Ep. 4 - A cardinal speaks; the 'final contest' begins

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Vatican experts Joshua McElwee and Christopher White have an exclusive conversation with Cardinal Michael Czerny about Pope Francis' moving Oct. 19 prayer vigil in St. Peter's Square for migrants and refugees. Czerny, a key papal ally and the head of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, also speaks briefly about the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. "The needs of God's people … are very acute and very pressing," he says. In this episode, McElwee and White also speak with the distinguished Australian leader Susan Pascoe about her experience participating in the Oct. 4-29 assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Pascoe, who has been involved with every level of the three-year synod process, says the assembly members feel a responsibility "to keep an integrity and an authenticity" to the process, and to represent Catholics' real concerns. "There's also an awareness that we're a privileged group here in Rome and winning the hearts and minds of all that need to be involved -- all the bishops, all the priests, all the religious, all the lay people -- it's a massive exercise," she says. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. Relevant links: Christopher White's reporting on the opening session of the synod's final week: Synod enters final week recalling Vatican II and the church's 'living tradition' Christopher White's reporting on the testimony at the Synod of Bishops about an LGBTQ suicide: Story of LGBTQ youth's suicide led synod delegates to cry, Radcliffe reveals Catholic News Service coverage of Pope Francis' Oct. 19 prayer vigil: At synod prayer service, pope calls for immigration reform with a heart Catholic News Service coverage of Cardinal Michael Czerny's remarks at an Oct. 19 Vatican briefing on the Synod: Church hierarchy has 'nothing to fear' from synodality, cardinal says Catholic News Service coverage of Pope Francis' call for a day of fasting and prayer for the Israel-Palestine conflict, and other global conflicts: Pope calls for world day of prayer for peace as catastrophe looms in Gaza