Pope Francis began the month of August by modifying a crucial part of the Catholic Church Catechism.
The change applied to section 2267, which previously established the death penalty as “an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good.” The Holy Father changed the Church's position, rendering capital punishment inadmissible.
A few days later, the pope continued with changes in the Holy See, naming a new Vatican No. 3 official.
The new substitute for General Affairs of the Secretary of State is Edgar Peña Parra, a Venezuelan who is a former nuncio in Mozambique and Pakistan. Parra now holds one of the most politically important posts in the Vatican.
Following the publication of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's report revealing widespread clerical sexual abuse in the state for decades, Pope Francis wrote a letter to the people of God.
In it, the Holy Father stated, “With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives. We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them.”
In late August, Pope Francis traveled to Ireland to close out the 9th World Meeting of Families. While addressing couples at Dublin Cathedral, he shared a personal anecdote as an example of how to communicate the faith to children.
POPE FRANCIS
“I remember once, I was 5 years old, I went into the house and I was in the dining room. Dad came home from work, and in front of me, Mom and Dad kissed. I'll never forget it. How nice! He was tired from work but had the strength to express his love for his wife. Let your children see you like this, caressing, kissing, hugging.”
Later that evening, the Holy Father attended the vigil, where he reminded the estimated 70,000 people gathered at Croke Park Stadium of their fundamental role in the world and the Church.
POPE FRANCIS
'You all, families, are the hope of the Church and the world. With your testimony of the Gospel, you can help God achieve His dream, you can help join all children of God, so that they grow in unity and learn what it means for the entire world to live in peace as one big family.”
The following morning, Pope Francis traveled to the Shrine at Knock to pray the Sunday Angelus. After meeting with sexual abuse victims for around 90 minutes on Saturday, the Holy Father entrusted his intentions to Mary's intercession and explained the Church's duty of reconciliation and reparation going forward.
POPE FRANCIS
“None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence and left scarred by painful memories. This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice. I beg the Lord’s forgiveness for these sins and for the scandal and betrayal felt by so many others in God’s family.”
The pope concluded the World Meeting of Families with a Mass in Dublin's Phoenix Park on Sunday afternoon. As he had done various times throughout the visit to Ireland, the Holy Father once again asked for forgiveness for the abuses committed in the country.
POPE FRANCIS
“In a special way, we ask pardon for all of the abuses committed in various types of institutions run by male or female religious and by other members of the Church. We ask forgiveness for the times that as a Church, we did not show the survivors of whatever kind of abuse compassion and the seeking of justice and truth through concrete actions. We ask forgiveness for some members of the Church's hierarchy that did not take charge of these painful situations and kept quiet. We ask for forgiveness.”
On the return flight to Rome, Pope Francis had to address some controversy. A former Vatican high official, Carlo María Viganò, had recently published a letter accusing Pope Francis of covering for former Cardinal McCarrick and demanding the pontiff's resignation.
While speaking with journalists, the pope refused to comment on the document.
POPE FRANCIS
“Read it carefully and make your own judgment. I will not say a single word about it. I believe the statement speaks for itself, and you all have the journalistic capacity to draw your own conclusions.”
In subsequent days, the conflict continued to unravel, leaving both the U.S. Church and the Vatican in a tense situation at the end of August.
