Catholic Fire

The Pontifical Council for Culture studied the role women play in society and in the Church. For a year, several women took part in the research. Now the results will be starting point of a three-day discussion, as this Vatican council will celebrate its Plenary Assembly under the theme  "Women's Cultures: equality and difference.” CARD. GIANFRANCO RAVASI President, Pontifical Council for Culture "We won't discuss women's culture in itself, but rather the way women see it. Women have a specific way of understanding the world that has its own characteristics.” During the three-day meeting, the members of the council will try to track these characteristics. In particular, they will talk about the differences between men and women, and how they can help each other to avoid uniformity. ANNAMARIA TARANTOLA President RAI "Women don't have to imitate the "male model” of doing things. There are two models that together are important. That is, ...

This coming Sunday, almost 500 disadvantaged children will arrive at the Vatican on a special red train, where they will be greeted by Pope Francis as part of their “Journey of Beauty.” The project focuses on children, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi explained, “because I think that therein lies the root from which we must build a generation of young persons who still have ... the beauty of creativity – that doesn't seem old at the start – who aren't already discouraged the way we are but who are ready to live more the future that awaits them.” The “Children’s Train: A Journey of Beauty” was unveiled during a June 18 press conference at the Vatican’s press office by Cardinal Ravasi, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and other organizers. Read the full story.

February 8, 2013. (Romereports.com) During its plenary session, the Pontifical Council for Culture made it a point to discuss some of the issues and problems young people are dealing with. Cardinals attending the meeting said that speaking to the youth, listening to their issues, and offering a different point of view, brought them closer to some of the challenges younger generations face.  Read more.

February 7, 2013. (Romereports.com) Every two years the Pontifical Council for Culture meets for their plenary assembly. This time around, youth culture took center stage, quite literally, to kick off the gathering to the sound of rock music. The Vatican is convinced that to reach young people, they must first learn about their culture. As a start, the Pontifical Council for Culture invited the rock band The Sun to kick off the plenary assembly with a concert, as well as their personal story of conversion. Despite the tough crowd, their music eventually won them over. FRANCESCO LORENZI Vocalist, The Sun “We had let ourselves get carried away by the excesses of a musician's life, so alcohol, drugs, women and at the end that tour, when we returned home, we were empty inside. The absurd thing was to see that this was our greatest moment professionally, but inside we had created a void. We didn't speak to each other, and above all we lacked inspiration. That's how we b...