ROME—An Ecumenical Council

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 40, 7 December 1905, Page 27

ROME — An Ecumenical Council

Of much importance to the whole Church is the news given by the Abbe Odelin to a representative of the ' Gaulois ' on his return to France from Rome, where he has been as a member of the ' Workingmen's Pilgrimage.' The Abbe, uho had a special audience with the Pope, states that as soon as the Separation Bill has been passed by the French Senate the Bishops will hold a general meeting;, and with the approval of the Holy See will adopt resolutions to meet the new situation. His Holiness, the Abbe added, intends to convoke an Ecumenical Council so soon as eiicumstances will permit. It will sit at Rome, and will be a continuation of the Vatican Council, which was interrupted in 18?,0. There is certainly an ample programme of work for a Council to undertake. There are the social and educational questions, and numerous administrative matters which might wcil receive attention. The reunion of the Churches, a subject to which Leo XIII. devoted so much thought, the bearing of modern discoveries on Biblical criticism, and the position created for the religious Orders will also, it may be assumed, receive consideration from the Council.