In an interview with Vatican Radio, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, calls Pope Francis’ encounter of the globe’s Cardinals to study reforming the Roman Curia ‘extraordinarily uplifting,’ and, as the war wages on in Ukraine, praises it as an opportunity to learn from the service of those Cardinals on the front lines.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
As the war wages on in Ukraine, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, says another advantage of this meeting Pope Francis summoned of the world’s Cardinals, is to be with Cardinals who are on the front lines, hear the challenges, and learn from their service.
In an interview with Vatican Radio on Monday, the Cardinal of New York, who serves as Chair of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), reflected on the two-day encounter in the Vatican to discuss reform of the Roman Curia, and specifically highlighted the solidarity of the Cardinals in combating war and helping those in need.
Pope Francis requested for the world’s Cardinals gather together in the Vatican 27-29 August together to reflect on the recently-published Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium on reforming the Roman Curia.
As of UN statistics in July, at least 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the outbreak of the war, with at least 5 million fleeing outside Ukraine to bordering nations, and at least 7 million displaced inside the war-torn nation.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, some 2 million Ukrainians found welcome in Poland, and numerous others in Hungary, Slovakia, and other bordering nations. Some Ukrainians have started to return to their country.
Listening to Cardinals on ‘front lines’
Cardinal Dolan told Vatican Radio that after his own visit to Ukraine and the bordering nations, that being among the other Cardinals of the Universal Church, and those closest to the conflict, has been particularly meaningful.
“That’s another that’s another great advantage of being here,” the Cardinal said.
“The Cardinals, by their very nature, mirror the Church Universal, the catholicity of the Church.”
“To be with them now to talk to Cardinal Péter Erdő of Budapest, who they’ve been so extraordinarily generous and welcoming to be with Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz in Krakow, where they’ve welcomed the people of Poland, close to 4 million refugees.
“To be with these Cardinals who are on the front lines and to hear the challenges, but also to see how uplifting it is to be in service and to hear them so grateful, for the solicitude of the world. That’s a good.”
During his travel to Rome in April, for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic, he sat down with Vatican News, to discuss his upcoming visit to meet with suffering Ukrainian refugees and bring them, and those welcoming them, aid.
The Cardinal of New York also gave his impressions of the discussions taking place among the Cardinals, and in their small groups, calling it a “beautiful experience.”
‘Extraordinarily uplifting’ encounter in the Vatican
“We talk as friends, as brothers, with immense charity and deep love for the Church about very practical issues. It has been extraordinarily uplifting.”
He expressed his appreciation for the encounter.
“I’m glad this has taken place. You look forward to it,” but, to some extent, he suggested, out of a sense of duty.
“But I said, wow, duty is rewarded because this is a very good thing.”
Boots on the ground, wishing to help
Cardinal Dolan’s visit to Ukraine and border countries earlier this year was because the Archbishop of New York happens to be ex-officio, the chairman of the board of CNEWA.
CNEWA was founded a century ago by Pope Pius XI to assist Eastern-rite Catholics, who very often live in persecuted areas and often are under great stress.
There are many Eastern-rite Catholics in the Middle East, India, Ukraine, and in Central and Eastern Europe.
For that occasion, he told Vatican News, “We are very active, having boots on the ground, and wish bring them alms, the gifts that Catholic people have given us to help these people. We want to just embrace them and say, we love you. We have not forgotten about you. We want to pray with you, encourage you and help.”
