Barbastro-Monzón. He was appointed Bishop of Calahorra y La Calzada-Logroño in 2004. In 2015, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Barcelona.

Since his episcopal consecration, Cardinal Omella has been a member of the Spanish bishops' social-pastoral commission.

Among the five men elevated at Wednesday’s consistory, Cardinal Omella, 71, stands out in that his selection for the College of Cardinals is in no way unprecedented, whereas Francis’ other choices had at least one unique aspect about their appointment. Cardinal Omella comes from a traditional cardinalate see – his three predecessors were also cardinals. His immediate predecessor, Cardinal Lluís Martínez Sistach, aged out of the electorate when he turned 80 in April.

“This isn’t about attaining great honors,” Omella told Vatican Radio May 22. “I’m not about making a career, but service.”

The Church has to “unite institutions for the common good, so that no one feels cast aside,” he said. “I believe that it is a job we must do at all levels.”

 

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Berlin, Germany, Jun 30, 2017 / 12:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Archbishop Heiner Koch of Berlin expressed his regret Friday at the German parliament’s vote in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, saying it had abandoned the fundamental characteristics of marriage.

“The fathers of the (German) constitution gave marriage such pride of place because they wanted to protect and strengthen those who, as a mother and father, want to give life to their children.”

“I regret the fact that the legislature has given up on essential aspects of the marriage concept in order to make the latter amenable to same-sex partnerships,” he said June 30.

Lawmakers in Germany's parliament voted in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in the country by changing the definition of marriage in their legal code to include two persons of the same sex.

In a statement reacting to the vote, Archbishop Koch, chairman of the commission for marriage and family of the German bishops' conference, said he also regrets a loss in differentiation between different forms of partnership as a means to “stress the value of same-sex partnerships.”

Regarding different forms of relationship, “differentiation, however, is not discrimination,” he said.

“If the protection of relationships and the assumption of shared responsibility is now provided as a justification for the opening of marriage,” he continued, “then this means a substantial rebalancing of content and a dilution of the classic marriage concept.”

He went on to stress that the Church’s understanding of marriage and its sacramental nature have not changed with the law, and that Catholics must continue to present publically the truth and goodness of the reality of marriage as being between one man and one woman.

“As the Catholic Church, we will now increasingly face the challenge of convincingly presenting the vitality of the Catholic understanding of marriage,” he said. “At the same time, I recall that the sacramental character of our marriage understanding remains unaffected by today's decision in the Bundestag.”

The vote passed the lower house of Germany’s parliament 393 to 226, with four abstentions. The vote, which took place in a sudden and somewhat unexpected manner, was added to Friday's agenda by the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the Greens, and The Left.  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel herself voted against the redefinition, pointing to her belief in marriage as being between a man and a woman.

However, the chancellor paved the way for the vote to take place with the announcement Monday that she had changed her position on adoption by same-sex couples and would allow deputies of her party, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), a free vote, so they could act according to their “conscience,” she said.

Several of those who voted in favor of the change in definition are members of the Central Committee of German Catholics.

The move was opposed by the Christian Social Union in Bavaria, Alternative for Germany (which holds no seats in the Bundestag), and some members of the CDU.

The session was the final before parliament's summer recess and the country's national elections in September.

Representatives of the Church in Germany, including the chairman of the German bishops' conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, spoke out against the measure shortly before the vote.

“The German Bishops' Conference emphasizes that marriage, not only from a Christian point of view, is the bond of life and love of woman and man as a principally lifelong connection with the fundamental openness to life.”

“We are of the opinion that the State must continue to protect and promote marriage in this form,” they stated.

Since 2001, it has been legal for same-sex couples in Germany to enter into civil unions, although now they will be allowed the legal protections of marriage, including the option to adopt children.

From here the legislation goes on to the upper house of Parliament for formal approval. It then requires the signature of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to go into effect, which will likely take place before the end of 2017.

With this change, Germany joins more than 20 other countries that have legalized gay marriage over the last 16 years, including Ireland and the United States in 2015.

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IMAGE: CNS photo/Saul Martinez

By Junno Arocho Esteves

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Latin America's traditional social values of cooperation and solidarity must prevail over the societal ills that threaten the livelihood of the region's inhabitants, Pope Francis said.

The current social and economic crisis facing Latin American countries has allowed for the "growth of poverty, unemployment, social inequality" and a situation in which the planet, "our common home, is exploited and abused," the pope said June 30.

"This is at a level that we never would have imagined 10 years ago. In the face of this situation, an analysis is needed that takes into account the reality of concrete people, the reality of our people," he told members of the Italian-Latin American International Organization.

Founded in 1966, the international organization seeks to increase "economic, social, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation" between Latin American countries and Italy, according to the group's website.

Its 21 member states are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Commemorating the organization's 50th anniversary, the pope said that to achieve the goal of promoting development and cooperation, the organization must first identify the potential of Latin American countries, who are "rich in history, culture, natural resources" and "good and caring" people.

"This has been proven in the face of recent natural disasters in how they have helped each other, becoming an example for the entire international community," he said. "All these social values are there, but they have to be appreciated in order to be empowered."

The Italian-Latin American International Organization, he continued, also must "coordinate efforts" to respond to the challenges facing Latin American countries, and particularly the challenge of migration.

Migration has increased "in a way never before seen," the pope said, and many of those on the move in a search for a better life "suffer the violation of their rights," he said. The risks are especially high for children and young adults who are victims of trafficking or "fall into the networks of criminality and organized crime."

"A joint cooperation policy needs to be developed in order to address this issue," he said. "It isn't about looking for those who are guilty and avoid responsibility, but rather that we all are called to work in a coordinated manner."

Pope Francis said that by promoting a "culture of dialogue" in politics, the Italian-Latin American International Organization can foster an atmosphere that allows for the exchange of ideas and concerns for the good of all people.

"It is a mutual exchange of trust which knows that on the other side there is a brother or sister with a hand outstretched to help, who desires the good of both parties and wants to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and friendship to advance along the paths of justice and peace," he said.

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Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju.

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By Rhina Guidos

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The sunny weather was calling many of Washington's 20-somethings to rooftop pools, outdoor bars and bicycle rides, just as nectar calls birds to flowers, but Francisco Hernandez, 26, and Flor Diaz, 24, decided to spend the summer afternoon and early evening of June 24 in the church basement at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington.

Sometimes the two danced or talked in front of a crowd of about 50, trying to keep the conversation going during their parish meeting marking the first stages of the Encuentro, a four-year-long process of meetings and gatherings aimed at figuring out the needs of Latino Catholics in the U.S.

Around the country, parishioners in many Catholic churches with healthy Latino populations, such as the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, are hosting similar events, which they hope will yield not just information about the up-and-coming group in the church, but also Latino leaders, missionary action and a zeal for Catholic identity in the fastest-rising ethnic population in the church.

Such meetings with Latino Catholics have taken place in the U.S. Catholic Church before and they began as far back as 1972 as a way for the country's bishops to figure out how to better serve Latinos. However, this one seems to be particularly focused on young Latinos such as Diaz and Hernandez.

"We have to tell (the bishops), 'This is what we need' ... but we also have to say, 'This is how we're going to help,'" said Carola Cerezo-Allen to those gathered, as she was leading the late June gathering. "We have to make concrete commitments."

Capuchin Franciscan Father Moises Villalta, the church's pastor, said he sees hope in the process but also would love to see more involvement.

"It's yielded new leaders and that's good," he said. "They've taken the first step ... but I also think about those who haven't responded to the call."

If all goes well with the Encuentro process, which organizers call the "V Encuentro" because it's the fifth time it's taking place, church officials hope it will yield an increase in vocations of Latinos to the priesthood, religious life, permanent diaconate, an increase in the percentage of Latino students enrolling at Catholic schools, and create a group of Latino leaders for the church, as well as increase Latinos' sense of belonging and stewardship in the U.S. church where their numbers are rising.

A 2016 report by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University commissioned by the U.S. bishops showed that more than half of millennial-generation Catholics born in 1982 or later are Hispanic or Latino. Though there is great promise in the number, at the fall 2016 meeting of U.S. bishops in Baltimore, Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley expressed concern that the younger generations of Latino Catholics "is a demographic that is slipping away from the church and I think we have a window of opportunity and the window of opportunity is closing."

Many are joining the rank of the "nones," said Cardinal O'Malley, referring to the growing number of Americans who are choosing to be unaffiliated with any organized religion, and he urged action to retain them.

Pastors on the frontlines, such as Father Villalta, agree and also see a particular urgency in reaching the group. There's always discussion about secularism and the lure of materialism, and certainly those are issues, Father Villalta said, but he also sees an attack on minority youths from authorities and that, in turn, makes them feel less welcome.

"There's a great distrust of them," said Father Villalta about the minority youth. "People paint them as invaders, gang members ... and that's not true, there are a lot of good stories. ... Today, here at Sacred Heart, we had a lot of (young Catholic Latinos) come in their caps and gowns. They graduated from (The Catholic University of America), other universities, high school. They go to school, work two jobs, help their families. ... Those stories are not told. People shouldn't say they're out there doing bad things."

During the Encuentro sessions, Father Villalta has found time during an otherwise busy schedule to reflect on the stories of young Latino Catholics. He hears about their struggles, including separation from their families, immigration woes, domestic violence and family abuse, he said. It helps him figure out way to better tend to them pastorally, but also to reach out to those who aren't in the pews.

In them, he sees part of his past as a participant in the third Encuentro in Washington in the mid-1980s, which he attended as a young man in his 20s. Back then, he had ended up in Washington, fleeing from the war in his native El Salvador.

"I'm a product of the third Encuentro, that's why I'm happy to see the young people here today," he said, recalling that the views of youth weren't necessarily listened to as much then as today. But what was clear back then was the bishops' interest in extending a welcome and seeing what they could do to help Latinos, particularly immigrants like him, in an environment that somewhat resembles a bit of the backlash Latinos are experiencing today, but one in which church leaders expressed welcome. That provided great comfort, he remembers.

With the Encuentro back then, the bishops wanted Latino Catholics to know "that they were thinking about the community, that they saw the community as a blessing for this church. ... It was an openness to Latino ministry," said Father Villalta.

"And now it's our turn to support this new group of youth, to support them as they face challenges and attacks," he said. "We've made great strides, but we have to see what we can do so that they become Catholics full of joy, happy to be active participants in the church."

Flor Diaz, who was attending the meeting, said the process had helped her find motivation, particularly to help others, especially because she's experienced what it's like to be helped by the church.

Even though the church had been important to her as a child, as an adolescent, she had grown distant from religion, she said, until two religious sisters came to pay a visit when she found herself at an immigration detention center in Florida.

"They came to tell me of the love of God, that I was not alone," she told Catholic News Service.

When she left the detention center, she became determined to return to the church but also to help others as she'd been helped. The Encuentro process has provided a way to do that, she said, because it encourages missionary action as a way to deepen her faith. She said she wants to help other Latino youths who are no longer active in the church and might be facing struggles.

"It's given me a way to be part of something," she said.

Francisco Hernandez, too, said he was eager to help, particularly after hearing of the struggles others like him face, and said he wanted them to feel the "joy of returning" to the church, the relief and happiness found in the word of God, he said.

Father Villalta said the process has helped the parish community reflect about what's needed to tend to help younger generations of Latino Catholics -- inside and outside the parish.

"We need a new evangelization," he said. "And there's an urgency. That evangelization will only be possible if we decide to get into the game, to stop being spectators. We have to participate and take that first step."

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Follow Guidos on Twitter: @CNS_Rhina.

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Copyright © 2017 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.

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