Yesterday afternoon an online meeting of the Council of Cardinals took place at 16.00.

Their Eminences Cardinals Óscar A. Rodríguez Maradiaga, S.D.B., Reinhard Marx, Sean Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap., Oswald Gracias and Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap., participated via live link from their countries of residence, while His Eminence Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello and the Secretary of the Council, Bishop Marco Mellino, were connected from the Vatican. The Holy Father followed the proceedings from Casa Santa Marta, while His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin was unable to attend due to previous commitments.

After a welcome address from Pope Francis, the cardinals offered brief contributions to present the situation, also with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic, in the various continents. In this context, Cardinal Gracias thanked the Holy Father for his words and his closeness to the painful situation in Myanmar.

Pope Francis then reiterated the importance of the synodal processes underway at the diocesan and national levels, and how they must be reflected in the broader movement initiated by the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in recent weeks.

Finally, satisfaction was expressed with the recent Moneyval report and the progress made in the Holy See's economic and financial oversight methods.

The meeting ended at 18.00, adjourning to the next meeting, scheduled for September.