VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 116
DATE 23-06-2014

Summary:
- ANGELUS: THE LOVE OF GOD IS WITHOUT MEASURE
- CHRISTIANS AGAINST TORTURE
- THE POPE BEGINS HIS PASTORAL TRIP IN CALABRIA WITH DETAINEES IN CASTROVILLARI
PRISON
- TO THE PRIESTS: CHOOSE BROTHERHOOD
- MASS IN SIBARI: THOSE WHO TAKE THE PATH OF EVIL ARE EXCOMMUNICATED
- THE ROACO HOLDS ITS 87TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY
- CARDINAL TOMKO, POPE'S SPECIAL ENVOY IN UKRAINE
- THE ORIENTAL CHURCHES
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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ANGELUS: THE LOVE OF GOD IS WITHOUT MEASURE
Vatican City, 23 June 2014 (VIS) - At midday Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study to pray the traditional Sunday Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. The Holy Father commented that today Italy and many other countries celebrate the feast day of the Body and Blood of Christ, "Corpus Domini" or "Corpus Christi", in which the ecclesial community gathers around the Eucharist to adore the most precious gift that Jesus left to her.
In the Gospel of St. John we find the narrative on the "bread of life", spoken
by Jesus in the synagogue of Capernaum, in which He states: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world". Pope Francis explained, "Jesus says that he has not come into this world to give something, but to give himself, his life, as nourishment for those who have faith in him. Our communion with the Lord commits us, his disciples, to imitate him, making of our lives, with our attitudes, a bread broken for others, just as the Master broke the bread that is truly His flesh".
"Whenever we participate in Holy Mass and are nourished by the body of Christ,
the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit works within us; it shapes our hearts, it communicates inner attitudes that transform within us into modes of behaviour in accordance with the Gospel. Firstly, docility to the Word of God, then fraternity among Christians, the courage of Christian witness, the creativity of charity, the ability to give hope to the disheartened, and to welcome the excluded. In this way the Eucharist helps the Christian lifestyle to mature in us. Christ's charity, received with an open heart ... changes us, transforms us, makes us capable of loving not according to a human measure, which is always limited, but according to God's measure, and God's measure is without measure".
"And then we become able to love even those who do not love us", continued the
Pontiff, "and it is not easy. If we know that a person does not love us we tend
not to like that person. But no! We must love those who do not love us! We must
oppose evil with good, we must forgive, share, welcome others. Thanks to Jesus and his Spirit, even our life becomes 'bread broken' for our brothers. And, living in this way, we discover true joy! The joy of making oneself a gift, to reciprocate the great gift that we have first received, without any merit on our part.
Francis concluded his brief reflection by urging the faithful to recall two things: first, that "the measure of God's love is to love without measure", and
that our life, "with Jesus' love, receiving the Eucharist, transforms our life into a gift".

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CHRISTIANS AGAINST TORTURE
Vatican City, 23 June 2014 (VIS) - This coming June 26 will be the United Nations' Day for Victims of Torture. Pope Francis took the opportunity to reiterate his "strong condemnation of all forms of torture" and encouraged Christians to make every effort to collaborate in its abolition and to support the victims and their families. "Torturing people is a mortal sin, a very grave
sin".

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THE POPE BEGINS HIS PASTORAL TRIP IN CALABRIA WITH DETAINEES IN CASTROVILLARI PRISON
Vatican City, 21 June 2014 (VIS) - Pope Francis began his pastoral visit to Cassano all'Jonio by meeting the detainees at the Castrovillari penitentiary. He expressed the closeness of the Church to every man and woman in jail all over the world, and reminded them of Jesus' words: "I was in prison and you came to me".
The Pope arrived by Vatican helicopter at Castrovillari at 9 a.m., and walked the short distance to the prison where he was received by the director, Fedele Rizzo, and after listening to a short address one of the detainees on the forecourt outside the prison, he gave the following discourse:
"When we talk about prisoners, we often underline the theme of respect for the
fundamental rights of man and the need for the conditions in which the sentence
is served to correspond. This aspect of prison policy is certainly essential and a high level of attention must be maintained in this respect. But this approach is not sufficient, if it is not accompanied and completed by concrete commitment by institutions with a view to the effective reinsertion within society. When this objective is neglected, the fulfilment of the sentence is reduced to a mere instrument of punishment and social retaliation, damaging to both the individual and to society. And God does not do this, with us. God, when He forgives, accompanies us and helps us along the road. Always, and even in small things. When we go to confess, the Lord says to us, 'I forgive you. But now, come with me'. And He helps us to return to the path. He never condemns. He never forgives alone; He forgives and accompanies. And then, we are fragile and have to return to confession again, all of us. But He never tires. He always takes us by the hand again. This is God's love, and we must imitate Him! Society must imitate Him, and take this path".
"On the other hand, the true and full rehabilitation of the person does not occur as the end point of a merely human progression. In this path there is also the encounter with God, the capacity to allow ourselves to be looked upon by God, Who loves us. It is more difficult to place ourselves before God's gaze
than to look at God. It is more difficult to let ourselves be met by God than it is to meet God, because there is always resistance within us. And He waits for us, He watches us, He always seeks us. This God, Who loves us, Who is able to understand us, able to forgive our mistakes. The Lord is a master of rehabilitation: He takes us by the hand and restores us to the social community. The Lord always forgives, He always accompanies, He always understands; we must let ourselves be understood, forgiven, and accompanied".
"I hope that for every one of you here, this time will not be wasted, but that
it can instead become valuable time during which you may ask for and obtain this grace from God. In this way, first of all you will contribute to improving
yourselves, but at the same time also the community, as, for better and worse, our actions influence others and the whole of the human family".
"I convey my affectionate greetings to your families; may the Lord grant you the possibility to embrace them again in serenity and peace. Finally, I wish to
offer encouragement to all those who work in this house: the directors, the police guards, and all other staff. I impart a heartfelt blessing to you all, and entrust you to the protection of Our Lady, our Mother. And please, I ask you to pray for me, because I to make my errors and must do penance. Thank you".

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TO THE PRIESTS: CHOOSE BROTHERHOOD
Vatican City, 21 June 2014 (VIS) - After his encounter with the detainees at Castrovillari, the Holy Father transferred by helicopter to Cassano all'Jonio where he landed at around 11 a.m., and was welcomed by the local authorities in
the "Pietro Toscano" sports field. From there, he went on to the nearby "San Giuseppe Moscati" centre for the elderly, where he spoke with residents. Finally, in the cathedral, he met with the priests of the diocese and delivered
the text of his address based on two themes: the joy of the priesthood and the beauty of brotherhood.
"I wish to share with you the ever-new surprise of having been called ... by the Lord Jesus", he writes. "Called to follow Him, to stay with Him, to bring Him to others. ... When we are before the Tabernacle ... Jesus' gaze renews us.
Effectively, it is not easy to stay there, before the Lord, as we are always busy with so many things, with so many people ... but at times it is not easy also because Jesus' gaze unsettles us ... and challenges us. But this is good for us! In the silence of prayer, Jesus enables us to see whether we are like good workers, or if we have become rather like 'functionaries'; if we are open and generous channels through which His love and His grace flow, or if instead we place ourselves at the centre, and in the place of channels we become 'screens' which do not help in the encounter with the Lord, with the light and strength of the Gospel".
The beauty of fraternity is that of "following the Lord ... not one by one, but together, with our great variety of gifts and personalities; indeed, it is precisely this that enriches the priesthood: this variety in terms of provenance, age, and talents. ... It is all lived in communion, in fraternity".
He adds, "and this too is not easy, it is not immediate or to be taken for granted. Firstly because we priests, too, are immersed in today's subjectivist culture, this culture that exalts the 'I' to the point of idolatry. And then also due to a certain pastoral individualism that is unfortunately widespread in our dioceses. We must therefore react to this with the choice of fraternity.
I refer intentionally to 'choice'. It cannot simply be something that is left to chance; ... no, it is a choice, that corresponds ... to the gift that we have received but which must always be welcomed and cultivated: communion in Christ I in the priesthood, around the bishop. This communion needs to be experienced by seeking concrete forms suitable to the times and the specific situation of the territory, but always with an apostolic view, with a missionary style, with fraternity and simplicity of life".
Pope Francis adds a third theme: that of staying with families and working for
them. "It is a task that the Lord asks of us especially in this time that is difficult both for the family as an institution and for families affected by the crisis. But it is precisely in difficult times that God makes us aware of His vicinity, His grace and the prophetic strength of His Word. And we are called upon to be witnesses and mediators of this vicinity to families and this
prophetic strength for the family", he concludes.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 119
DATE 26-06-2014

Summary:
- YOUNG ASTRONOMERS, PROMOTERS OF PEACE AND JUSTICE
- MAY THE ORIENTAL CHURCH MAINTAIN THE CERTAINTY THAT THE FIRE OF THE PENTECOST
PREVAILS OVER HATRED
- PRESENTATION OF THE INSTRUMENTUM LABORIS FOR THE NEXT SYNOD ASSEMBLY IN OCTOBER
- DELEGATION FROM ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE TO VISIT ROME
- AUDIENCES

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YOUNG ASTRONOMERS, PROMOTERS OF PEACE AND JUSTICE
Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) - "Seeing all of you here today is like looking at a marvellous mosaic made up of people from throughout the world. It is only right that men and women everywhere should have access to research and scientific training", said the Pope to young astronomers from 23 different countries who are currently participating in a course organised by the Vatican Observatory School in Astrophysics on the theme "Galaxies: Near and Far, Young and Old", whom he received in audience this morning. "The hope that one day all
peoples will be able to enjoy the benefits of science is one which spurs all of
us on, scientists in particular".
He commented that the Vatican Observatory School in Astrophysics is "a place where young people the world over can engage in dialogue and collaboration, helping one another in the search for truth, which in this case is concretised in the study of galaxies. This simple and practical initiative shows how the sciences can be a fitting and effective means for promoting peace and justice. Here too we see a further reason for the Church's commitment to dialogue with the sciences on the basis of the light provided by faith: it is her conviction that faith is capable of both expanding and enriching the horizons of reason. In this dialogue, the Church rejoices in the marvellous progress of science, seeing it as a sign of the enormous God-given potential of the human mind, even
as a mother rejoices and is rightly proud as her children grow in wisdom, and age and grace".
The Holy Father encouraged those present to share the knowledge they have acquired about the universe with people in their own countries. "Only a fraction of the global population has access to such knowledge, which opens the
heart and the mind to the great questions which human beings have always asked:
Where do we come from? Where are we going?" he concluded. "The search for an answer to these questions can lead us to an encounter with the Creator, the loving Father, for 'in him we live and move and have our being'".

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MAY THE ORIENTAL CHURCH MAINTAIN THE CERTAINTY THAT THE FIRE OF THE PENTECOST PREVAILS OVER HATRED
Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) - The Pope embraces all the Churches of the East and is close to their faithful, whose tears, fears and hopes are also ours, a sentiment he manifested this morning, receiving in audience the participants in the assembly of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches, also recalling the comfort, encouragement, and at the same time, the responsibility he encountered during his recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
"The olive tree which I planted in the Vatican Gardens together with the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Presidents of Israel and Palestine, is a symbol of that peace which is secure and enduring only because it is cultivated
by many hands. Those who would cultivate the plant of peace must never forget that God alone gives the growth. True peace, the peace which the world cannot give, is a gift to us from Jesus Christ. For all the grievous attacks it endures today, peace can always flourish again. I am grateful that you continue
to 'make peace grow' through charity, which is the ultimate aim of all your organizations. With unity and charity Christ's disciples strive to be peacemakers everywhere, in all peoples and communities, and to overcome persistent forms of discrimination, starting with those based on religion".
"First among those called to be peacemakers are our brothers and sisters of the Oriental Churches, together with their pastors. Hoping at times against all
hope, remaining in the place of their birth where the Gospel of the incarnate Son of God was first proclaimed, may they experience the blessedness reserved to those who are peacemakers: 'they will be called children of God'. And may they always feel the support of the universal Church and never falter in their conviction that the fire of Pentecost, the power of Love, can halt the fire of arms, hatred and vengeance", he exclaimed. "Their tears and their anguish are ours, as well as their hope! We can express this through our solidarity, if it is one which is concrete and effective, capable of ensuring that the international community upholds the rights of individuals and peoples".
Francis expressed the closeness of the Catholic Church to the brothers and sisters in Syria and Iraq, along with their bishops and priests. "The Church is
likewise close to our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land and the Middle East, but also to the beloved people of Ukraine in the critical situation in which they find themselves, and to the people of Romania. This closeness and concern is expressed in the works which your agencies carry out. I urge you to continue your generous efforts to help them. Your works of relief and assistance in nations most affected by these crises respond to basic needs, particularly of those who are powerless and most vulnerable, as well as the many young people tempted to leave their homeland. And since communities of Eastern Christians are present worldwide, you are working everywhere to bring relief to the displaced and to refugees, restoring their dignity and their security in full respect for their identity and religious freedom".
Finally, Pope Francis encouraged the participants in the assembly to pursue the goals set in their last Plenary Session, especially those regarding the training of young people and teachers, and uniting them with their interest for
the family, especially in view of the upcoming Synod on this theme. He concluded, "the Holy Family of Nazareth, 'which knew anxiety ... as well as the
pain of persecution, emigration and hard daily labour' teaches us 'to trust the
Father, to imitate Christ and to let ourselves be guided by the Holy Spirit'".

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PRESENTATION OF THE INSTRUMENTUM LABORIS FOR THE NEXT SYNOD ASSEMBLY IN OCTOBER
Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) - A press conference was held in the Holy See
Press Office this morning to present the Instrumentum Laboris of the 3rd Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (5-19 October 2014) which will focus on "pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelisation". The speakers were Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops; Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, and relator general of the 3rd Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops; Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris, France and delegate president; Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto, Italy, and special secretary, and Professors Francesco Miano and Pina De Simone.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 121
DATE 30-06-2014

Summary:
- THE POPE RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE KING FELIPE VI ON HIS FIRST FOREIGN ENGAGEMENT - POPE FRANCIS' PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY
- PASTORAL VISIT TO MOLISE
- TO THE NEW METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOPS: SEEK THE ESSENTIAL AND PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL, ESPECIALLY TO THE LEAST AMONG US
- ANGELUS: GOD IS ALWAYS CAPABLE OF TRANSFORMING US
- POPE FRANCIS' NEW APPEAL FOR PEACE IN IRAQ
- A CHRISTIAN WITHOUT MARY IS AN ORPHAN
- MADAGASCAR: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION ON THE PATH TO RECONCILIATION AND STABILITY
- ECUMENISM: LET US SEE OURSELVES ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN, NOT THE HISTORICAL CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SINS
- THE POPE CANCELS HIS VISIT TO THE GEMELLI HOSPITAL
- GOD IS NOT AFRAID OF HIS BONDS WITH US
- THE AIF SIGNS INFORMATION SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE USA OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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THE POPE RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE KING FELIPE VI ON HIS FIRST FOREIGN ENGAGEMENT
Vatican City, 30 June 2014 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace Pope Francis received in audience Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin,
accompanied by Mgsr. Antoine Camilleri, under-secretary for Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, satisfaction was expressed for today's visit, their first trip abroad as reigning monarchs, which follows the recent visit by
King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia on 28 April. It is hoped that this may mark the strengthening of the existing good relations between the Holy See and Spain.
The conversation focused on themes of common interest and the importance of promoting dialogue and collaboration between the Church and the State for the good of all Spanish society. Finally, mention was made of various problems of an international and regional nature, paying particular attention to areas of conflict.

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POPE FRANCIS' PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY
Vatican City, 30 June 2014 (VIS) - The Pope's universal prayer intention for July is "that sports may always be occasions of human fraternity and growth".
His prayer intention for evangelisation is "that the Holy Spirit may support the work of the laity who proclaim the Gospel in the poorest countries".

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PASTORAL VISIT TO MOLISE
Vatican City, 30 June 2014 (VIS) - This coming 5 July, the Pope will visit the
Italian region of Molise. He will depart from the Vatican heliport at 7.45 a.m.
and, after an hour's journey, will land at the heliport of the University of Molise in Campobasso. At 9 a.m. he will meet with a group of representatives from the world of work and industry in the Great Hall of the University. At 10.30 a.m. he will preside at a Eucharistic celebration at the old Romagnoli Stadium and, to conclude, will greet a group of sick people at the Cathedral of
Campobasso and lunch with the poor at the "House of Angels".
At 2.30 p.m. he will transfer by helicopter to Castelpetroso, where he will encounter a group of young people from the diocese of Abruzzo and Molise in Piazza del Santuario di Castelpetroso. At 4 p.m. he will travel by car to Isernia, where he will meet with the detainees in the local prison. He will greet the sick in the Cathedral of Isernia and, in the surrounding square, will
meet with all the citizens and announce the Celestine Jubilee Year. Finally, he
will depart for Rome from the heliport of the Isernia fire service. He is expected to arrive in the Vatican around 8.15 p.m.

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TO THE NEW METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOPS: SEEK THE ESSENTIAL AND PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL, ESPECIALLY TO THE LEAST AMONG US
Vatican City, 29 June 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican basilica, on the occasion of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Francis imposed the pallium - symbol of the bond of unity with the see of Peter - on twenty-four new metropolitan archbishops. It will be imposed on a further three
- the archbishops of Lilongwe, Malawi; Mandalay, Myanmar; and Freiburg im Bresgau, Germany - in their metropolitan sees.
Pope Francis concelebrated the Eucharist with the new archbishops. As is customary on the feast day of the patron saints of Rome, the event was attended
by a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, sent by the
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios I and led by Metropolitan of Pergamo Ioannis
(Zizioulas), co-president of the Mixed Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.
In his homily, the Holy Father spoke about various problems and the two issues
the clergy can be led to face as a result: fear, and the pastoral responsibility for combating it. He began by considering the beginning of Peter's service in the Christian community of Jerusalem, where fear still reigned because of Herod's persecution of members of the Church.
"There had been the killing of James, and then the imprisonment of Peter himself, in order to placate the people. While Peter was imprisoned and in chains, he heard the voice of the angel telling him, 'Get up quickly... dress yourself and put on your sandals... Put on your mantle and follow me!'. The chains fell from him and the door of the prison opened before him. Peter realised that the Lord had 'rescued him from the hand of Herod'; he realized that the Lord had freed him from fear and from chains. Yes, the Lord liberates us from every fear and from all that enslaves us, so that we can be truly free.
Today's liturgical celebration expresses this truth well in the refrain of the Responsorial Psalm: 'The Lord has freed me from all my fears'".
"The problem for us, then, is fear and looking for refuge in our pastoral responsibilities. I wonder, dear brother bishops, are we afraid? What are we afraid of? And if we are afraid, what forms of refuge do we seek, in our pastoral life, to find security? Do we look for support from those who wield worldly power? Or do we let ourselves be deceived by the pride which seeks gratification and recognition, thinking that these will offer us security? Dear
brother bishops, where do we find our security?"
"The witness of the Apostle Peter reminds us that our true refuge is trust in God. Trust in God banishes all fear and sets us free from every form of slavery
and all worldly temptation. Today the Bishop of Rome and other bishops, particularly the metropolitans who have received the pallium, feel challenged by the example of Saint Peter to assess to what extent each of us puts his trust in the Lord. Peter recovered this trust when Jesus said to him three times: 'Feed my sheep'. Peter thrice confessed his love for Jesus, thus making up for his threefold denial of Christ during the passion. Peter still regrets the disappointment which he caused the Lord on the night of his betrayal. Now that the Lord asks him: 'Do you love me?', Peter does not trust himself and his
own strength, but instead entrusts himself to Jesus and his mercy: 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you'. Precisely at this moment fear, insecurity and cowardice dissipate".
"Peter experienced how God's fidelity is always greater than our acts of infidelity, stronger than our denials. He realises that the God's fidelity dispels our fears and exceeds every human reckoning. Today Jesus also asks us: 'Do you love me?'. He does so because he knows our fears and our struggles. Peter shows us the way: we need to trust in the Lord, who 'knows everything' that is in us, not counting on our capacity to be faithful, but on his unshakable fidelity. Jesus never abandons us, for he cannot deny himself. He is
faithful. The fidelity which God constantly shows to us pastors, far in excess of our merits, is the source of our confidence and our peace. The Lord's fidelity to us keeps kindled within us the desire to serve him and to serve our
sisters and brothers in charity".
"The love of Jesus must suffice for Peter. He must no longer yield to the temptation to curiosity, jealousy, as when, seeing John nearby, he asks Jesus: 'Lord, what about this man?'. But Jesus, before such temptations, says to him in reply: 'What is it to you? Follow me'. This experience of Peter is a message
for us too, dear brother archbishops. Today the Lord repeats to me, to you, and
to all pastors: Follow me! Waste no time in questioning or in useless chattering; do not dwell on secondary things, but look to what is essential and
follow me. Follow me without regard for the difficulties. Follow me in preaching the Gospel. Follow me by the witness of a life shaped by the grace you received in baptism and holy orders. Follow me by speaking of me to those with whom you live, day after day, in your work, your conversations and among your friends. Follow me by proclaiming the Gospel to all, especially to the least among us, so that no one will fail to hear the word of life which sets us
free from every fear and enables us to trust in the faithfulness of God. Follow
me!".

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ANGELUS: GOD IS ALWAYS CAPABLE OF TRANSFORMING US
Vatican City, 29 June 2014 (VIS) - After celebrating Mass in the Vatican basilica with the new metropolitan archbishops, the Pope appeared at the window
of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, as on every Sunday. He remarked that ever since ancient times, the Church of Rome has celebrated the apostles Peter and Paul in a single festivity
on the same day, 29 June, so that "the faith in Jesus Christ which made them brothers and martyrs made them into a single entity".
"St. Peter and St. Paul, so different from each other from a human point of view, were chosen personally by the Lord Jesus and responded to His call, offering all their lives. In both, Christ's grace achieved great things, transforming them. Simon had denied Jesus in the dramatic moment of the passion; Saul had harshly persecuted Christians. But both welcomed God's love and allowed themselves to be transformed by His mercy; they thus became friends
and apostles of Christ. They therefore continue to speak to the Church and even
nowadays they show us the path of salvation. If we too fall prey to the gravest
sins and the darkest night, then God is always able to transform our heart and forgive us everything, thus transforming the darkness of our sin into a dawn of
light".
He went on to cite the Acts of the Apostles, which demonstrate many aspects of
their witness. "Peter, for example, teaches us to look to the poor through the eyes of faith and to give them that which is most precious: the power of the name of Jesus. This is what he did with the paralytic; he gave him what he had,
which was Jesus". And the episode of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus,
the fulcrum of his life, "clearly marks a before and after. Before, Paul was an
arch-enemy of the Church. After, he placed all his existence at the service of the Gospel. Also for us, the encounter with the Word of Christ is able to completely transform our lives. It is not possible to listen to this Word and stand firm, unswayed in our habits. It gives us the impetus to defeat the selfishness we have in our hearts, to follow decisively that Master who gave His life for His friends. But it is He Who, with His word, changes us; it is He
Who transforms us; it is He Who forgives everything, if we open our hearts and ask for forgiveness".
This feast day inspires great joy in us, because it places us before the work of God's mercy in the hearts of two men. It is the work of God's mercy in these
two men who were great sinners. And God wishes to fill us too with His grace, as He did with Peter and Paul. May the Virgin Mary help us to welcome it as they did, with an open heart, and not to receive this grace in vain! And may she support us in the hour of need, to give witness to Jesus Christ and His Gospel".

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POPE FRANCIS' NEW APPEAL FOR PEACE IN IRAQ
Vatican City, 29 June 2014 (VIS) - "The news from Iraq is, unfortunately, very
painful", said the Holy Father after today's Angelus prayer. "I join with the bishops of the country in their appeal to the authorities so that, through dialogue, national unity may be maintained and war avoided. I am close to the thousands of families, especially Christians, who have had to leave their homes
and who are in grave danger. Violence begets violence; dialogue is the only path to peace. Let us pray to the Virgin Mary that she might safeguard the people of Iraq".

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A CHRISTIAN WITHOUT MARY IS AN ORPHAN
Vatican City, 30 June 2014 (VIS) - On Saturday afternoon, in the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens, the Pope met with a group of young people from the diocese of Rome embarking on a vocational journey. "This visit to the Virgin is very important in our lives", he said. "She accompanies us also in our definitive choice, the vocational choice, as she accompanied her Son on his
vocational path which was so hard and so painful".
"When a Christian says to me, not that he does not love the Virgin, but rather
that it does not come to mind to look to the Virgin or to pray to the Virgin, I
feel sad", he said, adding that "a Christian without the Virgin is an orphan. A
Christian needs these two women, these two mothers, two virgin women: the Church and Our Lady. And to 'test' a true Christian vocation, it is necessary to ask oneself, 'how is my relationship with these two Mothers?".

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 126
DATE 09-07-2014

Summary:
- MOTU PROPRIO ON THE TRANSFER OF COMPETENCES TO THE SECRETARIAT FOR THE ECONOMY
- NEW ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE HOLY SEE
- DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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MOTU PROPRIO ON THE TRANSFER OF COMPETENCES TO THE SECRETARIAT FOR THE ECONOMY
Vatican City, 9 July 2014 (VIS) - The following is the Apostolic Letter issued
'Motu proprio' by the Holy Father Francis on the transfer of the Ordinary Section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See to the Secretariat of the Economy.
"Confirming a centuries-old tradition, the last Vatican Council II reaffirmed the need for the organisation of the Holy See to conform to the needs of the times, above all by adapting the structure of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, their number, denomination and competence, as well as their approaches and mutual coordination, to the real needs of the Church at every moment.
A concrete result of these principles occurred with the promulgation in February 2014 of the Apostolic letter, in the form of a Motu Proprio, Fidelis Dispensator et Prudens, by which I instituted the Secretariat for the Economy as a dicastery of the Roman Curia. In accordance with the recommendations of the Council for the Economy, the Secretariat is responsible for the economic control and supervision of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the Institutions
linked to the Holy See, and the administrations of Vatican City State.
In view of the above, and upon consulting the heads of the dicasteries involved, I consider it appropriate for the Secretariat of the Economy to assume among its institutional competences, from now on and in accordance with the methods and times established by the relative Cardinal Prefect, those tasks
which were previously attributed to the so-called 'Ordinary Section' of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and, therefore, to transfer to the aforementioned dicastery the competences which the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor bonus' of 28 June 1988 had entrusted to that Section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See. As a consequence, the
Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See will no longer be divided into sections and, in the future, it will carry out only those functions previously performed by the Extraordinary Section.
Consequently, having carefully examined every question regarding the matter and consulting with the competent dicasteries and experts, I establish and decree as follows: Article 1
The text of Article 172 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor bonus' is entirely substituted by the following text:
1. This Office shall administer the assets belonging to the Holy See allocated
to provide the funds necessary for the performance of the functions of the Roman Curia.
2. The Office shall also administer the moveable assets entrusted to other bodies of the Holy See. Article 2
The text of Article 173 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor bonus' is entirely substituted by the following text:
The office shall be presided over by a Cardinal, assisted by a determined number of Cardinals and a Prelate Secretary.
Article 3
Articles 174 and 175 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor bonus' are hereby repealed.
Article 4
The Prefect of the Secretariat of the Economy shall constitute a technical Commission with the aim of facilitating the transfer of the competences hereto attributed to the Ordinary Section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See and shall determine, starting from today's date, the methods for resolving pending issues relating to the aforementioned Ordinary Section, up to
the complete and effective transfer of competences.
I decree that the measures decided in this Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio be observed in their entirety, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, even when worthy of special mention, and that it be published in the daily newspaper 'L'Osservatore Romano', entering into force on the day of its promulgation."

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NEW ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE HOLY SEE
Vatican City, 9 July 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office a press conference was held to present the new economic plan for the Holy See. The speakers were Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, Joseph F. X. Zahra and Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, deputy coordinator and member of the Council for the Economy respectively, and Ernst von Freyberg,
president of the Board of Superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR).
Cardinal George Pell announced new and important initiatives for improving the
economic management and administration of the Holy See and Vatican City State. These changes, set in motion by the new Secretariat for the Economy, are the fruit of a detailed analysis of the conclusions and recommendations of the Pontifical Council for on the Organisation of the - of the Holy See (COSEA), and are considered essential to face risks and weaknesses and, at the same time, to create in the future a new platform for improving economic management.
All the changes were approved in the recent meetings of the Council for the Economy (5 July) and the Council of Cardinals (1-4 July), and it is expected that they will be approved by the Holy Father.
The changes relate to APSA (the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See), the Pension Fund, the Vatican media and the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR).
The Prefect of the Secretariat of the Economy expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the Holy Father has approved these important initiatives. Both Cardinal Pell and the Council for the Economy gave thanks for the Pope's unwavering support and contributions.
"There are many challenges to face and much work to be done", Cardinal Pell observed. "The COSEA has recommended that various issues be faced as a matter of urgency, such as the transfer of the Ordinary Section of the APSA, the Pension Fund, the media and the IOR. The Holy Father has clearly stated that these changes must be made rapidly".
The Cardinal went on to announce the creation of a small Project Management Office (PMO), directed by Danny Casey, former business manager of the archdiocese of Sydney, to implement and present some of the proposed changes, beginning with the transfer of the Ordinary Section of the APSA to the Secretariat for the Economy. The PMO will report directly to the Prefect of the
Secretariat for the Economy.
In September 2014, the Secretariat for the Economy will begin to prepare the budget for the year 2015. The aim is for all dicasteries and administrations to
draw up a budget to which they will adhere throughout the year. Spending (within the agreed structure) will be the responsibility of each dicastery and administration. It will then be compared with the budget in progress during 2015, and the dicastery in question will be accountable for any eventual excess
spending.
"We are keen to pursue this work in the coming months", Cardinal Pell concluded.
The following are extracts from the proposals for change in the various sectors, starting with the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See:
The Ordinary Section of APSA is transferred to the Secretariat for the Economy. This is an important step to enable the Secretariat for the Economy to
exercise its responsibilities of economic control and vigilance over the agencies of the Holy See, including policies and procedures concerning purchasing and the suitable allocation of human resources as defined in the Motu Proprio Fidelis Dispensator et Prudens.
The remaining staff of APSA will begin to focus exclusively on its role as a Treasury for the Holy See and the Vatican City State. A key early task will be continuing the work of establishing close relationships with all major Central banks as recommended by MoneyVal, which will continue to ensure the liquidity and financial stability of the Holy See. All sovereign institutions will have an account at APSA which will serve as a Treasury for them.
With regard to the Pension Fund, the Council for the Economy has appointed a technical committee to study its current situation and to make proposals to the
Council for the Economy before the end of the year. The Council recognised and acknowledged that the pensions being paid today and for the next generation are
safe but the fund needs to ensure there are sufficient funds for future generations in a changing environment. Many Western countries have faced challenges in their pension system over the last years. It is anticipated that new statutes would be prepared by the end of 2014 to adapt the Pension Fund's organisation to the new economic-administrative structure of the Holy See.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 129
DATE 11-07-2014

Summary:
- MESSAGE FOR WORLD TOURISM DAY: HARMONY BETWEEN TOURISM AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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MESSAGE FOR WORLD TOURISM DAY: HARMONY BETWEEN TOURISM AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Vatican City, 11 July 2014 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples today published its message for World Tourism Day 2014. Organised by the World Tourism Organisation, its theme this year is "Tourism and Community Development". The message is signed by Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio and Bishop Kalathiparambil, respectively president and secretary of the dicastery.
The text, published below in full, emphasises the link between community development with the concept of full development characteristic of the social doctrine of the Church, and highlights that human beings are the custodians, not the owners, of creation. It refers to programmes for sustainable and ethical tourism in disadvantaged areas and underlines the role that local communities play in the defence and promotion of their natural and cultural heritage, as well as the human and economic enrichment that responsible tourism
may offer to its protagonists, also favouring values such a mutual respect and tolerance.
"1. Like every year, World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27. An event
promoted annually by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the theme for this
year's commemoration is 'Tourism and Community Development'. Keenly aware of the social and economic importance of tourism today, the Holy See wishes to accompany this phenomenon from its own realm, particularly in the context of evangelisation.
In its Global Code of Ethics, the UNWTO says that tourism must be a beneficial
activity for destination communities: 'Local populations should be associated with tourism activities and share equitably in the economic, social and cultural benefits they generate, and particularly in the creation of direct and
indirect jobs resulting from them'. That is, it calls on both realities to establish a reciprocal relationship, which leads to mutual enrichment.
The notion of 'community development' is closely linked to a broader concept that is part of the Church's Social Teaching, which is 'integral human development'. It is through this latter term that we understand and interpret the former. In this regard, the words of Pope Paul VI are quite illuminating. In his Encyclical Populorum Progressio, he stated that 'the development we speak of here cannot be restricted to economic growth alone. To be authentic, it must be well rounded; it must foster the development of each man and of the whole man'.
How tourism can contribute to this development? To this end, integral human development and, thus, community development in the field of tourism should be directed towards achieving a balanced progress that is sustainable and respectful in three areas: economic, social and environmental. By 'environmental', we mean both the ecological and cultural context.
2. Tourism is a key driver of economic development, given its major contribution to GDP (between 3% and 5% worldwide), employment (between 7% and 8% of the jobs) and exports (30% of global exports of services).
At present, the world is experiencing a diversification in the number of destinations, as anywhere in the world has the potential to become a tourist destination. Therefore, tourism is one of the most viable and sustainable options to reduce poverty in the most deprived areas. If properly developed, it
can be a valuable instrument for progress, job creation, infrastructure development and economic growth.
As highlighted by Pope Francis, we are conscious that 'human dignity is linked
to work', and as such we are asked to address the problem of unemployment with 'the tools of creativity and solidarity'. In that vein, tourism appears to be one of the sectors with the most capacity to generate a wide range of 'creative' jobs with greater ease. These jobs could benefit the most disadvantaged groups, including women, youth or certain ethnic minorities.
It is imperative that the economic benefits of tourism reach all sectors of local society, and have a direct impact on families, while at the same time take full advantage of local human resources. It is also essential that these benefits follow ethical criteria that are, above all, respectful to people both
at a community level and to each person, and avoid 'a purely economic conception of society that seeks selfish benefit, regardless of the parameters of social justice'. No one can build his prosperity at the expense of others.
The benefits of a tourism promoting 'community development' cannot be reduced to economics alone: there are other dimensions of equal or greater importance. Among these include: cultural enrichment, opportunities for human encounter, the creation of 'relational goods', the promotion of mutual respect and tolerance, the collaboration between public and private entities, the strengthening of the social fibre and civil society, the improvement of the community's social conditions, the stimulus to sustainable economic and social development, and the promotion of career training for young people, to name but
a few.
3. The local community must be the main actor in tourism development. They must make it their own, with the active presence of government, social partners
and civic bodies. It is important that appropriate coordination and participation structures are created, which promote dialogue, make agreements, complement efforts and establish common goals and identify solutions based on consensus. Tourism development is not to do something 'for' the community, but rather, 'with' the community.
Furthermore, a tourist destination is not only a beautiful landscape or a comfortable infrastructure, but it is, above all, a local community with their own physical environment and culture. It is necessary to promote a tourism that
develops in harmony with the community that welcomes people into its space, with its traditional and cultural forms, with its heritage and lifestyles. And in this respectful encounter, the local population and visitors can establish a
productive dialogue which will promote tolerance, respect and mutual understanding.
The local community should feel called upon to safeguard its natural and cultural heritage, embracing it, taking pride in it, respecting and adding value to it, so that they can share this heritage with tourists and transmit it
to future generations.
Also, the Christians of that community must be capable of displaying their art, traditions, history, and moral and spiritual values, but, above all, the faith that lies at the root of all these things and gives them meaning.
4. The Church, expert in humanity, wishes to collaborate on this path towards an integral human and community development, to offer its Christian vision of development, offering 'her distinctive contribution: a global perspective on man and human realities'.
From our faith, we can provide the sense of the person, community and fraternity, solidarity, seeking justice, of being called upon as stewards (not owners) of Creation and, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, continue to collaborate in Christ's work.
Following what Pope Benedict XVI asked of those committed to the pastoral care
of tourism, we must increase our efforts in order to 'shed light on this reality using the social teaching of the Church and promote a culture of ethical and responsible tourism, in such a way that it will respect the dignity
of persons and of peoples, be open to all, be just, sustainable and ecological'.
With great pleasure, we note how the Church has recognised the potential of the tourism industry in many parts of the world and set up simple but effective
projects.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 140
DATE 28-07-2014

Summary:
- POPE FRANCIS' PRIVATE VISIT TO THE EVANGELICAL PASTOR GIOVANNI TRAETTINO IN CASERTA
- TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL MARCHISANO
- ANGELUS: THE NEED TO READ THE GOSPEL
- POPE FRANCIS' NEW APPEAL FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IRAQ AND UKRAINE
- THE POPE WITH THE PRIESTS OF CASERTA
- THE PRIMACY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE COURAGE TO SAY NO TO EVIL
- COMMUNIQUE FROM THE FAMILY OF FR. PAOLO DELL'OGLIO, A YEAR AFTER HIS DISAPPEARANCE IN SYRIA
- CHALDEANS IN IRAQ: PREPARE, LIKE ABRAHAM, TO LEAVE FOR THE LAND GOD WILL SHOW
TO YOU
- ON THE POPE'S POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION IN THE PHILADELPHIA MEETING OF FAMILIES - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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POPE FRANCIS' PRIVATE VISIT TO THE EVANGELICAL PASTOR GIOVANNI TRAETTINO IN CASERTA
Vatican City, 28 July 2014 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father returned to Caserta, following his pastoral visit on Saturday, 26 July, to meet privately with the evangelical pastor Giovanni Traettino, a friend from his time as archbishop of Buenos Aires.
The Pontiff arrived in Caserta by helicopter at 10.15 a.m. and, following a private and reserved meeting at pastor Traettino's house, he met the community of the Pentecostal evangelical Church at the premises, currently under construction, of the Pentecostal Church of the Reconciliation. The Pope dined with the community and is scheduled to return to the Vatican later this afternoon.

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TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL MARCHISANO
Vatican City, 28 July 2014 (VIS) - The Pope has sent a telegram of condolences
to Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin for the death in Rome yesterday of Cardinal Francesco Marchisano, archpriest emeritus of St. Peter's Basilica, at the age of 85.
"Having heard of the death of Cardinal Francesco Marchisano, an illustrious son of this land", writes the Pope, "I wish to express my deepest condolences to your excellency, to the presbytery and the friends of the lamented Cardinal.
I think with affection of this dear pastor who for many years diligently collaborated with the Apostolic See, especially in the Congregation for Catholic Education, as archpriest of the Vatican Basilica, and finally as president of the Labour Office of the Apostolic See. He leaves us the witness of a life spent in the generous fulfilment of his vocation, as a priest and a bishop attentive to the needs of the faithful and sensitive to the worlds of art and culture. I raise prayers for the eternal repose of his soul, that the Lord may receive him in joy and eternal peace, and I offer to those who mourn his passing the comfort of my apostolic blessing".
The funeral, presided by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, will be held on Wednesday, 30 July at 8 a.m. at the altar of the Cathedra of St. Peter's Basilica. At the end of the ceremony, the Holy Father will administer the rites of "Ultima Commendatio" and of "Valedictio".

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ANGELUS: THE NEED TO READ THE GOSPEL
Vatican City, 27 July 2014 (VIS) - As on every Sunday, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. The Pontiff, as in the Mass celebrated the day before in Caserta, spoke about the two parables about the kingdom of Heaven: the jewel merchant who finds a pearl of infinite value and sells everything he owns to buy it, and the farmer who chances upon hidden treasure and sells all his land to buy the field where it lies. Neither the merchant nor the farmer have any doubt about their actions as they are aware of the incomparable value of what they have found.
"It is the same with the kingdom of God", explained the bishop of Rome. "He who finds it has no doubt, he knows that he has found what he sought and awaited, and which answers his most authentic aspirations. It is truly like this: those who know Jesus, who encounter Him personally, are fascinated, attracted by such goodness, such truth, such beauty, and all this in great humility and simplicity. Seeking and finding Jesus: this is the greatest treasure of all!".
"How many people, how many saints, reading the Gospel with an open heart, have
been so struck by Jesus that they have converted to Him. Let us think of St. Francis of Assisi; he was already a Christian, but lukewarm, a "rose-water" Christian. When he read the Gospel, in a decisive moment during his youth, he encountered Jesus and discovered the Kingdom of God, and from then on all his dreams of earthly glory vanished. The Gospel lets you know the true Jesus, it lets you know the living Jesus; it speaks to your heart and changes your life. And from then on, he left everything. You can effectively change the type of life you lead, or continue to do what you did before, but you are different, you are born again: you have found that which gives meaning, flavour and light to everything, even to hardship, suffering and death".
The Pope went on to repeat the importance of reading a passage from the Gospel
every day; of keeping it in our pockets, our bags, always at hand, as "everything makes sense when you find this treasure that Jesus called 'the Kingdom of God': that is, God Who reigns in your life, in our lives. God is love, peace and joy in every man and in all men. ... Reading the Gospel means finding Jesus and receiving this Christian joy, which is a gift from the Holy Spirit".
"The joy of encountering the treasure of the Kingdom of God becomes clear, it can be seen", concluded the Pontiff. "The Christian cannot conceal his faith, as it shines through in every word and every gesture, even the simplest everyday ones. The love that God has given us through Jesus shines through. Let
us pray, by the intercession of the Virgin Mary, that His Kingdom of love, justice and peace may come to us and to all the world".

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POPE FRANCIS' NEW APPEAL FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IRAQ AND UKRAINE
Vatican City, 27 July 2014 (VIS) - After today's Angelus prayer, the Holy Father, remarking that tomorrow marks the centenary of the beginning of the First World War, launched a new appeal for peace in the Middle East, Iraq and Ukraine, and called for a cessation of hostilities.
"Tomorrow is the one hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, which claimed millions of lives and caused immense destruction. This conflict, defined by Pope Benedict XV as a 'senseless slaughter', persisted for
four long years and led to a more fragile peace. Tomorrow will be a day of mourning in remembrance of this tragedy. While we remember this tragic event, I
hope that we will not repeat the errors of the past, but will instead pay heed to the lessons of history, ensuring that the reason of peace always prevails by
means of patient and courageous dialogue".
"Today, my thoughts extend to three areas of crisis, in particular: the Middle
East, Iraq and Ukraine. I ask you to continue to join with me in prayer that the Lord may grant the populations and authorities of these areas the wisdom and strength necessary to proceed with determination along the path of peace, facing every diatribe with the tenacity of dialogue and negotiation, and the strength of reconciliation. May the common good and respect for every person be
at the centre of every decision, rather than particular interests. Let us remember that all is lost with war, but nothing is lost with peace".
"Brothers and sisters: no more war! No more war! I think especially of the children, who are deprived of the hope of a worthwhile life, of a future: children killed, children injured, children mutilated, children orphaned, children who have as toys the remnants of war, children who do not know how to smile. Stop, please! I ask you with all my heart. The time has come to stop. Stop, please!"

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THE POPE WITH THE PRIESTS OF CASERTA
Vatican City, 28 July 2014 (VIS) - The Pope left the Vatican by helicopter at 3 p.m., arriving at the heliport of the NCO (Non-Commissioned Officers) School of the Air Force of the Royal Palace of Caserta, where he was greeted by Bishop
Giovanni D'Alise of Caserta and other local authorities. He then transferred by
car to the Palatine Chapel where he was awaited by the diocesan priests. He set
aside his prepared discourse and began a very intimate conversation with the priests, answering the four questions they presented to him.
The Holy Father spoke about the example of unity that bishops must give, that Jesus asked of His Father for the Church. "This cannot be done speaking badly about each other. The unity of bishops is important to the unity of the Church", he said, adding that the devil revels in and profits from internal conflict. "The bishops must be in agreement in unity, but not in uniformity. Each one has his charism, each one has his way of thinking and his point of view; this is at times the result of mistakes, but it is often the result of the Spirit ... a unity in diversity, in which no-one loses his own personality".
The Pope was then asked for suggestions for a pastoral able to relaunch the primacy of the Gospel without mortifying popular piety. He answered that "true popular piety was born of that Sensus Fidei described in the Encyclical Lumen Gentium and which is guided by devotion to the Saints, to the Virgin, and also by folkloric expressions, in the positive sense of the word". He added, "the agnosticism that has entered into the Church in groups of intimist piety" are not good, but are instead a form of heresy. ... Popular piety is inculturated, it cannot be produced in a laboratory, aseptic ... it is always born of life".
Another question focused on the identity of the priest in the third millennium. "How can we overcome the existential crisis born of the linguistic,
semantic and cultural revolution in evangelical witness?". "With creativity", replied the Pope. "It is the commandment that God gave to Adam and Jesus to his
disciples. And creativity is found in prayer. A bishop who does not pray, a priest who does not pray, has closed the door to creativity". The fourth question related to the foundations of spirituality for a priest. Francis described the priest's dual capacity for contemplation: towards God and towards
man. "He is a man who looks, who fills his eyes and heart with contemplation: with the Gospel before God, and with human problems when among men. The priest must be contemplative in this way. But this must not be confused with monastic life, which is something else".
The Pope emphasised that diocesan life must be at the centre of the spirituality of the diocesan priest. "Maintaining a relationship with the bishop and with the rest of the priests ... simple, but at the same time not easy. The greatest enemy of these relationships is gossip. The devil knows that
this seed bears fruit, and he sows it well ... to impede that evangelical, spiritual and fruitful relationship between the bishop and the presbytery". He remarked that it was better to say things clearly and openly, rather than give satisfaction to the devil who in this way "attacks the centre of the spirituality of the diocesan clergy". The Holy Father concluded with some comments on the bitterness of some priests and the image of an angry Church. "One may anger at times; it is healthy to be angry at times. But the state of rage is not God's, and leads only to sadness and disunity".

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 146
DATE 03-09-2014

Summary:
- MARY: MODEL OF MOTHERLY COURAGE FOR THE CHURCH
- TO THE FAITHFUL OF IRAQ: THE CHURCH SUFFERS BY YOUR SIDE AND IS PROUD OF YOU - HOLY FATHER'S CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER
- POPE FRANCIS' ACTIVITIES IN AUGUST
- ACTIVITIES OF THE HOLY SEE IN AUGUST

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MARY: MODEL OF MOTHERLY COURAGE FOR THE CHURCH
Vatican City, 3 September 2014 (VIS) - "We do not become Christians by ourselves, of our own will, autonomously, but rather we are generated and grow in faith within the great body of the Church", said Pope Francis during this morning's general audience. "The Church is truly a mother, a mother who gives life in Christ and who enables us to live with all our brethren in the communion of the Holy Spirit".
The Holy Father explained that the Church has a model for this maternity in the Virgin Mary. "The maternity of the Church is in continuity with that of Mary. ... The Church, in the fruitfulness of the Spirit, continues to generate new sons and daughters in Christ. .. The birth of Jesus from Mary's womb is indeed the prelude to the rebirth of every Christian and He is the first-born of a multitude of brothers. Therefore, we are able to understand the depth of the relationship between Mary and the Church; when we look to Mary, we see the most beautiful and most tender face of the Church; when we look to the Church, we recognise the sublime features of Mary. We Christians are not orphans".
He remarked that the Church is our mother as she gave birth to us in our Baptism, and, "since that day, like an affectionate mother, brings us up in faith and shows us, through the strength of God's Word, the path of salvation, defending us from evil". The maternity of the Church is particularly evident in
the service of evangelisation, in which she is "committed, like a mother, to offering her sons the spiritual nourishment that nurtures them and renders Christian life fruitful. The path of salvation, by which the Church guides us and accompanies us with the strength of the Gospel and the support of the Sacraments, gives us the capacity to defend ourselves against evil, like a courageous mother who protects her children from danger.
The Pope warned that, although God has defeated Satan, he always returns with his temptations. "We must not be ingenuous", he said, "but must instead remain vigilant and firm in our faith, with the counsel and the help of the mother Church who ... accompanies her children in difficult moments". Similarly, Francis encouraged those present to remember that we, all baptised persons, are
the Church, and must not be afraid to bear witness to this maternity. "Let us entrust ourselves to Mary", he concluded, "so that she may teach us to have the
same maternal spirit towards our brethren, with a sincere capacity to accept, forgive, give strength and infuse trust and hope".

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TO THE FAITHFUL OF IRAQ: THE CHURCH SUFFERS BY YOUR SIDE AND IS PROUD OF YOU
Vatican City, 3 September 2014 (VIS) - In his greetings in various languages, following his catechesis during today's general audience, the Pope addressed Arab-speaking pilgrims, especially those from Iraq, reminding them that the Church is a mother and therefore, like all mothers, know how to accompany her child when in need, to seek him out when he is lost, and to "defend the defenceless and persecuted". "Today, I especially wish to assure the latter, the defenceless and persecuted, of my closeness - you are in the heart of the Church, the Church suffers with you and is proud of you, proud to have sons and
daughters like you. You are the strength and the concrete and authentic example
of her message of salvation, forgiveness and love. I embrace all of you, all of
you. May the Lord bless you and protect you always".
He went on to address Polish-speaking pilgrims and recalled that, during these
days various cities in Poland commemorate the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War. "Let us entrust to God's mercy those who lost their lives for the love of their homeland and their brothers, and let us invoke the gift of peace in all the nations of Europe and throughout the world, by the intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace".
Finally, he greeted the faithful from the Italian diocese of Terni-Narni-Amelia, to whom he expressed his concerns regarding the difficult situation experienced by many families in Terni due to the plans of the Thyssenkrupp Corporation, and renewed his appeal that "the logic of profit may not prevail, but rather that of solidarity and justice. The person and his or her dignity is at the heart of every issue, including that of work. We must not
joke about work. Those who, for the sake of money, business and greater profit,
leave people without work, must be aware that this means removing their dignity".

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HOLY FATHER'S CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER
Vatican City, 3 September 2014 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has published the following calendar of liturgical celebrations at which the Holy Father will preside during the month of September:
Saturday, 13: Pastoral visit to the military monument of Redipuglia, Italy, and Holy Mass.
Sunday, 14: Festivity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. 9 a.m., in St. Peter's Basilica, Holy Mass with the rite of marriage.
Sunday, 21: Apostolic trip to Albania.
Sunday, 28: 10.30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, Holy Mass with the elderly.

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POPE FRANCIS' ACTIVITIES IN AUGUST
Vatican City, 3 September 2014 (VIS) - The following is a list of Pope Francis' activities during the month of August, including the Angelus, audiences, other pontifical acts, telegrams, messages and other news. The activities are presented in chronological order within the respective categories.
ANGELUS
3: Francis comments on the three messages that Jesus offers with the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes: compassion, sharing and the Eucharist. In this Gospel reading, Christ shows us the path which will enable us to face the needs of this world in a brotherly way, and which will lead us beyond this world.
10: The Gospel tells that Jesus walks on water and, when Peter tests him, he too is able to walk on water. "Jesus tells us that we are able to perform miracles with our faith, faith in God, faith in His Word, faith in His voice".
24: Simon, in the name of the the Twelve, professes his faith in Jesus as "the
Christ, the Son of the living God"; Jesus calls him "blessed" for his faith, recognising that this is a special gift from the Father, and says to him, "you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church". The Pope explains that "the Lord intends to construct, to imagine his community, as a building. Therefore, when he hears Simon's sincere profession of faith, he calls him a 'rock' and declares his intention to build His Church on this faith".
31: Jesus, after ensuring that Peter and the other eleven disciples believe in
Him as the Messiah and Son of God, begins to explain that He must go to Jerusalem where He will suffer greatly, will die, and will rise again on the third day. "It is a critical moment in which Jesus' and the disciples' method of thinking emerges".
WEDNESDAY GENERAL AUDIENCES
6: The Pope describes the Church as the new People of God, founded on the new Covenant sealed with the blood of Jesus, and emphasises the importance of John the Baptist as he prepares the people to receive Jesus.
20: First General Audience following the Holy Father's return from Korea. Francis recounts to the faithful the main events of his visit - the beatification of 124 martyrs and his meeting with the young, which enabled him to present the Church as a family which transmits to the new generations the faith received from their ancestors.
27: "When we recite the Creed", says the Pope, "we say that the Church is 'one', and 'holy', even though we know from experience that she is made up of sinners and there is no lack of divisions". Francis recalls that "in a Christian community, division is one of the most serious sins, as it does not allow God to act".
MESSAGES AND TELEGRAMS
4: Message from the Pope to Scouts in Europe to mark the Eurojamboree, held in
Saint-Evroult-Notre-Dame-du-Bois in Normandy, France from 1 to 10 August 2014.
4: Telegram of condolences from the Holy Father for the death of Cardinal Edward Bede Clancy, titular of Santa Maria in Vallicella, archbishop emeritus of Sydney, Australia.
6: Message from the Holy Father to the 1st Latin-American Congress for Family Pastoral, held in Panama from 4 to 9 August.
9: Letter from Pope Francis to his special envoy to the celebration of the 3rd
(WACOM III), which took place in Bogota, Colombia from 15 to 19 August.
11: Video message from Pope Francis broadcast in Korea by the KBS on the occasion of his apostolic trip to the Republic of Korea for the 6th Asian Youth
Day.
11: Telegram of condolences from the Holy Father to the victims of the air crash at the international airport of Mehrabad-Teheran, Iran.
13: Letter from the Pope to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, on the dramatic situation unfolding in the north of Iraq.
18: Letter from the Holy Father to the special envoy to the solemn Eucharistic
Celebration to mark the 250th anniversary of the foundation of St. Louis in the
U.S.A., on 24 August.
22: Telegram from the Pope for the death in Novi, Michigan, U.S.A. of Cardinal
Edmund Casimir Szoka, title of Sts. Andrew and Gregory at Monte Celio, president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for the Governorate of Vatican City State.
23: Message from the Holy Father for the 35th edition of the Summer Festival for Friendship Among Peoples, held on 24 August in Rimini, Italy, on the theme:
"To the ends of the world and of existence. Destiny has not left man alone".
25: Telegram from the Pope on the occasion of the Synod of the Waldensian Methodist Church, which began on 24 August in Torre Pellice, Piedmont, Italy.

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 149
DATE 08-09-2014

Summary:
- POPE'S TELEGRAM FOR THE THREE NUNS KILLED IN BURUNDI
- INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR PEACE: WE CANNOT BE INDIFFERENT TO WAR
- ANGELUS: THE STEPS OF FRATERNAL CORRECTION
- NEW APPEAL FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE
- THE POPE WRITES TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF CUBA: REJOICE, RISE AND PERSEVERE
- THE POPE TO THE BISHOPS OF CAMEROON: EVANGELISATION IS CLOSELY LINKED TO HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
- 28 SEPTEMBER: DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY
- CARDINAL ORTEGA Y ALAMINO, POPE'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE "MOTHER CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA"
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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POPE'S TELEGRAM FOR THE THREE NUNS KILLED IN BURUNDI
Vatican City, 8 September 2014 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a telegram of condolences on behalf of the Holy Father to Archbishop Evariste Ngoyagoye of Bujumbura, Burundi, for the killing of three Italian Xaverian Missionary sisters yesterday, Sunday 7 September, in their convent in Kamenge, north of the capital Bujumbura.
Cardinal Parolin writes, "His Holiness Pope Francis has learned with great sadness of the murder of three nuns, Sister Bernadetta Bogiann, Sister Lucia Pulici and Sister Olga Raschietti, who were in the pastoral service of the parish of Saint Guido Maria Conforti in Bujumbura. The Holy Father begs the Lord to welcome into his kingdom of peace and light these three faithful and devout nuns. In these tragic circumstances, he expresses his closeness to their
religious community, to the families of the victims, and the entire diocesan community. He imparts the comfort of a heartfelt and affectionate apostolic blessing to all those affected by their sudden loss. I join the Holy Father in offering my condolences and wish to assure those close to the departed Sisters of my fervent prayers".
The Secretary of State also sent another telegram to Sister Ines Frizza, superior general of the Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary, in which he expresses his sadness for the tragic death of the missionaries and "assures his
heartfelt participation in the profound suffering of the Congregation for the loss of such dedicated sisters". The Holy Father, "in the hope that the blood they have shed may become the seed of hope to build true fraternity between peoples, raises fervent prayers for the eternal repose of their souls and for their generous witness of the Gospel. To their families, the entire Institute and those who mourn their loss, he imparts the comfort of his apostolic blessing", the Cardinal concludes.

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INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR PEACE: WE CANNOT BE INDIFFERENT TO WAR
Vatican City, 8 September 2014 (VIS) - This Sunday the Holy Father sent a video message to all the representatives of the Christian Churches, ecclesial communities and all heads of world religions who will meet in the Belgian city of Antwerp from 7 to 9 September for the International Meeting for Peace organised by the Sant'Egidio Community. This year's theme, "Peace is the Future", commemorates the dramatic outbreak of the First World War one hundred years ago, and evokes a future in which mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation will help banish the sinister phantom of armed conflict.
"In these days, in which many people throughout the world need help to find the way to peace, this anniversary teaches us that war is never a satisfactory means of redressing injustice or reaching balanced solutions to social and political discord. In the final analysis every war, as Pope Benedict XV stated in 1917, is a 'useless massacre'. War drags populations into a spiral of violence that is then shown to be difficult to control; it demolishes what generations have worked to build and paves the way for injustice and even worse
conflicts".
Pope Francis stressed that "we cannot remain passive" when faced with "the innumerable conflicts and wars, declared and undeclared, that nowadays afflict the human family and ruin the lives of the youngest and of the elderly, poisoning long-standing relationships of co-existence between different ethnic groups and religions". He remarked that with the power of prayer "our various religious traditions are able, in the the spirit of Assisi, to offer a contribution to peace. ... I hope that these days of prayer and dialogue will serve to remind us that the search for peace and understanding through prayer can create lasting bonds of unity and prevail over the passions of war. War is never necessary, nor is it inevitable. There is always an alternative: the path
of dialogue, encounter and the sincere search for truth".
"The moment has arrived for the heads of all religions to cooperate effectively in the task of healing wounds, of resolving conflicts and seeking peace. Peace is the sure sign of commitment to God's cause". The Pontiff concluded by encouraging all those present to be "builders of peace" and to convert communities into "schools of respect and dialogue with those of other ethnic or religious groups, places in which we learn to overcome tensions, promote equitable and peaceful relations among peoples and social groups, and build a better future for the generations to come".

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ANGELUS: THE STEPS OF FRATERNAL CORRECTION
Vatican City, 7 September 2014 (VIS) - Fraternal correction, as it is presented by St. Matthew in this Sunday's Gospel reading, was the theme of the Pope's reflection during today's Angelus, at midday. "Jesus teaches us that if my Christian brother wrongs me or offends me, I must be charitable towards him and, first of all, speak to him personally, explaining that what he has said or
done is not good. And what if my brother does not listen to me? Jesus suggests a way of intervening gradually: first, to speak to him again with another two or three people, so that he is more aware of the mistake he has made. If, in spite of this, he does not accept this exhortation, it is necessary to tell the
community, and if he does not even listen to the community, then we have to let
him know of the fracture and detachment that he himself has caused, by failing in communion with his brothers and sisters in the faith".
"The steps in this itinerary show the strength that the Lord asks of the community to support those who err, so that they are not lost. Above all it is necessary to avoid the clamour of news and gossip in the community. The attitude must be that of gentleness, prudence, humility and care in relation to
those who have erred, avoiding words that may harm or kill our brother. Because
even words can kill! When I gossip or when I unjustly criticise, when I curse a
brother with my tongue, this means destroying the reputation of the other person. ... At the same time, this discretion in speaking to him alone has the aim of not pointlessly mortifying the sinner. ... In view of this need, we can understand the following series of interventions, which include the involvement
of other witnesses and finally even the community. The aim is to help the person to understand what they have done, and to be aware that they have thereby offended not just one person, but everyone. But it also helps us to rid
ourselves of anger and resentment ... that bitterness of the heart that leads to anger and resentment leads us to insult and offend. It is very unpleasant to
see insults and aggression from a Christian. ... To insult is not Christian".
"In reality", he continued, "before the Lord we are all sinners and all in need of forgiveness. All of us. Indeed, Jesus told us not to judge. Fraternal correction is an aspect of the love and the communion that should reign in the Christian community; it is a mutual service that we can and must render to each
other ... and it is possible and effective only if each person recognises himself as a sinner and in need of the Lord's forgiveness. The same awareness that enables me to recognise the errors of the other, first of all reminds me that I myself have made, and make mistakes, many times".
"Therefore, at the beginning of Mass, we are invited each time to acknowledge ourselves as sinners before the Lord, expressing with words and gestures the sincere repentance of the heart", he concluded. "And Jesus Himself invites all of us, saints and sinners, to his table, bringing us together at the various crossroads in in the different situations of our lives. And among the conditions that unite all the participants in the Eucharistic celebration, two are fundamental: we are all sinners, and God offers His mercy to us all".

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NEW APPEAL FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE
Vatican City, 7 September 2014 (VIS) - After today's Angelus prayer, the Pope launched an appeal for peace in Ukraine. "In recent days, significant steps have been taken to reach a truce in the regions affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine, even though today we have received news that gives little cause for comfort", he said.
"However", he added, "I hope that this may bring relief to the population and contribute to efforts towards lasting peace. Let us pray that, in the logic of encounter, the dialogue that has begun may continue and bear the hoped-for fruit. Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us".
He also joined the bishops of Lesotho in making a plea for peace in their country. "I condemn every act of violence and pray to the Lord that the peace may be re-established in the Kingdom of Lesotho, in justice and fraternity".
Pope Francis also recalled that this Sunday a convoy of thirty Italian Red Cross volunteers leaves for Iraq, headed for the area of Dohuk near Erbil, where there are tens of thousands of displaced Iraqis. "I express my heartfelt appreciation for this generous and valid work, and impart my blessing to all of
them and all those who seek to offer concrete assistance to our persecuted and oppressed brothers. May the Lord bless you".
Finally, he commented that on Monday will be the liturgical feast of the Nativity of Mary. "It means it would be her birthday. And what do we do when our it is our mother's birthday? We greet her and offer her our best wishes. Tomorrow remember, in the early morning, to greet the Virgin from your heart, and say to her, 'Best wishes!'. And say a Hail Mary from your heart, as a son or a daughter".

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THE POPE WRITES TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF CUBA: REJOICE, RISE AND PERSEVERE
Vatican City, 6 September 2014 (VIS) - On 8 September, the festivity of the Nativity of Mary, Cubans also celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Charity of
El Cobre, the patroness of the island. To commemorate the occasion, the Pope has written a letter to the metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, Dionisio Guillermo Garcia Ibanez, president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (C.O.O.C.), extensive extracts from which are published below:

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 155
DATE 15-09-2014

Summary:
- The Pope to render homage to martyrs of faith in Albania
- Sixth meeting of the Council of Cardinals
- Francis marries twenty couples from the diocese of Rome
- Angelus: the Cross restores hope
- Humanity still has not learnt that war is madness
- Cardinal Aguilar to take possession of his titular church
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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The Pope to render homage to martyrs of faith in Albania
Vatican City, 15 September 2014 (VIS) - Homage to martyrs of faith, victims of
the communist regime, the importance of dialogue with Islam in a country with a
Muslim majority but with a notable Christian presence, both Catholic and Orthodox, and the memory of blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, born in Albania,
will be the fundamental themes that Pope Francis will address in his upcoming trip to the capital Tirana next Sunday, 21 September, said Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, in a press conference held this morning.
The apostolic trip to Albania is Pope Francis' first in a European country outside Italy and the fourth of his pontificate.

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Sixth meeting of the Council of Cardinals
Vatican City, 15 September 2014 (VIS) - The sixth meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father began this morning, and will continue during the
days of 16 and 17 September. The Council of Cardinals was instituted by Pope Francis to assist in the governance of the universal Church and to draw up a plan for the revision of the apostolic constitution "Pastor bonus" on the Roman
Curia.

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Francis marries twenty couples from the diocese of Rome
Vatican City, 14 September 2014 (VIS) - This morning, Pope Francis celebrated the marriage of twenty couples from Rome, the diocese of which he is bishop, during a Holy Mass celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica. The cardinal vicar of Rome, Agostino Vallini, and Archbishop Filippo Iannone, vice-regent and director of the diocesan Centre for Family Pastoral, concelebrated with the Pontiff.
The couples married by the Pope, according to a press release from the Vicariate of Rome, are like many others, engaged for different lengths of time;
some already live together, others have children, and others met within the parish. The youngest couple were born in 1986 and 1989 respectively, whereas the eldest were born in 1958 and 1965.
In his homily, the Holy Father, commenting on the Bible passage that speaks of
the long and wearisome journey of the people of Israel through the desert, spoke of marriage as a path with areas of light and shadows, during which the mercy and grace of Christ can regenerate and channel married and family life.
"Today's first reading speaks to us of the people's journey through the desert", he began. "We can imagine them as they walked, led by Moses; they were
families: fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, grandparents, men and women of all ages, accompanied by many children and the elderly who struggled to make the journey. This people reminds us of the Church as she makes her way across the desert of the contemporary world, reminds us of the People of God composed,
for the most part, of families.
"This makes us think of families, our families, walking along the paths of life with all their day to day experiences. It is impossible to quantify the strength and depth of humanity contained in a family: mutual help, educational support, relationships developing as family members mature, the sharing of joys
and difficulties. Families are the first place in which we are formed as persons and, at the same time, the 'bricks' for the building up of society.
"Let us return to the biblical story. At a certain point, 'the people became impatient on the way'. They are tired, water supplies are low and all they have
for food is manna, which, although plentiful and sent by God, seems far too meagre in a time of crisis. And so they complain and protest against God and against Moses: 'Why did you make us leave?'. They are tempted to turn back and abandon the journey.
"Here our thoughts turn to married couples who 'become impatient on the way', the way of conjugal and family life. The hardship of the journey causes them to
experience interior weariness; they lose the flavour of matrimony and they cease to draw water from the well of the Sacrament. Daily life becomes burdensome, and often, even 'nauseating'. During such moments of disorientation
- the Bible says - poisonous serpents come and bite the people, and many die. This causes the people to repent and to turn to Moses for forgiveness, asking him to beseech the Lord so that he will cast out the snakes. Moses prays to the
Lord, and the Lord offers a remedy: a bronze serpent set on a pole; whoever looks at it will be saved from the deadly poison of the vipers.
"What is the meaning of this symbol? God does not destroy the serpents, but rather offers an 'antidote': by means of the bronze serpent fashioned by Moses,
God transmits his healing strength, namely his mercy, which is more potent than
the Tempter's poison.
"As we have heard in the Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself with this symbol: out of love the Father 'has given' His only begotten Son so that men and women might have eternal life. Such immense love of the Father spurs the Son to become man, to become a servant and to die for us upon a cross. Out of such love, the Father raises up his Son, giving Him dominion over the entire universe. This is expressed by Saint Paul in his hymn in the Letter to the Philippians. Whoever entrusts himself to Jesus crucified receives the mercy of God and finds healing from the deadly poison of sin.
"The cure which God offers the people applies also, in a particular way, to spouses who 'have become impatient on the way' and who succumb to the dangerous
temptation of discouragement, infidelity, weakness, abandonment. To them too, God the Father gives His Son Jesus, not to condemn them, but to save them: if they entrust themselves to Him, He will bring them healing by the merciful love
which pours forth from the Cross, with the strength of His grace that renews and sets married couples and families once again on the right path.

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 160
DATE 21-09-2014

Summary:
- The Pope arrives in Albania, example of fruitful co-existence between people of different beliefs
- The living Church in the Land of the Eagles: thank you for your fidelity
- To the young: yes to acceptance and solidarity

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The Pope arrives in Albania, example of fruitful co-existence between people of different beliefs
Vatican City, 21 September 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis began his visit to Tirana, Albania - his fourth apostolic trip and the second by a pontiff to the "Land of the Eagles". The first was by John Paul II in 1993, two
years after the fall of the dictatorship and following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Albania. On that occasion, the Pope celebrated Mass in the Cathedral of Scutari, which had been transformed into a sports centre under the communist regime, and he blessed the
first stone for the reconstruction of the Shrine to Our Lady of Good Counsel, built in 1895 and demolished in 1967. In Tirana in recent years both the Church
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of the Jesuit Fathers and the Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ have been rebuilt.
The Holy Father, who departed from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 7.30 a.m., arrived in Tirana at 9 a.m. and was received at the aerodrome dedicated to Mother Teresa by representatives of the religious and civil authorities, including the apostolic nuncio in Albania, Archbishop Ramiro Moliner Ingles, and the Albanian prime minister Edi Rama. He proceeded by car to the presidential palace of Tirana, where the welcome ceremony took place, and he was greeted by the Albanian president, Bujar Nishani. Following a brief discussion, the president accompanied the Pope to the Salon Scanderberg for a meeting with the authorities, the diplomatic corps, and some of the country's religious leaders.
In his address to those present, the full text of which is published below, the Holy Father spoke about Albania's path to recovering civil liberties and religious freedom, warning of the exploitation of differences between religions
and praising the peaceful co-existence and collaboration between those of different religious beliefs in Albania.
"I am very happy to be here with you, in this noble land of Albania, a land of
heroes who sacrificed their lives for the independence of the nation, and a land of martyrs, who witnessed to their faith in difficult times of persecution. I am grateful for the invitation to visit your country, called 'the Land of the Eagles', and for your warm welcome.
"Almost a quarter of a century has passed since Albania re-embarked upon the arduous but rewarding path of freedom. This experience has allowed Albanian society to take up the process of material and spiritual reconstruction, to foster an increase of enthusiasm and initiatives, and to create a spirit of cooperation and exchange with countries of the Balkans, the Mediterranean, Europe and indeed with the rest of the world. This rediscovered freedom has helped you look to the future with trust and hope, establishing new projects and renewing friendly relations with countries both near and far.
"Respect for human rights, among which religious freedom and freedom of expression stand out, is the preliminary condition for a country's social and economic development. When the dignity of the human person is respected and his
or her rights recognised and guaranteed, creativity and interdependence thrive,
and the potential of the human personality is unleashed through actions that further the common good.
"There is a rather beautiful characteristic of Albania, one which is given great care and attention, and which gives me great joy: I am referring to the peaceful coexistence and collaboration that exists among followers of different
religions. The climate of respect and mutual trust between Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims is a precious gift to the country. This is especially the case in these times where an authentic religious spirit is being perverted and where religious differences are being distorted and exploited. This creates dangerous
circumstances which lead to conflict and violence, rather than being an occasion for open and respectful dialogue, and for a collective reflection on what it means to believe in God and to follow his laws.
"Let no one use God as a 'shield' while planning and carrying out acts of violence and oppression! May no one use religion as a pretext for actions against human dignity and against the fundamental rights of every man and woman, above all, the right to life and the right of everyone to religious freedom!
"What the experience in Albania shows, rather, is that a peaceful and fruitful
coexistence between persons and communities of believers of different religions
is not only desirable, but possible and realistic. The peaceful coexistence of different religious communities is, in fact, an inestimable benefit to peace and to harmonious human advancement. This is something of value which needs to be protected and nurtured each day, by providing an education which respects differences and particular identities, so that dialogue and cooperation for the
good of all may be promoted and strengthened by mutual understanding and esteem. It is a gift which we need to implore from God in prayer. May Albania always continue to walk this path, offering an inspiring example to other countries.
"Mr President, after a winter of isolation and persecution, the springtime of freedom has finally come. By means of free elections and new institutional structures, a democratic pluralism has been consolidated which is now favouring
economic activity. Many people, especially at the beginning, chose to emigrate in search of work and a better standard of living, and in their own way contributed to the advancement of Albanian society. Many others rediscovered reasons for staying in their homeland, wanting to build it up from within. The efforts and sacrifices of all have improved the life of the nation in general.
"The Catholic Church, for her part, has resumed a normal existence, re-establishing her hierarchy and rejoining the threads of a long tradition. Places of worship have been built or rebuilt. Among these, the Sanctuary of Our
Lady of Good Counsel at Scutari holds a special place. Similarly, schools and centres of education and healthcare have been established for use by all citizens. The presence of the Church and her activities are therefore rightly seen as a service, not only to the Catholic community, but rather to the whole nation.
"Blessed Mother Teresa, together with the martyrs who witnessed to their faith
- to whom we pray and offer our appreciation - most certainly are rejoicing in heaven because of the work of men and women of good will who contribute to the flourishing of civil society and the Church in Albania.
"Today, however, new challenges arise which must be faced. In a world that tends toward economic and cultural globalization, every effort must be made to ensure that growth and development are put at the service of all and not just limited parts of the population. Furthermore, such development will only be authentic if it is sustainable and just, that is, if it has the rights of the poor and respect for the environment close to heart. Alongside the globalisation of the markets there must also be a corresponding globalisation of solidarity; together with economic growth there must be a greater respect for creation; alongside the rights of individuals, there must be the guaranteed
rights of those who are a bridge between the individual and the state, the family being the first and foremost of such institutions. Today Albania is able
to face these challenges in an atmosphere of freedom and stability, two realities which must be strengthened and which form the basis of hope for the future".

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 162
DATE 23-09-2014

Summary:
- Pope Francis' message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees: "A Church without frontiers, mother to all"
- The challenge of migration: indifference must not prevail
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Cardinal Muller meets the superior general of the Society of St. Pius X
- International Theological Commission at the end of its eighth term: appointments and new website
- The Holy See at the 58th Conference of the IAEA: nuclear disarmament is a realistic objective
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Pope Francis' message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees: "A Church without frontiers, mother to all"
Vatican City, 23 September 2014 (VIS) - The full text of the Holy Father's Message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2015 is published below:
"Dear brothers and sisters,
Jesus is 'the evangeliser par excellence and the Gospel in person'. His solicitude, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalised, invites all of us to care for the frailest and to recognise his suffering countenance, especially in the victims of new forms of poverty and slavery. The Lord says: 'I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me'. The mission of the Church,
herself a pilgrim in the world and the Mother of all, is thus to love Jesus Christ, to adore and love him, particularly in the poorest and most abandoned; among these are certainly migrants and refugees, who are trying to escape difficult living conditions and dangers of every kind. For this reason, the theme for this year's World Day of Migrants and Refugees is: Church without frontiers, Mother to all.
"The Church opens her arms to welcome all people, without distinction or limits, in order to proclaim that 'God is love'. After his death and resurrection, Jesus entrusted to the disciples the mission of being his witnesses and proclaiming the Gospel of joy and mercy. On the day of Pentecost,
the disciples left the Upper Room with courage and enthusiasm; the strength of the Holy Spirit overcame their doubts and uncertainties and enabled all to understand the disciples' preaching in their own language. From the beginning, the Church has been a mother with a heart open to the whole world, and has been
without borders. This mission has continued for two thousand years. But even in
the first centuries, the missionary proclamation spoke of the universal motherhood of the Church, which was then developed in the writings of the Fathers and taken up by the Second Vatican Council. The Council Fathers spoke of Ecclesia Mater to explain the Church's nature. She begets sons and daughters
and 'takes them in and embraces them with her love and in her heart'.
"The Church without frontiers, Mother to all, spreads throughout the world a culture of acceptance and solidarity, in which no one is seen as useless, out of place or disposable. When living out this motherhood effectively, the Christian community nourishes, guides and indicates the way, accompanying all with patience, and drawing close to them through prayer and works of mercy.
"Today this takes on a particular significance. In fact, in an age of such vast movements of migration, large numbers of people are leaving their homelands, with a suitcase full of fears and desires, to undertake a hopeful and dangerous trip in search of more humane living conditions. Often, however, such migration gives rise to suspicion and hostility, even in ecclesial communities,prior to any knowledge of the migrants' lives or their stories of persecution and destitution. In such cases, suspicion and prejudice conflict with the biblical commandment of welcoming with respect and solidarity the stranger in need.
On the other hand, we sense in our conscience the call to touch human misery, and to put into practice the commandment of love that Jesus left us when he identified himself with the stranger, with the one who suffers, with all the innocent victims of violence and exploitation. Because of the weakness of our nature, however, 'we are tempted to be that kind of Christian who keeps the Lord's wounds at arm's length'.
"The courage born of faith, hope and love enables us to reduce the distances that separate us from human misery. Jesus Christ is always waiting to be recognised in migrants and refugees, in displaced persons and in exiles, and through them he calls us to share our resources, and occasionally to give up something of our acquired riches. Pope Paul VI spoke of this when he said that 'the more fortunate should renounce some of their rights so as to place their goods more generously at the service of others'.
"The multicultural character of society today, for that matter, encourages the
Church to take on new commitments of solidarity, communion and evangelisation. Migration movements, in fact, call us to deepen and strengthen the values needed to guarantee peaceful coexistence between persons and cultures. Achieving mere tolerance that respects diversity and ways of sharing between different backgrounds and cultures is not sufficient. This is precisely where the Church contributes to overcoming frontiers and encouraging the 'moving away
from attitudes of defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalisation ... towards attitudes based on a culture of encounter, the only culture capable of building a better, more just and fraternal world'.
"Migration movements, however,are on such a scale that only a systematic and active cooperation between States and international organisations can be capable of regulating and managing such movements effectively. For migration affects everyone, not only because of the extent of the phenomenon, but also because of 'the social, economic, political, cultural and religious problems it
raises, and the dramatic challenges it poses to nations and the international community'.
"At the international level, frequent debates take place regarding the appropriateness, methods and required norms to deal with the phenomenon of migration. There are agencies and organizations on the international, national and local level which work strenuously to serve those seeking a better life through migration. Notwithstanding their generous and laudable efforts, a more decisive and constructive action is required, one which relies on a universal network of cooperation, based on safeguarding the dignity and centrality of every human person. This will lead to greater effectiveness in the fight against the shameful and criminal trafficking of human beings, the violation of
fundamental rights, and all forms of violence, oppression and enslavement. Working together, however, requires reciprocity,joint-action, openness and trust, in the knowledge that 'no country can singlehandedly face the difficulties associated with this phenomenon, which is now so widespread that it affects every continent in the twofold movement of immigration and emigration'.
"It is necessary to respond to the globalisation of migration with the globalisation of charity and cooperation, in such a way as to make the conditions of migrants more humane. At the same time, greater efforts are needed to guarantee the easing of conditions, often brought about by war or famine,which compel whole peoples to leave their native countries.
"Solidarity with migrants and refugees must be accompanied by the courage and creativity necessary to develop, on a world-wide level, a more just and equitable financial and economic order, as well as an increasing commitment to peace, the indispensable condition for all authentic progress.
"Dear migrants and refugees! You have a special place in the heart of the Church, and you help her to enlarge her heart and to manifest her motherhood towards the entire human family. Do not lose your faith and hope! Let us think of the Holy Family during the flight in Egypt: Just as the maternal heart of the Blessed Virgin and the kind heart of Saint Joseph kept alive the confidence
that God would never abandon them, so in you may the same hope in the Lord never be wanting. I entrust you to their protection and I cordially impart to all of you my Apostolic Blessing".

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The challenge of migration: indifference must not prevail
Vatican City, 23 September 2014 (VIS) - A press conference was held in the Holy See Press Office this morning, in which Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, along with Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil, secretary of the same dicastery, presented the Holy Father's message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be held on Sunday 18 January 2015 on the theme, "A Church without frontiers, Mother to all".
Cardinal Veglio explained that the Message is dated 3 September, the date of the centenary of the election of Pope Benedict XV, and highlighted the importance Pope Francis has attached to establishing an annual day for increasing awareness of the phenomenon of migration. He also emphasised that the Church has faced ever new and challenging situations during her millennial history, and that migration poses fresh challenges not only on account of its magnitude but also for the various social, economic, political, cultural and religious problems it gives rise to.
"The biblical commandment to love one's neighbour, to open the door to him as though welcoming God, may come into conflict with certain problematic situations, for instance when immigrants are linked to irregular or delinquent behaviour". Cardinal Veglio posed the question, "How should the Church respond?", when faced with such a complex situation, and went on to outline the
three recommendations offered by the Pope. These are: the renouncement of oneself, collaboration between the different entities and institutions that work for immigrants, and the humanisation of conditions for immigrants, intensifying efforts to promote a gradual reduction in the root causes of immigration, that cause entire peoples to abandon their homelands.
Archbishop Kalathiparambil went on to consider the theme of multiculturalism in contemporary society, which is in constant evolution. He raised key issues related to forced immigration, explaining that this takes the form of fleeing for salvation, often involving dangerous or life-threatening journeys which may
nonetheless offer the only option for reaching a country where protection and the possibility of a dignified life can be found. The prelate highlighted that since many people in these conditions cannot meet the stringent requirements for international travel as they often do not possess, and have no means of obtaining valid documents, they become "vulnerable and defenceless, in search of protection, and easy prey to smugglers and traffickers".
He remarked that "to respond effectively to the recognition of the need for protection, to restore human dignity to refugees and treat the causes of forced
mobility", States are required to cooperate in a spirit of international solidarity, and added that the Church must make efforts to ensure that "the dignity and the centrality of the human person is protected, promoting solidarity and dialogue between peoples". He concluded by emphasising that today's challenge is to resist becoming "used to the human tragedy experienced by forcibly displaced persons, and not to allow indifference, 'the weakness of our human nature', to prevail or to give rise to the temptation to be Christians who keep a safe distance from the wounds of the Lord".

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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Cardinal Muller meets the superior
general of the Society of St. Pius X
Vatican City, 23 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office has issued a
statement to confirm that this morning from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a cordial meeting took place at the premises of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith between Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the Society of St. Pius X. The meeting was also attended by Archbishop Luis Ladaria
Ferrer, S.J., secretary of the same Congregation, Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, O.P., adjunct secretary and Archbishop Guido Pozzo, secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, along with two assistants from the Society of St. Pius X, Rev. Niklaus Pfluger and Rev. Alain-Marc NΘly.

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 165
DATE 26-09-2014

Summary:
- Pope Francis receives in audience the Focolare Movement
- Holy Father's calendar for October 2014
- Comments of the Holy See on the Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Cardinal Parolin encourages people of faith to condemn terrorist acts
- Comments of the Holy See on the Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
- The KAICIID deplores the abuse of religion to justify violent conflict
- Cardinals Nichols, Soo-Jung and Brenes Solorzano take possession of their titular churches
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Pope Francis receives in audience the Focolare Movement
Vatican City, 26 September 2014 (VIS) - Contemplate, go forth, and educate: these were the three directions Pope Francis gave this morning to the Focolare Movement, whose general assembly takes place in Rome this week.
The Work of Mary, better known as the Focolare Movement, was born within the bosom of the Catholic Church "from a small seed that, over the years, has grown
into a tree that now extends its branches in all the expressions of the Christian family and also among members of different religions, and among many who cultivate justice and solidarity alongside the search for truth".
Pope Francis referred with great affection and admiration to Chiara Lubich, founder and firs president of the Focolare Movement, commenting that, "faithful
to the charism from which it was born and by which it is nurtured, the Focolare
Movement now finds itself faced with the same task that awaits the Church as a whole: offering, with responsibility and creativity, its special contribution to this new season of evangelisation". He gave three directions on how to achieve this: contemplate, go forth, and educate.
To contemplate, it is necessary to "enlarge one's inner capacity to accommodate Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit, to make contemplation the indispensable condition for a supportive presence and effective action that is truly free and pure". To contemplate means living in the company of brothers and sisters, breaking the bread of communion and fraternity with them, together
crossing the threshold that leads to the Father, since contemplation that excludes others is a deception. It is narcissism".
The next step is to "go forth like Jesus from the bosom of the Father to proclaim the word of love to all, unto His sacrifice on the Cross. We must learn from Him, from Jesus, the 'drive to go forth and give, to go out from ourselves, to keep pressing forward in our sowing of the good seed'. We must not linger, but rather, with God's help, must aim high and broaden our horizons! And to do this, we must go forth with courage 'unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach'. He awaits us in the suffering and in the cries of our brothers, in the wounds of society and in the questions posed by the culture of our times. It pains the heart when we see a Church, faced with a humanity with many wounds - moral, existential, of war - making philosophical, theological and spiritual Byzantisms, while lacking a spirituality of action. It is necessary to go forth, because the Church is like a field hospital. In this type of hospital, the first thing you do is tend to the injured, rather than analysing their cholesterol levels; you do that later".
Finally, the third direction: educate. "It is necessary, as the Gospel demands, to form new men and women, and to do this there must be a school in humanity that measures up to the humanity of Jesus. ... Without adequate education of the new generations, it is illusory to imagine the realisation of a serious and lasting project in the service of a new humanity".
"Chiara Lubich, in her time, coined an expression that remains relevant in our
times", concluded the Holy Father. "Today, she said, we need to form 'world-people', men and women with the soul, the heart and the mind of Jesus and therefore capable of recognising and interpreting the needs, worries and hopes that reside in the heart of every person".

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Holy Father's calendar for October 2014
Vatican City, 26 September 2014 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has published the following calendar of liturgical celebrations over which the Holy Father will preside during the month of October:
Sunday 4: At 6 p.m. in St. Peter's Square, prayer vigil in preparation for the
Synod on the family.
Sunday 5: 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time. At 10 a.m. in the Papal Chapel of the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass for the opening of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family.
Sunday 12: 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time. At 10 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass for thanksgiving for the equipollent canonisation of the French Canadian Saints Marie de l'Incarnation, O.S.U. (1599-1672), and Francois de Montmorency-Laval, M.E.P. (1623-1708).
Sunday 19: 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time. At 10.30 a.m. in the Papal Chapel of the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass for the conclusion of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family and the beatification of the Servant of God, Supreme Pontiff Paul VI.

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Comments of the Holy See on the Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
Vatican City, 26 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy See has communicated to the competent offices of the United Nations in Geneva the document "Comments of the
Holy See on the Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child". The Concluding Observations were presented by the Committee on the Rights of the Child on 5 February, following the reports, written responses and
interactive dialogue submitted to the Committee by the Holy See as a State signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The full English text of the Holy See's comments may be consulted at http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/2014/documents/rc-seg-st-20140205_concluding-observations-rights-child_en.html
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Cardinal Parolin encourages people of faith to condemn terrorist acts
Vatican City, 26 September 2014 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin participated in the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on terrorism, held last Wednesday, 24 September in New York, on "Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts". Cardinal Parolin began by congratulating the U.S.A. on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and applauded the timely convocation of the debate, which came "at a time when every region of the world faces the dehumanising impact of terrorism". He continued, "This is not a phenomenon which impacts only certain peoples, religions or regions, but rather is a crime which impacts the entire international community. The ongoing, and in some regions escalating use of terrorism is a reminder that such as shared challenge requires a shared commitment from all nations and all people of good will".

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 166
DATE 29-09-2014

Summary:
- Audience with the president of Malta: commitment of Church and state in the phenomenon of migration
- To the members of the United Bible Societies: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ"
- The young and the elderly: without balance between generations, the freedom of society becomes authoritarianism
- Francis praises the example of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo and asks for prayers for the upcoming Synod
- The Pope presides at liturgy commemorating the 200th anniversary of the reconstitution of the Society of Jesus
- The Pope's message for the beatification of the Opus Dei prelate Alvaro del Portillo: in the simplicity of everyday life we can find the way to holiness
- Francis: the encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist is a source of hope for the world
- Communicating the family: a privileged place of encounter with the gift of love
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Audience with the president of Malta: commitment of Church and state in the phenomenon of migration
Vatican City, 29 September 2014 (VIS) - Today, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, who subsequently met with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
The cordial discussions focused on the good relations between the Holy See and
Malta and highlighted the significant contribution made by the Catholic Church in the fields of education and welfare, especially in favour of the poor. The conversation then turned to various themes of mutual interest, with special reference to the role of Christian values in the edification of Maltese society
and the strengthening of the institution of the family.
Finally, the Parties discussed Malta's contribution within the European Union,
along with a number of questions of an international nature, such as the situations of conflict in the Mediterranean region, expressing hope for a prompt solution via dialogue, as well as the phenomenon of migration towards Europe, which involves commitment on the part of the Church and the Government.

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To the members of the United Bible Societies: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ"
Vatican City, 29 September 2014 (VIS) - "Yours is the fruit of a patient, careful, fraternal, competent and, above all, faithful work. If you do not believe, you do not understand; if you do not believe, you cannot stand firm", said the Holy Father to the members of the United Bible Societies, whom he received this morning in the Consistory Hall for the presentation of the Italian language Bible, "Parola del Signore - La Bibbia Interconfessionale in lingua corrente" ("The Word of the Lord - The Interconfessional Bible in current language"). "I hope that this text, which is presented with the blessing of the Italian Episcopal Conference and the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, will encourage all Italian-speaking Christians to meditate on, life, bear witness to and celebrate God's message".
"I would very much like all Christians to be able to learn 'the sublime science of Jesus Christ' through frequent reading of the Word of God, as the sacred text offers nourishment for the soul and is the pure and perennial source of the spiritual life of us all", he added. "We must make every effort so that each believer may read God's Word, because as Saint Jerome says, 'ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ'". The Pope offered his heartfelt thanks to those present for their valuable work, encouraging them to "continue on the journey you have undertaken, so as to allow for the better and
deeper comprehension of the Word of the living God".

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The young and the elderly: without balance between generations, the freedom of
society becomes authoritarianism
Vatican City, 28 September 2014 (VIS) - Today in St. Peter's Square a meeting was held to celebrate old age, organised by the Pontifical Council for the Family, entitled "The blessing of long life". The meeting, which brought together thousands of elderly and grandparents accompanied by their relatives from all over the world, began at 8.30 a.m. with a "tour of old age through five Biblical episodes". An hour later, the Holy Father arrived in the Square to join the elderly, with whom he had spoken before Mass at 10.30 a.m. The Pope
emeritus Benedict XVI was personally invited by Pope Francis and participated in the meeting.
The Pope explained that the first reading "echoes in various ways the Fourth Commandment: 'Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long
in the land that the Lord your God is giving you'. A people has no future without such an encounter between generations, without children being able to accept with gratitude the witness of life from the hands of their parents. And part of this gratitude for those who gave you life is also gratitude for our heavenly Father. There are times when generations of young people, for complex historical and cultural reasons, feel a deeper need to be independent from their parents, 'breaking free', as it were, from the legacy of the older generation. It is a kind of adolescent rebellion. But unless the encounter, the
meeting of generations, is re-established, unless a new and fruitful intergenerational equilibrium is restored, what results is a serious impoverishment for all, and the freedom which prevails in society is actually a
false freedom, which almost always becomes a form of authoritarianism".
Francis emphasised that "Jesus did not abolish the law of the family and the passing of generations, but brought it to fulfilment. The Lord formed a new family, in which bonds of kinship are less important than our relationship with
him and our doing the will of God the Father. Yet the love of Jesus and the Father completes and fulfils our love of parents, brothers and sisters, and grandparents; it renews family relationships with the lymph of the Gospel and of the Holy Spirit". He remarked that Mary, when she visited her relatives Elizabeth and Zechariah, "was able to listen to those elderly and amazed parents; she treasured their wisdom, and it proved precious for her in her journey as a woman, as a wife and as a mother", and added, "the Virgin Mary likewise shows us the way: the way of encounter between the young and the elderly. The future of a people necessarily supposes this encounter: the young give the strength which enable a people to move forward, while the elderly consolidate this strength by their memory and their traditional wisdom".

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Francis praises the example of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo and asks for prayers for the upcoming Synod
Vatican City, 28 September 2014 (VIS) - At the end of today's Holy Mass, the Pope prayed the Angelus with the faithful present in St. Peter's Square, after greeting elderly pilgrims from various countries, the participants in the congress-pilgrimage "Singing faith", organised to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the choir of the diocese of Roma, and after mentioning the beatification of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, celebrated in Madrid, Spain on Saturday. "May his exemplary Christian and priestly witness awaken in many people the wish to join with Jesus and the Gospel". Pope Francis went on to remind those present that the Assembly of the Synod on the Family begins next Sunday, and encouraged all the faithful to pray for this important event, that he entrusts to the intercession of Mary "Salus Populi Romani".

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The Pope presides at liturgy commemorating the 200th anniversary of the reconstitution of the Society of Jesus
Vatican City, 28 September 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, in the Basilica of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, the Pope presided at a liturgy of thanksgiving to mark the 200th anniversary of the reconstitution of the Society of Jesus in the universal Church, sanctioned by Pope Pius VII with the Bull "Sollicitudo Omnium ecclesiarum" of 7 August 1814. During the liturgy, which included the Vespers prayer and the Te Deum, following the Gospel reading and before the renewal of vows by some of the Jesuits present, the Holy Father gave a homily, extensive extracts of which are published below:
"The Society under the name of Jesus has lived difficult times of persecution.
During the leadership of Fr. Lorenzo Ricci, 'enemies of the Church succeeded in
obtaining the suppression of the Society' by my predecessor Clement XIV. Today,
remembering its restoration, we are called to recover our memory, calling to mind the benefits received and the particular gifts. Today, I want to do that here with you.
"In times of trial and tribulation, dust clouds of doubt and suffering are always raised and it is not easy to move forward, to continue the journey. Many
temptations come, especially in difficult times and in crises: to stop to discuss ideas, to allow oneself to be carried away by the desolation, to focus on the fact of being persecuted, and not to see the other. Reading the letters of Fr. Ricci, one thing struck me: his ability to avoid being harnessed by these temptations and to propose to the Jesuits, in a time of trouble, a vision
of the things that rooted them even more in the spirituality of the Society".
"The Society ... lived the conflict to the end, without minimising it. It lived humiliation along with the humiliated Christ; it obeyed. You never save yourself from conflict with cunning and with strategies of resistance. In the confusion and humiliation, the Society preferred to live the discernment of God's will, without seeking a way out of the conflict in a seemingly quiet manner. It is never apparent tranquillity that satisfies our hearts, but true peace that is a gift from God. One should never seek the easy 'compromise'. ...
Only discernment saves us from real uprooting, from true 'suppression' of the heart, which is selfishness, worldliness, the loss of our horizon. Our hope, is
Jesus; it is only Jesus. Thus Fr. Ricci and the Society during the suppression privileged history rather than a grey 'little tale', knowing that love judges history and that hope - even in darkness - is greater than our expectations. ... We can review briefly this process of discernment and service. When in 1759, the decrees of Pombal destroyed the Portuguese provinces of the Society, Fr. Ricci lived the conflict, not complaining and letting himself fall into desolation, but inviting prayers to ask for the good spirit, the true supernatural spirit of vocation, the perfect docility to God's grace. When in 1761, the storm advanced in France ... he asked that all trust be placed in God. ... In 1760, after the expulsion of the Spanish Jesuits, he continued to call for prayer. And finally, on February 21, 1773, just six months before the signing of the Brief Dominus ac Redemptor, with the utter lack of human help, he sees the hand of God's mercy, which invites those, who submit to the test, not to confide in anyone but God. ... The important thing for Fr. Ricci that the Society, until the last, is true to the spirit of its vocation, which is for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls.
"The Society, even faced with its own demise, remained true to the purpose for
which it was founded. To this, Ricci concludes with an exhortation to keep alive the spirit of charity, unity, obedience, patience, evangelical simplicity, true friendship with God. Everything else is worldliness.

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 169
DATE 02-10-2014

Summary:
- The Pope to the Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East: there is no religious, political or economic justification for the condition of
thousands of Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq and Syria
- To the prelates of Chad: the behaviour of the Church is a model for all society
- To Justice and Peace: rising inequality and poverty endanger democracy
- Pope Francis receives in audience the survivors of the Lampedusa shipwreck that claimed 368 lives
- Papal representatives in the Middle East gather in the Vatican to discuss the
situation of Christians in the region
- Audiences

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The Pope to the Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East: there
is no religious, political or economic justification for the condition of thousands of Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq and Syria
Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) - "Our meeting is marked by the suffering we share on
account of the wars that beset various regions of the Middle East and in particular for the violence suffered by Christians and members of other religious minorities, especially in Iraq and Syria", said Pope Francis this morning, as he received in audience His Holiness Mar Dinka IV, Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East. "When we think of their suffering, it is natural to overcome the distinctions of rite or confession; in
them there is the body of Christ that, still today, is injured, beaten and humiliated. There are no religious, political or economic factors that can justify what is happening to hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. We are deeply united in our prayers for intercession and in charity towards these suffering members of the body of Christ".
"Your visit is another step along the path of an increasing closeness and spiritual communion between us, after the bitter misunderstandings of previous centuries", continued the bishop of Rome. Twenty years ago, the joint Christological declaration you signed along with my predecessor, the Pope St. John Paul II, was a milestone in our path to full communion. In this declaration we acknowledged that we confess the sole faith of the apostles, faith in the divinity and humanity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, united in a single
person, without confusion or alteration, without division or separation.
Finally, the Pope referred to the work of the Joint Commission for Theological
Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East, which
he accompanies with prayer "so that the blessed day may come in which we are able to celebrate at the same altar the sacrifice of praise, that will make us one in Christ. ... What unites us is far greater than what divides, and for this reason we feel urged by the Spirit to share from now the spiritual treasures of our ecclesial traditions, to live, like true brothers, sharing the
gifts that the Lord does not cease to give to our Churches, as a sign of His goodness and mercy".

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To the prelates of Chad: the behaviour of the Church is a model for all society
Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) - The implementation of catechetical methods for inculturation, the defence of the family and the role of women, and the need for dialogue with other religions in a country where Catholics are a minority are the main themes of the discourse Pope Francis handed to the bishops of Chad
this morning, at the end of their "ad Limina" visit. The Holy Father writes that the Catholic communities in this country "are growing, not only numerically, but also in terms of quality and the strength of their efforts", and expressed his satisfaction for the work carried out in the spheres of education, health and development. "The civil authorities are very grateful to the Catholic Church for her contribution to society as a whole in Chad. I encourage you to persevere along this path, as there is a strong bond between evangelisation and human development, a bond that must be expressed and developed in all the work of evangelisation. Service to the poor and the most disadvantaged constitutes a true testimony of Christ, Who made Himself poor in order to be close to us and to save us. Both the religious congregations and lay associations who work with them play an important role in this respect, and
they are to be thanked for this".
"However", he observes, "it is certain that this commitment to social service does not constitute the entirety of evangelizing activity; the deepening and strengthening of faith in the hearts of the faithful, that translates into an authentic spiritual and sacramental life, are essential to enable them to withstand the many trials of contemporary life, and to ensure that the behaviour of the faithful is more coherent with the requirements of the Gospel.
... This is especially necessary in a country where certain cultural traditions
bear considerable weight, where less morally demanding religious possibilities are present everywhere, and where secularism begins to make headway".
Therefore, "it is necessary for the faithful to receive a solid doctrinal and spiritual formation. And the first locus of formation is certainly catechesis. I invite you, with a renewed missionary spirit, to implement the catechetical methods used in your dioceses. First, the good aspects of their traditions must
be considered and accorded their due value - because Christ did not come to destroy cultures, but rather to lead them to fulfilment - while that which is not Christian must be clearly denounced. At the same time, it is essential to ensure the accuracy and integrity of doctrinal content".
The Pope goes on to refer to families, who are "the vital cell of society and the Church, and who are currently very vulnerable. ... And within the family, it is important that the role and the dignity of the woman are recognised, to bear eloquent witness to the Gospel. Therefore, in this respect, "behaviour within the Church must be a model for the whole of society".
After reiterating the need for the permanent formation of the clergy and the closeness of bishops and priests, Pope Francis observes that the Church in Chad, "despite her vitality and development, is a minority in a population in which there is a Muslim majority and which is still partly bound to its traditional religions", and encouraged the prelates to ensure "that the Church,
which is respected and listened to, occupies the space justly accorded to her in society in Chad, in which a significant element has converted, even though this remains a minority". He continues, "in this context, I must urge you to foster interreligious dialogue, which was fortunately initiated by the late Archbishop of N'Djamena, Mathias M'Garteri Mayadi, who did much to promote the co-existence of different religious communities. I believe that it is necessary
to continue with this type of initiative to prevent the violence to which Christians have fallen victim in neighbouring countries".
The Holy Father concluded by reiterating the importance of maintaining the good relations established with the civil authorities, and highlighted the recent signing of a Framework Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Chad that, once ratified, will greatly help the mission of the Church.

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To Justice and Peace: rising inequality and poverty endanger democracy
Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received in audience the participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council "Justice and
Peace": a meeting that coincides with the fifth anniversary of the publication of Benedict VI's encyclical "Caritas in veritate". Pope Francis described it as
"a fundamental document for the evangelisation of the social sphere, which offers valuable guidance for the presence of Catholics in society, in the institutions, in the economy, in finance and in politics", which "has drawn attention to both the benefits and the dangers of globalisation, when the latter is not guided towards the good of the people. While globalisation has increased aggregate wealth and that of a number of individual States, it has also caused division between various social groups, creating inequality and new
forms of poverty in within those same countries that are considered to be among
the richest".
The Pope remarked that one of the aspects of the current economic system is the exploitation of international imbalances in the costs of labour, which affects millions of people who live on less than two dollars a day. This imbalance not only fails to respect the dignity of those who provide low cost labour, but also removes sources of work from those areas where it is most protected. "This poses the problem of creating mechanisms for protecting working rights, as well as the environment, in the presence of an increasingly consumerist ideology, that does not demonstrate responsibility with regard to cities and to creation. Rising inequality and poverty put participatory and inclusive democracy at risk; the latter always presupposes an economy and a market that are fair and do not exclude. This therefore means that the structural causes of inequality and poverty must be dealt with". Frances remarked that in his apostolic exhortation "Evangelii gaudium" he indicated three basic instruments for the social inclusion of the those most in need: education, access to healthcare, and work for all.

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 170
DATE 03-10-2014

Summary:
- Pope Francis receives the president of Sri Lanka
- The Pope receives the Council of European Episcopal Conferences: "Be a prophetic voice for society"
- To the clergy: do not limit yourselves to merely acting as priests - "be" priests
- Second day of the meeting on the presence of Christians in the Middle East
- Cardinal Baldisseri on the Synod on the Family
- Audiences

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Pope Francis receives the president of Sri Lanka
Vatican City, 3 October 2014 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father Francis received in
audience the president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin.
During the cordial discussions, the Parties focused on the country's current situation, with particular reference to signs of social and economic improvement, and conveyed their hope that solutions corresponding to the legitimate expectations of all citizens may be found.
In this context, the Parties expressed their hope that the Holy Father's upcoming visit to Sri Lanka may be welcomed as a sign of closeness to the Sri Lankan population and may encourage those who work for the common good, reconciliation, justice and peace.

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The Pope receives the Council of European Episcopal Conferences: "Be a prophetic voice for society"
Vatican City, 3 October 2014 (VIS) - "Family and future of Europa" is the theme of the plenary assembly taking place in these days at the Council of European Episcopal Conferences. This morning Pope Francis received seventy of its members, to whom he delivered an off-the-cuff address. He subsequently handed them a written discourse underlining how, as pastors close to their flock, they well know the complexity of the panorama and the challenges the mission of the Church faces, even in Europe.
"We are called to be an 'outbound' Church, in movement from the centre towards
the peripheries to reach out to all, without fear, without distrust, and with apostolic courage", says the document.
Addressing the theme of the plenary session, the Holy Father writes that it constitutes an important occasion for joint reflection on how to exalt the family as a valuable resource for pastoral renewal, emphasising the need for Pastors and families to work together, with a spirit of humility and sincere dialogue, so that parish communities become "families of families". In this respect, he observes that "there is no lack of diverse experiences of family pastoral care and political and social commitment to support families, both those that experience an ordinary married life and those afflicted by problems or breakdowns. It is important to gather together these significant experiences
present in the different areas of the life of the men and women of our time, in
relation to whom we must exercise an appropriate discernment, in order to then 'put them in the network', thus involving other diocesan communities".
Collaboration between Pastors and families also extends to the field of education, "favouring the maturation of a spirit of justice, solidarity, peace,
and the courage of one's own convictions. It involves supporting parents in their responsibility to education their children, protecting their fundamental right to give their children the education they consider most appropriate. Parents, indeed, remain the first and most important educators of their children, and therefore they have the right to educate them in conformity with their moral and religious convictions. In this regard, it is possible to outline common and coordinated pastoral directives, with the aim of offering valid promotion and support to Catholic schools".
At the end of the text, Pope Francis encourages those present to continue in their efforts to favour communion between the various Churches in Europe, enabling appropriate collaboration for fruitful evangelisation. "I also invite you to be a 'prophetic voice' within society, especially where the process of secularisation in process throughout the European continent tends to make it increasingly marginal to speak about God", he concludes.

___________________________________________________________

To the clergy: do not limit yourselves to merely acting as priests - "be" priests
Vatican City, 3 October 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall the Holy Father received in audience the participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for the Clergy. "The vocation is truly a treasure that God places in the hearts of some men, chosen by Him and called to follow Him in this special state of life. This treasure, that must be discovered and brought to light, is not made to 'enrich' someone alone. He who is called to the ministry is not the 'master' of his vocation, but rather the administrator of a
gift that God has entrusted to him for the good of all the people, or rather for all humanity, even those who have drifted away from religious practice or do not profess faith in Christ". Pope Francis added that "at the same time, all
the Christian community is the custodian of the treasure of these vocations, destined to its service, and must always be aware of its task of promoting, welcoming and accompanying them with affection".
Similarly, the Pope reminded the clergy that they too must play their role in formation. "This involves protecting and nurturing vocations, so that they bear
mature fruit". He remarked that Jesus did not call his disciples by saying to them "come, I will explain to you", or "follow me, I will teach you". "The formation Christ offered his disciples instead took the form of 'come and follow me', 'do as I do', and this is the method that today, too, the Church must offer her ministers. ... For this reason, it is a task that is never completed, because priests never stop being Jesus' disciples; they never stop following him".
Pope Francis spoke about evangelisation as the aim of vocation. "Every vocation is for the mission, and the mission of ordained ministers is evangelisation", he continued, adding that "the first form of evangelisation is
the witness of fraternity and of communion between priests and bishop". He concluded by emphasising that it is necessary for the clergy to "be priests ...
free of every spiritual worldliness, aware that it is their lives that evangelise rather than their works", rather than to take a limited view of priesthood as a profession", also asking the bishops to think of the good of the people of God, to study the itinerary of vocations carefully, and not to accept priests simply because there is a lack of them in the diocese.

___________________________________________________________

Second day of the meeting on the presence of Christians in the Middle East
Vatican City, 3 October 2014 (VIS) - The meeting of various Papal Representatives and Superiors of the competent dicasteries, convoked in the Vatican at the behest of the Holy Father to analyse "The presence of Christians
in the Middle East", continued today. During this morning's meeting, the Secretary for Relations with States gave a general presentation on the political situation in the Middle East and on the principles guiding the action
of the Holy See, demonstrating the global repercussions of what happens in the Region. Peace is to be sought by means of a "regional" and comprehensive solution that does not overlook the interests of any of the parties, through dialogue and not through unilateral decisions imposed by force. With reference to the phenomenon of terrorism, the Secretary for Relations with States emphasised the importance of combating the fundamentalism at its base. An important role should be played by religious leaders, favouring interreligious dialogue and in particular the collaboration of all for the good of society. The Holy See, in following the political situation in the Middle East, and more
generally in its relations with countries with a Muslim majority, considers to be fundamental issues the protection and respect for Christians and other religious minorities as fully-entitled citizens, and human rights, especially that of religious freedom.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 173
DATE 08-10-2014

Summary:
- General Audience: ?divisions between Christians wound Christ?
- Fourth General Congregation: the Synod Fathers discuss current proposals on family pastoral and the situation in Africa, threatened by Ebola
- Fifth General Congregation: critical situations within the family, the question of mixed marriages, and mercy and truth for the divorced and remarried - Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

General Audience: ?divisions between Christians wound Christ?
Vatican City, 8 October 2014 (VIS) ? This morning, punctual as always, the Holy Father entered St. Peter's Square in an open-top Jeep to greet the faithful in attendance at this Wednesday's general audience. He dedicated his catechesis to the ?many brothers who share with us our faith in Christ, but who
belong to other confessions or to traditions different to our own?. He emphasised that even today the relations between Christians of different confessions are not always characterised by respect and cordiality, and asked, ?What is our current attitude to this situation? Are we indifferent or do we firmly believe that we can and must walk towards reconciliation and full communion??.
The Pope emphasised that the divisions between Christians wound the Church and
Christ, and remarked that Jesus wanted his disciples to remain united in His love. This unity was already under threat in Jesus' time, explained Pope Francis, and He urged his disciples to speak unanimously, so ?by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose?.
The bishop of Rome also mentioned that throughout history the devil has tempted the Church with the intention of dividing her. Unfortunately, the Church has been marked by serious and painful divisions that have at times been
long-lasting, continuing until the present day. For this reason, ?it is very difficult to reconstruct the reasons and, above all, to find possible solutions. ? What is certain is that, in one way or another, behind all these lacerations there is always arrogance and selfishness, which are the cause of every disagreement and which make us intolerant, incapable of listening and of accepting those who have a vision or a position different from our own?.
?Now, faced with this, is there anything that we as members of the Holy Mother
Church, can and should do? Without doubt there must be no lack of prayer, in continuity and in communion with Jesus. And together with prayer, the Lord asks
of us a renewed openness: He asks us not to close ourselves against dialogue and encounter, but rather to accept all that is valid and positive that is offered to us even from those who think differently to us or who adopt different positions. Let us not focus on what divides us, but rather on that which unites us, seeking to know and love Christ better and to share the richness of His love. ? We are divided against ourselves. However, we all have something in common: we believe in Jesus Christ, the Lord ? in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We walk together, we are on the same path ? let us help each other! Let us receive communion on the way. This is spiritual ecumenism: walking the path of life together in our faith inJesus Christ the Lord?.
Continuing on the theme of communion, the Holy Father told the faithful present that today he is very thankful to the Lord, since it is seventy years since his first communion. ?Receiving the First Communion means entering into communion with others, with our brothers in our Church, and also with all those
who belong to different communities but who believe in Jesus?.
Francis concluded by encouraging all to walk together towards full unity. ?History has separated us, but we are on the path to reconciliation and communion. And when it seems that our goal is too distant or we are discouraged, we may be comforted by the idea that God cannot cover His ears to the voice of His own Son, and cannot fail to respond to His prayer and ours, that all Christians are truly one?.

___________________________________________________________

Fourth General Congregation: the Synod Fathers discuss current proposals on family pastoral and the situation in Africa, threatened by Ebola
Vatican City, 8 October 2014 (VIS) ? The general debate continued during the fourth general Congregation, following the order of the Instrumentum Laboris. The theme was ?The Pastoral Program for the Family: Various Proposals Underway?
(Part II, Chapter 1).
Firstly, the link between the crisis of faith and the crisis of the family was
underlined: it was said that the first generates the second. This is because faith is seen mostly as a set of doctrinal mores, whereas it is primarily a free act by which one entrusts oneself to God. This gave rise, among other things, to the suggestion of devising a ?Vademecum? dedicated to the catechesis
of the family, so as to strengthen its evangelising mission. Furthermore, the weakness of the faith of many baptised persons was underlined; this often leads
to the marriage of couples who do are not appropriately aware of what they are undertaking.
Secondly, a great challenge facing families today was mentioned: that of the ?dictatorship of unitary thought? that aims to introduce into society those countervalues that distort the vision of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The crisis of values, atheist secularism, hedonism, and the ambition of power destroy families today, distorting it, weakening people and consequently rendering society fragile. It is therefore important to recover in
the faithful the awareness of belonging to the Church, as the Church grows by attraction and the families of the Church attract other families.
For its part, the Church, an expert in humanity, must underline the beauty and
the need everyone has for the family, as it is indispensable. It is necessary to reawaken in humanity the sense of belonging to the family unit. In addition,
as a reflection of God?s love, which is never an isolated love, the family opens one to relationships and bonds with others, thus becoming the foundation for society.
Mention was also made of the link between priests and families: they accompany
families in all the most important stages of their lives, sharing in their joys
and difficulties; families, in turn, help priests to experience celibacy as a full and balanced emotional life, rather than as a sacrifice. In addition, the family was defined as the ?cradle of vocations? as it is precisely within the domestic walls, in common prayer, that the call to the priesthood is frequently
heard.
A further link that was underlined is that between baptism and marriage: without a serious and in-depth Christian initiation, the meaning of the sacrament of marriage is diminished. Therefore, it is to be emphasised that Christian marriage cannot be seen solely as a cultural tradition or a social need, but rather must be understood as a vocational decision, undertaken with suitable preparation that cannot be improvised in a few meetings, but must be carried out over a period of time.
Attention then turned to how work affects the dynamics of the family: these are two dimensions that must be reconciled, through increasingly flexible working hours, new contractual models, and attention to geographical distances between home and work. Furthermore, technology can lead to work being brought home, making family dialogue difficult.
Numerous interventions, especially in relation to Africa, drew attention to the many challenges the family must face in this continent: polygamy, levirate marriage, sects, war, poverty, the painful crisis of migration, international pressure for birth control, and so on. These are problems that undermine family
stability, placing it in crisis. In the face of such challenges, it is necessary to respond with in-depth evangelisation, able to promote the values of peace, justice and love, an adequate promotion of the role of women in society, thorough education of children and the protection of rights for all victims of violence.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 173
DATE 08-10-2014

Summary:
- General Audience: "divisions between Christians wound Christ"
- Fourth General Congregation: the Synod Fathers discuss current proposals on family pastoral and the situation in Africa, threatened by Ebola
- Fifth General Congregation: critical situations within the family, the question of mixed marriages, and mercy and truth for the divorced and remarried - Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

General Audience: "divisions between Christians wound Christ"
Vatican City, 8 October 2014 (VIS) - This morning, punctual as always, the Holy Father entered St. Peter's Square in an open-top Jeep to greet the faithful in attendance at this Wednesday's general audience. He dedicated his catechesis to the "many brothers who share with us our faith in Christ, but who
belong to other confessions or to traditions different to our own". He emphasised that even today the relations between Christians of different confessions are not always characterised by respect and cordiality, and asked, "What is our current attitude to this situation? Are we indifferent or do we firmly believe that we can and must walk towards reconciliation and full communion?".
The Pope emphasised that the divisions between Christians wound the Church and
Christ, and remarked that Jesus wanted his disciples to remain united in His love. This unity was already under threat in Jesus' time, explained Pope Francis, and He urged his disciples to speak unanimously, so "by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose".
The bishop of Rome also mentioned that throughout history the devil has tempted the Church with the intention of dividing her. Unfortunately, the Church has been marked by serious and painful divisions that have at times been
long-lasting, continuing until the present day. For this reason, "it is very difficult to reconstruct the reasons and, above all, to find possible solutions. ... What is certain is that, in one way or another, behind all these
lacerations there is always arrogance and selfishness, which are the cause of every disagreement and which make us intolerant, incapable of listening and of accepting those who have a vision or a position different from our own".
"Now, faced with this, is there anything that we as members of the Holy Mother
Church, can and should do? Without doubt there must be no lack of prayer, in continuity and in communion with Jesus. And together with prayer, the Lord asks
of us a renewed openness: He asks us not to close ourselves against dialogue and encounter, but rather to accept all that is valid and positive that is offered to us even from those who think differently to us or who adopt different positions. Let us not focus on what divides us, but rather on that which unites us, seeking to know and love Christ better and to share the richness of His love. ... We are divided against ourselves. However, we all have something in common: we believe in Jesus Christ, the Lord ... in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We walk together, we are on the same path ... let us help each other! Let us receive communion on the way. This is spiritual ecumenism: walking the path of life together in our faith in Jesus Christ the Lord".
Continuing on the theme of communion, the Holy Father told the faithful present that today he is very thankful to the Lord, since it is seventy years since his first communion. "Receiving the First Communion means entering into communion with others, with our brothers in our Church, and also with all those
who belong to different communities but who believe in Jesus".
Francis concluded by encouraging all to walk together towards full unity. "History has separated us, but we are on the path to reconciliation and communion. And when it seems that our goal is too distant or we are discouraged, we may be comforted by the idea that God cannot cover His ears to the voice of His own Son, and cannot fail to respond to His prayer and ours, that all Christians are truly one".

___________________________________________________________

Fourth General Congregation: the Synod Fathers discuss current proposals on family pastoral and the situation in Africa, threatened by Ebola
Vatican City, 8 October 2014 (VIS) - The general debate continued during the fourth general Congregation, following the order of the Instrumentum Laboris. The theme was "The Pastoral Program for the Family: Various Proposals Underway"
(Part II, Chapter 1).
Firstly, the link between the crisis of faith and the crisis of the family was
underlined: it was said that the first generates the second. This is because faith is seen mostly as a set of doctrinal mores, whereas it is primarily a free act by which one entrusts oneself to God. This gave rise, among other things, to the suggestion of devising a "Vademecum" dedicated to the catechesis
of the family, so as to strengthen its evangelising mission. Furthermore, the weakness of the faith of many baptised persons was underlined; this often leads
to the marriage of couples who do are not appropriately aware of what they are undertaking.
Secondly, a great challenge facing families today was mentioned: that of the "dictatorship of unitary thought" that aims to introduce into society those countervalues that distort the vision of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The crisis of values, atheist secularism, hedonism, and the ambition of power destroy families today, distorting it, weakening people and consequently rendering society fragile. It is therefore important to recover in
the faithful the awareness of belonging to the Church, as the Church grows by attraction and the families of the Church attract other families.
For its part, the Church, an expert in humanity, must underline the beauty and
the need everyone has for the family, as it is indispensable. It is necessary to reawaken in humanity the sense of belonging to the family unit. In addition,
as a reflection of God's love, which is never an isolated love, the family opens one to relationships and bonds with others, thus becoming the foundation for society.
Mention was also made of the link between priests and families: they accompany
families in all the most important stages of their lives, sharing in their joys
and difficulties; families, in turn, help priests to experience celibacy as a full and balanced emotional life, rather than as a sacrifice. In addition, the family was defined as the "cradle of vocations" as it is precisely within the domestic walls, in common prayer, that the call to the priesthood is frequently
heard.
A further link that was underlined is that between baptism and marriage: without a serious and in-depth Christian initiation, the meaning of the sacrament of marriage is diminished. Therefore, it is to be emphasised that Christian marriage cannot be seen solely as a cultural tradition or a social need, but rather must be understood as a vocational decision, undertaken with suitable preparation that cannot be improvised in a few meetings, but must be carried out over a period of time.
Attention then turned to how work affects the dynamics of the family: these are two dimensions that must be reconciled, through increasingly flexible working hours, new contractual models, and attention to geographical distances between home and work. Furthermore, technology can lead to work being brought home, making family dialogue difficult.
Numerous interventions, especially in relation to Africa, drew attention to the many challenges the family must face in this continent: polygamy, levirate marriage, sects, war, poverty, the painful crisis of migration, international pressure for birth control, and so on. These are problems that undermine family
stability, placing it in crisis. In the face of such challenges, it is necessary to respond with in-depth evangelisation, able to promote the values of peace, justice and love, an adequate promotion of the role of women in society, thorough education of children and the protection of rights for all victims of violence.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 176
DATE 13-10-2014

Summary:
- Relatio post disceptationem: listen to the family and discuss pastoral perspectives, with a gaze fixed on Christ
- The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world: theme of the next Synod
- Consistory for the canonisation of the Blesseds Joseph Vaz and Maria Cristina
of the Immaculate Conception
- Mass of thanks for the new Canadian saints
- Angelus: respond to the Lord's invitation with witness to charity
- Genoa in the Pope's prayers
- Synod Fathers to draw up the Relatio Synodi
- Tenth General Congregation: Fraternal Delegates
- Declaration from the director of the Holy See Press Office
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

Relatio post disceptationem: listen to the family and discuss pastoral perspectives, with a gaze fixed on Christ
Vatican City, 13 October 2014 (VIS) - The "post-discussion report" of the Extraordinary Synod on the family was presented this morning by the General Rapporteur of the Assembly, Cardinal Peter Erdo. It summarises the Synod Fathers' main reflections that have emerged during the General Congregations during recent days, and forms the basis of the final documents of the Synod.
The Report sets out three main guidelines: listening to the socio-cultural context in which families live today; discussing the pastoral perspectives to be taken, and above all, looking to Christ and to His Gospel of the family.
The family, therefore, is "decisive and valuable", the "source of joys and trials, of deep affections and relations, at times wounded", a "school of humanity", and must first be listened to in its "complexity". Exasperated individualism, the "great test" of solitude, the "narcissistic affectivity" linked to the "fragility" of sentiments, the "nightmare" of precariousness in the workplace, along with war, terrorism and migrations increasingly cause deterioration in family situations. It is here, according to the Relatio, that the Church must give "hope and meaning" to the life of modern humanity, ensuring that "the doctrine of faith" is better known, but proposing it "with mercy".
Turning our gaze to Christ "reaffirms the indissoluble union between a man and
a woman", but also allows us to "interpret the nuptial covenant in terms of continuity and novelty". The principle, explains Cardinal Erdo, must be that of
"gradualness" for couples in failed marriages, with an "inclusive perspective" for the "imperfect forms" of nuptial reality: "Realizing the need, therefore, for spiritual discernment with regard to cohabitation, civil marriages and divorced and remarried persons, it is the task of the Church to recognise those
seeds of the Word that have spread beyond its visible and sacramental boundaries. ... The Church turns respectfully to those who participate in her life in an incomplete and imperfect way, appreciating the positive values they contain rather than their limitations and shortcomings".
There is a need, therefore, for a "new dimension of family pastoral" able to nurture seeds in the process of maturation, such as civil marriages characterised by stability, deep affection, and responsibility in relation to offspring, and which may lead to a sacramental bond. Frequently cohabitation or
de facto unions are not dictated by a rejection of Christian values, but rather
by practical needs, such as waiting for a stable job. The Church, a true "House
of the Father", a "torch carried among the people", continued the Cardinal, must accompany "her most fragile sons and daughters, marked by wounded and lost
love, with attention and care", restoring trust and hope to them.
In the third part, the "post-discussion Report" goes on to face the "most urgent pastoral issues", the implementation of which is entrusted to the individual local Churches, always in communion with the Pope. First, the "proclamation of the Gospel of the family" is "not to condemn, but to cure human fragility". This proclamation also involves the faithful: "Evangelising is the shared responsibility of all God's people, each according to his or her own ministry and charism. Without the joyous testimony of spouses and families,
the announcement, even if correct, risks being misunderstood or submerged by the ocean of words that is a characteristic of our society. Catholic families are themselves called upon to be the active subjects of all the pastoral of the
family".
The Gospel of the family is "joy", underlined Cardinal Erdo, and therefore requires "a missionary conversion" so as not to stop at a proclamation that is "merely theoretical and has nothing to do with people's real problems". At the same time, it is also necessary to act in relation to language: "Conversion has, above all, to be that of language so that this might prove to be effectively meaningful. ... This is not merely about presenting a set of regulations but about putting forward values, responding to those who find themselves in need today even in the most secularised countries".
Adequate preparation for Christian marriage is also essential, as this is not merely a cultural tradition or a social obligation, but rather a "vocational decision". Without "complicating the cycles of formation", the aim should be that of exploring the issue in depth, not limiting the issue merely to "general
orientations" but instead renewing also "the formation of presbyters and other pastoral operators" on the matter, with the involvement of families themselves,
whose witness is to be privileged. The accompaniment of the Church is also suggested following marriage, a "vital and delicate" period in which couples mature their understanding of the sacrament, its meaning and the challenges that it poses.
In the same way, the Church, continues the Report, must encourage and support laypersons occupied with culture, politics and in society, to ensure that those
factors that impede authentic family life, leading to discrimination, poverty, exclusion and violence, are denounced.
Moving on to the issue of separated couples, divorced persons, including those
subsequently remarried, Cardinal Erdo underlined that "it is not wise to think of single solutions or those inspired by a logic of æall or nothing'"; dialogue
must therefore continue in the local Churches, "with respect and love" for every wounded family, thinking of those who have unjustly suffered abandonment by their spouse, avoiding discriminatory attitudes and protecting children: "It
is indispensable to assume in a faithful and constructive way the consequences of separation or divorce on the children; they must not become an 'object' to be fought over and the most suitable means need to be sought so that they can get over the trauma of family break-up and grow up in the most serene way possible".
With regard to the streamlining of procedures for the recognition of matrimonial nullity, the General Rapporteur of the Synod reported the proposals
made by the Assembly: to abandon the need for the double conforming sentence, to establish an administrative channel at diocesan level, and the introduction of a summary process in the case of clear nullity, and the possibility of "giving weight to the faith of those about to be married in terms of the validity of the sacrament of marriage". The Cardinal emphasised that this all requires suitably prepared clergy and laypersons and a greater responsibility on the part of local bishops.
With regard to access to the sacrament of the Eucharist for divorced and remarried persons, the Report lists the main suggestions that emerged from the Synod: maintaining the current discipline; allowing greater openness in particular cases, that may not be resolved without further injustice or suffering; or rather, opting for a "penitential" approach: partaking of the sacraments might occur were it preceded by a penitential path - under the responsibility of the diocesan bishop -, and with a clear undertaking in favour
of the children. This would not be a general possibility, but the fruit of a discernment applied on a case-by-case basis, according to a law of gradualness,
that takes into consideration the distinction between state of sin, state of grace and the attenuating circumstances.
The question of "spiritual communion", for which a greater theological examination was called for, remains open; again, further reflection was required on mixed marriages and "serious problems" linked to the different nuptial discipline of Orthodox Churches.
With regard to homosexuals, it was underlined that they have "gifts and qualities to offer the Christian community": the Church must therefore be, for them, a "welcoming home". The Church affirms that same-sex unions are not "on the same footing" as marriage between a man and a woman and stated that it was unacceptable for international bodies to place pressure on pastors to make financial aid dependent on the introduction of regulations inspired by gender ideology. However, "without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point
of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners. Furthermore, the Church pays special attention to the children who live with couples of the same sex, emphasising that the needs and rights of the little ones must always be given priority".
In the final part, the Report returns to the theme of Pope Paul VI's Encyclical "Humanae Vitae", and focuses on the question of openness to life, defining it as an "instrinsic requirement of conjugal love". This gives rise to
the need for a "realistic language" able to explain "the beauty and truth" of opening oneself to the gift of a child, also thanks to "appropriate teaching regarding natural methods of fertility control" and a "harmonious and aware" communication between spouses, in all its dimensions. Furthermore, the challenge of education is central, in which the Church has a valuable role of support for families, to support them in their choices and their responsibilities.
Finally, Cardinal Erdo underlines that the synodal dialogue took place "in great freedom and with a spirit of reciprocal listening", and recalls that the reflections proposed so far do not represent decisions that have already been taken: indeed, the itinerary will continue with the Ordinary General Synod, again on the theme of the family, to be held in October 2015.
The full text of the Relatio post disceptationem may be consulted at:

http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2014/10/13/0751/03037.html
___________________________________________________________

The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world: theme of the next Synod
Vatican City, 13 October 2014 (VIS) - During the General Congregation of the Synod, held this morning, it was announced that Pope Francis has convoked the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, on the theme "The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world", which will be held in the Vatican from 4 to 25 October 2015.

___________________________________________________________

Consistory for the canonisation of the Blesseds Joseph Vaz and Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception
Vatican City, 13 October 2014 (VIS) - On Monday, 20 October, in the New Synod Hall, the Holy Father Francis will preside at a celebration of Terce and the Ordinary Public Consistory for the canonisation of the Blesseds Joseph Vaz, Indian priest of the Oratorians of St. Philip Neri, founder of the Oratory of the Holy Cross of Miracles in Goa, India, and missionary in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Kanara, India, and Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception, Italian foundress of the Congregation of the Oblation Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Pope also informed the members of the College of Cardinals on the current situation faced by Christians in the Middle Eaast, and the Church's commitment to peace in the region.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 187
DATE 27-10-2014

Summary:
- Audience with the President of Uganda: peaceful co-existence between social and religious groups
- Francis in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences emphasises the responsibility of humanity in creation
- Angelus: love is the measure of faith
- Pope's message to participants in the congress "In precariousness, hope"
- Cardinal Parolin: the obstacles to development derive from a distorted vision
of the human being and economic activity
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

Audience with the President of Uganda: peaceful co-existence between social and religious groups
Vatican City, 27 October 2014 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father Francis received in audience in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the president of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of
State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, the Parties focused on certain aspects of life
in the country and the good relations existing between the Holy See and the Republic of Uganda were highlighted, with particular reference to the fundamental contribution of the Catholic Church and her collaboration with institutions in the educational, social and healthcare sectors. Furthermore, the importance of peaceful co-existence between the various social and religious components of the country was underlined.
Finally, mention was made of various questions of an international nature, with special attention to the conflicts affecting certain areas of Africa.

___________________________________________________________

Francis in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences emphasises the responsibility of
humanity in creation
Vatican City, 27 October 2014 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father attended the plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences held in the Casina Pio IV, during which he inaugurated a bust of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, whom he described as "a great Pope. Great for the strength and penetration of his intelligence, great for his important contribution to theology, great for his love of the Church and of human beings, great for his virtue and religiosity". He recalled that Benedict XVI was the first to invite a president of this Academy to participate in the Synod on new evangelisation, "aware of the importance of science in modern culture".
Pope Francis chose not to focus on the complex issue of the evolution of nature, the theme the Academy will consider during this session, emphasising however that "God and Christ walk with us and are also present in nature". "When we read in Genesis the account of Creation, we risk imagining God as a magus, with a magic wand able to make everything. But it is not so. He created beings and allowed them to develop according to the internal laws that He gave to each one, so that they were able to develop and to arrive and their fullness
of being. He gave autonomy to the beings of the Universe at the same time at which he assured them of his continuous presence, giving being to every reality. And so creation continued for centuries and centuries, millennia and millennia, until it became which we know today, precisely because God is not a demiurge or a conjurer, but the Creator who gives being to all things. The beginning of the world is not the work of chaos that owes its origin to another, but derives directly from a supreme Origin that creates out of love. The Big Bang, which nowadays is posited as the origin of the world, does not contradict the divine act of creating, but rather requires it. The evolution of
nature does not contrast with the notion of Creation, as evolution presupposes the creation of beings that evolve".
He continued, "With regard to man, instead, there is a change and something new. When, on the sixth day of the account in Genesis, man is created, God gives the human being another autonomy, an autonomy that is different to that of nature, which is freedom. And he tells man to name everything and to go ahead through history. This makes him responsible for creation, so that he might dominate it in order to develop it until the end of time. Therefore the scientist, and above all the Christian scientist, must adopt the approach of posing questions regarding the future of humanity and of the earth, and, of being free and responsible, helping to prepare it and preserve it, to eliminate
risks to the environment of both a natural and human nature. But, at the same time, the scientist must be motivated by the confidence that nature hides, in her evolutionary mechanisms, potentialities for intelligence and freedom to discover and realise, to achieve the development that is in the plan of the Creator. So, while limited, the action of humanity is part of God's power and is able to build a world suited to his dual corporal and spiritual life; to build a human world for all human beings and not for a group or a class of privileged persons. This hope and trust in God, the Creator of nature, and in the capacity of the human spirit can offer the researcher a new energy and profound serenity. But it is also true that the action of humanity - when freedom becomes autonomy - which is not freedom, but autonomy - destroys creation and man takes the place of the Creator. And this is the grave sin against God the Creator", he concluded.

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Angelus: love is the measure of faith
Vatican City, 26 October 2014 (VIS) - More than eighty thousand people prayed the Angelus with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square this Sunday. Before the Marian prayer the Holy Father commented on today's Gospel reading, in which he reiterated that all of the divine Law may be summarised in love for God and neighbour: two sides of the same coin.
Pope Francis explained that according to the evangelist Matthew, some Pharisees agreed to put Jesus to the test by asking him which commandment was the most important in the Law. Jesus, citing the book of Deuteronomy, answered:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment". "He could have
stopped there", said the bishop of Rome. "Instead, Jesus adds something else that was not asked by the expert of the Law. Indeed, he said: 'And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself'. Even this second commandment is not invented by Jesus, but rather taken from the Book of Leviticus. Its newness
consists precisely in putting together these two commandments - the love for God and love for one's neighbour - revealing that they are inseparable and complementary, they are two sides of the same coin. You cannot love God without
loving your neighbour and you can't love your neighbour without loving God".
Indeed, "the visible sign that a Christian can show to give witness to the world ... of the love of God is the love of his brethren. The commandment of love for God and one's neighbour is the first not because it is the first in the list of commandment. Jesus does not place it at the top, but rather at the centre since it is the heart from which everything must begin and to which everything must return and refer to. ... In the light of Jesus' words, love is the measure of faith, and faith is the soul of love. We can never separate religious life from the service of the brothers and sisters, to those real brethren we meet. We can never divide prayer, the encounter with God in the Sacraments, from listening to others, from closeness to their lives and especially to their wounds".
"In the midst of the dense forest of precepts and prescriptions - the legalisms of yesterday and today - Jesus opens up a gap through which we can glimpse two faces: the face of the Father and that of the brother. He does not give us two rules or two precepts: he gives us two faces. Or rather, it is one face: that of God that is reflected in the faces of so many, because in the face of every brother and sister, especially the least, the fragile, the helpless and the needy, the very image of God is present".

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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 192
DATE 03-11-2014

Summary:
- The communion born of faith is not interrupted by death
- All Saints' Day: a multitude of unknown and suffering saints
- Commemoration of the departed faithful: pray for those the world has forgotten
- The Pope celebrates Mass for the cardinals and bishops departed during the last year
- The Holy See at the United Nations advocates a peaceful use of space
- Other Pontifical Acts

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The communion born of faith is not interrupted by death
Vatican City, 1 November 2014 (VIS) - "The first two days of November represent for all of us an intense moment of faith, prayer and reflection on the 'last things' in our lives. Indeed, celebrating all the Saints and commemorating all the departed faithful, the earthly pilgrim Church lives and expresses in the liturgy the spiritual bond that unites her with the heavenly Church", explained the Holy Father to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray the Angelus.
"Today's Solemnity thus helps us to consider a fundamental truth of the Christian faith that we profess in the 'Creed': the communion of saints. It is the communion that comes from faith and unites all those who belong to Christ by Baptism. It is a spiritual union that is not broken by death, but continues in the next life. In fact there is an unbreakable bond between us living in this world and those who have crossed the threshold of death. We here on earth,
along with those who have entered into eternity, form one great family. This beautiful communion between heaven and earth achieves its highest and most intense manifestation in the Liturgy, and especially in the celebration of the Eucharist, which expresses and fulfils the deepest union between the members of
the Church. In the Eucharist, we encounter the living Jesus and His strength, and through Him we enter into communion with our brothers and sisters in the faith, those who live with us here on earth and those who have gone before us into the next life, life without end. This reality of communion fills us with joy: it is good to have so many brothers and sisters in the faith who walk alongside us, supporting us with their help and together we travel the same road toward heaven. And it is comforting to know that we have other brothers and sisters who have already reached heaven ahead of us and who pray for us, so
that together in eternity we can contemplate the glorious and merciful face of the Father".
Finally, the Pope emphasised that in the great assembly of the saints, "God has reserved the first place for the Mother of Jesus. Mary is at the centre of the communion of saints, as a unique custodian of the bond between the universal Church and Christ, the bond of th family. ... For those who want to follow Jesus on the path of the Gospel, she is a safe guide because she is the first disciple, an attentive and caring Mother, to whom we can entrust every desire and difficulty".
After the Angelus prayer, Francis commented that this Sunday's liturgy refers to the glory of the heavenly Jerusalem, and invited the faithful to pray that the "The Holy City, dear to Jews, Christians and Muslims, that in these days bears witness to different tensions, may increasingly be the sign and harbinger
of the peace that God wishes for all the human family".
He also recalled that today in Vitoria, Spain, the martyr Pedro As·a Mendøa is
beatified. "A humble and austere priest, he preached the Gospel with the sanctity of his life, catechesis and devotion to the poor and needy. Arrested, tortured and killed for having expressed his desire to remain faithful to the Lord and to the Church, he is a wonderful example of strength in the faith and witness of charity for us".

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All Saints' Day: a multitude of unknown and suffering saints
Vatican City, 2 November 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday, 1 November, Pope Francis presided at the mass for the Solemnity of All Saints at the ceremony of Verano,
attended by numerous Roman faithful. During the celebration the relics of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II, the two recently canonised popes, were displayed for veneration, and at the end of the ceremony the Holy Father blessed the tombs.
Commenting on the reading from the Book of Revelation, Francis spoke in his homily on the devastation of creation by humanity and the many suffering peoples whose only hope is placed in God. "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees", cried the Angel to the four Angels who were to devastate the earth and the sea and to destroy everything, and the Pope affirmed that "We are capable of devastating the Earth more fully than the Angels. And this is what we are doing. We devastate Creation ... we devastate life, we devastate culture, we devastate values, we ravage hope. And how we are in need of the Lord's strength, to seal us with his love and his strength, to stop this mad race of destruction! The destruction of what He gave us, of the most beautiful things that He made for us, for us to nurture, to make them grow and bear fruit. Man has appropriated everything, believing himself to be God, believing himself to be king. And wars: wars continue, and as a system it is not exactly helping to sow the seeds of life, but is instead destroying it. It is an industry of destruction. And it is also a system in which that which cannot be fixed is discarded; children are discarded, the elderly are discarded, the young unemployed are discarded ... entire populations are discarded".
In the same passage St. John speaks about an immense and uncountable crowd, including every nation, tribe, people and language, an uncountable multitude that the Pope associated with the poor who, "to save their lives, have to flee their homes ... and live in tents, suffering the cold, without medicine, hungry, because the 'god-man' has appropriated Creation, all that is good that God made for us. ... And this is not ancient history - it is happening today. ... It is as if these people, these hungry and sick children, did not count; as
if they were of another species, as if they were not human. And this multitude stands before God and begs: 'Salvation, please! Peace, please! Bread, please! Work, please! ... And among these persecuted people, there are also those who are persecuted for their faith".
The Pope compared this multitude to the crowd dressed in white who washing their robes in the blood of the Lamb, as narrated in the Book of Revelation, and affirmed: "Today, on All Saints' Day, I would like us to think of all of them, all of these unknown saints, ... all these people who suffer great tribulation. Most of the world experiences this tribulation. And the Lord sanctifies these people, sinners like us, but sanctifies them with tribulation".
The third image the Pope evoked was that of God, or rather, hope. "And this is
the Lord's blessing, that we still have: hope. The hope that He will take pity on His people, that he will take pity on those in their great tribulation, that
He will take pity on the destroyers, so that they convert. ... What must our attitude be, if we want to become part of this people who walk the path towards
the Father, in this world of devastation, in this world of wars, in this world of tribulation? Our attitude, we have heard in the Gospel, is that of the Beatitudes. Only that path can lead us to the encounter with God. Only that path can save us from destruction, from the devastation of the land, of Creation, of morals, of history, of the family, of everything. Only that road: but it will not be easy. It will bring problems and persecution. But it is the only route that will take us forward".
"May the Lord help us and give us the grace of this hope, but also the grace of the courage to leave behind all that is destruction, devastation, relativism
of life, exclusion of others, exclusion of values, exclusion of all that the Lord has given us: the exclusion of peace. May He free us from this and give us
the grace to walk with the hope of finding ourselves face-to-face with Him one day. And this hope, brothers and sisters, does not disappoint".

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Commemoration of the departed faithful: pray for those the world has forgotten
Vatican City, 2 November 2014 (VIS) - The Solemnity of All Saints and the commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, are "intimately linked to each other, just as joy and tears find a synthesis in Jesus Christ, Who is the foundation of our faith and our hope", said Pope Francis to the faithful gathered to pray the Angelus in St. Peter's Square today.
On the one hand, in fact, the Church, a pilgrim in history, rejoices through the intercession of the saints and blessed who support her in the mission of proclaiming the Gospel; on the other, she, like Jesus, shares the tears of those who suffer the separation from loved ones, and like Him and through Him echoes thanks to the Father who has delivered us from the dominion of sin and death.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 195
DATE 06-11-2014

Summary:
- Pope Francis to the World Evangelical Alliance: "We can learn so much from each other"
- To the bishops of Malawi: the apostolate of the family will bring inestimable
benefits to the Church and society as a whole
- The Pope receives the president of the "Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo"
- The Holy See at the United Nations: a lack of food is not the root cause of hunger
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Pope Francis to the World Evangelical Alliance: "We can learn so much from each other"
Vatican City, 6 November 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis received in audience a delegation from the World Evangelical Alliance, a network of evangelical churches in 128 nations, based in New York, U.S.A., which has formed an alliance with over 100 international organisations, giving voice to more than 400 million evangelical Christians throughout the world.
The Holy Father began his address to the Alliance by emphasising that Baptism is a priceless gift from God, which we have in common. "Thanks to this gift, we
no longer live a purely earthly existence; we now live in the power of the Spirit". He went on to remark that from the beginning, there have been divisions among Christians and "sadly, even today, conflicts and rivalries exist between our communities. This weakens our ability to fulfil the Lord's commandment to preach the Gospel to all peoples. Our divisions mar the beauty of the seamless robe of Christ, yet they do not completely destroy the profound
unity brought about by grace in all the baptised. The effectiveness of the Christian message would no doubt be greater were Christians to overcome their divisions, and together celebrate the sacraments, spread the word of God, and bear witness to charity".
The Bishop of Rome went on to express his joy to know that "in various countries Catholics and Evangelicals enjoy good relations and work together as brothers and sisters. The joint efforts of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity and the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance have also opened up new horizons by clarifying misunderstandings and by showing the way to overcoming prejudices". He continued, "It is my hope that
these talks may further inspire our common witness and our efforts to evangelise: if we really believe in the abundantly free working of the Holy Spirit, we can learn so much from one another! It is not just about being better informed about others, but rather about reaping what the Spirit has sown
in them, which is also meant to be a gift for us. I am confident that the document 'Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct' can prove helpful for the preaching of the Gospel in multi-religious contexts".
"I trust that the Holy Spirit, who inspires the Church to persevere in seeking
new methods of evangelisation, will usher in a new era of relations between Catholics and Evangelicals, so that the Lord's will that the Gospel be brought to the ends of the earth may be more fully realised. I assure my prayers for this cause, and I ask you to pray for me and for my ministry", concluded Pope Francis.

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To the bishops of Malawi: the apostolate of the family will bring inestimable benefits to the Church and society as a whole
Vatican City, 6 November 2014 (VIS) - "I offer a joyful welcome to you who have come from the 'warm heart of Africa', as you make your pilgrimage to Rome,
'the warm heart of the Church'"; thus Pope Francis greets the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi in the written discourse he handed to them this morning as he received them in audience at the end of their five-yearly "ad Limina" visit. He also notes that the effectiveness of their pastoral and administrative efforts is the fruit of your faith as well as of the unity and fraternal spirit that characterise their episcopal conference.
The Holy Father also expresses his appreciation for "the admirable spirit of the Malawian people, who, though faced with many serious obstacles in terms of development, economic progress and standards of living, remain strong in their commitment to family life", as it is in this institution, which teaches "love, sacrifice, commitment and fidelity", that the Church and society in Malawi will
find the resources necessary to renew and build up a culture of solidarity. "You yourselves know well the challenges and the value of family life, and, as fathers and shepherds, you are called to nurture, protect and strengthen it in the context of the "family of faith", which is the Church. ... There is scarcely a greater commitment that the Church can make to the future of Malawi - and indeed, to her own development - than that of a thorough and joyful apostolate to families. ... Thus, by doing everything you can to support, educate and evangelise families, especially those in situations of material hardship, breakdown, violence or infidelity, you will bring inestimable benefit
to the Church and all of Malawian society".
Among the results of this apostolate, it is hoped that there will be "an increase in young men and women who are willing and able to dedicate themselves
to the service of others in the priesthood and religious life", based on "the strong foundations laid by generations of faithful missionaries" and fortified by the evangelising work of local men and women. The Bishop of Rome exhorted the local prelates to be close to their priests and seminarians, loving them "as a father should" and furthering their efforts to guarantee a complete spiritual as well as intellectual and pastoral formation.
The "tragedy" of the limited life expectancy and extreme poverty experienced by the majority of the people of Malawi is another of the Pope's concerns. "My thoughts go to those suffering from HIV/AIDS, and particularly to the orphaned children and parents left without love and support as a result of this illness", he writes, encouraging the bishops to be close to those in distress, to the sick, and especially to the children. "I ask you, particularly, to offer
my gratitude to the many men and women who present Christ's tenderness and love
in Catholic healthcare institutions. The service which the Church offers to the
sick, through pastoral care, prayer, clinics and hospices, must always find its
source and model in Christ, who loved us and gave himself up for us. Indeed, how else could we be followers of the Lord if we did not personally engage in ministry to the sick, the poor, the dying and the destitute? Our faith in Christ, born of having recognised our own need for Him, He Who has come to heal
our wounds, to enrich us, to give us life, to nourish us, is the basis of our concern for the integral development of society's most neglected members".

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The Pope receives the president of the "Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo"
Vatican City, 6 November 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father received in private audience Estela de Carlotto, president of the Association of the "Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo", accompanied by her grandson with whom she was reunited, Ignacio Guido Montoya Carlotto. The meeting took place in one of the rooms adjacent to Paul VI Hall.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 197
DATE 10-11-2014

Summary:
- Pope Francis receives the president of Ghana
- The Pope receives the bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau: focus on the quality rather than the quality of priests
- The Pope deeply saddened by the traffic accident in Cartagena
- Angelus: by virtue of Baptism we are part of God's edifice
- "We need bridges, not walls", says Pope Francis on the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
- The seminary, training in fraternity, prayer and mission
- Witness the Salesian charism of encounter, says Francis to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
- The Pope to the Adult Scouts Movement: respecting nature and eliminating wastefulness
- Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Pope Francis receives the president of Ghana
Vatican City, 10 November 2014 (VIS) - Today, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace,
the Holy Father Francis received in audience John Dramani Mahama, president of the Republic of Ghana, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, the Parties noted the good relations between the Holy See and Ghana and underlined the positive contribution offered by the Catholic Church in the social, educational and healthcare spheres, as well as in relation to the promotion of dialogue between different members of society. Furthermore, mention was made of the promotion of the good of the family.
Finally, attention turned to various current issues of an international nature, and in particular the serious humanitarian crisis caused by the recent epidemic of the Ebola virus in West Africa.

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The Pope receives the bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau: focus on the quality rather than the quality of priests
Vatican City, 10 November 2014 (VIS) - The prelates of the Conference of Bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau were received in audience by the Holy Father this morning, at the end of their five-yearly "ad Limina" visit. In the written discourse that he handed to them at the end of the visit, the Pope writes that the bishops' visit to the See of Peter is "an opportunity to strengthen the communion the particular Churches maintain with the Church of Rome and with her bishop. However, it is also an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of love between you ... and to experience collegiality. This represents a great challenge for an episcopal conference that groups together the bishops of four countries - Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau - that are different in terms of language, geography, culture and
history, but which nonetheless feel the need to be united and to support each other in their ministry".
"Among the challenges you face, there is that of rooting faith more deeply in hearts so that it is put into practice in life. This is particularly true in areas experiencing first evangelisation, but it also applies where the Gospel has been announced a long time ago, as faith is a gift that must always be strengthened and which is under threat in many ways nowadays, owing to other religious proposals that prove easier and more attractive from a moral point of
view, and as a result of the phenomenon of the secularisation that affects African societies".
Therefore, "it is useful for laypeople to receive a solid doctrinal and spiritual formation, and continual support so that they are able to become witnesses of Christ in all areas of their lives, and to imbue society with the principles of the Gospel, avoiding the marginalisation of faith in public life.
The pastoral care of families, as shown in the recent Synod of Bishops, must receive special attention since the family ... is the place where the foundations of faith are laid, where the basic principles of community life are
learned, and frequently where the priestly and religious vocations are nurtured
- vocations your Churches need".
"Priestly formation is decisive for the future", writes Francis. "Your countries experience very different situations, but the primacy of quality above quantity is always important. I invite you to be close to your priests, especially those who are young, to ensure that after their ordination they continue their formation, persevere in their life of prayer, and are able to count on a spiritual guide, so that they are able to meet the challenges presented to them: for some, this means a certain isolation, for others, material poverty and the lack of resources, or worldly attractions. Contact with other religions is an important issue in many of your dioceses where there
is an Islamic majority, in terms of mutual relations between different communities. I believe that it is important for the clergy to receive a formation to establish a constructive dialogue with Muslims, a dialogue that is
increasingly necessary for peaceful coexistence. If we all, believers in God, wish to contribute to reconciliation, justice and peace, we need to work together to prevent all forms of discrimination, intolerance and religious fundamentalism".
"More generally, it seems to me that it is important not to hesitate in occupying all the space that is yours in civil society. I know that you work tirelessly, in particular in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, for peace and reconciliation, and for this I rejoice. I urge you to maintain good relations with the political authorities in order to promote the official acknowledgement
of Church structures, which will be of great help in facilitating evangelisation. Some of you, such as the bishops of Cape Verde, already benefit
from the existence of a framework agreement between the State and the Holy See.
Even where the Church is in a minority, or is completely at the margins of civil life, she is appreciated and recognised for her important contribution in
the fields of human development, healthcare and education. I thank you for what
you achieve in your dioceses, often due to the efforts of many religious congregations and laypeople".
"Dear brothers", the Pontiff concludes, "some of your Churches are small and fragile, but they are courageous and generous in the proclamation of faith and you are witnesses to their dynamism. I offer thanks to God for the wonders He performs through you, and likewise I thank again those who participate in our common task of evangelisation".

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The Pope deeply saddened by the traffic accident in Cartagena
Vatican City, 10 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father sent a telegram to Bishop Jose Manuel Lorca Planes of Cartagena, Spain, upon hearing of the news of a serious road accident in the city of Cieza that has claimed many victims, including the young priest of Bullas, Rev. Fr. Miguel Conesa Andujar. Pope Francis, deeply saddened, raises fervent prayers to God for the eternal repose of the souls of the departed, for the full recovery of the injured, and for the
consolation of those who have lost their loved ones.
"I urge the sons and daughters of these noble lands to find in faith the encouragement and the strength of spirit to overcome these painful circumstances, and impart to them the comfort of my apostolic blessing, as a sign of hope in the risen Christ", he writes.

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Angelus: by virtue of Baptism we are part of God's edifice
Vatican City, 9 November 2014 (VIS) - At midday the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, explaining that today's liturgy recalls the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome, traditionally defined as the "mother of all the churches in the city and in the world".
"The term 'mother' refers not only to the sacred building of the Basilica, but
also to the work of the Holy Spirit, made manifest in this building and fruitful through the ministry of the Bishop of Rome, in all the communities in unity with the Church over whom He presides", he explained. "Every time we celebrate the dedication of a church, an essential truth is recalled to us: the
material temple made of bricks is a sign of the living Church at work in history, that 'spiritual temple' ... of which Christ Himself is 'a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight'".
In the Gospel of today's liturgy, Jesus speaks about the "temple", revealing a
surprising truth: the temple of God is not merely the edifice built of bricks, but it is His body, made up of living stones. "By virtue of Baptism, every Christian forms part of God's edifice, or rather, becomes the God's Church. The
spiritual edifice, the Church that is the community of men and women sanctified
by Christ's blood and the Spirit of the Risen Lord, asks each one of us to be consistent with the gift of faith and to take the path of Christian witness. ... The Church, at the origin of her life and her mission in the world, was none other than a community constituted to confess faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Redeemer of humanity, a faith that works through charity. ... Today,
too, the Church is required to take her place in the world as a community that,
rooted in Christ through Baptism, professes faith in Him with humility and courage, bearing witness to it through charity. In the same way, institutional elements, structures and pastoral entities must be ordered in accordance with this essential objective".
"Today's celebration invites us to reflect on the communion of all the Churches, of this Christian community, and by analogy, it stimulates us to make
efforts to enable humanity to overcome the barriers of enmity and indifference,
to build bridges of understanding and dialogue, to make the entire world into a
family of peoples, reconciled among themselves, fraternal and in solidarity".

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"We need bridges, not walls", says Pope Francis on the 25th anniversary of the
fall of the Berlin Wall
Vatican City, 9 November 2014 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus, the Pope commented that 25 years ago today, on 8 November 1989, saw the fall of the Berlin Wall "which had long divided the city in two and was a symbol of the ideological division of Europe and the entire world. It took place suddenly, but it had been made possible by the long and tireless efforts of many people who fought, prayed and suffered for it; some of them even sacrificed their lives". Among these people, St. John Paul II played a central role. Let us pray
that, with the Lord's help and the collaboration of all persons of good will, a
culture of encounter may become ever more widespread, able to bring down all the walls that continue to divide the world; and that innocent people will never more be persecuted and even killed for their beliefs and their religion. Where there is a wall, there is a closed heart. We need bridges, not walls!"
He added that today Italy holds a day of thanksgiving, the theme of which this
year is "Feed the planet, energy for life", and the Holy Father joined with the
bishops in expressing his hope that renewed efforts might ensure "that no-one lacks the daily sustenance that God gives to all". He added, "I assure my closeness to the world of agriculture, and urge you to cultivate the land in a sustainable and fair way. In this context, the Diocese of Rome is holding a day
for the protection of the creation, the aim of which is to promote lifestyles based on respect for the environment, reaffirming the alliance between human beings, guardians of creation, and the Creator".

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The seminary, training in fraternity, prayer and mission
Vatican City, 10 November 2014 (VIS) - In the evening of Saturday 8 November Pope Francis sent a message to the 750 French seminarians gathered at the Marian shrine at Lourdes, France from 8 to 10 November, for the autumn Plenary Assembly of the Episcopal Conference of France. In the text, the Pope urges them to remember the three key words in their lives as seminarians: fraternity,
prayer and mission.
In relation to fraternity, he emphasises that "the priestly mission cannot in any case be individual, and certainly not individualistic"; instead, together they should "bear witness to the love with which we recognise Jesus' disciples". With regard to prayer, he remarks that "everything that you learn comes to life in prayer", and recalls that Jesus Himself retired in silence and
solitude to immerse himself in the mystery of His Father. "May your prayer be an appeal to the Spirit, Who builds the Church, leads the disciples and infuses
with pastoral charity. ... At the foundation of your formation there is the Word of God, that enters you, nourishes you, and enlightens you", he writes, urging the seminarians to dedicate long periods each day to prayer, since "it is in prayer that you encounter the loving presence of the Lord and allow yourselves to be transformed by Him".

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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 202
DATE 17-11-2014

Summary:
- International interreligious colloquium on complementarity, foundation of marriage and the family
- To the bishops of Zambia: evangelise cultures to inculturate the Gospel
- Angelus: Jesus does not ask us to conserve talents in a safe
- Immigrants and citizens: do not yield to the temptation of confrontation
- Francis receives Catholic doctors: no life is qualitatively more significant than another
- The Holy See at the United Nations: defending the civil population from remnants of war
- Cardinal Gracias, Pope's special envoy at the 500th anniversary of the evangelisation of Myanmar
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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International interreligious colloquium on complementarity, foundation of marriage and the family
Vatican City, 17 November 2014 (VIS) - "Complementarity is a valuable word, with multiple meanings. It may refer to different situations in which one element completes another or compensates for a lack. However, complementarity is much more than this", said the Pope this morning to the participants in the international interreligious colloquium on complementarity between man and woman, organised by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in collaboration with the Pontifical Councils for the Family, for Interreligious Dialogue, and for Promoting Christian Unity.
He continued, "This complementarity is the foundation of marriage and the family, which is the first school where we learn to appreciate our gifts and those of others, and where we begin to learn the art of living together. For most of us, the family constitutes the principal environment in which we begin to 'breathe' values and ideals, as well as to realise our potential for virtue and charity. At the same time, as we know, families may be the locus of tensions: between selfishness and altruism, reason and passion, between immediate desires and long-term aims.
The Pontiff spoke about the crisis that currently affects marriage and the family, and recalled that in the throwaway culture in which we live, increasing
numbers of people reject the public commitment of marriage. "This revolution in
habits and morality has often flown the flag of freedom, but in reality it has led to spiritual and material devastation for countless human beings, especially the most vulnerable. Evidence is mounting that the decline of the culture of marriage is associated with an increase in poverty and a series of other social ills that disproportionately affect women, children and the elderly". Similarly, he explained that the crisis in the family has given rise to a crisis in human ecology, "as social environments, like natural environments, need to be protected", and he emphasised the need to promote a "new human ecology".
It is important, he added, to promote the fundamental pillars that support a nation: its immaterial goods. "The family remains the foundation of coexistence
and the guarantee against social fracture. Children have the right to grow up in a family, with a father and a mother, able to create an environment suitable
for their development and their emotional maturation. ... The young represent the future: it is important that they are not left to be swept up by this damaging mentality of the temporary, and that they are revolutionary for their courage to seek a strong and lasting love".
The Holy Father concluded by expressing his hope that this colloquium may be "a source of inspiration for all those who seek to support and strengthen the union between man and woman in marriage as a unique, natural, fundamental and beautiful asset for people, families, communities and society", and confirmed his intention to attend the next World Meeting of Families, to be held in Philadelphia, U.S.A., in September 2015.

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To the bishops of Zambia: evangelise cultures to inculturate the Gospel
Vatican City, 17 November 2014 (VIS) - The fruits of the labour of missionaries, attention to the family, guidance of the young, care for AIDS sufferers and the need to collaborate with political leaders for the common good are the central points of the written discourse that Pope Francis handed to the bishops of the Zambia Episcopal Conference whom he received in audience this morning at the end of their five-yearly "ad Limina" visit.
The Pope recalls the "rich deposit of faith" brought to Zambia by missionary religious, remarking that "despite the sometimes painful meeting of ancient ways with the new hope that Christ the Lord brings to all cultures, the word of
faith took deep root". The "plentiful spiritual harvest is evident in the many Catholic-run clinics, hospitals and schools, and parishes throughout Zambia, a wide diversity of lay ministries, and substantial numbers of vocations to the priesthood in a society that has been transformed by Christian values.
The great challenges that pastors face in this moment relate in particular to the family, since, as the prelates affirmed in their meeting with the Pontiff, "many, especially the poor in their struggle for survival, are led astray by empty promises in false teachings that seem to offer quick relief in times of desperation". Therefore, Francis urges the bishops, alongside their priests, to
form solid Christian families through catechesis, who "will know, understand and love the truths of the faith more deeply", and "affirm Catholic couples in their desire for fidelity in their conjugal life and in their yearning to provide a stable spiritual home for their children". He also urged them to be close to the young "as they seek to establish and articulate their identity in a disorienting age". He adds, "Help them to find their purpose in the challenge
and joy of co-creation with God that is the vocation to married life ... or in the vocations to the priesthood or religious life, which the Church has been given for the salvation of souls".
"In a special way, invite those who have grown lukewarm and feel lost to return to the full practice of the faith. As pastors of the flock, do not forget to seek out the weakest members of Zambian society, among whom are the materially poor and those afflicted with AIDS; for the great majority of the poor have a special openness to the faith; they need God and we must not fail to offer them His friendship, His blessing, His word, the celebration of the Sacraments and a journey of growth and maturity in the faith".
"Never tire of being kind and firm fathers to your priests, helping them resist materialism and the standards of the world, while recognising their just
needs. Continue also to promote the treasure of religious life in your dioceses. ... In this challenging time after the death of President Sata, I invite you to continue working with your political leaders for the common good,
deepening your prophetic witness in defence of the poor in order to uplift the lives of the weak", concludes Francis, reminding the prelates that "the Church's mission to evangelise never ends: 'it is imperative to evangelise cultures in order to inculturate the Gospel... Each culture and social group needs purification and growth'".

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Angelus: Jesus does not ask us to conserve talents in a safe
Vatican City, 16 November 2014 (VIS) - At midday, Pope Francis appeared at the
window of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. The Holy Father commented on this Sunday's Gospel reading, the parable of the talents in which a man, before departing on a trip, entrusts to three servants his wealth in talents, coins of great value, asking that they make the fortune fruitful. The first two servants doubled the wealth, but the third, for fear of losing his portion, hid it in a hole. Upon his return, the master asks for the accounts and, while he rewards the first two, punishes the third.
Francis explains that the master in the parable is Jesus, we are the servants,
and the talents are the patrimony that the Lord entrusts to us. "The patrimony of His Word, the Eucharist, faith in the Heavenly Father, his forgiveness ... in summary, many things, his most precious goods. Not just to guard them, but to make them grow. While in common usage the term 'talent' refers to a marked individual quality, such as talent in music, in sport, and so on, in the parable the talents represent the gifts of the Lord. ... The hole that the 'wicked and lazy' servant digs in the ground indicates the fear of risk that obstructs creativity and the fruitfulness of love. ... Jesus does not ask us to
preserve his grace in a safe ... but instead wants us to put it to the good of others. All the gifts that we have received are to be given to others, and in this way they grow. ... And as for us, what have we done with them? Who have we
'infected' with our faith? How many people have we encouraged with our hope? How much love have we shared with our neighbour? ... Any environment, even the most distant and impracticable, may become a place where the talents may bear fruit. There are no situations or places that are precluded from Christian presence and witness. The testimony that Jesus asks of us is not closed, it is open, and it depends on us".
The parable of the talents "urges us not to hide our faith and our belonging to Christ, not to bury the Word of the Gospel, but to make it circulate in our life ... as a power that disrupts and renews. The same is true of forgiveness, that the Lord gives us especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation; let us not keep it closed up in ourselves, but instead let it break down the walls that our selfishness has built up, and take the first step in reactivating paralysed relationships, resuming dialogue where there is no longer communication". Pope Francis encouraged those present to re-read the parable in
the Gospel of St. Matthew to reflect on how we use or hide the talents we receive.
"Also, the Lord does not give everyone the same things, or in the same way: he
knows us personally and entrusts what it right for us, but there is one thing that is the same in everyone: the same, immense trust. God trusts us, God has hope in us. Let us not disappoint Him! Let us not be deceived by fear, but rather reciprocate trust with trust".

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Immigrants and citizens: do not yield to the temptation of confrontation
Vatican City, 16 November 2014 (VIS) - After the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis spoke about the tensions that have emerged during recent days between residents
and immigrants in various areas of Rome.
"These are events that have occurred in various European cities, especially in
outlying areas where other hardships are experienced. I invite all institutions, at all levels, to consider as a priority what now constitutes a social emergency and which, if not faced as soon as possible and in an appropriate manner, risks degenerating further. The Christian community makes concrete efforts to ensure that encounter takes the place of confrontation. Citizens and immigrants, with representatives of institutions, can meet, even in a room in the parish, and speak together about the situation. The important thing is not to yield to the temptation of confrontation, rejecting every form of violence. It is possible to engage in dialogue, to listen, to plan together and, in this way, overcome suspicion and prejudice, and to build a safer, more peaceful and inclusive co-existence".
He also remarked that today is World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims. "Let us remember in prayer those who have lost their lives in these circumstances". He concluded, "I hope for constant efforts in the prevention of
road accidents, as well as prudence and respect for traffic laws by drivers".

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Francis receives Catholic doctors: no life is qualitatively more significant than another
Vatican City, 15 November 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall Pope Francis received in audience six thousand doctors, members of the Association of Italian Catholic Doctors, on the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of its foundation. In his address, he commented that "the conquests of science and
medicine can contribute to the improvement of human life, provided that they do
not drift away from the ethical root of such disciplines".

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 205
DATE 20-11-2014

Summary:
- The Pope at the Conference on Nutrition at the FAO: "the hungry ask for dignity, not charity"
- Intense work by the Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops
- The joy of the Gospel is a missionary joy
- Other Pontifical Acts

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The Pope at the Conference on Nutrition at the FAO: "the hungry ask for dignity, not charity"
Vatican City, 20 November 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis visited the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, on the occasion of the second International Conference on Nutrition, taking place in Rome from 19 to 21 November.
Upon arrival the Holy Father was received by the director general of the FAO, Jose Graziano da Silva, the adjunct director, Oleg Chestnov and Archbishop Luigi Travaglino, Holy See Permanent Observer at the FAO.
The full text of the Pontiff's address, delivered in the Plenary Hall, is published below:
"I am pleased and honoured to speak here today, at this Second International Conference on Nutrition. I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for your warm greeting and the words of welcome addressed to me. I cordially greet the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan, and
the Director General of the FAO, Professor JosΘ Graziano da Silva, and I rejoice in their decision to convene this conference of representatives of States, international institutions, and organisations of civil society, the world of agriculture and the private sector, with the aim of studying together the forms of intervention necessary in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, as well as the changes that must be made to existing strategies. The overall unity of purpose and of action, and above all the spirit of brotherhood, can be decisive in finding appropriate solutions. The Church, as you know, seeks always to be attentive and watchful regarding the spiritual and
material welfare of the people, especially those who are marginalised or excluded, to ensure their safety and dignity.
"The fates of nations are intertwined, more than ever before; they are like the members of one family who depend upon each other. However, we live in a time in which the relations between nations are too often damaged by mutual suspicion, that at times turns into forms of military and economic aggression, undermining friendship between brothers and rejecting or discarding what is already excluded. He who lacks his daily bread or a decent job is well aware of
this. This is a picture of today's world, in which it is necessary to recognise
the limits of approaches based on the sovereignty of each State, intended as absolute, and national interest, frequently conditioned by small power groups. Your working agenda for developing new standards and greater commitments to feed the world shows this well. From this perspective, I hope that, in the formulation of these commitments, the States are inspired by the conviction that the right to food can only be ensured if we care about the actual subject,
that is, the person who suffers the effects of hunger and malnutrition.
"Nowadays there is much talk of rights, frequently neglecting duties; perhaps we have paid too little heed to those who are hungry. It is also painful to see
that the struggle against hunger and malnutrition is hindered by "market priorities", the "primacy of profit", which have reduced foodstuffs to a commodity like any other, subject to speculation, also of a financial nature. And while we speak of new rights, the hungry remain, at the street corner, and ask to be recognised as citizens, to receive a healthy diet. We ask for dignity, not for charity.
"These criteria cannot remain in the limbo of theory. Persons and peoples ask for justice to be put into practice: not only in a legal sense, but also in terms of contribution and distribution. Therefore, development plans and the work of international organisations must take into consideration the wish, so frequent among ordinary people, for respect for fundamental human rights and, in this case, the rights of the hungry. When this is achieved, then humanitarian intervention, emergency relief and development operations - in their truest, fullest sense - will attain greater momentum and bring the desired results.
"Interest in the production, availability and accessibility of foodstuffs, climate change and agricultural trade should certainly inspire rules and technical measures, but the first concern must be the individual as a whole, who lacks daily nourishment and has given up thinking about life, family and social relationships, instead fighting for survival. St. John Paul II, in the inauguration in this hall of the First Conference on Nutrition in 1992, warned the international community against the risk of the "paradox of plenty", in which there is food for everyone, but not everyone can eat, while waste, excessive consumption and the use of food for other purposes is visible before our very eyes. Unfortunately, this "paradox" remains relevant. There are few subjects about which we find as many fallacies as those related to hunger; few topics as likely to be manipulated by data, statistics, the demands of national
security, corruption, or futile lamentation about the economic crisis. This is the first challenge to be overcome.
"The second challenge to be faced is the lack of solidarity; we suspect that subconsciously we would like to remove this word from the dictionary. Our societies are characterised by growing individualism and division: this ends up
depriving the weakest of a decent life, and provokes revolts against institutions. When there is a lack of solidarity in a country, the effects are felt throughout the world. Indeed, solidarity is the attitude that makes people
capable of reaching our to others and basing their mutual relations on this sense of brotherhood that overcomes differences and limits, and inspires us to seek the common good together.
"Human beings, as they become aware of being partly responsible for the plan of creation, become capable of mutual respect, instead of fighting between themselves, damaging and impoverishing the planet. States, too, understood as a
community of persons and peoples, are required to act concertedly, to be willing to help each other through the principles and norms offered by international law. A source of inspiration is natural law, inscribed in the human heart, that speaks a language that everyone can understand: love, justice, peace, elements that are inseparable from each other. Like people, States and international institutions are called to welcome and nurture these values - love, justice, peace - and this must be done with a spirit of dialogue
and mutual listening. In this way, the aim of feeding the human family becomes feasible.
"Every woman, man, child and elderly person everywhere should be able to count
on these guarantees. It is the duty of every State that cares for the wellbeing
of its citizens to subscribe to them unreservedly, and to take the necessary steps to ensure their implementation. This requires perseverance and support. The Catholic Church also offers her contribution in this field through constant
attention to the life of the poor in all parts of the world; along the same lines, the Holy See is actively involved in international organisations and through numerous documents and statements. In this way, it contributes to identifying and assuming the criteria to be met in order to develop an equitable international system. These are criteria that, on the ethical plane, are based on the pillars of truth, freedom, justice and solidarity; at the same
time, in the legal field, these same criteria include the relationship between rights and food, and the right to life and a dignified existence, the right to be protected by law, not always close to the reality of those who suffer from hunger, and the moral obligation to share the economic wealth of the world.

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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 206
DATE 21-11-2014

Summary:
- The Pope to participants in the World Congress for the Pastoral Care of Migrants: "Migration is an aspiration to hope"
- Video message to the participants in the 4th Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church
- Francis: a strong and widespread desire to walk together
- The Virgin Mary, protagonist of the 19th Public Session of the Pontifical Academies
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts
- Appointment of the deputy editor of "L'Osservatore Romano"

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The Pope to participants in the World Congress for the Pastoral Care of Migrants: "Migration is an aspiration to hope"
Vatican City, 21 November 2014 (VIS) - "Migration is still an aspiration to hope, notwithstanding new developments and the emergence of situations which are at times painful and even tragic", said the Pope in his address to the participants in the Seventh World Congress for the Pastoral Care of Migrants, affirming the powerful hope that inspires many inhabitants of troubled areas throughout the world to seek a better future for their families in other places, even at the risk of disappointment and failure. This, he remarked, is caused in great part by the economic crisis which, to differing degrees, affects every country.
The three-day Congress highlighted the dynamics of cooperation and development
in the pastoral care of migrants. "First and foremost you have analysed the factors which cause migration, in particular: inequality, poverty, overpopulation, the growing need for employment in some sectors of the global job market, disasters caused by climate change, wars and persecution, and the desire of younger people to relocate as they seek new opportunities. Moreover, the link between cooperation and development shows, on the one hand, the difference of interests between states and migrants, and, on the other hand, the opportunities which derive for both".
"In effect, receiving nations draw advantages from employing immigrants for production needs and national prosperity, not infrequently filling gaps created
by the demographic crisis", observed the Holy Father. "In turn, the nations which migrants leave show a certain reduction in unemployment and, above all, benefit from earnings which are then sent back to meet the needs of families which remain in the country. Emigrants, in the end, are able to fulfil the desire for a better future for themselves and their families. Yet we know that some problems also accompany these benefits. We find in the countries of origin, among other things, an impoverishment due to the so-called 'brain drain', the effects on infants and young people who grow up without one or both
parents, and the risk of marriages failing due to prolonged absences. In the receiving nations, we also see difficulties associated with migrants settling in urban neighbourhoods which are already problematic, as well as their difficulties in integrating and learning to respect the social and cultural conventions which they find. In this regard, pastoral workers play an important
role through initiating dialogue, welcoming and assisting with legal issues, mediating with the local population. In the countries of origin, on the other hand, the closeness of pastoral workers to the families and children of migrant
parents can lessen the negative repercussions of the parents' absence".
However, the Congress affirmed that the implications of the Church's pastoral concern in the overall context of cooperation, development and migration go much further, and "it is here that the Church has much to say. The Christian community, in fact, is continuously engaged in welcoming migrants and sharing with them God's gifts, in particular the gift of faith". Furthermore, the Church "promotes pastoral plans for the evangelisation and support of migrants throughout their journey from their country of origin, through countries of transit, to the receiving countries. She gives particular attention to meeting the spiritual needs of migrants through catechesis, liturgy and the celebration
of the Sacraments".
"Sadly", he added, "migrants often experience disappointment, distress, loneliness and marginalisation. In effect, the migrant worker has to deal with the problem both of being uprooted and needing to integrate. Here the Church also seeks to be a source of hope: she develops programs of education and orientation; she raises her voice in defence of migrants' rights; she offers assistance, including material assistance to everyone, without exception, so that all may be treated as children of God. When encountering migrants, it is important to adopt an integrated perspective, capable of valuing their potential rather than seeing them only as a problem to be confronted and resolved. The authentic right to development regards every person and all people, viewed integrally. This demands that all people be guaranteed a minimal
level of participation in the life of the human community. How much more necessary must this be in the case of the Christian community, where no one is a stranger and, therefore, everyone is worthy of being welcomed and supported".
"The Church, beyond being a community of the faithful that sees the face of Jesus Christ in its neighbour, is a Mother without limits and without frontiers. She is the Mother of all and so she strives to foster the culture of
welcome and solidarity, where no one is considered useless, out of place or disposable. ... Migrants, therefore, by virtue of their very humanity, even prior to their cultural values, widen the sense of human fraternity. At the same time, their presence is a reminder of the need to eradicate inequality, injustice and abuses. In that way, migrants will be able to become partners in constructing a richer identity for the communities which provide them hospitality, as well as the people who welcome them, prompting the development of a society which is inclusive, creative and respectful of the dignity of all".
The Pope concluded by invoking upon the participants in the Congress "the protection of Mary, Mother of God, and St. Joseph, who themselves experienced the difficulty of exile in Egypt".

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Video message to the participants in the 4th Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Vatican City, 21 November 2014 (VIS) - Pope Francis has sent a video message to the participants in the fourth edition of the Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church, which this year focuses on the theme, "Beyond places, in time". The title, he says, suggests various points for reflection, the first
of which is the concept of "going beyond". "The current situation of social and
economic crisis can frighten us, disorientate us or seem so difficult that we conclude there is nothing we can do. The great temptation is to stop and tend to our own wounds, and find in that an excuse not to listen to the cry of the poor and the suffering of those who have lost the dignity of being able to put bread on the table because they have lost their jobs. And those who seek only to cure their own wounds end up preening themselves. This is a trap. The risk is that indifference makes us blind, deaf and mute, present only to ourselves, before the mirror, so that everything happens outside us. Men and women closed up in themselves". This narcissism, he says, is not the right approach.
"We are required to go beyond this and to respond to real needs", he continues. "To go overcome, it is necessary to take the initiative. ... Nowadays, even in the economic sphere it is urgent to take the initiative, as the system tends to sanction everything and money takes control. The system leads to this form of globalisation which is not good and which sanctions everything. ... Taking the initiative in these spheres means having the courage
not to let oneself be imprisoned by money and short-term gains which enslave us. We need to find a new way of seeing things!"
"The real problem is not money though, but rather people: we cannot ask of money that which only people can do or create. Money alone does not lead to development: development requires people who have the courage to take initiative. And taking the initiative means developing activity capable of innovation, not only of a technological nature; it is also necessary to renew working relations, experimenting with new forms of participation and responsibility for workers, inventing new ways of entering the world of work, creating a bond of solidarity between business and territory. Taking initiative
means overcoming 'assistentialism'".
"Taking initiative also means considering love as the true motor of change", he adds. "Freeing talents is the beginning of change; this action allows envy, jealousy, rivalry, disagreement and prejudice, and opening up to joy, to the joy of the new". He emphasises that the question of talent is of particular relevance to the young: "If we want to go ahead, we must make decisive investments in them and trust in them".
"'Going beyond places' is not the result of individual chance but of sharing an aim: history is a path towards fulfilment. If we act as a population, if we go ahead together, our existence will illustrate this meaning and this fullness".

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Francis: a strong and widespread desire to walk together
Vatican City, 21 November 2014 (VIS) - "This anniversary invites us to give thanks to God for the many fruits harvested in this last half-century. In particular, there has occurred what the Council recommended: the appreciation of how much there is that is good and true in the life of Christians in every community". Thus Pope Francis greeted the participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the theme of which is "The aim of ecumenism: principles, opportunities and challenges, fifty years after Unitatis Redintegratio".

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 207
DATE 24-11-2014

Summary:
- The Pope to the faithful of the Malabar rite: St. Kuriakose Elias and St. Euphrasia, examples and encouragement to the people
- The Pope canonises six new blesseds: the Kingdom of God is built on tenderness and proximity
- Angelus: the example of the new saints revives spirit of harmony and reconciliation
- The poor are also evangelisers as they show us the peripheries the Gospel has
not reached, says Francis at the 4th Missionary Convention of the CEI
- Francis: overcome the isolation that burdens the autistic and their families - Ecclesial movements and new communities: conserve freshness of charism, respect freedom and seek communion
- Telegram for the death of Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini
- Private meeting between the Pope and the president of the Italian Republic
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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The Pope to the faithful of the Malabar rite: St. Kuriakose Elias and St. Euphrasia, examples and encouragement to the people
Vatican City, 24 November 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Basilica Pope Francis met with a group of faithful of Syro-Malabar rite, gathered in Rome for the canonisation on Sunday of Kuriakose Elias Chavara of the Holy Family, and Euphrasia Eluvathingal of the Sacred Heart. The Holy Father took the opportunity to thank the Church in India, and specifically in Kerala, for "all its apostolic strength and for the witness of faith you have", he said. "Continue in this way! Kerala is a land that is very fertile in religious and priestly vocations. Carry on working in this way, with your witness".
"May this time of celebration and intense spirituality help you to contemplate
the marvellous works accomplished by the Lord in the lives and deeds of these new saints. ... who remind each of us that God's love is the source, the support and the goal of all holiness, while love of neighbour is the clearest manifestation of love for God."
Pope Francis described St. Kuriakose Elias as "a religious, both active and contemplative, who generously gave his life for the Syro-Malabar Church, putting into action the maxim 'sanctification of oneself and the salvation of others'", while St. Euphrasia "lived in profound union with God, so that her life of holiness was an example and an encouragement to the people, who called her 'Praying Mother'. He encouraged those present to "treasure their lessons of
evangelical living ... follow in their footsteps and imitate them, in a particular way, through love of Jesus in the Eucharist and love of the Church. Thus you will advance along the path to holiness".

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The Pope canonises six new blesseds: the Kingdom of God is built on tenderness
and proximity
Vatican City, 24 November 2014 (VIS) - During the Mass celebrated this morning
on the Solemnity of Christ King of the Universe, the Holy Father canonised blesseds Giovanni Antonio Fraina (1803-1888), Kuriakose Elias Chavara of the Holy Family (1805-1871), Ludovico da Casoria (1814-1885), Nicola da Longobardi (1650-1709), Euphrasia Eluvathingal of the Sacred Heart (1877-1952) and Amato Ronconi (c. 1226-c.1292).
In his homily, the Pope remarked that the kingdom of Jesus is the "kingdom of truth and life, the kingdom of sanctity and grace, the kingdom of justice, love
and peace", and he commented on today's readings show how the Lord established his kingdom, how He brings it about as history unfolds, and what He now asks of
us.
Jesus brought about his kingdom "through his closeness and tenderness towards us", as the prophet Ezekiel foresaw in the first reading that describes the attitude of the Shepherd towards His flock, using the verbs such as to seek, to
keep watch, to round up, to lead to pasture, to bring to rest; to seek the lost
sheep, to tend to the wounded, to heal the sick, to care for and to graze. "Those of us who are called to be pastors in the Church cannot stray from this example, if we do not want to become hirelings. In this respect, the People of God have an unerring sense for recognising good shepherds and distinguishing them from hirelings".
After his victory, that is, after the Resurrection - Jesus' kingdom grew, but it was not a kingdom according to earthly models. "For Him, to reign was not to
command, but to obey the Father, to give Himself over to the Father, so that His plan of love and salvation may be brought to fulfilment. ... The Gospel teaches what Jesus' kingdom requires of us: it reminds us that closeness and tenderness are the rule of life for us also, and that on this basis we will be judged. ... The starting point of salvation is not the confession of the sovereignty of Christ, but rather the imitation of Jesus' works of mercy through which He brought about his kingdom". He explained that those who accomplish these works show that they have understood and welcomed Jesus' sovereignty, because they have opened their hearts to God's charity. "In the twilight of life we will be judged on our love for, closeness to and and tenderness towards our brothers and sisters. ... Jesus has opened to us His kingdom to us, but it is for us to enter into it, beginning with our life now -
his kingdom begins now - by being close in concrete ways to our brothers and sisters who as for bread, clothing, acceptance, solidarity, catechesis".
"Today the Church places before us the examples of these new saints. Each in her or her own way served the kingdom of God, of which they became heirs, precisely through works of generous devotion to God and their brothers and sisters. They responded with extraordinary creativity to the commandment of love of God and neighbour. They dedicated themselves without reserve to serving
the least and assisting the destitute, sick, elderly and pilgrims. Their preference for the smallest and poorest was the reflection and the measure of their unconditional love of God. In fact, they sought and discovered love in a strong and personal relationship with God, from whence springs forth love for one's neighbour". Pope Francis concluded, "Through the rite of canonisation, we
have confessed once again the mystery of God's kingdom and we have honoured Christ the King, the Shepherd full of love for His sheep. May our new saints, through their witness and intercession, increase within us the joy of walking in the way of the Gospel and our resolve to embrace it as the compass of our lives".

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Angelus: the example of the new saints revives spirit of harmony and reconciliation
Vatican City, 23 November 2014 (VIS) - After celebrating Holy Mass for the canonisation of six blesseds, the Pope prayed the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square and greeted in particular the official delegations from Italy and India, the homelands of the new Saints.
"The example of the four Italian saints born in the provinces of Vicenza, Naples, Cosenza and Rimini helps the Italian people to revive the spirit of collaboration and harmony for the common good, and to look to the future with hope, united and trusting in the closeness of God Who never abandons us, even in the most difficult moments".
"Through the intercession of the two new Indian saints from Kerala, a great land of faith and priestly and religious vocations, may the Lord grant a new missionary impulse to the Church in India, which is very great, so that inspired by their example of harmony and reconciliation, Christians from India may continue on the path of solidarity and fraternal coexistence".

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The poor are also evangelisers as they show us the peripheries the Gospel has not reached, says Francis at the 4th Missionary Convention of the CEI
Vatican City, 22 November 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall the Pope received in audience the participants in the 4th Missionary Convention of the Italian Episcopal Conference, around eight hundred people. "Every generation is called to be missionary ... from the very beginning", affirmed the Holy Father. "Remember how the apostles Andrew and John encountered the Lord and then ... set out, enthusiastic. The first thing they did was become missionaries. They went to their brothers and said, 'We have found the Lord, we
have found the Messiah'".
Following these unscripted remarks, Pope Francis went on to cite his Apostolic
Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, in which he speaks of an outbound Church, and reiterated that a missionary can only be outbound, without fear of encounters, of discovering new things, and of speaking about the joy of the Gospel. "Not to
proselytise, but to say what we have and want to share without imposition, with
all and without distinction. ... The particular Churches in Italy have done much. ... I would like to repeat something that a Brazilian cardinal said to me: 'When I go to Amazonia - because he has the task of visiting dioceses in Amazonia - I go to the cemetery and see the tombs of missionaries. And there are many of them. And I think, these people could be canonised now!' It is the Church; they are the Churches of Italy".
"Today I thank you for what you do in many areas ... and I ask you to work with passion to keep this spirit alive. I see many laypeople alongside bishops and priests. The mission is the task of all Christians, not just the few. ... The Italian Church, I repeat, has given many priests and laypeople fidei donum,
who decide to spend their lives building up the Church in the peripheral areas of the world, among the poor and those who are far away. ... I urge you, do not
let yourselves be robbed of hope and the dream of changing the world with ... the leaven of the Gospel, starting out from the human and existential peripheries. Reaching out means overcoming the temptation to talk among ourselves, forgetting the many who await from us a word of mercy, of consolation, of hope. Jesus' Gospel is fulfilled in history. Jesus Himself was a man from the outskirts, from Galilee, far from the centres of power of the Roman Empire and of Jerusalem. ... However, His Word was the beginning of a transformation in history, the start of a spiritual and human revolution, the good news of a Lord Who died and rose again for us".
The Pope encouraged those present to intensify their missionary spirit and their enthusiasm for the mission, without allowing themselves to be discouraged
by difficulties and, above all, "beginning with children, who must receive a missionary catechesis. At times, even in the Church we are overcome by pessimism, which risks depriving many men and women of the announcement of the Gospel. Let us go ahead with hope! The many missionary martyrs to faith and charity are show us that victory is only in love and in a life spent for the Lord and for our neighbour, starting with the poor. The poor are the travelling
companions of an outbound Church, as they are the first She encounters. The poor are also your evangelisers, as they show you those peripheries where the Gospel has yet to be proclaimed and lived".
"Reaching out means not remaining indifferent to destitution, war, the violence in our cities, the neglect of the elderly, the anonymity of many people in need and marginalisation from little ones. Reaching out means not accepting that in our Christian cities the are many children who do not know how to make the sign of the Cross. This is reaching out. It means being builders of peace, of the 'peace' that the Lord gives us every day and of which
the world is so in need. Missionaries never give up their dream of peace, even when they experience difficulties and persecution, which make their presence strongly felt today".

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Francis: overcome the isolation that burdens the autistic and their families
Vatican City, 22 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience the participants in the 29th International Conference organised by the
Pontifical Council for Health Workers (for Health Pastoral Care), dedicated to autism, including persons affected by this disorder and their families.
The Pope thanked the organisers of the Conference for having chosen such a complex theme, "which appeals directly to the responsibility of governments and
institutions, without forgetting, of course, Christian communities", and he emphasised the need for common efforts to promote "acceptance, encounter and solidarity ... to break through the isolation and, in many cases, the stigma that burdens people affected by autism spectrum disorders, and frequently also their families".
"This does not mean an anonymous and impersonal accompaniment, but instead and
above all listening to the profound needs that emerge from within a disorder that is not only often difficult to diagnose, but which does not easily find acceptance without shame and solitude. In the assistance of those affected ... it would be helpful to create, throughout the country, a network of support and
services, complete and accessible, involving not only parents but also grandparents, friends, therapists, teachers and pastoral workers. These figures
may help families to overcome the sensations of inadequacy, inefficacy and frustration that may emerge".

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 209
DATE 26-11-2014

Summary:
- The Pope addresses press on the return flight from Strasbourg: "I never give up a cause for lost"
- General Audience: the Church on the path to the Kingdom of Heaven
- Francis asks for prayers for his trip to Turkey
- Pope Francis' message to the International Pastoral Congress on the World's Big Cities
- First International Prayer Day and reflection on human trafficking
- In brief
- Other Pontifical Acts

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The Pope addresses press on the return flight from Strasbourg: "I never give up a cause for lost"
Vatican City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) - During his return journey from Strasbourg, where he addressed both the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, Pope Francis answered questions posed by the journalists who accompanied him on the flight. The questions and the Holy Father's answers are published below.
Q: "Your Holiness addressed the European Parliament with pastoral works that may also be regarded as political words, and which may be linked, in my opinion, to a social-democratic stance - for example, when you say that we must
ensure that the true expressive force of populations is not removed by multinational powers. Could we say that you are a social-democrat Pope?"
Pope Francis: "This would be reductive. It makes me feel as if I am part of a collection of insects: 'This is a social-democratic insect ...'. No, I would say not. I don't know if I am a social-democrat Pope or not. I would not dare to define myself as belonging to one side or another. I dare say that this comes from the Gospel: this is the message of the Gospel, taken up by the social doctrine of the Church. In reality, in this and in other things - social
and political - that I have said, I have not detached myself from the social Doctrine of the Church. The social Doctrine of the Church comes from the Gospel
and from Christian tradition. What I said - the identity of the people - is a Gospel value, is it not? In this sense, I say it. But you have made me laugh, thank you!"
Q: "There is almost no-one on the streets of Strasbourg this morning. The people say they are disappointed. Do you regret not visiting the Cathedral of Strasbourg, that celebrates is millennium this year? And when will you make your first trip to France, and where? Lisieux, perhaps?"
Pope Francis: "No, it is not yet planned, but one should certainly go to Paris. Then, there is a proposal to go to Lourdes. I have asked to visit a city
where no Pope has yet been, to greet the citizens. But the plan has not yet been made. No, for Strasbourg, a visit to the cathedral was considered but it would have mean already making a visit to France, and this was the problem".
Q: During your address to the Council of Europe I was struck by the concept of
transversality, especially with reference to your meetings with young politicians in various countries, and indeed you spoke of the need for a sort of pact between generations, an intergenerational agreement at the margins of this transversality. Also, if I may ask, is it true that you are devoted to St.
Joseph, and have a statue of him in your room?"
Pope Francis: "Yes, it is true. Whenever I have asked something of St. Joseph,
he has granted it to me. The fact of 'transversality' is important. I have seen
in dialogue with young politicians in the Vatican, from different parties and nations, that they speak with a differetn music, that tends towards transversality, and this is valuable. They are not afraid of coming out of their own territory, without denying it, but coming out in order to engage in dialogue. They are courageous! I believe that we must imitate this, along with intergenerational dialogue. This tendency to come out to find people of other origins and to engage in dialogue: Europe needs this today".
Q: "In your second discourse, to the Council of Europe, you spoke about the sins of the sons of the Church. I would like to know if you have received the news on the events in Granada [alleged sexual abuse of minors by priests in the
archdiocese, Ed.], that in a certain sense you brought to light..."
Pope Francis: "I received the news - it was sent to me, I read it, I called the person and I said, 'Tomorrow you must go to the bishop', and I wrote to the
bishop asking him to begin work, to start the investigation and go ahead. How did I receive the news? With great pain, with very great sadness. But the truth
is the truth, and we cannot hide it".
Q: "In your addresses in Strasbourg, you spoke frequently of both the threat of terrorism and the threat of slavery: these are attitudes that are also typical of the Islamic State, which threatens much of the Mediterranean, which threatens Rome and also threatens you personally. Do you think it is possible to engage in dialogue with these extremists, or do you think this is a lost cause?"
Pope Francis: "I never give something up as a lost cause: never. Perhaps dialogue is not possible, but never close the door. It is difficult, one might say almost impossible, but the door is always open. You have used the word 'threaten' twice: it is true, terrorism is a threat. ... But slavery is a real situation embedded in the today's social fabric, and has been for some time. Slave labour, human trafficking, the trade in children ... it is a crisis! We must not close our eyes to this. Slavery, today, is a reality, the exploitation
of people ... And then there is the threat of these terrorists. But there is another threat, and it is State terrorism. When the situation becomes critical,
and each State believes it has the right to massacre the terrorists, many who are innocent fall prey alongside the terrorists. This is a form of high-level anarchy that is very dangerous. It is necessary to fight terrorism, but I repeat what I said during my previous trip: when it is necessary to stop an unjust aggressor, it must be done with international consensus".
Q: "In your heart, when you travel to Strasbourg, do you travel as Peter's Successor, as the bishop of Rome, or as the archbishop of Buenos Aires?"
Pope Francis: "As all three, I think. My memory is that of the archbishop of Buenos Aires, but I am no longer in that role. Now I am the bishop of Rome and Peter's Successor, and I think that I travel with this memory but with these realities; I travel with all these things. Europe worries me at the moment; it is good for me to go ahead in order to help, as the bishop of Rome and Peter's Successor; in this respect I am Roman".

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General Audience: the Church on the path to the Kingdom of Heaven
Vatican City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father dedicated the catechesis of this morning's general audience to "a fundamental truth that Vatican Council II kept clearly in mind, and which must never be forgotten: the
Church is not a static reality, still, an end in itself, but is instead continually in progress through history, towards the final, marvellous destination that is the Kingdom of Heaven, of which the earthly Church is the seed and the beginning". He continued, "When we face this horizon, we realise that our imagination stops and discovers that it is only just able to intuit the splendour of the mystery that overcomes our senses. And certain questions arise spontaneously in us: when will this final passage take place? What will the new dimension in which the Church enters be like? What will become of humanity? And of the Creation that surrounds us? But these questions are not new; they had already been posed by Jesus' disciples in those times".
Francis explained that, faced with these questions, the Council Constitution "Gaudium et spes" affirms that "we are unaware of when the earth and humanity will come to an end, and we do not know how the universe will be transformed. Certainly, the appearance of this world, deformed by sin, will pass away. However, we know from Revelation that God prepares a new home and a new land, in which justice will abide, and whose joy will superabundantly satiate all the
desires for peace that arise from the heart of man. ... We will finally be clothed in joy, peace and God's love, completely and without any limit, face to
face with Him".
In this way, the Pontiff emphasised that it is good to perceive that there is a basic continuity and communion between the Church in Heaven and the Church in
her earthly path, without forgetting that we are always invited to offer good works, prayers and the Eucharist to alleviate the suffering of souls that still
await endless beatitude. "From a Christian perspective the distinction is no longer between those who are already dead and those who are not, but between those who are with Christ and those who are not. This is the decisive element for our salvation and for our happiness".

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 210
DATE 27-11-2014

Summary:
- Serve new wine in new wineskins says the Pope to representatives of consecrated life
- Migrants and the poor, dual challenge of urban pastoral ministry
- To the Pauline family: take the breath of the Gospel to the most diverse cultures and social contexts
- Holy Father's calendar for December 2014 and January 2015
- Christians and Muslims condemn extremism and violence committed in the name of religion
- Audiences

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Serve new wine in new wineskins says the Pope to representatives of consecrated life
Vatican City, 27 November 2014 (VIS) - The Congregration for the Institutes of
Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life celebrated their plenary assembly reflecting on the current state of consecrated life in the Church, fifty years after the Conciliar documents "Lumen gentium" and "Perfectae caritatis". The theme chosen was "New wine in new wineskins", and Pope Francis,
who received eighty participants in audience this morning, based his discourse on the multiple meanings of this phrase.
"In the part of the Lord's vineyard selected by those who have chosen to imitate Christ more closely through the profession of evangelical counsels, new
grapes are matured and new wine is obtained", said the Holy Father. "In these days you have been offered the chance to discern the quality and ageing of the 'new wine' that has been produced during the long season of renewal, and at the
same time to evaluate whether the wineskins that contain it, represented by the
institutional forms present today in consecrated life, are adequate to contain this 'new wine' and to favour its full maturation. As I have recalled many times, we must not be afraid of setting aside the 'old wineskins': of renewing those habits and those structures that, in the life of the Church and therefore
also in consecrated life, we realise no longer respond to what God asks of us today to further His Kingdom in the world: the structures that give us false protection and that condition the dynamism of charity; the habits that distance
us from the flock to which we are sent and prevent us from hearing the cry of those who await the Good News of Jesus Christ".
"You do not hide those areas of weakness that it is possible to find today in consecrated life (such as the resistance to change of certain sectors, the diminished power of attraction, the not insignificant number of those who abandon the vocation, the fragility of certain formative itineraries, concern for institutional and ministerial tasks at the expense of spiritual life, the difficult integration of cultural and generational diversity, and a problematic
balance in the exercise of authority and the use of goods), but you wish to continue to listen for signals from the Spirit, that opens up new horizons and leads to new paths, always starting out from the supreme rule of the Gospel and
inspired by the bold creativity of your founders".
The Pope went on to list the criteria to follow for guidance in the "arduous task of evaluating the new wine and testing the quality of the wineskins": the evangelical originality of the choices, charismatic fidelity, the primary of service, attention to the least and most fragile, and respect for the dignity of every person.
He encouraged those present to "continue to work with generosity and resourcefulness in the Lord's vineyard", to obtain "that generous wine that will be able to reinvigorate the life of the Church and to bring cheer to the heart of the many brothers and sisters in need of your care", and he underlined
that "even the substitution of old for new wineskins ... does not take place automatically, but requires commitment and ability, to offer the suitable space
for welcoming and bringing to fruition the new gifts with which the Spirit continues to embellish the Church, His spouse". He concluded, "do not forget ... to carry on the process of renewal that has been initiated and to a great extent accomplished in these fifty years, examining every novelty in the light of the Word of God and in listening to the needs of the Church and of the contemporary world".

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Migrants and the poor, dual challenge of urban pastoral ministry
Vatican City, 27 November 2014 (VIS) - This morning, in the Consistory Hall of
the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis received in audience the participants in the
second phase of the International Pastoral Congress on the World's Big Cities, held in Barcelona, Spain from 24 to 26 November. The Holy Father took the opportunity to explore in depth four challenges and possible prospects for urban pastoral ministry. "The places where God is calling us to ... and the aspects to which we should pay special attention".
Firstly, he mentioned the need to "implement a change in our pastoral mentality". We are no longer in the era "in which the Church was the sole point
of reference for culture". Previously, "as an authentic teacher, she was aware of her responsibility to outline and to impose not only cultural forms but also
values". He continued, "Today we are no longer the only ones who produce culture, nor are we the first or the most listened to. We are therefore in need
of a change in pastoral mentality, but not a 'relativist pastoral'", that in its wish to be part of the cultural mix, "loses its evangelical perspective, leaving humanity to its own devices and freed from God's hand. No, this is the path of relativism, the easy route. This cannot be considered as pastoral ministry! He who acts in this way is not truly interested in man, but instead leaves him to the mercy of two equally grave dangers: concealing both Jesus, and the truth of man himself, from him - a way that leads humanity to solitude and death". Therefore, the Pope added, "we need to have the courage to carry out an evangelising pastoral ministry, bold and without fear, as men, women, families and the various groups that inhabit the city expect from us, and need for their lives, the Good News that is Jesus and His Gospel".
As a second challenge, he emphasised "dialogue with multiculturality" and the need for pastoral dialogue without relativism, that does not negotiate its own Christian identity, but that instead seeks to reach the heart of others, of those different to ourselves, and to sow the Gospel there. We need a contemplative attitude, that without denying the contribution of the different sciences in understanding the urban phenomenon - these contributions are important - seeks to discover the foundation of cultures, that in their deepest
core are always open to and thirst for God". To face this challenge, Francis underlined that it would help us greatly to know the "invisible cities, the groups or human territories that are identified by their symbols, languages, rites and ways of narrating life".
"The religiosity of the people" was the third point he focused on. "We must discover, in the religiosity of our populations, the authentic religious substratum, that in many cases is Christian and Catholic. We must not fail to recognise, or regard with disdain, this experience of God that, although at times dispersed or mixed with other things, needs to be discovered and not constructed. He we find the semina Verbi sown by the Spirit of the Lord". The Pope also commented on the many migrants and poor people who fill our cities, "pilgrims of life, in search of salvation", who pose a "dual challenge": that of "being hospitable to the poor and migrants, not generally the case in the city, which pushes them away, and of recognising the value of their faith". "The urban poor", who constitute the fourth point with which the Holy Father concluded his discourse, are "excluded and discarded. The Church cannot ignore their cry, nor can she enter into the game of unjust, mean and self-serving systems that seek to render them invisible".

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 212
DATE 30-11-2014

Summary:
- Mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit: the Church shows fidelity to the Holy Spirit when she does not seek to control or tame Him
- Prayer at the Ecumenical Patriarchate: brothers in hope of Jesus resurrected - Francis participates in the Divine Liturgy on the Solemnity of St. Andrew, patron of the Church of Constantinople
- Joint declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomaios I: "We call on all religious leaders to pursue and strengthen interreligious dialogue"

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Mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit: the Church shows fidelity to the Holy Spirit when she does not seek to control or tame Him
Vatican City, 30 November 2014 (VIS) - Early yesterday afternoon, Pope Francis
visited the Latin Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, opened for worship in 1846. In the courtyard there is a statue of Pope Benedict XV, erected by the Turks in 1919 during the Pope's lifetime, to thank him for his efforts in favour of the Turkish victims of the First World War. It bears the inscription: "To the great
Pope of the world's tragic hour, Benedict XV, benefactor of the people, without
discrimination of nationality or religion, a token of gratitude from the Orient". During his papacy, Armenian Christians were massacred in the Ottoman Empire, and Benedict XV used every means available to him - words, humanitarian
aid and diplomatic activity - to bring an end to the slaughter.
Pope Francis celebrated an inter-ritual Mass with prayers in Armenian, Turkish, Aramaic (Chaldean rite), Syro-Turkish, Italian, French, English and Spanish , attended by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios I, the Syro-Catholic Patriarch Ignacio III Youna, the patriarchal Armenian apostolic vicar of Istanbul, Archbishop Aram Ateshian, the Syro-Orthodox Metropolitan of Istanbul Filuksinos Yusf Cetin and other representatives of various evangelical
confessions.
"In the Gospel", explained Pope Francis, "Jesus shows himself to be the font from which those who thirst for salvation draw upon, as the Rock from whom the Father brings forth living waters for all who believe in him. In openly proclaiming this prophecy in Jerusalem, Jesus heralds the gift of the Holy Spirit whom the disciples will receive after his glorification, that is, after his death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church. He gives
life, he brings forth different charisms which enrich the people of God and, above all, he creates unity among believers: from the many he makes one body, the Body of Christ. The Church's whole life and mission depend on the Holy Spirit; he fulfils all things".
The profession of faith itself, as Saint Paul reminds us in today's first reading, "is only possible because it is prompted by the Holy Spirit: 'No one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit'. When we pray, it is because
the Holy Spirit inspires prayer in our heart. When we break the cycle of our self-centredness, and move beyond ourselves and go out to encounter others, to listen to them and help them, it is the Spirit of God who impels us to do so. When we find within a hitherto unknown ability to forgive, to love someone who doesn't love us in return, it is the Spirit who has taken hold of us. When we move beyond mere self-serving words and turn to our brothers and sisters with that tenderness which warms the heart, we have indeed been touched by the Holy Spirit".
"It is true", observed the Pontiff, "that the Holy Spirit brings forth different charisms in the Church, which at first glance, may seem to create disorder. Under His guidance, however, they constitute an immense richness, because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity, which is not the same thing as uniformity. Only the Holy Spirit is able to kindle diversity, multiplicity and,
at the same time, bring about unity. When we try to create diversity, but are closed within our own particular and exclusive ways of seeing things, we create
division. When we try to create unity through our own human designs, we end up with uniformity and homogenisation. If we let ourselves be led by the Spirit, however, richness, variety and diversity will never create conflict, because the Spirit spurs us to experience variety in the communion of the Church.
"The diversity of members and charisms is harmonised in the Spirit of Christ, Whom the Father sent and whom He continues to send, in order to achieve unity among believers. The Holy Spirit brings unity to the Church: unity in faith, unity in love, unity in interior life. The Church and other Churches and ecclesial communities are called to let themselves be guided by the Holy Spirit, and to remain always open, docile and obedient".
He continued, "Ours is a hopeful perspective, but one which is also demanding.
The temptation is always within us to resist the Holy Spirit, because He takes us out of our comfort zone and unsettles us; He makes us get up and drives the Church forward. It is always easier and more comfortable to settle in our sedentary and unchanging ways. In truth, the Church shows her fidelity to the Holy Spirit in as much as she does not try to control or tame Him. We Christians become true missionary disciples, able to challenge consciences, when we throw off our defensiveness and allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit. He is freshness, imagination and newness".
Our defensiveness is evident "when we are entrenched within our ideas and our own strengths - in which case we slip into Pelagianism - or when we are ambitious or vain. These defensive mechanisms prevent us from truly understanding other people and from opening ourselves to a sincere dialogue with them. But the Church, flowing from Pentecost, is given the fire of the Holy Spirit, which does not so much fill the mind with ideas, but inflames the heart; she is moved by the breath of the Spirit which does not transmit a power, but rather an ability to serve in love, a language which everyone is able to understand. In our journey of faith and fraternal living, the more we allow ourselves to be humbly guided by the Spirit of the Lord, the more we will
overcome misunderstandings, divisions, and disagreements and be a credible sign
of unity and peace".
The Pope extended his embrace "with this joyful conviction" to all those present at the Mass, and expressed his gratitude to the representatives of the Protestant communities, who joined in prayer with the Catholic faithful for this celebration. He also greeted the Armenian Patriarch, His Beatitude Mesrob II, who was unable to attend.
"Brothers and sisters", he concluded, "let us turn our thoughts to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. With her, she who prayed with the Apostles in the Upper Room as they awaited Pentecost, let us pray to the Lord asking him to send his Holy Spirit into our hearts and to make us witnesses of his Gospel in all the world".

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Prayer at the Ecumenical Patriarchate: brothers in hope of Jesus resurrected
Vatican City, 30 November 2014 (VIS) - After celebrating Holy Mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Francis transferred at midday to the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Phanar, the world centre of Orthodoxy.
The Orthodox Church has 300 million faithful, present especially in Eastern and Northern Europe, along the north-east coast of the Mediterranean and in the
Middle East. It consists of various patriarchal Churches who maintain their autonomy while remaining linked to each other in a spirit of faith. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is the "primus inter pares" with respect to the other Orthodox patriarchates, and co-ordinates their activities. Its ecclesiastical jurisdiction includes not only Istanbul, but extends also to four other Turkish
dioceses, Mount Athos, Crete, Patmos and the Islands of the Dodecanese and, following emigration, dioceses in Central and Western Europe, the Americas, Pakistan and Japan. Finally, it is the point of reference for Orthodox faithful
throughout the world in territories not under the direct jurisdiction of the other Orthodox patriarchates. For centuries, the seat of the Patriarchate was next to the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia. Following the fall of Constantinople in 1453, it was transferred from 1601 to the quarter of Phanar. The Ecumenical Patriarch is His Holiness Bartholomaios I, whose commitment to inter-orthodox cooperation and ecumenical dialogue is well-known, as well as his interest in the protection of the environment, earning him the moniker "the green Patriarch".
The Pope was received by the Patriarch in the Church of St. George, where an ecumenical liturgy took place in which both prayed for the unity of God's holy Churches. After Bartholomaios' discourse, Pope Francis addressed those present.
"Each evening brings a mixed feeling of gratitude for the day which is ending and of yearning trust before the oncoming night. This evening my heart is full of gratitude to God who allows me to be here in prayer with Your Holiness and with this sister Church after an eventful day during my Apostolic Visit. At the
same time my heart awaits the day which we have already begun liturgically: the
Feast of the Apostle Saint Andrew, Patron of this Church. In the words of the prophet Zachariah, the Lord gives us anew in this evening prayer, the foundation that sustains our moving forward from one day to the next, the solid
rock upon which we advance together in joy and hope. The foundation rock is the
Lord's promise: 'Behold, I will save my people from the countries of the east and from the countries of the west... in faithfulness and in righteousness'.
"Yes, my venerable and dear Brother Bartholomaios, as I express my heartfelt 'thank you' for your fraternal welcome, I sense that our joy is greater because
its source is from beyond; it is not in us, not in our commitment, not in our efforts - that are certainly necessary - but in our shared trust in God's faithfulness which lays the foundation for the reconstruction of his temple that is the Church. 'For there shall be a sowing of peace'; truly, a sowing of joy. It is the joy and the peace that the world cannot give, but which the Lord
Jesus promised to his disciples and, as the Risen One, bestowed upon them in the power of the Holy Spirit".
He continued, "Andrew and Peter heard this promise; they received this gift. They were blood brothers, yet their encounter with Christ transformed them into
brothers in faith and charity. In this joyful evening, at this prayer vigil, I want to emphasise this; they became brothers in hope. What a grace, Your Holiness, to be brothers in the hope of the Risen Lord! What a grace, and what a responsibility, to walk together in this hope, sustained by the intercession of the holy Apostles and brothers, Andrew and Peter! And to know that this shared hope does non deceive us because it is founded, not upon us or our poor efforts, but rather upon God's faithfulness".
"With this joyful hope, filled with gratitude and eager expectation, I extend to Your Holiness and to all present, and to the Church of Constantinople, my warm and fraternal best wishes on the Feast of your holy Patron".
Francis and Bartholomaios then recited the Lord's Prayer together in Latin and
imparted their blessing, the Pope in Latin and the Patriarch in Greek, after which they retired to the second floor for a private meeting.

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Francis participates in the Divine Liturgy on the Solemnity of St. Andrew, patron of the Church of Constantinople
Vatican City, 30 November 2014 (VIS) - Pope Francis' final day in Turkey began
with a meeting, early in the morning at the Pontifical Representation in Istanbul, of the Chief Rabbi of Turkey, Ishak Haleva. The Jewish community in Turkey, consisting of around 25 thousand people, is numerically the second largest in an Islamic country, following that of Iran. The most substantial Jewish settlement in Turkey dates from the period of the Spanish Inquisition (1492). At the beginning of the nineteenth century there were around 100 thousand, but this figure dropped drastically as a result of emigration to America and Israel. Pope Benedict XVI also met with the Chief Rabbi during his trip to Turkey in 2006.
Following the celebration and after listening to the Patriarch's words, the Pope addressed those present, recalling how as Archbishop of Buenos Aires he had frequently participated in the Divine Liturgy of the city's Orthodox communities, but "today, the Lord has given me the singular grace to be present
in this Patriarchal Church of Saint George for the celebration of the Feast of the holy Apostle Andrew, the first-called, the brother of Saint Peter, and the Patron Saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate".
He continued, "Meeting each other, seeing each other face to face, exchanging the embrace of peace, and praying for each other, are all essential aspects of our journey towards the restoration of full communion. All of this precedes and
always accompanies that other essential aspect of this journey, namely, theological dialogue. An authentic dialogue is, in every case, an encounter between persons with a name, a face, a past, and not merely a meeting of ideas.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 228
DATE 22-12-2014

Summary:
- Francis: a Curia that is outdated, sclerotic or indifferent to others is an ailing body
- To employees of the Holy See: "Transform this Holy Nativity into an opportunity to heal"
- Angelus: at Christmas, Jesus calls out again to the heart of every Christian - The Pope receives the Community of Pope John XXIII and praises its generosity
in helping people rise above material and moral degradation
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Francis: a Curia that is outdated, sclerotic or indifferent to others is an ailing body
Vatican City, 22 December 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall the
Holy Father held his annual meeting with the Roman Curia to exchange Christmas greetings with the members of its component dicasteries, councils, offices, tribunals and commissions. "It is good to think of the Roman Curia as a small model of the Church, that is, a body that seeks, seriously and on a daily basis, to be more alive, healthier, more harmonious and more united in itself and with Christ".
"The Curia is always required to better itself and to grow in communion, sanctity and wisdom to fully accomplish its mission. However, like any body, it
is exposed to sickness, malfunction and infirmity. ... I would like to mention some of these illnesses that we encounter most frequently in our life in the Curia. They are illnesses and temptations that weaken our service to the Lord",
continued the Pontiff, who after inviting all those present to an examination of conscience to prepare themselves for Christmas, listed the most common Curial ailments:
The first is "the sickness of considering oneself 'immortal', 'immune' or 'indispensable', neglecting the necessary and habitual controls. A Curia that is not self-critical, that does not stay up-to-date, that does not seek to better itself, is an ailing body. ... It is the sickness of the rich fool who thinks he will live for all eternity, and of those who transform themselves into masters and believe themselves superior to others, rather than at their service".
The second is "'Martha-ism', or excessive industriousness; the sickness of those who immerse themselves in work, inevitably neglecting 'the better part' of sitting at Jesus' feet. Therefore, Jesus required his disciples to rest a little, as neglecting the necessary rest leads to stress and agitation. Rest, once one who has brought his or her mission to a close, is a necessary duty and
must be taken seriously: in spending a little time with relatives and respecting the holidays as a time for spiritual and physical replenishment, it is necessary to learn the teaching of Ecclesiastes, that 'there is a time for everything'".
Then there is "the sickness of mental and spiritual hardening: that of those who, along the way, lose their inner serenity, vivacity and boldness and conceal themselves behind paper, becoming working machines rather than men of God. ... It is dangerous to lose the human sensibility necessary to be able to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice! It is the sickness of those who lose those sentiments that were present in Jesus Christ".
"The ailment of excessive planning and functionalism: this is when the apostle
plans everything in detail and believes that, by perfect planning things effectively progress, thus becoming a sort of accountant. ... One falls prey to
this sickness because it is easier and more convenient to settle into static and unchanging positions. Indeed, the Church shows herself to be faithful to the Holy Spirit to the extent that she does not seek to regulate or domesticate
it. The Spirit is freshness, imagination and innovation".
The "sickness of poor coordination develops when the communion between members
is lost, and the body loses its harmonious functionality and its temperance, becoming an orchestra of cacophony because the members do not collaborate and do not work with a spirit of communion or as a team".
"Spiritual Alzheimer's disease, or rather forgetfulness of the history of Salvation, of the personal history with the Lord, of the 'first love': this is a progressive decline of spiritual faculties, that over a period of time causes
serious handicaps, making one incapable of carrying out certain activities autonomously, living in a state of absolute dependence on one's own often imaginary views. We see this is those who have lost their recollection of their
encounter with the Lord ... in those who build walls around themselves and who increasingly transform into slaves to the idols they have sculpted with their own hands".
"The ailment of rivalry and vainglory: when appearances, the colour of one's robes, insignia and honours become the most important aim in life. ... It is the disorder that leads us to become false men and women, living a false 'mysticism' and a false 'quietism'".
Then there is "existential schizophrenia: the sickness of those who live a double life, fruit of the hypocrisy typical of the mediocre and the progressive
spiritual emptiness that cannot be filled by degrees or academic honours. This ailment particularly afflicts those who, abandoning pastoral service, limit themselves to bureaucratic matters, thus losing contact with reality and with real people. They create a parallel world of their own, where they set aside everything they teach with severity to others and live a hidden, often dissolute life".
The sickness of "chatter, grumbling and gossip: this is a serious illness that
begins simply, often just in the form of having a chat, and takes people over, turning them into sowers of discord, like Satan, and in many cases cold-blooded
murderers of the reputations of their colleagues and brethren. It is the sickness of the cowardly who, not having the courage to speak directly to the people involved, instead speak behind their backs".
"The sickness of deifying leaders is typical of those who court their superiors, with the hope of receiving their benevolence. They are victims of careerism and opportunism, honouring people rather than God. They are people who experience service thinking only of what they might obtain and not of what they should give. They are mean, unhappy and inspired only by their fatal selfishness".
"The disease of indifference towards others arises when each person thinks only of himself, and loses the sincerity and warmth of personal relationships. When the most expert does not put his knowledge to the service of less expert colleagues; when out of jealousy ... one experiences joy in seeing another person instead of lifting him up or encouraging him".
"The illness of the funereal face: or rather, that of the gruff and the grim, those who believe that in order to be serious it is necessary to paint their faces with melancholy and severity, and to treat others - especially those they
consider inferior - with rigidity, hardness and arrogance. In reality, theatrical severity and sterile pessimism are often symptoms of fear and insecurity".
"The disease of accumulation: when the apostle seeks to fill an existential emptiness of the heart by accumulating material goods, not out of necessity but
simply to feel secure. ... Accumulation only burdens and inexorably slows down our progress".
"The ailment of closed circles: when belonging to a group becomes stronger than belonging to the Body and, in some situations, to Christ Himself. This sickness too may start from good intentions but, as time passes, enslaves members and becomes a 'cancer' that threatens the harmony of the Body and causes a great deal of harm - scandals - especially to our littlest brothers".
Then, there is the "disease of worldly profit and exhibitionism: when the apostle transforms his service into power, and his power into goods to obtain worldly profits or more power. This is the disease of those who seek insatiably
to multiply their power and are therefore capable of slandering, defaming and discrediting others, even in newspapers and magazines, naturally in order to brag and to show they are more capable than others".
After listing these ailments, Pope Francis continued, "We are therefore required, at this Christmas time and in all the time of our service and our existence - to live 'speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way
into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love'".
"I once read that priests are like aeroplanes: they only make the news when they crash, but there are many that fly. Many criticise them and few pray for them", he concluded. "It is a very nice phrase, but also very true, as it expresses the importance and the delicacy of our priestly service, and how much
harm just one priest who falls may cause to the whole body of the Church".

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To employees of the Holy See: "Transform this Holy Nativity into an opportunity to heal"
Vatican City, 22 December 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis met with employees of the Holy See, whom he thanked fervently for their work during the last year. He dedicated some special words to the Italians present, as "during all the history of the Church and the Roman Curia they have worked regularly with a generous and faithful spirit, placing at the service of the Holy See and
Peter's Successor their unique laboriousness and filial devotion, offering the Church great Saints, Popes, martyrs, missionaries and artists that no passing cloud in history will be able to obscure". He also thanked workers from other countries, "who generously work in the Curia, far from their homelands and their families, representing for the Curia the face of the Church's 'Catholicity'".
The Pope encouraged those present to consider a text that he had mentioned in his discourse to the Roman Curia shortly beforehand, treating it as a "starting
point for a fruitful examination of conscience in preparation for the Holy Nativity and the New Year. He exhorted them to receive the Sacrament of Confession "with a docile heart, to receive the mercy of the Lord, who knocks on the door of our heart, in the joy of the family".
Francis emphasised the word "care" and explained that "caring means manifesting diligent and thoughtful interest, that directs our heart and our activities towards someone or something; it means looking with attention to those who are in need of care without thinking of anything else; it means accepting to give or receive care". To "transform this Holy Nativity into a true opportunity to heal every wound and every lack", he urged those present to
take care of their spiritual life, their relationship with God, and to look after their family life and relationships with others. This means caring about one's way of speaking, purifying language of offensive words; healing the wounds of the heart with the oil of forgiveness; caring for one's work, performing it with enthusiasm, humility and passion; curing oneself of envy, lust, hatred and the negative feelings that devour our inner peace and transform us into destroyed and destructive people; curing oneself of the rancour that leads us to revenge and the idleness that leads to existential euthanasia. Caring for the poorest, the elderly, the sick, the hungry, the homeless and foreigners, and making sure that the Holy Nativity never becomes a
celebration of commercial consumerism, appearances and pointless gifts, or superfluous waste, but rather of the joy of welcoming the Lord into the creche of the heart".

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 228
DATE 29-12-2014

Summary:
- Francis' visit to Naples to begin in Pompeii
- Enthusiastic participation in Pope Francis' encounters with the faithful in 2014
- Angelus: Jesus brings the generations together
- Large families are the hope of society
- Telegram for the death of Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau, S.J.
- Other Pontifical Acts
- The Nativity of the Lord
- Midnight Mass: "do I allow God to love me?"
- Christmas Message: "many tears, together with the tears of the Infant Jesus" - The gift of Christian integrity is coherence: think, feel and live as Christians

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Francis' visit to Naples to begin in Pompeii
Vatican City, 29 December 2014 (VIS) - Pompeii will be the first port of call on Pope Francis' trip to the Italian region of Campania. On 21 March the Holy Father will begin his pilgrimage to Naples, starting from the statue dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary in Pompeii, according to the prelate archbishop and
pontifical delegate of the shrine, Tommaso Caputo, who added that the Pope's visit constitutes an event of extraordinary ecclesial importance.
"The filial and tender Marian devotion that the Pope continues to show is also
at the root of the Church of Pompeii's strong commitment towards the humblest and neediest among us", explained the prelate. "Today, more than ever before, the motivating forces of charity, intimately linked to the needs of justice and
respect for the dignity of every person, are strongly felt. Aside from our joy for his visit, we hope that Pope Francis will show us the path to take to be even closer to and more united with our people".
St. John Paul II also visited Pompeii on 21 October 1979, during his visit to Naples, and he returned there on 7 October 2003 for the conclusion of the Year of the Rosary. Benedict XVI also visited the shrine, again during the month of the Rosary, October 2008.

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Enthusiastic participation in Pope Francis' encounters with the faithful in 2014
Vatican City, 29 December 2014 (VIS) - In a communique published today, the Prefecture of the Papal Household reports that during the year 2014, more than 5,900,000 faithful participated in the various encounters with Pope Francis: audiences, both general (1,199,000) and special (567,100); liturgical celebrations in the Vatican Basilica and St. Peter's Square (1,110,700), and the Angelus and Regina Coeli (3,040,000). These data refer only to the encounters that took place in the Vatican and do not include other activities that involved a high level of participation among the faithful, such as the apostolic trips to the Republic of Korea, Turkey or the Holy Land, or the various trips in Italy and visits within the diocese of Rome. The total number of faithful involved in the Vatican events is estimated at 5,916,800.
The Prefecture of the Papal Household reiterates that these are approximate data, calculated on the basis of requests for attendance at events and the invitations distributed by the Prefecture. Similarly, the data regarding participation in the Angelus and large celebrations in St. Peter's Square are based on estimates.

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Angelus: Jesus brings the generations together
Vatican City, 28 December 2014 (VIS) - "Jesus brings the generations together", affirmed Pope Francis, addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square today for the midday Angelus. The Gospel reading narrated the episode of the Presentation in the Temple, when Mary and Joseph, forty days after Jesus' birth, take Him to the temple in Jerusalem, in obedience to the Law of Moses. There, they meet the elderly people Simeon and Anna.
"We can imagine this little family, in the midst of so many people, in the great courtyard of the temple. They do not stand out, they are not distinguished. However", observed the Holy Father, "they do not go unnoticed. Two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, moved by the Holy Spirit, approach them and praise God for that Child, in Whom they recognise the Messiah, the light of
the peoples and the salvation of Israel. It is a simple moment, yet rich in prophecy: the meeting between a young couple full of joy and faith by the grace
of the Lord, and two elderly people also full of joy and faith by the action of
the Spirit. Who brings them together? Jesus. Jesus brings about the encounter between the young and the elderly. Jesus is the One who brings the generations together. He is the source of that love that unites families and people, overcoming all distrust, all isolation, every distance. ... Good relations between the young and the elderly are fundamental to the path of civil and ecclesial community. Looking at these two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, we greet with applause all the grandparents in the world", exclaimed Francis.
"The message that comes from the Holy Family is above all a message of faith",
he continued. "This is why the family of Nazareth is holy. Why? Because it is centred on Jesus. When parents and children breathe together the same climate of faith, they possess an energy that allows them to face difficult trials, as shown by the experience of the Holy Family, for example, during the dramatic events of the flight into Egypt".
The child Jesus with his mother Mary and St. Joseph are the icon of the family, simple yet illuminating. The light they radiate is a light of mercy and
salvation for the whole world, a light of truth for every man, for the human family. ... The light that comes from the Holy Family encourages us to offer human warmth in those family situations that, for various reasons, lack peace, harmony or forgiveness. Our concrete solidarity is not lacking, especially in relation to those families who experience difficult situations such as sickness, unemployment, discrimination, or the need to migrate". He concluded by asking those present to pray a moment in silence for these families.
Following the Angelus prayer, the Pope mentioned the passengers on the aircraft that disappeared in flight between Indonesia and Singapore, and those on the ferry that caught fire in the Adriatic Sea. "I am close, with affection and prayer, to the relatives of the victims, those who are living through these
difficult situations with anxiety and suffering, and those involved in the rescue operations".

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Large families are the hope of society
Vatican City, 28 December 2014 (VIS) - On the feast day of the Holy Family, Pope Francis received in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall a group of large Italian families, present in Rome for to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Associazione Nazionale Famiglie Numerose (National Association for Large Families). The audience was also attended by families from other countries throughout Europe.
"You have come here with the most beautiful fruits of your love. Maternity and
paternity are gifts from God, your task is to receive this gift, to be amazed by its beauty and to let it shine in society. Each one of your children is a unique creation that will never be repeated in the history of humanity. When we
understand this, that each person is willed by God, we are astonished by the great miracle that is a child".
"And you, boys and girls", he continued, addressing the children present, "are
precisely this: each one of you is the unique fruit of love, you come from love
and grow in love. You are unique, but you are not alone. And the fact of having
brothers and sisters is good for you: the sons and daughters of large families are more inclined to fraternal communion from early childhood. In a world that is frequently marked by selfishness, the large family is a school of solidarity
and sharing; and these attitudes are of benefit to all society".
"You, children and young people, are the fruit of the tree that is the family:
you are good fruit when the tree has good roots - grandparents - and a good trunk - the parents. ... The presence of large families is a hope for society. This is why the presence of grandparents is very important: a valuable presence
both in terms of practical assistance, but above all for their contribution to education. Grandparents conserve the values of a people, of a family, and they help parents transmit them to their children. Throughout the last century, in many countries in Europe, it was the grandparents who transmitted faith".
"Dear parents, thank you for your example of love for life that you protect from conception to its natural end, in spite of all the difficulties and burdens of life, that unfortunately public institutions do not always help you to bear. ... Every family is a cell of society, but the large family is a richer, more vital cell, and the state has much to gain by investing in it", Francis remarked. He concluded by praying for those families who are most affected by the economic crisis, those in which the mother or father have lost their jobs and in which the young are unable to find work, and those families in which the closest relationships are marked by suffering and who are tempted to give in to loneliness and separation".

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Telegram for the death of Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau, S.J.
Vatican City, 2 December 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolences to the Prepositor General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, for the death in Tokyo, Japan of Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau, S.J., former secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, at the age of 86.
The Pope describes the archbishop as an "exemplary minister of God, who lived for the cause of the Gospel" and underlines his "generous missionary apostleship" in Japan, where his earthly existence came to an end. He also gives thanks to the Lord for the service Archbishop Pittau rendered to the Apostolic See as Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, for his commitment as rector of the Sophia University of Tokyo, and as Magnificent Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome, as well as for his devotion to the Society of Jesus. The Pope entrusts the soul of the departed to
the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, "in the light of Christ's resurrection", and imparts an apostolic blessing to those who mourn the late archbishop's passing.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 29 December 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Angel
Javier Perez Pueyo as bishop of Barbastro-Monzon (area 8,321, population 101,320, Catholics 95,127, priests 96, permanent deacons 3, religious 171), Spain. The bishop-elect was born in Ejea de los Caballeros, Spain in 1955 and was ordained a priest in 1980. He holds a licentiate in philosophy and science of education from the Civil University of Salamanca, Spain. He has served in a number of roles, including formator and professor in the seminaries of Tarragona and Salmanca and member of the Central Council of the Fraternity of Working Diocesan Priests and pastoral coordinator of the same Fraternity. He has collaborated in courses for formators in various seminaries in Latin America and in those organised by the Episcopal Commission of Seminaries of the
Spanish Episcopal Conference. He is currently rector of the "San Jose" Pontifical Spanish College in Rome. He succeeds Bishop Alfonso Milian Sorribas,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

___________________________________________________________

The Nativity of the Lord

___________________________________________________________

Midnight Mass: "do I allow God to love me?"
Vatican City, 24 December 2014 (VIS) - This evening at 10 p.m. the Holy Father
celebrated Midnight Mass on the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, 2014. During the Eucharistic celebration, following the reading of the Holy Gospel, Pope Francis pronounced the following homily:
"'The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined'. 'An angel of the Lord appeared to [the shepherds] and the glory of the Lord shone around them'. This is how the liturgy of this holy Christmas night presents to us the birth of the
Saviour: as the light which pierces and dispels the deepest darkness. The presence of the Lord in the midst of his people cancels the sorrow of defeat and the misery of slavery, and ushers in joy and happiness.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 001
DATE 02-01-2015

Summary:
- Angelus: prayer lets peace germinate
- Jesus cannot be understood without His mother
- New Year's Eve Vespers: "Give thanks and ask forgiveness"
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Angelus: prayer lets peace germinate
Vatican City, 2 January 2014 (VIS) - Following the celebration of Holy Mass on
the Solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God, and on the 48th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. Before the Marian prayer, the Pontiff gave a short address.
"On this first day of the year, in the joyful atmosphere of Christmas, the Church invites us to fix our gaze of faith and of love on the Mother of Jesus. ... It is impossible to separate contemplation of Jesus, the Word of life Who is made visible and tangible, from contemplation of Mary, who has given Him her
love and her human flesh. At the beginning of a new year, it is good to remember the day of our Baptism: we rediscover the gift received in that Sacrament which has regenerated us to new life, the divine life. And this is through the Mother Church, which has as its model the Mother Mary. Thanks to our Baptism we have been introduced to communion with God and are no longer at the mercy of evil and sin, but instead receive the love, tenderness, and mercy of the heavenly Father".
"This closeness of God to our existence gives us true peace, the divine gift we especially wish to implore today, World Day of Peace. ... Peace is always possible and our prayer is at the root of peace. Prayer enables peace to germinate. Today, World Day of Peace, 'Slaves no more, but brothers and sisters': this is the message of this Day. Because wars make slaves of us, always. It is a message that affects all of us. We are all required to fight against every form of slavery and to build fraternity. All of us - each person according to his or her own responsibility".
Pope Francis urged those present to pray to Mary, Mother of God and Our Mother, to present her our good intentions and to ask her to extend the mantle of her maternal protection over us, every day of the new year. Following the Marian prayer, the Pope greeted the faithful in the square and wished them a happy new year. Shortly after the tolling of the "Maria Dolens" bell in Trentino, made in honour of the fallen in all the wars and blessed by Pope Paul
VI in 1965, was heard by live connection. "May there never again be wars, but always a desire for and commitment to peace and brotherhood among peoples", he concluded.

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Jesus cannot be understood without His mother
Vatican City, 2 January 2014 (VIS) - This Thursday, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and the Octave of Christmas, the Holy Father celebrated Mass in the Vatican Basilica. Today is also the 48th World Day of Peace, which takes as its
theme "Slaves no more, but brothers and sisters".
The full text of the homily pronounced by the Pope is given below:
"Today we are reminded of the words of blessing which Elizabeth spoke to the Virgin Mary: 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?'. This blessing is in continuity with the priestly blessing which God had given to Moses to be passed on to Aaron and to all the people: 'The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace'. In celebrating the Solemnity of Mary the Most Holy Mother of God, the Church reminds us that Mary, more than anyone else, received this blessing. In her the
blessing finds fulfilment, for no other creature has ever seen God's face shine
upon it as did Mary. She gave a human face to the eternal Word, so that all of us can contemplate Him.
"In addition to contemplating God's face, we can also praise him and glorify Him, like the shepherds who came away from Bethlehem with a song of thanksgiving after seeing the Child and His young mother. The two were together, just as they were together at Calvary, because Christ and His mother are inseparable: there is a very close relationship between them, as there is between every child and his or her mother. The flesh of Christ - which, as Tertullian says, is the hinge of our salvation - was knit together in the womb of Mary. This inseparability is also clear from the fact that Mary, chosen beforehand to be the Mother of the Redeemer, shared intimately in His entire mission, remaining at her Son's side to the end on Calvary.
"Mary is so closely united to Jesus because she received from Him the knowledge of the heart, the knowledge of faith, nourished by her experience as a mother and by her close relationship with her Son. The Blessed Virgin is the woman of faith who made room for God in her heart and in her plans; she is the believer capable of perceiving in the gift of her Son the coming of that 'fullness of time' in which God, by choosing the humble path of human existence, entered personally into the history of salvation. That is why Jesus cannot be understood without His Mother.
"Likewise inseparable are Christ and the Church; the salvation accomplished by
Jesus cannot be understood without appreciating the motherhood of the Church. To separate Jesus from the Church would introduce an 'absurd dichotomy', as Blessed Paul VI wrote. It is not possible 'to love Christ but without the Church, to listen to Christ but not the Church, to belong to Christ but outside
the Church'. For the Church is herself God's great family, which brings Christ to us. Our faith is not an abstract doctrine or philosophy, but a vital and full relationship with a person: Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God Who
became man, was put to death, rose from the dead to save us, and is now living in our midst. Where can we encounter Him? We encounter Him in the Church. It is
the Church which says today: 'Behold the Lamb of God'; it is the Church which proclaims Him; it is in the Church that Jesus continues to accomplish His acts of grace which are the sacraments.
"This, the Church's activity and mission, is an expression of her motherhood. For she is like a mother who tenderly holds Jesus and gives Him to everyone with joy and generosity. No manifestation of Christ, even the most mystical, can ever be detached from the flesh and blood of the Church, from the historical concreteness of the Body of Christ. Without the Church, Jesus Christ
ends up as an idea, a moral teaching, a feeling. Without the Church, our relationship with Christ would be at the mercy of our imagination, our interpretations, our moods.
"Dear brothers and sisters! Jesus Christ is the blessing for every man and woman, and for all of humanity. The Church, in giving us Jesus, offers us the fullness of the Lord's blessing. This is precisely the mission of the people of
God: to spread to all peoples God's blessing made flesh in Jesus Christ. And Mary, the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus, the model of the pilgrim Church, is the one who opens the way to the Church's motherhood and constantly sustains her maternal mission to all mankind. Mary's tactful maternal witness has accompanied the Church from the beginning. She, the Mother of God, is also the Mother of the Church, and through the Church, the mother of all men and women, and of every people.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 003
DATE 07-01-2015

Summary:
- First general audience of 2015: the central role of mothers in the Church and
in the Christian community
- To circus performers, creators of beauty: humanity needs beauty
- Epiphany: "the Magi did not reject the smallness of the child Jesus"
- Angelus: the path of the Magi is a journey of the soul towards Christ
- The Holy See intensifies its fight against the Ebola virus
- Other Pontifical Acts

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First general audience of 2015: the central role of mothers in the Church and in the Christian community
Vatican City, 7 January 2014 (VIS) - "The first day of the year is the feast day of the Mother of God, followed by the Epiphany, which recalls the visit of the Magi. The evangelist Matthew writes, 'And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him'. It was the Mother who, after having generated Him, who presents the Son to the world. She gives us Jesus, she shows Jesus to us". With
these words Pope Francis began the first catechesis of the Wednesday morning general audiences of 2015, which he dedicated to the figure of the mother, both
in the family and in the Christian community.
"Every human being owes his or her life to a mother, and almost always owes much of his or her subsequent existence, human and spiritual formation, to her", affirmed the Pope. "However, although the mother is highly exalted from a
symbolic point of view, she is listened to and helped very little in daily life, and her central role in society is not given much consideration. On the contrary, often the willingness of mothers to sacrifice themselves for their children is exploited in order to save on social expenditure".
Even in the Christian community, the mother is not always given due consideration. "Yet at the centre of the life of the Church there is the Mother
of Jesus. ... It is necessary to better understand their daily struggle to be efficient at work and attentive and affectionate at home; we must better understand what they aspire to in order to express the best and most authentic results of their emancipation".
Mothers are "the strongest antidote to individualism. ... They are those who most hate war, which kills their children. They bear witness to the beauty of life. Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero said that mothers live a 'maternal martyrdom'. In his homily at the funeral of a priest killed by death squads, he
said, echoing Vatican Council II, 'We must all be willing to die for our faith,
even if the Lord does not grant us this honour... Giving life does not only mean being killed; giving life, having the spirit of martyrdom, is giving in duty, in silence, in prayer, in the honest fulfilment of one's duty; in that silence of everyday life, giving life a little at a time. Yes, as it is given by a mother, who without fear, with the simplicity of maternal martyrdom, conceives a child in her womb, gives him life, nurses him, nurtures him and cares for him with affection. It is giving life. It is martyrdom'. Yes, being a
mother does not mean merely bringing a child into the world, but it is also a choice of life, the decision to give life".
"A society without mothers would be an inhuman society, as mothers always know
how to show tenderness, devotion and moral strength, even in the moments of greatest difficulty. Mothers often also transmit the deepest sense of religious
practice. ... It is a message that mothers who believe know how to transmit without much explanation; this arrives later, but the seed of faith is planted in those first precious moments. Without mothers ... faith would lose a good part of its simple, profound warmth".
"And the Church is a mother", exclaimed the Pope. "We are not orphans; we are children, we have a mother - the Virgin, the mother Church and our mother. We are not orphans, we are children of the Church, we are the children of Mary and
of our mother. Thank you, dear mothers, for what you are in the family and for what you give to the Church and to the world. And to you, our beloved Church, thank you for being a mother. And to you, Mary, mother of God, thank you for presenting us to Jesus".
Following the catechesis, the Holy Father greeted, among others, a delegation of French imams engaged in dialogue between Islam and Christianity, and a group
of Polish survivors of the Auschwitz concentration camp, freed seventy years ago.

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To circus performers, creators of beauty: humanity needs beauty
Vatican City, 7 January 2014 (VIS) - "The people who perform in the circus create beauty - they are creators of beauty. And this is good for the soul. How
we are in need of beauty!" exclaimed Pope Francis, in his greetings to the performers of the Liana Orfei Golden Circus, who performed before the Pontiff at the end of today's general audience. "Our life is very practical - we do things, we carry out our work, we do what we have to do - 'doing' is the language of the hands. But our life is also about thinking and reason. And this
is important, as we are animals who think - we do not think like animals! Thought, the language of the mind, is important. We are also people who love, who have this capacity to love: the language of the heart. ... And all these three languages unite to create the unity of the person. And there beauty lies:
and those of you who performed today are creators of harmony, creators of beauty, who show us the high road of beauty".
He continued, "God is certainly true, God is certainly good, God certainly knows how to do things, He created the world - but above all, God is beautiful!
The beauty of God. Very often we forget about beauty. Let us not forget this, and let us thank these people who are good at doing things, good at maintaining
balance, at performing, but most of all, good at creating beauty".

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Epiphany: "the Magi did not reject the smallness of the child Jesus"
Vatican City, 6 January 2014 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father celebrated Holy Mass in the Vatican Basilica on the Solemnity of the Epiphany. The ceremony was accompanied by the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir and, as is customary, was attended by the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.
In his homily, Pope Francis commented that the child, born in Bethlehem, "came
not only for the people of Israel, represented by the shepherds of Bethlehem, but also for all humanity, represented today by the wise men from the East". He
added, "it is on the Magi and their journey in search of the Messiah that the Church today invites us to meditate and pray".
The wise men from the East were "the first in that great procession of which the prophet Isaiah spoke in today's first reading: a procession which from that
time on has continued uninterrupted; in every age it hears the message of the star and finds the Child Hho reveals the tenderness of God. New persons are always being enlightened by that star; they find the way and come into His presence".
According to tradition, the Pontiff explained, "the wise men were sages, watchers of the constellations, observers of the heavens, in a cultural and religious context which saw the stars as having significance and power over human affairs. The wise men represent men and woman who seek God in the world's
religions and philosophies: an unending quest. Men and women who seek God".
They indicate to us "the path of our journey through life. They sought the true Light. As a liturgical hymn of Epiphany which speaks of their experience expresses: 'Lumen requirunt lumine'; by following a light, they sought the light, 'Lumen requirunt lumine'. They set out in search of God. Having seen the
sign of the star, they grasped its message and set off on a long journey.The Holy Spirit called them and prompted them to set out; during their journey they
were also to have a personal encounter with the true God".
Along the way, the wise men encountered many difficulties. "Once they reached Jerusalem, they went to the king's palace, for they thought it obvious that the
new king would be born in the royal palace. There they lost sight of the star. How often sight of the star is lost! And, having lost sight of the star, they met with a temptation, placed there by the devil: it was the deception of Herod. King Herod was interested in the child, not to worship Him but to eliminate Him. Herod is the powerful man who sees others only as rivals. Deep down, he also considers God a rival, indeed the most dangerous rival of all. In
the palace the wise men experience a moment of obscurity, of desolation, which they manage to overcome thanks to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who speaks through the prophecies of sacred Scripture. These indicate that the Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem, the city of David".

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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 007
DATE 13-01-2015

Summary:
- Francis begins his apostolic trip to Sri Lanka
- Interreligious meeting: religious beliefs must never be abused in the cause of violence and war
- Pope's greetings to the presidents of Doctrinal Commissions of the European Episcopal Conferences

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Francis begins his apostolic trip to Sri Lanka
Vatican City, 13 January 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis began his visit to Sri Lanka and the Philippines, the seventh apostolic trip of his papacy. Like his predecessor St. John Paul II, he will visit the two Asian countries with the greatest number of Catholics in a single trip. The visit to Sri Lanka will last for two days and will include an interreligious meeting, the canonisation of Joseph Vaz and a Marian prayer at the shrine of Our Lady of
Madhu. During his three-day visit to the Philippines the Holy Father will meet,
among others, victims of the typhoon Yolanda. The last day of his trip will coincide with the feast day of the Holy Child of Cebu in the Philippines, whose
shrine receives millions of pilgrims.
The Holy Father, who left from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 6.50 p.m. yesterday
evening, and arrived in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, at 9 a.m. today, local time, where he was received by representatives of the religious and civil
authorities including the apostolic nuncio of Sri Lanka, Archbishop Pierre Nguyen Van Tot, and the president of the country, Maithripala Sirisena. Two young girls offered him a floral garland and he was welcomed with hymns sung by
a choir and greetings from around two thousand children.
The welcome ceremony took place at the same airport, and following the president's speech, the Pope addressed those present.
"My visit to Sri Lanka is primarily pastoral", he began. "As the universal pastor of the Catholic Church, I have come to meet, encourage and pray with the
Catholic people of this island. A highlight of this visit will be the canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz, whose example of Christian charity and respect for all people, regardless of ethnicity or religion, continues to inspire and teach us today. But my visit is also meant to express the Church's love and concern for all Sri Lankans, and to confirm the desire of the Catholic
community to be an active participant in the life of this society.
"It is a continuing tragedy in our world that so many communities are at war between themselves. The inability to reconcile differences and disagreements, whether old or new, has given rise to ethnic and religious tensions, frequently
accompanied by outbreaks of violence. Sri Lanka for many years knew the horrors
of civil strife, and is now seeking to consolidate peace and to heal the scars of those years. It is no easy task to overcome the bitter legacy of injustice, hostility and mistrust left by the conflict. It can only be done by overcoming evil with good and by cultivating those virtues which foster reconciliation, solidarity and peace. The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity.
"Dear friends, I am convinced that the followers of the various religious traditions have an essential role to play in the delicate process of reconciliation and rebuilding which is taking place in this country. For that process to succeed, all members of society must work together; all must have a voice. All must be free to express their concerns, their needs, their aspirations and their fears. Most importantly, they must be prepared to accept one another, to respect legitimate diversities, and learn to live as one family. Whenever people listen to one another humbly and openly, their shared values and aspirations become all the more apparent. Diversity is no longer seen as a threat, but as a source of enrichment. The path to justice, reconciliation and social harmony becomes all the more clearly seen.
"In this sense, the great work of rebuilding must embrace improving infrastructures and meeting material needs, but also, and even more importantly, promoting human dignity, respect for human rights, and the full inclusion of each member of society. It is my hope that Sri Lanka's political, religious and cultural leaders, by measuring their every word and action by the
good and the healing it will bring, will make a lasting contribution to the material and spiritual progress of the Sri Lankan people". The Pontiff concluded, "Mr President, dear friends, I thank you once again for your welcome. May these days we spend together be days of friendship, dialogue and solidarity. I invoke an abundance of God's blessings upon Sri Lanka, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, and I pray that its beauty may shine forth in the prosperity and peace of all its people".
Following his address, the Holy Father made the 28-kilometre journey from the airport to the apostolic nunciature in Colombo by car. The transfer took longer
than expected due to the large number of faithful who greeted the Pope as he passed. He therefore cancelled the scheduled visit to the archbishop's residence to meet with the twenty bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Sri Lanka, whom he encountered recently in the Vatican. Cardinal Secretary of State
Pietro Parolin attended as the Pope's envoy.
Upon arrival at the archbishop's residence, Pope Francis lunched privately, after which he transferred by car to the presidential residence in Colombo to pay a courtesy visit to President Maithripala Sirisena, with whom he had a private discussion. The president subsequently accompanied the pontiff to the great hall where there was a presentation by the State authorities and dignitaries, and a short ceremony for the issue of commemorative stamps.

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Interreligious meeting: religious beliefs must never be abused in the cause of
violence and war
Vatican City, 13 January 2014 (VIS) - The second stage of Pope Francis' apostolic trip to Sri Lanka was his visit to the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall) in Colombo, where he participated in a meeting with representatives of other religious confessions.
The main religious groups in the country are Buddhism (70% of the population),
Hinduism (12.6%), Islam (9.7%) and Catholicism (7.16%). From a chronological perspective, Hinduism was the predominant belief on the island until the arrival of Buddhist missionaries in the third century B.C.; currently its followers are concentrated geographically in the north and east of the country,
and the majority belong to the Tamil ethnic group. Theravada Buddhism reached the island in around 246 B.C., and was declared the official religion around 200 B.C.; from the mid-nineteenth century onwards it enjoyed a revival linked to national movements. Islam spread from the fifteenth century, brought by Arab
merchants who controlled the South Indian Ocean trade routes, until the arrival
of Franciscan missionaries along with the Portuguese. According to tradition St. Thomas arrived on the island in the first century after crossing Kerala in southern India. However, the earliest documentation of Christianity on the island dates from 1322, when the Franciscan Odorico da Pordenone stayed briefly, and then from 1517 onwards, with the arrival of Franciscan missionaries.

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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 008
DATE 14-01-2015

Summary:
- Francis canonises Joseph Vaz, Sri Lanka's first saint
- At the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu: Mary accompanies Tamils and Sinhalese in rebuilding their lost unity
- Pope Francis' telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Francis canonises Joseph Vaz, Sri Lanka's first saint
Vatican City, 14 January 2014 (VIS) - On the morning of Wednesday 14 January, the Holy Father transferred from the apostolic nunciature in Colombo to Galle Face Green. This urban park in the heart of the financial district of Colombo spreads over five hectares up to the coast of the Indian Ocean and can hold up to half a million people. Twenty years ago, on 15 January 1995, St. John Paul II celebrated Holy Mass in the same location and proclaimed Joseph Vaz blessed.
Francis then left the car in favour of the Popemobile to tour the many faithful
- more than half a million - gathered in the park. Before entering the sacristy, the Pope was greeted by the mayor of the city of Colombo, who presented him with the keys to the city.
The Mass and canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz began at 8.30 a.m. local time.
Sri Lanka's first saint, Vaz was born in Goa, India in 1651, the son of Cristovao Vaz and Maria de Miranda, devout Catholics. His father belonged to a prominent Goud Saraswat Brahmin Naik family from Sancoale, and Joseph was baptised on the eighth day at the parish church of St. John the Baptist. He studied Portuguese and Latin, and entered the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. Since
Ceylon, present day Sri Lanka, was under the rule of Dutch Calvinists and therefore had no Catholic priests, he moved there secretly, in the guise of a mendicant. He eventually came to the attention of the Dutch authorities, who imprisoned him. He was released in 1869 and obtained permission to preach the Gospel throughout the Buddhist Kingdom of Kandy. He also continued to do so secretly in the area under Dutch occupation until his death in 1711.
Blessed Vaz, said the Holy Father in his homily, "like countless other missionaries in the history of the Church ... responded to the Risen Lord's command to make disciples of every nation. By his words, but more importantly, by the example of his life, he led the people of this country to the faith which gives us 'an inheritance among all God's holy ones'. In Saint Joseph we see a powerful sign of God's goodness and love for the people of Sri Lanka. But
we also see in him a challenge to persevere in the paths of the Gospel, to grow
in holiness ourselves, and to testify to the Gospel message of reconciliation to which he dedicated his life".
"Saint Joseph Vaz continues to be an example and a teacher for many reasons, but I would like to focus on three", he continued. "First, he was an exemplary priest. Here today with us are many priests and religious, both men and women, who, like Joseph Vaz, are consecrated to the service of God and neighbour. I encourage each of you to look to Saint Joseph as a sure guide. He teaches us how to go out to the peripheries, to make Jesus Christ everywhere known and loved. He is also an example of patient suffering in the cause of the Gospel, of obedience to our superiors, of loving care for the Church of God. Like ourselves, Saint Joseph Vaz lived in a period of rapid and profound transformation; Catholics were a minority, and often divided within; there was occasional hostility, even persecution, from without. And yet, because he was constantly united with the crucified Lord in prayer, he could become for all people a living icon of God's mercy and reconciling love".
The new saint, explained Pope Francis, "shows us the importance of transcending religious divisions in the service of peace. His undivided love for God opened him to love for his neighbour; he ministered to those in need, whoever and wherever they were. His example continues to inspire the Church in Sri Lanka today. She gladly and generously serves all members of society. She makes no distinction of race, creed, tribe, status or religion in the service she provides through her schools, hospitals, clinics, and many other charitable
works. All she asks in return is the freedom to carry out this mission. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. Each individual must be free, alone or in association with others, to seek the truth, and to openly express his or her religious convictions, free from intimidation and external compulsion. As the life of Saint Joseph Vaz teaches us, genuine worship of God bears fruit not in discrimination, hatred and violence, but in respect for the sacredness of life, respect for the dignity and freedom of others, and loving commitment to the welfare of all".
Finally, "Saint Joseph gives us an example of missionary zeal. Though he came to Ceylon to minister to the Catholic community, in his evangelical charity he reached out to everyone. Leaving behind his home, his family, the comfort of his familiar surroundings, he responded to the call to go forth, to speak of Christ wherever he was led. Saint Joseph knew how to offer the truth and the beauty of the Gospel in a multi-religious context, with respect, dedication, perseverance and humility. This is also the way for the followers of Jesus today. We are called to go forth with the same zeal, the same courage, as Saint
Joseph, but also with his sensitivity, his reverence for others, his desire to share with them that word of grace which has the power to build them up. We are
called to be missionary disciples".
"Dear brothers and sisters", he concluded, "I pray that, following the example
of Saint Joseph Vaz, the Christians of this country may be confirmed in faith and make an ever greater contribution to peace, justice and reconciliation in Sri Lankan society. This is what Christ asks of you. This is what Saint Joseph teaches you. This is what the Church needs of you. I commend all of you to the intercession of our new saint, so that, in union with the Church throughout the
world, you may sing a new song to the Lord and declare his glory to all the ends of the earth. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. Amen".
At the end of the celebration, Pope Francis presented to Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, archbishop of Colombo, a reproduction of the "Sannas", a reproduction engraved on copper of the document by which in 1694 King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe of Kandy authorised Fr. Juan Sylveira of the Order of St. Philip Neri and his companions to preach the Gospel and build churches in his kingdom, and the people to convert to Christianity should they wish to do so. The original decree was given to Pope Leo XIII by the then-archbishop of
Colombo, Christopher Bonjero O.M.I. The faithful of Sri Lanka reciprocated by donating 70,000 dollars to Pope Francis for papal charity.
returned to the apostolic nunciature of Colombo to lunch and to rest, then shortly after 2 p.m. he left for the heliport, in order to depart by helicopter
for Madhu.

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At the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu: Mary accompanies Tamils and Sinhalese in rebuilding their lost unity
Vatican City, 14 January 2014 (VIS) - This Wednesday the Holy Father made the 250-kilometre journey by helicopter from Colombo to the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, the second stage of his trip in Sri Lanka. The shrine is located in the north of the Island inhabited predominantly by the Tamil people, and has a four-century-long history. In 1544 some Christians escaped from the massacres ordered by the King of Jaffna, who feared the expansion of Portuguese influence, and sought refuge in the jungle, where they built a rudimentary place for prayer with the statue that is now located inside the shrine. In 1583
some Christians, again fleeing from Mannar, began to build churches in nearby areas. One of these, in Mantai, subsequently became the first "home" of the statue of Our Lady of Madhu. Following the persecution of Catholics by the Dutch, who arrived in Ceylon in 1656, thirty Catholic families seeking refuge journeyed from village to village, taking the statue with them. In 1670 they settled in Maruthamadhu, where the shrine is now located. They were later joined by other Catholics of Portuguese origin, who built the first small church dedicated to Our Lady of Madhu.

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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 012
DATE 18-01-2015

Summary:
- Francis to Filipino youth: act with integrity, honesty, and do not be afraid to love
- The Pope meets the father of the volunteer who died in Tacloban
- Concluding Mass in Manila: the child Jesus, protector of the Philippines

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Francis to Filipino youth: act with integrity, honesty, and do not be afraid to love
Vatican City, 18 January 2015 (VIS) - The Pope visited the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas to meet with the leaders of the main religious confessions represented in the Philippines. Currently attended by forty thousand students, the University of Santo Tomas is managed by Dominican Fathers, and it is the largest and oldest university in Asia. It recently celebrated the fourth centenary of its foundation and has received the patronage of the Spanish crown since 1680.
Upon arrival the Pope was received by the chancellor and the rector, and greeted the religious leaders. Shortly after he toured the campus by Popemobile
to greet the ten thousand students who awaited him. He then proceeded to the sports field, able to hold thirty thousand people, where he gave an off-the-cuff address in Spanish, answering various questions such as "Why do children suffer?", "How does one live true love?", "How can one contribute professionally to compassion and mercy without falling prey to materialism?".
Beforehand, the Holy Father shared with those present the sad news of the death of the young volunteer Kristel Padasas in Tacloban yesterday. "She was 27
years old; she was young, like you, and worked for an association. I would like
us all to pray in silence a minute and then invoke our heavenly Mother. And let
us pray also for her parents".
The original text of the Pope's planned discourse is published below:
"Dear young friends, it is a joy for me to be with you this morning. I greet each of you from the heart, and I thank all those who made this meeting possible. During my visit to the Philippines, I wanted to meet with young people, to listen to you and to talk with you. I want to express the love and the hopes of the Church for you. And I want to encourage you, as Christian citizens of this country, to offer yourselves passionately and honestly to the great work of renewing your society and helping to build a better world.
"In a special way, I thank the young people who have offered words of welcome to me. They have expressed eloquently, in your name, your concerns and worries,
your faith and your hopes. They have spoken of the difficulties and the expectations of the young. Although I cannot respond to each of these issues at
length, I know that, together with your pastors and among yourselves, you will prayerfully consider them and make concrete proposals for action in your lives.
"Today I would like to suggest three key areas where you have a significant contribution to make to the life of your country. The first of these is the challenge of integrity. The word 'challenge' can be understood in two ways. First, it can be understood negatively, as a temptation to act against your moral convictions, what you know to be true, good and right. Our integrity can be challenged by selfish interest, greed, dishonesty, or the willingness to use
other people.
"But the word 'challenge' can be also understood positively. It can be seen as
invitation to courage, a summons to bear prophetic witness to what you believe and hold sacred. In this sense, the challenge of integrity is something which you have to face now, at this time in your lives. It is not something you can put off until you are older or have greater responsibilities. Even now you are challenged to act with honesty and fairness in your dealings with others, young
and old alike. Do not avoid the challenge! One of the greatest challenges young
people face is learning to love. To love means to take a risk: the risk of rejection, the risk of being taken advantage of, or worse, of taking advantage of another. Do not be afraid to love! But in love, too, maintain your integrity! Here too, be honest and fair!
"In the reading we have just heard, Paul tells Timothy: 'Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity'. You are called, then, to set a good example,
an example of integrity. Naturally, in doing this, you will encounter opposition, negativity, discouragement, and even ridicule. But you have received a gift which enables you to rise above those difficulties. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you nurture this gift by daily prayer and draw strength from sharing in the Eucharist, you will be able to achieve that moral greatness to which Jesus calls you. You will also be a compass for those of your friends who are struggling. I think especially of those young people who are tempted to lose hope, to abandon their high ideals, to drop out of school, or to live from day to day on the streets.
"So it is essential not to lose your integrity! Not to compromise your ideals!
Not to give in to temptations against goodness, holiness, courage and purity! Rise to the challenge! With Christ, you will be - indeed you already are! - the
architects of a renewed and more just Filipino culture.
"A second key area where you are called to make a contribution is in showing concern for the environment. This is not only because this country, more than many others, is likely to be seriously affected by climate change. You are called to care for creation not only as responsible citizens, but also as followers of Christ! Respect for the environment means more than simply using cleaner products or recycling what we use. These are important aspects, but not
enough. We need to see, with the eyes of faith, the beauty of God's saving plan, the link between the natural environment and the dignity of the human person. Men and women are made in the image and likeness of God, and given dominion over creation. As stewards of God's creation, we are called to make the earth a beautiful garden for the human family. When we destroy our forests,
ravage our soil and pollute our seas, we betray that noble calling.
"Three months ago, your Bishops addressed these issues in a prophetic Pastoral
Letter. They asked everyone to think about the moral dimension of our activities and lifestyles, our consumption and our use of the earth's resources. Today I ask you to do this in the context of your own lives and your
commitment to the building up of Christ's kingdom. Dear young people, the just use and stewardship of the earth's resources is an urgent task, and you have an
important contribution to make. You are the future of the Philippines. Be concerned about what is happening to your beautiful land!
"A final area in which you can make a contribution is one dear to all of us. It is care for the poor. We are Christians. We are members of God's family. No matter how much or how little we have individually, each one of us is called to
personally reach out and serve our brothers and sisters in need. There is always someone near us who is in need, materially, emotionally, spiritually. The greatest gift we can give to them is our friendship, our concern, our tenderness, our love for Jesus. To receive Jesus is to have everything; to give
Him is to give the greatest gift of all.
"Many of you know what it is to be poor. But many of you have also experienced
something of the blessedness that Jesus promised to 'the poor in spirit'. Here I would say a word of encouragement and gratitude to those of you who choose to
follow our Lord in his poverty through a vocation to the priesthood and the religious life; by drawing on that poverty you will enrich many. But to all of you, especially those who can do more and give more, I ask: Please, do more! Please, give more! When you give of your time, your talents and your resources to the many people who struggle and who live on the margins, you make a difference. It is a difference that is so desperately needed, and one for which
you will be richly rewarded by the Lord. For, as he has said: 'you will have treasure in heaven'.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 017
DATE 23-01-2015

Summary:
- To the Tribunal of the Roman Rota: do not ensnare salvation in the constraints of legalism
- Pope's Message for 49th World Communications Day
- The wisdom of parents must guide children in the digital world
- Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
- Audiences

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To the Tribunal of the Roman Rota: do not ensnare salvation in the constraints
of legalism
Vatican City, 23 January 2015 (VIS) - Pope Francis today received in audience the dean, prelate auditors, officials and collaborators of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, in order to inaugurate the legal year. In his address, the Holy Father focused on the human and cultural context in which matrimonial intent is
formed. He emphasised that the crisis of values in society is not a recent phenomenon, and recalled that forty years ago Pope Paul VI had already denounced the ailments of modern man, "at times wounded by a systematic relativism, that bends to the easiest choices of circumstance, of demagogy, of fashion, of passion, of hedonism, of selfishness, so that externally he attempts to dispute the mastery of the law, and internally, almost without realising, substitutes the empire of moral conscience with the whim of psychological consciousness".
The Pope highlighted the role of the judge, who is require to perform his judicial analysis where there is doubt regarding the validity of marriage, to ascertain whether there was an original shortcoming in consent, either directly
in terms of a defect in the validity of intention or a grave deficit in the understanding of marriage itself to the extent of determining will. The crisis in marriage, indeed, not infrequently has at its root the crisis in knowledge enlightened by faith, or rather by adhesion to God and His plan of love realised in Jesus Christ".
"Pastoral experience teaches us that today there is a great number of faithful
in irregular situations, whose histories have been strongly influenced by the widespread worldly mentality", he continued. "There exists, indeed, a sort of spiritual worldliness, which hides behind the appearance of piety and even love
for the Church, and which leads to the pursuit not of the glory of God, but rather of personal well-being. One of the consequences of this attitude is a faith hemmed in by subjectivism, interested solely in a given experience or a series of arguments and areas of knowledge believed to console or enlighten, but in which the subject in reality remains imprisoned by the immanence of his or her own reason or emotions. ... Therefore, the judge, in evaluating the validity of the consent given, must take into account the context of values and
faith".
Pope Francis urged greater commitment and passion in the ministry of the judge, whose role is "to protect the unity of the jurisprudence of the Church",
and "pastoral work for the good of many couples, and many children, who are often the victims of these situations. Here too there is a need for pastoral conversion on the part of ecclesiastical structures to be able to offer the opus iustitiae to all those who turn to the Church to shed light on their matrimonial situation. This is your difficult mission: ... do not ensnare salvation in the constrictions of legalism. The function of law is guided towards the salus animarum on the condition that, avoiding sophisms distant from the living flesh of people in difficulty, it may help to establish the truth of the moment of consent".
The Pope stressed the importance of the presence at every ecclesiastical Tribunal of persons competent to offer sound advice on the possibility of initiating a suit for the annulment of marriage. "In the hope that in every Tribunal these figures may be present to encourage real access to the justice of the Church for all the faithful, I would like to underline that a significant number of cases dealt with before the Roman Rota are enabled by legal aid granted to those whose economic situation would not otherwise allow them to engage the services of lawyer".

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Pope's Message for 49th World Communications Day
Vatican City, 23 January 2015 (VIS) - The Pope's message for the 49th annual World Communications Day was published today, the vigil of the feast day of St.
Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists. The Day will be celebrated on Sunday 17 May 2015, and this year's theme is "Communicating the family: a privileged place of encounter with the gift of love". The message was published
in English, French ,German, Portuguese and Spanish.
The full text of the message is reproduced below:
"The family is a subject of profound reflection by the Church and of a process
involving two Synods: the recent extraordinary assembly and the ordinary assembly scheduled for next October. So I thought it appropriate that the theme
for the next World Communications Day should have the family as its point of reference. After all, it is in the context of the family that we first learn how to communicate. Focusing on this context can help to make our communication
more authentic and humane, while helping us to view the family in a new perspective.
"We can draw inspiration from the Gospel passage which relates the visit of Mary to Elizabeth. 'When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb"'. This episode first shows us how communication is a dialogue intertwined
with the language of the body. The first response to Mary's greeting is given by the child, who leaps for joy in the womb of Elizabeth. Joy at meeting others, which is something we learn even before being born, is, in one sense, the archetype and symbol of every other form of communication. The womb which hosts us is the first 'school' of communication, a place of listening and physical contact where we begin to familiarise ourselves with the outside world
within a protected environment, with the reassuring sound of the mother's heartbeat. This encounter between two persons, so intimately related while still distinct from each other, an encounter so full of promise, is our first experience of communication. It is an experience which we all share, since each
of us was born of a mother.
"Even after we have come into the world, in some sense we are still in a 'womb', which is the family. A womb made up of various interrelated persons: the family is 'where we learn to live with others despite our differences'. Notwithstanding the differences of gender and age between them, family members accept one another because there is a bond between them. The wider the range of
these relationships and the greater the differences of age, the richer will be our living environment. It is this bond which is at the root of language, which
in turn strengthens the bond. We do not create our language; we can use it because we have received it. It is in the family that we learn to speak our 'mother tongue', the language of those who have gone before us. In the family we realise that others have preceded us, they made it possible for us to exist and in our turn to generate life and to do something good and beautiful. We can
give because we have received. This virtuous circle is at the heart of the family's ability to communicate among its members and with others. More generally, it is the model for all communication.
"The experience of this relationship which 'precedes' us enables the family to
become the setting in which the most basic form of communication, which is prayer, is handed down. When parents put their newborn children to sleep, they frequently entrust them to God, asking that he watch over them. When the children are a little older, parents help them to recite some simple prayers, thinking with affection of other people, such as grandparents, relatives, the sick and suffering, and all those in need of God's help. It was in our families
that the majority of us learned the religious dimension of communication, which
in the case of Christianity is permeated with love, the love that God bestows upon us and which we then offer to others.
"In the family, we learn to embrace and support one another, to discern the meaning of facial expressions and moments of silence, to laugh and cry together
with people who did not choose one other yet are so important to each other. This greatly helps us to understand the meaning of communication as recognising
and creating closeness. When we lessen distances by growing closer and accepting one another, we experience gratitude and joy. Mary's greeting and the
stirring of her child are a blessing for Elizabeth; they are followed by the beautiful canticle of the Magnificat, in which Mary praises God's loving plan for her and for her people. A 'yes' spoken with faith can have effects that go well beyond ourselves and our place in the world. To 'visit' is to open doors, not remaining closed in our little world, but rather going out to others. So too the family comes alive as it reaches beyond itself; families who do so communicate their message of life and communion, giving comfort and hope to more fragile families, and thus build up the Church herself, which is the family of families.
"More than anywhere else, the family is where we daily experience our own limits and those of others, the problems great and small entailed in living peacefully with others. A perfect family does not exist. We should not be fearful of imperfections, weakness or even conflict, but rather learn how to deal with them constructively. The family, where we keep loving one another despite our limits and sins, thus becomes a school of forgiveness. Forgiveness is itself a process of communication. When contrition is expressed and accepted, it becomes possible to restore and rebuild the communication which broke down. A child who has learned in the family to listen to others, to speak
respectfully and to express his or her view without negating that of others, will be a force for dialogue and reconciliation in society.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 018
DATE 26-01-2015

Summary:
- Solemnity of the conversion of St. Paul: "We are all at the service of the one Gospel"
- Angelus: God too thirsts for us
- New appeal for a cease to the violence in Ukraine
- The most effective antidote to violence is accepting difference as richness
- Francis: "Unity is achieved by walking together"
- Ten years after "Dignitas connubii": in search of swift solutions
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Solemnity of the conversion of St. Paul: "We are all at the service of the one
Gospel"
Vatican City, 25 January 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Pope presided at
the second Vespers on the solemnity of the conversion of St. Paul, bringing to a close the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the theme of which this year was "Give me to drink" (John, 4.7).
Representatives from other Churches and communities in Rome were present, and the celebration concluded with an apostolic blessing. In his homily, the full text of which is published below, Pope Francis emphasised that Jesus' thirst - which is described in the Gospel passage of the Samaritan woman - goes well beyond physical thirst. "It is also the thirst for an encounter, the wish to establish a dialogue with the woman, thus offering her the possibility of a path of inner conversion".
"On his way from Judea to Galilee, Jesus passes through Samaria", began the Pope. "He has no problem dealing with Samaritans, who were considered by the Jews to be heretics, schismatics, separate. His attitude tells us that encounter with those who are different from ourselves can make us grow.
"Weary from his journey, Jesus does not hesitate to ask the Samaritan woman for something to drink. His thirst, however, is much more than physical: it is also a thirst for encounter, a desire to enter into dialogue with that woman and to invite her to make a journey of interior conversion. Jesus is patient, respectful of the person before him, and gradually reveals himself to her. His example encourages us to seek a serene encounter with others. To understand one
another, and to grow in charity and truth, we need to pause, to accept and listen to one another. In this way, we already begin to experience unity. Unity
grows along the way; it never stands still. Unity happens when we walk together.
"The woman of Sychar asks Jesus about the place where God is truly worshipped.
Jesus does not side with the mountain or the temple, but goes to the heart of the matter, breaking down every wall of division. He speaks instead of the meaning of true worship: 'God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship
in spirit and truth'. So many past controversies between Christians can be overcome when we put aside all polemical or apologetic approaches, and seek instead to grasp more fully what unites us, namely, our call to share in the mystery of the Father's love revealed to us by the Son through the Holy Spirit.
Christian unity, we are convinced, will not be the fruit of subtle theoretical discussions in which each party tries to convince the other of the soundness of
their opinions. When the Son of Man comes, he will find us still discussing! We
need to realise that, to plumb the depths of the mystery of God, we need one another, we need to encounter one another and to challenge one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who harmonises diversities and overcomes conflicts, reconciles differences".
Gradually, continued the Pope, "the Samaritan woman comes to realise that the one who has asked her for a drink is able to slake her own thirst. Jesus in effect tells her that he is the source of living water which can satisfy her thirst for ever. Our human existence is marked by boundless aspirations: we seek truth, we thirst for love, justice and freedom. These desires can only be partially satisfied, for from the depths of our being we are prompted to seek 'something more', something capable of fully quenching our thirst. The response
to these aspirations is given by God in Jesus Christ, in his paschal mystery. From the pierced side of Jesus there flowed blood and water. He is the brimming
fount of the water of the Holy Spirit, 'the love of God poured into our hearts on the day of our baptism. By the working of the Holy Spirit, we have become one in Christ, sons in the Son, true worshippers of the Father. This mystery of
love is the deepest ground of the unity which binds all Christians and is much greater than their historical divisions. To the extent that we humbly advance towards the Lord, then, we also draw nearer to one another".
Her encounter with Jesus "made the Samaritan women a missionary. Having received a greater and more important gift than mere water from a well, she leaves her jar behind and runs back to tell her townspeople that she has met the Christ. Her encounter with Jesus restored meaning and joy to her life, and she felt the desire to share this with others. Today there are so many men and women around us who are weary and thirsting, and who ask us Christians to give them something to drink. It is a request which we cannot evade. In the call to be evangelisers, all the Churches and Ecclesial Communities discover a privileged setting for closer cooperation. For this to be effective, we need to
stop being self-enclosed, exclusive, and bent on imposing a uniformity based on
merely human calculations. Our shared commitment to proclaiming the Gospel enables us to overcome proselytism and competition in all their forms. All of us are at the service of the one Gospel".
"In this moment of prayer for unity, I would also like to remember our martyrs, the martyrs of today. They are witnesses to Jesus Christ, and they are
persecuted and killed because they are Christians. Those who persecute them make no distinction between the religious communities to which they belong. They are Christians and for that they are persecuted. This, brothers and sisters, is the ecumenism of blood", emphasised Francis.
He continued, "Mindful of this testimony given by our martyrs today, and with this joyful certainty, I offer a cordial and fraternal greeting to His Eminence
Metropolitan Gennadios, the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch, His Grace David Moxon, the personal representative in Rome of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and "all the representatives of the various Churches and Ecclesial Communions gathered here to celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul". He added, "I am also pleased to greet the members of the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches, and I offer them my best wishes for the fruitfulness of the plenary session to be held in these coming days. I also greet the students from
the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, and the young recipients of study grants from by the Committee for Cultural Collaboration with the Orthodox Churches, centred in the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity".
Also present, he said, "are men and women religious from various Churches and Ecclesial Communities who have taken part in an ecumenical meeting organised by
the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, in conjunction with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, to mark the Year for Consecrated Life. Religious life, as prophetic sign of the world to come, is called to offer in our time a witness to that communion in Christ which transcends all differences and finds expression in concrete gestures of acceptance and dialogue. The pursuit of Christian unity cannot be the sole prerogative of individuals or religious communities particularly concerned with this issue. A shared knowledge of the different traditions of consecrated life, and a fruitful exchange of experiences, can prove beneficial for the vitality of all forms of religious life in the different Churches and Ecclesial Communities".
"Dear brothers and sisters", he concluded, "today all of us who thirst for peace and fraternity trustingly implore from our heavenly Father, through Jesus
Christ the one priest and mediator, and through the intercession of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, the Apostle Paul and all the saints, the gift of full communion between all Christians, so that 'the sacred mystery of the unity of the Church'
may shine forth as the sign and instrument of reconciliation for the whole world".

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Angelus: God too thirsts for us
Vatican City, 25 January 2015 (VIS) - At midday today the Pope appeared at the
window of his study to pray the Sunday Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square and commented on today's Gospel reading, which relates the beginning of Jesus' preaching immediately after the arrest of St. John the Baptist.
"Jesus' announcement is similar to that of John, with the significant difference that Jesus does not indicate that another is to come: Jesus Himself is the fulfilment of the promise; He is the 'good news' to believe in, to receive and to communicate to men and women of all time, so that they too entrust their existence to Him. Jesus Christ Himself is the living Word and He is active in history: he who listens to and follows Him will enter the Kingdom of God".
"Jesus is the fulfilment of the divine promise because it is He who gives mankind the Holy Spirit, the 'living water' that quenches the thirst of our restless heart for life, love, freedom, peace: our thirst for God", explained Francis. Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman, 'Give me to drink', were the theme of this year's annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which concludes
this afternoon with the second Vespers in the Roman Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls "to pray fervently to the Lord, so that He might strengthen our commitment to the full unity of all Christians". He added, "it is an ugly thing, that Christians are divided. But Jesus wants us to be united: one body. Our sins and our history have divided us and we must therefore pray for the Spirit to unite us once more".
"God, who made Himself man, had our thirst, not only for water, but above all the thirst for a full life, free from the slavery of evil and death. At the same time, with His incarnation God placed His thirst, because God also thirsts, in the heart of a man: Jesus of Nazareth. God thirsts for us, our hearts, our love, and placed this thirst in Jesus' heart. Therefore, in the heart of Christ, human and divine thirst meets. And the desire for the unity of
his disciples belongs to this thirst".
"May Jesus' thirst increasingly become our own", he concluded. "Let us therefore continue to pray and strive for the full unity of the Disciples of Christ, in the certainty that He Himself is at our side and sustains us with the strength of His Spirit so that this goal can be reached".

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New appeal for a cease to the violence in Ukraine
Vatican City, 26 January 2015 (VIS) - At the end of today's Angelus prayer, a boy and a girl joined the Pope at the window of his study to read a message of peace on behalf of Catholic Action of the diocese of Rome, which concludes its traditional journey of the "Caravan of Peace" during these days. The young people of Catholic Action present in the square released a balloon containing messages of peace.
Beforehand, the Pope recalled "with deep concern the escalation of the clashes
in east Ukraine, which continue to claim many victims among the civilian population. While I assure my prayers to those who suffer, I renew my heartfelt
appeal for the resumption of attempts at dialogue in order to bring an end to the hostilities".

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 019
DATE 27-01-2015

Summary:
- Pope's Message for Lent 2015: "Make your hearts firm"
- Indifference, key theme of the Pope's Message for Lent 2015
- Holy Father's calendar for February to April 2015

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Pope's Message for Lent 2015: "Make your hearts firm"
Vatican City, 27 January 2015 (VIS) - The following is the full text of the Holy Father Francis' message for Lent 2015, entitled "Make your hearts firm". The document was signed in the Vatican on 4 October 2014, the festivity of St. Francis of Assisi.
"Lent is a time of renewal for the whole Church, for each communities and every believer. Above all it is a 'time of grace'. God does not ask of us anything that he himself has not first given us. "We love because he first has loved us'. He is not aloof from us. Each one of us has a place in his heart. He
knows us by name, he cares for us and he seeks us out whenever we turn away from him. He is interested in each of us; his love does not allow him to be indifferent to what happens to us. Usually, when we are healthy and comfortable, we forget about others (something God the Father never does): we are unconcerned with their problems, their sufferings and the injustices they endure. Our heart grows cold. As long as I am relatively healthy and comfortable, I do not think about those less well off. Today, this selfish attitude of indifference has taken on global proportions, to the extent that we
can speak of a globalisation of indifference. It is a problem which we, as Christians, need to confront.
When the people of God are converted to his love, they find answers to the questions that history continually raises. One of the most urgent challenges which I would like to address in this Message is precisely the globalisation of
indifference.
Indifference to our neighbour and to God also represents a real temptation for
us Christians. Each year during Lent we need to hear once more the voice of the
prophets who cry out and trouble our conscience.
God is not indifferent to our world; he so loves it that he gave his Son for our salvation. In the Incarnation, in the earthly life, death, and resurrection
of the Son of God, the gate between God and man, between heaven and earth, opens once for all. The Church is like the hand holding open this gate, thanks to her proclamation of God's word, her celebration of the sacraments and her witness of the faith which works through love. But the world tends to withdraw into itself and shut that door through which God comes into the world and the world comes to him. Hence the hand, which is the Church, must never be surprised if it is rejected, crushed and wounded.
God's people, then, need this interior renewal, lest we become indifferent and
withdraw into ourselves. To further this renewal, I would like to propose for our reflection three biblical texts.
1. 'If one member suffers, all suffer together' - The Church
The love of God breaks through that fatal withdrawal into ourselves which is indifference. The Church offers us this love of God by her teaching and especially by her witness. But we can only bear witness to what we ourselves have experienced. Christians are those who let God clothe them with goodness and mercy, with Christ, so as to become, like Christ, servants of God and others. This is clearly seen in the liturgy of Holy Thursday, with its rite of the washing of feet. Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet, but he came to realise that Jesus does not wish to be just an example of how we should wash one another's feet. Only those who have first allowed Jesus to wash their own feet can then offer this service to others. Only they have 'a part' with him and thus can serve others.
Lent is a favourable time for letting Christ serve us so that we in turn may become more like him. This happens whenever we hear the word of God and receive
the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. There we become what we receive: the Body of Christ. In this body there is no room for the indifference which so often seems to possess our hearts. For whoever is of Christ, belongs to one body, and in him we cannot be indifferent to one another. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honoured, all the parts share its joy'.
The Church is the communio sanctorum not only because of her saints, but also because she is a communion in holy things: the love of God revealed to us in Christ and all his gifts. Among these gifts there is also the response of those
who let themselves be touched by this love. In this communion of saints, in this sharing in holy things, no one possesses anything alone, but shares everything with others. And since we are united in God, we can do something for
those who are far distant, those whom we could never reach on our own, because with them and for them, we ask God that all of us may be open to his plan of salvation.
2. 'Where is your brother?' - Parishes and Communities
All that we have been saying about the universal Church must now be applied to
the life of our parishes and communities. Do these ecclesial structures enable us to experience being part of one body? A body which receives and shares what God wishes to give? A body which acknowledges and cares for its weakest, poorest and most insignificant members? Or do we take refuge in a universal love that would embrace the whole world, while failing to see the Lazarus sitting before our closed doors?
In order to receive what God gives us and to make it bear abundant fruit, we need to press beyond the boundaries of the visible Church in two ways.
In the first place, by uniting ourselves in prayer with the Church in heaven. The prayers of the Church on earth establish a communion of mutual service and goodness which reaches up into the sight of God. Together with the saints who have found their fulfilment in God, we form part of that communion in which indifference is conquered by love. The Church in heaven is not triumphant because she has turned her back on the sufferings of the world and rejoices in splendid isolation. Rather, the saints already joyfully contemplate the fact that, through Jesus' death and resurrection, they have triumphed once and for all over indifference, hardness of heart and hatred. Until this victory of love
penetrates the whole world, the saints continue to accompany us on our pilgrim way. Saint Therese of Lisieux, a Doctor of the Church, expressed her conviction
that the joy in heaven for the victory of crucified love remains incomplete as long as there is still a single man or woman on earth who suffers and cries out
in pain: 'I trust fully that I shall not remain idle in heaven; my desire is to
continue to work for the Church and for souls'.
We share in the merits and joy of the saints, even as they share in our struggles and our longing for peace and reconciliation. Their joy in the victory of the Risen Christ gives us strength as we strive to overcome our indifference and hardness of heart.
In the second place, every Christian community is called to go out of itself and to be engaged in the life of the greater society of which it is a part, especially with the poor and those who are far away. The Church is missionary by her very nature; she is not self-enclosed but sent out to every nation and people.
Her mission is to bear patient witness to the One who desires to draw all creation and every man and woman to the Father. Her mission is to bring to all a love which cannot remain silent. The Church follows Jesus Christ along the paths that lead to every man and woman, to the very ends of the earth. In each of our neighbours, then, we must see a brother or sister for whom Christ died and rose again. What we ourselves have received, we have received for them as well. Similarly, all that our brothers and sisters possess is a gift for the Church and for all humanity.
Dear brothers and sisters, how greatly I desire that all those places where the Church is present, especially our parishes and our communities, may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference!
3. 'Make your hearts firm!' - Individual Christians
As individuals too, we have are tempted by indifference. Flooded with news reports and troubling images of human suffering, we often feel our complete inability to help. What can we do to avoid being caught up in this spiral of distress and powerlessness?
First, we can pray in communion with the Church on earth and in heaven. Let us
not underestimate the power of so many voices united in prayer! The '24 Hours for the Lord' initiative, which I hope will be observed on 13-14 March throughout the Church, also at the diocesan level, is meant to be a sign of this need for prayer.
Second, we can help by acts of charity, reaching out to both those near and far through the Church's many charitable organisations. Lent is a favourable time for showing this concern for others by small yet concrete signs of our belonging to the one human family.
Third, the suffering of others is a call to conversion, since their need reminds me of the uncertainty of my own life and my dependence on God and my brothers and sisters. If we humbly implore God's grace and accept our own limitations, we will trust in the infinite possibilities which God's love holds
out to us. We will also be able to resist the diabolical temptation of thinking
that by our own efforts we can save the world and ourselves.
As a way of overcoming indifference and our pretensions to self-sufficiency, I
would invite everyone to live this Lent as an opportunity for engaging in what Benedict XVI called a formation of the heart. A merciful heart does not mean a weak heart. Anyone who wishes to be merciful must have a strong and steadfast heart, closed to the tempter but open to God. A heart which lets itself be pierced by the Spirit so as to bring love along the roads that lead to our brothers and sisters. And, ultimately, a poor heart, one which realises its own
poverty and gives itself freely for others.
During this Lent, then, brothers and sisters, let us all ask the Lord: 'Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum': Make our hearts like yours (Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). In this way we will receive a heart which is firm and merciful, attentive and generous, a heart which is not closed, indifferent or prey to the globalisation of indifference.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 023
DATE 02-02-2015

Summary:
- To the bishops of Lithuania: constructive dialogue with all, closeness to the
poor and assistance to those who emigrate
- Angelus: the Gospel changes life
- The Pope announces his visit to Sarajevo
- Pope's Telegram to the new President of the Italian Republic
- There is no humanity without cultivation of the land: Francis on the central role of agriculture
- Members and substitutes from the Episcopal Conferences for the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
- Assembly on "Women's cultures"
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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To the bishops of Lithuania: constructive dialogue with all, closeness to the poor and assistance to those who emigrate
Vatican City, 2 February 2015 (VIS) - "You have come to Rome with your youth, but also with your heroism. Indeed, among you there are some young brothers, but mostly prelates who have experienced the sad period of persecution. Thank you for your witness to Jesus Christ and for your service to God's holy people", writes the Holy Father in the discourse handed out at the end of his audience with the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference today, following their five-yearly "ad Limina" visit.
"Lithuania has always had pastors who are close to their flock and united with
them", he continues. "Throughout the history of the nation, they have accompanied their people with care, not only in their journey of faith and in facing material difficulties, but also in the civil and social construction of society; the foundations of its history and identity are found in the strength of the Gospel and the love of the Holy Mother of God. You are the heirs to this
history, this heritage of pastoral charity, and you show this with the energy of your action, the communion you inspire and your perseverance in pursuing the
goals the Spirit indicates to you".
"Dear brothers, I know your apostolic labours. If for a long period the Church
in your country was oppressed by regimes based on ideologies contrary to human dignity and freedom, today you must face others, more insidious, such as secularism and relativism. Therefore, alongside tireless proclamation of the Gospel and Christian values, you must not forget to maintain constructive dialogue with all, even those who do not belong to the Church or who are distant from religious experience. Ensure that Christian communities are always
places of welcome, of open and constructive exchange, a stimulus for society as
a whole in the pursuit of the common good".
Francis does not overlook the ceaseless efforts and attention paid by the Lithuanian bishops to the clergy, and he invites them to pray that God might give them "generous priests capable of sacrifice and devotion", as well as "convinced laypersons who know how to take responsibility within the ecclesial community and to make a valid Christian contribution to civil society", to be encouraged by the bishops "with the strength of mature faith, in the civil, cultural, political and social fields".
The Pope also remarks that the Church is engaged in reflection on the beauty and value of the family, and the challenges it faces in our time. He encourages
the bishops, as pastors, to make their contribution to "this great work of discernment", and above all to pay attention to the pastoral ministry of the family, so that couples "feel the closeness of the Christian community and are helped not to conform to the mentality of this world, but instead to continually renew themselves in the spirit of the Gospel". He adds, "indeed, in
your country, which is now a full member of the European Union, is exposed to an influx of ideologies that seek to introduce elements of destabilisation of families, the result of a misunderstood sense of personal freedom. Centuries-old Lithuanian traditions will help you to respond, in accordance with reason and faith, to these challenges".
He then goes on to recommend special attention to vocations to the priesthood and to consecrated life, and encourages the Church in Lithuania to pray tirelessly to this end. He also urges adequate formation, both initial and continuing, of priests, consecrated persons and seminarians, as well as the active initiation of contact with them, to avoid leaving them alone with their difficulties. He concludes by exhorting care for the poor. "In Lithuania too, despite current economic development, there are many people in need, unemployed, sick, and abandoned. Be close to them. And do not forget that there
are many, especially the young, who for various reasons leave the country to find a new path abroad. Their growing number and their needs require attention and pastoral care on the part of the Bishops' Conference, also to ensure the preservation of their faith and Lithuanian religious traditions".

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Angelus: the Gospel changes life
Vatican City, 1 February 2015 (VIS) - At midday, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, and to reflect on the readings in today's liturgy.
This Sunday's Gospel passage narrates Jesus' arrival with his disciples in the
city of Capernaum, the birthplace of St. Peter and the largest city in Galilee at the time. St. Mark writes that, since it was the Sabbath, Jesus went immediately to the synagogue and began to teach. "This makes us think of the primacy of the Word of God, a word to listen to, receive and announce", explained the Holy Father. Upon his arrival in Capernaum, Jesus does not delay in proclaiming the Gospel: "He does not think first of the logistical arrangements, certainly necessary, for his little community; nor does He take his time over organisation. His main concern is communicating the Word of God with the strength of the Holy Spirit. And the people in the synagogue are impressed, because Jesus 'taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes'".
"What does 'with authority' mean?", asked the Pope, before explaining that in human words, Jesus felt "all the strength of the Word of God, He felt the same authority of God Himself, the inspirer of the Holy Scriptures. And one of the characteristics of the Word of God is that it accomplishes what it says". Indeed Jesus, after preaching, immediately demonstrates His authority by freeing a man, present in the synagogue, from possession by a demon. "It was Christ's authority that had provoked the reaction of Satan, hidden in that man.
In turn, Jesus immediately recognised the voice of the devil and, severely rebuking him, ordered: 'Quiet! Come out of him!'. With the strength of his word
alone, Jesus freed the person from evil. And again those present were astounded. 'He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him'. The Word of God creates this wonder in us. It possesses the strength to astonish us".
"The Gospel is the word of life: it does not oppress people, but on the contrary, frees those who are enslaved by the many evil spirits of this world: the spirit of vanity, attachment to money, pride, sensuality; the Gospel changes hearts, changes lives, transforms the inclination to evil into good resolutions. The Gospel is capable of changing people. Therefore, it is the duty of Christians to spread this redeeming power everywhere, becoming missionaries and heralds of the Word of God. ... The new doctrine that Jesus taught with authority is that which the Church brings to the world, along with the effective signs of His presence: authoritative teaching and the liberating action of the Son of God become the words of salvation and the gestures of love
of the missionary Church".
Pope Francis concluded by reminding those present that the Gospel has the strength to change life. "It is the Good News that transforms us only when we let ourselves be transformed by it. This is why I ask you always to make daily contact with the Gospel; to read a passage every day, to meditate upon it and to carry it everywhere with you, in your pocket or in your bag. ... It is the power that changes us, that transforms us. It changes life, and it changes the heart".

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The Pope announces his visit to Sarajevo
Vatican City, 1 February 2015 (VIS) - Following today's Angelus prayer, the Holy Father announced that on 6 June he will travel to Sarajevo, the capital of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, and asked those present for their prayers so that his visit "to those dear populations may give encouragement to the Catholic faithful, may be a leaven for good and contribute to the consolidation of brotherhood, peace, interreligious dialogue and friendship".
He went on to greet the participants in the fourth world Congress organised by
Scholas Occurrentes, to be held in the Vatican from 2 to 5 February on the theme "Responsibility for all education for a culture of encounter".
Finally, he remarked that today is the "Day for Life" in Italy, focusing this year on the theme "Solidarity for life". He expressed his appreciation for the associations, movements and all others who defend human life. "I join with the Italian bishops in calling for a renewed recognition of the human person and more suitable care for life from conception to its natural end. When we open ourselves to life and serve life, we experience the revolutionary force of love
and tenderness, giving rise to a new humanism: the humanism of solidarity, the humanism of life."

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Pope's Telegram to the new President of the Italian Republic
Vatican City, 2 February 2015 (VIS) - Last Saturday the Holy Father sent a telegram to Sergio Mattarella, new president of the Italian Republic, in which he expresses his hope that the new head of State will be able to exercise his "high office in the service of the unity and harmony of the country", and invokes upon him "constant divine assistance for enlightened action in the promotion of the common good, in line with the authentic human and spiritual values of the Italian population".

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There is no humanity without cultivation of the land: Francis on the central role of agriculture
Vatican City, 31 January 2015 (VIS) - "There is no humanity without the cultivation of the land; there is no good life without the food it produces for
the men and women of every continent. Agriculture thus demonstrates its central
role", said Pope Francis this morning, as he received in audience two hundred managers from the National Confederation of Direct Cultivators in the Clementine Hall on the seventh anniversary of its foundation.
The name "direct cultivators", explained the Pontiff, refers to cultivation, "a typically human and fundamental activity. In agricultural work there is, indeed, acceptance of the precious gift of the land that comes from God, but there is also its development through the equally valuable work of men and women, called to respond boldly and creatively to the mandate forever entrusted
to mankind, the cultivation and stewardship of the land".
This task, which requires time and energy, constitutes "a true vocation. It deserves to be recognised and suitably valued as such, also in concrete political and economic decisions. This means eliminating the obstacles that penalise such a valuable activity and that often make it appear unattractive to
new generations, even though statistics show an increase in the number of students in schools and institutes of agriculture, which leads us to foresee and increase in the numbers of those employed in the agricultural sector. At the same time, it is necessary to pay due attention to the removal of land from
agricultural use, to make it available for apparently more lucrative purposes".
This reflection on agrarian work led the Holy Father to focus on two critical areas: poverty and hunger, and the protection of the environment. "Vatican Council II reiterated the common destination of earthly goods, but in reality the dominant economic system excludes many people from their correct use. The absolutism of the rules of the market and a throwaway culture in which waste of
food has reached unacceptable proportions, along with other factors, have caused poverty and suffering for many families. Therefore, the system of production and distribution of food needs to be fundamentally re-evaluated. As our grandparents taught us, you do not play with food! Bread forms part of the sacredness of human life, and must not therefore be treated as a mere commodity".

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 033
DATE 16-02-2015

Summary:
- Audience with the King of Tonga: satisfaction at the nomination of the first cardinal from the archipelago
- The Pope receives the representatives of the Church of Scotland (Reformed)
- To the Pro Petri Sede Association: there is much to learn from the poor
- Francis at the Mass with new cardinals: the way of the Church is that of mercy and inclusion
- Angelus: good is contagious
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Audience with the King of Tonga: satisfaction at the nomination of the first cardinal from the archipelago
Vatican City, 16 February 2015 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Holy Father Francis received in audience Their Majesties the King Tupou VI of Tonga and the Queen Nanasipau'u Tuku'aho, who went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.
His Majesty first expressed his satisfaction at the election of the first Cardinal from the archipelago, Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, underlining the enthusiasm of the population and the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and numerous Tongans at the Ordinary Public Consistory held on 14 February. During the cordial discussions, attention was paid to the recent political developments in the country and on a number of aspects of social and economic life, as well as the positive contribution of the Catholic Church in various areas of society.
There was subsequently an exchange of opinions on the international situation,
with particular reference to the island States of the Pacific and the environmental problems that some of them are compelled to face.

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The Pope receives the representatives of the Church of Scotland (Reformed)
Vatican City, 16 February 2015 (VIS) - The Right Rev. John P. Chalmers, moderator of the Church of Scotland, accompanied by a group of representatives of the same Church, were received this in audience this morning by the Holy Father who, in his greeting, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet and share with them a common commitment to the service of the Gospel and the cause for Christian unity.
"Scotland's rich cultural and historical traditions have been shaped by outstanding saintly witnesses to Christ from various confessions", he observed.
"The present state of ecumenical relations in Scotland clearly shows that what we, as Christians, hold in common is greater than all that divides us. On this basis the Lord is calling us to seek ever more effective ways to overcome old prejudices and to find new forms of understanding and cooperation".
The Pope remarked that he was heartened to see that "the good relations between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church have borne fruit in shared reflection on the challenges posed by contemporary society, and that in many cases we are able to speak with one voice on issues which deeply affect the lives of all Christians. In our globalised and often confused world, a common Christian witness is a necessary requisite for the effectiveness of our efforts to evangelise.
"We are pilgrims and we journey alongside one another. We need to learn to have 'sincere trust in our fellow pilgrims, putting aside all suspicion or mistrust, and turn our gaze to what we are all seeking: the radiant peace of God's face', he continued, citing his Apostolic Exhortation "Evangelii gaudium". He went on to reiterate that faith and Christian witness current face
such great challenges that "only by working together will we be able effectively to serve the human family and enable the light of Christ to reach every dark corner of our hearts and of our world".
"May the journey of reconciliation and peace between our communities continue to draw us closer, so that, prompted by the Holy Spirit, we may bring life to all, and bring it in abundance. Let us pray for one another, and continue to advance in the way of wisdom, good will, strength and peace". Pope Francis then
added, in his native Spanish, "allow me to use my mother tongue to express a profound and sad sentiment. Today I have read about the execution of those twenty-one or twenty-two Coptic Christians. They said only: 'Jesus, help me'. They were assassinated for the mere fact of being Christians. You, Brother, in your discourse, referred to what is happening in Jesus' land. The blood of our Christian brothers is a testimony that calls to us. Regardless of whether they are Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, Lutherans - this does not matter, they are Christians. And blood is the same. Their blood confesses Christ. In remembrance
of these brothers of ours who have died for the mere fact of confessing Christ,
I ask that we encourage each other to go ahead with this ecumenism, that is giving us strength, this ecumenism of blood. The martyrs are all Christians. Let us all pray for each other".

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To the Pro Petri Sede Association: there is much to learn from the poor
Vatican City, 16 February 2015 (VIS) - "I am grateful for your commitment to serving the poor. The growing number of marginalised people living in situations of extreme precariousness is a fact that calls to us and demands zealous solidarity to offer them the material and spiritual support they need",
said the Pope this morning, as he received in audience the members of the Pro Petri Sede Association, on their pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles in these days. "At the same time, we have much to receive from the poor whom we encounter and assist", he added. "In the throes of difficulty, they are often witnesses to the essential, to family values; they are able to share with those
who are poorer than them, and to rejoice in it. ... Indifference and self-centredness are always on the increase. Care for the poor enriches us by setting us on a path of humility and truth".
Francis encouraged them to pray to the Lord, especially during the Lenten time
that is about to begin, to ask Him to give them a merciful and poor heart, that
knows its own poverty and offers itself to others. He mentioned their valuable work in assisting the neediest populations throughout the world, offering them spiritual consolation so that they do not feel forgotten in their difficulties and retain hope. He also invited them to pray fervently for peace, "so that political leaders may find ways of dialogue and reconciliation", and concluded by expressing his hope that their pilgrimage might increase in every one of them "the sense of belonging to the Church, which is a great family, and the joy of announcing the Gospel to all. May fraternity be strengthened among you, so you may carry out your mission in the service of the poor and the least, for
whom Jesus has a special predilection".
Before concluding, the Pope added some impromptu words regarding the Benelux countries, which "have filled the world with missionaries. Today they face a vocational crisis. I would like to ask you to knock on the door of Jesus' heart
and ask Him not to forget the generosity that these two countries had in other times. May He send vocations to Benelux, so that the life of faith may grow further. You work with the poor and love the poor, but think also of those who are poor in faith, who have no faith because there is no-one to preach it to them. May the Lord send priests to announce the faith. And please, pray for vocations in your countries".

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Francis at the Mass with new cardinals: the way of the Church is that of mercy
and inclusion
Vatican City, 15 February 2015 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. today Pope Francis presided at a Eucharistic celebration in the Vatican Basilica with the cardinals created
in yesterday's consistory, and with all the cardinals in Rome for the occasion.
In the homily he pronounced before the members of the College of Cardinals, in
which he commented on the passage from the Gospel narrating the healing of the leper - marginalised, despised and abandoned for being "impure" - Francis insisted that the cardinals follow Jesus' merciful logic and reminded them that
the way of the Church is "not only to welcome and reinstate with evangelical courage all those who knock at our door, but to go out and seek, fearlessly and
without prejudice, those who are distant, freely sharing what we ourselves freely received".
'Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean...': Jesus, moved with compassion,
stretched out his hand and touched him, and said: 'I do choose. Be made clean!'. The compassion of Jesus! That com-passion which made him draw near to every person in pain! Jesus does not hold back; instead, he gets involved in people's pain and their need for the simple reason that he knows and wants to show com-passion, because he has a heart unashamed to have 'compassion'.
"'Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed in the country; and people came to him from every quarter'. This means that Jesus not only healed the leper but also took upon himself the marginalisation enjoined by the law of
Moses. Jesus is unafraid to risk sharing in the suffering of others; he pays the price of it in full.
"Compassion leads Jesus to concrete action: he reinstates the marginalised! These are the three key concepts that the Church proposes in today's liturgy of
the word: the compassion of Jesus in the face of marginalisation and his desire
to reinstate.
"Marginalisation: Moses, in his legislation regarding lepers, says that they are to be kept alone and apart from the community for the duration of their illness. He declares them: 'unclean!'.
"Imagine how much suffering and shame lepers must have felt: physically, socially, psychologically and spiritually! They are not only victims of disease, but they feel guilty about it, punished for their sins! Theirs is a living death; they are like someone whose father has spat in his face.
"In addition, lepers inspire fear, contempt and loathing, and so they are abandoned by their families, shunned by other persons, cast out by society. Indeed, society rejects them and forces them to live apart from the healthy. It
excludes them. So much so that if a healthy person approached a leper, he would
be punished severely, and often be treated as a leper himself.
"True, the purpose of this rule was 'to safeguard the healthy', 'to protect the righteous', and, in order to guard them from any risk, to eliminate the 'peril' by treating the diseased person harshly. As the high priest Caiaphas exclaimed: 'It is better to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed'.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 034
DATE 17-02-2015

Summary:
- The Pope offers Mass in the Sanctae Marthae Chapel to the Copts killed in Libya
- Pope's Message for World Youth Day: "Have the courage to be happy"
- Other Pontifical Acts

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The Pope offers Mass in the Sanctae Marthae Chapel to the Copts killed in Libya
Vatican City, 17 February 2015 (VIS) - Pope Francis offered this morning's Mass in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the 21 Egyptian Copts murdered yesterday in Libya, whose funerals will be held today.
"Let us offer this Mass for our 21 brother Copts, beheaded for the simple fact
of being Christians. Let us pray for them, so that the Lord may welcome them as
martyrs, for their families, and for my brother Tawadros, who suffers deeply".
He went on to pronounce the antiphon from Psalm 31: "For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me".
Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father telephoned the Patriarch, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, to express his participation in the profound sorrow of the Orthodox Coptic Church for the recent barbaric massacre of Egyptian Copts at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists. He assured him of his prayers and today, the day of the victims' funerals, joined spiritually in the prayers and the suffering of the Coptic Church, in the morning Eucharistic celebration.

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Pope's Message for World Youth Day: "Have the courage to be happy"
Vatican City, 17 February 2015 (VIS) - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" is the title of the Holy Father's message for the thirtieth
World Youth Day, celebrated every year on Palm Sunday. The Pope continues his reflection on the Beatitudes, and after referring to his previous messages on "revolutionary meaning" and the "powerful summons of Jesus to embark courageously upon the exciting quest for happiness", he goes on to focus on "the desire for happiness", starting from the first chapters of the Book of Genesis which "shows to us the splendid beatitude to which we are called" and "consists in perfect communion with God, with others, with nature, and with ourselves".
Francis divides his message into four parts. After speaking about the desire for happiness, he analyses the sixth beatitude paragraph by paragraph, explaining purity of heart. If the heart is considered in the Bible to be the "centre of the emotions, thoughts and intentions of the human person", its purity consists fundamentally in the absence of contaminants such as hate, cowardice, and envy. He then turns to the care for creation, so that it does not become contaminated, and invites a "human ecology" that " will help us to breathe the pure air that comes from beauty, from true love, and from holiness". Francis also urged the young not to allow their ability to love or be loved be instrumentalised or impaired, and not to trivialise love.
In the third part, "... for they shall see God", he recalls that Jesus "awaits
us always with open arms", and calls to all "in whatever place or situation you
find yourself". "Encountering God in prayer, the reading of the Bible and in fraternal life will help you better to know the Lord and yourselves", writes the Pope. "Like the disciples on the way to Emmaus, the Lord's voice will make your hearts burn within you. He will open your eyes to recognise his presence and to discover the loving plan he has for your life".
"Have the courage to be happy", Francis concludes, recalling that this year's World Youth Day begins the final stage in preparation for the next great global
event to be held in Krakow, Poland in 2016, thirty years after St. John Paul II
instituted the World Youth Days in the Church. This "pilgrimage of young people
from every continent under the guidance of the Successor of Peter has truly been a providential and prophetic initiative".
The full text of the message is given below: Dear Young Friends,
We continue our spiritual pilgrimage toward Krakow, where in July 2016 the next international World Youth Day will be held. As our guide for the journey we have chosen the Beatitudes. Last year we reflected on the beatitude of the poor in spirit, within the greater context of the Sermon on the Mount. Together
we discovered the revolutionary meaning of the Beatitudes and the powerful summons of Jesus to embark courageously upon the exciting quest for happiness. This year we will reflect on the sixth beatitude: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God".
1. The desire for happiness
The word "blessed", or "happy", occurs nine times in this, Jesus' first great sermon. It is like a refrain reminding us of the Lord's call to advance together with him on a road which, for all its many challenges, leads to true happiness.
Dear young friends, this search for happiness is shared by people of all times
and all ages. God has placed in the heart of every man and woman an irrepressible desire for happiness, for fulfilment. Have you not noticed that your hearts are restless, always searching for a treasure which can satisfy their thirst for the infinite?
The first chapters of the Book of Genesis show us the splendid "beatitude" to which we are called. It consists in perfect communion with God, with others, with nature, and with ourselves. To approach God freely, to see him and to be close to him, was part of his plan for us from the beginning; his divine light was meant to illumine every human relationship with truth and transparency. In the state of original purity, there was no need to put on masks, to engage in ploys or to attempt to conceal ourselves from one another. Everything was clear
and pure.
When Adam and Eve yielded to temptation and broke off this relationship of trusting communion with God, sin entered into human history. The effects were immediately evident, within themselves, in their relationship with each other and with nature. And how dramatic the effects are! Our original purity as defiled. From that time on, we were no longer capable of closeness to God. Men and women began to conceal themselves, to cover their nakedness. Lacking the light which comes from seeing the Lord, they saw everything around them in a distorted fashion, myopically. The inner compass which had guided them in their
quest for happiness lost its point of reference, and the attractions of power, wealth, possessions, and a desire for pleasure at all costs, led them to the abyss of sorrow and anguish.
In the Psalms we hear the heartfelt plea which mankind makes to God: "What can
bring us happiness? Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord". The Father, in his infinite goodness, responded to this plea by sending his Son. In
Jesus, God has taken on a human face. Through his Incarnation, life, death and resurrection, Jesus frees us from sin and opens new and hitherto unimaginable horizons.
Dear young men and women, in Christ you find fulfilled your every desire for goodness and happiness. He alone can satisfy your deepest longings, which are so often clouded by deceptive worldly promises. As Saint John Paul II said: "He
is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is he who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is he who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is he who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives".
2. Blessed are the pure in heart
Let us now try to understand more fully how this blessedness comes about through purity of heart. First of all, we need to appreciate the biblical meaning of the word heart. In Hebrew thought, the heart is the centre of the emotions, thoughts and intentions of the human person. Since the Bible teaches us that God does not look to appearances, but to the heart, we can also say that it is from the heart that we see God. This is because the heart is really the human being in his or her totality as a unity of body and soul, in his or her ability to love and to be loved.
As for the definition of the word pure, however, the Greek word used by the evangelist Matthew is katharos, which basically means clean, pure, undefiled. In the Gospel we see Jesus reject a certain conception of ritual purity bound to exterior practices, one which forbade all contact with things and people (including lepers and strangers) considered impure. To the Pharisees who, like so many Jews of their time, ate nothing without first performing ritual ablutions and observing the many traditions associated with cleansing vessels, Jesus responds categorically: "There is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile
him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication,
theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness".
In what, then, does the happiness born of a pure heart consist? From Jesus' list of the evils which make someone impure, we see that the question has to do
above all with the area of our relationships. Each one of us must learn to discern what can "defile" his or her heart and to form his or her conscience rightly and sensibly, so as to be capable of "discerning the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect". We need to show a healthy concern for creation, for the purity of our air, water and food, but how much more do we need to protect the purity of what is most precious of all: our heart and our relationships. This "human ecology" will help us to breathe the pure air that comes from beauty, from true love, and from holiness.

--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 037
DATE 20-02-2015

Summary:
- To the bishops of Ukraine: indicate the values that bind Ukrainian society
- Communique from the Managing Board and the College of Auditors of the Vatican
Pensions Fund
- The Holy See at the United Nations: social development policies must address the spiritual and ethical dimension of the human person
- Audiences

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To the bishops of Ukraine: indicate the values that bind Ukrainian society
Vatican City, 20 February 2015 (VIS) - "I welcome you to this house, which is also yours. And you are well aware of this, as the Successor of Peter has always welcomed his brothers from Ukraine with fraternal friendship", begins the Pope's written discourse to the bishops of the Ukrainian Episcopal Conference, at the end of their "ad Limina" visit. The encounter takes place in
the context of a serious and prolonged conflict within the country, which "continues to claim many innocent victims and to cause great suffering to the entire population".
The Pope met with the bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, the bishop of Mukachevo of Byzantine rite, and the bishops of the Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops in separate audiences in the Sala Clementina of the Apostolic Palace. The signed discourse was handed to the representatives of each the three Ukrainian ecclesiastical jurisdictions.
"In this period", continues Francis, "I am particularly close to you in my prayers for the deceased and for all those who have been afflicted by violence,
with my plea that the Lord might grant peace soon, and with my appeal to all interested parties to implement joint agreements and to respect the principle of international law, and especially to observe the recently signed armistice and all other commitments that are conditions for avoiding a resumption of hostilities".
"I know the historical events that have scarred your land and which are still present in your collective memory. These are issues that in part have a political basis, to which you are not required to respond directly; but there are also socio-cultural realities and human tragedies that await your direct and positive contribution. In such circumstances, it is important to listen attentively to the voices that come from the land, from the people entrusted to
your pastoral care. Listening to your people, you are able to solicit those values that characterise them: encounter, collaboration, the capacity to resolve disagreements. In short: the search for a possible peace. You are able to nurture this ethical heritage with charity, the divine love that stems from the heart of Christ".
The Holy Father acknowledges that, "at local level, there are specific and practical agreements between you, heirs to two legitimate spiritual traditions - Oriental and Latin - as well as the other Christians among you. This, as well
as a duty, is also an honour that must be recognised". He also reiterates that the bishops, at national level, are full citizens of their country and therefore have the right to express their thought, also jointly, regarding its destiny, "not in the sense of promoting concrete political action, but in the indication and reaffirmation of the values that constitute the binding element of Ukrainian society, persevering in the tireless search for harmony and the common good, even when faced with serious and complex difficulties". He emphasises, "The Holy See is by your side, also in international forums, to ensure that your rights, concerns and the right Gospel values that inspire you are understood, and seeks also to help meet the pastoral needs of those ecclesiastical structures that also find themselves having to face new legal questions".
The crisis unfolding in Ukraine has undoubtedly had "serious repercussions on family life. United with this is a misunderstood sense of economic freedom that
has enabled a small group of people to become enormously rich at the expense of
the great majority of citizens. The presence of this phenomenon has also contaminated public institutions, to varying degrees. It has generated an inequitable poverty in a generous and rich land". Therefore, the Pope exhorts the bishops to tirelessly remind their fellow citizens of "the considerations that faith and pastoral responsibility suggest to you. The meaning of justice and truth is first moral rather than political, and this is incumbent upon you as pastors. How much freer you will be as ministers of Christ's Church, as, in spite of your poverty, you become defenders of families, of the poor, of the unemployed, of the weak, the sick, the elderly, invalids and displaced persons".
After encouraging the Ukrainian bishops to renew their zeal for the constant announcement of the Gospel and to pray attention to vocations to the priesthood
and to consecrated life, the Ponfiff then goes on to consider the rapport between bishops, while aware of the "complex historical factors that weigh upon
your mutual relations, as well as aspects of personal character".
"The fact that both episcopates are Catholic and Ukrainian remains indisputable, in spite of differences of rites and traditions. I am personally saddened to hear that there are incomprehensions and that harm has been done. There is a need for a doctor, and this doctor is Jesus Christ, whom you both serve with generosity and with all your hearts. You are a single body and, as both St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI have done in the past, I exhort you to find between you a way to accept each other and to support each other generously in your apostolic labours. The unity of the episcopate, aside from giving a good example to the People of God, represents an inestimable service to the nation at a cultural, social, and above all spiritual level". You are united in fundamental values and have the most valuable treasure in common: faith and the People of God. Therefore, I regard joint meetings of the bishops of all the "sui iuris" Churches present in Ukraine to be of the highest importance".
"Whether Greek-Catholics or Latins, you are sons of the Catholic Church, which
has been subject to martyrdom in your land too", remarks Francis. "May the blood of your witnesses, who intercede from Heaven on your behalf, be a further
inspiration to a true communion of hearts. Unite your strength and support each
other, transforming historical events into a reason for sharing and unity. Well-rooted in the Catholic community, you can also apply yourselves with faith
and patience to ecumenism, so that all Christians may grow in unity and cooperation. I am sure that your decisions, in accordance with the Successor of
Peter, will be able to take on board the expectations of all your People. I invite you all to govern the Communities entrusted to you ensuring as far as possible your presence and closeness to the priests and faithful. I hope that you may maintain respectful and fruitful relations with the public authorities".
Finally, the Holy Father exhorts them to pay great attention to the poor. "They are your wealth", he emphasises. "You are the pastors of a flock entrusted to you by Christ; always be clearly aware of this, even within your internal organs of self-governance, which must always be understood as instruments of communion and prophecy. In this sense, I hope that your intentions and your actions will always be oriented towards the overall good of
the Churches entrusted to you. ... I impart with affection a special apostolic blessing to you, your communities and the dear population of Ukraine".


--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 038
DATE 23-02-2015

Summary:
- St. Gregory of Narek, Doctor of the Church
- Lent, time for spiritual battle against evil
- Spiritual exercises of the Pope and the Roman Curia
- Audience with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel
- The Pope again urges affiliates of organised crime to convert
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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St. Gregory of Narek, Doctor of the Church
Vatican City, 23 February 2015 (VIS) - On Saturday, 21 February the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During the audience he confirmed the proposal by the cardinals and bishops, members of the Plenary Session of the Congregation, to concede the title of Doctor of the Universal Church to St. Gregory of Narek, priest and monk, who was born in Andzevatsij (then Armenia, present-day Turkey) in 1005 and died in Narek (then Armenia, present-day Turkey) around 1005.

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Lent, time for spiritual battle against evil
Vatican City, 22 February 2015 (VIS) - Lent, the liturgical time that refers to the forty days Jesus spent in the desert after his baptism in the river Jordan, was the subject of the Pope's reflection before this Sunday's Angelus prayer with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
On the first Sunday of Lent, Francis explained that during these forty days of
solitude in which Jesus prepared himself to announce the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, he "faces Satan 'body to body', he unmasks his temptations and is victorious. And in Him we all win, but it is up to us to protect this victory in our daily life".
"The Church reminds us of this mystery at the beginning of every Lenten period", he continued, "because it gives us the prospect and the meaning of this time, which is a time of combat - during Lent one must fight - a time of spiritual combat against the spirit of evil. And while we cross the Lenten 'desert', we keep our gaze fixed upon Easter, the definitive victory of Jesus against the Evil One, against sin and against death. This, then, is the meaning
of this first Sunday of Lent: placing ourselves on the path of Christ, the road
that leads to life".
"And this, Jesus' path, passes through the desert, ... the place where both the voice of God and the voice of the Tempter can be heard. Amid noise and confusion; only superficial voices can be heard. Instead, in the desert we are able to descend to the depths, where our destiny is truly played out, life or death. And how do we hear the voice of God? We hear it in His Word. This is why
it is important to know the Scripture, as otherwise we do not know how to respond to the deceptions of the Evil One. ... Always keep a copy of the Gospel
to hand. The Lenten desert helps us to say no to worldliness, to 'idols'; it helps us to make courageous decisions consistent with the Gospel and to strengthen solidarity with our brothers".
"Therefore, let us enter into the desert without fear, because we are not alone; we are with Jesus, with the Father and with the Holy Spirit", added the Holy Father. "Lent is an auspicious time to lead us to be increasingly aware of
how much the Holy Spirit, received in baptism, has worked and can work in us. At the end of the Lenten itinerary, on the Easter Vigil, we are able to renew the baptismal alliance and the duties that derive from this with greater awareness".
The Pope completed his reflection by entrusting to the Virgin the week of Spiritual Exercises that began yesterday afternoon, and in which his collaborators in the Roman Curia will also participate. He asked those present to pray, "so that in this 'desert' of the Spiritual Exercises, we can hear the voice of Jesus and also correct many flaws that we all have, and also to face up to the temptations that assail us every day. I therefore ask you to accompany us with your prayer".
Following the Angelus prayer, the Pope referred again to Lent, "a path of conversion whose centre is the heart", and gave the faithful present in the square a small booklet entitled "Custodisci il cuore", "Safeguard your heart". Distributed by a group of volunteers, including various homeless persons, it brings together a number of Jesus' teachings and the essential content of the faith, such as for instance the seven Sacraments, the gifts of the Holy Spirit,
the ten commandments, the virtues, the works of mercy, and so on.
"As is always the case, today in the square the needy give us a great wealth: the wealth of our doctrine to safeguard the heart", he remarked, referring to the work of the homeless volunteers. "Take a booklet and carry it with you, to help in spiritual conversion and growth, which always starts from the heart: there, where the daily choices between good and evil are made, between worldliness and the Gospel, between indifference and sharing. Humanity needs justice, peace and love, and will obtain this only by returning wholeheartedly to God, the source".

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Spiritual exercises of the Pope and the Roman Curia
Vatican City, 22 February 2015 (VIS) - At 6 p.m. today, the first Sunday of Lent, at the House of the Divine Master in Ariccia, a few kilometres from Rome,
the Roman Curia began its Spiritual Exercises, in which the Holy Father participates.
The meditations will be proposed by Fr. Bruno Secondin, O. Carm., and the theme will be "Servants and prophets of the living God", a pastoral reading of the prophet Elijah.
The Exercises will be concluded on the morning of Friday, 27 February.
During the week of the Spiritual Exercises all audiences will be suspended, including the General Audience on Wednesday, 25 February.

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Audience with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Vatican City, 21 February 2015 (VIS) - This morning, 21 February 2015, the Holy Father Francis received in Audience in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Her Excellency Angela Merkel, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, and in view of the upcoming G7 Summit to be held in Bavaria, special attention was paid to various questions of an International nature, with particular reference to the struggle against poverty
and hunger; the exploitation of human beings and the rights of women; and the challenges of promoting world health and the protection of Creation. The themes
of human rights and religious freedom in various parts of the world were also considered, emphasising the importance of spiritual values to social cohesion.
Finally, the Parties considered the situation in Europe, underlining in particular the commitment to reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

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The Pope again urges affiliates of organised crime to convert
Vatican City, 21 February 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall the Pope received in audience more than seven thousand people from the Italian diocese of Cassano all'Jonio, in the region of Calabria, which Francis visited last June, and whose church welcomes different rites and traditions that express "the variety of gifts that enrich Christ's Church".

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 043
DATE 02-03-2015

Summary:
- To the prelates of North Africa: always be men of hope
- Pope Francis' prayer intentions for March
- Angelus: let us be transformed by love
- Syria, Iraq and Venezuela in the Pope's prayers
- The Pope to cooperatives: promote the economy of honesty
- Presentation of the Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network (REPAM): Incentive and relaunch of the Church in the Amazon
- Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, Pope's special envoy to the 4th centenary of the martyrdom of St. John Ogilvie, S.J.
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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To the prelates of North Africa: always be men of hope
Vatican City, 2 March 2015 (VIS) - This morning, the prelates of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (C.E.R.N.A), which encompasses the dioceses of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya were received in audience by the Pope at the end of their "ad Limina" visit. The Holy Father handed them a written address in which he recalls that the history of the region has been marked by many saintly figures from St. Cyprian and St. Augustine, a "spiritual
patrimony for all the Church", to Blessed Charles de Foucauld, who died one hundred years ago next year.
"For several years your region has been experiencing significant changes, which offer hope that aspirations to greater freedom and dignity may be fulfilled and which favour greater freedom of conscience", continues Francis. "But at times these events have led to outbursts of violence. I wish to mention, in particular, the courage, loyalty and perseverance of the bishops of
Libya, as well as the priests, consecrated persons and laypeople who stay in this country despite the many dangers. They are genuine witnesses of the Gospel. I thank them with all my heart and encourage them to continue their efforts in contributing to peace and reconciliation throughout the region".
"Your episcopal conference ... is an important forum for exchange and dialogue, but it must also be a tool for communion, for deepening fraternal relations and mutual trust", the Pope writes. "The pilgrimage to Rome is a good
opportunity to renew your joint commitment in the service of the Church's mission in each of your countries. You carry out this mission with your priests, your direct collaborators. They are from many countries and at times it is difficult for them to adapt to new situations. Therefore, it is particularly important to be close to them and to be attentive to their continuing formation so that they can live their ministry fully and serenely. ... Men and women religious also have a special place in the life and in the mission of your Church, and I thank them for their witness of fraternal life and their generous commitment to the service of their brothers and sisters".
"At the heart of your mission and at the origin of your hope there is, above all, the personal encounter with Jesus Christ and the certainty that He is at work in the world where you have been sent on His behalf. The evangelical vitality of your dioceses depends, therefore, on the quality of your spiritual and sacramental life", observes the Holy Father, who alongside the saints from the region, mentions also "the men and women religious who have offered everything to God and to their brothers, to the point of sacrificing their own lives". He highlights the bishops' responsibility for developing this spiritual
legacy firstly among the faithful, but also opening it up to all. "I am pleased
to hear that in recent years, various Christian shrines have been restored in Algeria. By welcoming all, kindly and without proselytising, your communities show that they wish to be a Church with open doors, always reaching out".
"Universality is a feature of these Churches, where the faithful come from many countries to form living communities. ... This offers the opportunity to admire God's work, which spreads among all peoples and all cultures", writes the Pontiff, who goes on to greet the many students from sub-Saharan Africa, whom he invites to "stay firm in the faith" so as to be able to establish "bonds of friendship, trust and respect" with all persons, "thus contributing to the construction of a more fraternal world".
Interreligious dialogue is also very important in the life of these Churches, and Francis stresses that in this field "the imagination of charity can open up
countless ways of bringing the breath of the Gospel to the most diverse cultures and social sectors. As you are aware, mutual ignorance is the source of many misunderstandings and even conflicts. ... The most effective antidote to any form of violence is education in the discovery and acceptance of difference as richness and fertility. Therefore, it is essential that priests, religious and laypeople in your dioceses are well-prepared in this area".
In this regard, the Pope notes his satisfaction that the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), born in Tunisia, will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary this year. He invites the bishops to "support and make use
of this institution when necessary, to experience language and culture" and to "deepen dialogue in truth and love between Christians and Muslims". This dialogue is also experienced by bishops on a day-to-day basis with Christians of other confessions, and Francis therefore expresses his desire that the Al Mowafaqa Ecumenical Institute, founded in Morocco to promote ecumenical and interreligious dialogue may also contribute to greater mutual awareness.
"A Church of encounter and dialogue, you also wish to be at the service of all
without distinction. Often with modest means, you manifest the charity of Christ and all the Church towards the poor, the sick, the elderly, women in need and the imprisoned. Thank you for your work in the assistance of the many immigrants from Africa who seek in your countries a place of transit or of welcome. Recognising their human dignity and working to awaken consciences before so many human tragedies, you show God's love for each one of them".
"Dear brothers in the episcopate", he concluded, "I wish to assure you of the support of all the Church in your mission. You are in the 'peripheries', with your special service of making manifest the presence of Christ and His Church in this region. Your testimony of life in simplicity and poverty is an eminent sign for all the Church. Be assured that the Successor of Peter accompanies you
on your rough road, and encourages you always to be men of hope".

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Pope Francis' prayer intentions for March
Vatican City, 1 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for March is: "That those involved in scientific research may serve the well-being of the whole human person".
His intention for evangelisation is: "That the unique contribution of women to
the life of the Church may be recognised always".

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Angelus: let us be transformed by love
Vatican City, 1 March 2015 (VIS) - "On this second Sunday of Lent, the Church shows us the ultimate goal of this itinerary of conversion, or rather, participation in the glory of Christ", said the Pope before this Sunday's Angelus prayer upon returning from the week of spiritual exercises. He also recalled that last Sunday's Gospel passage presented Jesus resisting Satan's temptations in the desert.
"Today's Gospel tells us of the event of the Transfiguration, which takes place at the culmination of Jesus' public ministry. He is on the path to Jerusalem, where the prophecies of the Servant of God will be fulfilled and His
redemptive sacrifice will be consummated". Francis remarked that neither the multitude nor the apostles understood that the outcome of Jesus' mission of suffering would be His glorious passion, and so He decided to show a glimpse of
His glory to the apostles Peter, James and John, to confirm them in their faith
and to encourage them to follow him on the path of trial, on the way of the Cross. "From the heavens, they heard the voice of the Father: 'This is my beloved Son; hear him'".
The Pope explained that listening to Christ involves assuming the logic of his
Paschal mystery, placing ourselves on the path with Him in order to make of our
existence a gift of love for others, in docile obedience to the will of God the
Father, with an attitude of detachment from worldly things and of inner freedom. "It means, in other words, being ready to 'lose one's life', to sacrifice it so that all men might be saved; in this way we find eternal joy. There will always be a cross to bear and there will be trials along the way, but in the end it will always lead us to happiness". Finally, the Pope encouraged those present to let themselves be transfigured by love, which is capable of transforming everyone, and to invoke the Virgin Mary to support us on our way.

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Syria, Iraq and Venezuela in the Pope's prayers
Vatican City, 1 March 2015 (VIS) - Following today's Angelus prayer the Pope made an appeal regarding "the dramatic situation in Syria and Iraq, involving violence, abduction and abuse of Christians and other groups. I wish to assure those involved in these situations that we have not forgotten them; rather, we are close to them and pray ceaselessly for a swift end to the intolerable brutality they are subjected to". He also commented that, along with the members of the Roman Curia, he offered the second Holy Mass of the spiritual exercises to this intention, and asked all persons, as far as possible, to work
to alleviate the suffering of those afflicted, often merely because of the faith they profess. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters who suffer for the faith in Syria and Iraq".
The Pontiff also commented on the acute tension that Venezuela is experiencing
at present. "I pray for the victims and, in particular, for the boy who died a few days ago in San Cristobal. I urge all involved to reject violence and to respect the dignity of every person and the sacredness of human life, and encourage them to undertake a joint path for the good of the country, reopening
space for sincere and constructive encounter and dialogue".

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The Pope to cooperatives: promote the economy of honesty
Vatican City, 28 February 2015 (VIS) - "The Church has always acknowledged, appreciated and encouraged the cooperative experience", Pope Francis affirmed this morning, greeting more than seven thousand members of the Confederation of
Italian Cooperatives who group together a number of different sectors, from agriculture to construction, including fishing and the distribution of consumer
goods.
In this regard, Francis referred to various documents of the Magisterium, such
as the encyclicals "Rerum Novarum", with Leo XIII's appeal for a society in which "All [are] owners, not all proletarians", and "Caritas in Veritate", in which Benedict XVI underlines the importance of the economy of communion and the non-profit sector, and the "extraordinary social teaching of Blessed Paul VI". He went on to urge the members of the Confederation to look not only to the past, but also to the future: "It is a real mission that requires creative imagination to find forms, methods, attitudes and tools to combat the throwaway
culture cultivated by the powers that support the economic and financial policies of the globalised world".
"Globalising solidarity, today, means thinking about the vertiginous increase in unemployment, the incessant tears of the poor, the need to reinstate a development that involves a genuine and full progress of the person, who is certainly in need of income, but not this alone. Let us think about healthcare needs, that the traditional welfare systems are no longer able to satisfy; the pressing needs of solidarity, to place human dignity once more at the centre of
the world economy".
Pope Francis suggested a series of concrete suggestions to help achieve this mission. The first was that cooperatives should "continue to be the motor for lifting up and developing the weakest part of our local communities and of civil society". This involves "giving first place to the foundation of new cooperative enterprises, along with the further development of those already in
existence, so as to create, above all, new work opportunities that currently do
not exist ... especially for the young, as we know that youth unemployment ... destroys their hope", but also for the "many women who need and wish to enter the world of work. We must not neglect the adults who often find themselves prematurely without work. Aside from new enterprises, let us look also to the companies in difficulty, those that the old owners leave to die, which could instead be revived through 'workers' buy out' initiatives.
Becoming active agents of new welfare solutions was his second suggestion, addressed above all to he healthcare sector, "a delicate field where many poor people no longer find their needs to be adequately met". The answer may be found in applying subsidiarity, "with strength and coherence", creating an effective network of assistance and solidarity between cooperatives, parishes and hospitals.

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 051
DATE 12-03-2015

Summary:
- The Pope encourages the bishops of Korea and the Catholic community of Mongolia, a "pledge of the fullness of God's Kingdom"
- Every penitent who approaches the confessional is sacred ground to be cultivated with care and attention
- Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran to visit Cote d'Ivoire
- The Holy See reaffirms its opposition to the death penalty
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts
- Notice

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The Pope encourages the bishops of Korea and the Catholic community of Mongolia, a "pledge of the fullness of God's Kingdom"
Vatican City, 12 March 2015 (VIS) - The Pope received the bishops of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea this morning, at the end of their "ad Limina" visit. In the written discourse he prepared for the prelates, extensive
extracts of which are published below, the Holy Father refers to his visit to the country last year during which he experienced first hand the goodness of the Korean people who shared their joys and sorrows with him, and affirmed that
the trip remains "a lasting encouragement" to him in his ministry to the Universal Church.
"In the course of my visit, we had the opportunity to reflect on the life of the Church in Korea and, in particular, on our episcopal ministry in the service of the People of God and of society", he writes. "I wish to continue that reflection with you today,by highlighting three aspects of my visit: memory, youth and the mission of confirming our brothers and sisters in the faith. I would like also to share these thoughts with the Churchin Mongolia. Though a small community in a vast territory, it is like the mustard seed which
is the pledge of the fullness of God's Kingdom. May these reflections encourage
the continuing growth of that seed, and nourish the rich soil of the Mongolian people's faith".
"For me, one of the most beautiful moments of my visit to Korea was the beatification ofthe martyrs Paul Yun Ji-chung and companions. ... Even before their faith found full expression in the sacramental life of the Church, these first Korean Christians not only fostered their personal relationship with Jesus, but brought him to others, regardless of class or social standing, and dwelt in a community of faith and charity like the first disciples of the Lord.
... Their love of God and neighbour was fulfilled in the ultimate act of freely
laying down their lives, thereby watering with their own blood the seedbed of the Church. That first community has left you and all of the Church a beautiful
witness of Christian living: 'their integrity in the search for truth, their fidelity to the highest principles of the religion which they chose to embrace,
and their testimony of charity and solidarity with all'. Their example is a school which can form us into evermore faithful Christian witnesses by calling us to encounter, to charity and to sacrifice. The lessons which they taught are
particularly applicable in our times when, despite the many advancements being made in technology and communication, individuals are increasingly becoming isolated and communities weakened. How important it is, then, that you work together with the priests, religious men and women, and lay leaders of your dioceses, to ensure that parishes, schools and centres of the apostolate are authentic places of encounter: encounter with the Lord who teaches us how to love and who opens our eyes to the dignity of every person, and encounter with one another, especially the poor, the elderly, the forgotten in our midst".
"My thoughts now turn to your young people who greatly desire to carry forward
the legacy of your ancestors. ... Just as the witness of the first Christians calls us to care for one another, so our youth challenge us to hear one another. ... When we speak with young people, they challenge us to share the truth of Jesus Christ clearly and in a way that they can understand. They also test the authenticity of our own faith and fidelity. Though it is Christ we preach and not ourselves, we are called to be an example to the People of God in order to draw people to him. ... As you reflect on the life of your dioceses, as you formulate and revise your pastoral plans, I urge you to keep before you the young whom you serve. See them as partners in 'building a holier, more missionary and humble Church, a Church which loves and worships God by seeking to serve the poor, the lonely, the infirm and the marginalised'.
Be close to them. ... This closeness will not only strengthen the institutions and communities of the Church, but will also help you to understand the difficulties they and their families are experiencing in their daily lives in society. In this way, the Gospel will penetrate ever more deeply the life of the Catholic community as well as that of society as a whole".
"As you prepare to return to your local Churches, as well as encouraging you in your ministry and confirming you in your mission, I ask you, above all, to be servants, just as Christ came to serve, and not to be served. Ours is a life
of service, freely given, for each soul entrusted to our care, without exception. ... In this spirit of service, may you be solicitous for one another. By your collaboration and fraternal support, you will strengthen the Church in Korea and Mongolia and become ever more effective in proclaiming Christ.

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Every penitent who approaches the confessional is sacred ground to be cultivated with care and attention
Vatican City, 12 March 2015 (VIS) - "The Sacraments, as we know, are God's demonstration of closeness and tenderness towards humanity; they are the concrete way God created to move be closer to us, to embrace us, without shame for our limits", said Pope Francis this morning as he received in audience in the Paul VI Hall the participants in the annual Course on the Inner Forum organised by the Apostolic Penitentiary. "Without doubt", he continued, "among the Sacraments, it is that of Reconciliation that best shows the merciful face of God. We must never forget, either as penitents or as confessors: there is no
sin that God cannot forgive! None! Only what is hidden from divine mercy cannot
be forgiven, like those that hide themselves from the sun cannot be illuminated
or warmed.
Following the theme of reconciliation, Francis emphasised three demands. The first is to live the Sacrament as a way of educating in mercy. The Pope described Confession "not as a form of torture but rather as a liberating encounter, full of humanity, through which we can educate in a mercy that does not exclude, but rather includes the just commitment to make amends, as far as possible, for the sin committed". The second is that of "allowing oneself to be
educated in what we are celebrating, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation", as "it is possible to learn much from conversion and the repentance of our brothers. They lead us to examine our own consciences". He then outlined the third requirement, that of keeping one's gaze towards heaven and the supernatural. He urged those present to remember that they are all ministers of
reconciliation "purely by the grace of God, gratuitously and out of love, or rather, out of mercy. We are ministers of mercy thanks to God's mercy, and we must never lose this view to the supernatural that makes us truly humble, weloming and merciful towards every brother and sister who wishes to confess. ... Every faithful penitent who approaches the confessional is 'sacred ground' to be cultivated with dedication, care and pastoral attention".
The Pope concluded by encouraging those present to "make the most of this Lenten period for personal conversion and to dedicate yourselves generously to confessions, so that the People of God can be purified as they reach Easter, which represents the final victory of Divine Mercy over all the evil in the world".

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Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran to visit Cote d'Ivoire
Vatican City, 12 March 2015 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue today announced that Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the dicastery, will visit Cote d'Ivoire from 13 to 17 March 2015, accompanied by Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, secretary and Msgr. Lucio Sembrano, official.
The aim of the visit is primarily to participate in the celebrations to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the evangelisation of the Great North in the diocese of Korhogo.

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 053
DATE 16-03-2015

Summary:
- Fruitful collaboration between the Holy See and the Republic of San Marino
- To the bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina: social pastoral ministry to involve the people in reconstruction and growth
- Angelus: God loves us - the summary of all theology
- Appeal for an end to the persecution of Christians
- To the UCIIM: go to the peripheries of schools as witnesses of life and hope - "Follow Me" Association: engage with earthly reality to serve the good of man - To be able to confess our sins is a gift from God
- To the Korean community: be a Church of martyrs
- Audiences
- From the Oriental Churches
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Fruitful collaboration between the Holy See and the Republic of San Marino
Vatican City, 16 March 2015 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father Francis received in audience the Captains Regent of the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, Gianfranco Terenzi and Guerrino Zanotti, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, deep satisfaction was expressed regarding the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of San Marino, and the active collaboration in the social field between public institutions and the Church was underlined.
Finally, mention was made of the fruitful collaboration between the Holy See and the Republic of San Marino at a bilateral level and in the context of the international community.

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To the bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina: social pastoral ministry to involve the people in reconstruction and growth
Vatican City, 16 March 2015 (VIS) - The prelates of the Bishops' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina were received in audience this morning by the Pope, at the end of their "ad Limina" visit. In the written discourse he handed to them at the end of the visit the Holy Father, who will shortly visit Sarajevo, emphasised "the charity, the care and the closeness of the Church of Rome" with "the heirs of many martyrs and confessors, who during the troubled centuries-long history of the country have kept the faith alive".
"Migration is justly one of the social issues close to your heart", he writes. "It evokes the difficulty of return for many of your co-citizens, the scarcity of sources of work, the instability of families, the emotional and social laceration of entire communities, the practical precariousness of many parishes,
and the still fresh memories of conflict, both at a personal and community level, in which wounded hearts are still painful. I am well aware that, in your hearts as Pastors, this gives rise to bitterness and concern. The Pope and the Church are with you in prayer and in active support for your programmes to assist those who live in your territories, without any form of discrimination. I
therefore encourage you to spare no energies in supporting the weak, helping - in all ways possible - those who have a legitimate and honest desire to remain in the land of their birth, bring succour to the spiritual hunger of those who believe in the indelible values, born of the Gospel, that throughout the centuries have nurtured the life of your communities".
"The society in which you live has a multicultural and multi-ethnic dimension. And you have been entrusted the task of being fathers to all, in spite of material limits and the crisis within which you work. May your heart always be large enough to accommodate all, just as the heart of Christ is able to receive in itself - with divine love - every human being. Every Christian community knows that it is called upon to open itself up and to irradiate the light of the
Gospel; it cannot stay closed within its traditions, noble though they may be. It must come out of its 'enclosure', firm in faith, supported by prayer and encouraged by pastors, to live and announce the new life of which it is a depository, that of Christ, Saviour of all men. From this perspective, I encourage the initiatives that can extend the presence of the Church beyond liturgical parameters, assuming with imagination every other action that may affect society, bringing with it the fresh spirit of the Gospel. ... Seek to promote a solid social pastoral ministry in relation to the faithful, especially
the young, to ensure that consciences are formed, willing to remain in their own
territories as agents and key actors in the reconstruction and the growth of your country, from which they cannot expect only to receive. In this educational
and pastoral work, the social doctrine of the Church is of valid assistance. It is also a way of overcoming the residue of old materialism that still persists in the mentality and behaviour of some sectors of the society in which you live".
The Pope remarks that the ministry of the prelates of Bosnia and Herzegovina assumes various dimensions - pastoral, ecumenical and interreligious - and underlines the intense work that they carry out in these sectors, an expression of their paternity towards the people entrusted to them. "I encourage you and remind you that, while with respect for all, this does not absolve you of the need to give open and frank testimony of your belonging to Christ. The priests, men and women religious and lay faithful, who live in close contact with citizens of different religious traditions, are able to offer you valid advice regarding your mixed communities. I consider an approach of this type to be wise
as it may bear the seeds and fruits of pacification, understanding and collaboration".
With reference to the relationship between clergy and men and women religious, Francis comments, "I know through direct experience the complexity of these relations, as well as the difficulties in harmonising their respective charisms.
But the most important fact is that in both dimensions ... a single mission is pursued: to serve the Kingdom of Christ. ... In this year dedicated to Consecrated
Life, we must show that all charisms and ministries are destined to the glory of
God and the salvation of all men, taking care to ensure that these are effectively orientated towards the edification of the Kingdom of God and not contaminated by partial aims; that they are carried out in a regime of human and
fraternal communion, bearing each other's burdens with a spirit of service".
The Pontiff concludes with "a personal word between bishops, as is appropriate in full charity". "I am aware that historical events make Bosnia and Herzegovina
different in many areas. And yet you are a single body: you are Catholic bishops
in communion with the Successor of Peter, in a frontier location. One word alone
emerges spontaneously from my heart: you are in communion. Although at times imperfect, such communion is to be pursued vigorously at all levels, setting individual peculiarities aside. It is necessary to act on the basis of your belonging to the same Apostolic College; other considerations are of secondary importance and are to be analysed in the light of the catholicity of your faith and your ministry".

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Angelus: God loves us - the summary of all theology
Vatican City, 15 March 2015 (VIS) At midday the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study to recite the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square and, as usual, commented on day's Gospel reading, which this Sunday was Jesus' words to Nicodemus: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son". "God loves us!" exclaimed the Pope. "He loves us truly, and he loves us so much! This is the simplest expression that summarises the whole of the Gospel, all faith, all theology: God loves, us, with freely given and boundless love".
"At the origin of the world there is only the Father's free and gratuitous love", affirmed Pope Francis, cited the words of St. Irenaeus who, in his work "Adversus haereses", wrote: "In the beginning God formed Adam, not because He was in need of humans, but so He might have someone to receive His benefits". And after the fall, He did not abandon man to the power of death, but instead rescued him with His mercy. "As in creation", explained Francis, "also the subsequent stages in the history of salvation emphasise the gratuity of God's love: the Lord chooses His people not because they were deserving, but because it was the smallest among all the peoples. And, in the fullness of time, although men have broken the covenant many times, instead of abandoning them God
makes a new bond with them, in the blood of Jesus - the bond of the new and everlasting covenant - a bond that nothing can ever break".
The Cross of Christ is "the supreme proof of God's love for us: Jesus has loved
us 'unto the end', meaning not up to the final moment of his earthly life, but until the extreme limit of love. If in creation the Father has given us the proof of his great love by giving us life, in the passion of His Son He has given us the proof of all proofs: He has come to suffer and die for us. And this
love that is so great is God's mercy, because He loves us, He forgives us. With his mercy, God forgives all and God always forgives".
"May Mary, Mother of Mercy, place in our hearts the certainty that we are loved
by God. May She be close to us in the moments of difficulty and give us the sentiments of Her Son, so that our Lenten itinerary may be an experience of forgiveness, of welcome and of charity".

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Appeal for an end to the persecution of Christians
Vatican City, 15 March 2015 (VIS) - "It is with great sorrow that I have learned of the terrorist attacks on two churches in the city of Lahore, Pakistan
today, which have caused many deaths and casualties. They are Christian churches. Christians are persecuted. Our brothers shed blood solely because they
are Christians. While I assure my prayers for the victims and for their families, I ask the Lord, I implore the Lord, the source of all good, to grant the gift of peace and harmony to the country. May this persecution of Christians, that the world seeks to conceal, come to an end, and may there be peace", said the Holy Father following today's Angelus prayer.
Pope Francis also expressed his closeness to the population of Vanuatu, in the Pacific Ocean, devastated by a cyclone. "I pray for the deceased, for the injured, and for those who have lost their homes", he said, "and I give thanks to those who have taken rapid action to bring aid and assistance.

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To the UCIIM: go to the peripheries of schools as witnesses of life and hope
Vatican City, 16 March 2015 (VIS) - "Teaching is a beautiful job, as it allows you to see the growth day by day of the people entrusted to your care. It is a little like being parents, at least spiritually. It is a great responsibility", said the Pope this morning to the members of the Catholic Union of Teachers (UCIIM), whom he received in audience in the Paul VI Hall. He added, "Teaching is a serious commitment, that only a mature and balanced person can undertake. A
commitment of this type may inculcate apprehension, but remember that no teacher
is ever alone; his or her work is shared with other colleagues and with all the educational community to which they belong".
"As Jesus taught us, all the Law and the Prophets can be summarised in two commandments: love the Lord God and love your neighbour. We can ask ourselves: who is a teacher's neighbour? The neighbours are your students! It is with them that a teacher passes the day. They seek guidance, orientation, an answer - and first of all, good questions!", he continued. "Among the tasks of the UCIIM is that of enlightening and promoting the correct idea of school, often obscured by
discussions and reductive positions. The school is certainly make up of valid and qualified instruction, but also of human relations, that from our side are relationships of welcome and benevolence, due to all indiscriminately. Indeed,

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 056
DATE 20-03-2015

Summary:
- The Pope on the importance of the "hidden Christians" of Japan
- Pope Francis: the death penalty is inadmissible
- Press release from the Dean of the College of Cardinals
- Pope's telegram for terrorist attack in Tunisia
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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The Pope on the importance of the "hidden Christians" of Japan
Vatican City, 20 March 2015 (VIS) - "Though the Catholic community is small, your local Churches are esteemed by Japanese society for your many contributions, born of your Christian identity, which serve people regardless of
religion. I commend your many efforts in the fields of education, healthcare, service to the elderly, infirm, and handicapped, and your charitable works which
have been especially important in response to the tragic devastation wrought by the earthquake and tsunami four years ago. So too I express deep appreciation for your initiatives in favour of peace, especially your efforts to keep before the world the immense suffering experienced by the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the Second World War seventy years ago. In all of these works, you not only meet the needs of the community, but you also create opportunities for dialogue between the Church and society".
The Holy Father thus addressed the prelates of the Catholic Bishops' Conference
of Japan at the end of their "ad Limina" visit, who this month celebrate the "discovery" fifty years ago of the "hidden Christians" of Japan, a central theme
of the written discourse the Pope handed to them this morning.
He writes, "The Church in Japan has experienced abundant blessings but has equally known suffering. From those joys and sorrows, your ancestors in the faith have bequeathed to you a living heritage that adorns the Church today and encourages her journey toward the future. This heritage is rooted in the missionaries who first reached your shores and proclaimed the Word of God, Jesus
Christ. We think especially of Saint Francis Xavier. ... For many of these missionaries, as well as for some of the first members of the Japanese Catholic community, their witness to Christ led to the shedding of their blood. ... We recall especially Saint Paul Miki and companions whose steadfast faith in the midst of persecution became an encouragement for the small Christian community to persevere in every trial".
Another aspect of this rich patrimony is the discovery of the "hidden Christians" - those who conserved the Christian faith after all the lay missionaries and priests had been expelled from the country. "The embers of faith which the Holy Spirit ignited through the preaching of these evangelisers and sustained by the witness of the martyrs were kept safe, through the care of the lay faithful who maintained the Catholic community's life of prayer and catechesis in the midst of great danger and persecution".
"These two pillars of Catholic history in Japan, missionary activity and the 'hidden Christians',continue to support the life of the Church today, and offer a guide to living the faith. In every age and land, the Church remains a missionary Church, seeking to evangelise and make disciples of all nations, while continually enriching the faith of the community of believers and instilling in them the responsibility to nurture this faith in the home and society".
The work of evangelisation, however, "is not the sole responsibility of those who leave their homes and go to distant lands to preach the Gospel. In fact, by our baptism, we are all called to be evangelisers and to witness to the Good News of Jesus wherever we are. We are called to go forth, to be an evangelising community, even if that simply means opening the front door of our homes and stepping out into our own neighbourhoods. ... If our missionary efforts are to bear fruit, the example of the 'hidden Christians' has much to teach us. Though small in number and daily facing persecution, these believers were able to preserve the faith by being attentive to their personal relationship with Jesus,
a relationship built on a solid prayer life and a sincere commitment to the welfare of the community. ... The 'hidden Christians' of Japan remind us that the
work of fostering the life of the Church and of evangelising require the full and active participation of the lay faithful. Their mission is twofold: to engage in the life of the parish and local Church, and to permeate the social order with their Christian witness".
Through the witness of faith of the Japanese faithful, "the Church expresses her genuine catholicity and shows the æbeauty of her varied face'", the Pope concludes, citing his apostolic exhortation "Evangelii Gaudium". "So often, when
we find this witness lacking, it is not because the faithful do not want to be missionary disciples, but rather because they think themselves incapable of the task. I encourage you as Pastors to instil in them a deep appreciation of their calling and to offer them concrete expressions of support and guidance so that they may answer this call with generosity and courage".

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Pope Francis: the death penalty is inadmissible
Vatican City, 20 March 2015 (VIS)- This morning the Holy Father received in audience a delegation from the International Commission against the Death Penalty. Below we offer extensive extracts from the letter the Pope gave to Federico Mayor, president of the Commission, to greet and offer his personal thanks to all the members of the aforementioned International Commission, the group of countries that lend their support, and all those who collaborate in its
work.
"I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some reflections on what the Church contributes to the humanistic efforts of the Commission. The Church's Magisterium, based on the Sacred Scripture and the thousand-year experience of the People of God, defends life from conception to natural end, and supports full human dignity inasmuch as it represents the image of God. Human life is sacred as, from its beginning, from the first instant of conception, it is the fruit of God's creating action".
"States kill when they apply the death penalty, when they send their people to war or when they carry out extrajudicial or summary executions. They can also kill by omission, when they fail to guarantee to their people access to the bare
essentials for life. ... On some occasions it is necessary to repel an ongoing assault proportionately to avoid damage caused by the aggressor, and the need to
neutralise him could lead to his elimination; this is a case of legitimate defence. However, the presuppositions of personal legitimate defence do not apply at the social level, without risk of misinterpretation. When the death penalty is applied, it is not for a current act of aggression, but rather for an
act committed in the past. It is also applied to persons whose current ability to cause harm is not current, as it has been neutralised - they are already deprived of their liberty".
"Nowadays the death penalty is inadmissible, no matter how serious the crime committed. It is an offence against the inviolability of life and the dignity of
the human person, which contradicts God's plan for man and society, and his merciful justice, and impedes the penalty from fulfilling any just objective. It
does not render justice to the victims, but rather fosters vengeance".
"For the rule of law, the death penalty represents a failure, as it obliges the
state to kill in the name of justice. ... Justice can never be wrought by killing
a human being. ... With the application of the death penalty, the convict is denied the possibility of to repent or make amends for the harm caused; the

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXV - # 62
DATE 27-03-2015

Summary:
- Pope Expresses Solidarity with Families in Iraq and Nigeria
- Pope to Receive President of Italy and to Visit Prato and Florence
- Pope Meets 150 Homeless who Visited Sistine Chapel Yesterday
- Respect for Refugee Children: Legal Identity, Education
- Freedoms of Religion and Expression: Adopting an Ethics of Responsibility

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Pope Expresses Solidarity with Families in Iraq and Nigeria
Vatican City, 27 March 2015 (VIS) ? Pope Francis has a constant concern for the situation of Christian families and other groups of victims who have been expelled from their homes and villages, particularly in the city of Mosul and the Nineveh plains, many of whom have taken refuge in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Pope prays for them and hopes they can return and resume their lives in the lands and places where they have lived and built good relationships for hundreds of years.
In this coming Holy Week, these families are sharing together with Christ the unjust violence of which they have been made victims, participating in the suffering of Christ himself.
In a desire to be close to these families, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, is returning to Iraq as a sign of nearness, affection, andunity in prayer with them.
The families of the Diocese of Rome, united with their bishop in the feeling of nearness and solidarity with these families, through a special collection in the
parishes, are sending the traditional Easter cakes in the shape of a dove (colomba cake) to share the joy of Easter and as a herald of good based on the faith in the Resurrection of Christ.
The Holy Father, moreover, makes himself present in a concrete way with a tangible sign of solidarity. Not wanting to forget the suffering of the families
in northern Nigeria either, he has also sent a similar sign of solidarity through the local Bishops? Conference.

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Pope to Receive President of Italy and to Visit Prato and Florence
Vatican City, 27 March 2015 (VIS) ? On 18 April, Pope Francis will receive President of Italy Sergio Mattarella for the first time in an official visit to the Vatican. President Mattarella was elected 3 February of this year. The visit
has been confirmed by the Holy See Press Office as well as the pastoral visits that the Holy Father will make to the Italian cities of Prato and Florence on 10
November on the occasion of the 5th National Ecclesial Congress of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) that will be held from 9-13 November. The Congress?s theme is ?A New Humanism through Jesus Christ?.

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Pope Meets 150 Homeless who Visited Sistine Chapel Yesterday
Vatican City, 27 March 2015 (VIS) ? Yesterday afternoon, shortly after 5:00pm, Pope Francis went to the Sistine Chapel to greet the 150 homeless persons who had been invited to visit the Vatican Museums through an initiative of the Office of Papal Charities. After shaking hands with those he met, he addressed the group saying: ?Welcome. This is the house of all; this is your house. The doors are always open to all.?
Later, he thanked Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, Papal Almoner, for having organized the visit, which he called a ?small kindness? for the guests. The Pope
added: ?Pray for me. I need the prayers of people like you. May the Lord protect
you, accompany you on your life?s path, and make you feel the Father?s tender love.? He then greeted each person present and chatted with them for about 20 minutes.
As we reported yesterday, afterthe visit, the guests were invited to dinner at the Vatican Museums restaurant and they left Vatican City through the Sant?Uffizio Gate.
At the Pope?s request, there was no official video or photo report of the event.

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Respect for Refugee Children: Legal Identity, Education
Vatican City, 27 March 2015 (VIS) ? Respect for children, victims of war, was the subject of Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva Archbishop Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi?s,
speech given at the 28th session of the Human Rights Council held 17 March of this year.
?The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic,? the archbishop stated, ?recently reported that, since the start of the crisis, ?more than 10 million Syrians have fled their homes. This amounts to
almost half of the country?s population, now deprived of their basic rights? ? A
variety of sources have provided evidence on how children suffer the brutal consequences of a persistent status of war in their country. Children are recruited, trained, and used in active combat roles, at times even as human shields inmilitary attacks. The so-called Islamic State (ISIL) group has worsened the situation by training and using children as suicide bombers; killing children who belong to different religious and ethnic communities; selling children as slaves in markets; executing large numbers of boys; and committing other atrocities.?
?In camps throughout the Middle East, children constitute approximately half of the refugee population and they are the most vulnerable demographic group in times of conflict and displacement. ? Beyond the specific conditions faced by internally displaced children and those in the refugee camps of the region and beyond the enormous tragedies affecting them, it seems important to envision their future, by focusing on three particular areas of concern.?
?First,? he asserted, ?the world must deal with the situation of millions of stateless children, who as such according to the law, were never born. The United Nationsestimates that approximately 30,000 of these children can be found
in Lebanon alone. Moreover, due to the Middle Eastern conflicts and massive uprooting of families, several thousand unregistered children are scattered in camps and other asylum countries. ? Stateless children cross international borders alone and find themselves completely abandoned. ? While all face grave difficulties, those fleeing Syria face challenges that are even more dramatic: a
child below eleven years of age and without documents has no access even to the most basic services. These children obviously cannot go to school and they are likely to be adopted illegally, recruited in an armed group, abused, exploited, or forced into prostitution. Every child has the right to be registered at birth
and thus to be recognized as a person before the law. The implementation of this
right opens the way for access to the enjoyment of other rights and benefits that affect the future of these children. Simplifying mechanisms and requirements for registration, waving fees, and advocating for refugee inclusive
registration legislation, represent steps to solve the plight of stateless children.?
?Second, another key component that shapes the future of uprooted children is education. Both in Syria and in refugee camps in the region, provision of education has become extremely problematic. Some 5,000 schools have been destroyed in Syria where more than one million and half students no longer receive an education and where attacks against school buildings continue. ? The international community as a whole seems to have misjudged the extent of the

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 063
DATE 30-03-2015

Summary:
- Palm Sunday: God humbles Himself for His people
- Angelus: the Pope entrusts the victims of the Alps air crash to Our Lady
- St. Teresa, a "remarkable woman": 500th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Carmel
- Pope's telegram for the death of the Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East
- Francis prays for flood victims in Chile and Peru
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Palm Sunday: God humbles Himself for His people
Vatican City, 30 March 2015 (VIS) - At 9.30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square the Holy
Father presided at the solemn liturgical celebration of Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Lord. At the centre of the square, near the obelisk, the Pope blessed the palm and olive branches and, at the end of the procession, he celebrated the Holy Mass for the Passion of the Lord. Young people from Rome and
other dioceses took part in the celebration, on the occasion of the thirtieth World Youth Day, on the theme "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God".
The following is the full text of the homily pronounced by Pope Francis following the proclamation of the Passion of the Lord according to Mark:
"At the heart of this celebration, which seems so festive, are the words we heard in the hymn of the Letter to the Philippians: 'He humbled himself'. Jesus'
humiliation. These words show us God's way and, consequently, that which must be
the way of Christians: it is humility. A way which constantly amazes and disturbs us: we will never get used to a humble God!
"Humility is above all God's way: God humbles himself to walk with his people, to put up with their infidelity. This is clear when we read the the story of the
Exodus. How humiliating for the Lord to hear all that grumbling, all those complaints against Moses, but ultimately against him, their Father, who brought them out of slavery and was leading them on the journey through the desert to the land of freedom.
"This week, Holy Week, which leads us to Easter, we will take this path of Jesus' own humiliation. Only in this way will this week be 'holy' for us too. We
will feel the contempt of the leaders of his people and their attempts to trip him up. We will be there at the betrayal of Judas, one of the Twelve, who will sell him for thirty pieces of silver. We will see the Lord arrested and carried off like a criminal; abandoned by his disciples, dragged before the Sanhedrin, condemned to death, beaten and insulted. We will hear Peter, the 'rock' among the disciples, deny him three times. We will hear the shouts of the crowd, egged
on by their leaders, who demand that Barabas be freed and Jesus crucified. We will see him mocked by the soldiers, robed in purple and crowned with thorns. And then, as he makes his sorrowful way beneath the cross, we will hear the jeering of the people and their leaders, who scoff at his being King and Son of God. This is God's way, the way of humility. It is the way of Jesus; there is no
other. And there can be no humility without humiliation.
"Following this path to the full, the Son of God took on the 'form of a slave'.
In the end, humility also means service. It means making room for God by stripping oneself, 'emptying oneself', as Scripture says. This - the pouring out
of oneself - is the greatest humiliation of all.
"There is another way, however, opposed to the way of Christ. It is worldliness, the way of the world. The world proposes the way of vanity, pride, success, the other way. The Evil One proposed this way to Jesus too, during his forty days in the desert. But Jesus immediately rejected it. With him, and only by his grace, with his help, we too can overcome this temptation to vanity, to worldliness, not only at significant moments, but in daily life as well. In this, we are helped and comforted by the example of so many men and women who, in silence and concealment, sacrifice themselves daily to serve others: a sick relative, an elderly person living alone, a disabled person, the homeless.
"We think too of the humiliation endured by all those who, for their lives of fidelity to the Gospel, encounter discrimination and pay a personal price. We think too of our brothers and sisters who are persecuted because they are Christians, the martyrs of our own time - and there are many. They refuse to deny Jesus and they endure insult and injury with dignity. They follow him on his way. In truth, we can speak of a ∞cloud of witnesses' - the martyrs of our own time.
"During this week, let us set about with determination along this same path of humility, with immense love for him, our Lord and Saviour. Love will guide us and give us strength. For where he is, we too shall be".

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Angelus: the Pope entrusts the victims of the Alps air crash to Our Lady
Vatican City, 29 March 2015 (VIS) - Following the Eucharistic celebration, the Holy Father prayed the Angelus and greeted all those present, especially the young, whom he exhorted to continue on their path both within the dioceses and in their pilgrimage across continents, leading next year to Krakow, Poland, the homeland of St. John Paul II, who initiated the World Youth Days.
"The theme of this great meeting: 'Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy', harmonises with the Holy Year of Mercy", he said. "Let yourselves be filled with the tenderness of the Father, to radiate it around you. And now we turn in prayer to Mary, our Mother, so that she might help us to live Holy Week with faith. She too was present when Jesus entered Jerusalem, acclaimed by the crowd; but her heart, like that of her Son, was ready for sacrifice. Let us learn from Her, faithful Virgin, to follow the Lord even when His path leads to the Cross. I entrust to her intercession the victims of last Tuesday's aviation tragedy, among whom there was also a group of German students".

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St. Teresa, a "remarkable woman": 500th anniversary of the birth of the founder
of Carmel
Vatican City, 28 March 2015 (VIS) - Pope Francis has written a letter to Fr. Saverio Cannistra, prepositor general of the Order of Descalced Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, to commemorate the fifth centenary of the birth of St. Teresa of Jesus and and to participate in the giving of thanks for the charism of this "remarkable woman".
"I consider it a providential grace that this anniversary coincides with the year dedicated to consecrated life, in which the Saint of Avila shines as a sure
guide and attractive model of total commitment to God. ... How much we continue
to
benefit from the witness of her consecration, born directly of her encounter with Christ, her experience of prayer, as a continual dialogue with God, and her
community life, rooted in the maternity of the Church!"
"St. Teresa was above all a teacher of prayer. The discovery of Christ's humanity was central to her experience. Moved by the desire to share this personal experience with others, she describes it in a lively and simple way, accessible to all, as consisting simply in 'a relationship of friendship ... with
Whom we know loves us'. The prayer of Teresa was not a prayer reserved solely to
a space or time of day; it arose spontaneously on the most diverse occasions. ...
She was convinced of the value of continual, if not always perfect, prayer. ...
To
renew consecrated life today, Teresa has left us a great heritage full of concrete suggestions, ways and methods of praying that, far from closing us in

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 070
DATE 14-04-2015

Summary:
- Exodus, a fundamental experience of vocation: Pope's Message for the 52nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations
- Holy Father's calendar for April to June 2015
- Programme of the Pope's visit to Sarajevo
- Presentation of the Holy See Pavilion at EXPO 2015
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Exodus, a fundamental experience of vocation: Pope's Message for the 52nd World
Day of Prayer for Vocations
Vatican City, 14 April 2015 (VIS) "Exodus, a fundamental experience of vocation" is the title of the Holy Father's Message for the 52nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, to be held on 26 April, the fourth Sunday of Easter.
In the text, the Pope explains that at the root of every Christian vocation there is an exodus that starts from the renouncement of the comfort and inflexibility of the self in in order to go forth trustfully, like Abraham, towards the "new land" that God indicates to us. This dynamic is relevant not only to a personal calling, but also to the missionary and evangelical action of
all the Church, truly faithful to her Master, "to the extent that she is a Church which 'goes forth', a Church which is less concerned about herself, her structures and successes, and more about her ability to go out and meet God's children wherever they are, to feel compassion (com-passio) for their hurt and pain". It is a dynamic towards God and towards man that fills life with joy and meaning, as Francis says to the young, urging them not to let uncertainties obstruct their dreams, and not to be afraid to go forth.
The following is the full text of the Message:
"Dear brothers and sisters,
The Fourth Sunday of Easter offers us the figure of the Good Shepherd who knows
his sheep: he calls them, he feeds them and he guides them. For over fifty years
the universal Church has celebrated this Sunday as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. In this way she reminds us of our need to pray, as Jesus himself told
his disciples, so that 'the Lord of the harvest may send out labourers into his harvest'. Jesus' command came in the context of his sending out missionaries. He
called not only the twelve Apostles, but another seventy-two disciples whom he then sent out, two by two, for the mission. Since the Church 'is by her very nature missionary', the Christian vocation is necessarily born of the experience
of mission. Hearing and following the voice of Christ the Good Shepherd, means letting ourselves be attracted and guided by him, in consecration to him; it means allowing the Holy Spirit to draw us into this missionary dynamism, awakening within us the desire, the joy and the courage to offer our own lives in the service of the Kingdom of God.
To offer one's life in mission is possible only if we are able to leave ourselves behind. On this 52nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, I would like reflect on that particular 'exodus' which is the heart of vocation, or better yet, of our response to the vocation God gives us. When we hear the word 'exodus', we immediately think of the origins of the amazing love story between God and his people, a history which passes through the dramatic period of slavery in Egypt, the calling of Moses, the experience of liberation and the journey toward the Promised Land. The Book of Exodus, the second book of the Bible, which recounts these events is a parable of the entire history of salvation, but also of the inner workings of Christian faith. Passing from the slavery of the old Adam to new life in Christ is a event of redemption which takes place through faith. This passover is a genuine 'exodus'; it is the journey of each Christian soul and the entire Church, the decisive turning of our lives towards the Father.
At the root of every Christian vocation we find this basic movement, which is part of the experience of faith. Belief means transcending ourselves, leaving behind our comfort and the inflexibility of our ego in order to centre our life in Jesus Christ. It means leaving, like Abraham, our native place and going forward with trust, knowing that God will show us the way to a new land. This 'going forward' is not to be viewed as a sign of contempt for one's life, one's feelings, one's own humanity. On the contrary, those who set out to follow Christ find life in abundance by putting themselves completely at the service of
God and his kingdom. Jesus says: 'Everyone who has left home or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life'. All of this is profoundly rooted in love. The Christian vocation is first and foremost a call to love, a love which attracts us and draws us out of ourselves, 'decentring' us and triggering "an ongoing exodus out of the closed inward-looking self towards its liberation through self-giving, and thus towards authentic self-discovery and indeed the discovery of God'.
The exodus experience is paradigmatic of the Christian life, particularly in the case of those who have embraced a vocation of special dedication to the Gospel. This calls for a constantly renewed attitude of conversion and transformation, an incessant moving forward, a passage from death to life like that celebrated in every liturgy, an experience of passover. From the call of Abraham to that of Moses, from Israel's pilgrim journey through the desert to the conversion preached by the prophets, up to the missionary journey of Jesus which culminates in his death and resurrection, vocation is always a work of God. He leads us beyond our initial situation, frees us from every enslavement, breaks down our habits and our indifference, and brings us to the joy of communion with him and with our brothers and sisters. Responding to God's call, then, means allowing him to help us leave ourselves and our false security behind, and to strike out on the path which leads to Jesus Christ, the origin and destiny of our life and our happiness.
This exodus process does not regard individuals alone, but the missionary and evangelising activity of the whole Church. The Church is faithful to her Master to the extent that she is a Church which 'goes forth', a Church which is less concerned about herself, her structures and successes, and more about her ability to go out and meet God's children wherever they are, to feel compassion (com-passio) for their hurt and pain. God goes forth from himself in a Trinitarian dynamic of love: he hears the cry of his people and he intervenes to
set them free. The Church is called to follow this way of being and acting. She is meant to be a Church which evangelises, goes out to encounter humanity, proclaims the liberating word of the Gospel, heals people's spiritual and physical wounds with the grace of God, and offers relief to the poor and the suffering.
Dear brothers and sisters, this liberating exodus towards Christ and our brothers and sisters also represents the way for us to fully understand our common humanity and to foster the historical development of individuals and societies. To hear and answer the Lord's call is not a private and completely personal matter fraught with momentary emotion. Rather, it is a specific, real and total commitment which embraces the whole of our existence and sets it at the service of the growth of God's Kingdom on earth. The Christian vocation, rooted in the contemplation of the Father's heart, thus inspires us to solidarity in bringing liberation to our brothers and sisters, especially the poorest. A disciple of Jesus has a heart open to his unlimited horizons, and friendship with the Lord never means flight from this life or from the world. On
the contrary, it involves a profound interplay between communion and mission.
This exodus towards God and others fills our lives with joy and meaning. I wish
to state this clearly to the young, whose youth and openness to the future makes
them open-hearted and generous. At times uncertainty, worries about the future and the problems they daily encounter can risk paralysing their youthful enthusiasm and shattering their dreams, to the point where they can think that it is not worth the effort to get involved, that the God of the Christian faith is somehow a limit on their freedom. Dear young friends, never be afraid to go out from yourselves and begin the journey! The Gospel is the message which brings freedom to our lives; it transforms them and makes them all the more beautiful. How wonderful it is to be surprised by God's call, to embrace his word, and to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, in adoration of the divine mystery and in generous service to our neighbours! Your life will become richer and more
joyful each day!
The Virgin Mary, model of every vocation, did not fear to utter her 'fiat' in response to the Lord's call. She is at our side and she guides us. With the generous courage born of faith, Mary sang of the joy of leaving herself behind and entrusting to God the plans she had for her life. Let us turn to her, so that we may be completely open to what God has planned for each one of us, so that we can grow in the desire to go out with tender concern towards others. May

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 072
DATE 16-04-2015

Summary:
- May the Church in Kenya be an instrument of reconciliation, justice and peace - The Pope to travel to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay in July
- Press Release on the Implementation of the C.D.F. Doctrinal Assessment and Mandate of April 2012
- Presentation of the Annuarium Pontificium
- Cardinal Montenegro to take possession of his titular church
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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May the Church in Kenya be an instrument of reconciliation, justice and peace
Vatican City, 16 April 2015 (VIS) - This morning the prelates of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops were received in audience by Pope Francis at the end of their "ad Limina" visit. In the written discourse he handed to them, the Holy Father writes that for many of them this visit to Rome will recall the time
spent in the Italian capital during their preparation for ordination to the priesthood. "The many seminarians studying in this city, like the numerous seminarians in your own country, are an eloquent sign of God's goodness to the universal Church and to your dioceses".
"While the seeds of a priestly vocation are sown long before a man arrives at the seminary, first in the heart of the family", he notes, "it pertains to seminary formators to nurture the growth of these vocations. For this reason, it
is imperative that seminarians' goodwill and earnest desires be met with a formation that is humanly sound, spiritually deep, intellectually rich, and pastorally diverse. I am aware of the challenges which this entails, and I encourage you to strengthen your efforts, individually within your Dioceses and collectively in your Episcopal Conference, so that the good work which the Lord is accomplishing in your candidates for priestly Orders will be brought to completion".
"In this Year of Consecrated Life, my heart is also close to the men and women religious who have renounced the world for the sake of the kingdom thus bringing
many blessings to the Church and society in Kenya. ... The united and selfless efforts of many Catholics in Kenya are a beautiful witness and example for the country. In so many ways, the Church is called to offer hope to the broader culture, a hope based on her unstinting witness to the newness of life promised by Christ in the Gospel. In this regard, without wishing to interfere in temporal affairs, the Church must insist, especially to those who are in positions of leadership and power, on those moral principles which promote the common good and the building up of society as a whole. In the fulfilment of her apostolic mission, the Church must take a prophetic stand in defence of the poor
and against all corruption and abuse of power. She must do so, in the first place, by example. ... In a particular way, I wish to offer a word of appreciation
to the many humble and dedicated workers in Church-run institutions throughout your country, whose daily activities bring spiritual and material benefit to countless people. The Church has contributed, and continues to contribute, to all of Kenya through a diverse array of schools, institutes, universities, clinics, hospitals, homes for the sick and dying, orphanages and social agencies".
Pope Francis goes on to emphasise that "the Church in Kenya must always be true
to her mission as an instrument of reconciliation, justice and peace. In fidelity to the entire patrimony of the faith and moral teaching of the Church, may you strengthen your commitment to working with Christian and non-Christian leaders alike, in promoting peace and justice in your country through dialogue, fraternity and friendship. In this way you will be able to offer a more unified and courageous denunciation of all violence, especially that committed in the name of God. This will bring deeper reassurance and solace to all your fellow citizens". He affirms, "With you, I pray for all those who have been killed by acts of terror or ethnic or tribal hostilities in Kenya as well as other areas of the continent. I think most especially of the men and women killed at Garissa
University College on Good Friday. May their souls rest in peace and their loved
ones be consoled, and may those who commit such brutality come to their senses and seek mercy".
The Pope encourages the prelates in their pastoral care for the family, and declares his conviction that as the Church prepares for the Ordinary Synod dedicated to the pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelisation "you will continue to assist and strengthen all those families who are struggling because of broken marriages, infidelity, addiction or violence", and asks them to "intensify the Church's ministry to youth, forming them to be disciples capable of making permanent and life-giving commitments - whether to a spouse in marriage, or to the Lord in the priesthood or religious life".
Finally, he prays with them the the forthcoming Jubilee of Mercy may be "a time
of great forgiveness, healing, conversion, and grace for the entire Church in Kenya" and that, "touched by Christ's infinite mercy, may all the faithful be signs of the reconciliation, justice and peace that God wills for your country, and indeed, all of Africa".

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The Pope to travel to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay in July
Vatican City, 16 April 2015 (VIS) - The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., today declared that Pope Francis, accepting the invitation offered by the respective Heads of State and bishops of these countries, will make an apostolic trip to Ecuador, from 6 to 8 July, Bolivia from 8 to 10 July, and Paraguay, from 10 to 12 of the same month. The programme for the trip will be published shortly.

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Press Release on the Implementation of the C.D.F. Doctrinal Assessment and Mandate of April 2012
Vatican City, 16 April 2015 (VIS) - Officials of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (C.D.F.), Archbishop Peter Sartain and officers of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (L.C.W.R.) met April 16. Archbishop Sartain and L.C.W.R. officers presented a joint report (attached) on the implementation of the C.D.F. Doctrinal Assessment and Mandate of April 2012. The
joint report outlines the manner in which the implementation of the Mandate has been accomplished. The Congregation accepted the joint report, marking the conclusion of the Doctrinal Assessment of L.C.W.R. Present for the April 16 meeting were His Eminence Gerhard Cardinal Muller, Archbishop Peter Sartain, Sr.
Carol Zinn, S.S.J., Sr. Marcia Allen, C.S.J., Sr. Joan Marie Steadman, C.S.C., and Sr. Janet Mock, C.S.J., and other officials of CDF.
During the meeting, Archbishop Sartain and L.C.W.R. officers outlined the process undertaken by the Bishop Delegates and L.C.W.R. over the past three years, noting the spirit of cooperation among participants throughout the sensitive process. Cardinal Muller offered his thoughts on the Doctrinal Assessment as well as the Mandate and its completion. He expressed gratitude to those present for their willing participation in this important and delicate work and extended thanks to others who had participated, especially Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki, and the past officers and executive
directors of L.C.W.R.
Following the meeting, Cardinal Muller said: "At the conclusion of this process, the Congregation is confident that L.C.W.R. has made clear its mission to support its member Institutes by fostering a vision of religious life that is
centred on the person of Jesus Christ and is rooted in the tradition of the Church. It is this vision that makes religious women and men radical witnesses to the Gospel, and, therefore, is essential for the flourishing of religious life in the Church".
Sr. Sharon Holland, IHM,President of L.C.W.R., was unable to be present for the
meeting but commented, "We are pleased at the completion of the Mandate, which involved long and challenging exchanges of our understandings of and perspectives on critical matters of Religious Life and its practice. Through these exchanges, conducted always in a spirit of prayer and mutual respect, we were brought to deeper understandings of one another's experiences, roles, responsibilities, and hopes for the Church and the people it serves. We learned

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 078
DATE 27-04-2015

Summary:
- Queen Silvia of Sweden and her family visit the Pope
- The Pope praises the dynamism of the Church in Benin
- Ordination of nineteen new priests: imitate the Father, who never tires of forgiving
- Regina Coeli: contemplation and thanksgiving are not enough - we must follow the Good Shepherd
- Telegram for the earthquake in Nepal
- To the John Paul II Foundation: nurture solidarity with Christian fraternity - Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Queen Silvia of Sweden and her family visit the Pope

Vatican City, 27 April 2015 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. today, in the private Library of the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received in private audience Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, accompanied by various family members and her entourage.

This afternoon, Her Majesty will participate in a workshop at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences organised by the Embassy of Sweden to the Holy See and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences on the theme of the fight against human trafficking, with particular attention to children. She will subsequently visit the Vatican Apostolic Library for the inauguration of the "distribution desk" realised with the contribution of the King Gustaf VI Adolf Foundation.

During the conversation, which took place mostly in Spanish, a language the Queen knows well, she informed the Pope of the activities she promotes in Sweden, especially for the benefit of children, and the Pope took the opportunity the express his gratitude for the welcome extended by Sweden to refugees and displaced persons. Among the gifts from Queen Silvia, the Pope received three small Swedish prayer books, also adapted for children. The religious education of her children has been particularly close to the sovereign's heart, and the Pope expressed his lively appreciation.

Princess Madeleine, with her husband and one year-old daughter Leonore, were also present in the Queen's entourage, and the Pope therefore received the young
family with particular affection.

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The Pope praises the dynamism of the Church in Benin

Vatican City, 27 April 2015 (VIS) - The vitality of the Church, the pastoral ministry of the family, attention to priests and persons religious, and relations with the civil authorities are the central themes of the written discourse that the Pope handed to the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Benin this morning, at the end of their "ad Limina" visit.

The Holy Father begins by praising the dynamism of parish life, the extensive participation of the faithful in ceremonies and the increase of vocations to the
priesthood, but he also echoed the prelates' reports that it is at times superficial and lacking in solidity and strength. "Therefore, it is important that the desire for a profound knowledge of the Christian mystery not be the prerogative of an elite, but instead must inspire all faithful, as everyone is called to holiness. It is imperative that the Church in Benin resists and defeats the winds to the contrary that are rising throughout the world and do not fail to blow upon you too. I know that you are vigilant in the face of numerous ideological and media attacks. The spirit of secularisation is at work in your country too, although it is not yet very visible. Only a faith profoundly rooted in the heart of the faithful, and lived in a concrete way, will enable you to face this".

One of the challenges to the Church in Benin is family pastoral ministry, to which the upcoming Synod will seek to respond. The Pope thanks the prelates of Benin for their prayers for this assembly, and for their mobilisation of the dioceses to participate in such important event. "I can only encourage you to continue with determination in the efforts you have undertaken to support families, both in their faith and in their daily life. I know that the pastoral ministry of marriage remains difficult, considering the real social and cultural
situation of the people. However, do not be discouraged, but persevere tirelessly as the family in defence of the Catholic Church is a reality willed by God; it is a gift of God that brings joy, stability and happiness to people and to societies. It is an important challenge since the family, as the basic unit of both society and of the Church, is the place where authentic human and Gospel values are transmitted".

The bishop of Rome then turns to the theme of the education of the younger generations, who must bring solidarity, justice and mutual respect to the society of the future. "It is necessary to promote in your country - without of course renouncing any of the Truth as revealed by the Lord - the encounter between cultures and dialogue between religions, especially with Islam. It is well known that Benin offers an example of harmony between the religions present
in her territory. It is however wise to be vigilant, considering the current world climate, in order to conserve this fragile heritage. I am particularly pleased that an international colloquium on interreligious dialogue has been held, under the presidency of Cardinal Tauran, which was widely appreciated".

"Your local Churches have a key role in promoting harmony and justice in the progress of the country", Pope Francis observes. "But it is a role they also play in healthcare and human development. How much work is carried out in the name of the Gospel in your dioceses! While the global crisis is affecting many countries, it is necessary to go against the grain with courage, fighting against the throwaway culture that reaches everywhere and spreading the Gospel values of hospitality and encounter. The service of charity is a constitutive dimension of the mission of the Church, and it is an expression of her essence. However, it should be borne in mind that the spirit of the works accomplished by
the Church has a specific nature that must be clearly identified: she never acts
as a form of simple social aid, but rather as the manifestation of the tenderness and mercy of Jesus Himself, who tends to the wounds and weaknesses of
His brothers. The joy of the Gospel is thus announced to humanity in the most effective way".

The Pope thanks the priests of Benin for their generous service into the Gospel and mentions again the great number of vocations, a blessing from the Lord, and encourages the Church in Benin to share her resources with the Churches of other
regions which are lacking. However, he writes, "when you send your priests to study or on missions elsewhere, do so with judgement, without forgetting the needs of your own Churches".

The final paragraphs of the text are dedicated to the good relationship between the Church and the civil authorities in the country. "The voice of the Church is
listened to and her action is appreciated. I invite you to continue to take your
place fully in the public life of the country, especially in these times. I know
you are engaged in constant work to encourage relations between the different components of society. I invite you to continue along this path, taking care not
to enter directly into the political arena or party disputes. The conduct of public affairs remains the duty of the laity, whom you have the important duty of ceaselessly educating and encouraging".

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Ordination of nineteen new priests: imitate the Father, who never tires of forgiving

Vatican City, 26 April 2015 (VIS) - On the 52nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis conferred priestly ordination to nineteen deacons: thirteen from the Roman diocesan seminaries (Pontifical Roman Major Seminary, "Redemptoris Mater" Diocesan College, Seminary of Our Lady of Divine Love) and six from other colleges. The Mass was concelebrated by the Holy Father and Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, vicegerent, the auxiliary bishops, the superiors of the seminaries involved, and the deacons' parish priests.

During the liturgy of ordination, the Pope pronounced the homily for this rite, improvising some paragraphs. "These sons of ours are called to the order of the presbytery. It is good for us to reflect a little on the ministry to which they will be elevated within the Church. As you well know, the Lord Jesus is the sole
Supreme Priest of the New Testament, but in Him also all the holy people of God is constituted as a priestly people. All of us! Nonetheless, among all His disciples, Jesus wishes to choose some in particular to publicly exercise priestly office on behalf of all mankind, thus continuing His personal mission as teacher, priest and pastor. ... They have reflected on this, their vocation, and now they are to receive the ordination to the priesthood. And the bishop risks - risks! - and chooses them, just as the Father risked for each one of us".

"And to you, who are about to be raised to the order of the presbytery, consider
that by exercising the ministry of the Holy Doctrine you will participate in the
mission of Christ, the sole master. Dispense to all that Word of God, that you yourselves have received with joy. Read and meditate diligently on the Word of the Lord so as to believe in what you have read, to teach what you have learnt in faith, to live what you have taught. And may this be the nourishment of the

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 083
DATE 05-05-2015

Summary:
- Presentation of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
- Cardinal Leonardo Sandri: signs of light in the churches of Iraq
- Audiences

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Presentation of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
Vatican City, 5 May 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office, Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, and Msgr. Graham Bell presented the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (8 December 2015 to 20 November 2016).
The archbishop began, "The Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, which continues be the programmatic outline for the pontificate of Pope Francis, offers a meaningful expression of the very essence of the Extraordinary Jubilee announced on April 11: 'Such a community [the Church] has an endless desire to show mercy, the fruit of its own experience of the power of the Father's infinite mercy. Let us try a little harder to take the first step and to become involved'. It is with this desire in mind that we should re-read the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee, Misericordiae vultus, in which Pope Francis details the aims of the Holy Year. As you know, the two dates already marked out are December 8,the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - the day of the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica - and November 20, 2016, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, which will conclude the Holy Year. Between these two dates a calendar of various events is being developed.
"In order to avoid any misunderstanding, it is important to reiterate that this
Jubilee of Mercy is not and does not intend to be the Great Jubilee Year of 2000. Therefore, any comparisons lack validity, for every Holy Year possesses its own unique nature and aims. It is the Pope's desire that this Jubilee be celebrated in Rome as well as in the local Churches; this will give due focus to
the life of individual Churches and their needs, in such a way that the initiatives will not place an extra burden on local Churches, but will blend into their calendars and usual activities very naturally. Also, for the first time in the history of the Jubilee tradition, there will be an opportunity for individual dioceses to open a Holy Door - the Door of Mercy - either in the Cathedral or in a church of special significance or a shrine of particular importance for pilgrimages. Similarly, it is easy to cull other characteristics from the Bull of Indiction that will make this Jubilee unique. From the very beginning, however, the call to mercy breaks with the traditional pattern. The history of Jubilees has been marked by their occurrence every 50 or 25 years. The two Extraordinary Jubilees fell on anniversaries of Christ's redemptive act (1933, 1983). This Jubilee, however, is based upon a theme. It will build upon the central content of the faith and intends to call the Church once again to its missionary priority of being a sign and witness in every aspect of its pastoral life. I also have in mind Pope Francis' appeal to Judaism and Islam as loci in which to contextualise the theme of mercy in order to foster dialogue and a way of overcoming difficulties in the public realm. We must also not forget another original characteristic of this Jubilee, namely, the designation of Missionaries of Mercy. Pope Francis will give them their mandate on Ash Wednesday during the celebration in St. Peter's Basilica. The Missiona ries must be patient priests, possessing an understanding of human frailty but ready to express the loving kindness of the Good Shepherd in their preaching and in the Sacrament of Confession. However, I would rather not spend too much time on these general questions, because it is important now to explain some of the specifics pertaining to the organisation of the Holy Year.
"We begin with the logo which represents a summa theologiae of the theme of mercy and the motto which accompanies it. The motto Merciful Like the Father (from the Gospel of Luke, 6:36) serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure. The logo is the work of Father Marko I. Rupnik. It is an image quite important to the early Church: that of the Son having taken upon His shoulders the lost soul, demonstrating that it is Christ's
love that brings to completion the mystery of His incarnation culminating in redemption. The logo has been designed in such a way so as to express the profound way in which the Good Shepherd touches the flesh of humanity and does so with a love that has the power to change one's life. One particular feature worthy of note is that while the Good Shepherd, in His great mercy, takes humanity upon Himself, His eyes are merged with those of man. Christ sees with the eyes of Adam, and Adam with the eyes of Christ. Every person discovers in Christ, the new Adam, his or her own humanity and the future that lies ahead. The scene is enclosed in a mandorla, an element typical of ancient and medieval iconography, that recalls the coexistence of the two natures, divine and human, in Christ. The three concentric ovals, with colours progressively lighter as we move outward, suggest the movement of Christ Who carries humanity out of the darkness of sin and death. Conversely, the depth of the darker colour suggests the impenetrability of the love of the Father Who forgives all.
"The logo has been registered in the international forum in order to safeguard its rights and to prevent any inappropriate use. It is obvious that permission must be granted by the Pontifical Council for any non-religious use of the logo and that any infringement will be duly prosecuted.
"The calendar of celebrations is to be read from three perspectives. First, some events are being organised which most likely will involve large crowds of people. We wanted the first event, which will be held from January 19-21, to be dedicated to all those involved with the organisation of pilgrimages. It will symbolically emphasise that the Holy Year is a true pilgrimage and should be lived as such. We will ask pilgrims to make a journey on foot, preparing themselves to pass through the Holy Door in a spirit of faith and devotion. It will be essential to prepare those working in the travel industry sector to go beyond the sphere of tourism, because they will be the first to provide assistance to pilgrims.
"We thought it would be important to gather together believers who live in a particular way the experience of mercy. It is for this reason that, on April 3, we will have a celebration for those who in various ways are inspired by a charism of mercy (movements, associations, and religious institutes). On September 4, charitable volunteers will gather from all over the world. A volunteer is a dynamic witness of someone who lives the works of mercy in its various expressions and deserves to be celebrated in this special way. Similarly,for those who are inspired in a particular way by Mary, there will be a special day on October 9 to celebrate her as the Mother of Mercy. There will be a number of events dedicated particularly to youth, who upon receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation are called to profess their faith. For those between the ages of 13 and 16, for whom there are few opportunities for involvement within the ordinary pastoral life of the Church, we have reserved the date of April 24, as World Youth Day, which will be held in Krakow from July 26-31, is geared toward youth of an older age bracket.
"Another event will be for deacons who by their vocation and ministry are called to preside in works of charity in the life of the Christian community. Their Jubilee will be held on May 29.On June 3, which marks the 160th anniversary of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, there will be a Jubilee celebration for priests. On September 25 there will be the Jubilee of catechists

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 086
DATE 08-05-2015

Summary:
- Pope Francis: sport is an educational path
- Programme of the Pope's apostolic trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay
- Statutes of the Commission for the Protection of Minors approved
- Publication of the Chirograph by which Pope Francis instituted the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
- The Pope meets with a group of evangelical pastors
- Audiences

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Pope Francis: sport is an educational path
Vatican City, 8 May 2015 (VIS) - "Sport is an educational path", said the Holy Father this morning as he received in audience seven thousand members of the Italian Tennis Federation in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. "There are three fundamental pillars for children and young people", he added: "Education - in school and in the family - sport, and work. When we have all three of these, then there exist the conditions for developing a full and authentic life, thus avoiding those dependencies that poison and ruin existence".
"The Church is interested in sport because she has man, the full man, at heart,
and recognises that sporting activity has an impact on the formation of the person, on relationships, and on spirituality. You athletes have a mission to accomplish: to be, for those who admire you, valid role models. And you too, directors, trainers and sports workers, are called upon to give good witness to human values, as masters of a sporting practice that is always fair and clear".
The Pope commented that tennis is a very competitive sport, but "the pressure to achieve significant results must never drive you to take short cuts such as in the case of doping. How ugly and sterile a victory is if it is obtained by cheating and deceiving others".
"The apostle Paul uses the example of the athlete to illustrate an important characteristic of human existence", said the bishop of Rome. "'Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that
you may obtain it'. In a certain sense, this is your daily experience in tennis.
But St. Paul refers to the challenge of giving an ultimate meaning to life itself. I would therefore exhort each one of you to play the game not only in sport - as you already do, and with excellent results - but also in life, in the
search for goodness, true goodness, without fear, with courage and enthusiasm. Play the game with others and with God, giving the best of yourself, spending your life for what is truly valuable and which stands the test of time. Put your
talents to the service of the encounter between people, friendship, and inclusion".

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Programme of the Pope's apostolic trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay
Vatican City, 8 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today published the programme of the Holy Father's apostolic trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay (5 to 13 July 2015).
The Pope will leave Rome's Fiumicino airport at 9 a.m. on Sunday 5 July and will arrive at the Mariscal Sucre airport in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, at 3
p.m. local time, where the welcome ceremony will be held. On Monday 6 he will proceed to Guayaquil to celebrate Mass in the shrine of Divine Mercy, after which he will lunch at the Colegio Javier with the Jesuit community. Upon return
to Quito, he will pay a courtesy visit to the Ecuadorian president in the presidential palace and will subsequently visit the Cathedral. In the morning of
Tuesday 7 July he will meet with the bishops of Ecuador in the Congress Centre of the Bicentenary park, where he will celebrate Mass. In the afternoon he will encounter representatives of schools and universities in the Pontifical University of Ecuador, and later, representatives of civil society in the Church
of San Francisco, after which he will pay a private visit to the "Iglesia de la Compania". On Wednesday 8, he will first visit the Rest Home of the Missionaries
of Charity, and will then meet with clergy, men and women religious and seminarians at the national Marian shrine, El Quinche. On the same day he will depart by air for Bolivia.
Upon arrival at the airport of El Alto in La Paz, he will give an address and, following the welcome ceremony, will transfer to the Government Palace to pay a courtesy visit to the president. From there, he will go to the Cathedral of La Paz, where he will meet with the civil authorities, after which he will travel by air to Santa Cruz de la Sierra where he will spend the night. On Thursday 9 he will celebrate Mass in the the square of Cristo Redentor, and will meet with men and women religious in the Don Bosco school, after which he will participate
in the World Meeting of Popular Movements in the Expo trade fair centre. On Friday 10 he will visit the Santa Cruz-Palmasola re-education centre and, in the
same morning, will meet with the bishops of Bolivia in the parish church of Santa Cruz. The Pope will leave Bolivia from the Viru Viru airport in Santa Cruz
de la Sierra, destined for Paraguay; his aircraft is expected to land at around 3 p.m. local time in the Silvio Pettirossi airport of Asuncion.
After arriving in Paraguay, the Pope will pay a courtesy visit to the president
in the Palacio de Lopez, where he will also meet with the authorities and the diplomatic corps. On Saturday 11 July, he will visit the "Ninos de Acosta Nu" general paediatric hospital and will subsequently officiate at Mass in the square of the Marian sanctuary of Caacupe. In the afternoon he will meet with representatives of civil society in the Leon Condou stadium of the San Jose school. The day will conclude with the celebration of vespers with the bishops, priests, deacons, men and women religious, seminarians and Catholic movements in
the metropolitan cathedral of Our Lady of Asuncion. Sunday 12 will begin with a visit to the people of Banado Norte in the Chapel of San Juan Batista, and Mass in the Nu Guazu field. The Holy Father will meet the bishops of Paraguay in the Cultural Centre of the apostolic nunciature, where they will then dine. His last
engagement will be a meeting with young people at the Costanera riverside area. At 7 p.m. local time Francis will depart by air for Rome, where he is expected to arrive on Monday 13 July at around 1.45 p.m.

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Statutes of the Commission for the Protection of Minors approved
Vatican City, 8 May 2015 (VIS) - On 21 April, Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, approved by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff, "ad experimentum" for three years, the Statutes of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of
Minors, the draft of which had been presented by Cardinal Sean O'Malley, president of the aforementioned Commission.
The Statutes will be published today in the Italian original and in English translation. The document is composed of six articles: Nature and Competence,

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 090
DATE 15-05-2015

Summary:
- Francis receives the president of Romania on the 25th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations with the Holy See
- To the bishops of the Central African Republic: justice, truth and honesty in institutional transition
- Coaches, be an example of integrity
- Canonisation of Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas and Maryam Baouardy: a sign of hope for the men and women of the Middle East
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Francis receives the president of Romania on the 25th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations with the Holy See
Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of Romania, Klaus Werner Iohannis, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, which took place on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Romania on 15 May 1990, the parties focused on bilateral relations characterised
by fruitful collaboration, as well as the relations between the State authorities and the local Catholic communities, and the healthy co-existence of minorities.
Attention then turned to issues regarding various regions in the world.

___________________________________________________________

To the bishops of the Central African Republic: justice, truth and honesty in institutional transition
Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - The role of the Church in the process of national reconciliation, Christian formation and the deepening of faith at all levels, and the defence of the family as the primary locus for learning forgiveness and faith were the central themes of the discourse Pope Francis handed to the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of the Central African Republic this morning, at the end of their "ad Limina" visit. "I would like you to convey to all your people the assurance of my closeness", writes the Holy Father. "I know of the suffering that they have experienced and continue to experience, as well as the countless testimonies of faith and fidelity Christians have rendered to the risen Christ on numerous occasions. I am particularly aware of all that your communities have done to for victims of violence and for refugees".
"Your task is difficult, but it touches the very mystery of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again. It is when evil and death seem to triumph that the hope of renewal in Christ emerges. It is when hatred and violence are unleashed that we are called upon - and find the strength through the power of the Cross and the grace of Baptism - to respond with forgiveness and love. If, sadly, this has not
always been the case in the recent events that you have experienced, it is a sign that the Gospel has not yet deeply penetrated the heart of the People of God, to the point of changing their reflexes and their behaviour. Your churches are the result of recent evangelisation, and your primary mission is to continue
the work recently begun. You must not be discouraged by the storm you are passing through, but on the contrary must find, in faith and hope, a source of renewed enthusiasm and dynamism".
Christian formation and the deepening of faith at all levels must be the bishops' priorities, "so that the Gospel permeates the life of the baptised, for
the good not only of the Christian communities, but also the whole of Central African society. ... You, brothers in the episcopate, must play an indispensable
prophetic role during the current institutional transition, recalling and reflecting the witness of the fundamental values of justice, truth and honesty, which are the foundation of any renewal, promoting dialogue and peaceful coexistence between members of different societies and ethnicities, thus encouraging reconciliation and social cohesion, which is the key to the future. ... You are called upon to form the conscience of the faithful, and indeed that
of
all the people, as your voice is heard and respected by all. It is in this way that you should take your rightful place in current developments, avoiding direct involvement in political quarrels. However, by forming and encouraging the laity so they are steadfast in their faith and solidly trained in the social
doctrine of the Church, able to engage in political debate and to take responsibility - their role - you are able to gradually transform society according to the Gospel and to prepare a happy future for your people".
The Pope also emphasises the formation of seminarians and priests, and thanks them for their witness even in the most difficult situations, and he recalls the
importance of consecrated persons who live close to afflicted populations and whose devotion is praiseworthy.
Finally, he spoke about families, "who are the first victims of violence and who are too often destabilised or destroyed as a result of the departure of a member, bereavement, poverty, discord and separations. I wish to express to them
my closeness and my affection. ... Families are not only the privileged location
for the announcement of faith, the practice of Christian virtues and the cradle of many priestly and religious vocations, but they are also 'the best setting for learning and applying the culture of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation',
which your country needs. It is essential that the family be protected and defended 'so that it may offer society the service expected of it, that of providing men and women capable of building a social fabric of peace and harmony'. I can therefore only encourage you to accord to the pastoral care of marriage the attention that it deserves, and not to be discouraged by resistance
due to cultural traditions, human weakness or the new forms of ideological colonisation that are spreading everywhere".

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Coaches, be an example of integrity
Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - Pope Francis has sent a message to Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, for the international study seminar on the theme "Coaches: Educating People", organised by the dicastery's Church and Sport section.
"We all, in life, need educators: mature, wise and balanced people who help us to grow in the family, in study, in work, in faith", writes the Holy Father. "The presence of a good coach-educator is shown to be providential especially during the years of adolescence and early youth, when the personality is developing and in search of role models to refer to and identify with. ...In this delicate phase of life, a coach bears a great responsibility: he often has the privilege of spending many hours each week with the young and of having a great influence on them in terms of their behaviour and personality. ... How important it is, then, that a coach be an example of integrity, coherence, good judgement, impartiality, and also joy, patience, and the capacity for appreciation and benevolence towards all, and especially the most disadvantaged!".
"And how important it is for him to offer an example of faith!", he adds. "Faith always helps us to raise our gaze towards God, and not to treat any of our activities as absolute, including sport ... as well as to maintain the just distance and wisdom to put into perspective both our defeats and our victories. Faith gives us this outlook of goodness towards others which helps us overcome the temptation of excessive rivalry and aggression, which enables us to understand the dignity of each person, including those who are less gifted or privileged. The coach, in this respect, may make a very valuable contribution to
creating a climate of solidarity and inclusion in relation to marginalised young
people or those at risk socially, finding suitable ways and methods to involve them in sport and in the experience of socialisation. A coach with human and spiritual balance will also know how to preserve the authentic values of sport

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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 091
DATE 18-05-2015

Summary:
- Meeting of the Holy Father with the Heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia
- Pray for persecuted Christians, says Francis to the women religious in Rome for the canonisation of the Palestinian saints
- The Pope canonises four new saints
- Regina Coeli: appeal for prayers for Burundi
- Francis receives the president of Palestine: the importance of interreligious dialogue and the fight against terrorism
- "Never fail to listen to those who knock at your door", say the Pope to men and women religious in Rome
- The Pontifical Council for the Family presents the initiative "The Great Mystery: the Gospel of the family, school of humanity for our times"
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Meeting of the Holy Father with the Heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia
Vatican City, 18 May 2015 (VIS) - This morning at 9 a.m., in the Sala Bologna of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father met with the heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia.

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Pray for persecuted Christians, says Francis to the women religious in Rome for
the canonisation of the Palestinian saints
Vatican City, 18 May 2015 (VIS) - "I am giving you a mission: pray to the two new saints for peace in your land, so that there may be an end to this interminable war, and to bring peace among peoples", said Pope Francis this morning as he received in audience the Carmelite Sisters of Bethlehem and the Middle East and the Sisters of the Rosary, in Rome to attend the canonisation of
Mary of Jesus Crucified and Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas.
"Pray too for Christians who are persecuted, driven away from their homes and their land, and victims of 'white-gloved' persecution, hidden but present: white-gloved persecution and terrorism. Keep praying for peace".
The Holy Father, who greeted the women religious during an interval in his meeting with the heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, invited them all to pray a Hail Mary, each in her own language.

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The Pope canonises four new saints
Vatican City, 17 May 2015 (VIS) - "Each one of Christ's followers is called to become a witness to His resurrection, above all in those human settings where forgetfulness of God and human disorientation are most evident", said the Pope in the homily he pronounced during the Mass for the canonisation of four new saints: Jeanne-Emilie de Villeneuve (1811-1854), French nun and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Castres; Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception (nee Maria Cristina Brando, 1856-1906), Italian nun and founder of the Oblation Sisters of the Holy Sacrament; Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas (nee Maryam Sultanah, 1843-1927), Palestinian co-founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Rosary of Jerusalem; and Mary of Jesus Crucified (nee Maryam Baouardy 1846-1878) Palestinian nun of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. The solemn ceremony, which took place in a packed St. Peter's Square, was attended by more than two thousand Christians from the Middle East, the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, and an Israeli delegation whom the Pope greeted at the end of the celebration.
In his homily, the Holy Father, citing the Acts of the Apostles, recalls that their mission of announcing Jesus, of whose resurrection they were eyewitnesses,
was a community rather than an individual undertaking. Thanks to the witness of the Twelve, many people came to believe; from faith in the risen Lord, Christian
communities were born and are born continually. "We too, today, base our faith in the risen Lord on the witness of the Apostles, which has come down to us through the mission of the Church", he said. "Our faith is firmly linked to their testimony, as to an unbroken chain which spans the centuries, made up not only by the successors of the Apostles, but also by succeeding generations of Christians. Like the Apostles, each one of Christ's followers is called to become a witness to His resurrection, above all in those human settings where forgetfulness of God and human disorientation are most evident".
For this to happen, "we need to abide in the risen Christ and in His love, ... like Sister Jeanne Emilie de Villeneuve, who consecrated her life to God and to the poor, the sick, the imprisoned and the exploited, becoming for them and for all a concrete sign of the Lord's merciful love". This same love conquered another of the new saints, Sister Maria Cristina Brando, who "from prayer and her intimate encounter with the risen Jesus present in the Eucharist received strength to endure suffering and to give herself, as bread which is broken, to many people who had wandered far from God and yet hungered for authentic love".
Another essential aspect of witness to the risen Lord is unity among His disciples, in the image of His own unity with the Father. "From this eternal love between the Father and the Son, poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, our mission and our fraternal communion draw strength; this love is the ever-flowing source of our joy in following the Lord along the path of His poverty, His virginity and His obedience; and this same love calls us to cultivate contemplative prayer". This was the love that Sister Mariam Baouardy experienced: "poor and uneducated, she was able to counsel others and provide theological explanations with extreme clarity, the fruit of her constant dialogue with the Holy Spirit. Her docility to the Holy Spirit also made her a means of encounter and fellowship with the Muslim world". So too, Sister Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas "came to understand clearly what it means to radiate the love of God in the apostolate, and to be a witness to meekness and unity. She shows us the importance of becoming responsible for one another, of living lives of service one to another".
The "luminous example" of the four new saints, who abide in God and in His love, inspires us, in our lives as Christians, "to proclaim by our words and our
lives the resurrection of Jesus, to live in unity with one another and with charity towards all", concluded Pope Francis.

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Regina Coeli: appeal for prayers for Burundi
Vatican City, 17 May 2015 (VIS) - Following the Mass for canonisation and before praying the Regina Coeli, the Pope greeted all those present in St. Peter's Square to pay homage to the four new saints, and in particular the official delegations from Palestine, France, Italy, Israel and Jordan. "May their intercession renew the missionary impulse in their countries of origin. Inspired by their example of mercy, charity and reconciliation, may the Christians of these lands look with hope to the future, continuing their path of
solidarity and fraternal co-existence".
He also addressed the faithful of the Czech Republic, gathered today in the shrine of Svaty Kopecek to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of St. John Paul II's visit. He also noted that yesterday in Venice, Italy, the priest Luigi
Carburlotto was proclaimed blessed. Founder of the Daughters of St. Joseph, this
"exemplary pastor ... led an intense spiritual and apostolic life, entirely dedicated to the good of souls".
He concluded by inviting those present "to pray for the dear people of Burundi,
who are experiencing a delicate moment. May the Lord help all to flee from violence and to act responsibly for the good of the country".

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Francis receives the president of Palestine: the importance of interreligious dialogue and the fight against terrorism
Vatican City, 16 May 2015 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father Francis received in audience Mahmoud Abbas, president of the State of Palestine, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States. President Abbas will attend tomorrow's canonisation of the two Palestinian nuns, for which he thanked the Holy Father.
During the cordial discussions, great satisfaction was expressed for the accord
reached on the text of a comprehensive Agreement between the Parties on various essential aspects of the life and the activity of the Catholic Church in Palestine, to be signed in the near future.
Attention then turned to the peace process with Israel, and the hope was expressed that direct negotiations between the Parties be resumed in order to find a just and lasting solution to the conflict. To this end the wish was reiterated that, with the support of the international Community, Israelis and Palestinians may take with determination courageous decisions to promote peace. Finally, with reference to the conflicts that afflict the Middle East, and in

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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 093
DATE 20-05-2015

Summary:
- Education, the natural vocation of the family
- The Pope joins the Catholics of China in prayer and recalls Christians persecuted for their faith
- Cardinal Parolin: when the future of the planet is at stake, there are no political frontiers, barriers and walls that can protect us from environmental and social degradation
- The Holy See at the 68th Assembly of the World Health Organisation
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Education, the natural vocation of the family
Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - The education of children as the natural vocation of the family was the theme of Pope Francis' catechesis during this Wednesday's general audience in St. Peter's Square.
The Holy Father, first citing the words of St. Paul to the Colossians: "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged", emphasised the duty
of parents to accompany their children step by step, without demanding the impossible, so as not to overwhelm them. He then went on to speak of the difficulties faced by mothers and fathers who often only have the opportunity to
see their children in the evening when they return home tired after work - "those who are lucky enough to have work", he added - and also referred to the even more critical situation faced by separated parents, inviting them to ensure
that the conflicts between the couple do not have an impact on the children.
Francis also mentioned that the family has been accused of other things, including authoritarianism, favouritism, conformism, and emotional repression that generates conflicts. "In fact, a fracture has opened up between family and society, undermining mutual trust, and in this way, the alliance between family and society in the education of children has entered into a crisis".
"There are many symptoms", he continued. "For example, in schools this has affected relationships between parents and teachers. ... On the other hand, there
has been a proliferation of so-called 'experts' who occupy the role of parents even in the most intimate aspects of education ... and parents are expected only
to listen, to learn and to adapt. Deprived of their role, they often become excessively apprehensive and possessive with regard to their children, to the point of never correcting them. They tend to increasingly entrust them to 'experts', even in relation to the most delicate and personal aspects of their life, placing themselves in the corner. In this way, parents run the risk of excluding themselves from the life of their children". "How have we arrived at this point? Without doubt in the past parents, or rather, certain educational models, had certain limits. But it is also true that there are mistakes that only parents are authorised to make, as they are able to compensate for them in a way that is impossible for any other person. On the other hand, as we well know, life now spares us little time for speaking, reflection and exchange. Many
parents are 'kidnapped' by their work and other worries, and they find themselves paralysed by the fear of making mistakes. The problem, however, is not only about talking. ... Let us ask ourselves instead: do we seek to understand
'where' our children truly are on their path? Where is their soul? ... And above
all, do we want to know?".
Francis underlined that the Christian communities are called upon to offer support to the educational mission of the family. "At the base of everything there is love, that which God gives to us, that "is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things". Even in the best of families, there is much to be endured, and it takes a lot of patience. Jesus Himself experienced education in the family". "Even in this case, the grace of Christ's love fulfils what is inscribed in human nature. How many excellent examples we have of Christian parents full of human wisdom! They show that good family education is the backbone of humanism. Its spread through society is the resource that allows us to compensate for the shortcomings, the wounds, the lack
of paternity and maternity that affect the least fortunate children, and works true miracles".
"I hope that the Lord may give Christian families the faith, freedom and courage necessary for their missions. If family education rediscovers the pride of its central role, many things will change for the better, for uncertain parents and disappointed children. It is time for fathers and mothers to return from their exile, and to fully resume their role as educators", concluded Francis.

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The Pope joins the Catholics of China in prayer and recalls Christians persecuted for their faith
Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - Following today's catechesis, the Pope remarked that on 24 May Catholics in China pray with devotion to Our Lady Help of Christians, venerated in the Sheshan shrine in Shanghai. "In the statue above
the Shrine, Mary holds her Son aloft, presenting Him to the world with His arms open in a gesture of love and mercy. We too ask Mary to help Catholics in China always to be credible witnesses of this merciful love among their people and to live spiritually united with the rock of Peter upon which the Church is built".
The Holy Father also mentioned the initiative of the Italian Episcopal Conference, which has proposed that the dioceses, on the occasion of the Eve of Pentecost, remember the many brothers and sisters exiled or killed for the mere fact of being Christians. "They are martyrs. I hope that this moment of prayer may help spread the knowledge that religious freedom is an inalienable human right and raise awareness of the tragedy of Christians persecuted in our time, and bring an end to this unacceptable crime".

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Cardinal Parolin: when the future of the planet is at stake, there are no political frontiers, barriers and walls that can protect us from environmental and social degradation
Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a message to the participants in the conference "The New Climate Economy: how economic growth and sustainability can go hand in hand", held today
in the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, in collaboration with the Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace" the World Resource Institute, the New
Climate Economy and the embassy of the Netherlands to the Holy See.
The conference takes place in the context of two key steps in the preparatory process adopted by the United Nations: the UN Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda and the 21st conference on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Paris next December, to adopt a new agreement to face the adverse effects of climate change. "Both of them represent
the serious ethical and moral responsibility that each of us has towards the whole human family, especially the poor and future generations", observed the cardinal.
"When the future of the planet is at stake, there are no political frontiers,

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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 101
DATE 01-06-2015

Summary:
- The Pope continues his visits to the Roman Curia
- Angelus: the Trinity is the final objective of our earthly pilgrimage
- Programme of the Holy Father's visit to Turin
- What science, for what life?
- Francis receives the passengers of the "Children's Train"
- The Pope receives a group of sick children: "You are life's heroes"
- Fr. Lombardi issues clarification on Cardinal George Pell
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

The Pope continues his visits to the Roman Curia
Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father visited the dicasteries of the Roman Curia located in Piazza Pio XII, no. 10.

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Angelus: the Trinity is the final objective of our earthly pilgrimage
Vatican City, 31 May 2015 (VIS) - During the Holy Trinity Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis explained to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square that "the Trinity is ... the mystery of the love of the living God. ... Jesus revealed this
mystery to us. And when, resurrected, he sent the disciples to evangelise the people, he told them to baptise them 'in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'".
"Therefore, today's liturgical solemnity, while it makes us contemplate the wonderful mystery from which we come and to which we are going, also makes us renew our mission to live in communion with God and to live in communion with each other, based on the model of divine communion. We are required to live not without others, or above and against others, but with others, for others, and in
others. This means welcoming and bearing witness to the beauty of the Gospel together. ... In a word" added Francis, "we have been entrusted the task of building up the ecclesial community so that it is increasingly a family, able to
reflect the splendour of the Trinity and to evangelise not only through words, but also with the strength of God's love that abides in us".
The Trinity is also "the final objective of our earthly pilgrimage. ... Therefore, we seek to maintain the 'high tone' of our life, recalling the reason
and the glory for which we exist, work, struggle and suffer; and the immense reward to which we are called". The mystery of the Trinity "embraces all of our life and all our Christian being. We remember it, for example, every time we make the sign of the Cross: in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit", said the Holy Father, inviting the thousands of faithful present in St. Peter's Square to make the sign of the Cross with him.
Then, on the final day of the month of May, he commended all those present to the Virgin Mary. "May She, who more than any other creature ... knew the mystery
of the Most Holy Trinity, take us by the hand and guide us. ... Let us also ask Her to help the Church, so that she might be a mystery of communion, a hospitable community where every person, especially the poor and marginalised, may find welcome and feel like a daughter of God, wanted and loved".
After the Marian prayer, the Pope mentioned that today in Bayonne, France, the priest Louis-Edouard Cestac, co-founder of the Servants of Mary, was declared blessed. "His witness of love for God and neighbour inspires the Church to live the Gospel of charity with joy".
Finally, he invited all those who meet in Rome on 4 June, festivity of Corpus Christi, to attend the Mass to be celebrated in the Basilica of St. John Lateran
and to participate in the procession to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, "a solemn public act of faith and love for Jesus-Eucharist, present in the midst of
His people".
"Before coming to an end, let us once more make the sign of the Cross, saying aloud, as one, 'In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit'",
recalling the mystery of the Holy Trinity", he concluded.

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Programme of the Holy Father's visit to Turin
Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) - The programme of the Holy Father's pastoral visit to Turin, Italy on 21 and 22 June, on the occasion of the extraordinary exposition of the Turin Shroud, was published today.
The Pope will leave by air from Rome's Ciampino airport at 6.30 a.m. on Sunday 21 June, arriving in Turin's Caselle airport an hour later. Upon arrival, he will be greeted by the Archbishop of Turin, Cesare Nosiglia, Sergio Chiamparino,
president of the Piedmont region, Paola Basilone, prefect of Turin, and Piero Fassino, mayor of the city. He will transfer by car to Piazzetta Reale, where he
will address representatives of the world of work.
At 9.15 a.m. the Holy Father will then enter the Cathedral on foot, where he will pray before the Holy Shroud and visit the altar of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, in the presence of the cloistered nuns and priests residing in clergy houses in the diocese, the Chapter of canons, the Commission for the Holy Shroud, relatives of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Cardinal Severino Poletto, archbishop emeritus of Turin, and the bishops of the episcopal conference of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta.
He will then transfer to Piazza Vittorio where he will concelebrate Holy Mass, pronounce a homily and pray the Angelus. Following the celebration he will proceed to the archbishop's residence by car, where he will lunch with detainees
from the "Ferrante Aporti" detention centre for minors, some immigrants and a Rom family. This will be followed by a visit to the Shrine of the Consolata where he will pray privately with the priests of the community.
At 3 p.m. he will meet with the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the basilica of the same name. He will then travel by car to the church of Cottolengo, where he will address the sick and disabled faithful. At 5.30 p.m. he will return to Piazza Vittorio to meet with young people, and will retire to the archbishop's residence where he will spend the night.
On Monday 22 at 9 a.m. Francis will visit the Waldensian Temple where he will be received by the pastors and the president of the consistory of the Evangelical Waldensian Church, and will give an address. At 10.15 he will attend
a strictly private meeting with some members of his family (the Pope's family originates from the Italian region of Piedmont) in the archbishop's residence, for whom he will celebrate Mass, and with whom he will lunch.
Before leaving the archbishop's residence, the Pope will meet the members of the Committee for the Exposition of the Shroud and the organisers of the event. At 5 p.m. He will leave for Caselle airport, and will be greeted on the way by the young people of "Estate Ragazzi". Half an hour later he will depart by air for Rome, where he is expected to arrive at 6.30 p.m.

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What science, for what life?
Vatican City, 30 May 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Sala Clementina Pope Francis received in audience the participants in the conference "What science for what life?", which concluded yesterday in Rome.
"Your service in favour of the human person is important and encouraging", remarked the Holy Father. "Indeed, protection of life represents a fundamental task, especially in a society afflicted by the negative throwaway logic. ... To protect the person, you place two essential actions at the centre: reaching out to encounter, and encountering to support".
"Christ's love drives us to become servants of the youngest and the elderly, of
every man and woman, for whom the primordial right to life must be recognised and protected", he continued. "The existence of the human person, to whom you dedicate your care, is also your constitutive principle; it is life in its unfathomable depth that is at the origin of and accompanies all scientific progress; it is the miracle of life that always challenges any form of scientific presumption, restoring primacy to wonder and beauty. ... We reassert

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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 104
DATE 05-06-2015

Summary:
- The Pope receives the president of Chile: further intensify existing good relations
- To the Dehonians: be present in the new areopagus of evangelisation
- Pontifical Missionary Societies: opening up to geographic and human boundaries
- Condolences for victims of explosion in a service station in Accra, Ghana
- Solemnity of Corpus Christi: the Eucharist is not a reward for the good
- Pope Francis' new encyclical to be published on 18 June
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts
- Notice

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The Pope receives the president of Chile: further intensify existing good relations
Vatican City, 5 June 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace Pope Francis received in audience the president of the Republic of Chile, Michelle Bachelet Jeria, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, mention was made of the existing good bilateral
relations between the Parties, in the hope that they may be further strengthened
within the framework of the provisions of international law. Issues of common interest such as the protection of human life, education and social peace were then addressed. In this context, emphasis was placed on the role and the positive contribution of Catholic institutions in Chilean society, especially in
relation to human promotion, education and assistance to those most in need.
This was followed by an overview of the situation in Latin America, with particular reference to various challenges affecting the continent.

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To the Dehonians: be present in the new areopagus of evangelisation
Vatican City, 5 June 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Consistory Hall the Pope received in audience 120 participants in the General Chapter of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians), based on the theme "Merciful, in community, with the poor". Francis took the opportunity to express his best wishes to the new Superior General, Fr. Heiner Wilmer, and to greet all the Dehonians who work "often in difficult conditions in various parts of the world".
"Religious life is indicated as a fully evangelical life, in which the beatitudes are fully realised", remarked the Pope. "Therefore, as consecrated persons, you are required to be merciful. This means, first and foremost, living
in profound communion with God in prayer, in meditation on the Sacred Scripture,
in the celebration of the Eucharist, so that all our life may be a path of growth in God's mercy. To the extent to which we make ourselves aware of the freely-given love of the Lord and welcome it in ourselves, our tenderness, understanding and goodness towards the people around us will also grow".
Religious life is also "the cohabitation of believers who feel they are loved by God and who seek to love Him. ... In the experience of God's mercy and His love
you will also find the point of the harmonisation of your communities. This necessitates the commitment to increasingly savour the mercy that your brethren show to you and to offer them the wealth of your mercy", said the bishop of Rome
to the Dehonians, recalling in this regard the example of their founder, Fr. Leon Dehon (1843-1925).
"Mercy is the word that summarises the Gospel; we might say that it is the 'face' of Christ, that face that He showed when he went towards everyone, when he healed the sick, when he shared a table with the sinners, and especially when, nailed to the cross, he forgave: there we find the face of divine mercy. And the Lord calls upon us to be 'channels' of this love firstly towards the least among us, the poorest, who are privileged in His eyes. Let yourselves be continually challenged by the situations of fragility and poverty with which you
come into contact, and endeavour to offer in the appropriate ways the witness of
charity that the Spirit infuses in your hearts". The Holy Father concluded, "Mercy will allow you to open up promptly to current needs and to be industriously present in the new areopagus of evangelisation, prioritising - even if this may involve sacrifices - openness towards those situations of extreme need, symptomatic of the maladies of today's society".

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Pontifical Missionary Societies: opening up to geographic and human boundaries
Vatican City, 5 June 2015 (VIS) - Missionary activity is the paradigm of all the work of the Church, said Pope Francis to the participants in the general assembly of the Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS), and reiterated that the announcement of the Gospel is "the first and constant concern of the Church, her
essential task, her greatest challenge, and the source of her renewal. ... Without
the restlessness and anxiety of evangelisation it is not possible to develop a credible and effective pastoral ministry uniting proclamation and human promotion".
Therefore, the members of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and the national directors of the PMS have the difficult task of opening up to "the broad and universal horizons of humanity, its geographical and above all human boundaries", accompanying the life of the young Churches throughout the world and encouraging the People of God to fully live the universal mission. "You know the wonders that the Holy Spirit works for humanity through these Churches, often with scarce resources and even through the difficulties and persecutions they suffer for their faith and their witness to the Word of God and in defence of humanity. In those human peripheries the Church is required to
go into the streets, towards the many brothers and sisters of ours who live without the strength, light and consolation of Jesus Christ, without a community
of faith to welcome them, without horizons of meaning and of life".
The Pope emphasised that the PMS, on account of their characteristic charism, are attentive and sensitive to the needs of mission territories and, in particular, the poorest human groups. "They are instruments of communion between
Churches, promoting and implementing the sharing of people and economic resources. They are committed to supporting seminarians, presbyters and women religious of the young Churches in mission territories in the Pontifical Colleges. Faced with such a beautiful and important task, faith and love of Christ have the capacity to lead us everywhere to announce the Gospel of love, fraternity and justice. This is achieved through prayer, evangelical courage and
the witness of the beatitudes".
However, he warned, "be careful not to give in to the temptation to become a non-governmental organisation, an office for the distribution of ordinary and extraordinary aid. Money helps but can also become the ruin of the Mission. Functionalism, when it is placed in the centre or occupies a major space, as if it were the most important issue, will lead you to ruin, as the first way to die
is to take the 'sources' for granted - that is, He Who inspires the Mission. Please, with all your plans and programmes, do not cut Jesus Christ out of missionary work, which is His work. A Church that is reduced to pursuing efficiency of the party apparatus at all costs is already dead, even though the structures and programmes in favour of the clergy and 'self-employed' laity could last for centuries".
"True evangelisation is not possible without the sanctifying energy of the Holy
Spirit, the only one able to renew, revive and give impetus to the Church in her
bold outreach to evangelise all peoples", concluded the Pope.

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Condolences for victims of explosion in a service station in Accra, Ghana
Vatican City, 5 June 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 105
DATE 06-06-2015

Summary:
- The Pope arrives in Sarajevo: heal the wounds of the past and look to the future with hope
- Mass in Kosevo stadium: "Be artisans of peace"
- Decrees for the Causes of Saints
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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The Pope arrives in Sarajevo: heal the wounds of the past and look to the future with hope
Vatican City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) - Pope Francis arrived shortly after 9 a.m. in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the destination of his eighth apostolic trip. The central theme of the Holy See's concern for Bosnia-Herzegovina - visited twice by St. John Paul II - is peace, and this is perpetuated in the theme chosen for Pope Francis' visit: "Peace be with you".
The Pontiff, who left Rome at 7.30 a.m., was received at the international airport of Sarajevo by President Dragan Crovic, the Croat member of the tripartite (Serb, Croat and Bosnian) Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, by the president of the Episcopal Conference and cardinal archbishop of Sarajevo, Vinko
Puljic, and by Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, apostolic nuncio. From their he transferred by car to the presidential palace for the welcome ceremony and courtesy visit to the members of the Presidency: acting president Mladen Ivanic,
the Croatian member Dragan Covic and the Bosnian member Bakir Izetbegovic.
Following the courtesy visit, Francis entered the presidential drawing room where he pronounced his first discourse in Sarajevo, before the civil authorities, the diplomatic corps, the bishops and various other religious leaders.
"I am pleased to be in this city which, although it has suffered so much in the
bloody conflicts of the past century, has once again become a place of dialogue and peaceful coexistence", said the Pope. "Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina have a special significance for Europe and for the whole world. Bosnia and Herzegovina has advanced from a culture of conflict and war to a culture of encounter.
"For centuries in these lands, communities were present who professed different
religions, who belonged to distinct ethnic and cultural groups, each endowed with its own rich characteristics; each fostered its own traditions, without these differences having impeded for any length of time the establishment of mutually fraternal and cordial relationships", he continued. "The very architecture and layout of Sarajevo reveal visible and substantial characteristics of these different communities, each a short distance from the other - synagogues, churches and mosques - so much so that Sarajevo has been called the 'Jerusalem of Europe'. Indeed it represents a crossroads of cultures,
nations and religions, a status which requires the building of new bridges, while maintaining and restoring older ones, thus ensuring avenues of communication that are efficient, sure and fraternal.
"We need to communicate with each other, to discover the gifts of each person, to promote that which unites us, and to regard our differences as an opportunity
to grow in mutual respect", he remarked. "Patience and trust are called for in such dialogue, permitting individuals, families and communities to hand on the values of their own culture and welcome the good which comes from others' experiences. In so doing, even the deep wounds of the recent past will be set aside, so that the future may be looked to with hope, facing the daily problems that all communities experience with hearts and minds free of fear and resentment.
"I have come here as a pilgrim of peace and dialogue, eighteen years after St. John Paul II's historic visit, which took place less than two years after the signing of the Dayton Peace Accord. I am happy to see the progress which has been made, for which we must thank the Lord and so many men and women of good will. However, we should not become complacent with what has been achieved so far, but rather seek to make further efforts towards reinforcing trust and creating opportunities for growth in mutual knowledge and respect. In order to favour this path, the solidarity and collaboration of the International Community is fundamental, in particular that of the European Union and of all Countries and Organisations operating in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina is indeed an integral part of Europe, the successes and tragic experiences of the former are integrated fully into the latter's history of successes and tragedies. They constitute, too, a clear call to pursue every avenue of peace, in order that processes already underway can be
yet more resilient and binding.
"In this land, peace and harmony among Croats, Serbs and Bosnians, and the initiatives taken to extend these even further, as well as the cordial and fraternal relations among Muslims, Hebrews and Christians, and other religious minorities, take on an importance that goes beyond its boundaries. These initiatives offer a witness to the entire world that such cooperation among varying ethnic groups and religions in view of the common good is possible; that
a plurality of cultures and traditions can coexist and give rise to original and
effective solutions to problems; that even the deepest wounds can be healed by purifying memories and firmly anchoring hopes in the future. I saw at my arrival
this morning in the Muslim, Orthodox, Jewish, Catholic and children of other religions whom I met at the airport - together and joyful! This is a sign of hope! May we stake our future on this.
"In order to successfully oppose the barbarity of those who would make of every
difference the occasion and pretext for further unspeakable violence, we need to
recognise the fundamental values of human communities, values in the name of which we can and must cooperate, build and dialogue, pardon and grow; this will allow different voices to unite in creating a melody of sublime nobility and beauty, instead of the fanatical cries of hatred.
"Responsible politicians are called to the important task of being the first servants of their communities, taking actions which safeguard above all the fundamental rights of the human person, among which the right to religious freedom stands out. In this way it will be possible to build, with concrete measures, a more peaceful and just society, working step-by-step together to solve the many problems which people experience daily. In order for this to come
about, it is vital that all citizens be equal both before the law and its implementation, whatever their ethnic, religious or geographical affiliation. All alike will then feel truly involved in public life. Enjoying the same rights, they will be able to make their specific contribution to the common good.
"The Catholic Church, by means of the prayer and the works of her faithful and her institutions, is taking an part in the process of material and moral reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina, sharing the country's joys and concerns. The Church is committed to offering her particular solicitude and closeness to the poor and to those most in need, inspired by the teaching and example of her Divine Master, Jesus. The Holy See praises the work carried out in these recent years, and is determined to continue promoting cooperation, dialogue and solidarity, in the sure knowledge that peace and mutual listening in an ordered and civil society are indispensable conditions for authentic and lasting development. Through the contribution of all, and leaving behind completely the dark clouds of storms gone by, the Holy See fervently hopes that Bosnia and Herzegovina may continue along the journey embarked upon, so that after the winter chill, springtime may come to blossom. And already we see spring blooming here!" exclaimed the Pope.
"With these thoughts I implore the Almighty for peace and prosperity in Sarajevo and all of Bosnia and Herzegovina", he concluded.

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Mass in Kosevo stadium: "Be artisans of peace"
Vatican City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) - Following his address to the authorities of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Pope Francis travelled by car to the Kosevo stadium, where

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 108
DATE 10-06-2015

Summary:
- General audience: the family, the closest hospital
- The tenth meeting of the Council of Cardinals comes to an end
- The Holy See and the United States sign agreement against tax evasion
- The Holy See at the 39th Conference of the FAO: sustainable human development - Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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General audience: the family, the closest hospital
Vatican City, 10 June 2015 (VIS) - Illness, a common experience in the life of families from childhood until advanced age, was the theme of the Pope's catechesis during this week's Wednesday general audience. "The family has always
been the 'closest hospital'. And still, today, in many parts of the world, the hospital is a privilege enjoyed by few, and is often far away. Mothers, fathers,
brothers, sisters and grandparents provide care and help heal the sick".
In the Gospel there are many encounters between Jesus and the sick, and his commitment to caring for them. Christ "presents himself publicly as one who fights against sickness and who has come to cure man of every ill: ills of the spirit and of the body". The Pope remarked that the scene in the Gospel of Mark - "that evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by
demons" - is "truly moving. ... If I think of today's great cities, I ask myself,
where are the doors before which we can bring the sick, hoping they will be healed. Jesus never withdrew from their care, He never passed them by, He never turned away. And when a father or a mother, or even simply friends brought an invalid before Him, for Him to touch and heal, He wasted no time; healing came before the law, even sacred laws such as rest on the Sabbath".
Jesus sent His disciples to fulfil the same task and He gave them the power to heal. "We must keep in mind what He said to the disciples in the episode of the man born blind. The disciples - with the blind man before them - debated about who had sinned, him or his parents, to provoke his blindness. The Lord said clearly: neither him nor his parents; 'but that the works of God might be displayed in him'. And He healed him. Here is the glory of God! Here is the task
of the Church! To help the sick, not to get lost in talk. To help, console, alleviate, always to be near: this is her task".
"The Church invites us to continual prayer for our dear ones who are sick, and prayer for them must never be lacking. Rather, we must pray more, both personally and as a community. ... Faced with sickness, difficulties can also arise in the family as a result of human weakness. But in general illness strengthens family bonds. And I think of how important it is to educate children, starting from infancy, on the importance of solidarity in times of sickness. An education that shelters them from sensitivity to human sickness hardens the heart and anaesthetises the young to the suffering of others, rendering them incapable of facing up to suffering and living the experience of limits".
"The weakness and suffering of our most loved ones ... can be ... a school of life
... and especially when illness is accompanied by prayer and the fraternal, affectionate closeness of families. The Christian community is well aware that the family, during the trials of sickness, must not be left alone. ... This Christian closeness of family to family, is a true treasure for a parish: a treasure of wisdom, that helps families in difficult moments and enables them to
understand the Kingdom of God more clearly than through words".

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The tenth meeting of the Council of Cardinals comes to an end
Vatican City, 10 June 2015 (VIS) - The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., gave a briefing this morning on the work of the tenth meeting of the Council of Cardinals, which began on Monday and concluded this morning in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The Holy Father attended all the sessions, both morning and afternoon, on Monday and Tuesday; however as usual he
did not participate in this morning's session due to the Wednesday general audience.
Cardinal Laurent Mosengwo Pasinya was unable to attend the meeting.
The first day was dedicated largely to the examination of the draft Preamble of
the new Constitution, which will be further elaborated.
With regard to financial and economic reform, Cardinal Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, presented a report with updated information on the financial reforms. He mentioned the appointment of the new Auditor General, the approval of the new Statute for Pension Funds and the completion of the list of bodies subject to the control and supervision of the Council for the Economy, in
accordance with its Statutes. He also referred to three new initiatives of the Council for the Economy, constituting three working groups: one for the analysis
of income and investments; one for human resources management, and a third for the study of the existing IT systems, their compatibility and their efficiency. He concluded by reporting on the progress of the various current activities of the Secretariat for the Economy.
In the afternoon session of 8 June 2015, the Council of Cardinals received a report from Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, OFM Cap. with a proposal for the Holy Father regarding allegations of the abuse of office by a bishop connected to the abuse of minors, originally prepared by the Pontifical Commission for the
Protection of Minors. Cardinal O'Malley's report also included a proposal regarding allegations of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults by clergy.
For each proposal, the report indicated the general terms which define it, issues relating to procedure and to the competent Tribunal, as well as the advantages of the proposal compared with other possible solutions. The text concludes with a list of five specific proposals made to the Holy Father, which are listed below. It is proposed that:
1. because the competence to receive and investigate complaints of the episcopal abuse of office belongs to the Congregations for Bishops, Evangelisation of Peoples, or Oriental Churches, there is the duty to report all
complaints to the appropriate Congregation;
2. the Holy Father mandate the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to judge bishops with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the
abuse of minors;
3. the Holy Father authorise the establishment of a new Judicial Section in the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and appointment of stable personnel to undertake service in the Tribunal. The implementation of this decision would follow consultation with the prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
4. the Holy Father appoint a secretary to assist the prefect with the Tribunal.
The secretary will be responsible for the new Judicial Section and the personnel
of the section will also be available to the prefect for penal processes regarding the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults by clergy. This appointment will also follow the consultation with the prefect of the Congregation;
5. the Holy Father establish a five-year period for further development of these proposals and for completing a formal evaluation of their effectiveness;
The Council of Cardinals agreed unanimously on these proposals and resolved that they be submitted to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, who approved the proposals and authorised the provision of sufficient resources for this purpose.
In the morning of 9 June the Council of Cardinals heard a report given by Msgr.
Dario Vigano, director of the Vatican Television Centre and president of the Commission for Vatican communications instituted by the Holy Father Francis on 23 April 2015 (made public on 30 April), and expressed its unanimous approval of

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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXV - # 709
DATE 11-06-2015

Summary:
- Pope Receives Canadian Prime Minister: Cooperation and Dialogue between Federal Government and Church
- Pope to Participants of FAO's 39th Conference: Responding to the Imperative of
Right of All to Food
- To Bishops of Latvia and Estonia: Be Near to Migrant Families
- Pope's Audience with Vladimir Putin: Ukraine and Middle East, Key Points of Meeting
- National Holy See Day at Milan's Expo 2015
- ROACO Plenary Assembly to Analyze Situation of Christians in Middle East, Armenia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the Holy Land
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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Pope Receives Canadian Prime Minister: Cooperation and Dialogue between Federal
Government and Church
Vatican City, 11 June 2015 (VIS) - This morning, Pope Francis received in audience the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, who subsequently met with Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.
During the course of the cordial discussions, the good relations existing between the Holy See and Canada were noted, as was the positive spirit of cooperation and dialogue between the Canadian federal government and the Church.
In particular, Canada?s commitment to defend and promote religious freedom in the context of fundamental human rights were treated.
Later in the conversation, international political issues were discussed, with reference to Europe and the Middle East and the prospects for peace in that region, as well as the fight against terrorism and environmental issues.

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Pope to Participants of FAO's 39th Conference: Responding to the Imperative of Right of All to Food
Vatican City, 11 June 2015 (VIS) ? The right to food, the problem of waste, the impact of the market on hunger, the primacy of agricultural development, water issues, land grabbing, and dependence on external aid were the central themes of
the address given this morning by Pope Francis to the 450 participants at the 39th Conference of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), whom he received
in audience in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.
?Faced with the poverty of many of our brothers and sisters,? said the Pope, ?sometimes I think that the issue of hunger and agricultural development has now
become one of the many problems in this time of crisis. ? Our tendency to 'defect' when faced with difficult issues is human,? but ?we must respond to the
imperative of access to necessary food is a rightfor all. Human rights permit no
exclusions. Certainly, we can take comfort knowing that the number of hungry persons in 1992, 1.2 million, has been reduced even though the world population has grown. However, there is little point to noting the numbers or even projecting a series of concrete commitments and recommendations to be implemented in policies and investments if we neglect the obligation to 'eradicate hunger and prevent all forms of malnutrition in the world'.?
?Many are worried about statistics regarding waste: a third of food produced is included under this point,? observed the pontiff. ? Reducing waste is essential,
as is reflection on the non-alimentary use of agricultural products, which go in
large amounts to animal feed or to produce biofuels. Certainly we must ensure increasingly healthy environmental conditions, but can we keep excluding some?It
is necessary to raise the awareness of all countries regarding the type of nutritionadopted, and this varies depending on the latitudes. ? But, both in quality and quantity, the situation of uncertainty determined by the weather, by
increased demand, and price uncertainty weigh down the situation.?
?We must also ask ourselves: How much does the market, with its rules, impact world hunger? Of the studies you have made, it has been shown that, since 2008, the price of food has changed trends. It doubled, then stabilized, but with higher values than the previous period. Such volatile prices impede the poorest from making plans or keeping a minimum nutrition. The causes are many. We are rightly concerned with climate change but we cannot forget financial speculation. An example is the prices of wheat, rice, corn, soy, ? sometimes linked to performance funds and therefore, the higher the price the more the fund earns. Here as well, we must take another path, convincing ourselves that the products of the land have a value that we can all'sacred' because they are the fruit of the daily labor of persons, families, and communities of farmers.? ?The purpose of the FAO includes the working of the land, fisheries, livestock, forests,? recalled Pope Francis. ?This development must be at the center of economic activity ...this means supporting effective resilience, specifically reinforcing communities' capacities to cope with crises?natural ones or those caused by human action?and paying attention to the different needs. Thus it will
be possible to pursue a decent standard of living. This commitment includes other critical points. First, it seems difficult to accept the general resignation, disinterest, and even absence of so many, even of states. A times there is the sense that hunger is an unpopular topic, an insoluble problem that can't be dealt with in a legislative or presidential term and therefore can't guarantee consensus. The reasons that lead to limiting thecontributions of ideas, technology, expertise, and funding lie in the unwillingness to make binding commitments seeing that we hide behind the question of the world economic crisis and the idea that there is hunger in all countries. ? But then it is forgotten that, if poverty in one country is a social problem that can find solutions, in other contexts it is a social problem and social policies are
not enough to address it. This attitude may change if we put solidarity at the heart of international relations, transposing the vocabulary of policy options to a policy of the other.?
The Pope also noted the needs of educating persons regarding a proper nutrition... ?We know that in the West the problem is high consumption and waste. In the South, however, it is necessary to encourage local production to ensure nutrition. In many countries with 'chronic hunger', [local produce] is replaced by foreign food, perhaps initially through assistance. Butemergency aid
is not enough and does not always reach the right hands. It creates a dependence
on large producers and, if the country lacks the financial means, then the population winds up not eating and hunger grows.?
?Climate change also makes us think of the forced displacement of populations and the many humanitarian tragedies caused by lack of resources, particularly water, which is already a source of conflict that is expected to increase. It isn't enough to assert that there is a right to water without making the effort to achieve sustainable consumption of this good and to eliminate any waste. ? Besides water, land use also remains a serious problem. Ever more troubling is the seizure of arable land by transnational companies and states, which not only
deprives farmers of an essential commodity, it also directly affects countries' sovereignty. There are too many areas where the foods produced go to foreign countries and the localpopulation is impoverished twice, since they have neither
food nor land. ? We know that the world's food production is largely the work of
family farms. Therefore it is important,? the Pope concluded, ?that the FAO strengthen its partnerships and projects in favor of family businesses, and encourage states to equitably regulate land use and ownership. This may help eliminate the inequalities that are now at the center of international attention.?

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To Bishops of Latvia and Estonia: Be Near to Migrant Families
Vatican City, 11 June 2015 (VIS) ? This morning Pope Francis received in audience prelates of the Episcopal Conferences of Latvia and Estonia at the conclusion of their ad Limina visit. In the speech he addressed to them he reminded them that the Lord has chosen them ?to work in a society that, having been for so long oppressed by regimes based on ideologies that are contrary to human dignity and freedom, is today called to measure itself against other insidious dangers, such as secularism and relativism. While that may make it harder for your pastoral outreach, I urge you continue tirelessly, never losing faith, in proclaiming Christ's Gospel, the Word of salvation for persons of every time and culture.?
?In this renewed evangelization you are not alone. You have your priests who, although few and of many diverse origins, are there by your side with respect,obedience, and generosity. ? I encourage you to take good care of their formation, both in terms of theological and ecclesial preparation as well as in terms of human maturity rooted in a solid spirituality and characterized by friendly openness, capable of discerning the reality of the world in which we live. ? For the growth and journey of your communities, the presence of men and women in the consecrated life is also extremely valuable. Especially in this Year dedicated to them it is opportune to make them understand that they are not
only appreciated for the services they render but primarily for the richness of their charisms and their witness, for the very fact that they are, [their presence] spreads the perfume of Christ among the people of God in how they follow the Gospel counsels.?
?The participation of the lay faithful is also indispensable for the mission of evangelization,? Pope Francis emphasized. ?Your nearness and concern will help themcarry out those responsibilities that, according to the teachings of Vatican
Council II, they are called to undertake in the cultural, social, political, and
also charitable and catechetical fields. ? The lay faithful are the living path

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