Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-regina-coeli-15-april-2018-resurrection-body.html

Regina Coeli: Resurrection shows Christian perspective on body
15 April 2018, 17:08

Pope Francis greets the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square for the weekly Regina Coeli address
In his reflection on the day’s Gospel, Pope Francis emphasizes the reality of Christ’s bodily Resurrection.
By Christopher Wells

The Resurrection of Jesus was at first inconceivable to the Apostles, Pope Francis said in his weekly address for the Regina Coeli. And so, when He appeared to them, they thought they were seeing a ghost.

Jesus rose with His physical body
 
But, the Pope said, the Risen Jesus is not a phantasm; He is a man, with a body and a soul. That’s why, in Sunday’s Gospel reading, the Risen Lord shows His disciples the wounds in His hands and feet, and invites them to touch Him and see that He is a man of flesh and blood. When even this is not sufficient, the Lord asks the Apostles for something to eat. When they hand Him a piece of broiled fish, “Jesus takes it and eats it in front of them.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/regina-coeli-address-on-the-realism-of-the-resurrection-full-text/
Regina Coeli Address: On the Realism of the Resurrection (Full Text) 

Video at the link below--
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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-parish-visit-rome-meeting-parishioners.html#.WtSAAcuVxXk.twitter

Pope meets with young and old during parish visit
16 April 2018, 12:34

Pope Francis listens to a young boy during his parish visit on Sunday  (Vatican Media)
During his visit to the parish of Saint Paul of the Cross, in the Corviale neighbourhood of Rome, Pope Francis met with the faithful before celebrating the Sunday Mass
By Christopher Wells

As is customary in his visits to Roman parishes, Pope Francis took the opportunity to meet with parishioners of St Paul of the Cross before celebrating Sunday Mass for the community.

Ahead of the liturgy, Pope Francis met with young children in catechism courses, as well as the elderly, the poor, and the sick members of the parish; and later heard the confessions of several people.
 
God has "the heart of a dad"
 
Finally, one little boy, overcome with emotion, was unable to ask his question—so the Pope invited him to come up and whisper in his ear. “He was weeping for his father” who had died a short time ago, Pope Francis said, “and he had the courage to do so in front of us, because of the love he has in his heart for his dad.” The young boy asked if his father, who was not a believer, is in heaven.

“He was a good man,” the boy said, and Pope Francis took up that thought. “It is a beautiful witness” he said, when a man’s sons can call him good. Answering the boy’s question, the Pope said only God can know who is in heaven. “But how does the heart of God look upon such a dad?” he asked. “God has the heart of a dad,” he continued, and God would not allow such a father to remain far from Him.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-parish-visit-rome-mass-homily.html
The joy that makes us young
In his homily on Sunday at the Roman parish of St Paul of the Cross, Pope Francis spoke about the joy felt by the disciples when they saw the Risen Lord.
By Christopher Wells
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-04/pope-mass-follow-jesus-faith-self-interest.html

Pope at Mass: ‘Follow Jesus out of faith, not self-interest’
16 April 2018, 12:49

In his homily at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta on Monday morning, Pope Francis said there are two ways of following Jesus: out of self-interest in his miracles or through faith in his word.

Pope Francis at Mass on Monday warned against following Jesus out of self-interest in his miracles rather than through faith in his word. He invited us to refresh our memory of the wonderful things God has done in our lives, so as to respond with love.

Self-interest of the crowd

The Pope reflected on the day’s Gospel (John 6:22-29), in which the crowd wanted to make Jesus a king after the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Jesus, he said, rebuffed them, saying “you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.”

Pope Francis pointed out the two elements of Jesus’ response. On the one hand, he said, they were seeking Jesus in order to feel his Word in their hearts, that is, out of faith. On the other, they were merely curious to see his miracles. The Holy Father said these were good people but their faith was a little too curious and self-seeking.
 

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Video at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-benedict-birthday-16-april-2018.html

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrates his 91st birthday
16 April 2018, 09:40

April 16 marks Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's 91st birthday. He will be spending the day quietly in the 'Mater Ecclesia' Monastery in the Vatican, where he lives.

The day of Joseph Ratzinger’s birth has been seen by some as a sign of Divine Providence. It was certainly a sign of things to come. The future Pope Benedict XVI was born on Holy Saturday, April 16th 1927. His birthplace is Marktl-an-Inn, a tiny village less than an hour’s walk away from Altoetting, the most important Marian Shrine in Bavaria.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/04/16/pope-joins-meeting-to-prepare-synod-for-the-amazon/

Pope joins meeting to prepare synod for the Amazon
Junno Arocho Esteves
Apr 16, 2018

(Credit: CNS photo/Vatican Media.)
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis met with members of the preparatory council for the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon region, which will take place in Rome in October 2019.

Meeting in Rome April 12-13, the presynod council worked with Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, to finalize the preparatory document and related questionnaire for the special assembly next year.

The council members and several experts on the Amazon, who were invited to attend, discussed the pastoral needs in the territory, especially the need “for a more incisive inculturation of the Gospel for the people who live there, particularly the indigenous people,” the Vatican said in a statement April 14.

They also “reflected on the ecological crisis affecting the region and underlined the need for promoting an integral ecology along the lines” of the pope’s 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” the Vatican said.

Announcing the gathering of bishops last October, the pope said the synod will seek to identify new paths of evangelization, especially for indigenous people who are “often forgotten and left without the prospect of a peaceful future, including because of the crisis of the Amazon forest,” which plays a vital role in the environmental health of the entire planet.

The theme chosen by Francis for the synod is: “The Amazon: New paths for the Church and for an integral ecology.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-04/pope-francis-santa-marta-the-church-needs-prophets.html

Pope at Mass: The Church needs prophets
17 April 2018, 12:51

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Casa Santa Marta  (© Servizio Fotografico L'Osservatore Romano)
Pope Francis’s homily on Tuesday morning focused on the liturgical reading that narrates the stoning of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr.
By Linda Bordoni

Speaking during his homily at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said a true prophet is he who is capable of weeping for his people who do not heed him.

He reflected on the liturgical reading of the day in which Stephen accused the people, the elders and the scribes of being stiff-necked people who always oppose the Holy Spirit, and just like their ancestors did, they persecute the prophets.

Francis said that those people did not have open hearts, they did not want to listen to Stephen and they did not remember the history of Israel.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-appeal-alfie-evans-vincent-laurent.html

Pope appeals for Alfie Evans and Vincent Lambert
18 April 2018, 11:15

Alfie Evan's father is received by Pope Francis at the Casa Santa Marta  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis met with the father of seriously ill British toddler Alfie Evans in the Vatican before making an appeal in which he reiterated his call to safeguard the lives of Alfie and of Vincent Lambert.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis renewed his appeal for the respect of the lives of Vincent Lambert and Alfie Evans, reiterating that “the only author of life, from its beginning to its natural end, is God.”

Speaking during the General Audience on Wednesday, the Pope said he wanted to highlight their plights and remind us that “it is our duty to do all that is possible to safeguard life”. “Let us gather in silence and pray so that the lives of all persons, especially of these two brothers of ours, are respected” he said.
 

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Photo gallery at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-general-audience-cross-reminder-baptism.html

Pope at General Audience: ‘Sign of cross reminder of Baptism’
18 April 2018, 12:26

Pope Francis greets young artists at the Wednesday General Audience  (Vatican Media)
In his catechesis at the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis said the sign of the cross is a reminder of who we are and to whom we belong, inviting parents to teach their children to make it correctly.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis continued his catechesis on Baptism at the Wednesday General Audience, inviting parents and godparents to teach children to make the sign of the cross correctly.

He said the priest and parents trace the sign of the cross on the child during the Baptismal liturgy to express “the imprint of Christ on the one who is going to belong to him.” He said it also “signifies the grace of the redemption Christ won for us by his cross.”

Speaking off-the-cuff, the Holy Father urged parents and godparents to teach children to make this sign correctly, because “if they learn it as children, they will make it correctly later as adults.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/general-audience-on-baptism-2-the-sign-of-the-christian-faith/
GENERAL AUDIENCE: On Baptism (Part II): The Sign of the Christian Faith 
April 18, 2018 14:32

Video at the link below--
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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-04/pope-francis-santa-marta-evangelizing-work-spirit.html#.Wthq3pyoKwU.twitter

Pope at Mass: “Evangelization is the Spirit’s work”
19 April 2018, 11:48

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Casa Santa Marta  (Vatican Media)
At Mass in the Casa Santa Marta on Thursday morning, Pope Francis uses the account of Philip’s evangelizing activity in Acts 8:26-40 to explain evangelization using three key words: “Get up”, “draw near”, and “start with an actual situation”.

During his homily at Thursday morning’s Mass, Pope Francis reminded us that every Christian has an obligation and a mission to accomplish: evangelization. “Get up”, draw near”, and “start with an actual situation” are three keys to unlock what evangelization is.

The wind of persecution sows God’s Word

Pope Francis began by explaining that the “wind of persecution” experienced by the early Church drove the disciples out of Jerusalem to other parts of Judea and to Samaria.

Just like the wind does with seeds from plants, it transports and sows them elsewhere, so also it happens here: they went elsewhere, with the seed of the Word, and they sowed the Word of God… From the wind of persecution, the disciples brought evangelization…. This is how the Lord evangelizes…. This is how the Lord wants us to evangelize.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-benedictine-anniversary.html#.WtiQKSCCbpY.twitter

Pope Francis marks anniversary of Benedictine Confederation
19 April 2018, 12:35

Pope Francis marks anniversary of Benedictine Confederation
In a meeting marking the 125th anniversary of the Confederation, the Pope recalled the vital work of hospitality, education and dialogue that Benedictines have contributed to the Church throughout the world
By Philippa Hitchen

Pope Francis met on Thursday with a group of Benedictine abbots and monks who are marking the 125th anniversary of the foundation of their confederation.

In his words to the group, the Pope highlighted the work of hospitality, education and dialogue for which the Benedictines are renowned in countries across the globe.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-pastoral-visit-alessano-molfetta.html

Southern Italy awaiting Pope on Friday
19 April 2018, 15:36

Pope Francis is visiting Alessano and Molfetta on April 20 to commemorate the 25th death anniversary of Bishop Tonino Bello, known for his pastoral outreach and works of peace.

Pope Francis will be on a brief trip to southern Italy on Friday to commemorate the 25th death anniversary of a popular Italian bishop known for his pastoral zeal and works of peace.  The Pope will fly to the towns of Alessano and Molfetta associated with Bishop Tonino (Antonio) Bello of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi, whose cause for beatification was opened in 2007.

The Pope will fly in the morning from Rome's Ciampino Airport to the Galatina military airport, on the heel of Italy, from where he will board a helicopter to Alessano, the town where Bishop Tonino was born and later buried.  Pope Francis will visit the tomb of the bishop and meet some of his relatives.

After addressing the faithful of Alessano, Pope Francis he will fly north to the port town of Molfetta, where Bello was bishop and where he died.  He will say Mass in the cathedral and then fly back to Rome where he is schedule to arrive at around 1:30 pm.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2018-04/pope-francis-alfie-evans-bambino-gesu-mariella-enoc.html

Bambino Gesu reiterates offer to care for Alfie Evans
19 April 2018, 16:07

In an interview with the President of the Vatican’s Bambino Gesu pediatric hospital, Mariella Enoc says that the hospital is ready to admit him.

After Pope Francis met with Thomas Evans, Alfies father, the Vatican’s Secretary of State communicated to Dr Mariella Enoc the Pope’s desire that she to do everything possible to bring Alfie to the Rome-based Bambino Gesu pediactric hospital.

Dr Enoc says that the medical staff of Bambino Gesu has been in close contact since last July with the hospital in Liverpool where the 23-month old is currently hospitalized with a rare degenerative brain disease.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2018-04/alfie-evans-english-bishops-statement.html#.WthrSd7FR80.twitter
Bishops affirm professional care of hospital in Alfie Evans case
19 April 2018, 11:29
The Catholic bishops of England and Wales issue a statement highlighting the professionalism of staff at Liverpool's Alder Hey hospital
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-alessano-molfetta.html

Southern Italy welcomes Pope Francis to Alessano, Molfetta
20 April 2018, 16:19

Pope Francis visited Alessano and Molfetta on April 20 to commemorate the 25th death anniversary of Bishop Tonino Bello, known for his pastoral outreach and works of peace.

Pope Francis made a brief trip to southern Italy on Friday to commemorate the 25th death anniversary of a popular Italian bishop known for his pastoral zeal and works of peace. The Pope flew to the towns of Alessano and Molfetta associated with Bishop Tonino (Antonio) Bello of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi, whose cause for beatification was opened in 2007.

The Pope left from Rome's Ciampino Airport to the Galatina military airport, on the heel of Italy, from where he boarded a helicopter to Alessano, the town where Bishop Tonino was born and later buried. Pope Francis visited the tomb of the bishop and met some of his relatives.

After addressing the faithful of Alessano, Pope Francis flew north to the port town of Molfetta, where Bello was bishop and where he died. He celebrated Mass in the cathedral and then headed back to Rome
 

Video at the link below--
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-pilgrims-cesena-bologna.html

Pope encourages pilgrims to go forward on their journey of faith
21 April 2018, 14:33

Pope Francis on Saturday addressed some 13,000 pilgrims from the Italian dioceses of Bologna and Cesena and recalled his visit to their communities which took place last year on October 1st.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis recalled his visit to the city of Cesena for the commemoration of the third centenary of the birth of Pope Pius VI, and with a thought also for Pius VII.

He said the memory of these two Bishops of Rome, both of whom were born in Cesena, provided a good opportunity to reflect on the path of evangelization undertaken and on new missionary goals to look ahead to.

'Heirs of Popes Pius VI and VII'

“Heirs of these and other important figures of pastors and evangelizers, you are called to continue on this same path, committing yourselves generously to proclaim the Gospel to your fellow citizens and witnessing it with works, which do not necessarily have to be great” he said.
 

Video at the link below--
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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-mass-ordination-prayer-vocations.html#.WtxgGiiY9zA.twitter

Pope to new priests: Be merciful
22 April 2018, 11:57

Pope Francis incenses deacons during the Mass of Ordination at St Peter's Basilica  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis ordains 16 deacons, including 11 for the diocese of Rome, during Mass at the Basilica of St Peter.
By Christopher Wells

On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis ordained sixteen men to the priesthood, including eleven for the Diocese of Rome. In his homily, based on a pre-set formula for Masses of Ordination, the Holy Father called the new priests to not “grow tired of being merciful.” “Think of your own sins,” he said, “your own miseries, the miseries that Jesus has pardoned. Be merciful!”

The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is observed each year on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In each of the three annual lectionary cycles, the Fourth Sunday of Easter includes a Gospel focusing on the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
 

Video at the link below--
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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-regina-coeli-22-april-2018-summary.html

Discovering our identity as disciples of the Risen Lord
22 April 2018, 14:22

Pope Francis waves from the window of the Apostolic Palace during the weekly Regina Coeli address  (Vatican Media)

The Liturgy helps us to rediscover our identity as disciples of the Risen Lord.

In his reflection at the Regina Coeli, on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Pope Francis said the Liturgy “continues with the intention of helping us rediscover our identity as disciples of the Risen Lord.”

Beginning with the first Reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Father said that St Peter openly declared that the healing of a crippled man was accomplished “in the Name of Jesus,” because there is “no salvation through anyone else.”
 

Video at the link below--
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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-name-feast-jorge-george.html

Pope celebrates his name feast with poor and needy
23 April 2018, 11:46

Pope Francis at lunch with the poor of Molise, Italy, 5 July, 2014. 
Pope Francis was born Jorge (George) Mario Bergoglio to parents of Italian descent on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was baptized at Christmas that year.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Monday marked the feast of his namesake, Jorge (George), in his characteristic unassuming way, spending time with the needy and homeless of Rome, the Office of Papal Charities said in a brief note.  It said that on this occasion it would distribute 3000 ice creams to the poor and homeless who daily come to soup kitchens, dormitories and other places run mostly by Caritas in the Italian capital.

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio  to parents of Italian descent on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  He was baptized Jorge, the Spanish for George, at Christmas that year in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Buenos Aires.  After graduation, Bergoglio he entered the Jesuit novitiate on 11 March 1958 and went for further studies, including philosophy and theology, and also taught literature and psychology.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/04/23/pope-meets-his-advisory-commission-on-child-protection/

Pope meets his advisory commission on child protection
Carol Glatz   Apr 23, 2018
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Pope Francis listens as Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, speaks during a meeting with members of the commission at the Vatican April 21. (Credit: CNS photo/Vatican Media.)
ROME - In its efforts to help advise the pope, the Roman Curia, bishops’ conferences and local churches on protecting minors from abuse, a Vatican commission listened to abuse survivors from Great Britain and discussed the results of Australia’s public inquiry into its country’s institutional responses to abuse.

The plenary assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) April 20-22 was the first gathering with a group of new members appointed in February.

Pope Francis met with the commission members in a private audience April 21 and had met the day before with Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, who is president of the 17 member commission. The commission secretary is U.S. Msgr. Robert W. Oliver, a Boston priest, canon lawyer and former promotor of justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The pope said he wanted to confirm the commission’s statutes, which were issued April 21, 2015, “ad experimentum” for a period of three years, according to a press statement by the commission April 22.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-04/pope-francis-santa-marta-church-balance-motion.html#.Wt8NHNEIuWI.twitter

Pope at Mass: "The Church finds its balance when it is mobile"
24 April 2018, 11:47

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Casa Santa Marta  (Vatican Media)
On Tuesday morning at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis reflects on the readings of the day and the central role of the Holy Spirit in the disciple’s life.

Pope Francis, speaking about the close-mindedness of the doctors of the Law in the Gospel of John (10:22-30), explained how their observance of the law became rigidity. Since they placed themselves at the center, they remained untouched before the works the Holy Spirit accomplishes. Pope Francis highlights their inability to “discern the signs of the times” as a type of prison:

They received a law that was life, but they “distilled” it, they transformed it into an ideology and thus they toss and turn it and are unable to move beyond. Anything new for them is a threat.

Docility to the Spirit

The opposite is true of the child of God for whom the Holy Spirit is central. The Acts of the Apostles (11:19-26) shows us the first disciples who were docile before what was new to them, Pope Francis said. That is the attitude which led them to sow the Word of God in ways that were not tried and true. “They remained docile to the Holy Spirit and accomplished something that was more than a revolution”, the Pope said. They put the Church in motion showing us that a Church can only achieve its balance like a bicycle—only when it is in motion.
 

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https://zenit.org/articles/24th-meeting-of-council-of-cardinals-in-progress/

24th Meeting of Council of Cardinals In Progress 
“C9” Continues Work of Curial Reform
April 23, 2018 11:51

The 24th meeting of the Council of Cardinals is taking place in the Vatican. The C9, as the group is commonly called, is studying the plans for reforming the Apostolic Constitution “Pastor Bonus” on the Roman Curia.

The meeting began this morning and concludes on Wednesday.

The Council of Cardinals consists of the following nine prelates: Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State; Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, archbishop emeritus of Santiago, Chile; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay; Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich; Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, archbishop of Kinshasa, Congo; Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, archbishop of Boston; Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy (not present, in Australia); Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State.

The working sessions are held in the morning from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and in the afternoon, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and are dedicated to further considerations on several dicasteries of the Curia.
 
http://www.mondayvatican.com/vatican/pope-francis-here-are-the-reforms-still-under-discussion
Pope Francis, here are the reforms still under discussion
By Andrea Gagliarducci  On 23 aprile 2018