After leaving the cathedral, the Pope proceeded to the bishop's residence followed by the seminary, where he lunched with the poor assisted by the diocesan branch of Caritas and the young people assisted at the Saman Mauro Rostagno rehabilitation centre. After lunch, he transferred by car to the Casa Serena where he met with elderly residents, and finally continued on his trip to Sibari.

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MASS IN SIBARI: THOSE WHO TAKE THE PATH OF EVIL ARE EXCOMMUNICATED
Vatican City, 21 June 2014 (VIS) - During his journey from Cassano all'Jonio to Sibari, a distance of slightly less than twenty kilometres, the Pope stopped
in the parish of San Giuseppe where, on 3 May last year, the priest Lazzaro Longobardi was murdered. Bishop Nunzio Galantino, secretary of the Italian Episcopal Conference, described him as "a martyr to charity".
The Holy Father arrived at Marina de Sibari at 4 p.m. and, after greeting the numerous faithful awaiting him, he celebrated the Holy Mass of Corpus Domini, commenting that while on Holy Thursday we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist in the Last Supper, Corpus Domini is a feast primarily of thanksgiving and adoration.
"Indeed, the procession with the Most Holy Sacrament is traditional on this day", he explained. "Adoring Jesus Christ and walking with Him. These are the two inseparable aspects of this feast day, which characterise all the life of the Christian people: a people who adore God and a people who walk, who do not stay in one place, who walk!"
First of all we are people who adore God. We adore God Who is love, Who in Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, Who offered Himself on the Cross to expiate our sins, and through the power of this love, rose from the dead and lives in His Church. We have no God other than Him! When, instead, we substitute adoration of the Lord with adoration of money, the way opens to sin, to personal interest and abuse; when one no longer adores God, the Lord, one becomes an adorer of evil, like those who live through dishonesty and violence.
Your land, so beautiful, knows the signs and the consequences of this sin. The 'ndrangheta is this: adoration of evil and disdain for the common good. We must
fight this evil and expel it. We must say no!", he exclaimed. "The Church, who is so committed to educating consciences, must make increasing efforts to ensure that good may prevail. We ask this of our boys and girls, our young people in need of hope. To be able to respond to these needs, faith can help us. Those who follow this path of evil in life, as the mafiosi do, are not in communion with God: they are excommunicated!"
"Today we confess with our gaze turned to the Corpus Domini, to the Sacrament on the altar. And for this faith we renounce Satan and all his seductions; we renounce the idols of money, vanity, pride, power, violence. We Christians do not wish to worship anything or anyone else in this world other than Jesus Christ, Who is present in the holy Eucharist".
"Perhaps we do not always fully realise the meaning of this: of what consequences our profession of faith has or should have", remarked the Pontiff.
"This, our faith in the real presence of Jesus Christ ... in the consecrated bread and wine is authentic if we make an effort to walk behind Him and with Him. To worship is to walk; a people who worships is a people who walks, seeking to put into practice the commandment He gave to His disciples at the Last Supper: 'as I have loved you, so you must love one another'. A people that
loves God in the Eucharist is a people who walks in charity. Worship God in the
Eucharist, walk with God in fraternal charity".
"Today, as bishop of Rome, I am here to confirm you not only in faith but also
in charity, to accompany you and encourage you on your path with Jesus Charity.
... I extend my support to all the pastors and faithful of the Church in Calabria, courageously committed to evangelisation and promoting styles of life
and initiatives centred on the needs of the poor and the least among us. And I extend this also to the civil authorities who endeavour to live their political
and administrative commitment for what it is, a service to the common good. I encourage all of you to bear witness to concrete solidarity with your brothers and sisters, especially with those most in need of justice, hope and tenderness".
Francis went on to thank God for all the signs of hope that can be seen in families, parishes, associations, and ecclesial movements in Calabria, and urged the young not to be robbed of their hope as, "adoring Jesus in your hearts and staying united with Him you will be able to oppose evil, injustice and violence with the strength of goodness, truth, and beauty".
"The Body of the Lord makes us one entity, one family, the People of God reunited around Jesus, the Bread of life. What I have said to the young I say to all of you: if you worship Christ and walk behind Him and with Him, your diocesan Church and your parishes will grow in faith and charity, in the joy of
evangelisation. You will be a Church in which fathers, mothers, priests, religious, catechists, children, the elderly, and the young all walk one next to the other, they support each other, they help each other, and they love each
other like brothers, especially in moments of difficulty. May Mary, our mother,
the Eucharistic woman you venerate in many shrines, especially in that of Castrovillari, precede you in this pilgrimage of faith", he concluded.
At 5.30 p.m., after the Eucharist, the Pope transferred to the heliport next to the sports field, departing at 6 p.m. and landing an hour and a half later.

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THE ROACO HOLDS ITS 87TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY
Vatican City, 23 June 2014 (VIS) - The Congregation for the Oriental Churches will hold the 87th Plenary Assembly of the ROACO ("Riunione Opere Aiuto Chiese Orientali", "Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches") from 23 to 26 June. On Tuesday 24 at 8.30 a.m. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the same dicastery, will celebrate the Eucharist at the altar of St. John Paul II in the
Vatican Basilica to commend the works of the Assembly to the intercession of the saint. In the afternoon, the participants will visit one of the Formative Institutions of the Pontifical Oriental Institute; the former, along with the nine Oriental Colleges, is supported with the contribution of the ROACO agencies.
A representative of the Secretariat of the Economy was also invited to assist the new entity in getting to know the methods according to which the Congregation for the Oriental Churches carries out its work in the coordination
of disbursements, the ownership of which remains with each individual agency.
Among the themes the Congregation will consider are the situation of the Greek
Catholic Churches in Romania and Ukraine, the grave situation in Syria, and the
ecclesial situation of the Holy Land, including confirmation of the work carried out thanks to donations received in the Good Friday collection.
The Assembly will conclude on Thursday 26 June with an audience with the Holy Father in the morning, and in the afternoon, a Eucharistic celebration with the
members of the Boards of Regents of Bethlehem University, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year.

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CARDINAL TOMKO, POPE'S SPECIAL ENVOY IN UKRAINE
Vatican City, 21 June 2014 (VIS) - This morning a letter was published, written in Latin and dated 9 June, by which Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Jozef Tomko, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, as his special envoy to the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the Greek Catholic eparchy of Mukachevo, scheduled to take place at the major seminary of Uzhhorod, Ukraine, on 28 June 2014.
The pontifical mission to accompany the cardinal is composed of Fr. Pavlov Sabov, former priest of the parishes of Strypa and Jarok in Uzhhorod and currently collaborating priest at the Cathedral of Uzhhorod, Fr. Vasyl Chvasta,
priest of the Church of Divine Mercy at Uzhhorod and syncellus for the laity.

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THE ORIENTAL CHURCHES
Vatican City, 21 June 2014 (VIS) - His Beatitude Gregorios III, Patriarch of Antioch of the Greek Melkites, with the assent of the Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Melkite Church, has transferred:
- Archbishop Georges Bacouni, previously of the archieparchy of Tiro of the Greek Melkites in Lebanon to the archieparchy of Akka (Catholics 80,000, priests 36, religious 36, permanent deacons 4) in Israel.
- Bishop Michael Abrass B.A., previously of the patriarchal curia of Antioch of the Greek Melkites in Lebanon to the archieparchy of Tiro of the Greek Melkites (Catholics 3,050 priests 8, religious 6) in Lebanon,elevating him to the dignity of archbishop.

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AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 23 June 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, apostolic nuncio in Nicaragua.
- Archbishop Ricardo Blazquez Perez of Valladolid, president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, accompanied by the vice-president, Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra of Valencia and the secretary general, Fr. Jose Maria Gil Tamayo.
- Fratel Enzo Bianchi, prior of the monastery of Bose.
- Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
On Saturday, 21 June, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy.
- Archbishop Guido Anselmo Pecorari, apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 21 June 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Fr. Real
Tremblay C.SS.R, president of the Pontifical Academy Theology. Fr. Trembaly is professor emeritus of Fundamental Moral Theology in the Alfonsianium Academy of
Rome and ordinary member and adviser to the Pontifical Academy of Theology.

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Cardinal Baldisseri explained that the Instrumentum Laboris consists of three parts, conforming to the themes of the Documento Preparatorio. "The first, dedicated to the Gospel of the family, relates to God's plan, biblical and magisterial knowledge and their reception, natural law and the vocation of the person in Christ", he said. "The difficulties that arise in relation to natural
law can be overcome through more attentive reference to the biblical world, to its language and narrative forms, and to the proposal to thematise and deepen the biblically-inspired concept of the 'order of creation', like the possibility of reinterpreting 'natural law' in a more existentially meaningful way. Furthermore, the role of the family, 'fundamental cell of society, where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one another', is that of a privileged space for values such as fraternity, love, respect and solidarity between generations, where dignity is promoted, overcoming individualism and contributing to the common good of society".
"The second part relates to the pastoral challenges inherent in the family, such as the crisis of faith, critical internal situations, external pressures and other problems. The responsibilities of the pastor include preparation for marriage, increasingly necessary nowadays to enable engaged couples make their decision in terms of their personal adhesion to faith to the Lord, to build their families on solid foundations".
He emphasised that special consideration would be given to difficult pastoral situations, such as unmarried couples who live together and de facto unions, separated and divorced couples, remarried divorcees and eventual further children, single mothers, those who are in canonically irregular situations and
non-believers or non-practising Catholics who wish to marry". The prelate added
that with regard to the phenomenon of unmarried couples who live together and de facto unions, increasingly widespread, "the Church has the duty to accompany
these couples in the trust that they are able to bear a responsibility, such as
that of marriage, that is not too great for them". In relation to the question of remarried divorcees, whose irregular condition within the Church is a source
of suffering, the Instrumentum Laboris "offers real knowledge of their situation, from which the Church is required to find solutions compatible with her teaching and which lead to a serene and reconciled life. In this respect, the need to simplify the judicial procedures for the annulment of marriage would appear relevant".
"Regarding same-sex unions, a distinction is made between the contexts in which civil legislation is more or less in favour; there is a need for pastoral
care on the part of the particular Churches in these situations, including matters relating to children who may be present".
The third part first presents themes linked to openness to life, such as knowledge and difficulties in receiving the Magisterium, pastoral suggestions, sacramental praxis and the promotion of a mentality open to life. ... With regard to the educative responsibility of parents, difficulty emerges in terms of transmitting faith to children, which is then made concrete in Christian initiation; finally, this is a matter of Christian education in difficult family situations, in which the effects on the children extend to the sphere of
faith and methods of celebration of the sacraments".
Cardinal Baldisseri mentioned that the themes not included in the document will be considered in the Ordinary General Assembly scheduled for 4-25 October 2015, based on the theme "Jesus Christ reveals the mystery and vocation of the family". This will be the third stage in the process of reflection on the family, which began with the Consistory held on 20 February 2014.
Finally, he explained that the Instrumentum Laboris offers a vision of the reality of the family in the current context, which represents the beginning of
a profound reflection, which will take place in the two stages of the Extraordinary General Assembly (2014) and the Ordinary General Assembly (2015),
which are closely linked by the theme of the family based on the light of Christ's Gospel. The results of the first, the Extraordinary Assembly, will be used in the preparation of the Instrumentum Laboris of the subsequent Ordinary Assembly, which will be made known only after the publication of the final document, subject to the decision of the Holy Father.
Given the importance of the Synod, a Day of Prayer for the Synod will be held on Sunday 28 September, and the Eucharist will be celebrated every day during the work of the Synod in the Salus Populi Romanii Chapel in the Basilica of St.
Mary Major in Rome.

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DELEGATION FROM ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE TO VISIT ROME
Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity issued a press release today with the information that a delegation sent by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I will visit Rome from 27 to 29 June 2013 as part of the traditional exchange of delegations for their feasts of patron saints: 29 June in Rome for the celebration of the Apostles Peter and Paul and 30 November in Istanbul for the celebration of St. Andrew the Apostle.
His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis (Zizioulas) of Pergamo, co-president of the International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, will head the delegation and will be accompanied by Archbishop Job de Telmissos and Patriarchal Archdeacon John Chryssavgis.
On Saturday, 28 June, the Patriarchate's delegation will be received by the Holy Father Francis and then will meet with members of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. On Sunday, 29 June, the members of the delegation will attend a Eucharistic celebration presided by the Holy Father.

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AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum".
- Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education (for Institutes of Study).
- Archbishop Alberto Bottari de Castello, apostolic nuncio in Hungary.
- Khetevane Bragation de Moukhrani, ambassador of Georgia, on her farewell visit.

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The Pontiff went on to remark that in today's provisional culture, care must be taken not to lose sight of the definitive. "We are afraid of the definitive.
And to choose a vocation, any vocation, including vocations that involve a 'state' such as marriage, consecrated life, the priesthood, one must choose with a view to the definitive. This is contrary to the culture of the provisional. It is a part of the culture in which we must live in this time, but we must live through this and conquer it".
In conclusion, the Pope encouraged all present to sing the "Salve Regina" and imparted his blessing to all the young people and their families, asking them to pray for him.

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MADAGASCAR: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION ON THE PATH TO RECONCILIATION AND STABILITY
Vatican City, 28 June 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of the Republic of Madagascar, Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, under-secretary for Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, after expressing satisfaction with the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Madagascar, the Parties focused on the current phase of recovery within the country, underlining the positive contribution of the Catholic Church on the path to national reconciliation and political stability, as well as her contribution in the education and healthcare sectors. Themes of common interest were then considered, such as the struggle against poverty and social inequality.
Mention was made of the international situation and the conflicts affecting various regions in the world.

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ECUMENISM: LET US SEE OURSELVES ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN, NOT THE HISTORICAL CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SINS
Vatican City, 28 June 2014 (VIS) - The Solemnity of the Holy Patrons of the Church of Rome, the Apostles Peter and Paul, again provided Pope Francis the opportunity to meet with a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which always visits Rome on this date. In exchange, a delegation from the Vatican visits Instanbul, Turkey, every 30 November, St. Andrew's Day.
On this occasion the delegation was headed by the metropolitan of Pergamo, Ioannis (Zizioulas), co-president of the international mixed Commission for theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, who was accompanied by Archbishop Job de Telmissos and the patriarchal archdeacon John Chryssavgis.
The Holy Father recalled with great affection his "beloved brother" Bartholomaios, with whom he shared his recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land, during which they were able to repeat the historical embrace between their predecessors, Athenagoras I and Paul VI, which took place fifty years ago in the holy city of Jerusalem. "That prophetic gesture gave a decisive impulse to a journey which, thank God, has never ceased", remarked Pope Francis. "I consider it a special gift from the Lord that we were able to venerate the holy
places together and to pray at each other's side at the place of Christ's burial, where we can actually touch the foundation of our hope". The joy of their common prayer was then renewed during the recent meeting in the Vatican Gardens where they joined in prayer, together with the Presidents of Israel and
Palestine, to invoke the gift of peace in the Holy Land".
"The Lord granted us these occasions of fraternal encounter, in which we were able to express the love uniting us in Christ, and to renew our mutual desire to walk together along the path to full unity", continued the Holy Father. "We know very well that this unity is a gift of God, a gift that even now the Almighty grants us the grace to attain whenever, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we choose to look at one another with the eyes of faith and to see ourselves as we truly are in God's plan, according to the designs of his eternal will, and not what we have become as a result of the historical consequences of our sins. If all of us can learn, prompted by the Spirit, to look at one another in God, our path will be even straighter and our cooperation all the more easy in the many areas of daily life which already happily unite us".
This theological vision "is nourished by faith, hope and love; it gives rise to an authentic theological reflection which is truly 'scientia Dei', a participation in that vision which God has of himself and of us. It is a reflection which can only bring us closer to one another on the path of unity, despite our differing starting points. I hope and I pray, then, that the work of the Joint International Commission can be a sign of this profound understanding, this theology 'on its knees'. In this way, the Commission's reflections on the concepts of primacy and synodality, communion in the universal Church and the ministry of the Bishop of Rome will not be an academic
exercise or a mere debate about irreconcilable positions. All of us need, with courage and confidence, to be open to the working of the Holy Spirit. We need to let ourselves be caught up in Christ's loving gaze upon the Church, his Bride, in our journey of spiritual ecumenism. It is a journey upheld by the martyrdom of so many of our brothers and sisters who, by their witness to Jesus
Christ the Lord, have brought about an ecumenism of blood", concluded the Pope.

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THE POPE CANCELS HIS VISIT TO THE GEMELLI HOSPITAL
Vatican City, 28 June 2014 (VIS) - Pope Francis did not make his scheduled visit to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital on Friday afternoon due to a mild indisposition. The Mass at which the Holy Father was expected to preside was instead celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, who also pronounced the homily prepared by the Pontiff.
The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., confirmed the Holy Father's engagements planned for Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 and emphasised that there is no cause for concern regarding the Pope's health.

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GOD IS NOT AFRAID OF HIS BONDS WITH US
Vatican City, 28 June 2014 (VIS) - Below are extensive extracts from the homily the Holy Father prepared for his planned visit to the Roman "Agostino Gemelli" Hospital, which he did not attend due to a mild indisposition. The homily was read on behalf of the Pontiff by Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, during the Mass celebrated at the hospital yesterday.
"God is bound to us, He chose us, and this bond is for ever, not because we are faithful but because the Lord is faithful and tolerates our infidelity, our
slowness, our lapses. God is not afraid of bonding with us. ... He loves these bonds, he creates bonds; bonds which free, rather than constrain".
"Nowadays, in particular, fidelity is a value under threat, as we are induced always to seek change, presumed novelty, negotiating the roots of our existence, of our faith. Without fidelity to its roots, however, a society does
not move ahead; it may make great technical progress, but not the full progress
of all man and all humankind. God's faithful love towards His people was made manifest and fully realised in Jesus Christ ... [who] remains faithful and never betrays; even when we err, He always awaits us to forgive us: He is the face of the merciful Father".
"This love, this faithfulness to the Lord demonstrates the humility of His heart. ... We are able to experience and savour the tenderness of this love in every phase of life: in times of joy and of sadness, in times of health and of infirmity and sickness. God's faithfulness teaches us to welcome life as a manifestation of His love and enables us to bear witness to this love to our brethren in humble and meek service. This is what the doctors and paramedical staff in this hospital, which belongs to the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, are especially called upon to do. Here, each one of you brings to the sick a little of the love from Christ's Heart, and you do so with competence and professionalism. This means staying faithful to the fundamental values that
Fr. Gemelli placed at the base of this university for Italian Catholics, to unite scientific research enlightened by faith to the preparation of qualified Christian professionals".

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THE AIF SIGNS INFORMATION SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE USA OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY
Vatican City, 30 June 2014 (VIS) - The Autoritá Informazione Finanziaria (AIF), the Financial Intelligence Authority of the Holy See and Vatican City State, has signed an agreement to exchange information with the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
This Information Sharing Exchange of Letters is the first bilateral agreement of AIF in its role as Financial Supervisor and Regulator within the Holy See and Vatican City State. It represents a significant strengthening of international cooperation between the Holy See and the United States of America.
"This is a further step in Holy See's efforts towards perfecting a system of financial regulation and part of our commitment to transparency and international cooperation," said Rene Bruelhart, the Director of AIF. "The Holy
See is part of the global family of well-regulated jurisdictions and the signing of this agreement reflects that very clearly."
The agreement with the OCC follows the passing of the new law regarding financial activities in the Holy See, Law XVIII, in October 2013 and the enactment of AIF's new statute in November 2013, which introduced a new supervisory function as part of AIF's mandate.
AIF expects further bilateral agreements with financial supervisors and regulators of other countries to follow in due course, and continues in its efforts to strengthen its own regulatory infrastructure in fostering international cooperation.
The OCC is an independent authority within the Treasury Department of the United States and serves to charter, regulate and supervise all national banks and the federal branches and agencies of foreign banks in the United States.
AIF is the competent authority of the Holy See and Vatican City State to fight
money laundering and the financing of terrorism. According to its mandate, AIF has a double role and acts both as Financial Supervisor and Regulator as well as Financial Intelligence Unit. In its function as Financial Intelligence Unit,
AIF became a member of the Egmont Group in July 2013, and has already signed MOUs with the Financial Intelligence Units of more than a dozen countries, including the U.K., the United States, France, Spain, Italy and Germany. It was
established in 2010 and became operational in 2011.

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AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 30 June 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith.
- Archbishop Jean-Paul Gobel, apostolic nuncio in the Arab Republic of Egypt, delegate of the Holy See to the League of Arab States.
- Archbishop Marek Zalewski, apostolic nuncio in Zimbabwe, with members of his
family.
- Archbishop Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen, apostolic nuncio in Sudan and Eritrea.
- Archbishop Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet of Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Charles Ghislain, ambassador of Belgium, on his farewell visit.
- Fernando Felipe Sanchez Campos, ambassador of Costa Rica, on his farewell visit.
- Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic
Signatura.
On Saturday, 28 June, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
- Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (Health Care Pastoral).
- Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 28 June 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Gennaro
Acampa as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Naples (area 274, population 1,744,000, Catholics 1,715,000, priests 287, permanent deacons 292, religious 3,413), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Naples, Italy in 1945 and was ordained a priest in 1968. He holds a licentiate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including priest in the parish of Sacro Cuore di Gesu in Santa Maria Ognibene, spiritual father of the "Paul VI" minor seminary; spiritual father for aspiring permanent deacons, dean of the 1st deanery of the archdiocese of Naples and member of the diocesan presbyteral council. He is currently curate prepositor of the Collegiate Parish of San Giovanni Maggiore in Naples and episcopal vicar for the clergy and for formation.

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The technical committee will be headed by the Council's Prelate Secretary Mons. Brian Ferme. Four lay experts will contribute their professional experience and expertise: Bernhard Kotanko, Austria; Andrea Lesca, Italy; Antoine de Salins, France, and Professor Nino Savelli, Italy. In addition, there will be representatives from of the Council for the Economy, the Secretariat of State and the Pension Fund.
Another area under consideration is the Vatican communications structure, and a committee has been appointed to propose reforms for the Vatican media. The committee will publish a report and a reform plan within the next twelve months
after considering the COSEA report. The objectives are to adapt the Holy See media to changing media consumption trends, enhance coordination and achieve progressively and appreciably substantial financial savings. Building on the recent positive experiences with initiatives such as the Pope App and the Holy Father's Twitter Account, digital channels will be strengthened to ensure the Holy Father's messages reach more of the faithful around the world, especially young people.
The members of the committee come from Vatican staff and from senior international experts. They have been chosen for their expertise in communications while reflecting the universality of the Catholic Church. The international experts are Lord Christopher Patten, UK, who will act as president of the committee; Gregory Erlandson, USA; Daniela Frank, Germany; Fr.
Eric Salobir OP, France; Leticia Soberon, Spain and Mexico; and George Yeo, Singapore. The Vatican staff are Msgr. Paul Tighe, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, who will act as secretary of the committee; Giacomo Ghisani, Vatican Radio; Msgr. Carlo Maria Polvani, Secretariat of State; Msgr. Lucio Adrian Ruiz, Vatican Internet Service, and Professor Giovanni Maria Vian, editor-in-chief of L'Osservatore Romano.
With regard to the Institute for the Works of Religion, following the confirmation of the mission of the IOR by the Holy Father on 7 April 2014 and under the guidance of the Secretariat for the Economy and its Council, the IOR has announced plans for the next stage of development.
The Holy Father's Council of Cardinals (C9), the Secretariat for the Economy, the Supervisory Commission of Cardinals and the current IOR Board of Superintendence have jointly agreed that this plan shall be carried out by a new executive team led by Jean-Baptiste de Franssu. He will assume office as the new president of the IOR on July 9, 2014. Ernst von Freyberg has agreed to serve a period of transition to ensure an orderly hand-over. Jean-Baptiste de Franssu stated, "It is an honour to have been called to implement the changes that are now required to further transform the IOR into a dedicated service provider for the Church".
Over the next three years, the IOR's Statutes will be revised and its operations redesigned, following a set of three strategic priorities: strengthening the business foundation for the IOR; gradually shifting assets under management to a newly created, central Vatican Asset Management (VAM), in
order to overcome duplication of efforts in this field among Vatican institutions; and focusing IOR on financial advice and payment services for clergy, congregations, dioceses and lay Vatican employees.
The IOR is in a phase of peaceful transition. The first stage of the reforms, led by Ernst von Freyberg, has been completed. Excellent progress has been made
through adherence to international standards and the resultant transparency is evident in the second annual report which has been fully audited by Deloitte. A
new anti-money-laundering (AML) framework has been put in place and every effort continues to be made to comply with this framework. The internal compliance department, supported by Promontory, has closely reviewed 18,000 clients. Von Freyberg's leadership in this first stage has cleared the decks for the beginning of the next phase, to be led by President-elect Jean-Baptiste
de Franssu who will devote himself full-time to his new task. Because of other commitments, President von Freyberg is unable to dedicate himself full-time to IOR duties.
In the different financial agencies reporting to the Secretariat for the Economy, a general pattern of clerical-lay expert cooperation has been followed. The exact nature of this governmental cooperation at IOR is yet to be
determined. The five members of the Commission of Cardinals will continue their
involvement and will be joined by Cardinal Josip Bozanic of Zagreb, Croatia. They are Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major; Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins, archbishop of Toronto; Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin; Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, archbishop of Vienna, and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
Six new lay members will be appointed to the Board of IOR including Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, France, as president; Clemens Boersig, Germany; Professor Mary Ann Glendon, USA, and Sir Michael Hintze, UK.
Msgr. Alfred Xuereb, secretary general of the Secretariat for the Economy, will be the non-voting secretary of the Board of the IOR, and Msgr. Battista Ricca remains as the Prelate of the IOR.

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DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS
Vatican City, 9 July 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday the Holy Father Francis received in private audience Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During the audience he authorised the promulgation of
decrees concerning the following causes:
HEROIC VIRTUES
- Servant of God Antonio Ferreira Vicoso, Portuguese Bishop of Mariana (1787-1875).
- Servant of God Saturnino Lopez Novoa, Spanish diocesan priest, co-founder of
the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly (1830-1905).
- Servant of God Joseph-Auguste Arribat, French professed priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco (1879-1963).
- Servant of God Mary Veronica of the Passion (nee Sophie Leeves), British professed nun of the Order of the Descalced Carmelites, foundress of the Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel.
- Servant of God Elena da Persico, Italian lay foundress of the Secular Institute of the Daughters of the Queen of the Apostles (1869-1948).
- Servant of God Gaetana of the Blessed Sacrament (nee Carlotta Fontana), Italian superior general of the Poor Daughters of St. Cajetan (1870-1935).
- Servant of God Marcello Candia, Italian layperson (1916-1983.

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AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 9 July 2014 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
- Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, accompanied by Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo, secretary of the same dicastery.
- Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, archbishop of Perugia-Citta della Pieve.
Yesterday, 8 July, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
- Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints.
- Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 9 July 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Bishop Giovanni Crippa, I.M.C., auxiliary of Sao Salvador da Bahia, as bishop of Estancia (area 6,736, population 470,000, Catholics 452,000, priests 53, religious 64), Brazil.
- appointed Fr. Theodore Mascarenhas, S.F.X., as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Ranchi (area 5,299, population 3,156,000, Catholics 140,503, priests 255, religious 1,266), India. The bishop-elect was born in Camurlim, India in 1960 and was ordained a priest in 1988. He holds a Master of Arts in political science from the Nagpur University, and a licentiate and doctorate in sacred scripture form the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome. He has held a number of
pastoral roles in Punjab, North India, and has served as coordinator of the works of the "Societá del Pilar", Rome, superior delegate for the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier in Europe, and official of the Pontifical Council for Culture. He is currently procurator general of the Society, member of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses and lecturer in sacred scripture at the Pontifical Gregorian University and at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome.

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There are a growing number of Christian associations that organise responsible
tourism to less developed destinations as well as those that promote the so-called 'solidarity or volunteer tourism' which enable people to put their vacation time to good use on a project in developing countries.
Also worth mentioning are programs for sustainable and equitable tourism in disadvantaged areas promoted by Episcopal Conferences, dioceses or religious congregations, which accompany local communities, helping them to create opportunities for reflection, promoting education and training, giving advice and collaborating on project design and encouraging dialogue with the authorities and other groups. This type of experience has led to the creation of a tourism managed by local communities, through partnerships and specialised
micro tourism (accommodation, restaurants, guides, craft production, etc.).
Beyond this, there are many parishes in tourist destinations that host visitors, offering liturgical, educational and cultural events, with the hope that the holidays 'are of benefit to their human and spiritual growth, in the firm conviction that even in this time we cannot forget God who never forgets us'. To do this, parishes seek to develop a 'friendly pastoral care' which allows them to welcome people with a spirit of openness and fraternity, and project the image of a lively and welcoming community. And for this hospitality
to be more effective, we need to create a more effective collaboration with other relevant sectors.
These pastoral proposals are becoming more important, especially as a type of 'experiential' tourism grows. This type of tourism seeks to establish links with local people and enable visitors to feel like another member of the community, participating in their daily lives, placing value on contact and dialogue.
The Church's involvement in the field of tourism has resulted in numerous projects, emerging from a multitude of experiences thanks to the effort, enthusiasm and creativity of so many priests, religious and lay people who work
for the socio-economic, cultural and spiritual development of the local community, and help them to look with hope to the future.
In recognition that its primary mission is evangelisation, the Church offers its often humble collaboration to respond to the specific circumstances of people, especially the most needy. And this, from the conviction that 'we also evangelise when we attempt to confront the various challenges which can arise'."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, July 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Archbishop Anselmo Guido Pecorari, apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria, as apostolic nuncio in Macedonia.
- appointed Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki as metropolitan archbishop of Koln (area 6,181, population 5,417,865, Catholics 2,069,152, priests 1,033, permanent deacons 309, religious 1,835), Germany. Cardinal Woelki is currently metropolitan archbishop of Berlin.
- appointed Bishop Jorge Anibal Quintero Chacon, bishop of Margarita, Venezuela, as bishop of Barcelona (area 43,300, population 2,132,000, Catholics
1,996,000, priests 69, religious 61), Venezuela.
- appointed Fr. Ignatius D'Souza as bishop of the diocese of Bareilly (area 32,860, population 10,352,001, Catholics 6,744, priests 83, religious 331), India. The bishop elect was born in Basrikatte, India in 1964 and was ordained a priest in 1991. He holds a licentiate in biblical theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and a doctorate in biblical theology from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including vice rector of the St. Paul's Minor Seminary of Lucknow and director of the diocesan pastoral centre of Lucknow, and is currently vicar general and priest of the Cathedral of Lucknow. He succeeds Bishop Anthony Fernandes, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Fr. Cajetan Francis Osta as bishop of the diocese of Muzaffarpur (area 27,120, population 30,310,000, Catholics 5,250, priests 49, religious 120), India. The bishop-elect was born in Kathara-Bokaro, India in 1961 and was
ordained a priest in 1992. He studied canon law at the St. Peter's Pontifical Institute in Bangalore and missiology at the Sacred Heart of Shillong, and has served in a number of pastoral roles in the diocese of Muzaffarpur, including co-priest of Bettiah and rector of the minor seminary; secretary of the bishop of Bettiah and priest in the parishes of Tinkomma and Barauni. He is currently judicial vicar of Muzaffarpur, president of the Bijhan Diocesan Priests, and priest of the Cathedral of Muzaffarpur. He succeeds Bishop John Baptist Thakur,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Fr. Michael Yeung Ming-cheung, Fr. Stephen Lee Bun Sang, and Fr. Joseph Ha Chi-shing, O.F.M., as auxiliaries of the diocese of Hong Kong (area 1,104, population 7,071,600, Catholics 547,000, priests 311, permanent deacons 18, religious 815), China.
Bishop-elect Yeung Ming-cheung was born in Shanghai, China in 1946 and was ordained a priest in 1978. He holds masters degrees in social communications from the Syracus University, U.S.A., and philosophy of education from Harvard University, U.S.A., and has served in a number of pastoral and administrative roles, including parish vicar of Ha Kwai Chung district, New Territories; director of the diocesan office of social communications; director of the diocesan office for education and schools; director of Caritas Hong Kong, and vicar general of Hong Kong. He is currently a member of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum".
Bishop-elect Lee Bun Sang was born in Hong Kong, China in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1988. He holds a degree in architecture from the London School of Architecture and a doctorate in canon law from the University of Navarre, Spain. He has served in a number of pastoral and administrative roles,
including director of the Tak Sun school in Tsim Sha Tsui, and is currently defender of the bond at the diocesan tribunal of Hong Kong and vicar of Opus Dei for East Asia.
Bishop-elect Fr. Joseph Ha Chi-shing, O.F.M., was born in Hong Kong, China in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He holds a licentiate in spiritual theology and Franciscan culture from the Pontifical University Antonianum, Rome, and has held a number of pastoral and administrative roles, including priest of the "St. Bonaventure" and "Our Lady of the Angels" parishes in Kowloon; lecturer in spiritual theology in the seminary of Hong Kong; consultor
of the Commission for the Church in China; and regional superior of the Order of Friars Minor for Hong Kong. He is currently parish vicar of the Church of St. Bonaventure in Hong Kong.
- elevated the apostolic prefecture of Makokou (area 46,000, population 54,000, Catholics 26,000, priests 7, religious 3), Gabon, to the rank of apostolic vicariate, and appointed Fr. Joseph Koerber, C.S.Sp., as the first apostolic vicar of the new apostolic vicariate. Born in Sierentz, France in 1943, he gave his perpetual vows in 1970 and was ordained a priest in 1972. He specialised in pastoral theology at the Institut Catholique de Paris, France and has served in a number of pastoral roles in Gabon, including regional bursar of the Spiritan Fathers in Gabon and parish priest in Makokou. He is currently apostolic prefect of the same circumscription.

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For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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THE PRIMACY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE COURAGE TO SAY NO TO EVIL
Vatican City, 26 July 2014 (VIS) - More than two hundred thousand people attended the Mass celebrated by the Holy Father in the square in front of the Royal Palace of Caserta at 6 p.m. yesterday.
The Pope spoke in his homily about the "kingdom of Heaven", based on the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl. In the first, the "kingdom" is similar the treasure hidden in a field, that the farmer finds and hides again, full of joy, then sells everything he has to buy the field. In the second, a merchant who seeks fine pearls encounters one of great value and sells everything he owns in order to buy it.
The farmer and the merchant, explains the Pope, have the same sentiment in common: the surprise and joy of the fulfilment of their desires and, through these two parables, "with simple words that everyone can understand", Jesus explains what the kingdom of heaven is, how it is found and what one can do to obtain it.
Jesus does not concern Himself with describing the "kingdom", although He has announced it since the beginning of His Gospel; however, He shows it indirectly, through reflection. "He prefers to let it be understood through parables and similarities, especially by revealing its effects: the kingdom of Heaven is able to change the world, like the leaven concealed in the dough". Both parables help us understand that the kingdom of God is present in the person of Jesus Himself. He is the hidden treasure and the valuable pearl. The joy of the farmer and the merchant are comprehensible - they have found what they sought! It is the joy of each one of us when we discover the closeness and
the presence of Jesus in our life. His is a presence that transforms our existence and opens us to the needs of our brethren; a presence that invites us
to welcome every other presence, even that of the foreigner or the immigrant".
To encounter the kingdom of God, each one of us takes his or her own path. For
some, the encounter with Jesus is awaited, hoped for and long sought, as we see
in the parable of the merchant who travels the world seeking something of value. For others it happens unexpectedly, almost by chance, as in the parable of the farmer. This reminds us that God lets us meet Him anyway, as it is He Who is the first to wish to meet us. ... He came in order to be 'God with us'. ... It is He Who seeks us out, it is He Who lets Himself be found even by those
who are not looking for Him, at times in unusual places and at unexpected moments. When we find Jesus we are fascinated, we are won over, and it is a joy
to leave behind our usual way of life, often arid and apathetic, to embrace the
Gospel, and to allow ourselves to be guided by the new logic of love".
Jesus is very clear that when He refers to the possession of the "kingdom", enthusiasm and the joy of discovery are not enough. "It is necessary to place the precious pearl of the kingdom before all other earthly goods; it is necessary to put God in first place in our life. According primacy to God means
having the courage to say no to evil, to violence, to oppression; to live a life of service to others and in favour of legality and the common good. ... One must be a friend of God, love one's brothers, and be committed to the protection of their lives and health, also respecting the environment and nature". Francis emphasised, "This is particularly important in this beautiful land, which needs to be protected and preserved; it takes courage to say no to every form of corruption and illegality - and we all know the name of these forms of corruption and illegality. It requires that everyone is a servant to the truth and assumes in every situation an evangelical lifestyle, which is manifested in the gift of the self and care for the poor and excluded".
The Pope went on to speak about the festivity of St. Ann, the patron saint of Caserta, which brought together in the square several components of the diocesan community, the bishop, the civil authorities and the representatives of various social sectors. "I would like to encourage al of you to experience the festivity of your patron saint free of preconceived ideas, as a pure expression of the faith of a people who recognise themselves as the family of God and strengthen the bonds of fraternity and solidarity. St. Ann perhaps heard her daughter pronounce the words of the Magnificat: 'He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble; He has filled the hungry with good things'. May she help you to find the only treasure, Jesus, and teach you to discover the criteria of God's action: He turns worldly judgements on their head, coming to the aid of the poor and the least among us,
and brings abundance to the humble, who entrust their existence to Him. Have hope, hope does not disappoint. And I like to repeat to you: do not let yourselves be robbed of hope!"
Following the Mass and before the final blessing, Francis gave thanks to all those present for their warm welcome, and to Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, adding, "I have heard that the Neapolitans are a little jealous of this visit, but I wish to assure them them that this year I will certainly visit them too".
After the Eucharistic celebration, the Pope transferred to the military airport and left for Rome by helicopter.

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COMMUNIQUE FROM THE FAMILY OF FR. PAOLO DELL'OGLIO, A YEAR AFTER HIS DISAPPEARANCE IN SYRIA
Vatican City, 28 July 2014 (VIS) - The family of Fr. Paolo Dell'Oglio, the Italian Jesuit priest of whom there has been no news for a year following his disappearance in the Syrian city of Raqqa, today issued the following communique:
"One year has already passed since we last knew of our son and brother Paolo, priest, Jesuit, Italian, who disappeared in Syria on July 29th 2013.
This has also been a long time, too long, for a land ravaged by war and infinite suffering like Syria.
We ask those responsible for the disappearance of a good man, a man of faith, a man of peace, to have the dignity to let us know of his fate.
We would like to once again hold him in our arms, however we are also prepared
to mourn him.
Tomorrow, 29th of July, one year after his disappearance, many of us will be praying for him and standing by him, as we will be doing for those who have been kidnapped, unjustly detained and for the many who are suffering because of
this war."
The video message of their plea can be seen at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3MMoCGrggE&feature=youtu.be ___________________________________________________________

CHALDEANS IN IRAQ: PREPARE, LIKE ABRAHAM, TO LEAVE FOR THE LAND GOD WILL SHOW TO YOU
Vatican City, 28 July 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday, Sunday, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, presided at the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle of the Chaldeans in San
Diego, U.S.A. He prayed for the Christians persecuted in Iraq, the motherland of the Chaldean Church, and also included in his prayer those in Syria, Palestine and Egypt, as well as those who belong to the Greek-Catholic community in Ukraine, who are currently experiencing difficult situations.
The bishop of the eparchy, Sarhad Yawsip Hermiz Jammo, thanked the cardinal for the consolation that his visit and his prayers, as the representative of Pope Francis, offered to al the Christians of the East, and added that, in communion with Peter's Successor, they would persist in the faith of Abraham and, like the patriarch, they would prepare to leave for the land God will show
to them, learning to read history in a higher dimension.
In his homily, Cardinal Sandri thanked those present and those Christians who suffer for their faith in the Gospel in situations of conflict, and assured them of Pope Francis' prayers and blessing and the closeness of all the Church.
He expressed his hope for peace and justice for all those who have been afflicted by incredible and senseless violence.
The prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, in his visit to California, met with the Maronite and Syro-Malabar communities of Los Angeles and San Diego. During the coming days he will visit the Armenians and greet the
priests of the Syrian, Coptic, Greek-Melkite and Romanian Greek-Catholic Churches who exercise their pastoral ministry in this region of the United States. The already populous Eastern is expected to increase significantly, especially from Iraq, due to the current conflict. He underlined that immigration is a pastoral challenge of historical proportions, and requires great efforts on the part of the Latin Church in support of the Oriental Churches.

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ON THE POPE'S POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION IN THE PHILADELPHIA MEETING OF FAMILIES
Vatican City, 26 July 2014 (VIS) - The director of the Holy See Press Office has stated, with regard to Pope Francis' possible attendance at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, U.S.A. in September 2015, that the Holy Father has received several invitations to travel to America and, as usual, considers them carefully. "The Pope has made it known that he is willing to participate in the meeting of families, but at the present moment he has not initiated any concrete plan or programme for travel to the United States or Mexico". He added, "It should be taken into account, however, that the Philadelphia meeting will be held in over a year's time".

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 26 July 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father:
- appointed Bishop Anthony Pappusamy of Dindigul, India as archbishop of Madurai (area 6,266, population 2,068,000, Catholics 145,213, priests 59, religious 275), India. He succeeds Archbishop Peter Fernando, whose resignation
upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Bishop Pierre Nguyen Van Kham, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as bishop of My Tho (area 9,262, population 5,280,320, Catholics 126,560, priests 125, religious 282), Vietnam.
- appointed Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, U.S.A., as his special envoy to the solemn Eucharistic celebration in the new Cathedral of St. Louis, U.S.A., to be held on 24 August,
commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the city.
- appointed Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, Italy, as his special envoy to the celebration of the 850th anniversary of the translation of the relics of the Magi to Cologne, Germany, to be held on 28 September.

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PASTORAL VISIT TO KOREA
13: The Holy Father begins his apostolic trip in Korea. Francis arrives in Seoul where he is received by Park Geun-hye, president of the Republic of Korea, and various other state authorities. He meets with the bishops of the country in the offices of the Episcopal Conference of Korea.
15: Francis travels to the World Cup Stadium in Daejeon to celebrate Mass and visits the shrine of Solmoe, where a large number of young people await his arrival to celebrate the 6th Asian Youth Day.
16: The Pope visits the Shrine to the Martyrs of Seo So-Mun and the Gwanghwamun Gate in Seoul where he beatifies Paul Yun Ji-Chung and 123 companion martyrs. He visits the rehabilitation centre for the disabled in Yongsan, the "Cemetery for Aborted Children", and the "School of Love" in Kkottongnae, where he meets the religious community of Korea. The Pope later meets with the leaders of the lay apostolate at the Kkottongnae Spiritual Centre.
17: The Holy Father visits the Shrine to the unknown martyrs, where he meets with the bishops of Asia. From there, he transfers to the Castle of Haemi to celebrate Mass to conclude the 6th Asian Youth Day.
18: In Myeong-dong Cathedral Francis meets with religious leaders and celebrates Mass for peace and reconciliation in Korea. He returns to Vatican City.
AUDIENCES
1: Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy.
2: Archbishop Franco Coppola, apostolic nuncio in the Central African Republic.
11: Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. On
Sunday, 10 August in the Domus Sanctae Marthae the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
27: Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kuin, S.D.B., bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, China.
28: The Pope received in separate audiences Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples; Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical
Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect
of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
29: Fr. Jorge Hernandez, of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, priest in Gaza, Palestine.
APPOINTMENTS 2: Cardinal Paul Jozef Cordes, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, as special envoy to the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the foundation of the Willibaldinum Seminary in the diocese of Eichstatt, Germany, to be held on 11 October.
5: Bishop Luis Adriano Piedrahita, formerly of Apartado, Colombia, is appointed as bishop of Santa Marta in Colombia. He succeeds Bishop Hugo Eugenio
Puccini Banfi, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
6: Nomination of Archbishop Fernando Jose Guimaraes, C.SS.R., as military ordinary of Brazil. Previously bishop of Garanhus in Brazil, he succeeds Archbishop Osvino Jose Bosth, whose resignation from office upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
Bishop Ernesto Maguengue, previously of Pemba, Mozambique, is appointed as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Nampula in the same country.
7: Nomination of Rev. Bohdan Danylo, formerly rector of St. Basil's seminary, Stamford, U.S.A., as bishop of St. Josaphat in Parma of the Ukrainians, U.S.A.
9: Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, president emeritus of the Governorate of Vatican City State, is appointed as the Pope's special envoy to the celebration of the centenary of the foundation of the Apostolic Movement of Schonstatt, to be held
in Schonstatt in Vallendar, Germany, from 16 to 19 October.
12: Rev. Sevastianos Rossolatos, chancellor of the curia and rector of the "Faneromeni" shrine, Greece, is appointed as archbishop of Athens and apostolic
administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Rhodes, Greece. He succeeds Archbishop Nikolaos Foskolos, whose resignation from the pastoral care
of the same archdiocese and from the office of apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Rhodes upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
18: The Pope appoints Bishop Pablo Emiro Salas Anteliz of Espinal, Colombia, as bishop of Armenia, Colombia. 20: Bishop Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda of Hiroshima, Japan, is appointed as archbishop of Osaka, Japan. He succeeds Archbishop Leo Jun Ikenaga, S.J., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted.
22: Rev. Gerardo Diaz Vasquez, priest of Maria Reina y Madre de los Campesinos
in Tepatitlan, Mexico, is appointed as bishop of Tacambaro, Mexico. He succeeds
Bishop Jose Luis Castro Medellin, M.S.F., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted.
26: Msgr. Maurizio Malvestiti, under-secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, is appointed as bishop of Lodi, Italy. He succeeds Bishop Giuseppe Merisi, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted.
On the same day, the Pope appointed Bishop Daniel Edward Thomas, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Philadelphia, U.S.A., as bishop of Toledo in America, U.S.A.
27: The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Satna of the Syro-Malabars, India, presented by Bishop Mathew Vaniakizhakkel, C.V., in accordance with canon 210 paras. 1 and 2 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
The Pope appoints Rev. Fr. Adolfo Zon Pereira, S.X., parish priest of Santa Rosa de Lima in Abaetetuba and regional bursar of his order for North Brazil, as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Alto Solomoes in Brazil.
28: Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra of Valencia, Spain, is appointed as metropolitan archbishop of Madrid, Spain. He succeeds Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted.
Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, is appointed as metropolitan archbishop of Valencia, Spain.
29: Bishop George Njaralakatt, eparch of Mandya in India, is appointed as archbishop of the eparchy of Tellicherry of the Syro-Malabars in India.
OTHER NEWS
5: In St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father greets 50,000 German-speaking monks from the dioceses of Germany, Vienna and Linz, Austria, and Latvia, during their pilgrimage to Rome.
7: The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., speaks on the Pope's behalf regarding his concerns for the exodus of Christian communities from the north of Iraq due to the violence that plagues the region,
and repeats his appeal to the international community to bring an end to this humanitarian crisis.
8: The Holy See Press Office communicates that the Holy Father has appointed Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of
Peoples, as his personal envoy to express his spiritual closeness and the solidarity of the Church to the people of Iraq.
10: Following the Mass celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, the Pope greets by telephone 30,000 scouts gathered in Pisa, Italy, to conclude their Third National Route.
20: In the afternoon, the Pope meets with members of Work of Nazareth, accompanied by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, in the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

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ACTIVITIES OF THE HOLY SEE IN AUGUST
Vatican City, 3 September 2014 (VIS) - The following is a list of the activities linked to the Holy See during the month of August 2014:
12: The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue issues a declaration on
"the reinstatement of the Caliphate", which was abolished in 1923 by Kamal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, affirming that opposition to this "reinstatement" by the majority of Muslim religious and political institutions has not prevented the jihadists of the "Muslim State" from committing unspeakable criminal acts that this dicastery, like all those involved in interreligious dialogue, the followers of all religions and all men and women of goodwill can only denounce and condemn. It emphasises that "Christians and Muslims have been able to live alongside one another - certainly with highs and
lows - for centuries, building a culture of co-existence and a civilisation of which they are proud".
13: The Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" communicates that, since the month of June, humanitarian assistance programmes for Iraqi refugees have been underway.
These programmes are organised by the local Church, in particular via Caritas Iraq, and have already reached 4000 families. Other national entities of the Caritas family have joined in the efforts, with the co-ordination of Caritas International.
21: The Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace" announces that Pope Francis has
chosen the theme for the 48th World Day of Peace 2015, celebrated every year on
1 January: "Slaves no more, but brothers and sisters", and commented that in the contemporary world, slavery assumes many abominable faces: human trafficking, the trade in migrants and prostitution, forced labour, the exploitation of man by his peers, and the enslavement of women and children.
25: The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., issued a communique on the nuncio Jozef Wesoloswki, who appealed against the first grade canonical sentence of laicisation. The archbishop, who has already been dismissed from his diplomatic role and therefore no longer benefits from immunity, may also be subject to trial by other competent judicial bodies.

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"Every time I read the Sacred Scripture, in the passages that speak about Our Lady, three verbs come to my attention. I would like to pause and look at these, with the intention of inviting the pastors and faithful of Cuba to put them into practice.
"The first is to rejoice. It was the first word that the Angel Gabriel addressed to the Virgin: "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you". The life of those who have discovered Jesus is full of an inner joy so great that nothing and no-one can take it away. Christ gives his people the necessary strength not to be sad or overwhelmed, thinking that their problems have no solution. Supported by this truth, the Christian has no doubt that what is done
with love engenders a serene joy, the sister of the hope that breaks down the barrier of fear and opens the doors to a promising future. ... How good it would be if all Cubans, especially the young, could say: "I am a man of charity"; I live truly to love, and not to be trapped in the vicious circle of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. What joy there is in loving authentically, in our daily actions, and not with plentiful but empty words that amount to nothing".
"The second verb is to rise. St. Luke says that, with Jesus in her womb, Mary rose and promptly went to help her kinswoman Elizabeth, who in her old age was about to become a mother. She fulfilled God's will, making herself available to
anyone in need. She did not think of herself, but instead overcame setbacks and
gave herself to others. Victory belongs to those who rise again and again, without giving up. If we imitate Mary, we cannot do so while sitting down, merely complaining, or even at times passing the buck to others rather than facing our own responsibilities. ... Mary was always with her people, especially the least among them. She knew loneliness, poverty and exile, and learned how to create fraternity and to make her home any place where goodness grew. We implore her to give us a poor soul without pride, a pure heart that sees God in the faces of the disadvantaged, and unwavering patience that does not give up when faced with the difficulties of life".
"The third verb is to persevere. Mary, who had experienced God's goodness, proclaimed the greatness He had worked in her. ... For this reason, she stood by her Son, when everyone else had abandoned Him; she prayed without fail alongside the apostles and other disciples, lest they lose their mind. ...We too are called upon to continued in the love of God and to continue loving our neighbours. In this world, in which eternal values are discarded and everything
is subject to change, in which a throwaway mentality triumphs, and in which there is fear of lifelong commitments, the Virgin encourages us to be men and women constantly engaged in good work, who maintain their word, who are always faithful".
"Be joyful and share this with those around you. Lift your heart and do not succumb to adversity, stay on the path of good, tirelessly helping those who are oppressed by sorrows and troubles. These are the important lessons Our Lady
of Charity of El Cobre teaches us, and which are useful to us now and in the future".

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THE POPE TO THE BISHOPS OF CAMEROON: EVANGELISATION IS CLOSELY LINKED TO HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT
Vatican City, 6 September 2014 (VIS) - Today Pope Francis received the prelates of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon at the end of their five-yearly "ad limina" visit. At the end of the audience the Pope expressed his encouragement and confidence in the bishops, whose visit to Rome underlined
the spirit of communion with the Apostolic See, and handed them his written discourse, in which he writes that "for the Gospel to profoundly touch and convert hearts, we must remember that only our unity and love make it possible to bear witness authentically and effectively". "You must keep unity and diversity closely linked in order to accommodate the human and spiritual wealth
of your dioceses, that is expressed in many ways".
Pope Francis mentioned the good collaboration between the Church, the State and society in Cameroon, as shown recently by the signing of a framework agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Cameroon, and invited the prelates to put this agreement in practice, "so that legal recognition of many ecclesial institutions will enable them to exercise greater influence, to the benefit not only of the Church but also of the whole of society in Cameroon". In this context, he also referred to the considerable commitment on the part of
the local churches in social work, especially in the fields of education, health and charity, that is recognised and appreciated by the civil authorities
and must be the fulcrum of "a fruitful collaboration between the State and the Church, with full respect for her freedom. Commitment to social work is an integral part of evangelisation, as there is an intimate link between evangelisation and human development, which must be expressed and developed in all evangelising work".
The action of evangelisation will be more effective when the Gospel "is truly lived by those who have received and profess it. This is how we find the way of
drawing to Christ those who do not yet know Him, demonstrating the power of His
love that is able to transform and illuminate human life". Given the significant presence of Muslims in some dioceses, the Pope encouraged the bishops to "develop a dialogue of life with them, in the spirit of mutual trust", which is now "essential to maintain a climate of peaceful co-existence and to discourage the development of the violence that Christians are victims of in certain regions of the African continent".
He continues, "Families, equally, must continue to be the focus of your particular care, especially today as they experience grave hardships - poverty,
the displacement of peoples, lack of security, the temptation to return to ancestral practices incompatible with the Christian faith, or even new lifestyles promised by a secularised world".
It is also essential that the clergy "offer witness to a life inhabited by the
Lord, coherent with the demands and the principles of the Gospel", he writes, inviting the prelates to be fathers attentive to their priests, so that they are helped to avoid the temptations of power, honours and money. "In relation to this latter point, the negative example that may be given by poor management
of goods, personal enrichment or wastefulness will be particularly scandalous in a region where many people lack basic necessities". Similarly, "the unity of
the clergy is an indispensable element in the witness to the risen Christ ... and which depends upon unity among bishops, who are often faced with the same challenges and called upon to offer common and joint solutions, as well as the unity of the 'presbyterium' that the Lord calls on us to build every day, setting aside all forms of prejudice, especially on the basis of ethnicity".
The Pontiff finally offers encouragement to consecrated persons, whose life is
"always a prophetic witness and model in matters of reconciliation, justice and
peace" and concludes by urging the prelates of Cameroon not to fear difficulties and to continue to proclaim the Good News with a renewed missionary spirit "to all those who still await it or are most in need".

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28 SEPTEMBER: DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY
Vatican City, 6 September 2014 (VIS) - According to a communique issued by the
Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops, Sunday 28 September will be dedicated to prayer for the Third General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, to take place from 5 to 19 October on the theme "Pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelisation".
The particular Churches, parish communities, Institutes of consecrated life, associations and movements are invited to pray during Eucharistic celebrations and other liturgical occasions in the days preceding and during the work of the
Synod.
In Rome, there will be prayers every day in the Chapel of Salus Populii Romani
in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The faithful, especially families, may include this intention in their personal prayers, and are recommended to pray the Rosary for the work of the Synod.
The Secretariat of the Synod will shortly publish a leaflet in various languages with the prayer of the Holy Family for the Synod, composed by Pope Francis and with other suggested intentions for the prayers of the faithful.

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CARDINAL ORTEGA Y ALAMINO, POPE'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE "MOTHER CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA"
Vatican City, 6 September 2014 (VIS) - A letter was published today, written in Latin and dated 25 July 2014, by which the Holy Father appoints Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, archbishop of Havana, Cuba, as his special envoy to the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the foundation of the parish of Notre Dame-de-Quebec, Canada, the "mother Church of North America", scheduled to take place on 15 September.
The members of the mission accompanying the Cardinal will be Msgr. Denis Belanger, parish priest of Notre Dame-de-Quebec and rector of the Basilica-Cathedral of the same name, and Rev. Pierre Gingras, parish priest of St. John the Baptist and St. Dominic in Quebec City.

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AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 8 September 2014 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in audience:
- Annette Schavan, new ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Holy See, presenting her letters of credence.
- Cardinal Gottfried Danneels, archbishop emeritus of Mechelen-Brussel, Belgium.
- Rev. Fr. Jose Ornelas Carvalho, superior general of the priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians).
- Professor Matteo Truffelli, national president of Italian Catholic Action.
- Kenan Gursoy, ambassador of Turkey to the Holy See, on his farewell visit.
On Saturday, 6 September, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
- Tamar Grdzelidze, new ambassador of Georgia to the Holy See, presenting her letters of credence.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 8 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Armagh, Ireland, presented by Cardinal Sean Baptist Brady, upon reaching the age limit. He is succeeded by Archbishop Eamon Martin, formerly coadjutor of the same diocese.

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"The love of Christ, which has blessed and sanctified the union of husband and
wife, is able to sustain their love and to renew it when, humanly speaking, it becomes lost, wounded or worn out. The love of Christ can restore to spouses the joy of journeying together. This is what marriage is all about: man and woman walking together, wherein the husband helps his wife to become ever more a woman, and wherein the woman has the task of helping her husband to become ever more a man. This is the task that you both share. 'I love you, and for this love I help you to become ever more a woman'; 'I love you, and for this love I help you to become ever more a man'. Here we see the reciprocity of differences. The path is not always a smooth one, free of disagreements, otherwise it would not be human. It is a demanding journey, at times difficult,
and at times turbulent, but such is life! Within this theology which the word of God offers us concerning the people on a journey, spouses on a journey, I would like to give you some advice. It is normal for husband and wife to argue:
it's normal. It always happens. But my advice is this: never let the day end without having first made peace. Never! A small gesture is sufficient. Thus the
journey may continue. Marriage is a symbol of life, real life: it is not 'fiction'! It is the Sacrament of the love of Christ and the Church, a love which finds its proof and guarantee in the Cross. My desire for you is that you
have a good journey, a fruitful one, growing in love. I wish you happiness. There will be crosses! But the Lord is always there to help us move forward. May the Lord bless you!".

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Angelus: the Cross restores hope
Vatican City, 14 September 2014 (VIS) - At midday today, after celebrating the
marriage of twenty couples from the diocese of Rome, the Pope appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful present in St. Peter's Square.
Pope Francis commented that today, 14 September, the Church celebrates the festivity of the Exaltation of the Cross. "Any non-Christian might ask, why 'exalt' the Cross? We can answer that we do not exalt just any cross, or all crosses: we exalt Jesus Cross, as it was upon the Cross that he revealed the extent of God's love for humanity", he explained. "The Father gave his Son to save us, and this involved the death of Jesus, and he died on the Cross. Why? Why was the Cross necessary? Because of the gravity of the evil that had enslaved us. The Cross of Jesus expresses both of these things: all the negative force of evil, and all the gentle omnipotence of God's mercy. The Cross appeared to decree Jesus' demise, but in reality it marked His victory. ... And it is precisely for this reason that God 'exalted' Jesus, conferring upon Him a universal kingship".
"When we turn our gaze to the Cross, where Jesus was nailed", he continued, "we contemplate the sign of God's infinite love for each one of us, and the root of our salvation. From this Cross there springs the mercy of the Father who embraces the entire world. Through the Cross, the evil one is vanquished and death defeated, we are given life, and hope is restored to us. ... The Cross of Jesus is our only true hope! This is why the Chruch exalts the glorious Cross of Jesus, sign of God's immense love, sign of our salvation, and
path to the Resurrection. And this is our hope".
"When we contemplate and celebrate the Holy Cross", he concluded, "we think with emotion of our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted and killed for
their fidelity to Christ. This happens especially where religious freedom is not guaranteed or fully realised. It also occurs, however, in countries and in environments where in principle freedom and human rights are protected, but where in practice believers and Christians in particular often encounter limitations or discrimination. Therefore, today we remember them and pray especially for them".

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Humanity still has not learnt that war is madness
Vatican City, 14 September 2014 (VIS) - Following today's Marian prayer, the Holy Father mentioned that tomorrow the Security Council of the United Nations begins peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, to promote peace and protect the civil population that is suffering the consequences of a long-standing conflict.
"I assure the peacekeepers of the support and prayer of the Catholic Church, and encourage the efforts of the international community to come to the aid of Central Africans of good will. May the violence give way to dialogue as soon as
possible, and may the opposing forces set aside their particular interests and make the necessary provisions to ensure that every citizen, of every ethnic and
religious group, may collaborate in constructing the common good. May the Lord accompany this work for peace!", he exclaimed.
The Pope went on to speak about his visit on Saturday to the Austro-Hungarian cemetery and the military monument of Redipuglia, Italy, where he prayed for those who lost their lives in the First World War. "The figures are frightening: around eight million fallen soldiers and around seven million civilians killed. This shows us what madness war is! A madness from which humanity still has not learnt its lesson: it was followed by another world war soon after, and many others that are still in progress. When will we learn this
lesson? I invite everyone to look to the Crucified Jesus to understand that hatred and evil must be met with forgiveness and goodness, to understand that the solution of war leads only to more evil and death!"

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Cardinal Aguilar to take possession of his titular church
Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff today announced that on Sunday, 21 September, at 11 a.m., Cardinal Fernando Sebastian Aguilar, archbishop emeritus of Pamplona y Tudela, Spain, will take possession of the title of Sant'Angela Merici (Via di Sant'Angela Merici, 57).

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Audiences
Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience Daniel Ruben Herrera Piedrabuena, federal judge of La Rioja, with his wife and entourage.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Marcus Stock as
bishop of Leeds (area 5,033, population 2,068,000, Catholics 157,766, priests 182, permanent deacons 24, religious 149), England. The bishop-elect was born in London, England in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1988. He studied theology at Oxford University and dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian
University. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including parish priest of "St. Birinus" in Dorchester-on-Thames, "St. Peter's" in Bloxwich, and
Coleshill, and director of Catholic schools for the archdiocese of Birmingham. He is currently secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of England and Wales and advisor to the Heythrop College Faculty of Theology, London. In 2011 he was nominated Prelate of Honour of His Holiness.

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"I offer my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your gracious welcome, and, like Saint John Paul II in April 1993, I invoke upon Albania the protection of Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, entrusting to her the hopes of the entire Albanian people. May God abundantly pour out his grace and blessing upon Albania".
Following his address the Pope continued to Mother Teresa Square where he celebrated Holy Mass.

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The living Church in the Land of the Eagles: thank you for your fidelity
Vatican City, 21 September 2014 (VIS) - Thousands of faithful participated in the Holy Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Latin and Albanian at 11 a.m. in Mother Teresa Square. The liturgical readings reflected aspects of Albania's history. The first, from the Book of Exodus, told how "I bore you on eagle's wings", whereas the epistle was St. Paul's letter to the Romans in which the apostle tells how he preached in Illyria, which at that time included the current territory of Albania.
However, in his homily the Holy Father commented on the passage from the Gospel of St. Luke, which includes the phrase "Peace be to this house" and which narrates how Jesus, after naming the twelve apostles, convokes another seventy-two disciples and sends them to proclaim the Kingdom of God to peoples and cities.
"He comes to bring the love of God to the world and he wishes to share it by means of communion and fraternity", said Pope Francis. "To this end he immediately forms a community of disciples, a missionary community, and he trains them how to 'go out' on mission. The method is both clear and simple: the disciples visit homes and their preaching begins with a greeting which is charged with meaning: 'Peace be to this house!'. It is not only a greeting, but
also a gift: the gift of peace. Being here with you today, dear brothers and sisters of Albania, in this square dedicated to a humble and great daughter of this land, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, I wish to repeat to you this greeting: May peace be in your homes. May peace reign in your hearts. Peace in your country. Peace".
"In the mission of the seventy-two disciples we see a reflection of the Christian community's missionary experience in every age: the risen and living Lord sends not only the Twelve, but the entire Church; he sends each of the baptised to announce the Gospel to all peoples. Through the ages, the message of peace brought by Jesus' messengers has not always been accepted; at times, the doors have been closed to them. In the recent past, the doors of your country were also closed, locked by the chains of prohibitions and prescriptions of a system which denied God and impeded religious freedom. Those
who were afraid of the truth did everything they could to banish God from the hearts of men and women and to exclude Christ and the Church from the history of your country, even though it was one of the first to receive the light of the Gospel".
Pope Francis went on to recall the "decades of atrocious suffering and harsh persecutions against Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims", affirming that "Albania was a land of martyrs: many bishops, priests, men and women religious, lay faithful, and ministers of worship of other religions paid for their fidelity with their lives. Demonstrations of great courage and constancy in the profession of the faith are not lacking. How many Christians did not succumb when threatened, but persevered without wavering on the path they had undertaken! I stand spiritually at that wall of the cemetery of Scutari, a symbolic place of the martyrdom of Catholics before the firing squads, and with
profound emotion I place the flower of my prayer and of my grateful and undying
remembrance. The Lord was close to you, dear brothers and sisters, to sustain you; he led you and consoled you and in the end he has raised you up on eagle's
wings as he did for the ancient people of Israel. The eagle, depicted on your nation's flag, calls to mind hope, and the need to always place your trust in God, who does not lead us astray and who is ever at our side, especially in moments of difficulty.
"The doors of Albania have now been reopened and a season of new missionary vitality is growing for all of the members of the people of God: each baptised person has his or her role to fulfil in the Church and in society. Each one must experience the call to dedicate themselves generously to the announcing of
the Gospel and to the witness of charity; called to strengthen the bonds of solidarity so as to create more just and fraternal living conditions for all".
Today, the Pontiff exclaimed, "I have come to give thanks to you for your witness and to encourage you to cultivate hope among yourselves and within your
hearts. Do not forget the eagle. The eagle does not forget the nest, but flies high. It flies high! I have come to encourage you to involve the young generations; to nourish yourselves assiduously on the Word of God, opening your
hearts to Christ: to the Gospel, to the encounter with God and the encounter among you, which is already taking place. Through this encounter of yours, you offer an example to all Europe".
"To the living Church in this land of Albania, I say 'thank you' for your example of fidelity", he concluded. "Do not forget the nest, your distant history; do not forget the wounds inflicted, but do not seek to avenge them. Go
ahead, working with hope for a great future. So many of your sons and daughters
have suffered for Christ, even to the point of sacrificing their lives. May their witness sustain your steps today and tomorrow as you journey along the path of love, the path of freedom, and above all, the path of justice and of peace".

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To the young: yes to acceptance and solidarity
Vatican City, 21 September 2014 (VIS) - Before the end of this Sunday's liturgy, Francis greeted those present from Albania and other neighbouring countries to thank them for their presence and for their witness of faith, and addressed the young in particular. "They say that Albania is the youngest country in Europe", he commented, smiling, and invited them to "confirm [their]
existence in Jesus Christ".
"He who builds on Christ builds on rock, because He is always faithful, even if we sometimes lack faith", continued the Holy Father. "Jesus knows us better than anyone else; when we sin, He does not condemn us but rather says to us, 'Go and sin no more'. Dear young people, you are the new generation of Albania,
the future of your homeland. With the power of the Gospel and the example of your antecedents and the martyrs, know how to say 'No' to the idolatry of money, 'No' to the false freedom of individualism, 'No' to addiction and to violence; say 'Yes' to a culture of encounter and of solidarity, 'Yes' to the beauty that is inseparable from the good and the true; 'Yes' to a life lived with great enthusiasm and at the same time faithful in little things. In this way, you will build a better Albania and a better world".
Before the Angelus prayer, the Pope invoked the Virgin Mary, venerated in Albania above all as "Our Lady of Good Counsel". "I stand before her, spiritually, at her Shrine in Scutari, so dear to you, and to her I entrust the
entire Church in Albania and all the people of this country, especially families, children and the elderly, who are the living memory of the people. May Our Lady guide you to walk together with God towards the hope that never disappoints".

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For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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--- MPost/386 v1.21
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During the meeting, various problems of a doctrinal and canonical nature were examined, and it was decided to proceed gradually and over a reasonable period of time in order to overcome difficulties and with a view to the envisioned full reconciliation.

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International Theological Commission at the end of its eighth term: appointments and new website
Vatican City, 23 September 2014 (VIS) - This year the International Theological Commission concludes its eighth five-year term, which began with the pontifical appointment of its members on 19 June 2009.
As is known, the International Theological Commission, instituted by the Servant of God Paul VI on 11 April 1969, has the task of assisting the Holy See, and in particular the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in examining the most important and current doctrinal questions. The Commission is
composed of theologians from various schools and nations, eminent for their scientific excellence and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church. The Members - no more than thirty in number - are appointed by the Holy Father "ad quinquennium" upon proposal by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith and following consultation with the Episcopal Conferences. During the course of its history the Commission has published 27 documents, with the approval of its President.
The Holy See wishes to express special gratitude for the competent and conscientious theological service provided by the Members of the Commission during the term that is about to draw to an end. Three documents have been published during this term: Theology today. Perspectives, Principles and Criteria (approved in 2011 and published in 2012); God the Trinity and the Unity of Humanity: Christian monotheism and its opposition to violence (approved in 2013 and published in 2014) and the more recent Sensus fidei in the life of the Church (approved and published in the current year 2014). In reality, the work of the Commission has been more extensive, as it has also offered valuable contributions on other issues on behalf of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the primary task of the Commission.
On 26 July 2014, with the appointment by the Holy Father Francis of thirty new
Members, the Commission began its ninth term. This will continue until 2019, which will also be a jubilee period for the Commission, which celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of its institution on 11 April 2019.
As usual, in view of the aforementioned appointments, during this last year extensive consultations have been carried out with Episcopal Conferences throughout the world, as well as the Synods of the oriental Eparchies. On the basis of the responses received, Cardinal Gerhard L. Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, presented to the Holy Father a preferential list of candidates. Taking these proposals into consideration, the
Pope appointed the theologians who are to form the Commission, at the same time
renewing the appointment of Fr. Serge-Thomas Bonino, O.P. (France) as secretary
general.
With regard to the provenance of the Members, there is an increased number of extra-European appointees in the new composition of the Commission. As well as the 14 representatives of Europe (compared to 14 in the previous term) there are 5 from South America (previously 3), 4 from Asia (previously 4), 3 from Africa (previously 2), 3 from North America (previously 2) and 1 from Australia
(previously 1).
Furthermore, there is a notable increase in the contribution of female theologians. In the two previous terms, the Commission benefited from the presence of two renowned theologians, Sister Sara Butler, M.S.B.T., (U.S.A.), and Professor Barbara Hallensleben (Switzerland, of German nationality). Five other female theologians have been appointed for the new term: Sister Prudence Allen, R.S.M., (U.S.A.), Sister Alenka Arko, Com. Loyola (Slovenia-Russia), Moira Mary McQuenn (G.B. - Canada), Tracey Rowland (Australia), Marianne Schlosser (Germany - Austria). Women now constitute 16% of the Commission's members, a sign of growing female involvement in theological research. In 2014 it was also decided to further diversify the ecclesial provenance of the members, in relation to their religious status and the particular charisms they
represent.
The first meeting of the new members, which will take place in plenary session
at the premises of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is traditionally held in the first week of Advent - from 1 to 5 December. The three themes to be considered by the Commission over the coming years will be selected.
The International Theological Commission has renovated and enriched its page on the Vatican website (www.vatican.va), which offers all its documents in various languages, among the section of Commissions linked to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. All the documents published by the Comission are
available for consultation, usually in ten or more languages. The Commission has now taken a further step to facilitate consultation while conserving all its documentation on the official site of the Holy See (www.vatican.va), by establishing a new link (
www.cti.va). Referring to the initials of its Latin name, "Commissio Theologica
Internationalis", the new link has the advantage of being identical for various
languages, such as Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Aside from offering
a page dedicated to the Commission, the new link also offers the reader the possibility of selecting the language without returning to the Vatican homepage. It is hoped that this new and easier to use page will be a useful tool for stimulating dialogue by enabling an increasingly effective communication of the Commission's theological patrimony both within and beyond the Church.

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The Holy See at the 58th Conference of the IAEA: nuclear disarmament is a realistic objective
Vatican City, 20 September 2014 (VIS) - Archbishop Antoine Camilleri, under secretary for Relations with States, attended the 58th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in Vienna yesterday. He began his address by emphasising that the Holy See commends and supports all the activities of the IAEA, which contribute to "authentic human development and foster peace and prosperity throughout the world", and remarked that, in relation to the Agency's significant achievements, "the Holy See believes that improved public awareness and recognition ... would come about through a greater use of the modern means of communication and a deeper cooperation with civic and political authorities". Moreover, he added, "we believe that these activities ... are compatible with Pope Francis' call for fraternity, articulated in his 2014 Message for the World Day of Peace".
He went on to stress that the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons is "paramount for all humankind. Yet the attainment of this objective cannot be the final word with regard to peace: special emphasis must be given to worldwide nuclear disarmament. This must be a goal for all states, especially for those who possess nuclear weapons or who want to develop or acquire them. Furthermore it is a goal which ought not to be considered unrealistic. The reality of peace unquestionably requires a change of course which can be accomplished by decision-making which is clear and firm, and by a willingness to seek and achieve nuclear disarmament. As in years past, the Holy
See urges governments and scientific experts engaged in the field of military defence to work strenuously towards such disarmament". He commented that this year is the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, and the seventy-fifth of the Second World War, conflicts whose terrible consequences we
still experience to this day.
Archbishop Camilleri turned his attention to the great worldwide interest in ensuring the enhancement and improvement of nuclear safety since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plants in March 2011. "This is the path that must be pursued: doing everything humanly possible to prevent accidents at nuclear facilities and minimising any consequences should an accident occur". He concluded by confirming that the Holy See delegation "wishes to encourage and support the efforts and innovative approaches tht concern the management and safe disposal of radioactive waste", and reiterated the great importance attached by the Holy See to the successful cooperation of the IAEA with other United Nations organisations such as the WHO and the FAO.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 23 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience twenty-one bishops of the Ghana Bishops' Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle of Accra;
- Bishop Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu of Ho,
- Bishop Gabriel Akwasi Abiabo Mante of Jasikan;
- Bishop Anthony Kwami Adanuty of Keta-Akatsi;
- Bishop Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum of Koforidua;
- Archbishop Matthias Kobena Nketsiah of Cape Coast;
- Bishop John Bonaventure Kwofie, C.S.Sp. of Sekondi-Takoradi;
- Bishop Joseph Francis Kweku Essien of Wiawso;
- Archbishop Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye of Kumasi, apostolic administrator of Obuasi, with Archbishops emeritus Peter Kwasi Sarpong and Thomas Kwaku Mensah;
- Bishop Peter Kwaku Atuahene of Goaso;
- Bishop Joseph Osei-Bonsu of Konongo-Mampong;
- Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi of Sunyani;
- Bishop Dominic Yeboah Nyarko of Techiman;
- Archbishop Philip Naameh of Tamale;
- Bishop Peter Paul Angkyier of Damongo;
- Bishop Alfred Agyenta of Navrongo-Bolgatanga;
- Bishop Paul Bemile of Wa;
- Bishop Vincent Sowah Boi-nai, S.V.D., of Yendi;
- Bishop Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, S.V.D., apostolic vicar of Donkorkrom.
On the afternoon of Monday, 22 September, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy;
- Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, archbishop of Valencia, Spain.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 20 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed the new members of the International Theological Commission and has renewed the mandate
of a number of members from its previous five-year term. For the 2014-2019 term, the Commission will be composed of the following members:
- Fr. Serge Thomas Bonino, O.P., secretary general, France;
- Rev. Terwase Henry Akaabiam, Nigeria;
- Sister Prudence Allen, R.S.M., U.S.A.;
- Sister Alenka Arko, Loyola Community, Russian Federation - Slovenia;
- Msgr. Antonio Luiz Catelan Ferreira, Brazil;
- Msgr. Piero Coda, Italy;
- Rev. Lajos Dolhai, Hungary;
- P. Peter Dubovsky, S.J., Slovakia;
- Rev. Mario Angel Flores Ramos, Mexico;
- Rev. Carlos Maria Galli, Argentina;
- Rev. Krzysztof Gozdz, Poland;
- Rev. Gaby Alfred Hachem, Lebanon;
- Fr. Thomas Kollamparampil, C.M.I., India;
- Rev. Koffi Messan Laurent Kpogo, Togo;
- Rev. Oswaldo Martinez Mendoza, Colombia;
- Professor Moira Mary McQueen, Canada - Great Britain;
- Rev. Karl Heinz Menke, Germany;
- Rev.do John Junyang PARK, Corea;
- Fr. Bernard Pottier, S.J., Belgium;
- Rev. Javier Prades Lopez, Spain;
- Professor Tracey Rowland, Australia;
- Professor Hector Gustavo Sanchez Rojas, S.C.V., Peru;
- Professor Marianne Schlosser, Austria - Germany;
- Rev. Nicholaus Segeja M'Hela, Tanzania;
- Rev. Pierangelo Sequeri, Italy;
- Rev. Zeljko Tanjic, Croatia;
- Fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, O.P., Philippines;
- Fr. Gabino Uribarri Bilbao, S.J., Spain;
- Rev. Philippe Vallin, France;
- Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy, O.F.M.Cap., U.S.A.

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He added that international cooperation "must also address the root causes upon which terrorism feeds in order to grow", and emphasised the strong cultural component of the present terroristic challenge. "Young people travelling abroad to join the ranks of terrorist organisations are often youth of poor immigrant families, deluded by what they feel is a situation of exclusion, and by the lack of values of some wealthy societies. Together with the legal tools and resources to prevent citizens from becoming foreign terrorist fighters, governments should engage with civil society to address the
problems of communities most at risk of recruitment and radicalisation, and to achieve their smooth and satisfactory social integration".
"The Holy See - which is a sovereign international subject that also represents a world faith community - affirms that people of faith have a resolute responsibility to condemn those who seek to detach faith from reason and to instrumentalise faith as a justification for violence", he emphasised, concluding that, "at the same time, it should be stressed that to end the new terroristic phenomenon, the goal of achieving cultural understanding among peoples and countries, and social justice for all, is indispensable".
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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The KAICIID deplores the abuse of religion to justify violent conflict
Vatican City, 26 September 2014 (VIS) - The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, based in New York, U.S.A., yesterday published a declaration of principles, signed by the foreign ministers of Austria, Saudi Arabia and Spain, as well as by Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, in his role as Holy See Observer, to help build a united front to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the north of Iraq, as well
as in other regions of the world. The declaration was approved unanimously by the multireligious Board of Directors of KAICIID, who represent the major world
religions of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
The full text of the Declaration, entitled "In the Face of Conflict", is published below:
"We believe in the sanctity of life and the inherent dignity of the person. We
believe that religion is an enabler of respect and reconciliation. We believe that dialogue among people of different religions and cultures is the path to lasting peace and social cohesion.
"We affirm the purposes and principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. These equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family
are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
"We condemn violent conflict in the world, more so violence committed in the name of religion, and call for an end to violent hostility. We deplore loss of life and commend those who seek to alleviate suffering, as well as those who strive to promote wellbeing, harmony and peace. We oppose the instrumentalisation of religion to make war. We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes. And we condemn hate speech and extremism that incite violence and fuel prejudice. KAICIID combats prejudice and intolerance, in all their forms.
"KAICIID counteracts the abuse of religion to justify oppression, violence and
conflict and facilitates peaceful resolution by bringing conflict parties to the dialogue table. We continue to enhance interreligious and intercultural dialogue in order to foster respect, understanding and cooperation among people.
"We resolve to promote mutual respect and understanding among followers of all
religions and peoples of all cultures, particularly through dialogue. Let us look upon each other as sisters and brothers and, and let us appreciate difference as enrichment rather than fearing 'otherness' as a threat".

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Cardinals Nichols, Soo-Jung and Brenes Solorzano take possession of their titular churches
Vatican City, 26 September 2014 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff today announced that:
- on Thursday 2 October, Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols, archbishop of Westminster, will take possession of the title of the Most Holy Redeemer and St. Alphonse in Via Merulana, Via Merulana, 26;
- on Saturday, 4 October, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-Jung, archbishop of Seoul, will take possession of the title of San Crisogono, Piazza Sonnino, 44;
- on Sunday 5 October, Cardinal Leopoldo Jose Brenes Solorzano, archbishop of Managua, will take possession of the title of St. Joachim at Prati di Castello,
Piazza dei Quiriti, 17.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 26 September 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Professor Klaus Schwab, Germany, founder and executive president of the World Economic Forum (WEF), with his wife and entourage;
- Abdou Diouf, secretary general of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), with his wife and entourage;
- Archbishop Joseph Chennoth, apostolic nuncio in Japan;
- Diego Bossio, executive director of the "Administracion Nacional de la Securidad Social", (ANSES), Argentina.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 26 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Jose Antonio Fernandez Hurtado of Tuxtepec, Mexico as metropolitan archbishop of Durango (area 82,017, population 1,385,000, Catholics 1,170,000, priests 178, permanent deacons 8, religious 275), Mexico. He succeeds Archbishop Hector
Gonzalez Martinez, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

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"Let us remember our history: the Society 'was given the grace not only to believe in the Lord, but also to suffer for His sake'. We do well to remember this. The ship of the Society has been tossed around by the waves and there is nothing surprising in this. Even the boat of Peter can be tossed about today. The night and the powers of darkness are always near. It is tiring to row. The Jesuits must be 'brave and expert rowers': row then! Row, be strong, even with the headwind! We row in the service of the Church. We row together! But while we row - we all row, even the Pope rows in the barque of Peter - we must pray a
lot. ... The Lord, even if we are men of little faith, will save us".
"The Society, restored by my predecessor Pius VII, was made up of men, who were brave and humble in their witness of hope, love and apostolic creativity, that of the Spirit. Pius VII ... gave permission to the Jesuits, who still existed here and there, thanks to a Lutheran monarch and an Orthodox monarch, 'to remain united in one body'. ... The Society resumed its apostolic activity of preaching and teaching, spiritual ministries, scientific research and social
action, the missions and care for the poor, the suffering and the marginalised.
Today, the Society also deals with the tragic problem of refugees and displaced
persons with intelligence and industriousness; and it strives with discernment to integrate service to faith and the promotion of justice in conformity with the Gospel. I confirm today what Paul VI told us at our 32nd General Congregation and which I heard with my own ears: "Wherever in the Church, even in the most difficult and extreme situations, in the crossroads of ideologies, in the social trenches, where there has been and there is confrontation between
the deepest desires of man and the perennial message of the Gospel, there you have been and there are Jesuits.
"In 1814, at the time of the restoration, the Jesuits were a small flock, a 'small Society', which however knew how to invest, following the trials of the cross, in the great mission of bringing the light of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This is how we must feel today therefore: outbound, in mission. The Jesuit identity is that of a man who loves God and loves and serves his brothers, showing by example not only that in which he believes, but also that in which he hopes, and who is the One in whom he has put his trust".

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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
Vatican City, 27 September 2014 (VIS) - The bishop Alvaro del Portillo (1914-1994), first successor of St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer at the helm of Opus Dei, was beatified in Madrid, Spain this morning. The Holy Father sent a message to Bishop Javier Echevarria, current Prelate of Opus Dei, which was read during the ceremony, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato,S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The message was signed 26 June, the feast day of St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer.
"I like to recall the short prayer that the Servant of God repeated frequently, especially in personal celebrations and anniversaries: 'Thank you, I'm sorry, help me more!' These are words that bring us closer to the reality of his interior life and his dealing with the Lord, and which can also help us to give a new impulse to our own Christian life", writes the Pope.
"Firstly, thank you. It is the immediate and spontaneous reaction of the soul before God's goodness. ... And God always precedes us. Alvaro del Portillo was aware of the many gifts God had given him, and he thanked God for that manifestation of his fatherly love. But he did not stop there. His gratitude for the Lord's love awakened in his heart the wish to follow him with greater selflessness and generosity, and to live a humble life of service to others. Particularly evident was his love for the Church, bride of Christ, whom he served with a heart stripped of worldly interests, free of discord, always welcoming to all, and always seeking the positive in others, what unites and what builds".
Secondly, there is the phrase "I'm sorry". Francis explains in his letter that
Don Alvaro "often admitted that he saw himself before God with empty hands, unable to respond to so much generosity. However, the admission of human poverty is not the fruit of despair ... but instead means opening oneself to His mercy, His love ... that does not humiliate, nor does it sink into the abyss of despair; rather, it lives us from our prostration and enables us to walk with more determination and joy. The Servant of God Alvaro knew the need we have of divine mercy, and he dedicated much of his personal energy to encourage persons to approach the Sacrament of Confession, the Sacrament of joy."
Finally, "help me more. Yes, the Lord never abandons us. ... His grace never fails us, and with His help we can proclaim His name to all the world. Beating in the heart of the new Blessed was the desire to take the Good News to all hearts. He went to many countries encouraging evangelisation projects, without being hindered by difficulties, moved by his love for God and for his brothers.
... The first condition for proclaiming Christ is to love them, as Christ loved
them before us. From there, the Lord awaits us. We cannot keep our faith to ourselves; it is a gift that we have received in order to be able to give it and share it with others".
"Blessed Alvaro del Portillo sends us a very clear message; he tells us to trust in the Lord, who is our brother, our friend who never disappoints us and who is always at our side," concludes the Holy Father. "He encourages us not to
be afraid to go against the current or to suffer for proclaiming the Gospel. In
addition, he teaches us that in the simplicity and ordinariness of our life we can find a sure path of holiness".

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Francis: the encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist is a source of hope for the
world
Vatican City, 27 September 2014 (VIS) - "The Eucharist occupies the central position in the Church because it is what makes the Church. As Vatican Council II affirms, it is the 'sacrament of piety, sign of unity, bond of charity'", said the Pope this morning, as he received in audience the participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Councils.
The theme of the next congress, "Christ in you, the hope of glory", "perfectly
reflects the bond between the Eucharist, the mission and Christian hope", continued the Pontiff. "Today there is a lack of hope in the world, and therefore humanity needs to hear the message of our hope in Jesus Christ. The Church proclaims this message with renewed ardour, using new methods and new expressions. With the spirit of 'new evangelisation', the Church brings this message to all and, in particular, those who despite being baptised, have drifted away from the Church and live without reference to Christian life".
"The encounter between Jesus in the Eucharist will be a source of hope for the
world if, transformed by the power of the Holy See in the image on He Whom we meet, we accept the mission of transforming the world, giving the fullness of life that we ourselves have received and experienced, bringing hope, forgiveness, healing and love to those who are in need, especially the poor, the dispossessed and the oppressed, sharing life and aspirations and walking alongside them in search of an authentic human life in Jesus Christ", concluded
Pope Francis, invoking the protection of the Virgin Mary for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress, to take place in Cebu, Philippines in January 2015.

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Communicating the family: a privileged place of encounter with the gift of love
Vatican City, 29 September 2014 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Social Communications published a note today explaining the theme of World Communications Day 2015: "Communicating the family: a privileged place of encounter with the gift of love". The theme follows in continuity with the previous year's message, and dovetails with the central theme of the next two Synods on the family.
It is important to recall that World Communications Day, the only World Day established by Vatican Council II, is celebrated in many countries, upon the recommendation of bishops throughout the world, on the Sunday preceding Pentecost, and that the Holy Father's Message for the event is traditionally published on the feast day of St. Francis of Sales, patron saint of journalists
(24 January).
"The daily news show us the difficulties facing the family today", according to the note. "Often cultural changes do not help us appreciate how much the family is a good for society.
"The relationships between the members of the family community are inspired and guided by the law of 'free giving'. By respecting and fostering personal dignity in each and every one as the only basis for value, this free giving takes the form of heartfelt acceptance, encounter and dialogue, disinterested availability, generous service and deep solidarity.
"Today, how can we tell people who are perhaps wounded and disillusioned that love between a man and a woman is a good thing? How can we help children know that they are a most precious gift? How can we warm the hearts of people, especially those who are wounded and disappointed, and help them rediscover the
beauty of love? How can we show that the family is the privileged place where we experience the beauty of life, the joy and the gift of love, the consolation
of forgiveness offered and received, and the encounter with the other?
"Today the Church must learn again how to show that the family is a great gift, something good and beautiful. The Church is called to show more vividly that the gift of love, which the bride and groom offer each other, draws all people to God. It is an exciting task because it moves people to look at the true reality of the human person, and it opens the doors to the future, to life".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 29 September 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Marcelo Julio Martin, ex-honorary consul of the Helvetic Confederation in Rosario, Argentina, and family;
- Stephan Weil, prime minister of Lower Saxony, and entourage.
On Saturday, 27 September, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
- Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio in Mexico;
- Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, apostolic nuncio in the Philippines;
- Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla, apostolic nuncio in Tanzania

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 27 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Salvatore Angerami as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Naples (area 274, population 1,744,000, Catholics 1,715,000, priests 1,053, permanent deacons 292, religious 3,413), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Naples, Italy in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1997. He studied engineering at the University "Federico II" of Naples and exercised the profession of engineer for
some years before undertaking theological and philosophical studies at the archiepiscopal seminary of Naples. He has served in a number of pastoral roles,
including parish priest of San Gennaro al Vomero, archiepiscopal delegate for buildings of worship, ordinary confessor and spiritual father of the preparatory community of the archiepiscopal major seminary, member of the diocesan council for economic affairs, and member of the Commission of Religious Art. He is currently rector of the archiepiscopal seminary of Naples.

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"In other words", he explained, "the State of social rights must not be dismantled, and in particular the right to work must be protected. This must not be considered a variable, dependent upon financial and monetary markets. It
is a fundamental right for dignity, for the formation of a family, for the realisation of the common good and for peace. Education and work and access to welfare for all are key elements both for development and for the just distribution of goods, for achieving social justice and for belonging to society, and for participating freely and responsibly in political life, understood as the management of the "res publica". Ideas that claim to increase
income at the cost of restricting the job market and creating further exclusion
are not coherent with an economy at the service of man and the common good, or with an inclusive and participatory democracy".
Further problems arise from the "lasting imbalances between economic sectors, remuneration, commercial banks and banks engaged in speculation, between institutions and global problems: it is necessary to remain vigilant about poverty and social justice. This requires, on the one hand, radical reforms that provide for the redistribution of the wealth produced, and the universalisation of free markets in the service of families, and on the other, a redistribution of sovereignty, at both national and supranational levels".
Returning to the encyclical "Caritas in veritate", the Pope noted that this document emphasised the bond between the environmental and human ecology, and affirmed the current relevance of its principles. "A love full of truth is in fact the foundation on which we must build the peace that is particularly hoped
for and necessary for the good of all today. It enables us to overcome dangerous fanaticism, conflicts over the possession of resources, migration of biblical dimensions, the lasting wounds of hunger and poverty, human trafficking, social and economic injustice and disparity, and imbalance in terms of access to collective goods". He concluded, "the Church is always on the move, in the search of new ways to proclaim the Gospel, also in the social sphere".

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Pope Francis receives in audience the survivors of the Lampedusa shipwreck that claimed 368 lives
Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father received a delegation of Eritrean survivors and relatives of the victims of the shipwreck that occurred a year ago in the waters of Lampedusa, Sicily, in which 368 migrants lost their lives. The delegation was composed of 37 people - more than
20 survivors and some relatives - from the various European countries where they have settled, often with family members who were already present there. These countries include Germany, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Denmark. Other survivors are due to arrive tomorrow, to join the delegation to participate in the commemoration of the tragedy in Lampedusa tomorrow. A few days ago a proposal was put forward to the Italian parliament that 3 October be
declared a "Day of Remembrance for Victims of the Sea".
The delegation was organised by the "3 October Committee", chaired by Tareke Brhane, and was accompanied by Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, almoner of His Holiness, and Fr. Giovanni Lamanna, former president of the Astalli Centre, the
Italian home of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), an international Catholic organisation active in more than forty countries, whose mission is to accompany
and assist refugees and asylum-seekers, and to defend their rights.
During the meeting, which took place in a room adjacent to the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, one of the refugees addressed the Pope, asking for his help and support in work that remains to be done, for instance in identifying the bodies, that in some cases has not yet been possible. Another young person thanked the Pope for his support for and interest in the welfare of migrants and refugees.
The Pope, moved by these testimonies, said, "I cannot find the words to say what I feel. What you have suffered is to be contemplated in silence; one weeps, and seeks a way of being close to you. At times, when you seem to have arrived in the port, we encounter very difficult situations. You find closed doors and do not know where to go. But there are many people whose hearts are open to you. The door of the heart is the most important in these moments. I implore all men and women in Europe to open the doors of their hearts! I want to say that I am close to you, I pray for you, I pray that the closed doors open up".
The delegation presented the Holy Father with a sculpture in iron, depicting a
bottle in the sea, containing a family. At the end of the encounter, the Pope personally greeted all those present.

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Papal representatives in the Middle East gather in the Vatican to discuss the situation of Christians in the region
Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) - The papal representatives in the Middle East are meeting in the Vatican from 2 to 4 October, at the Holy Father's behest, to discuss the presence of Christians in the region, due to the grave situation that has prevailed in recent months. The meeting began this morning at the Secretariat of State and was attended by the Superiors of the Secretariat of State and the Roman Curia directly linked with the issue, as well as the Holy See Permanent Observers at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, and the apostolic nuncio to the European Union.
The meeting demonstrates the Holy Father's closeness and interest in this important question. He opened the meeting, thanking the participants convened to pray and reflect together on what to do to approach the dramatic situation experienced by Christians in the Middle East, along with other religious and ethnic minorities who suffer as a result of the violence that continues to rage
throughout the region. With heartfelt words the Holy Father demonstrated his concern regarding the situations of conflict currently in progress in many areas, and for the phenomenon of terrorism, which holds human lives to have no value. The Pontiff also mentioned the problem of arms trafficking that is the basis of many problems, as well as the humanitarian drama experienced by many people forced to leave their countries. In emphasising the importance of prayer, the Holy Father expressed his hope that multi-level initiatives and actions may be identified in order to manifest the solidarity of all the Church
towards the Christians of the Middle East and also to involve the international
community and all men and women of good will, to respond to the needs of the very many people who suffer in the region.
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin illustrated the importance and aim of the meeting. Cardinal Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, offered a complete report on the situation experienced by Christians in the Middle East, presenting different aspects of the question and opening up
dialogue with the participants. The papal representatives in Syria and Iraq then went on to provide information on the conditions of Christians in their respective countries, and finally, Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", spoke on the role of the Church in facing the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.
This afternoon, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, will speak on religious dialogue with Islam, and the challenges faced by Christians in the Middle East. This will be followed by a presentation by Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, on his recent visit to Iraq as the Holy Father's special envoy. After the debate, the session will close with Vespers.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, archbishop of Lima, Peru;
- Archbishop Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno of Huancayo, Peru;
- Seven prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Chad, on their "ad Limina" visit:
- Bishop Rosario Pio Ramolo, O.F.M. Cap., of Gore;
- Bishop Miguel Angel Sebastian Martinez, M.C.C.I., of Lai, apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Doba;
- Bishop Joachim Kouraleyo Tarounga of Moundou;
- Bishop Jean-Claude Bouchard, O.M.I., of Pala;
- Bishop Goetbe Edmond Djitangar of Sarh;
- Bishop Henri Coudray, S.J., apostolic vicar of Mongo; and
- Rev. Alphonse Karamba, diocesan administrator of N'Djamena.

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Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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the source: V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

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

The apostolic nuncio in Israel and the apostolic delegate for Jerusalem and Palestine presented reports n the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on the presence of Christians in the Holy Land. A solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is crucial for the stabilisation of the Middle East and for peace in the region. Indeed, after many years it remains unresolved, with the very grave
regional and global consequences this implies. In this regard, the Holy Father's pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the subsequent prayer meeting in the Vatican opened up hopes for peace. The recent conflict in Gaza recalls that the
situation is serious and difficult, but it is necessary to renew diplomatic efforts for a just and lasting solution that respects the rights of both parties to the conflict.
After a moment of dialogue, the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity provided information on the relationship between the Catholic Church and other Churches and Christian confessions in the Middle East.
In the afternoon, two reports will be heard on the role of the Church in relation to the refugee crisis and in the promotion of justice and peace, presented by the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples and the Prefect of the Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace". After a lengthy dialogue, the afternoon session will conclude with Vespers and a fraternal dinner at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
Tomorrow, the final day of the meeting, Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, presided by the Cardinal Secretary of State, followed by an exchange of ideas in relation to the conclusions and working guidelines emerging from these days of study and reflection.

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Cardinal Baldisseri on the Synod on the Family
Vatican City, 3 October 2014 (VIS) - A press conference was held this morning in the Holy See Press Office during which Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, outlined the structure of the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, to be inaugurated by the Pope during a solemn mass in St. Peter's Basilica next Sunday.
The Cardinal explained that among the 191 Synod Fathers there will be 61 Cardinals, one Cardinal Patriarch, 7 Patriarchs, one major archbishop, 67 metropolitan archbishops, 47 bishops, one auxiliary bishop, 1 priest and 6 religious. There will also be 16 experts, 38 auditors and 8 fraternal delegates. He also remarked that since this assembly will consider the theme of
the family, special emphasis has been given to married couples, parents and family heads, a total of 12 persons; there is also one married couple within the group of experts.
He went on to speak about the characteristics of the upcoming Synod, which show the Holy Father's wish to "undertake an innovative and original Synodal path, structured in two phases: the current Extraordinary Assembly, on the theme 'Pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelisation', and
next year's Ordinary Assembly, which will take as its theme 'The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world'". Cardinal Baldisseri noted that during the preparatory phase, "there resounded the voice of all of the People of God", from bishops to lay faithful who were able to express their opinions through the questionnaire linked to the preparatory document distributed by the Episcopal Conferences. "The large number of responses is due on the one hand to the theme of the Synod, which regards the life of the community, families and people and reflects the pastoral care that the bishops have always had in relation to the family. On the other hand, the breadth of the material that was submitted is without doubt
an indication of the frankness and freeness with which the consultation was carried out. This broad-ranging freedom of expression will also characterise the Synod Assembly, which will certainly take place in an atmosphere of respect
for every position, with mutual charity and with a genuinely constructive approach".
He continued, "other new elements will affect the organisation of the work of the Synod, and therefore relate to the internal methodology of the Assembly. First, the Relatio ante disceptationem will include various novelties, and the Secretariat General asked the Synod fathers to transmit their contributions in advance, indicating the issue on which they intended to speak during the Assembly, respecting the order of themes. These texts were taken into consideration during the drafting of the Relatio ante disceptationem, which proved useful in organising the thematic agenda. In this way, the so-called Relatio becomes reference point which may be worked upon during the interventions in the Assembly".
Secondly, during the debate in the Synod Hall, which will take place during the first week, beginning with the Second General Congregation, the thematic order established following the Instrumentum laboris will be followed. Each general Congregation will open with the announcement of the theme by the president delegate, followed by an intervention by a married couple of Auditors, who will offer the Synod Fathers their testimony of family life, contributing to the enrichment of the debate on pastoral action.
Thirdly, during the "Relatio post disceptationem" issued at the end of the first week will provide the basis for the work of the second week by the so-called "small groups", when the Fathers prepare the final document, the "Relatio Synodi", to be submitted to the Holy Father.
"There will also be novelties regarding the means of communication", continued
Cardinal Baldisseri. "Each day there will be a Briefing in the Holy See Press Office, with the collaboration of the Press Secretaries and the participation of various Synod Fathers. The Press Office Bulletin will contain information regarding the day's work. Furthermore, there will be a Twitter service to transmit brief summaries of the most important news in real time.
"The work of the Synod Fathers will be accompanied by the prayer of the people
of God", concluded Cardinal Baldisseri. In Rome, in the Salus Populi Romani chapel in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a bishop or a cardinal will celebrate
a Holy Mass for the family. The presence of the relics of the Blessed couple Zelie and Louis Martin, and their daughter St. Therese of the Child Jesus, are significant, as are those of the Blessed couple Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi. Throughout the world, prayers will be offered in shrines, especially those dedicated to the Holy Family, in monasteries, in communities of consecrated life, in dioceses and in parishes".

___________________________________________________________

Audiences
Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal
Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, archbishop of San Cristobal de La Habana, Cuba.
In the afternoon of Thursday, 2 October, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, apostolic penitentiary;
- Bishop Hugo Nicolas Barbaro of San Roque of Presidencia Roque Saenz Pena, Argentina; and
- Bishop Fernando Martin Croxatto, auxiliary of Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina.

___________________________________________________________

For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source: V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

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

In the hour dedicated to open discussion ? from 6 to 7 p.m. ? attention returned to the need for a new language in the proclamation of the Gospel, with
particular reference to the new media technologies. With regard to the indissolubility of marriage, it was highlighted that today it would appear that
the law is opposed to the good of the person. In reality, the truth of the conjugal bond and its stability is inscribed within the person, and therefore it is not a question of setting the law and the person in opposition to each other, but rather of understanding how to help the person not to betray his or her own truth.
Further reflection was proposed in relation to families who have not received the gift of children despite wishing for them, and those in regions affected by
the Ebola virus.
Finally, the image of the Church as light was recalled, in the hope that this may be not only the light of a beacon, that remains constant and illuminates from afar, but also a torch, or rather a ?soft light? that accompanies humanity
on its path, step by step.
The Pontifical Council for the Family donated to the members of the Synod a copy of the extensive Enchiridion on the family.

___________________________________________________________

Fifth General Congregation: critical situations within the family, the question of mixed marriages, and mercy and truth for the divorced and remarried
Vatican City, 8 October 2014 (VIS) ? In the fifth general Congregation, which took place tis morning and which the Holy Father did not attend on account of the general audience, the general debate continued on the themes outlined in the Instrumentum laboris: ?The Pastoral Challenges of the Family (Part II, Chapter 2). The Crisis of Faith and Family Life / Critical Situations within the Family / External Pressures on the Family / Special Situations?.
First and foremost, the debate focused on the Church in the Middle East and in
North Africa. Both exist in difficult political, economic and religious situations, with serious repercussions on families. Where there are laws that impede the reunification of families, poverty leads to migration, where there is religious fundamentalism and Christians do not enjoy equal rights with Muslim citizens, there are often difficult problems for families resulting from
mixed marriages.
Indeed, in these contexts, interreligious or so-called ?mixed? marriages are present and on the increase in these contexts. It was said that the challenge of the Church is therefore to understand what form of catechesis may be offered
to children born of such a union and how it is possible to respect to the unknown situation of those Catholics who, united in mixed marriages, wish to continue to practice their religion. Such couples, it was said, must not be neglected and the Church must continue to take care of them. A further challenge is also represented by those Christians who convert to Islam in order
to marry: also in this case, suitable reflection is necessary.
The question is not simply interreligious, but at times also ecumenical: there
are cases in which a Catholic who has contracted a canonical marriage and is not able to obtain a declaration of nullity passes to another Christian confession, remarrying in a Church which permits this. In any case, without prejudice to the shared patrimony of faith, the need to follow the path of mercy in difficult situations was underlined.
With regard to the question of divorced and remarried persons, it was highlighted that the Synod must certainly take the issue into consideration, with the prudence required for important matters, but must also combine the objectivity of truth with mercy for the person and for his or her suffering. It
is necessary to remember that many faithful find themselves in this situation through no fault of their own.
Mention was made of the commitment of the Holy See, whose voice is always heard in the defence of families at all levels ? international, national and regional ? with the aim of emphasising its dignity, its rights and duties, and always noting that, as Benedict XVI said, her ?no? is in reality a ?yes? to life. Therefore, it was underlined that the Church must combat the educational and religious silence in families, as there is no place for hesitation and greater commitment to witnessing the Gospel is needed. Creativity in pastoral ministry is always necessary.
The Assembly went on to reflect on the indispensable contribution of the lay faithful to the proclamation of the Gospel in the family: in particular, the young, ecclesial movements and new communities provide a service of vital importance, carrying out a prophetic mission that runs counter to the current of our times. Listening and believing in the laity, therefore, is shown to be essential, as it is in them and with them that the Church may find the answers to the problems of the family.
Another theme taken into consideration was that of the precariousness of work and unemployment. The distress caused by the lack of a secure job creates difficulties within families, along with the poverty that often prevents families from having a home. Furthermore, a lack of money often leads to it becoming ?deified? and to families being sacrificed on the altar of profit. It is necessary to re-emphasise that money must serve rather than govern.
There was further reflection on the need for greater preparation for marriage,
also with special attention to emotional and sexual education, encouraging a true mystical and familiar approach to sexuality. The great contribution of grandparents to the transmission of faith in families was then recalled and it was highlighted how important it is for the family unit to welcome the elderly with solidarity, care and tenderness. The same care must be reserved to the sick, to overcome the ?throwaway culture? that Pope Francis frequently warns against.

___________________________________________________________

Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 8 October 2014 (VIS) ? The Holy Father has:
- appointed Bishop Fausto Tardelli of San Miniato, Italy, as bishop of Pistoia
(area 821, population 228,600, Catholics 219,300, priests 119, permanent deacons 22, religious 178), Italy.
- Bishop Celso Morga Iruzubieta, secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy,
as coadjutor of the archdiocese of Merida-Badajoz (area 17,405, population 597,300, Catholics 588,100, priests 311, religious 637), Spain.
- appointed Msgr. Levi Bonatto, of the personal prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Goiania (area 13,320, population 2,024,000, Catholics 1,221,000, priests 208, permanent deacons 14, religious 573), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Sao Jose dos Pinhais, Brazil in 1957 and was ordained a priest in 1996. He holds a degree in economics from the Federal University of the State of Parana and a degree in canon law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral roles, including chaplain of the ?Castelo? cultural centre in Campinas and of the ?Alfa e Esplanada? cultural centre in Sao Jose dos Campos; spiritual father for seminarians in the diocese of Sao Jose dos Campos; chaplain of the ?Os Pinhais? professional centre for girls with limited economic resources, and professor of canon law and theology at the
?Studium Generale? of Opus Dei in Sao Paulo. He is currentlychaplain of the ?Marumbi? cultural centre, coordinator of the ?Santa Cruz? priestly society in the State of Parana and confessor at the ?Sao Jose? minor seminary of Curitiba.

___________________________________________________________

For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source: V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

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

In the hour dedicated to open discussion - from 6 to 7 p.m. - attention returned to the need for a new language in the proclamation of the Gospel, with
particular reference to the new media technologies. With regard to the indissolubility of marriage, it was highlighted that today it would appear that
the law is opposed to the good of the person. In reality, the truth of the conjugal bond and its stability is inscribed within the person, and therefore it is not a question of setting the law and the person in opposition to each other, but rather of understanding how to help the person not to betray his or her own truth.
Further reflection was proposed in relation to families who have not received the gift of children despite wishing for them, and those in regions affected by
the Ebola virus.
Finally, the image of the Church as light was recalled, in the hope that this may be not only the light of a beacon, that remains constant and illuminates from afar, but also a torch, or rather a "soft light" that accompanies humanity
on its path, step by step.
The Pontifical Council for the Family donated to the members of the Synod a copy of the extensive Enchiridion on the family.

___________________________________________________________

Fifth General Congregation: critical situations within the family, the question of mixed marriages, and mercy and truth for the divorced and remarried
Vatican City, 8 October 2014 (VIS) - In the fifth general Congregation, which took place tis morning and which the Holy Father did not attend on account of the general audience, the general debate continued on the themes outlined in the Instrumentum laboris: "The Pastoral Challenges of the Family (Part II, Chapter 2). The Crisis of Faith and Family Life / Critical Situations within the Family / External Pressures on the Family / Special Situations".
First and foremost, the debate focused on the Church in the Middle East and in
North Africa. Both exist in difficult political, economic and religious situations, with serious repercussions on families. Where there are laws that impede the reunification of families, poverty leads to migration, where there is religious fundamentalism and Christians do not enjoy equal rights with Muslim citizens, there are often difficult problems for families resulting from
mixed marriages.
Indeed, in these contexts, interreligious or so-called "mixed" marriages are present and on the increase in these contexts. It was said that the challenge of the Church is therefore to understand what form of catechesis may be offered
to children born of such a union and how it is possible to respect to the unknown situation of those Catholics who, united in mixed marriages, wish to continue to practice their religion. Such couples, it was said, must not be neglected and the Church must continue to take care of them. A further challenge is also represented by those Christians who convert to Islam in order
to marry: also in this case, suitable reflection is necessary.
The question is not simply interreligious, but at times also ecumenical: there
are cases in which a Catholic who has contracted a canonical marriage and is not able to obtain a declaration of nullity passes to another Christian confession, remarrying in a Church which permits this. In any case, without prejudice to the shared patrimony of faith, the need to follow the path of mercy in difficult situations was underlined.
With regard to the question of divorced and remarried persons, it was highlighted that the Synod must certainly take the issue into consideration, with the prudence required for important matters, but must also combine the objectivity of truth with mercy for the person and for his or her suffering. It
is necessary to remember that many faithful find themselves in this situation through no fault of their own.
Mention was made of the commitment of the Holy See, whose voice is always heard in the defence of families at all levels - international, national and regional - with the aim of emphasising its dignity, its rights and duties, and always noting that, as Benedict XVI said, her "no" is in reality a "yes" to life. Therefore, it was underlined that the Church must combat the educational and religious silence in families, as there is no place for hesitation and greater commitment to witnessing the Gospel is needed. Creativity in pastoral ministry is always necessary.
The Assembly went on to reflect on the indispensable contribution of the lay faithful to the proclamation of the Gospel in the family: in particular, the young, ecclesial movements and new communities provide a service of vital importance, carrying out a prophetic mission that runs counter to the current of our times. Listening and believing in the laity, therefore, is shown to be essential, as it is in them and with them that the Church may find the answers to the problems of the family.
Another theme taken into consideration was that of the precariousness of work and unemployment. The distress caused by the lack of a secure job creates difficulties within families, along with the poverty that often prevents families from having a home. Furthermore, a lack of money often leads to it becoming "deified" and to families being sacrificed on the altar of profit. It is necessary to re-emphasise that money must serve rather than govern.
There was further reflection on the need for greater preparation for marriage,
also with special attention to emotional and sexual education, encouraging a true mystical and familiar approach to sexuality. The great contribution of grandparents to the transmission of faith in families was then recalled and it was highlighted how important it is for the family unit to welcome the elderly with solidarity, care and tenderness. The same care must be reserved to the sick, to overcome the "throwaway culture" that Pope Francis frequently warns against.

___________________________________________________________

Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 8 October 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Bishop Fausto Tardelli of San Miniato, Italy, as bishop of Pistoia
(area 821, population 228,600, Catholics 219,300, priests 119, permanent deacons 22, religious 178), Italy.
- Bishop Celso Morga Iruzubieta, secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy,
as coadjutor of the archdiocese of Merida-Badajoz (area 17,405, population 597,300, Catholics 588,100, priests 311, religious 637), Spain.
- appointed Msgr. Levi Bonatto, of the personal prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Goiania (area 13,320, population 2,024,000, Catholics 1,221,000, priests 208, permanent deacons 14, religious 573), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Sao Jose dos Pinhais, Brazil in 1957 and was ordained a priest in 1996. He holds a degree in economics from the Federal University of the State of Parana and a degree in canon law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral roles, including chaplain of the "Castelo" cultural centre in Campinas and of the "Alfa e Esplanada" cultural centre in Sao Jose dos Campos; spiritual father for seminarians in the diocese of Sao Jose dos Campos; chaplain of the "Os Pinhais" professional centre for girls with limited economic resources, and professor of canon law and theology at the
"Studium Generale" of Opus Dei in Sao Paulo. He is currently chaplain of the "Marumbi" cultural centre, coordinator of the "Santa Cruz" priestly society in the State of Parana and confessor at the "Sao Jose" minor seminary of Curitiba.

___________________________________________________________

For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source: V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

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

___________________________________________________________

Mass of thanks for the new Canadian saints
Vatican City, 11 October 2014 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Basilica, a Holy Mass was celebrated to give thanks for the canonisation of the Canadian saints Francois de Laval and Marie de l'Incarnation. In his homily, the Holy Father spoke about missionaries who, like the new saints, "in docility to the Holy Spirit, have the courage to live the Gospel".
"Missionaries have received this call: they have gone out to call everyone, in
the highways and byways of the world", he continued. "In this way they have done immense good for the Church, for once the Church stops moving, once she becomes closed in on herself, she falls ill, she can be corrupted, whether by sins or by that false knowledge cut off from God which is worldly secularism. Missionaries have turned their gaze to Christ crucified ... they have been able
to live in poverty and abundance, in plenty and hunger".
The Pope gave two pieces of advice to Canadian pilgrims. "Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith", and "Recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. Do
not abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. You need only endurance".
Pope Francis concluded by mentioning the many Canadian missionaries, so that "this memory does not lead us to abandon frankness and courage". He added, "the
devil is envious and cannot tolerate that a land can be so rich in missionaries", and asked for prayers for Quebec, so that it may "return to the path of fruitfulness, to give many missionaries to the world" and so that the new Canadian saints "may help us as intercessors".

___________________________________________________________

Angelus: respond to the Lord's invitation with witness to charity
Vatican City, 11 October 2014 (VIS) - Today at midday, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the
Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. Before the Marian prayer, Pope Francis commented on the day's reading from the Gospel of St. Matthew, in which God, represented by a king, gives an invitation to participate in a wedding banquet; however, none of those invited choose to attend, and some demonstrate indifference or even annoyance. The Pope first remarked on the three characteristics of the invitation: gratuitousness, amplitude, and universality. "God is good to us", he said. "He freely offers us
His friendship. He freely offers His joy and salvation. But very often we do not welcome His gifts. We prioritise our material concerns, our own interests, and even when the Lord calls us, many times it is as if this irritates us".
He continued, "Some of those invited even mistreat and kill the servants who bring the invitation. But despite the lack of response from those invited, God's project is not interrupted. Faced with rejection from those He invites first, he is not discouraged and does not cancel the feast, but instead extends
the invitation again, this time expanding it beyond reasonable limits, sending His servants to the squares and crossroads to gather together all the people they meet".
"God's goodness has no limits, and does not discriminate against anyone. This is why the banquet of the gifts of the Lord is universal. It is universal for everyone. He gives everyone the opportunity to respond to His invitation, to His call; no-one has the right to feel privileged or to claim exclusivity". He concluded, "The goodness of God does not have limits and does not discriminate against anyone. We are all called upon to expand the Church to the dimensions of the Kingdom of God. There is only one condition: put on the wedding garment:
that is, bear concrete witness to charity towards God and neighbour".

___________________________________________________________

Genoa in the Pope's prayers
Vatican City, 12 October 2014 (VIS) - At the end of today's Angelus, the Pope addressed the city of Genoa, again afflicted by floods. "I assure my prayers for the victims and those who have suffered serious damages. May Our Lady of the Guard support the dear people of Genoa in their collective efforts to overcome this crisis".
He went on to greet all the faithful and pilgrims, especially the Canadians in
Rome for the canonisation of Francois de Laval and Marie de l'Incarnation. "May
the new saints arouse apostolic fervour in the hearts of young Canadians".

___________________________________________________________

Synod Fathers to draw up the Relatio Synodi
Vatican City, 11 October 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has decided that, to draw up the Relatio Synodi, the General Rapporteur, the Special Secretary and the Secretary General will be joined by the following Synod Fathers: Cardinals Gianfranco Ravasi and Donald William Wuerl, Archbishops Victor Manuel Fernandez
and Carlos Aguiar Retes, Bishop Peter Kang U-il and Rev. Fr. Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, S.J.

___________________________________________________________

Tenth General Congregation: Fraternal Delegates
Vatican City, 11 October 2014 (VIS) - The tenth general Congregation involved hearing seven fraternal Delegates of various Christian confessions. The intervention of the eighth Delegate, Metropolitan Hilarion, president of the Department for External Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, will be given in the coming days.
In their interventions, the fraternal Delegates expressed to the Holy Father and the Synod Fathers their gratitude for the invitation to participate in the Assembly. Each one then went on to present the question of the family in the context of his own Christian confession.
Overall, it was underlined that the challenges and hopes attached to the family unit are common to all Christians: the family, it was said, is fundamental for society, it is the foundation of communion in justice. Certainly, there is no lack of difficulties: the economic crisis is pressing, the mass media reduce moments of dialogue in the home, at times even proposing models that lead to adultery, and factors such as wars, migration, globalisation, the drama of diseases such as Aids and Ebola, and the Islamic fundamentalism present in some countries continually place the good of the family at risk in every context.
Common to all Christians is the need for adequate preparation for marriage and
appropriate reflection on marriage between believers and non-believers. With regard to divorced and remarried persons, it was said that their acceptance in the Church may give new hope, promoting a more serene family life and thus creating a richer society. Therefore, on the part of all Christian confessions,
it is essential to listen to those who find themselves in difficult family situations, who are in need of mercy and compassion every day, as the Church wishes always to help those who suffer, looking both at the Sacred Scriptures and at the problems of contemporary life.
The wish was expressed for listening and comprehension, far from any form of condemnation, in relation to homosexual persons, while emphasising that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Particular attention was shown towards children born in difficult contexts and for all victims of violence, especially women and minors, as the defence of the most vulnerable, of those who have no voice of their own - believers or otherwise - is common to all Christians.
Another central theme in the interventions by the fraternal Delegates was that
of the proclamation of the Gospel. The family, it was said, is the first school
of faith: it is the place where knowledge of the Good News is transmitted and disseminated, and it is therefore essential that Christians share the "joy of the Gospel", that "evangelii gaudium" frequently mentioned by Pope Francis.
Some differences in approach were encountered, for example on the theme of birth control, underlining the freedom of conscience of believers, while always
respecting the meaning of love and marriage. Furthermore, in relation to second
marriages, it was said by the Orthodox delegates that these in any case constitute a deviation and while they are celebrated, it is after a period of accompaniment on the part of the Church in an attempt to bring married couples towards reconciliation.
In particular, the fraternal Delegates of the Churches present in the Middle East thanked Pope Francis for the prayer vigil for peace in Syria and throughout the world, held on 7 September 2013; in this context, the responsibility of evangelisation by Middle Eastern Christian families within a largely Islamic context was emphasised.
Finally, the delegates concluded their interventions by expressing the hope that the extraordinary Synod on the family will prove successful, especially in
view of the ordinary Assembly scheduled for 2015.

___________________________________________________________

Declaration from the director of the Holy See Press Office
Vatican City, 11 October 2014 (VIS) - In response to questions from journalists regarding the meeting between the Holy Father Francis and the Prime
Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, the director of the Holy See Press Office Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., issued the following declaration:
"As agreed, the Holy Father Francis will receive Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, on Saturday 18 October 2014. The meeting will allow a deepening of the bilateral relations between Viet Nam and the Holy See".

___________________________________________________________

Audiences
Vatican City, 11 October 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
- Cardinal Geraldo Majello Agnelo, archbishop emeritus of Sao Salvador de Bahia, Brazil;
- Bishop Francesco Moraglia, patriarch of Venice, Italy.

___________________________________________________________

Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 11 October 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Bishop Djalwana Laurent Lompo as metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese of Niamey (area 200,000, population 7,637,000, Catholics 20,600, priests 39, religious 81), Niger. Msgr. Djalwana Laurent Lompo, currently auxiliary of the same diocese, succeeds Archbishop Michel Carteteguy, S.M.A., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese, in accordance with
canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law, was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Archbishop Vincenzo Pelvi, military ordinary emeritus of Italy, as
metropolitan archbishop of Foggia-Bovino (area 1,666, population 215,000, Catholics 212,000, priests 154, permanent deacons 10, religious 228), Italy. He
succeeds Archbishop Francesco Pio Tamburrino, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Bishop Jan Piotrowski, auxiliary of Tarnow, Poland, as bishop of Kielce (area 8,319, population 813,525, Catholics 768,743, priests 729, religious 437), Poland. He succeeds Bishop Kazimierz Ryczan, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

___________________________________________________________

For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source: V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

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

"In this way, Jesus offers every man and woman the fundamental criteria on which to base their lives", concluded Francis. "But above all, He gives us the Holy Spirit, which enables us to love God and our neighbour like Him, with a free and generous heart. Through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, let us open ourselves to receive this gift of love, always to follow the path of this law, of the two faces that are one face, the law of love".
Following the Marian prayer, the Holy Father commented that on Saturday in Sao
Paulo in Brazil, Mother Assunta Marchetti was proclaimed Blessed. Born in Italy, she was the co-founder of the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo
(the "Scalabrini"). "She was a nun who was exemplary in the service of orphans of Italian immigrants. She saw Jesus in the poor, in orphans, in the sick, in migrants. Let us give thanks to the Lord for this woman, a model of tireless missionary spirit and courageous dedication in the service of charity".

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Pope's message to participants in the congress "In precariousness, hope"
Vatican City, 25 October 2014 (VIS) - Pope Francis has sent a message to the participants in the national congress organised by the Italian Episcopal Conference in Salerno, Italy, on the theme "In precariousness, hope". The aim of the conference is to offer, especially to the younger generations, prospects
of hope at a time characterised by uncertainty, restlessness and great change.
"In my visits in Italy, and in my encounters with the people, I have been able
to encounter first-hand the situation of many young people who are jobless, in receipt of unemployment insurance, or in precarious work", Francis writes. "But
this is not only an economic problem - it is a problem of dignity. Where there is no work, there is no dignity - there lacks the experience of the dignity of bringing bread home to the table. And unfortunately, in Italy, there are very many young people without work".
"Working means planning one's own future, deciding to establish a family. There is truly a sensation that the current moment is the 'passion of the young'. This throwaway culture is very strong: everything that does not bring profit is discarded. The young are cast aside, because they are without work. But this means discarding the future of the people, as the young represent the future of the people. We must say 'no' to this 'throwaway culture'".
While, however, there is precariousness, the Pope observed that there is also hope, as the title of the congress affirms. "How can we make sure that we are not robbed of hope by the 'shifting sands' of precariousness? With the strength
of the Gospel. The Gospel is a source of hope, because it comes from God and because it comes from Jesus Christ, who sympathised with all our precariousness".
"You are young people who belong to the Church", concludes the Holy Father, "and you therefore have the gift and the responsibility of bringing the strength of the Gospel to this social and cultural situation", because "the Gospel generates care for others, the culture of encounter and solidarity. Thus, with the strength of the Gospel, you will be witnesses of hope in precariousness".

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Cardinal Parolin: the obstacles to development derive from a distorted vision of the human being and economic activity
Vatican City, 25 October 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday, 24 October, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin spoke at the conference organised by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies dedicated to the theme of "Human Dignity and Human Development", marking the inauguration of the University of Notre Dame Global Gateway.
The cardinal observed that "the topics which have been discussed show that, in
speaking of the relationship between development and human dignity, the terms 'economy', 'economic systems' and the like, can all be employed as synonyms for
the term 'development'. This in itself helps us to appreciate better the challenges we face in promoting human dignity. Development is in fact closely linked to the proper management of resources in poorer countries, and the economic decisions made by wealthy countries, which have positive or negative repercussions on the economy of developing countries. But the more fundamental reason for beginning with economics is that the Church's social teaching has constantly emphasised that the greatest obstacles to universal and integral human development are found in a distorted vision of man and economic activity,
one which threatens the dignity of the human person".
The secretary of State remarked on the continuity between of Francis' magisterium and that of his predecessors, especially Benedict XVI, who "using very similar words, warn that the problems of development and the just regulation of the economy remain insoluble without a holistic vision of the human person and a commitment to constant and coherent moral standards firmly grounded in the natural law and the pursuit of the common good". As Benedict XVI writes in his encyclical "Caritas in Veritate", "development will never be fully guaranteed through automatic or impersonal forces, whether they derive from the market or from international politics. Development is impossible without upright men and women, without financiers and politicians whose consciences are finely attuned to the requirements of the common good".
"Conversion of mind and heart is thus required if economic activity as a whole
is to be genuinely directed to integral human development", Cardinal Parolin emphasised. "A 'Promethean faith' in the market, or in other ideologies and forms of aprioristic thinking, will need to be replaced by faith in God and a transcendent vision of men and women as God's children. This in turn will lead to intellectual conversion in the sense of developing an economic science and praxis which begins with an integral understanding of the human person, that is
placed at the service of human development, and is capable of orienting production and consumption to authentic human fulfilment, in our relationship with God and with our neighbour".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 27 October 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, apostolic nuncio in Senegal, Capo Verde and Guinea-Bissau, and apostolic delegate in Mauritania;
- A delegation from the Jewish Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
On Saturday, 25 October, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
- Carlos Federico de la Riva Guerra, ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, on his farewell visit;
- Maron Curi, president of the "Consejo Nacional Union Cultural Argentino Libanese.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 27 October 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Bernardino C. Cortez as bishop-prelate of the prelature of Infanta (area 7,189,
population 516,000, Catholics 450,000, priests 41, religious 132), Philippines.
Bishop Cortez was previously auxiliary of Manila, Philippines.
On Saturday, 25 October, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Quesnel Alphonse, S.M.M., auxiliary of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as bishop of Fort-Liberte (area 1,600, population 498,000, Catholics 371,000, priests 48, religious 69), Haiti.

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Today, when we remember our dear departed, many people visit the cemetery which, as its name itself implies, is a "place of rest", where we await the final awakening. "Jesus himself revealed that the death of the body is like a sleep from which he awakens us", explained the Holy Father. "With this faith we
stop - also spiritually - at the graves of our loved ones. ... But today we are
called to remember everyone, even those who no one remembers. We remember the victims of war and violence; the many 'little ones' of the world, oppressed by hunger and poverty. We remember the nameless who rest in common graves. We remember our brothers and sisters killed because they are Christians; and those
who sacrificed their lives to serve others".
"Church tradition has always urged prayer for the dead, in particular by offering the celebration of the Eucharist for them: it is the best spiritual help that we can give to their souls, particularly to the most abandoned ones. The foundation of prayers of remembrance is found in the communion of the Mystical Body. Remembering the dead, caring for their tombs and prayers of suffrage are testimony to confident hope, rooted in the certainty that death does not have the last word on human destiny, as humanity is destined for a life without end, that has its root and its fulfilment in God", said Francis, who concluded the Angelus with a prayer for the departed by the Passionist Antonio Rungi:
"God of infinite mercy, we entrust to Your immense goodness all those who have
left this world for eternity, where you await all humanity, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ Your Son, who died to save us from our sins. Look not Lord, at our poverty, misery and human weaknesses when we present ourselves before You to be judged in happiness or condemned. Gaze upon us with pity, born
of Your tender heart and help us to walk the path of purification. May none of your children be lost to the eternal fires of hell, where repentance is no more. We entrust to You Lord, the souls of our beloved departed, of those who died without the comfort of the Sacraments or who did not have the opportunity to repent, not even at the end of their life. May no one fear the encounter with You at the end of their earthly pilgrimage, in the hope of being welcomed within the embrace of your infinite mercy. May sister death find us in prayerful vigilance, and full of all the good we have done during our existence, be it long or short. Lord, may nothing distance us from you on this earth, may everything and everyone support us in our ardent hope to serenely and eternally rest in You. Amen".

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The Pope celebrates Mass for the cardinals and bishops departed during the last year
Vatican City, 3 November 2014 (VIS) - Following tradition, this morning the Holy Fther celebrated Mass in the Vatican Basilica in memory of all the cardinals and bishops deceased during the last twelve months, whom he remembered with gratitude, and recalling their service to the Church. "This celebration, thanks to the Word of God, is completely illuminated by faith in the Resurrection", he affirmed.
"All divine revelation is the fruit of the dialogue between God and His peole,
and also faith in the Resurrection is linked to this dialogue, which accompanies the people of God in history. It is not surprising that such a mystery as great, decisive and superhuman as the Resurrection had to come all the way up to Jesus Christ. He was able to say "I am the resurrection and the life", as in Him this mystery is not only fully revealed, but also put into effect, becoming reality for the first time and definitively. ... Every one of us is invited to enter into this event. We are called first to stay before Jesus' cross, to hear the cry of Jesus, his last breath, and finally that silence that lasts the whole of Holy Saturday. And then we are called to His tomb, to see that the great stone has been set aside, to hear the announcement:
'He has risen! He is not here'. And herein lies the answer. Here there is the foundation, the rock. Not in 'persuasive and knowing discourse, but in the living word of the Cross and of Jesus' resurrection.
"This is what the apostle Paul preached: Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected. If He had not risen again, our faith would be empty and inconsistent. But since He rose again, or rather, He is the Resurrection, our faith is full of truth and eternal life".

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The Holy See at the United Nations advocates a peaceful use of space
Vatican City, 3 November 2014 (VIS) - "For a peaceful use of space" was the theme of the intervention by Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations, during the session of the Special Political and
Decolonisation Committee which took place on 17 October and focused on "International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space".
"Since the earliest days of human history, humanity has looked to the sky with
wonder, longing to understand celestial realities and their meaning in relation
to humanity itself", observed the nuncio. "Because of the fundamental questions
it has always raised, the exploration of the universe has also deepened the understanding of faith and its rapport with science. The Holy See believes that
faith is capable of both expanding and enriching the horizons of reason; thus, it rejoices in the marvellous progress of science, seeing it both as a product of the enormous God-given potential of the human mind and as manifestation of the vastness and richness of creation".
"Our responsibility is to ensure that the fruits of these advances also benefit the poor around the world", he continued. "My delegation is fully aware
of the constraints to a universal access to the beneficial uses of outer space,
considering the huge investments put into explorations and questions related to
intellectual property, patents, etc. However, in a time when outer space has become a huge economic asset and hosts information and communications technologies, States must work together to ensure that these benefits do not become yet another cause of increasing economic and social inequalities, but rather a shared resource for the common good of the entire global community. Vital to promoting this common good is ensuring the peaceful use of outer space. To this end, the ongoing discussion on the development of an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities represents a positive step toward furthering a fairer and safer use of outer space. It would undoubtedly help toward preventing an arms race in outer space and, consequently, toward averting a new, grave threat to international peace and security".
The archbishop went on to emphasise the importance of using outer space for an
ever greater understanding of our planet. "Satellites monitor the health of oceans and forests. They provide data on water cycles, climate patterns and other atmospheric phenomena. We trust that this knowledge can convince us to change lifestyles and practices detrimental to our environment. If we do not work together, there will be no winners, only losers".
"The Holy See wishes to highlight the use of satellites in the diffusion of knowledge and the elimination of illiteracy", he concluded. "Indeed, satellites
can reach not only those places where illiteracy is a thing of the past, but also those where many still cannot read or write, especially in far-flung areas. However, care must be taken that this outer space technology does not become an instrument of dominion and a vehicle to impose certain cultures and values on others".

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 3 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, presented by Bishop Jesus Moline Labarta upon reaching the age limit. He has appointed Rev. Fr. Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., as apostolic administrator of the same
diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. in 1955, gave his solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained a priest in 1982. He holds a degree in
canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral roles, including chancellor of the
diocese of Chulucanas, Peru; promoter of vocational pastoral care and director of missions of his Order in the Province of Chicago, U.S.A.; director of the seminary of his Order in Trujillo, Peru, and prior general of the Augustinian Province of Chicago. He is currently director of formation in the Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago and provincial vicar of the Province Our Lady of Good Counsel.

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Subsequently, in another room, the Pope also met with eighteen other members of the Carlotto family, in a cordial atmosphere. They presented Francis with various gifts, including a poncho and a CD with works by Ignacio Guido, who is a musician, and a scarf of the Grandmothers of the Plazo de Mayo. The encounter
lasted for around half an hour.
At 5 p.m. this afternoon, in the Argentine Embassy at the Quirinal, a press conference will be held in which Estela de Carlotto will participate.

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The Holy See at the United Nations: a lack of food is not the root cause of hunger
Vatican City, 6 November 2014 (VIS) - Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations, spoke at the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 28 October, on the theme of "Agriculture development, food security and nutrition".
The nuncio observed that according to the Secretary General's report, since 1990 there has been a 17% decrease in the number of people suffering from chronic hunger. However, he added, "it also means that we still have almost 850
million people suffering from acute hunger. The number is already shocking in itself, but what must shock us even more is the fact that behind those numbers are real people, with their fundamental dignity and rights. Thus, eradicating hunger is not only a high priority development goal; it is a moral imperative".
However, he added, "it is not for lack of food in the world that they suffer acute hunger, because the current levels of world food production are sufficient to feed everyone. The problem lies elsewhere, such as in the lack of
conservation technologies among smallholder producers, in weak or absent government support to incentivise the commercialisation of products, or in the lack of infrastructure for better food distribution and marketing".
He remarked that the whole "United Nations family" must renew its efforts to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in the world, putting it at the forefront of its collective efforts. "It is for this reason that the Holy See welcomes the incorporation of food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture as components of the sustainable development goals. ... The Holy See also welcomes
the focus that the report of the Secretary General on Agricultural Development,
Food Security and Nutrition puts on those regions of the world where hunger and
malnutrition are still at unacceptable levels. The Holy See also appreciates the report's focus on groups most vulnerable to malnutrition, like pregnant women and children below five years old".
He continued, "The theme of this year's World Food Day tells us that the family is key in the fight to end hunger. ... This recognition of the role of the family must be accompanied by policies and initiatives that really respond to the needs of farming families and communities". He concluded by reminding those present that an international conference on nutrition in will be held in Rome next month, aiming to bring together "government leaders, other top-level policy-makers and representatives of intergovernmental organisations and civil society, to take stock of progress made in improving nutrition and to seek new ways to boost national and global efforts to improve health".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 6 November 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa, Italy, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference;
- Archbishop Leon Kalenga Badikebele, apostolic nuncio in El Salvador and Belize;
- Seven prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, on their "ad Limina" visit:
- Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa, S.M.M., of Blantyre;
- Bishop Peter Martin Musikuwa of Chikwawa;
- Bishop Montfort Stima of Mangochi;
- Archbishop Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye of Lilongwe;
- Bishop Emanuel Kanyama of Dedza;
- Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza of Mzuzu;
- Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of Karonga.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 6 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Asuncion, Paraguay, presented by Archbishop Eustaquio Pastor Cuquejo Verga, C.SS.R., upon reaching the age limit. Archbishop Cuquejo Verga is succeeded by Bishop Edmundo Ponciano Valenzuela Mellid, S.D.B., coadjutor of the same archdiocese.
- elevated the diocese of Dodoma, Tanzania, to the status of metropolitan archdiocese and assigning it the suffragan dioceses of Singida and Kondoa.
- appointed Bishop Beatus Kinyaiya, O.F.M. Cap., of Mbulu, Tanzania, as first bishop of Dodoma (area 38,743, population 1,578,173, Catholics 301,593, priests
80, religious 397), Tanzania;
- appointed Bishop Eduardo Horacio Garcia, auxiliary of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as bishop of San Justo (area 134, population 1,114,000, Catholics 1,003,000, priests 71, permanent deacons 24, religious 158), Argentina. He succeeds Bishop Baldomero Carlos Martini, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father;
- appointed Rev. Fr. Donatus Aihmiosion Ogun, O.S.A., as bishop of Uromi (area
2,938, population 946,901, Catholics 139,087, priests 83, religious 39), Nigeria. The bishop-elect was born in Sapele, Nigeria in 1966, gave his solemn vows in 1992, and was ordained a priest in 1993. He studied canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral roles, including prior and bursar of the "Our Lady of Lourdes" community in Coker Village, Lagos; prior and bursar of the "Our Lady of Good Counsel" community in Iwako Oka and university chaplain; and bursar of "St. Cyprian" in Warri and episcopal vicar for religious persons of the diocese of Warri. He is currently lecturer in the St. Thomas Aquinas major seminary and director of the
St. Augustine Institute in Makurdi;
- appointed Bishop Juan Jose Omella Omella of Calahorra y La Calzada - Logrono, Spain, as member of the Congregation for Bishops;
- appointed Msgr. Giacomo Incitti, ordinary professor of canon law at the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome, as advisor to the Apostolic Penitentiary;
- appointed Rev. Fr. Serge Thomas Bonino, O.P., general secretary of the International Theological Commission and member of the Pontifical University of
St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), as president of the same Pontifical University;
- appointed Rev. Fr. Philippe Curbelie, official of the Congregation for Catholic Education, as office head of the same dicastery;
- appointed Msgr. Maurice Monier as judge of the Court of Appeal of Vatican City State.

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Finally, in reference to mission, the Pope comments that it is "inseparable from prayer, as prayer opens you to the Spirit, and the Spirit guides you in mission", and encourages them to prioritise, in their encounters with others, the most marginalised. He also urges them to entrust themselves to Mary and to allow themselves to be guided by her: "Mary accompanied Jesus in His mission. She was present at the Pentecost when the disciples received the Holy Spirit, and she maternally accompanied the first steps of the Church".

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Witness the Salesian charism of encounter, says Francis to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
Vatican City, 8 November 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall the Holy Father received in audience the participants in the General Chapter of the
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the theme of which is "With the young today: being a house that evangelises". This theme, remarked Francis, fits well
in today's social and ecclesial context, characterised by many forms of spiritual and material misery. "Indeed, today many suffer not only from poverty
but also from a lack of love or relationships". In this context, he added, "you
are able to perceive above all the fragility of the young people to whom you dedicate yourselves with admirable commitment, in the style of Don Bosco and following in the footsteps of Mother Mazzarello".
In the general chapter, various basic directions emerged for the life of each religious person and every community. First, there is "the commitment to being guided by the prospect of outreach, of setting out for the many geographically and existentially peripheral zones, with preferential attention to the poor and
the different forms of exclusion. Then, there is the awareness of the need to put into effect appropriate itineraries of change and pastoral conversion, thus
transforming your houses into places of evangelisation, where above all the young are involved in the same mission".
"I can only encourage you to pursue with enthusiasm in this line of action that the Holy Spirit is suggesting to you. Open your hearts to welcome the ... grace of God; broaden your outlook to recognise the truest needs and the urgency of a society and a generation in flux. Everywhere be prophetic witnesses and an educative presence, through an unconditional welcome to the young, facing intercultural challenges and identifying approaches to make your apostolic interventions effective in a context - that of youth - permeated by the virtual world and by new technologies, especially those of a digital nature".
In order to do this, "it is necessary always to place Christ at the centre of your existence: it is necessary to allow yourselves to be formed by the Word of
God, that enlightens, orientates and supports; it is necessary to nurture the missionary spirit with assiduous prayer". At the same time, he added, the Daughters are called upon to "bear witness to an ideal of sisterly communion between you, with sentiments of mutual acceptance", that must be accompanied by
attentive formation, including timely studies of the human sciences that may help them in their mission. "Indeed, you are called upon to be able to listen with openness and understanding to those who turn to you for moral and human support, in order to inculturate the message of the Gospel. In this respect, the missio ad gentes offers you a vast field in which to give yourselves with love".
Finally, the Pope urged the Daughters, who during the Chapter have also reflected extensively on their daily apostolic life, that places them in contract with the joys, expectations and sufferings of the people, to be "missionaries of joy, bearing witness to the values of your Salesian identity, especially in the category of encounter, a fundamental aspect of your charism. It is an ever fresh and vital source from which to draw the love that revitalises passion for God and for the young. May the inevitable difficulties you encounter along the way never dampen the enthusiasm of your apostolic action. May the example of St. John Bosco and St. Domenica Mazzarello encourage
you to contribute even more enthusiastically to new evangelisation with your activities in the fields of education and school, catechesis and the formation of young people in the apostolate".

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The Pope to the Adult Scouts Movement: respecting nature and eliminating wastefulness
Vatican City, 8 November 2014 (VIS) - "Make way in the family, in creation, and in the city", exhorted the Pope this morning as he received in audience seven thousand members of the adult Italian scouts, gathered in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the foundation of this branch of the movement.
With regard to the first path to take, within the family, Francis remarked that this community of life and love is where every person learns how to relate
to others and to the world and, "thanks to the foundations acquired in the family, is able to project him- or herself in society, and to frequent other formative environments, such as school, the parish or associations, in a positive way. Thus, in this integration of the bases assimilated in the family and 'external' experiences, we learn to find our way in the world. ... For a movement such as yours, based on continuing education and on the choice to educate, it is important to reaffirm that education in the family constitutes a
priority decision. ... Dialogue between spouses, along with mutual listening and comparison, are elements essential for a family to be serene and fruitful".
Turning to the second point, opening up a path in creation, the Holy Father reiterated that in our time "we cannot ignore the ecological question, which is
vital for the survival of mankind, nor can we reduce it to a merely political issue: indeed, it has a moral dimension that affects all of us, and so no-one may choose to ignore it. As Christ's disciples, we have a further reason to unite with people of good will for the protection and defence of nature and the
environment. Indeed, creation is a gift entrusted to us from the hands of the Creator. ... This doctrine of our faith offers us an even stronger impetus towards a responsible and respectful relationship with creation: in inanimate nature, in plants and in animals we recognise the imprint of the Creator, and in our peers we see His likeness. Living in close contact with nature ... does not only imply respect for it, but also commitment to contributing in a concrete way towards eliminating the wastefulness of a society that tends increasingly to discard goods that are still usable and could be donated to those in need".
Finally, to lead the way in cities, it is important to bring the joy of Gospel
values to the streets and quarters and to make a contribution to the common good, in a just and open dialogue on different social and cultural themes. "In a complex and multicultural society, we are able to offer witness, with simplicity and humility, to Jesus' love for every person, also experimenting with new paths of evangelisation, faithful to Christ and faithful to humanity. People often live in wearisome situations in cities, and at times risk becoming
disorientated and losing the capacity to see the horizon, to feel God's presence. The true compass to offer to these brothers and sisters is a heart close by, a heart that is 'oriented', as it were, towards God".

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Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Vatican City, 10 November 2014 (VIS) - On Friday, 7 November, the Holy Father Francis received in a private audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, during which he authorised the Congregation to promulgate decrees on the heroic virtues of the following Servants of God:
- Francisco Maximiano Valdes Subercaseaux, Chilean bishop of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (1908-1982);
- Ildebrando Gregori (ne Alfredo Antonio), Italian abbot general of the Sylvestrine Congregation of the Benedictine Order and founder of the Congregation of the Reparatrix Sisters of the Holy Face (1894-1985);
- Raimondo Calcagno, Italian priest of the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri (1888-1964);
- John Sullivan, Irish professed priest of the Society of Jesus (1861-1933);
- Pelagio Sauter, German professed priest of the Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer (1878-1961);
- Jeanne Mance, French laywoman and foundress of the Hotel-Dieu in Montreal (1606-1673);
- Marthe Robin, French laywoman and foundress of the Association Foyers de Charite (1902-1981);
- Silvio Dissegna, Italian child of the diocese of Turin (1967-1979).

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Audiences
Vatican City, 10 November 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- John Dramani Mahama, president of the Republic of Ghana, with his wife and entourage;
- Thirteen prelates of the Conference of Bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau, on their "ad Limina" visit:
- Archbishop Theodore-Adrien Sarr of Dakar, Senegal;
- Bishop Benjamin Ndiaye of Kaolack, Senegal;
- Bishop Jean-Pierre Bassene of Kolda, Senegal;
- Bishop Ernest Sambou of Saint-Louis du Senegal, Senegal;
- Bishop Jean-Noel Diouf of Tambacounda, Senegal;
- Bishop Andre Gueye of Thies, Senegal;
- Bishop Paul Abel Mamba of Ziguinchor, Senegal;
- Bishop Ildo Augusto dos Santos Lopes Fortes of Mindelo, Cape Verde;
- Bishop Arlindo Gomes Furtado of Santiago de Cabo Verde, Cape Verde;
- Bishop Martin Albert Happe of Nouakchott, Mauritania;
- Bishop Carlos Pedro Zilli of Bafata, Guinea-Bissau;
- Bishop Jose Camnate na Bissign of Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, with his auxiliary,
Bishop Jose Lampra Ca.
- Malu Dreyer, minister-president of the Land Rhineland-Palatinate, with her husband and entourage.
On Saturday, 8 November, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
On the afternoon of Friday, 7 November, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints;
- Archbishop Celso Morga Iruzubieta, coadjutor of Merida-Badajoz, Spain.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 10 November 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father:
- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of San Carlos
de Venezuela, Venezuela, presented by Bishop Tomas Jesus Zarraga Colmenares, in
accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
- appointed the following members of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA): Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, U.S.A.; Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, archbishop of Bogota, Colombia; Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and president of the Governorate of Vatican City State.
On Saturday, 8 November, the Holy Father appointed:
- Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, U.S.A., as patron of the Order of Malta. Cardinal Burke is currently prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura;
- Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, France, as prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of
the Apostolic Signatura. Archbishop Mamberti is currently secretary for Relations with States;
- Rev. Chad Zielinski as bishop of Fairbanks (area 1,061,508, population 164,355, Catholics 13,939, priests 20, permanent deacons 25, religious 17), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. in 1964 and was ordained a priest in 1996. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1983 to 1986 and subsequently obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a master of divinity from the Sacred Heart major seminary in Detroit. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including parish priest of St. Philip Neri, Empire and of St. Rita and St. Joseph, Maple City. He is currently Air Force chaplain at the military based of Eielson, Fairbanks.

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"Attention to human life, especially when it is most in difficulty, in the case of the sick, the elderly, and children, profoundly involves the mission of
the Church. She is also called upon to participate in the debate on human life,
presenting her outlook based on the Gospel. In many contexts, quality of life is linked predominantly to economic conditions, 'well-being', beauty and the pleasure of life in a physical sense, forgetting other deeper dimensions - relational, spiritual and religious - of existence. In reality, in the light of
faith and good reason, human life is always sacred and always 'of quality'. There does not exist a human life that is more sacred than another, just as there is no human life qualitatively more significant than another, simply on the basis of greater means, rights, and economic and social opportunities", emphasised the Holy Father.
Therefore, he continued, the work of Catholic doctors must offer witness "by word and by deed that human life is always sacred, valid and inviolable, and as
such must be loved, defended and cared for". The profession of medicine, "enriched with the spirit of faith, is a further reason to collaborate with those - even of different religious beliefs or thought - who recognise the dignity of human beings as a criterion for their activity. Indeed, while the Hippocratic oath commits you to serving life, the Gospel leads you further - to
love it always and anyway, especially when in need of particular care and attention".
"Prevalent thought offers a 'false compassion': that which sees abortion as being in favour of women, procuring euthanasia as an act of dignity, and the 'production' of a child - considered as a right instead of being welcomed as a gift - as a scientific conquest, as well as using human lives as 'guinea pigs',
presumably to save others. Instead, compassion based on the Gospel is that which accompanies in times of need, that of the Good Samaritan, who 'sees', who
'has compassion', who approaches and offers concrete help". The Pontiff concluded, "Your mission as doctors puts you in daily contact with many forms of suffering: I encourage you to take these on as 'good Samaritans', taking special care of the elderly, the sick and the disabled. Faithfulness to the Gospel of life and the response to it as a gift from God will at times require courageous, counter-current decisions that, in particular circumstances, may lead to conscientious objection, and to the many social consequences that such fidelity leads to. We are living in a time of experimentation with life. But it
is a bad form of experimentation. ... Playing with life ... is a sin against the Creator: against God the Creator, Who created all things as they are".

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The Holy See at the United Nations: defending the civil population from remnants of war
Vatican City, 15 November 2014 (VIS) - Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva spoke on 10 November at the 8 th Conference of the States Party to Protocol V of the Convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or
to have indiscriminate effects (CCW). Protocol V stipulates the obligations and
the best practices to defend the civil population against the dangers of explosive remnants of war and abandoned ordinances.
"For the sake of credibility and to keep the door open for negotiating and adopting other instruments in the future, it is incumbent upon all States parties to take seriously the implementation of this instrument in its preventative dimension as well as in its remedial dimension", said Archbishop Tomasi in his English-language address. "The many conflicts in the Middle East,
Africa, North Africa and Europe remind us of our responsibilities regarding explosive remnants of war and abandoned ordinances. Apart from the safety of civilians, we are witnessing national and regional destabilisation because of the lack of safety and security of stocks, that the international community is unable or not sufficiently prepared to prevent. ... It is true that the primary
responsibility lies with the affected State. But international cooperation is also an obligation. Almost all current conflicts involve national, regional and
international actors, state actors and non-state actors. It must also be borne in mind that the majority of countries in conflict are developing countries which do not always have sufficient means to overcome the consequences of armed
conflict on their soil".
"The success of the partnership between States, international organisations and non-governmental organisations in several areas of disarmament is well established. CCW, including Protocol V, has always opened its door to the participation of civil society and its organisations. We all profit from the professionalism and expertise of these organisations. We believe they should continue to have a place and a voice in this sphere, and a role to play in international cooperation in the prevention and remedy of damages caused by explosive remnants of war".
"Wars and armed conflicts are always a failure of politics and of humanity", he concluded. "International humanitarian law should keep this essential human dimension to make coexistence possible nationally and internationally. When the
international community fails to preserve peace, it should not accept a second failure. Protocol V is a modest attempt to prevent innocent people from becoming victims once the conflict is over. Compliance is not only a legal obligation. It is in the first place a moral duty towards the people and a political duty to restore peace".

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Cardinal Gracias, Pope's special envoy at the 500th anniversary of the evangelisation of Myanmar
Vatican City, 15 November 2014 (VIS) - In a letter made public today, written in Latin and dated 16 October, the Holy Father nominated Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, as his special envoy at the celebration of the fifth centenary of the evangelisation of Myanmar, scheduled to take place in Yangon from 21-23 November 2014.
The pontifical mission accompanying the cardinal will be composed of Rev. Fr. Mariano Soe Naing, S.D.B., professor in the Theological Institute of the St. Joseph Major Seminary, Yangon, and Rev. Fr. Peter Sein Hlaing, O.O., lecturer at the same Institute.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 17 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has received in audience:
- Archbishop Ivan Jurkovie, apostolic nuncio in Russia and Uzbekistan;
- Mehmet Pagaci, new ambassador of Turkey to the Holy See, presenting his credential letters;
- Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik of Daejeon, Korea;
- Maestro Daniel Baremboim and entourage;
- Eleven prelates of the Zambia Episcopal Conference, on their five-yearly "ad
Limina" visit:
- Archbishop Ignatius Chama of Kasama, apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis"of Mpika;
- Bishop Patrick Chisanga, O.F.M. Conv., of Mansa;
- Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu of Lusaka;
- Bishop George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu of Chipata, with his auxiliary, Bishop Benjamin Phiri;
- Bishop Clement Mulenga, S.D.B., of Kabwe;
- Bishop Raymond Mpezele of Livingstone;
- Bishop Evans Chinyama Chinyemba, O.M.I., of Mongu;
- Bishop Moses Hamungole of Monse;
- Bishop Alick Banda of Ndola;
- Bishop Charles Joseph Sampa Kasonde of Solwezi.
On Saturday, 15 November, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
- Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation
of Peoples;
- Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher of Gatineau, Canada, president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Canada, with the deputy president, Bishop David Douglas Crosby of Hamilton, and the deputy secretary, Bede Hubbard.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 17 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Rev. Fr. Cristobal Ascencio Garcia as bishop of Apatzingan (area 13,102, population 404,000, Catholics 373,000, priests 59, religious 126), Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in El Josefino de Allende, Mexico in 1955 and
ordained a priest in 1985. He holds a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral roles in the diocese of San Juan de los Lagos, including parish priest of the "Espiritu Santu" parish; prefect and subsequently rector of the major seminary,
and judge in the ecclesiastical tribunal and the Appeals Tribunal. He is currently parish priest of the "San Francisco de Asis" parish in Tepatitlan di Morelos. He succeeds Bishop Miguel Patino Velazquez, M.S.F., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Rev. Fr. Juan Carlos Ares as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Buenos Aires (area 203, population 2,944,000, Catholics 2,696,000, priests 782,
permanent deacons 10, religious 1,951), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in
Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1989. He has served as
parish priest of the "San Rafael" parish, chaplain of Scouts in Argentina for the Episcopal Vicariate Devoto, deputy director of the Schools Department of the archiepiscopate of Buenos Aires, and parish priest of "San Ramon Nonato". He is currently parish priest of "Nuestra Senora de Balvanera".
- appointed Rev. Martin Fassi as auxiliary of the diocese of San Isidro (area 1,379, population 1,178,000, Catholics 1,120,000, priests 138, permanent deacons 38, religious 203), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in San Isidro,
Argentina in 1960 and was ordained a priest in 1984. He studied philosophy and theology in the San Agustin major seminary, San Isidro, and has served as formator of the regional seminary "Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion" in Resistencia, missionary in the diocese of Olguin, Cuba, and parish priest in the "Purisima Concepcion" parish of Pacheco. He is currently vicar general of the diocese of San Isidro.
- accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Guadalajara, Mexico, presented by Bishop Miguel Romano Gomez, in accordance with canons 411 and 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
On Saturday, 15 November, the Holy Father:
- appointed Bishop Stephen Tjephe as bishop of the diocese of Loikaw (area 11,670, population 346,000, Catholics 74,868, priests 93, religious 235), Myanmar. Msgr. Tjephe is currently auxiliary of Liokaw and apostolic administrator "sede vacante ed ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same diocese.
- appointed Rev. Fr. Francisco Javier Pistilli Scorzara, J. Sch., as bishop of
Encarnacion (area 16,525, population 611,000, Catholics 502,000, priests 52, permanent deacons 1, religious 110), Paraguay. The bishop-elect was born in Asuncion, Paraguay in 1965, gave his religious vows in 1988 and was ordained a priest in 1997. He completed his studies at the theologate of the Capuchin Franciscan Fathers in Munster, Germany, and has served as parish vicar in the Nuestra Senora del Rosario parish in Luque, Asuncion; and master of novices in Tuparanda, San Lorenzo. He is currently regional superior of the Secular Institute of Schonstatt Fathers for Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Nigeria. He succeeds Bishop Ignacio Gogorza Izaguirre, S.C.I. Of Beth, whose resignation
from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Encarnacion, Paraguay, presented by Bishop Claudio Silvero Acosta, S.C.I. Beth,
upon reaching the age limit.
- appointed Rev. Fr. Heinz Wilhem Steckling, O.M.I., as bishop of Ciudad del Este (area 29,562, population 795,000, Catholics 783,200, priests 111, permanent deacons 1, religious 198), Paraguay. The bishop-elect was born in Werl, Germany in 1947 and was ordained a priest in 1974. He holds a diploma in theology from the University of Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany. He has served in as provincial of the vice provincia of Pilcomayo e Nord Argentina of the Oblate
Missionaries and superior general of his congregation and is currently rector of the major seminary of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Asuncion, Paraguay, and consultor for the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and of the
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
- appointed Rev. Fr. Lorenzo Lorusso, O.P., as under secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. Fr. Lorusso is currently consultor of the same dicastery, rector of the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, and lecturer in Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome.

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For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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"If we believe in the principle of the unity of the human family, based on the
common paternity of God the Creator, and in the fraternity of human beings, no form of political or economic pressure that exploits the availability of foodstuffs can be considered acceptable. Political and economic pressure: here I think of our sister and mother, Earth, our planet, and of whether we are free
of political and economic pressure and able to care for her, to avoid her destruction. We have two conferences ahead of us, in Per∙ and France, which pose the challenge to us of caring for our planet. I remember a phrase that I heard from an elderly man many years ago: God always forgives ... our misdemeanours, our abuse, God always forgives; men forgive at times; but the Earth never forgives. We must care for our sister the Earth, our Mother Earth, so that she does not respond with destruction. But, above all, no system of discrimination, de facto or de jure, linked to the capacity of access to the market of foodstuffs, must be taken as a model for international efforts that aim to eliminate hunger.
"By sharing these reflections with you, I ask that the Almighty, God rich in mercy, bless all those who, with different responsibilities, place themselves at the service of those who experience hunger and who assist them with concrete
gestures of closeness. I also pray that the international community might hear the call of this Conference and consider it an expression of the common conscience of humanity: feed the hungry, save life on the planet. Thank you".

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Intense work by the Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops
Vatican City, 20 November 2014 (VIS) - The Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops will meet on 18 and 19 November to reflect on the results of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, held during October, and to prepare for the 14 th General Ordinary Assembly on the theme "The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world", to be held from 4 to 25 October 2015.
The Holy Father will chair the Council on Tuesday 18 and his presence will underline the importance he accords to the Synod as an expression of episcopal collegiality and to the family, the theme of the two Assemblies: the extraordinary Assembly held this year and the Ordinary one, in the preparatory stages.
Alongside the secretary general, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, and the under-secretary, Archbishop Fabio Fabene, the meeting was attended by Cardinals
Christoph Schonborn, Wilfried F. Napier, Peter K.A. Turkson, George Pell, Donald W. Wuerl, and Luis A. Tagle, and by Archbishops Bruno Forte and Salvatore Fisichella. Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, also participated by invitation.
In his introduction to the work of the Synod, the secretary general emphasised
the climate of freedom and sincerity and the spirit of fraternal communion that
characterised the Assembly, in which everyone was encouraged to contribute. Also, the final document, the Relatio Synodi, faithfully reflects the multi-faceted results of the Synod and offers a good summary of the process that took place during the Assembly.
In the meeting, it was agreed that the current period between the two Assemblies, which is unprecedented in the history of the Synod as an institution, is of great importance. It is necessary to take the path followed so far as a starting point and to make the most of this special opportunity to deepen knowledge of the themes and to promote discussion at the level of the episcopal conferences, finding the means and the tools necessary to further involve various ecclesial bodies in the synodal reflection on the family. Various ideas on communication were also considered, which may be useful in view of the preparation for the upcoming Ordinary Assembly.
The majority of the work was devoted to the preparation of the Lineamenta for the next Ordinary Assembly. The guidelines will be made up, as previously indicated, of the Relatio Synodi, accompanied by a series of points to help in its reception and elaboration.
The Lineamenta are expected to be sent to the Episcopal Conferences at the beginning of December, so that the answers can be received in good time to allow them to be developed in the Instrumentum Laboris before the summer of 2015.

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The joy of the Gospel is a missionary joy
Vatican City, 20 November 2014 (VIS) - The Third World Congress of Ecclesial Movements and New Communities began in Rome today. Organised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the meeting is a response to the appeal for missionary conversion launched by Pope Francis to all Christians in his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium.
The congress - the third of this type following those held during the pontificates of St. John Paul II in 1998 and Benedict XVI in 2006 - will be attended by more than 300 members of lay associations from 40 countries, gathered to explore the theme "The joy of the Gospel: a missionary joy".
The congress was inaugurated by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, who recalled the rich teaching of the last three pontiffs on what St. John Paul II defined as "the new season of associations of the faithful". The cardinal emphasised that St. John Paul II closely followed and guided the rapid development of ecclesial movements and new communities, accompanying them with his clear and enlightening words ... and indicated a new phase in the life of new charisms, which would necessarily have to follow their initial flourish - the phase of ecclesial maturity".
For Pope Benedict XVI, he continued, "the multiple forms and the unity of charisms and ministries are inseparable in the life of the Church. The Holy Spirit desires the multiplicity of movements in the service of the single Body that is the Church".
Pope Francis well knows the reality of ecclesial movements, insists that the new charisms "are not a closed patrimony, consigned to a specific group to guard it; they are rather gifts from the Spirit integrated into the ecclesial body, attracted towards the centre that is Christ, from where they are channeled into an evangelical impulse".

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 20 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Peter Andrew Comensoli as bishop of Broken Bay (area 2,763, population 930,000,
Catholics 395,000, priests 109, permanent deacons 6, religious 155), Australia.
Bishop Comensoli is currently auxiliary of the archdiocese of Sydney, Australia.

___________________________________________________________

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The Pontiff remarked that fifty years ago on 21 November, the dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, and the Decree on the Oriental Catholic Churches, Orientalium Ecclesiarum, were also published alongside Unitatis Redintegratio. These three profoundly connected texts offer the ecclesiological vision of Vatican Council II.
"Firstly, we can rejoice in the fact that the teaching of the Council has been
widely received", affirmed Francis. "In these years, on the basis of theological reasons rooted in the Scripture and in the tradition of the Church,
the attitude of us as Catholics has changed in relation to Christians of other Churches and ecclesial communities. Hostility and indifference, which had dug trenches that it seemed impossible to fill and had inflicted deep wounds, now belong to the past, and a healing process has begun that enables us to accept others as brothers or sisters, in the profound unity born of Baptism".
This change in mentality has made it possible to "deepen our contact with many
Churches and ecclesial Communities, and to develop new forms of collaboration. In this respect, the ecumenical traditions of the Sacred Scripture have been very important. Christians of different Churches and ecclesial Communities work
together in the service of suffering and needy humanity, for the defence of human life and its inalienable dignity, for the protection of creation and against the injustice that afflict many people and populations".
He continued, "while we give thanks, we must acknowledge that Christians remain divided, and that divergence in relation to new anthropological and ethical themes complicates our path towards unity. However, we cannot give in to discouragement and resignation, but must continue to trust in God who plants
seeds of love and unity in the hearts of Christians, so they can face today's ecumenical challenges with renewed zeal; to cultivate spiritual ecumenism, to recognise the value of ecumenism of blood, and to walk the path of the Gospel together".
Spiritual ecumenism culminates in the Week of Prayer for Christian unity, "a worldwide network of moments of prayer that, from parochial to international level, infuse the body of the Church with the oxygen of genuine ecumenical spirit; a network of gestures, that unite us in working together charitably; and it is also the sharing of prayer, thoughts and other texts that circulate on the web and may contribute to increasing mutual knowledge, respect and esteem".
With regard to ecumenism of blood, Unitatis Redintegratio invites us to recognise, "in the brothers and sisters of other Churches and Christian Communities, the capacity, given by God, to bear witness to Christ unto the sacrifice of their lives. These testimonies have not been lacking in these fifty years, and continue to this day. ... Those who persecute Christ in his faithful do not differentiate in terms of confession: they persecute them simply because they are Christians".
The Pope went on to remark that, in recent months, encountering many non-Catholic Christians, and reading their letters, he has noted the existence of a "widespread and strong desire to walk together, to pray, to know and love the Lord, to collaborate in service and in solidarity with the weak and suffering. I am convinced of this: on a common path, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and learning from each other, we can grow in the communion that already unites us".
"Fifty years on from Unitatis Redintegratio, the quest for full Christian unity remains a priority for the Catholic Church, and it is therefore one of my
main daily concerns. Unity is, first and foremost, a gift from God and it is the work of the Holy Spirit, but we are all called to collaborate, always and in every circumstance".

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The Virgin Mary, protagonist of the 19th Public Session of the Pontifical Academies
Vatican City, 21 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a message to Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture and
the Council for Coordination between the Pontifical Academies, on the occasion of the 19th Public Session of the Pontifical Academies, devoted to the theme "Mary, icon of the infinite beauty of Dios Marialis cultus and the Marian teaching of Blessed Paul VI", organised by the Pontifical International Marian Academy.
In his message, the Pope spoke about Blessed Paul VI's great love for the Virgin Mary, which he expressed on many occasions during his papacy, as well as
in several documents, including his two encyclicals, Mense Maio and Christi Matri, dedicated to the Mother of God and the worship of her as Mater Ecclesiae. He also devoted three apostolic exhortations to Mary: Signum Magnum,
Recurrens Mensis October and, finally, Marialis Cultus, published forty years ago this year.
"On the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of the closure of Vatican Council II, established by Paul VI - not by chance - on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December 1965, it is beautiful that you wish to make his voice through the recording of the homily in which he entrusts the fate of the Church, radically renewed through the Council assize, to Mary. On that solemn and historical occasion, Paul VI wished to commend the entire Church to Mary as
the Mother of God and our spiritual Mother".
Similarly, Francis recalled that in crucial and difficult moments for the Church and for humanity, Paul VI always turned to Mary, exhorting the people of
God to pray for her intercession and protection, and invoking the gift of peace. "In the wake of the Synod of Bishops on new evangelisation, in the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, I too entrusted the way of the Church to Mary's maternal and caring intercession, reminding all believers that there is a Marian style to the evangelising activity of the Church, as every time we look to Mary we believe again in the revolutionary power of tenderness and affection. In her we see that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but rather of the strong, who do not need to mistreat others to feel important".
The Holy Father continued, "Let us not tire of learning from Mary, of admiring
and contemplating her beauty, of letting ourselves be guided by her, she who leads us always to the original source and fullness of authenticity: infinite beauty, that of God, revealed to us in Christ, Son of the Father and Son of Mary". The Pontiff concluded by awarding the Pontifical Academies Prize to the Italian Interdisciplinary Mariological Association, above all for more than twenty years of publishing the journal Theotokos, and the Pontifical Medal to the "Centro mariano de difusion cultural" of the Order of the Servants of Mary,
in Mexico.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 21 November 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, president of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
- Bishop Enrico Dal Covolo, Magnificent Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University;
- Bishop Anthony Sablan Apuron of Agana, Guam.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 21 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Rev. Fr. Ariel Lascarro Tapia as bishop of Magangue (area 20,165, population 838,000, Catholics 677,000, priests 70, religious 30), Colombia. The
bishop-elect was born in Carmen de Bolivar, Colombia in 1967 and was ordained a
priest in 1994. He holds a licentiate in theology from the University of Navarra, Spain, and has served in a number of pastoral roles in the archdiocese
of Cartagena, including parish priest of "San Estanislao Kostka", "Inmaculada Concepcion", "Maria, Madre de los pobres", "Cristo Salvador", "Maria, Madre de la Iglesia" and "Santa Catalina de Alejandria"; diocesan head of vocational pastoral ministry, delegate for missionary childhood and archdiocesan delegate for the biblical inspiration of pastoral care. He is currently archdiocesan vicar for pastoral care and parish priest of "Nuestra Senora del Perpetuo Socorro", Bocagrande.
- appointed Rev. Fr. Moises Carlos Atisha Contreras, Sch.P., as bishop of San Marcos de Arica (area 16,512, population 198,400, Catholics 140,000, priests 37, deacons 29, religious 30), Chile. The bishop-elect was born in Santiago de Cile, Chile in 1969 and gave his religious vows and was ordained a priest in 1994. He has served as spiritual director of the "Colegio Hispano-americano y Calasanz" and as secretary of the National Commission for Youth Pastoral Care in the Chilean Episcopal Conference, and is currently parish priest of "La Ascension del Senor" in the archdiocese of Santiago.
- appointed Rev. Fr. Jorge Martin Torres Carbonell as auxiliary of Lomas de Zamora, Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1954
and was ordained a priest in 1983. He has served as parish priest of "Santa Clara", "Nino Jesus" and "Nuestra Senora de la Esperanza" in the archdiocese of
Buenos Aires, as well as head of youth pastoral care in the archdiocese, episcopal vicar for the "Villas de Emergencia", and dean and member of the presbyteral council. He is currently priest of the the Shrine of San Cayetano of Buenos Aires.
- accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of La Serena, Chile, presented by Bishop Luis Carlos Gleisner Wobbe upon reaching the age limit.

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Appointment of the deputy editor of "L'Osservatore Romano"
Vatican City, 21 November 2014 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has appointed Giuseppe Fiorentino as deputy editor of "L'Osservatore Romano". The new deputy director was previously a reporter for the same newspaper.

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For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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Pope Francis went on to thank, personally and on behalf of the Church, the families and religious groups and various associations present for the work they carry out every day with persons affected by autism, and encouraged scholars and researchers in the arduous task of discovering therapies and support mechanisms in the treatment and above all the prevention of these disorders. He concluded, "All this is to be done with the necessary attention to the rights of those affected, considering their needs and their potential, and always safeguarding the dignity of every person".

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Ecclesial movements and new communities: conserve freshness of charism, respect freedom and seek communion
Vatican City, 22 November 2014 (VIS) - Conserve the freshness of charism, respect freedom and always seek communion were the three directions that Pope Francis outlined at the Third World Congress of Ecclesial Movements and New Communities, organised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity and based on the
theme "The joy of the Gospel, a missionary joy".
"The movements and communities you represent are now being projected into the phase of ecclesial maturity, which requires a vigilant attitude of permanent conversion, to render the evangelising impulse increasingly alive and fruitful", said the Holy Father, who received the participants in the congress this morning in the Clementine Hall. Conversion and mission he said, are "intimately connected. Indeed, without an authentic conversion of heart and mind, the Gospel cannot be proclaimed; at the same time, if we are not open to mission, conversion is not possible and faith becomes sterile".
With regard to the first indication, conserving the freshness of charism, Francis remarked that "as time goes by, there is a greater temptation to become
comfortable, to become hardened in set ways of doing things, which, while reassuring, are nonetheless sterile. However, realities are more important than
ideas; even if a certain institutionalisation of the charism is necessary for its survival, we ought not delude ourselves into thinking that external structures can guarantee the working of the Holy Spirit. The newness of your experiences does not consist in methods or forms, which are important, but rather in your willingness to respond with renewed enthusiasm to the Lord's call".
A further issue is how to welcome and accompany people today, especially the young. "Men and women today experience serious identity problems and have difficulty making proper choices; as a result, they tend to be conditioned and to delegate important decisions about their own lives to others. We need to resist the temptation of usurping individual freedom, of directing them without
allowing for their growth in genuine maturity. Moral or spiritual progress that
manipulates a person's immaturity is only an apparent success, and one destined
to fail. Christian education instead requires a patient accompaniment which is capable of waiting for the right moment for each person, as the Lord does with each one of us. Patience is the only way to love truly and to lead others into a sincere relationship with the Lord".
Finally, movements must not forget that "the most precious good, the seal of the Holy Spirit, is communion". ... For the world to believe that Jesus is Lord, it needs to see communion among Christians. If, on the other hand, the world sees divisions, rivalries and back-biting, regardless of the cause, how can we evangelise? Remember this further principle: 'Unity prevails over conflict', because our brothers and sisters are always of greater value than our personal attitudes; indeed, it is for our brothers and sisters that Christ has shed his blood. In addition, real communion cannot exist in Movements or in
New Communities unless these are integrated within the greater communion of our
Holy Mother, the hierarchical Church. The whole is greater than the part, and the part only has meaning in relation to the whole. Communion also consists in confronting together and in a united fashion the most pressing questions of our
day, such as life, the family, peace, the fight against poverty in all its forms, religious freedom and education", concluded the Holy Father.

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Telegram for the death of Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini
Vatican City, 22 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a telegram to Vinicio Angelini for the death of Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini last night at the age of 98. He offers his condolences to the family of the deceased cardinal, to
the diocesan community of Rome and to the Benedictine Sisters of the Reparation
of the Holy Face, and expresses his affection for "this dear and esteemed pastor, who exercised his long and intense ministry to build up the Church in Rome, in Italy and in the world, first as part of Catholic Action, then with praiseworthy apostolic zeal in hospitals and nursing homes in Rome, and finally
as president of the Pontifical Council for Health Workers (for Health Pastoral Care)".
He continues, "I raise fervent prayers to the Lord that, by the intercession of the Mary Salus Populi Romani, He may receive this generous and distinguished
man of the Church in joy and eternal peace, and I impart the comfort of my heartfelt apostolic blessing to those who mourn his passing".

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Private meeting between the Pope and the president of the Italian Republic
Vatican City, 22 November 2014 (VIS) - The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., announced yesterday that the Holy Father received in audience the president of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano.
The meeting, of a strictly private nature, took place in very cordial atmosphere and lasted over an hour.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 24 November 2014 (VIS) - This afternoon the Holy Father is scheduled to receive in audience Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, president of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and entourage.
On Saturday 22 November, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 24 November 2014 (VIS) - 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
- appointed Bishop Donald J. Hying, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Milwaukee,
U.S.A., as bishop of Gary (area 4,680, population 809,000, Catholics 189,000, priests 129, permanent deacons 64, religious 123), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Dale J. Melczek, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Fr. Victor Hlolo Phalana as bishop of Klerksdorp (area 34,800, population 1,500,000, Catholics 27,000, priests 24, permanent deacons 4, religious 11), South Africa. The bishop-elect was born in Erasmus, South Africa
in 1961, and was ordained a priest in 1988. He holds a licentiate in spirituality from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and studied African culture at the Catholic University of East Africa in Nairobi. He has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles, including parish priest in the parishes of "Christ the King", Mabopane, "Good Shepherd" and "St. Peter" in
Winterveldt; professor in the preparatory seminary of Hammanskraal and Cape Town; spiritual director of the St. Peter philosophical seminary; teacher at the St. John Vianney major seminary, and teacher at the Lumuko Pastoral Institute. He is currently vicar general of the archdiocese of Pretoria and administrator of the Cathedral of Pretoria.
On Saturday 22 November, the Holy Father:
- appointed Bishop Kieran O'Reilly of Killaloe, Ireland as metropolitan archbishop of Cashel and Emly (area 3,082, population 83,710, Catholics 82,118,
priests 139, religious 196), Ireland. He succeeds Archbishop Dermot Clifford, whose resignation from the patoral care of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Bishop Jean-Pierre Batut, auxiliary of Lyon, France, as bishop of Blois (area 6,422, population 340,729, Catholics 185,100, priests 98, permanent
deacons 9, religious 121), France. He succeeds Bishop Maurice Le Begue de Germiny, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Rev. Fr. William Nolan as bishop of Galloway (area 9,332, population 520,000, Catholics 47,700, priests 39, permanent deacons 3, religious 41), Scotland. The bishop-elect was born in Motherwell, Scotland in 1954 and was ordained a priest in 1977. He holds a degree in moral theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral and administrative roles, including vice rector of the Pontifical Scottish College in Rome, and in the diocese of Motherwell, parish priest of "Our Lady of Lourdes", East Kilbride; judge of the National Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Scotland; head of continuing formation of clergy in the diocese, and deputy president of the presbyteral council. He is currently vicar general of Motherwell. He succeeds Bishop John Cunningham, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Rev. Fr. Stephen Marmion Lowe as bishop of Hamilton (area 49,700, population 678,000, Catholics 96,500, priests 49, religious 73), New Zealand. The bishop-elect was born in Hokitika, New Zealand in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1996. He studied spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University,
Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral roles, including parish priest of Timaru North and chaplain of the Roncalli College, Christchurch. He is currently director of formation at the Holy Cross national seminary in Auckland, parish priest of Ponsonby and administrator of Herne Bay in the diocese of Auckland. He succeeds Bishop Denis George Browne, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Rev. Fr. John Yaw Afoakwa as bishop of Obuasi (area 6,350, population 1,394,910, Catholics 102,260, priests 84, religious 31), Ghana. The bishop-elect was born in Akrokerry, Ghana in 1955 and was ordained a priest in 1992. He holds a B.A. in religious education from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome, a B.A. in religion with sociology from the University of Ghana in Accra, and an M.Sc. in Education from the Le Moyne College, Syracuse, U.S.A. He has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles, including teacher and chaplain at the Christ the King Secondary School in Obuasi; director of the diocesan Catechetics Office and the diocesan department of social communications; rector of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Akaporiso; and parish vicar at the Blessed Trinity Parish in the diocese of Rochester, U.S.A.. He currently teaches at the Bodwesango Senior High School, and is rector of the St. Louis Rectorate and chaplain of the St. Louis Clinic, Bodwesango.
- appointed Rev. Fr. Henryk Wejman as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamien (area 12,754, population 1,053,713, Catholics 1,000,000, priests 663, religious 250), Poland. The bishop-elect was born in Recz, Poland in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1984. He holds a licentiate in theology of
spirituality and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles, including: teacher and spiritual director in the major seminary
of Szczecin, parish priest in the St. Albert Chmielowski parish, and adjunct professor in the Institute of philosophy of the University of Szczecin and the "Adam Mickiewicz" University of Poznan. He is currently professor of moral and spiritual theology and dean of the faculty of theology of the University of Sczcecin, and member of the College of Consultors and the presbyteral council.
- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, presented by Archbishop Louis Kebreau, S.D.B., upon reaching the age limit. He is succeeded by Archbishop Max Leroy Mesidor, currently coadjutor of the same archdiocese.
- appointed Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, archbishop of Vienna, Austria, as his special envoy at the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the liberation
of the Greek-Catholic Church in Ukraine, to be held in Kiev on 10 December 2014.

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"At the same time, the Sacred Scripture teaches us that the fulfilment of this
marvellous plan cannot but affect all that which surrounds us and which emerged
from the thought and the heart of God. ... What we expect, as the completion of
a transformation that is in reality already in process ever since Christ's death and resurrection, is therefore a new creation; it is not, therefore, the annihilation of the cosmos and all that which surrounds us, but rather bringing
everything to its fullness of being, of truth, of beauty. This is the plan that
God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, has always wished to fulfil, and
is fulfilling". He concluded, "when we think of these stupendous reality that awaits us, we realise the extent to which belonging to the Church is truly a wonderful gift, that leads towards the highest vocation".

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Francis asks for prayers for his trip to Turkey
Vatican City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) - Following today's catechesis, the Pope offered special greetings to the Arab-speaking faithful, in particular those from Iraq and the Middle East. "The violence, suffering and the seriousness of the sins committed must lead us to leave all to the justice of God, who will judge each one according to his works. Be strong and cling to the Church and to
your faith, so as to purify the world with your confidence; transform with your
hope and heal with your forgiveness, with the love and patience of your witness. May the Lord protect and support you".
Finally, during his greetings in Italian, and recalled that tomorrow his three-day apostolic trip to Turkey will begin, he invited those present to pray
that "Peter's visit to his brother Andrew may bring fruits of peace, sincere dialogue between religions and harmony in the Turkish nation".

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Pope Francis' message to the International Pastoral Congress on the World's Big Cities
Vatican City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father sent a message to Cardinal Lluis Martinez Sistach, archbishop of Barcelona, Spain, on the occasion of the International Pastoral Congress on the World's Big Cities, held in the Catalan capital.
"I am glad to learn of the work accomplished and encourage all to continue to reflect creatively on the way to face the task of evangelising in great urban centres, in increasing expansion, and in which everyone needs to feel the closeness and mercy of God, who does not abandon", writes the Pope.
"The Church has the mission of ensuring that the Good News of Jesus Christ and
His salvific love reaches all environments, without fear of pluralism and without any form of discrimination. She does not consider it a loss to go out to the peripheries or to change the usual preconceptions, when necessary. Like a mother, whose primary concern is the wellbeing of her children, without sparing any effort or sacrifice, may she ensure they never lack the light of the Gospel that fills life with hope, joy and peace; that they never lack acceptance to feel integrated within a community, in circumstances of disintegration or in cold anonymity; that there grows in them the spirit of authentic solidarity with all, especially with those most in need".

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First International Prayer Day and reflection on human trafficking
Vatican City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) - The Pontifical Councils for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples and for Justice and Peace, in collaboration with the international male and female Unions of Superior Generals (UISG and USG) have convoked an international conference for prayer and reflection on human trafficking, tobe held on 8 February 2015, feast day of
St. Josephine Bakhita, the Sudanese slave canonised in 2000.
According to a press release, "human trafficking is one of the worst examples of slavery in the XXI Century. This concerns the whole world. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) roughly 21 million people, often very poor and vulnerable, are victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced labour and begging, illegal organ removal, domestic servitude and forced marriages, illegal adoption and other forms of exploitation. Each year around 2.5 million people are victims of trafficking and slavery: 60 are women and children. They often suffer abuse and unspeakable violence. On the other hand, for traffickers and pimps, this is one of the most lucrative illegal activities in the world, generating a total of 32 billion dollars a year. It is the third most profitable 'business' after drugs and arms trafficking".
"The primary objective of the International Day is to create greater awareness
on this phenomenon and to reflect on the overall situation of violence and injustice that affect so many people, who have no voice, do not count, and are no one: they are simply slaves. Another goal is to attempt to provide solutions
to counter this modern form of slavery by taking concrete actions. For this, it
is necessary to stress the need to ensure rights, freedom and dignity to all trafficked persons, reduced to slavery. On the other hand, we must denounce both the criminal organisations and those who use and abuse the poverty and vulnerability of victims to transform them into goods for pleasure and gain".

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In brief
Vatican City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) -
CARDINAL JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN, PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR Interreligious Dialogue is participating in the 9th Colloquium between the aforementioned Pontifical Council and the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue (CID) of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation (ICRO), held in Teheran, Iran from 25 to 26 November on the theme "Christians and Muslims in constructive dialogue for the good of society". In his address, the cardinal remarked that the term "construction" normally refers to the building of a house on strong foundations, and emphasised that "we need to be sure that we are doing good work, on solid foundations, to be sure of the hoped results for our present and our future". Other themes to be considered during the meeting are spirituality, religious values as a response to extremism and violence, and
the role of the media in promoting a culture of dialogue. Cardinal Tauran remarked that, when agreeing the sub-themes during the preparatory meeting, no-one imagined that extremism and violence would become as dramatic as they are today. "We cannot remain silent or indifferent to the extreme, inhuman and multi-form violence to which Christians and Yezedis have been subjected. Many of them, as we know, have preferred death to renouncing their faith. They are true martyrs. ... Nothing can justify these heinous acts. Invoking religion to justify these crimes would be a crime against religion itself as well".
ARCHBISHOP DOMINIQUE MAMBERTI, SECRETARY FOR RELATIONS WITH STATES yesterday addressed the plenary assembly of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sydney, in a discourse devoted to the diplomatic activity of the Holy See, with special reference to the situation of Christians in the Middle East. "The Holy See's diplomacy has various particular aims, which flow from its primarily
spiritual mission. These include the defence of the Church's rights and freedom, and of religious liberty in general, the promotion of an ethical vision in the various questions which affect human life, society and development, the defence of human dignity and rights, the promotion of reconciliation and peace, the promotion of integral human development and humanitarian interests, the protection of the environment and, when requested, the mediation of disputes".
The Holy See, he added, "is very concerned about the tragic situation currently unfolding in the Middle East. It does not propose technical solutions
but it is tirelessly involved in raising international awareness and in appealing to the international community to intervene as a matter of urgency to
stop the aggressor, provide humanitarian aid and address the root causes of the
present crisis".

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Celestin Hakizimana as bishop of Gikongoro (area 2,057, population 582,159, Catholics 248,471, priests 51, religious 70), Rwanda. The bishop-elect was born
in Kigali, Rwanda in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1991. He holds a doctorate in theology from the San Tommaso Faculty of Theology in Naples, Italy, and has served in a number of pastoral roles, including parish vicar in Rutongo, diocesan representative for Catholic education, director of the St. Paul National Pastoral Centre in Kigali, and director of GEMECA-Rwanda. He is currently secretary general of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Rwanda.

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Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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The Pope made two proposals for facing these challenges: to reach out to encounter God, "Who lives in the cities and in the poor", to facilitate the encounter of others with God, making the Sacraments accessible, and to work towards a Samaritan Church, "with concrete witness of mercy and tenderness that
endeavours to be present in the existential and poor peripheries, acting directly on the social subconscious, producing guidance and meaning for city life".

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To the Pauline family: take the breath of the Gospel to the most diverse cultures and social contexts
Vatican City, 27 November 2014 (VIS) - This morning the Pope received in audience the members of the Pauline Family, the group of institutions that encompasses the Society of St. Paul and the Daughters of St. Paul (Paulines), dedicated to the apostolate through means of communication. Founded by Blessed Giacomo Alberione (1884-1971), the Pauline Family is composed of ten members: five religious congregations, four aggregated institutes and an association of lay collaborators. This year it celebrates the centenary of its foundation and,
to commemorate this anniversary, Francis invited them to renew their "commitment to living and communicating faith", especially through the editorial and multimedia tools typical of their charism.
He also encouraged them to continue the path their founder opened up and which
the Family has followed so far, "always keeping your gaze on broader horizons",
adding that we must never forget that "evangelisation is essentially connected with the proclamation of the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ, or have always denied Him. ... Everyone has the right to receive the Gospel. Christians have the duty of announcing it without excluding anyone. This impulse to move towards the people, but also to existential peripheries, this 'Catholic' impulse, is something you have in the blood, in your DNA, for the very fact that your founder was inspired by the figure and the mission of the apostle Paul".
Francis explained that Blessed Giacomo Alberione saw, in the announcement of Christ and of the Gospel to the masses, the most authentic and most necessary form of charity that could be offered to men and women who thirst for truth and
justice". He added, "you too are called to serve the people of today, to whom the Spirit sends you, with creativity and dynamic fidelity to your charism, identifying the most appropriate ways of announcing Jesus. ... The imagination of charity knows no bounds, and knows how to open up ever new roads to bring the breath of the Gospel into the most diverse cultures and social environments".
"Vatican Council II presented the Church to us as a population on the move ...
a vision that expresses Christian hope. ... Therefore, our being a Church in progress, while it roots us in the task of announcing Christ and His love for every creature, also prevents us from being imprisoned by earthly and mundane structures; it keeps the spirit open and makes us capable of outlooks and demands that find their fulfilment in the beatitude of the Lord.

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Holy Father's calendar for December 2014 and January 2015
Vatican City, 27 November 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 in December 2014 and January
2015:
DECEMBER
Monday 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At 4 p.m. in Piazza di Spagna, veneration of the image of Mary Immaculate.
Friday 12: Feast of Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. At 6 p.m. in the Vatican
Basilica, Holy Mass for Latin America.
Sunday 14: "Gaudete Sunday" Third of Advent. At 4 p.m., pastoral visit to the Roman Parish of "San Giuseppe all'Aurelio".
Wednesday 24: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. At 9.30 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass.
Thursday 25: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. Central loggia of the Vatican Basilica, at 12 p.m., "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.
Wednesday 31: Solemnity of Mary Most Holy, Mother of God. At 5 p.m. First Vespers and Te Deum, in Thanksgiving for the past year.
JANUARY
Thursday 1: Solemnity of Mary Most Holy, Mother of God. 48th World Peace Day. At 10 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass.
Tuesday 6: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. At 10 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass.
Sunday 11: Sunday after the Epiphany: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. At 9.30 a.m. in the Sistine Chapel. Holy Mass and baptism of babies.
Monday 12 to Monday 19: Apostolic trip in Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
Sunday 25: Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul. At 5.30 in the Basilica of
St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, Vespers.

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Christians and Muslims condemn extremism and violence committed in the name of
religion
Vatican City, 27 November 2014 (VIS) - The Centre for Interreligious Dialogue of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue held their Ninth Colloquium of dialogue from 24 to 26 November in Teheran, Iran, under the joint chairmanship of Abuzar Ibrahimi Turkaman, president of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation, and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. At the end of the meeting, the participants agreed on the following:
1. Two decades of dialogue between the abovementioned institutions have provided the occasion for better knowledge and mutual understanding;
2. The participants emphasised that Christian-Muslim constructive dialogue plays a crucial role in making a better society;
3. Spirituality is a both a divine gift and the fruit of a human journey leading to truth;
4. A genuine spirituality enables us to recognise God's presence and action within ourselves and in the world;
5. The media are called to play their distinctive role in the promotion of positive relations between Christians and Muslims;
6. The participants condemned all kinds of extremism and violence, especially committed in the name of religion.
The participants decided to hold the next colloquium in Rome in 2016, which will be preceded by a preparatory meeting 2015.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 27 November 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Archbishop Michael A. Blume, apostolic nuncio in Uganda;
- Archbishop Ramiro Moliner Ingles, apostolic nuncio in Albania.

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"This is especially true for us Christians, because for us the truth is the person of Jesus Christ", observed the Pontiff. "The example of Saint Andrew, who with another disciple accepted the invitation of the Divine Master, 'Come and see', and 'stayed with him that day', shows us plainly that the Christian life is a personal experience, a transforming encounter with the One who loves us and who wants to save us. In addition, the Christian message is spread thanks to men and women who are in love with Christ, and cannot help but pass on the joy of being loved and saved. Here again, the example of the apostle Andrew is instructive. After following Jesus to his home and spending time with
Him, Andrew 'first found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the
Messiah" (meaning Christ). He brought him to Jesus'. It is clear, therefore, that not even dialogue among Christians can prescind from this logic of personal encounter".
Therefore, "it is not by chance that the path of reconciliation and peace between Catholics and Orthodox was, in some way, ushered in by an encounter, by
an embrace between our venerable predecessors, Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras
and Pope Paul VI, which took place fifty years ago in Jerusalem. Your Holiness and I wished to commemorate that moment when we met recently in the same city where our Lord Jesus Christ died and rose.
"By happy coincidence, my visit falls a few days after the fiftieth anniversary of the promulgation of Unitatis Redintegratio, the Second Vatican Council's Decree on Christian Unity. This is a fundamental document which opened new avenues for encounter between Catholics and their brothers and sisters of other Churches and ecclesial communities. In particular, in that Decree the Catholic Church acknowledges that the Orthodox Churches 'possess true sacraments, above all - by apostolic succession - the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still joined to us in closest intimacy'. The Decree
goes on to state that in order to guard faithfully the fullness of the Christian tradition and to bring to fulfilment the reconciliation of Eastern and Western Christians, it is of the greatest importance to preserve and support the rich patrimony of the Eastern Churches. This regards not only their
liturgical and spiritual traditions, but also their canonical disciplines, sanctioned as they are by the Fathers and by Councils, which regulate the lives
of these Churches".
The Pope emphasised the importance of reaffirming respect for this principle "as an essential condition, accepted by both, for the restoration of full communion, which does not signify the submission of one to the other, or assimilation. Rather, it means welcoming all the gifts that God has given to each, thus demonstrating to the entire world the great mystery of salvation accomplished by Christ the Lord through the Holy Spirit. I want to assure each one of you here that, to reach the desired goal of full unity, the Catholic Church does not intend to impose any conditions except that of the shared profession of faith. Further, I would add that we are ready to seek together, in light of Scriptural teaching and the experience of the first millennium, the
ways in which we can guarantee the needed unity of the Church in the present circumstances. The one thing that the Catholic Church desires, and that I seek as Bishop of Rome, 'the Church which presides in charity', is communion with the Orthodox Churches. Such communion will always be the fruit of that love which 'has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us', a fraternal love which expresses the spiritual and transcendent bond which unites us as disciples of the Lord".
In today's world, "voices are being raised which we cannot ignore and which implore our Churches to live deeply our identity as disciples of the Lord Jesus
Christ. The first of these voices is that of the poor. In the world, there are too many women and men who suffer from severe malnutrition, growing unemployment, the rising numbers of unemployed youth, and from increasing social exclusion. These can give rise to criminal activity and even the recruitment of terrorists. We cannot remain indifferent before the cries of our
brothers and sisters. These ask of us not only material assistance - needed in so many circumstances - but above all,our help to defend their dignity as human
persons, so that they can find the spiritual energy to become once again protagonists in their own lives. They ask us to fight, in the light of the Gospel, the structural causes of poverty: inequality, the shortage of dignified
work and housing, and the denial of their rights as members of society and as workers. As Christians we are called together to eliminate that globalisation of indifference which today seems to reign supreme, while building a new civilisation of love and solidarity".
A second plea, he said, "comes from the victims of the conflicts in so many parts of our world. We hear this resoundingly here, because some neighbouring countries are scarred by an inhumane and brutal war. I think in a particular way of the numerous victims of the grotesque and senseless attack which recently killed and injured so many Muslims who were praying in a Mosque in Kano, Nigeria. Taking away the peace of a people, committing every act of violence - or consenting to such acts - especially when directed against the weakest and defenceless, is a profoundly grave sin against God, since it means showing contempt for the image of God which is in man. The cry of the victims of conflict urges us to move with haste along the path of reconciliation and communion between Catholics and Orthodox. Indeed, how can we credibly proclaim the Gospel of peace which comes from Christ, if there continues to be rivalry and disagreement between us?"
A third cry is that of young people. "Today, tragically, there are many young men and women who live without hope, overcome by mistrust and resignation. Many
of the young, influenced by the prevailing culture, seek happiness solely in possessing material things and in satisfying their fleeting emotions. New generations will never be able to acquire true wisdom and keep hope alive unless we are able to esteem and transmit the true humanism which comes from the Gospel and from the Church's age-old experience. It is precisely the young who today implore us to make progress towards full communion. I think for example of the many Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant youth who come together at meetings organised by the Taize community. They do this not because they ignore the differences which still separate us, but because they are able to see beyond them; they are able to embrace what is essential and what already unites us.
Pope Francis concluded by addressing Bartholomaios I: "We are already on the way, on the path towards full communion and already we can experience eloquent signs of an authentic, albeit incomplete union. This offers us reassurance and encourages us to continue on this journey. We are certain that along this journey we are helped by the intercession of the Apostle Andrew and his brother
Peter, held by tradition to be the founders of the Churches of Constantinople and of Rome. We ask God for the great gift of full unity, and the ability to accept it in our lives. Let us never forget to pray for one another".

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Joint declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomaios I: "We call on all religious leaders to pursue and strengthen interreligious dialogue"
Vatican City, 30 November 2014 (VIS) - Following the Divine Liturgy, Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomaios I appeared on the balcony of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate and blessed the faithful gathered in the street. Francis imparted the blessing in Latin, and Bartholomaios I in Greek. They subsequently ascended
to the Throne Room where they signed and read the following joint Declaration:
"We, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I,express our profound gratitude to God for the gift of this new encounter enabling us,in the presence
of the members of the Holy Synod, the clergy and the faithful of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate, to celebrate together the feast of Saint Andrew, the first-called
and brother of the Apostle Peter. Our remembrance of the Apostles, who proclaimed the good news of the Gospel to the world through their preaching and
their witness of martyrdom, strengthens in us the aspiration to continue to walk together in order to overcome, in love and in truth, the obstacles that divide us.
"On the occasion of our meeting in Jerusalem last May, in which we remembered the historical embrace of our venerable predecessors Pope Paul VI and the Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, we signed a joint declaration. Today on the happy occasion of this further fraternal encounter, we wish to re-affirm together our shared intentions and concerns.
"We express our sincere and firm resolution, in obedience to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, to intensify our efforts to promote the full unity of all Christians, and above all between Catholics and Orthodox. As well, we intend to
support the theological dialogue promoted by the Joint International Commission, instituted exactly thirty-five years ago by the Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios and Pope John Paul II here at the Phanar, and which is currently dealing with the most difficult questions that have marked the history of our division and that require careful and detailed study. To this end, we offer the assurance of our fervent prayer as Pastors of the Church, asking our faithful to join us in praying 'that all may be one, that the world may believe'.
"We express our common concern for the current situation in Iraq, Syria and the whole Middle East. We are united in the desire for peace and stability and in the will to promote the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and reconciliation. While recognising the efforts already being made to offer assistance to the region, at the same time, we call on all those who bear responsibility for the destiny of peoples to deepen their commitment to suffering communities, and to enable them, including the Christian ones, to remain in their native land. We cannot resign ourselves to a Middle East without Christians, who have professed the name of Jesus there for two thousand
years. Many of our brothers and sisters are being persecuted and have been forced violently from their homes. It even seems that the value of human life has been lost, that the human person no longer matters and may be sacrificed to
other interests. And, tragically, all this is met by the indifference of many. As Saint Paul reminds us, 'If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together'. This is the law of the Christian life, and in this sense we can say that there is also an ecumenism of suffering. Just as the blood of the martyrs was a seed of strength and fertility for the Church, so too the sharing of daily sufferings can become an effective instrument of unity. The terrible situation of Christians and all those who are suffering in the Middle East calls not only for our constant prayer, but also for an appropriate response on the part of the international community.
"The grave challenges facing the world in the present situation require the solidarity of all people of good will, and so we also recognise the importance of promoting a constructive dialogue with Islam based on mutual respect and friendship. Inspired by common values and strengthened by genuine fraternal sentiments, Muslims and Christians are called to work together for the sake of justice, peace and respect for the dignity and rights of every person, especially in those regions where they once lived for centuries in peaceful coexistence and now tragically suffer together the horrors of war. Moreover, as
Christian leaders, we call on all religious leaders to pursue and to strengthen
interreligious dialogue and to make every effort to build a culture of peace and solidarity between persons and between peoples. We also remember all the people who experience the sufferings of war. In particular, we pray for peace in Ukraine, a country of ancient Christian tradition, while we call upon all parties involved to pursue the path of dialogue and of respect for international law in order to bring an end to the conflict and allow all Ukrainians to live in harmony.
"Our thoughts turn to all the faithful of our Churches throughout the world, whom we greet, entrusting them to Christ our Saviour, that they may be untiring
witnesses to the love of God. We raise our fervent prayer that the Lord may grant the gift of peace in love and unity to the entire human family.
"'May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you'".
After the signing of the Declaration, the Pope, the Ecumenical Patriarch and various members of the respective delegations lunched together on the third floor of the Phanar.

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"Imagine how our world would change if each one of us began straight away", he
remarked. "This is the true Nativity: the feast of the poverty of the God Who annihilated Himself, assuming the nature of a slave; of God Who served at the table; of God Who hid Himself from the intelligent and the wise and instead revealed Himself to the smallest, the simple and the poor. It is above all the feast of Peace brought to earth by the baby Jesus, ... the peace the Angels sang". He continued, "Peace needs our enthusiasm, our care, to warm our frozen hearts, to encourage distrusting souls and to brighten jaded eyes with the light of Jesus' face".
The Pope concluded by asking forgiveness for his shortcomings, and those of his colleagues, and also for the various scandals "that do a great deal of damage", he commented. "Forgive me and, please, pray for me".

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Angelus: at Christmas, Jesus calls out again to the heart of every Christian
Vatican City, 21 December 2014 (VIS) - On the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, with Christmas just around the corner, the Gospel narrates the Angel's annunciation to Mary and the Virgin's "yes" that made possible the Incarnation,
the revelation of a mystery "enveloped in silence for eternity". Before this morning's Angelus prayer, Pope Francis addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, focusing on two essential aspects of Mary's attitude as a model
to prepare for Christmas.
The first is her faith, which consists of listening to the Word of God in order to surrender herself entirely to it, with full willingness of both mind and heart. "In her 'yes', full of faith, Mary does not know which road she will
have to embark upon, how much pain she will have to suffer, what risks she will
run. But she is aware that it is the Lord Who asks her to entrust herself entirely to Him, and she surrenders herself to His love. This is Mary's faith".
"Another aspect is the capacity of the Mother of Christ to recognise the time of God. Mary teaches us to seize the favourable moment in which Jesus passes into our life and asks for a prompt and generous response".
"And Jesus passes", added the Pope, "because the mystery of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, which historically took place more than two thousand years ago, occurs as a spiritual event on the 'today' of the Liturgy. The Word, that finds
a home in the virginal womb of Mary, during the celebration of the Nativity calls out to the heart of every Christian; it passes, and knocks on the door. Each one of us is called to answer, like Mary, with a personal and sincere 'yes', placing ourselves entirely at the disposal of God and His mercy, His love".
"How many times does Jesus pass into our lives!", he exclaimed. "And how many times he sends us an angel, and how often we do not realise, because we are too
preoccupied, immersed in our thoughts, in our affairs and even, these days, in our preparations for Christmas, to realise that He passes and knocks at the door of our heart, asking for welcome, asking for a 'yes', like that of Mary".
"A saint once said, 'I am afraid that the Lord will pass'. Do you know why he was afraid? He was afraid he would not welcome Him, that he would let Him pass by. When we feel in our heart, 'I would like to be a better person', "I feel remorse for doing that", it is the Lord Who is calling. He makes you feel this:
the wish to be better, the wish to stay closer to others and to God. If you feel this, then stop. It is the Lord Who is there! And pray, perhaps go to Confession, to clean up a little ... this does you good. But keep in mind: if you feel this desire to improve, it is He Who is calling: do not let Him pass by".
Francis also recalled, in the mystery of the Nativity, the silent presence of Joseph and emphasised the example that he and Mary offer as an invitation to receive with total openness the Lord Jesus, "who for love made Himself into our
brother, and came to bring light to the world", as the angels proclaimed to the
shepherds: 'on earth peace, good will toward men'".
"The precious gift of Christmas is peace", he concluded. "Christ, Who is our true peace, calls to our hearts to give us peace, the peace of the soul. Let us
open the doors to Christ".

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The Pope receives the Community of Pope John XXIII and praises its generosity in helping people rise above material and moral degradation
Vatican City, 20 December 2014 (VIS) - Today in the Paul VI Hall the Holy Father received 7,500 members of the Community of John Paul XXIII, founded by the Italian priest Oreste Benzi in 1968. The association, currently present in 34 countries, is concerned with situations of marginalisation and poverty and promotes the non-violent removal of the root causes. It follows the principle of sharing of life in a number of contexts: minors and young people in difficult conditions, the disabled, detainees, itinerant communities, drug users, alcoholics, those without fixed abode, the elderly, the sick, mothers with problems and women forced into prostitution.
During the audience, various members of the Community narrated to the Pope their experiences, which as Francis said, spoke of "slavery and liberation, of the selfishness of those who imagine they can build up their lives by exploiting others and taking advantage of the generosity of those who help others to rise up from material and moral degradation. They are experiences that shed light on the many forms of poverty that unfortunately afflict our world, and they reveal the most dangerous misery of all, the cause of all others: distance from God, the presumption of being able to do without Him. This is the blind misery of those who believe that the aim of their existence is material wealth, the pursuit of power and pleasure, and the enslavement of the lives of others to these objectives".
"Yes, my friends, it is the presence of the Lord that makes the difference between the freedom of good and the slavery of evil ... it broadens horizons ... and gives us the strength necessary to overcome difficulties and obstacles.
... Faith, indeed, moves the mountains of indifference and apathy, of disinterest and sterile self-centredness. ... Faith opens the doors of charity ... giving us the courage to act according to the example of the Good Samaritan. Fr. Oresti Benzi, the founder of your association, understood this well. His love for the least and for the poor, for the excluded and the abandoned, was rooted in his love for Jesus crucified, Who made Himself poor for us. ... From the mission of involving adolescents and encouraging their interest in the figure of Jesus, there was born the idea of organising for them
a vital and radical encounter with Him as a hero and friend, through testimonies of life, fully demonstrating the Christian message, but in a joyful
or even joking fashion".
"In this way your community was born, now present in 34 countries with its family-houses, its social and educational cooperatives, its houses of prayer, services for accompanying difficult motherhood and other initiatives", continued the Pope. "Providence has enabled you to grow, demonstrating the vitality of the charism of your Founder, who liked to say that "to get onto your feet, you need to kneel first".
Pope Francis concluded by inviting those present to be attentive to their spiritual formation, and to partake frequently of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, as "it fills the heart with the love for God that is the wellspring of charity towards our brothers and sisters".

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Audiences
On Saturday, 20 December, the Holy Father received in audience:
- His Royal Highness Jaime Bernardo, Prince of Bourbon de Parme, ambassador of
the Netherlands to the Holy See, presenting his letters of credence;
- Clelio Galassi, ambassador of the Republic of San Marino to the Holy See, presenting his letters of credence;
- Eduardo Felix Valdes, ambassador of the Republic of Argentina to the Holy See, presenting his letters of credence.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 22 December 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has
- appointed Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Indianapolis, U.S.A., as bishop of Burlington (area 23,651, population 651,000,
Catholics 123,700, priests 133, permanent deacons 43, religious 149), U.S.A.
- appointed Bishop Benjamin Ndiaye of Kaolack, Senegal, as archbishop of Dakar
(area 4,803, population 3,677,000, Catholics 455,000, priests 168, religious 645), Senegal. He succeeds Cardinal Theodore-Adrien Sarr, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Basel, Switzerland, presented by Bishop Martin Gachter upon reaching the age limit.
- erected the new diocese of Kuzhithurai (area 915, population 855,485, Catholics 264,222, priests 131, religious 269) India, with territory taken from
the diocese of Kottar, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan church of Madurai. He appointed Fr. Jerome Dhas Varuvel, S.D.B., as first bishop of the new diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Paduvoor, India in 1951, gave his perpetual vows in 1981, and was ordained a priest in 1985. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics and theology, and a licentiate in education from
the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome, and has served in a number of roles, including vice rector of the novitiate in Vellakinar, rector of the pre-novitiate in Tirupattur and Maiyam, dean of the Salesian student body in Trichy, parish priest and rector of the con-Cathedral of Madras-Mylapore, provincial counsellor, director of Kalvi Solai in Tirupattur and in Ennore, and
director of Mount Don Bosco in Thalavadi. He is currently master of novices in Yeallagiri Hills, Vellore.
On Saturday, 20 December, the Holy Father appointed:
- Bishop Jose Guadalupe Torres Campos of Gomez Palacio, Mexico, as bishop of Ciudad Juarez (area 29,639, population 2,727,000, Catholics 2,318,000, priests 116, permanent deacons 19, religious 206), Mexico. He succeeds Bishop Renato Ascencio Leon, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue as camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church;
- Archbishop Giampiero Gloder, apostolic nuncio and president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, as vice camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.

___________________________________________________________

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"We too, in this blessed night, have come to the house of God. We have passed through the darkness which envelops the earth, guided by the flame of faith which illuminates our steps, and enlivened by the hope of finding the 'great light'. By opening our hearts, we also can contemplate the miracle of that child-sun who, arising from on high, illuminates the horizon.
"The origin of the darkness which envelops the world is lost in the night of the ages. Let us think back to that dark moment when the first crime of humanity was committed, when the hand of Cain, blinded by envy, killed his brother Abel. As a result, the unfolding of the centuries has been marked by violence, wars, hatred and oppression. But God, who placed a sense of expectation within man made in his image and likeness, was waiting. God was waiting. He waited for so long that perhaps at a certain point it seemed he should have given up. But he could not give up because he could not deny himself. Therefore he continued to wait patiently in the face of the corruption
of man and peoples. The patience of God. How difficult it is to comprehend this: God's patience towards us.
"Through the course of history, the light that shatters the darkness reveals to us that God is Father and that his patient fidelity is stronger than darkness and corruption. This is the message of Christmas night. God does not know outbursts of anger or impatience; he is always there, like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, waiting to catch from afar a glimpse of the lost son as he returns; and every day, with patience. The patience of God.
"Isaiah's prophecy announces the rising of a great light which breaks through the night. This light is born in Bethlehem and is welcomed by the loving arms of Mary, by the love of Joseph, by the wonder of the shepherds. When the angels
announced the birth of the Redeemer to the shepherds, they did so with these words: 'This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger'. The 'sign' is in fact the humility of God, the humility of God taken to the extreme; it is the love with which, that night, he
assumed our frailty, our suffering, our anxieties, our desires and our limitations. The message that everyone was expecting, that everyone was searching for in the depths of their souls, was none other than the tenderness of God: God who looks upon us with eyes full of love, who accepts our poverty, God who is in love with our smallness.
"On this holy night, while we contemplate the Infant Jesus just born and placed in the manger, we are invited to reflect. How do we welcome the tenderness of God? Do I allow myself to be taken up by God, to be embraced by him, or do I prevent him from drawing close? 'But I am searching for the Lord' - we could respond. Nevertheless, what is most important is not seeking him, but rather allowing him to seek me, find me and caress me with tenderness. The question put to us simply by the Infant's presence is: do I allow God to love me?
"More so, do we have the courage to welcome with tenderness the difficulties and problems of those who are near to us, or do we prefer impersonal solutions,
perhaps effective but devoid of the warmth of the Gospel? How much the world needs tenderness today! The patience of God, the closeness of God, the tenderness of God.
"The Christian response cannot be different from God's response to our smallness. Life must be met with goodness, with meekness. When we realise that God is in love with our smallness, that he made himself small in order to better encounter us, we cannot help but open our hearts to him, and beseech him: 'Lord, help me to be like you, give me the grace of tenderness in the most
difficult circumstances of life, give me the grace of closeness in the face of every need, of meekness in every conflict'.
"'Dear brothers and sisters, on this holy night we contemplate the Nativity scene: there "the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light'. People who were unassuming, people open to receiving the gift of God, were the ones who saw this light. This light was not seen, however, by the arrogant, the
proud, by those who made laws according to their own personal measures, who were closed off to others. Let us look to the crib and pray, asking the Blessed
Mother: 'O Mary, show us Jesus!'".

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Christmas Message: "many tears, together with the tears of the Infant Jesus"
Vatican City, 25 December 2014 (VIS) - At midday today, the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, the Pope gave his traditional Christmas message from the central balcony of the Vatican Basilica and imparted the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.
"Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy Christmas!
"Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, is born for us, born in Bethlehem of a Virgin, fulfilling the ancient prophecies. The Virgin's name is Mary, the wife of Joseph.
"Humble people, full of hope in the goodness of God, are those who welcome Jesus and recognise him. And so the Holy Spirit enlightened the shepherds of Bethlehem, who hastened to the grotto and adored the Child. Then the Spirit led
the elderly and humble couple Simeon and Anna into the temple of Jerusalem, and
they recognised in Jesus the Messiah. 'My eyes have seen your salvation', Simeon exclaimed, 'the salvation prepared by God in the sight of all peoples'.
"Yes, brothers and sisters, Jesus is the salvation for every person and for every people!
Today I ask him, the Saviour of the world, to look upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria, who for too long now have suffered the effects of ongoing conflict, and who, together with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering a brutal persecution. May Christmas bring them hope, as indeed also to the many displaced persons, exiles and refugees, children, adults and elderly, from this region and from the whole world. May indifference be changed into closeness and rejection into hospitality, so that all who now are suffering may receive the necessary humanitarian help to overcome the rigours of winter, return to their countries and live with dignity. May the Lord open hearts to trust, and may he bestow his peace upon the whole Middle East, beginning with the land blessed by his birth, thereby sustaining the efforts of those committed effectively to dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.
"May Jesus, Saviour of the world, protect all who suffer in Ukraine, and grant
that their beloved land may overcome tensions, conquer hatred and violence, and
set out on a new journey of fraternity and reconciliation.
"May Christ the Saviour give peace to Nigeria, where more blood is being shed and too many people are unjustly deprived of their possessions, held as hostages or killed. I invoke peace also on the other parts of the African continent, thinking especially of Libya, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and various regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I beseech all who have political responsibility to commit themselves through dialogue to overcoming differences and to building a lasting, fraternal coexistence.
"May Jesus save the vast numbers of children who are victims of violence, made
objects of trade and trafficking, or forced to become soldiers; children, so many abused children. May he give comfort to the families of the children killed in Pakistan last week. May he be close to all who suffer from illness, especially the victims of the Ebola epidemic, above all in Liberia, in Sierra Leone and in Guinea. As I thank all who are courageously dedicated to assisting
the sick and their family members, I once more make an urgent appeal that the necessary assistance and treatment be provided.
"The Child Jesus. My thoughts turn to all those children today who are killed and ill-treated, be they infants killed in the womb, deprived of that generous love of their parents and then buried in the egoism of a culture that does not love life; be they children displaced due to war and persecution, abused and taken advantage of before our very eyes and our complicit silence. I think also
of those infants massacred in bomb attacks, also those where the Son of God was
born. Even today, their impotent silence cries out under the sword of so many Herods. On their blood stands the shadow of contemporary Herods. Truly there are so many tears this Christmas, together with the tears of the Infant Jesus.
"Dear brothers and sisters, may the Holy Spirit today enlighten our hearts, that we may recognise in the Infant Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, the salvation given by God to each one of us, to each man and woman and to all the peoples of the earth. May the power of Christ, which brings freedom and service, be felt in so many hearts afflicted by war, persecution and slavery. May this divine power, by its meekness, take away the hardness of heart of so many men and women immersed in worldliness and indifference, the globalisation of indifference. May his redeeming strength transform arms into ploughshares, destruction into creativity, hatred into love and tenderness. Then we will be able to cry out with joy: 'Our eyes have seen your salvation'.
"With these thoughts I wish you all a Happy Christmas!"

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The gift of Christian integrity is coherence: think, feel and live as Christians
Vatican City, 26 December 2014 (VIS) - At midday the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. Before the Marian prayer, the Pontiff gave a brief address to those present, on the subject of coherence with faith.
"The Gospel of this feast day shows a part of Jesus' discourse to his disciples in the moment in which He sends them on their mission. Among other things, He says, 'You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved'. These words of the Lord do not disrupt the celebration of Christmas, but strip it of that false saccharine-sweetness that does not belong to it. It makes us understand that in the trials accepted on account of the faith, violence is overcome by love, death by life. To truly welcome Jesus in our existence, and to prolong the joy of the Holy Night, the path is precisely the one indicated in this Gospel: that is, to bear witness in
humility, in silent service, without fear of going against the current, able to
pay in person. While not all of us are called, as St. Stephen was, to shed their own blood, every Christian is nonetheless required in every circumstance to lead a life coherent with the faith he or she professes. Christian integrity
is a grace that we must ask of the Lord. To be coherent, to live as Christians rather than merely saying, 'I am Christian' while living like a pagan. Coherence is a grace we must ask for today".
Francis explained that following the Gospel is a "demanding but beautiful path, and those who follow it with devotion and courage receive the gift promised by the Lord to men and women of goodwill". He asked those present to pray "in a special way for those who are discriminated against, persecuted and killed for their witness of Christ ... so that due to the sacrifice of these latter-day martyrs, of whom there are many, the commitment to recognising and guaranteeing religious freedom, an inalienable right of every human being, may be reinforced in every part of the world".
After the Angelus prayer, the Pope conveyed his wishes for peace to all those present and prayed to St. Stephen for the grace of Christian coherence: "thinking, feeling and living as a Christian, not thinking as a Christian and living as a pagan".

___________________________________________________________

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Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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"May this gentle and loving Mother obtain for us the Lord's blessing upon the entire human family. On this, the World Day of Peace, we especially implore her
intercession that the Lord may grant peace in our day; peace in hearts, peace in families, peace among the nations. The message for the Day of Peace this year is 'Slaves no more, but Brothers and Sisters'. All of us are called to be free, all are called to be sons and daughters, and each, according to his or her own responsibilities, is called to combat modern forms of enslavement. From
every people, culture and religion, let us join our forces. May He guide and sustain us, Who, in order to make us all brothers and sisters, became our servant".

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New Year's Eve Vespers: "Give thanks and ask forgiveness"
Vatican City, 1 January 2014 (VIS) - "The meaning of time, temporality, is the
atmosphere of the Epiphany of God, or rather the manifestation of God and His concrete love. Indeed, as St. Peter Faber said, time is God's messenger", affirmed the Holy Father during the celebration of Vespers on the Solemnity of Mary Most Holy Mother of God, on the last day of the year. He continued, "Today's liturgy recalls the phrase of the apostle John: 'Children, it is the last hour', and that of St. Paul, who speaks of the 'fullness of time'. Therefore, today shows us how time was, so to speak, 'touched' by Christ, the Son of God and Mary, and received from Him new and surprising meanings: it became 'salvific time', or rather the definitive time of salvation and grace. And all this urges us to think of the end of the path of life, of the end of our journey".
The Pope also remarked that with the Te Deum, the traditional hymn of thanksgiving at the year end, and the Eucharistic blessing, we praise the Lord and at the same time ask for forgiveness. "The attitude of giving thanks disposes us to humility, to recognising and receiving the Lord's gifts", and as
the apostle Paul explains in the reading, the fundamental reason for giving thanks to God is the fact that "He has made us all His children, He has adopted
us as His children. This unmerited gift, fills us with gratitude and wonder. Some might say, 'But are we not already all His children, by the very fact of being men?'. We certainly are, since God is the Father of every person who comes into the world. But we must not forget that we were estranged from Him because of original sin. ... For this reason, God sent His Son to redeem us at the price of His blood. And if there was a ransom, it is because there was slavery. We were His children, but we became slaves, following the voice of the
evil one. None other than Jesus redeems us from that effective slavery; He Who took on our flesh from the Virgin Mary and died on the cross to free us from the slavery of sin and to restore to us our lost filial status".
Francis emphasised that the liturgy also reminds us that "in the beginning, before time, there was the Word ... and the Word was made man", and mentioned that "the very gift for which we give thanks is also a reason for an examination of conscience, for reviewing our personal and communal life, for asking ourselves: how do we live? Do we live as sons or as slaves? Do we live as persons baptised in Christ, anointed by the Spirit, redeemed and free? Or do
we live according to a worldly, corrupt logic, doing what the devil makes us believe is in our interest?" He added, "we are afraid of freedom and paradoxically we more or less unconsciously prefer the slavery that prevents us
from fully and truly living in the present, as it empties it of the past and closes it to the future, to eternity. Slavery makes us believe that we cannot dream, fly, hope".
"Nostalgia for slavery resides in our heart, as it is seemingly more reassuring than freedom, which is far riskier. How we like to be rapt by so many fireworks, which appear beautiful but in reality last just a few instants.
This is the reign, the fascination of the moment. For us, as Christians, the quality of our work, our life, our presence in cities, our service to the common good, our participation in public and ecclesial institutions, depends on
this examination of conscience".
The Pope went on to speak about the significance of living in Rome, "which is a great gift, as it means dwelling in the eternal city; for a Christian, in particular, it means being part of the Church founded on the witness and martyrdom of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. Therefore, we also thank the Lord for this". However, he added, there are also "grave issues of corruption, which have emerged recently, and which require a serious and conscious conversion of hearts for a spiritual and moral rebirth, as well as renewed commitment to constructing a more just and caring city, where the poor, the weak and the marginalised are the focus of our concerns and our daily actions. A great and daily attitude of Christian freedom is necessary to have the courage to proclaim, in our city, that we must defend the poor, and not defend ourselves from the poor; that we must serve the weak and not make use of them".
"When in a city the poor and the weak are cared for, assisted and helped to promote themselves in society, they are shown to be the treasure of the Church and an asset to society. Instead, when a society ignores the poor, persecutes them and criminalises them, compelling them to turn to organised crime, that society is impoverished to the point of misery, loses its freedom and favours the 'garlic and onions' of slavery, the slavery of its selfishness, the slavery
of cowardliness, and that society ceases to be Christian. Dear brothers and sisters", he concluded, "to bring the year to an end is to reaffirm that a 'last hour' exists, and that the 'fullness of time' exists. In concluding the year, in giving thanks and asking for forgiveness, it will do us good to ask for the grace to be able to walk in freedom, to be able to repair the damage done and to be able to defend ourselves from the nostalgia of slavery, not to idealise slavery". He encouraged those present to pray to the Virgin Mary, that
she might help us receive the Saviour with an open heart, to truly be and live freely as children of God".

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 2 January 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Marcelino Antonio Maralit as bishop of Boac (area 959, population 238,850, Catholics 222,130, priests 30, religious 38), Philippines. The bishop-elect was
born in Manila, Philippines in 1969 and was ordained a priest in 1995. He holds
a licentiate from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain and a licentiate
in church history from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including parish vicar of the "Immaculate Conception" parish in Batangas; professor at the St. Francis de Sales major seminary of Lipa City; deputy director and subsequently director of
the diocesan commission for vocations; vice-rector, professor, dean of studies and subsequently rector of the St. Francis theological seminary. He is currently parish priest of the "Invencion de la Santa Cruz" parish in Alitatag,
Batangas and member of the presbyteral council of the archdiocese of Lipa.

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At that point "they resume their journey, and once more they see the star; the
evangelist says that they 'rejoiced exceedingly'. Coming to Bethlehem, they found 'the child with Mary His mother'. After that of Jerusalem, this was their
second great temptation: to reject this smallness. But instead, 'they fell down
and worshipped Him', offering him their precious symbolic gifts. Again, it is the grace of the Holy Spirit which assists them. That grace, which through the star had called them and led them along the way, now lets them enter into the mystery. The star which led them on the journey allows them to enter into the mystery. Led by the Spirit, they come to realise that God's criteria are quite different from those of men, that God does not manifest himself in the power of
this world, but speaks to us in the humbleness of His love. God's love is great. God's love is powerful. But the love of God is humble, very humble. The wise men are thus models of conversion to the true faith, since they believed more in the goodness of God than in the apparent splendour of power".
"And so we can ask ourselves", continued the Holy Father, "what is the mystery
in which God is hidden? Where can I find Him? All around us we see wars, the exploitation of children, torture, trafficking in arms, human trafficking ... In all these realities, in these, the least of our brothers and sisters who are
enduring these difficult situations, there is Jesus. The crib points us to a different path from the one cherished by the thinking of this world: it is the path of God's self-abasement, that humility of God's love by which He abases himself, He completely lowers himself, His glory concealed in the manger of Bethlehem, on the cross upon Calvary, in each of our suffering brothers and sisters".
"The wise men entered into the mystery", he concluded. "They passed from human
calculations to the mystery: this was their conversion. And our own? Let us ask
the Lord to let us undergo that same journey of conversion experienced by the wise men. Let us ask Him to protect us and to set us free from the temptations which hide the star. To let us always be aware of the uncomfortable question: 'Where is the star?', whenever - amid the deceptions of this world - we lose sight of it. To let us know ever anew God's mystery, and not to be scandalised by the 'sign', that sign spoken of by the angels, which points to 'a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger', and to have the humility to ask the Mother, our Mother, to show Him to us. To find the courage to be liberated from our illusions, our presumptions, our 'lights', and to seek this courage in the humility of faith and in this way to encounter the Light, Lumen,
like the holy wise men. May we enter into the mystery. May it be so".

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Angelus: the path of the Magi is a journey of the soul towards Christ
Vatican City, 6 January 2014 (VIS) - At the end of the Eucharistic celebration
in St. Peter's Square, 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, returning to the theme of the journey of the wise men, remarked that "with their act of adoration, the Magi testify that Jesus came to
earth to save not just one people, but all peoples" and, therefore on the Epiphany "our gaze extends to the horizon of the whole world to celebrate the manifestation of the Lord to all people, that is, the manifestation of God's love and universal salvation".
"As the Creator and Father of all, he wishes to be the Saviour of all", he continued. "This is why we are always required to nurture great trust and hope in every person and in his salvation: even those who appear to be far from the Lord are followed - or rather "pursued" - by His impassioned -and faithful love".
The Gospel account of the Magi describes their journey from the East as "a journey of the soul, a journey towards the encounter with Christ. They are attentive to the signs that point to His presence; they are tireless in facing the difficulties of their search; they are courageous in coping with the consequences of their encounter with the Lord. ... The experience of the Magi evokes every man's journey to Christ. ... The star that is able to guide every person to Jesus is the Word of God, which is the light that directs our journey, nourishes our faith and regenerates it". Therefore, Pope Francis emphasised, "We must not forget to read it and to meditate on it every day, so that it may be a flame we carry within us to illuminate our steps and the steps
of those who walk beside us, who perhaps struggle to find their way to Christ".
The Holy Father went on to mention "our brothers and sisters in the Christian East, Catholics and Orthodox, many of whom celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord tomorrow", and sent them a warm greeting.
Finally, he remarked that today we celebrate the World Day of Missionary Childhood, "dedicated to children who joyfully live the gift of faith and pray that the light of Jesus might reach all the children of the world. I encourage teachers to nurture the missionary spirit in the young so that witnesses of God's tenderness and heralds of His love might be born among them".

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The Holy See intensifies its fight against the Ebola virus
Vatican City, 7 January 2014 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace" today publishes its document "Expanding the Catholic Church's commitment
to the Ebola emergency response", in which it describes for the first time its pastoral response to a relatively new disease which has devastated communities above all in the countries of Western Africa, especially Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
According to the document, "The Holy See wishes to express its appreciation to
the local Catholic Church in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone for its timely response to the Ebola crisis. In order to strengthen these efforts, and as a practical response to the emergency, the Holy See is making a financial contribution. The funds will support Church-sponsored structures with a view to
increasing the assistance they offer via healthcare institutions, community initiatives and pastoral care of patients and healthcare professionals. The Holy See encourages other donors, whether private or public, to add to these funds as a sign of solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering gravely in the areas affected by the disease.
"The monies contributed by the Holy See will be used to purchase much-needed protective supplies, to assist with the transport of patients, and to pay for the renovation of buildings, among other things. A portion of the Holy See's contribution will be directed towards residents in targeted communities so as to develop and enhance strategies needed to stop the spread of Ebola. Funds are
also earmarked for the support of afflicted families and orphaned children. As part of a pastoral response, the Holy See will contribute to the care of people
in affected areas by training and supporting clergy, men and women religious as
well as lay pastoral workers, ensuring that they are better equipped to attend to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the sick and the suffering. The Holy See will focus on parishes,because so much of the Church's work takes place at the level of the parish, and it is an important grass-roots institution in fighting the Ebola-related stigma now emerging as a serious problem, particularly for survivors".

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 7 January 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
- Bishop Jose Antonio Peruzzo of Palmas - Francisco Beltrao, Brazil, as archbishop of Curitiba (area 5,751, population 2,444,000, Catholics 1,821,000, priests 405, permanent deacons 64, religious 1,549), Brazil.
- appointed Fr. Leomar Antonio Brustolin as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Porto Alegre (area 13,530, population 3,395,000, Catholics 2,527,000, priests 362, permanent deacons 58, religious 1,487), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Caxias do Sul, Brazil in 1967 and was ordained a priest in 1992. He studied philosophy at the University of Caxias do Sul and theology at the Pontifical University of Rio Grande do Sul, and holds a licentiate in systematic theology from the Jesuit faculty (FAJE) at Belo Horizonte and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome. He has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles, including parish vicar of the Cathedral of Caxias do Sul, professor of theology at the Pontifical University of Rio Grande do Sul at Porto Alegre, coordinator of the licentiate course in theology at the same university, director of the course in theology for laypersons and director of the Centre for Theology of Caxias do Sul. He is currently parish priest of the St. Teresa of Avila Cathedral in Caxias do Sul.

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Around one thousand representatives of the various religious communities (Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and various Christian confessions) awaited Pope Francis in the Great Hall of the BMICH. The meeting began with the Buddhist chant "Pirith", followed by a Hindu blessing, a Muslim blessing and a prayer by
the ecumenical group.
Following a speech by the Buddhist monk Vigithasiri Niyangoda Thero, the Holy Father gave an address in which he affirmed the Church's profound and lasting respect for other religions, and reiterated that, for the sake of peace, religious beliefs must never be abused to justify violence and war.
"I have come to Sri Lanka in the footsteps of my predecessors Popes Paul VI and John Paul II to demonstrate the great love and concern which the Catholic Church has for Sri Lanka. It is a particular grace for me to visit the Catholic
community here, to confirm them in their Christian faith, to pray with them and
to share their joys and sufferings. It is equally a grace to be with all of you, men and women of these great religious traditions, who share with us a desire for wisdom, truth and holiness.
"At Vatican Council II, the Catholic Church declared her deep and abiding respect for other religions. She stated that she 'rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions. She has a high regard for their manner of life and conduct, their precepts and doctrines'. For my part, I wish to reaffirm the Church's sincere respect for you, your traditions and beliefs".
He continued, "It is in this spirit of respect that the Catholic Church desires to cooperate with you, and with all people of good will, in seeking the
welfare of all Sri Lankans. I hope that my visit will help to encourage and deepen the various forms of interreligious and ecumenical cooperation which have been undertaken in recent years.
"These praiseworthy initiatives have provided opportunities for dialogue, which is essential if we are to know, understand and respect one another. But, as experience has shown, for such dialogue and encounter to be effective, it must be grounded in a full and forthright presentation of our respective convictions. Certainly, such dialogue will accentuate how varied our beliefs, traditions and practices are. But if we are honest in presenting our convictions, we will be able to see more clearly what we hold in common. New avenues will be opened for mutual esteem, cooperation and indeed friendship.
"Such positive developments in interreligious and ecumenical relations take on
a particular significance and urgency in Sri Lanka. For too many years the men and women of this country have been victims of civil strife and violence. What is needed now is healing and unity, not further conflict and division. Surely the fostering of healing and unity is a noble task which is incumbent upon all who have at heart the good of the nation, and indeed the whole human family. It
is my hope that interreligious and ecumenical cooperation will demonstrate that
men and women do not have to forsake their identity, whether ethnic or religious, in order to live in harmony with their brothers and sisters.
"How many ways there are for the followers of the different religions to carry
out this service! How many are the needs that must be tended to with the healing balm of fraternal solidarity! I think in particular of the material and
spiritual needs of the poor, the destitute, those who yearn for a word of consolation and hope. Here I think too of the many families who continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones.
"Above all, at this moment of your nation's history, how many people of good will are seeking to rebuild the moral foundations of society as a whole? May the growing spirit of cooperation between the leaders of the various religious communities find expression in a commitment to put reconciliation among all Sri
Lankans at the heart of every effort to renew society and its institutions. For
the sake of peace, religious beliefs must never be allowed to be abused in the cause of violence and war. We must be clear and unequivocal in challenging our communities to live fully the tenets of peace and coexistence found in each religion, and to denounce acts of violence when they are committed.
"Dear friends", concluded the Pope, "I thank you once again for your generous welcome and your attention. May this fraternal encounter confirm all of us in our efforts to live in harmony and to spread the blessings of peace".

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Pope's greetings to the presidents of Doctrinal Commissions of the European Episcopal Conferences
Vatican City, 13 January 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a message to greet the participants in the meeting of the presidents of the Doctrinal Commissions of the European Episcopal Conferences with the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith in Esztergom, "the religious heart of Hungary". The text was read this morning, during the opening session of the meeting, which will be
held from 13 to 15 January.
"I thank Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith, for this timely initiative that emphasises the importance of the local Episcopates, and in particular the Doctrinal Commissions, in their responsibility for the unity and integrity of the faith as well as its transmission to the younger generations. As I wrote in my Apostolic Exhortation
'Evangelii Gaudium', resuming the teaching of the dogmatic Constitution 'Lumen Gentium' of Vatican Council II, 'Episcopal conferences are in a position to contribute in many and fruitful ways to the concrete realisation of the collegial spirit'. I hope that your meeting will contribute to enabling a collegial approach to various doctrinal and pastoral difficulties that present themselves in Europe today, with the aim of inspiring in the faithful a new missionary zeal and greater openness to the transcendent dimension of life, without which Europe risks losing the very 'humanistic spirit' that it loves and defends.
"I commend your works to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, model for every believer, and impart my heartfelt blessing".

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The Virgin of Madhu, protectress against snakebites, became well-known throughout the island and, with the arrival of St. Joseph Vaz in 1987, Catholicism began to flourish and Madhu transformed into a missionary centre. The construction of the current building began in 1872, and the papal legate crowned the statue in 1924 on behalf of Pope Pius XI. The church was consecrated in 1944. The Marian shrine is a place of prayer that is well-respected and frequented by Catholic faithful and followers of other religions; nevertheless, it was affected by fighting between Tamil rebels and government forces. The bishops of Sri Lanka managed to ensure that the shrine became a demilitarised zone, to guarantee the safety of pilgrims and the many refugees who fled there in search of safety during the war. Indeed, since 1990 the 160 hectares of land around the shrine have provided a safe haven to thousands of displaced persons, becoming a refugee camp recognised by both parties in the conflict. In April 2008 the shrine passed once more to the diocese of Mannar and reopened as a place of worship in December 2010.
More than half a million people awaited the Pope, and prayed with him for the consolidation of the peace reached in 2009 following a conflict that had lasted
over three decades. Both Tamil and Sinhalese families, who suffered greatly as a result of the hostilities, were present.
"We are in our Mother's house", Francis began. "Here she welcomes us into her home. At this shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, every pilgrim can feel at home, for here Mary brings us into the presence of her Son Jesus. Here Sri Lankans, Tamil
and Sinhalese alike, come as members of one family. To Mary they commend their joys and sorrows, their hopes and needs. Here, in her home, they feel safe. They know that God is very near; they feel his love; they know the tender mercy
of God.
"There are families here today which suffered greatly in the long conflict which tore open the heart of Sri Lanka. Many people, from north and south alike, were killed in the terrible violence and bloodshed of those years. No Sri Lankan can forget the tragic events associated with this very place, or the
sad day when the venerable statue of Mary, dating to the arrival of the earliest Christians in Sri Lanka, was taken away from her shrine.
"But Our Lady remained always with you. She is the mother of every home, of every wounded family, of all who are seeking to return to a peaceful existence.
Today we thank her for protecting the people of Sri Lanka from so many dangers,
past and present. Mary never forgot her children on this resplendent island. Just as she never left the side of her Son on the Cross, so she never left the side of her suffering Sri Lankan children.
"Today we want to thank Our Lady for that presence. In the wake of so much hatred, violence and destruction, we want to thank her for continuing to bring us Jesus, who alone has the power to heal open wounds and to restore peace to broken hearts. But we also want to ask her to implore for us the grace of God's
mercy. We ask also for the grace to make reparation for our sins and for all the evil which this land has known.
"It is not easy to do this", acknowledged the Holy Father. "Yet only when we come to understand, in the light of the Cross, the evil we are capable of, and have even been a part of, can we experience true remorse and true repentance. Only then can we receive the grace to approach one another in true contrition, offering and seeking true forgiveness. In this difficult effort to forgive and find peace, Mary is always here to encourage us, to guide us, to lead us. Just as she forgave her Son's killers at the foot of his Cross, then held his lifeless body in her hands, so now she wants to guide Sri Lankans to greater reconciliation, so that the balm of God's pardon and mercy may bring true healing to all".
Finally, he added, "we want to ask Mother Mary to accompany with her prayers the efforts of Sri Lankans from both Tamil and Sinhalese communities to rebuild
the unity which was lost. Just as her statue came back to her shrine of Madhu after the war, so we pray that all her Sri Lankan sons and daughters may now come home to God in a renewed spirit of reconciliation and fellowship".
"Dear brothers and sisters", he concluded, "I am happy to be with you in Mary's house. Let us pray for one another. Above all, let us ask that this shrine may always be a house of prayer and a haven of peace. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Madhu, may all people find here inspiration and strength to build a future of reconciliation, justice and peace for all the children of this beloved land. Amen".
Following the Lord's Prayer and after blessing the assembly with the image of Our Lady of Madhu, the Pope returned by Popemobile to the Madhu heliport, a journey of one and a half kilometres, greeting the crowds of faithful along the
way. He then returned to Colombo.

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Pope Francis' telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Vatican City, 14 January 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a telegram from
Sri Lanka to the president of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, who today stepped down from the position he has held since May 2006. The eleventh president of the Italian Republic and the only one to have been re-elected twice, Napolitano visited the Vatican to greet Pope Francis on 8 June 2013, the
first official state visit of his second mandate. The full text of the telegram
is published below:
"Having learned of your resignation from the role of Head of State during my apostolic trip in Sri Lanka and the Philippines, I am spiritually close to you and wish to express to you my sentiments of sincere esteem and keen appreciation for your generous and exemplary service to the Italian nation, performed with authority, loyalty and tireless dedication to the common good. Your enlightened and wise action has contributed to strengthening within the population the ideals of solidarity, unity and harmony, especially in a European and national context marked by considerable difficulties. I invoke divine assistance for you, your wife and your loved ones, with the assurance of
your constant remembrance in my prayers".

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 14 January 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Joseph G. Hanefeldt as bishop of Grand Island (area 108,800, population 316,000, Catholics 55,800, priests 61, permanent deacons 7, religious 56), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Creighton, Nebraska, U.S.A. in 1958 and was
ordained a priest in 1984. He holds a bachelor's degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and a diploma in sacramental theology from the St. Anselm Pontifical Athenaeum, Rome. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including parish vicar of the "St. Mary" parish in West Point and the "St. Joan of Arc" parish in Omaha; director of the archdiocesan office for pro-life activities; moderator of the archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women; parish priest of the "St. Joseph" parish and the "St. Elizabeth Ann Seton" parish in Omaha; and director of spiritual formation at the North American Pontifical College. He is currently parish priest of the "Christ the King" parish in Omaha and member of the presbyteral council and Priests' Personnel Board. In 2010 he was named Chaplain of His Holiness. He succeeds Bishop William J. Dendinger, whose resignation from the pastoral ministry of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

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"Twenty years ago, in this very place, St. John Paul II said that the world needs 'a new kind of young person' - one committed to the highest ideals and eager to build the civilisation of love. Be those young persons! Never lose your idealism! Be joyful witnesses to God's love and the beautiful plan he has for us, for this country and for the world in which we live. Please pray for me. God bless you all!".
Following the meeting, the Pope returned directly to the apostolic nunciature in Manila.

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The Pope meets the father of the volunteer who died in Tacloban
Vatican City, 18 January 2015 (VIS) - Immediately after his return to the apostolic nunciature yesterday around midday local time, the Pope had a long meeting with the father and cousin of Kristel Padasas, the volunteer who died yesterday in Tacloban following his visit, according to information provided by
the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. "It was an emotional encounter that lasted over twenty minutes, with Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle as interpreter. The father said that he was shocked but consoled by the knowledge that his daughter had been able to prepare for the people's encounter with the Pope. The Holy Father unsuccessfully attempted to contact the mother in Hong Kong by telephone; she will arrive in Manila tomorrow".

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Concluding Mass in Manila: the child Jesus, protector of the Philippines
Vatican City, 18 January 2015 (VIS) - After dining and resting for a couple of
hours, the Pope proceeded to the "Quirino Grandstand-Rizal Park" stadium, situated in a sixty-hectare urban park and built in preparation for the ceremony for the proclamation of independence on 4 July 1946. It commemorates the national hero Jose Rizal, a poet, writer and revolutionary executed by the Spanish in 1896. The precise location of his execution is indicated by a monument representing the point zero from which the distances of the roads in Luzon are measured.
"It is a special joy for me to celebrate Santo Nino Sunday with you", said the
Pope in his homily. "The image of the Holy Child Jesus accompanied the spread of the Gospel in this country from the beginning. Dressed in the robes of a king, crowned and holding the sceptre, the globe and the cross, he continues to
remind us of the link between God's Kingdom and the mystery of spiritual childhood. He tells us this in today's Gospel: 'Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it'. The Santo Nino continues to proclaim to us that the light of God's grace has shone upon a world dwelling in
darkness, bringing the Good News of our freedom from slavery, and guiding us in
the paths of peace, right and justice. The Santo Nino also reminds us of our call to spread the reign of Christ throughout the world.
"In these days, throughout my visit, I have listened to you sing the song: 'We
are all God's children'. That is what the Santo Nino tells us. He reminds us of
our deepest identity. All of us are God's children, members of God's family. Today St. Paul has told us that in Christ we have become God's adopted children, brothers and sisters in Christ. This is who we are. This is our identity. We saw a beautiful expression of this when Filipinos rallied around our brothers and sisters affected by the typhoon.
"The Apostle tells us that because God chose us, we have been richly blessed! God 'has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens'. These words have a special resonance in the Philippines, for it is the foremost
Catholic country in Asia; this is itself a special gift of God, a special blessing. But it is also a vocation. Filipinos are called to be outstanding missionaries of the faith in Asia.
"God chose and blessed us for a purpose: to be holy and blameless in His sight. He chose us, each of us to be witnesses of His truth and His justice in this world. He created the world as a beautiful garden and asked us to care for
it. But through sin, man has disfigured that natural beauty; through sin, man has also destroyed the unity and beauty of our human family, creating social structures which perpetuate poverty, ignorance and corruption.
"Sometimes, when we see the troubles, difficulties and wrongs all around us, we are tempted to give up. It seems that the promises of the Gospel do not apply; they are unreal. But the Bible tells us that the great threat to God's plan for us is, and always has been, the lie. The devil is the father of lies. Often he hides his snares behind the appearance of sophistication, the allure of being 'modern', 'like everyone else'. He distracts us with the view promise of ephemeral pleasures, superficial pastimes. And so we squander our God-given gifts by tinkering with gadgets; we squander our money on gambling and drink; we turn in on ourselves. We forget to remain focused on the things that really matter. We forget to remain, at heart, children of God. That is sin: to forget,
in one's heart, to be children of God. For children, as the Lord tells us, have
their own wisdom, which is not the wisdom of the world. That is why the message
of the Santo Nino is so important. He speaks powerfully to all of us. He reminds us of our deepest identity, of what we are called to be as God's family.
"The Santo Nino also reminds us that this identity must be protected. The Christ Child is the protector of this great country. When He came into the world, his very life was threatened by a corrupt king. Jesus Himself needed to be protected. He had an earthly protector: St. Joseph. He had an earthly family, the Holy Family of Nazareth. So He reminds us of the importance of protecting our families, and those larger families which are the Church, God's family, and the world, our human family. Sadly, in our day, the family all too often needs to be protected against insidious attacks and programmes contrary to all that we hold true and sacred, all that is most beautiful and noble in our culture.
"In the Gospel, Jesus welcomes children, He embraces them and blesses them. We
too need to protect, guide and encourage our young people, helping them to build a society worthy of their great spiritual and cultural heritage. Specifically, we need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and
protected. And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to life on the streets.
"It was a frail child, in need of protection, Who brought God's goodness, mercy and justice into the world. He resisted the dishonesty and corruption which are the legacy of sin, and He triumphed over them by the power of His cross. Now, at the end of my visit to the Philippines, I commend you to Him, to
Jesus Who came among us as a child. May He enable all the beloved people of this country to work together, protecting one another, beginning with your families and communities, in building a world of justice, integrity and peace. May the Santo Nino continue to bless the Philippines and to sustain the Christians of this great nation in their vocation to be witnesses and missionaries of the joy of the Gospel, in Asia and in the whole world".
He concluded by adding, "Please don't forget to pray for me! God bless you all".
Following the Mass, the final event of Pope Francis' stay in the Philippines, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle thanked him for his visit. After putting on the yellow raincoat he had also used yesterday, the Holy Father toured the area in the Popemobile in order to bid farewell to the many faithful who lined the streets. Finally, he retired to the apostolic nunciature where he dined privately and rested.

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"When it comes to the challenges of communication, families who have children with one or more disabilities have much to teach us. A motor, sensory or mental
limitation can be a reason for closing in on ourselves, but it can also become,
thanks to the love of parents, siblings, and friends, an incentive to openness,
sharing and ready communication with all. It can also help schools, parishes and associations to become more welcoming and inclusive of everyone.
"In a world where people often curse, use foul language, speak badly of others, sow discord and poison our human environment by gossip, the family can teach us to understand communication as a blessing. In situations apparently dominated by hatred and violence, where families are separated by stone walls or the no less impenetrable walls of prejudice and resentment, where there seem
to be good reasons for saying 'enough is enough', it is only by blessing rather
than cursing, by visiting rather than repelling, and by accepting rather than fighting, that we can break the spiral of evil, show that goodness is always possible, and educate our children to fellowship.
"Today the modern media, which are an essential part of life for young people in particular, can be both a help and a hindrance to communication in and between families. The media can be a hindrance if they become a way to avoid listening to others, to evade physical contact, to fill up every moment of silence and rest, so that we forget that 'silence is an integral element of communication; in its absence, words rich in content cannot exist'. The media can help communication when they enable people to share their stories, to stay in contact with distant friends, to thank others or to seek their forgiveness, and to open the door to new encounters. By growing daily in our awareness of the vital importance of encountering others, these 'new possibilities', we will
employ technology wisely, rather than letting ourselves be dominated by it. Here too, parents are the primary educators, but they cannot be left to their own devices. The Christian community is called to help them in teaching children how to live in a media environment in a way consonant with the dignity
of the human person and service of the common good.
"The great challenge facing us today is to learn once again how to talk to one
another, not simply how to generate and consume information. The latter is a tendency which our important and influential modern communications media can encourage. Information is important, but it is not enough. All too often things
get simplified, different positions and viewpoints are pitted against one another, and people are invited to take sides, rather than to see things as a whole.
"The family, in conclusion, is not a subject of debate or a terrain for ideological skirmishes. Rather, it is an environment in which we learn to communicate in an experience of closeness, a setting where communication takes place, a 'communicating community'. The family is a community which provides help, which celebrates life and is fruitful. Once we realise this, we will once
more be able to see how the family continues to be a rich human resource, as opposed to a problem or an institution in crisis. At times the media can tend to present the family as a kind of abstract model which has to be accepted or rejected, defended or attacked, rather than as a living reality. Or else a grounds for ideological clashes rather than as a setting where we can all learn
what it means to communicate in a love received and returned. Relating our experiences means realising that our lives are bound together as a single reality, that our voices are many, and that each is unique.
"Families should be seen as a resource rather than as a problem for society. Families at their best actively communicate by their witness the beauty and the
richness of the relationship between man and woman, and between parents and children. We are not fighting to defend the past. Rather, with patience and trust, we are working to build a better future for the world in which we live".

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The wisdom of parents must guide children in the digital world
Vatican City, 23 January 2015 (VIS) - A press conference was held in the Holy See Press Office this morning in which Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, and Professor Chiara Giaccardi of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, Italy, presented the Holy Father's Message for the 49th World Day of Communications, entitled "Communicating the family: a privileged place of encounter with the gift of love".
Archbishop Celli explained, "From this text there emerges a positive overall message, given that the Pope affirms that the family continues to be a great resource and not merely a problem or an institution in crisis. As we can see, the Pope is not interested principally in the problem between the family and communication linked to new technologies. He instead focuses on the most profoundly true and human dimension of communication".
The message affirms, he continued, that the family "has the capacity to communicate itself and to communicate, by virtue of the bond that links its various members", and he noted that "a paragraph is dedicated to prayer, defined as a fundamental form of communication that finds in the family its truest environment of discovery and experience".
"In this context", he added, forgiveness is understood "as a dynamic of communication, since when contrition is expressed and accepted, it becomes possible to restore and rebuild the communication which broke down". He also remarked that a long paragraph is devoted to the most modern media and their influence on communication in and among families, both as a help and a hindrance. He noted that the text clearly restates what has already been underlined in the teachings of St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. "But it is important to rediscover yet again that the parents are the first educators of their children, who are increasingly present in the digital sphere. The presence of parents does not have a primarily technological dimension - generally children know more than their parents in this field - but is important on account of the wisdom they contribute".
"It is well-known that one of the great risks is that children or teenagers may isolate themselves in a 'virtual world', significantly reducing their necessary integration in real everyday life and in the interrelationships of friendship. This is not to say that the relationships of affection or friendship that develop in the context of the web are not real. It must also be
remembered that the young - and the not so young - are called upon to give witness to Christ in the digital world too, in the social networks we all inhabit".

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Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Vatican City, 23 January 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father Francis received in a private audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, during which he authorised the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees:
MIRACLES
- attributed to the Venerable Servant of God Maria Teresa Casini, Italian foundress of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1864-1937);
MARTYRDOM
- Servants of God Fidela (nee Dolores Oller Angelats) and two companions, Spanish professed nuns of the Institute of Sisters of St. Joseph, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain between 26 and 29 August 1936;
- Servants of God Pio Heredia Zubia and seventeen companions, of the Trappists
of Cantabria and the Cistercian nuns of the Congregation of St. Bernard, killed
in hatred of the faith in Spain in 1936;
- Servant of God Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa (ne Bakali), South African
layperson, killed in hatred of the faith in South Africa on 2 February 1990.
HEROIC VIRTUES
- Servant of God Ladislao Bukowinski, Ukrainian diocesan priest (1904-1974);
- Servant of God Aloysius Schwartz, American diocesan priest, founder of the Sisters of Mary of Banneux and the Brothers of Christ (1930-1992);
- Servant of God Cointa Jauregui Oses, Spanish professed nun of the Company of
Mary Our Lady (1875-1954);
- Servant of God Teresa Gardi, Italian layperson of the Third Order of St. Francis (1769-1837);
- Servant of God Luis De Trelles y Nuogerol, Spanish layperson and founder of the Nocturnal Adoration Society in Spain (1819-1891);
- Servant of God Elisabeth Maria (nee Erizabe-to Maria) Satoko Kitahara, Japanese layperson (1929-1958);
- Servant of God Virginia Blanco Tardio, Bolivian layperson (1916-1990).

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Audiences
Vatican City, 23 January 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy;
- Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith;
- Msgr. Pio Vito Pinto, dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota;
- College of the Prelate Auditors of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota;
- Maja Marija Lovrencic Svetek, ambassador of Slovenia, on her farewell visit.
Yesterday, Thursday 22 January, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

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Francis also mentioned that today is World Leprosy Day, and expressed his closeness to "all those who suffer from this disease, as well as those who care
for them and those who fight to eradicate the causes of contagion, that is, living conditions that are not worthy of mankind. Let us renew our commitment to solidarity with these brothers and sisters".
Finally, he addressed the Filipino community of Rome. "The Filipino people are
wonderful for their strong and joyful faith. May the Lord also support those of
you who live far from your homeland. Many thanks for your witness, and thank you for all the good you do for us, as you sow faith among us and offer a beautiful witness of faith".

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The most effective antidote to violence is accepting difference as richness
Vatican City, 24 January 2015 (VIS) - "In recent years, despite various misunderstandings and difficulties, strides ahead have been made in interreligious dialogue, even with followers of Islam. Listening is essential for this. It is not only a necessary condition in a process of mutual comprehension and peaceful co-existence, but it is also a pedagogic duty in order to 'acknowledge the values of others, appreciate the concerns underlying their demands and shed light on shared beliefs'", said Pope Francis this morning, as he received in audience the participants in a meeting organised by the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and lslamic Studies (PISAI), commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation. The meeting was held at the Pontifical Urbanian University from 22 to 24 January on the theme: "Studying and Understanding the Religion of the Other. Towards Mutual Recognition between
Religions and Cultures in Today's World".
Francis emphasised the need for adequate education, "so that, secure in our own identity, we can grow in mutual knowledge. We must take care not to fall prey to a syncretism that is conciliatory but ultimately empty and a harbinger of a totalitarianism without values. A comfortable and accommodating approach, 'which says "yes" to everything in order to avoid problems', ends up being 'a way of deceiving others and denying them the good which we have been given to share generously with others'. This invites us, first of all, to return to the basics".
"At the beginning of dialogue there is encounter", he continued. "This generates the first knowledge of the other. If, indeed, we start from the presumption of our common human nature, it is possible to overcome prejudice and falsehood, and to begin to understand the other from a new perspective". Francis remarked that now there is a need, like never before, for an institution dedicated expressly to research and the formation of dialogue with Muslims, since "the most effective antidote to any form of violence is education in the discovery and acceptance of difference as richness and fruitfulness". This task, affirmed the Pope, is not easy, but "is born of and matures from a strong sense of responsibility".
He continued, "Islamic-Christian dialogue, in a special way, requires patience
and humility accompanied by detailed study, as approximation and improvisation can be counterproductive and or even the cause of unease and embarrassment. There is a need for lasting and continuous commitment in order to ensure we do not find ourselves unprepared in various situations and in different contexts. For this reason it demands a specific preparation, that is not limited to sociological analysis but rather has the characteristics of a journey shared by
people belonging to religions that, although in different ways, refer to the spiritual fatherhood of Abraham. Culture and education are not secondary to a true process of moving towards each other that respects in every person "his life, his physical integrity, his dignity and the rights deriving from that dignity, his reputation, his property, his ethnic and cultural identity, his ideas and his political choices".
The Pope expressed his wish that this "valuable" Institute, may increasingly become "a point of reference for the formation of Christians who work in the field of interreligious dialogue" and that it may establish a fruitful collaboration with other Pontifical universities and research centres, both Christian and Muslim, throughout the world. He concluded by encouraging the community of the PISAI "never to betray the primary task of listening and dialogue, based on clear identities and the keen, patient and rigorous search for truth and beauty, which are placed in the hearts of every man and woman and
truly visible in every authentic religious expression".

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Francis: "Unity is achieved by walking together"
Vatican City, 24 January 2015 (VIS) - At midday in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Holy Father met with the participants in the ecumenical colloquium of men and women religious organised by the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, on the occasion of the Year for Consecrated Life. He highlighted that it is particularly meaningful that the meeting took place during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: "Each year this [week] reminds us that spiritual ecumenism
is the soul of the ecumenical movement". He went on to share with those present
some thoughts regarding the importance of consecrated life to Christian unity.
"The wish to re-establish unity among all Christians is present naturally in all Churches, and regards both clergy and laypeople", he began. "But religious life, which is rooted in Christ's will and the common tradition of the undivided Church, has without doubt a particular vocation in the promotion of this unity. ... The search for union with God and unity within the fraternal community is proper to religious life, which thus realises in an exemplary fashion the prayer to the Lord that 'that they all may be one'". Religious life, he continued, "shows us precisely that this unity is not the fruit of our
efforts, but is a gift of the Holy Spirit, Who realises unity in diversity. It also shows us that this unity can be achieved only by journeying together, if we take the path of fraternity in love, in service, and in mutual acceptance".
The Pontiff emphasised that there is no unity without conversion, prayer, or holiness of life. He remarked that religious life reminds us that "at the heart
of every search for unity, and therefore every ecumenical effort, there is above all the conversion of the heart, that leads to asking for and the granting of forgiveness", and that the commitment to ecumenism responds, first and foremost, to the prayer of the Lord Jesus and it is based essentially on prayer". He added that "religious life helps us to become aware of the call addressed to baptised persons: the call to holiness of life, that is the one true path towards unity". He concluded by expressing his gratitude for the witness to the Gospel given by men and women religious, and for their service in the cause of Christian unity.

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Ten years after "Dignitas connubii": in search of swift solutions
Vatican City, 24 January 2015 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis received in audience the participants in the international congress commemorating the tenth
anniversary of the publication of the Instruction "Dignitas connubii". The symposium was organised by the faculty of canon law of the Pontifical Gregorian
University, Rome, and with the patronage of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and the "Consociatio internationalis studio iuris canonici promovendo".
The Pope declared that the extensive participation in this meeting indicates the importance of the Instruction "Dignitas connubii", "which is not directed principally to jurists but rather to those who work in local tribunals, and noted that "experience teaches us that he who knows the path to follow travels more rapidly. The knowledge of and familiarity with this Instruction may in the
future also help ministers of the courts to streamline proceedings, often perceived by married couples as long and tiresome. The resources that this Instruction makes available for rapid proceedings, free of any formalism, have not yet been fully explored; similarly, the possibility of future legislation intended for the same purpose cannot be excluded".
Finally, he commented on the importance of the contribution of the defender of
the bond in cases of marriage annulment, specifying that "his presence and the faithful fulfilment of his task does not condition the judge, but rather allows
and promotes the impartiality of his judgement by setting before him the arguments for and against annulment".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 26 January 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Luis Sistach, archbishop of Barcelona, Spain;
- Bishop Gastone Simoni, emeritus of Prato, Italy;
- Bishop Francesco Micciche, emeritus of Trapani, Italy;
- Rev. Fr. Alejandro Moral Anton, prior general of the Order of St. Augustine (Augustinians).
On Saturday 24 January, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
- Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa, Italy, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference;
- Maria De Los Angeles Marechal, co-president of the Fundacion Leopoldo Marechal, Argentina.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 26 January 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Msgr. Stefan Hesse as archbishop of Hamburg (area 32,493, population 5,797,975, Catholics 397,331, priests 248, permanent deacons 60, religious 221), Germany. The bishop-elect was born in Cologne, Germany in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1993. He studied theology in Bonn and Regensburg, and holds a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the High School of the Pallottine Fathers in Vallendar. He has served as parish priest in a number of parishes in the archdiocese of Cologne, and is currently canon of the Metropolitan Chapter of Cologne and vicar general. He served as diocesan administrator from March to September 2014.
- restored the title of metropolitan archdiocese to Cashel and Emly, Ireland. Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, currently metropolitan archbishop of Cashel and apostolic administrator of Emly, was appointed as metropolitan archbishop of the new ecclesiastical circumscription.
On Saturday, 24 January the Holy Father appointed Fr. Ivica Petanjak, O.F.M. Cap., as bishop of Krk (area 1,119, population 40,447, Catholics 35,499, priests 79, religious 110), Croatia. The bishop-elect was born in Drenje, Croatia in 1963, gave his perpetual vows in 1988 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He holds a bachelor's degree in theology from the faculty of theology in Zagreb, Croatia, and a doctorate in church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including deputy master of seminarians, parish vicar and hospital chaplain in Split, master of clerics, provincial minister, parish priest of the "Our Lady of Lourdes" parish in Rijeka and master of postulants. He is currently guardian
of the Capuchin monastery of Osijek and provincial definitor. He succeeds Bishop Valter Zupan, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

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It is my prayerful hope that this Lent will prove spiritually fruitful for each believer and every ecclesial community. I ask all of you to pray for me. May the Lord bless you and Our Lady keep you".

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Indifference, key theme of the Pope's Message for Lent 2015
Vatican City, 27 January 2015 (VIS) - A press conference was held in the Holy See Press Office his morning, during which Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, secretary
of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", presented the Pope's Message for Lent 2015, explaining that its central theme is indifference, an issue that the Holy
Father has touched upon on a number of occasions. In addition, in his speech to
the UN last September Cardinal Secretary of State Parolin emphasised "widespread indifference", which he equated with an "apathy" that is at times even "synonymous with irresponsibility".
Indifference is, therefore, "an important concept to explain the different phenomena of the modern world. In this way, we can understand this same concept, including it in what is surely a partial interpretation of a certain culture. Indifference comes from a lack of difference, from a lack of attention
to the difference. This can be applied at least on three levels".
"At the interpersonal level, the play on words between difference and indifference is perhaps more easily understood. On the one hand, the difference
is stressed in order to provoke a separation. On the other hand, a lack of attention to the difference between the other and myself conforms the other to one's own parameters and thus annihilates him".
"At the cultural level, that is, in the everyday environment that helps shape our thoughts and judgement, I seem to notice an indifference to values. This is
not only related to a lack of awareness of values or an incomplete observance of values; it is above all a lack of judgement on values. In this way, every choice becomes interchangeable, every option becomes viable, any assessment on good and evil, truth and falsity becomes useless. If there is no difference, everything is the same and is therefore not permissible for anyone to propose something that is more or less appropriate to a person's nature. In my opinion,
global uniformity, the lowering of the standards of values that comes from the lack of difference is linked to the experience of many of our contemporaries of
a lack of meaning. If everything is the same, if nothing is different and everything is therefore more or less valid, in what can one invest one's life? If everything is the same, it means that nothing really has value and therefore
it means nothing fully deserves our gift".
"We then come to a third level, that more specifically regards metaphysical principles. Here lies the greatest indifference, the largest and most consequential form of the lack of attention to difference, that is: indifference towards God and as a result, a lack of attention to the difference
between the Creator and creature, which causes so much harm to modern man as it
leads him to believe that he is God, while he must continually push against his
own limitations".
Msgr. Dal Toso went on to consider the globalisation of indifference not merely as a geographical phenomenon, but also a cultural one. As it spreads, a Western concept of the world, or Weltanschauung, prevails, linked not only to relationships but also as an existential attitude. The Church does not denounce
certain situations simply in order to censure them but instead to offer paths towards healing. For this reason, the Lenten season is always a time of conversion, change and renewal. It is a time for overcoming this globalisation of indifference and entering into a new phase in which we recognise the difference between the self and the other, between one lifestyle and another, between oneself and God. This year's Lenten Message presents three areas in which indifference must be overcome: the Church, the community and the individual".
He continued, "Pope Francis speaks about the necessary conversion and the new heart that can beat within us. The key step in all social reconstruction and cultural renewal is change in the individual. The Gospel provides the keys for achieving this change in the person, which then affects the whole social fabric". However, he warns, "conversion does not have its purpose in a better society, but in the knowledge of Christ and in becoming like Him. Therefore, as
we can see in Pope Francis' Magisterium, he calls us to go beyond a faith that serves only to care for oneself and one's own well being. Indifference stems from an attitude to life in which otherness does not make a difference and so each person withdraws into himself. Faith also can become instrumental in this search for self". Our path, he explained, is must therefore take us further, "beyond ourselves", so that we "live our faith by looking at Christ and in Him we find the Father and brothers and sisters who await us".
Indifference must also be overcome in Christian communities, which are required to be "islands of mercy in a world dominated by the globalisation of indifference. There is a distinction between the Church and the world, between the heavenly city and the earthly city, a distinction which become increasingly
evident. Our Christian places - parishes, communities and groups - must be transformed into places that manifest God's mercy. Faced with this globalisation of indifference, some might be discouraged as it seems as if nothing can be changed, since we are part of a great social and economic process that is is beyond us. Instead, this is not the case. The Christian community can already overcome this indifference, it can show the world that one can live differently and that it can become the city on the mount mentioned
in the Gospel. Beginning with this Lent season, Christian community life, where
one lives for the other, can be not merely a chimera but instead a living reality; rather than a distant dream, a living sign of the presence of God's mercy in Christ".
Finally, the third level is the Church in her global reality. "Unfortunately",
remarked Msgr. Del Toso, "we tend to see the Church only as an institution and a structure. Instead, she is the living body of those who believe in Christ. It
is the Church in her entirety that needs to be renewed. As a body, she shows that she is really alive because she changes, grows and develops. In this body,
the members take care of each other".
Finally, the prelate recalled that "Cor Unum" has always acted as an "instrument of the Pope's proximity to the least of our brothers and sisters", offering three examples. First, he mentioned the recent joint meeting with the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the various other entities involved
in the reconstruction of Haiti, during which the balance of the financial aid raised by the Catholic Church's for the island during the five years since the earthquake, estimated at 21.5 million dollars, was presented. He also referred to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Iraq, "where the great victims of these wars are the people, especially the most vulnerable minorities such as Christians who again have become the 'cards' with
which those in power play". Finally, he remarked on the Pope's recent trip to the Philippines, where it could be seen what it means to "'make hearts firm' where there is nothing left to hope for". In Tacloban, the area visited by the Pope, "Cor Unum" has built large community centre named after Pope Francis, to care for the young and the elderly. He concluded, "Our Dicastery wishes to be a
great global expression of what it means for the Church to be a body in which each member can experience the love of the other".

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Holy Father's calendar for February to April 2015
Vatican City, 27 January 2015 (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 from February to April:
FEBRUARY
Monday 2: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 19th World Day of Consecrated
Life. At 5.30 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Mass with the members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life.
Sunday 8: Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time. At 4 p.m., pastoral visit to the Roman parish of "St. Michael the Archangel in Pietralata".
Saturday 14: At 11 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of new cardinals and for several causes of canonisation.
Sunday 15: Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time. At 10 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Mass with newly-created cardinals.
Wednesday 18: Ash Wednesday. At 4.30 p.m., Basilica of St. Anselm, "Statio" and penitential procession. At 5 p.m. at the Basilica of St. Sabina, blessing and imposition of the ashes.
Sunday 22, First Sunday of Lent. Ariccia, beginning of spiritual exercises for
the Roman Curia.
Friday 27: Conclusion of spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia.
MARCH
Sunday 8: Third Sunday of Lent. At 4 p.m., pastoral visit to the Roman parish of "Holy Mary Mother of the Redeemer".
Friday 13: At 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, penitential liturgy.
Saturday 21: pastoral visit to Naples-Pompeii.
Sunday 29: Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Lord. At 9.30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, blessing of the palms, procession and Mass.
APRIL
Thursday 2: Holy Thursday. At 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Chrism Mass.
Friday 3: Good Friday. At 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, celebration of the Passion of the Lord.
Friday 3: Good Friday. At 9.15 p.m., at the Colosseum, Via Crucis.
Saturday 4: Holy Saturday. At 8.30 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Easter Vigil.
Sunday 5: Easter Sunday. At 12 p.m., central balcony of the Vatican Basilica, "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.
Sunday 12: Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday. At 10 a.m. at the Vatican Basilica, Mass for the faithful of Armenian rite.

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With regard to the second theme, the Pope underlined that in Genesis man is called not only to cultivate the land, but also to take care of it. These two aspects "are closely linked: every agriculturalist is well aware of how difficult it has become to cultivate the land in a time of accelerated climate change and increasingly widespread extreme meteorological events. How can we continue to produce good food for the lives of all when climate stability is at
risk, when the air, water and the earth itself lose their purity as a result of
pollution? We are truly realising the importance of timely action to safeguard Creation; it is urgent that nations succeed in collaborating for this fundamental purpose. The challenge is to achieve a form of agriculture with a low environmental impact. How can we ensure we safeguard the earth as well as cultivating it? Indeed, only in this way will future generations be able to continue to inhabit and cultivate our earth".
The Holy Father concluded with an invitation to "rediscover love for the earth
as the 'mother', as St. Francis would say, from which we come and to which we are constantly called upon to return. And this leads to a proposal: to protect the earth, to make an alliance with her, so that she many continue to be, as God intends, the source of life for the entire human family".

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Members and substitutes from the Episcopal Conferences for the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
Vatican City, 31 January 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has ratified the appointment of the following prelates as members and substitutes, elected by their respective Episcopal Conferences, for the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place in the Vatican from 4 to 25 October 2015 on the theme "The vocation and mission of the family in the Church
and in the contemporary world":
AFRICA
BURUNDI
Member: Bishop Gervais Bashimiyubusa, of Ngozi, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Substitute: Bishop Joachim Ntahondereye of Muyinga.
ETHIOPIA and ERITREA
Member: Bishop Tsegaye Keneni Derera, apostolic vicar of Soddo, Ethiopia.
Substitute: Bishop Markos Gebremedhin, C.M., apostolic vicar of Jimma-Bonga, Ethiopia.
GHANA
Member: Archbishop Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, of Accra.
Substitute: Bishop Anthony Kwami Adanuty of Keta-katsi.
KENYA
Members: Cardinal John Njue, archbishop of Nairobi, president of the Episcopal
Conference.
Bishop James Maria Wainaina Kungu of Muranga.
Substitute: Bishop Emanuel Barbara, O.F.M. Cap. of Malindi.
MADAGASCAR
Member: Bishop Desire Tsarahazana of Toamasina, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Substitute: Bishop Jean de Dieu Raoelison, auxiliary of Antananarivo.
RWANDA
Member: Bishop Antoine Kambanda of Kibungo.
Substitute: Bishop Smaragde Mbonyintege of Kabgayi, president of the Episcopal
Conference.
AMERICA
ARGENTINA
Members: Bishop Pedro Marøa Laxague, auxiliary of Bahia Blanca.
Archbishop Jose Maria Arancedo of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli, archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Substitutes: Archbishop Andres Stanovnik, O.F.M. Cap. of Corrientes.
Archbishop Hector Ruben Aguer of La Plata.
CHILE
Members: Bishop Bernardo Miguel Bastres Florence, S.D.B. of Punta Arenas.
Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B., archbishop of Santiago de Chile, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Substitute: Bishop Cristian Contreras Villarroel of Melipilla, general secretary of the Episcopal Conference.
CUBA
Member: Archbishop Juan de la Caridad Garcia Rodriguez of Camaguey.
Substitute: Bishop Marcelo Arturo Gonzalez Amador of Santa Clara.
ECUADOR
Members: Archbishop Antonio Arregui Yarza of Guayaquil.
Archbishop Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, O.F.M. of Cuenca.
Substitutes: Bishop Julio Parrilla Diaz of Riobamba.
Bishop Marcos Aurelio Perez Caicedo of Babahoyo, vice president of the Episcopal Conference.
HONDURAS
Member: Bishop Luis Sole Fa, C.M. of Trujillo.
Substitute: Bishop Angel Garachana Perez, C.M.F. of San Pedro Sula.
MEXICO
Members: Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar Martinez of Tehuacan.
Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop of Mexico.
Bishop Francisco Javier Chavolla Ramos of Toluca.
Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega, archbishop of Guadalajara, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Substitutes: Bishop Alfonso Gerardo Miranda Guardiola, auxiliary of Monterrey.
Bishop Jose Francisco Gonzalez Gonzalez of Campeche.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Members: Archbishop Joseph Edward Kurtz of Louisville, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Archbishop Charles Joseph Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. of Philadelphia.
Cardinal Daniel N. Di Nardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, vice president of the Episcopal Conference.
Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez of Los Angeles.
Substitutes: Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Spokane.
Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone of San Francisco.
URUGUAY
Member: Bishop Jaime Rafael Fuentes Martin of Minas.
Substitute:Bishop Rodolfo Pedro Wirz Kraemer of Maldonado-Punta del Este, president of the Episcopal Conference.
ASIA
PAKISTAN
Member: Bishop Joseph Arshad of Faisalabad.
Substitute: Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw of Lahore.
VIETNAM
Members: Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc of Thanh-Pho Ho Chi Minh, Hochiminh Ville, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao, auxiliary of Xuan Loc.
Substitute: Bishop Pierre Nguyen Van Kham of My Tho.
EUROPA
ALBANIA
Member: Bishop George Frendo, O.P. Auxiliary of Tirane-Durres.
Substitute: Bishop Ottavio Vitale, R.C.I. of Lezhe, Lesh.
AUSTRIA
Member: Bishop Benno Elbs of Feldkirch.
Substitute: Bishop Kalus Kung of Sankt Polten.
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
Member: Bishop Tomo Vuksic, military ordinary of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Substitute: Bishop Marko Semren, O.F.M. auxiliary of Banja Luka.
FRANCE
Members: Archbishop Georges Pontier of Marseille, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, archbishop Paris.
Bishop Jean-Luc Brunin of Le Havre.
Bishop Jean-Paul James of Nantes.
Substitutes: Bishop Olivier de Germay of Ajaccio.
Bishop Bruno Feillet, auxiliary of Reims.
GREAT BRITAIN (ENGLAND AND WALES)
Members: Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols, archbishop of Westminster, president
of the Episcopal Conference.
Bishop Peter John Haworth Doyle of Northampton.
Substitute: Bishop Philip Anthony Egan of Portsmouth.
GREECE
Member: Bishop Fragkiskos Papamanolis, O.F.M. Cap. emeritus of Syros, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Substitute: Archbishop Nikolaos Foskolos, emeritus of Athenai.
IRELAND
Members: Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin.
Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Substitute: Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, S.M.A. of Cashel.
LITHUANIA
Members: Cardinal Audrys Jouzas Backis, archbishop emeritus of Vilnius.
Substitute: Bishop Rimantas Norvila of Vilkaviskis.
NETHERLANDS
Member: Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht.
Substitute: Bishop Johannes Wilhelmus Maria Liesen of Breda.
SPAIN
Members: Cardinal Ricardo Blazquez Perez, archbishop of Valladolid, president of the Episcopal Conference.
Bishop Mario Iceta Gavicagogeascoa of Bilbao.
Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra of Madrid.
Substitute: Bishop Juan Antonio Reig Pla of Alcala de Henares.
OCEANIA
AUSTRALIA
Members: Bishop Daniel Eugene Hurley of Darwin.
Archbishop Mark Benedict Coleridge of Brisbane.
Substitute: Archbishop Philip Edward Wilson of Adelaide.
NEW ZEALAND
Member: Bishop Charles Edward Drennan of Palmerston North.
Substitute: Cardinal John Atcherley Dew, archbishop of Wellington, president of the Episcopal Conference.

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Assembly on "Women's cultures"
Vatican City, 2 February 2015 (VIS) - A press conference was held in the Holy See Press Office this morning to present the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical
Council for Culture on the theme "Women's Cultures: between equality and difference", which will be held in Rome from 4 to 7 February. The speakers were
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture; Anna Maria Tarantola, president of RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana); Monica Maggioni, director of RAI News, and Nancy Brilli, actor.
The Assembly will be divided into four sessions in which the following themes will be considered: "Between equality and difference: the quest for equilibrium", "Generativity as a symbolic code", "The female body: between culture and biology" and "Women and religion: flight or new forms of participation in the life of the Church?". The Congress will be attended only by members and consultors of the Pontifical Council by pontifical appointment, with the exception of the session on Wednesday 4 February, when there will be a
moment of public participation at the Teatro Argentina in Rome. For a period of
50 minutes there will be a series of videos, brief interviews, readings and images, and live music. Entry will be free, subject to capacity.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 2 February 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general of His Holiness for the diocese of Rome;
- Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, archbishop of Vienna, Austria;
- Eleven prelates of the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:
-Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius of Kaunas, with his auxiliary, Bishop Kestutis
Kevalas;
- Bishop Eugenijus Bartulis of Siauliai;
- Bishop Jonas Boruta of Telsia, with his auxiliary, Bishop Linas Vodopjanovas;
- Bishop Rimantas Norvila of Vilkaviskis;
- Archbishop Gintaras Grusas of Vilnius, with his auxiliary, Bishop Arunas Poniskaitis and the archbishop emeritus, Cardinal Audrys Juozas Backis;
- Bishop Jonas Ivanauskas of Kaisiadoris; and
- Bishop Lionginas Virbalas of Panevezys.
On Saturday, 31 January the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
- Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht, Netherlands;
- Archbishop Yaser Rasmi Hanna Al-Ayyash of Petra and Philadelphia of the Greek-Melkites, Jordan;
- Don Notker Wolf, abbot primate of the Benedictine Confederation of Congregations;
- Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 2 February 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
- Msgr. Francisco Eduardo Cervantes Merino as bishop of Orizaba (area 2,012, population 663,000, Catholics 589,000, priests 89, religious 136), Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in Ocatan Merino Palafox, Mexico in 1953, and was ordained a priest in 1979. He holds a licentiate in pastoral theology from the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, and a licentiate in educational psychology
from the Normal Superior School of Mexico. He has held a number of pastoral roles in the diocese of Tuxpan, including parish vicar, parish priest of the "Corpus Christi" parish, professor at the diocesan seminary, diocesan coordinator of youth pastoral ministry, and member of the presbyteral council. He is currently parish priest of the Cathedral and vicar for pastoral ministry.
- Msgr. Liberatus Sangu as bishop of Shinyanga (area 50,000, population 2,440,000, Catholics 745,000, priests 55, religious 58), Tanzania. The bishop-elect was born in Mwazye, Tanzania in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1994. He studied sacramental theology at the St. Anselm Pontifical Athenaeum in
Rome, and has held a number of pastoral and administrative roles, including formator in the minor seminary of Kaengesa, Sumbawanga; parish priest in Matai;
director for vocations; formator at the preparatory seminary and head of youth pastoral ministry, and parish priest "ad tempus" in Sopa. He currently serves as an official of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
- Fr. Alphonsus Cullinan as bishop of Waterford and Lismore (area 2,542, population 157,358, Catholics 146,215, priests 134, religious 353), Ireland. The bishop-elect was born in County Clare in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1994. He taught in schools in Castleconnell, Limerick and Valladolid, Spain for
ten years before preparing for the priesthood in the national seminary at Maynooth. He studied moral theology at the Alphonsianum Academy, Rome, where he
obtained a doctorate in Christian anthropology and utilitarianism. He has served as parish vicar at St. Munchin, chaplain of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, and chaplain at the Limerick Institute of Technology. He is currently parish priest in the parish of Rathkeale, Limerick.
On Saturday, 31 January the Holy Father appointed:
- Bishop Adelio Dell'Oro as bishop of Karaganda (area 711,208, population 3,590,000, Catholics 31,300, priests 18, religious 41), Kazakhstan, conserving "donec aliter provideatur" the role of apostolic administrator of Atyrau, Kazakhstan.
- Fr. Pietro Bovati, S.J., secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, as
consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source: V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

--- MPost/386 v1.21
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Reinstatement: Jesus revolutionises and upsets that fearful, narrow and prejudiced mentality. He does not abolish the law of Moses, but rather brings it to fulfilment. He does so by stating, for example, that the law of retaliation is counterproductive, that God is not pleased by a Sabbath observance which demeans or condemns a man. He does so by refusing to condemn the sinful woman, but saves her from the blind zeal of those prepared to stone her ruthlessly in the belief that they were applying the law of Moses. Jesus also revolutionises consciences in the Sermon on the Mount, opening new horizons for humanity and fully revealing God's 'logic'. The logic of love, based not on fear but on freedom and charity, on healthy zeal and the saving will of God. For 'God our Saviour desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth'. 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice'.
"Jesus, the new Moses, wanted to heal the leper. He wanted to touch him and restore him to the community without being 'hemmed in' by prejudice, conformity
to the prevailing mindset or worry about becoming infected. Jesus responds immediately to the leper's plea, without waiting to study the situation and all
its possible consequences! For Jesus, what matters above all is reaching out to
save those far off, healing the wounds of the sick, restoring everyone to God's
family! And this is scandalous to some people!
"Jesus is not afraid of this kind of scandal! He does not think of the closed-minded who are scandalised even by a work of healing, scandalised before
any kind of openness, by any action outside of their mental and spiritual limits, by any caress or sign of tenderness which does not fit into their usual
thinking and their ritual purity. He wanted to reinstate the outcast, to save those outside the camp.
"There are two ways of thinking and of having faith: we can fear to lose the saved and we can want to save the lost. Even today it can happen that we stand at the crossroads of these two ways of thinking. The thinking of the doctors of
the law, which would remove the danger by casting out the diseased person, and the thinking of God, who in his mercy embraces and accepts by reinstating him and turning evil into good, condemnation into salvation and exclusion into proclamation.
"These two ways of thinking are present throughout the Church's history: casting off and reinstating. Saint Paul, following the Lord's command to bring the Gospel message to the ends of the earth, caused scandal and met powerful resistance and great hostility, especially from those who demanded unconditional obedience to the Mosaic law, even on the part of converted pagans. Saint Peter, too, was harshly criticised by the community when he entered the house of the pagan centurion Cornelius.
"The Church's way, from the time of the Council of Jerusalem, has always always been the way of Jesus, the way of mercy and reinstatement. This does not
mean underestimating the dangers of letting wolves into the fold, but welcoming
the repentant prodigal son; healing the wounds of sin with courage and determination; rolling up our sleeves and not standing by and watching passively the suffering of the world. The way of the Church is not to condemn anyone for eternity; to pour out the balm of God's mercy on all those who ask for it with a sincere heart. The way of the Church is precisely to leave her four walls behind and to go out in search of those who are distant, those essentially on the 'outskirts' of life. It is to adopt fully God's own approach, to follow the Master who said: 'Those who are well have no need of the physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call, not the righteous but sinners'.
"In healing the leper, Jesus does not harm the healthy. Rather, he frees them from fear. He does not endanger them, but gives them a brother. He does not devalue the law but instead values those for whom God gave the law. Indeed, Jesus frees the healthy from the temptation of the 'older brother', the burden of envy and the grumbling of the labourers who bore 'the burden of the day and the heat'.
In a word: charity cannot be neutral, antiseptic, indifferent, lukewarm or impartial! Charity is infectious, it excites, it risks and it engages! For true
charity is always unmerited, unconditional and gratuitous!. Charity is creative
in finding the right words to speak to all those considered incurable and hence
untouchable. Finding the right words. Contact is the language of genuine communication, the same endearing language which brought healing to the leper. How many healings can we perform if only we learn this language of contact! The
leper, once cured, became a messenger of God's love. The Gospel tells us that 'he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the word'.
Dear new Cardinals, this is the 'logic', the mind of Jesus, and this is the way of the Church. 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. 'Whoever says: "I abide in [Christ]", ought to walk just as he walked'. Total openness to serving others is our hallmark, it alone is our title of honour!
"Consider carefully that, in these days when you have become Cardinals, we have asked Mary, Mother of the Church, who herself experienced marginalisation as a result of slander and exile, to intercede for us so that we can be God's faithful servants. May she - our Mother - teach us to be unafraid of tenderly welcoming the outcast; not to be afraid of tenderness. How often we fear tenderness! May Mary teach us not to be afraid of tenderness and compassion. May she clothe us in patience as we seek to accompany them on their journey, without seeking the benefits of worldly success. May she show us Jesus and help
us to walk in his footsteps.
"Dear new Cardinals, my brothers, as we look to Jesus and our Mother, I urge you to serve the Church in such a way that Christians - edified by our witness - will not be tempted to turn to Jesus without turning to the outcast, to become a closed caste with nothing authentically ecclesial about it. I urge you
to serve Jesus crucified in every person who is marginalised, for whatever reason; to see the Lord in every excluded person who is hungry, thirsty, naked;
to see the Lord present even in those who have lost their faith, or turned away
from the practice of their faith, or say that they are atheists; to see the Lord who is imprisoned, sick, unemployed, persecuted; to see the Lord in the leper - whether in body or soul - who encounters discrimination! We will not find the Lord unless we truly accept the marginalised! May we always have before us the image of St. Francis, who was unafraid to embrace the leper and to accept every kind of outcast. Truly, dear brothers, the Gospel of the marginalised is where our credibility is at stake, is discovered and is revealed!".

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Angelus: good is contagious
Vatican City, 15 February 2015 (VIS) - At midday, following the Mass celebrated with the cardinals in the Vatican Basilica, the Pope appeared at the
window of his study in the Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Francis returned to the theme of his homily, Christ's compassion and mercy when faced with any type of ailment of the body or spirit, based on the Gospel narrative of the healing of the leper.
"God's mercy overcomes every barrier, and Jesus' hand touches the leper. He does not keep a safe distance and does not act by proxy, but rather He directly
exposes Himself to contagion by our malady; and it is precisely our malady that
becomes the locus of contact: He, Jesus, takes our ailing humanity from us and we take His healthy, restorative humanity from Him. This happens every time that we receive a Sacrament with faith: the Lord Jesus 'touches' us and gives us His grace. In his case, we think especially of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which cures us from the leprosy of sin".
"Once again the Gospel shows us what God does when faced with our sickness: God does not come to 'give a lecture' on pain; neither does He come to eliminate suffering and death from the world; rather, He comes to take upon Himself the burden of our human condition, to bear it unto the end, to free us in a radical and definitive way. Thus Christ vanquishes the ills and sufferings
of the world: by taking them upon Himself and defeating them with the strength of God's mercy".
Today, the Gospel passage of the healing of the leper tells us that if we wish
to be "true disciples of Christ, we are required to become, joined with Him, instruments of His merciful love, setting aside every type of marginalisation. To be 'imitators of Christ' before the poor or sick, we must not be afraid to look them in the eye and to draw closer with tenderness and compassion, to touch and embrace them", explained the Pope, adding that he often asks those who help others to do so "looking them in the eye, without being afraid to touch them, so that the gesture of aid may also be a gesture of communication".
"We too need to be accepted by them", he continued, "A gesture of tenderness, a gesture of compassion. ... If evil is contagious, so is good. Therefore, good
must increasingly abound in us. Let us be 'infected' by good, and spread good to others!".
Following the Angelus prayer, the Holy Father expressed his desire for hope and peace to all the men and women of the Far East and in the other parts of the world that celebrate the new lunar year. "This celebrations offer them the happy occasion to rediscover and live intensely fraternity, the precious bond of family life and the foundation of social life. May this annual return to the
roots of the person and the family help these peoples to build a society in which relationships based on respect, justice and charity may be woven".
Finally, he greeted all those who have come to Rome for the consistory and to accompany the new cardinals, and thanked the countries that had sent official delegations. Pope Francis concluded by asking the faithful and pilgrims in the Square to applaud the new cardinals.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 16 February 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith;
- Pynchas Brener, chief rabbi emeritus of the "Israelite Union of Caracas", and entourage.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 16 February 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Ystinus Harjosusanto, M.S.F., of Tanjung Selor, Indonesia, as archbishop of Samarinda (area 114,810, population 2,774,246, Catholics 105,959, priests 44, religious 109), Indonesia.

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For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
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Once I asked you the question: "Where is your treasure? In what does your heart find its rest?". Our hearts can be attached to true or false treasures, they can find genuine rest or they can simply slumber, becoming lazy and lethargic. The greatest good we can have in life is our relationship with God. Are you convinced of this? Do you realise how much you are worth in the eyes of
God? Do you know that you are loved and welcomed by him unconditionally, as indeed you are? Once we lose our sense of this, we human beings become an incomprehensible enigma, for it is the knowledge that we are loved unconditionally by God which gives meaning to our lives. Do you remember the conversation that Jesus had with the rich young man? The evangelist Mark observes that the Lord looked upon him and loved him, and invited him to follow
him and thus to find true riches. I hope, dear young friends, that this loving gaze of Christ will accompany each of you throughout life.
Youth is a time of life when your desire for a love which is genuine, beautiful and expansive begins to blossom in your hearts. How powerful is this ability to love and to be loved! Do not let this precious treasure be debased, destroyed or spoiled. That is what happens when we start to use our neighbours for our own selfish ends, even as objects of pleasure. Hearts are broken and sadness follows upon these negative experiences. I urge you: Do not be afraid of true love, the love that Jesus teaches us and which St. Paul describes as "patient and kind". Paul says: "Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things".
In encouraging you to rediscover the beauty of the human vocation to love, I also urge you to rebel against the widespread tendency to reduce love to something banal, reducing it to its sexual aspect alone, deprived of its essential characteristics of beauty, communion, fidelity and responsibility. Dear young friends, "in a culture of relativism and the ephemeral, many preach the importance of æenjoying' the moment. They say that it is not worth making a
life-long commitment, making a definitive decision, æfor ever', because we do not know what tomorrow will bring. I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, I
ask you to swim against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes you are incapable of responsibility, that believes you are incapable of true love. I have confidence in you and I pray for you. Have the courage to æswim against the tide'. And also have the courage to be happy".
You young people are brave adventurers! If you allow yourselves to discover the rich teachings of the Church on love, you will discover that Christianity does not consist of a series of prohibitions which stifle our desire for happiness, but rather a project for life capable of captivating our hearts.
3. ... for they shall see God
In the heart of each man and woman, the Lord's invitation constantly resounds:
"Seek my face!". At the same time, we must always realise that we are poor sinners. For example, we read in the Book of Psalms: "Who can climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart". But we must never be afraid or discouraged: throughout
the Bible and in the history of each one of us we see that it is always God who
takes the first step. He purifies us so that we can come into his presence.
When the prophet Isaiah heard the Lord's call to speak in his name, he was terrified and said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips".
And yet the Lord purified him, sending to him an angel who touched his lips, saying: "Your guilt is taken away, and your sin is forgiven". In the New Testament, when on the shores of lake Genessaret Jesus called his first disciples and performed the sign of the miraculous catch of fish, Simon Peter fell at his feet, exclaiming: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord". Jesus' reply was immediate: "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be fishers of men". And when one of the disciples of Jesus asked him: "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied", the Master replied: "He who has seen me has
seen the Father.
The Lord's invitation to encounter him is made to each of you, in whatever place or situation you find yourself. It suffices to have the desire for "a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter you; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day". We are all sinners, needing to be purified by the Lord. But it is enough to take a small step towards Jesus to realise that he awaits us always with open arms, particularly in the sacrament of Reconciliation, a privileged opportunity
to encounter that divine mercy which purifies us and renews our hearts.
Dear young people, the Lord wants to meet us, to let himself "be seen" by us. "And how?", you might ask me. St. Teresa of Avila, born in Spain five hundred years ago, even as a young girl, said to her parents, "I want to see God". She subsequently discovered the way of prayer as "an intimate friendship with the One who makes us feel loved". So my question to you is this: "Are you praying?"
Do you know that you can speak with Jesus, with the Father, with the Holy Spirit, as you speak to a friend? And not just any friend, but the greatest and
most trusted of your friends! You will discover what one of his parishioners told the CurΘ of Ars: "When I pray before the tabernacle, æI look at him, and he looks at me'".
Once again I invite you to encounter the Lord by frequently reading sacred Scripture. If you are not already in the habit of doing so, begin with the Gospels. Read a line or two each day. Let God's word speak to your heart and enlighten your path. You will discover that God can be "seen" also in the face of your brothers and sisters, especially those who are most forgotten: the poor, the hungry, those who thirst, strangers, the sick, those imprisoned. Have
you ever had this experience? Dear young people, in order to enter into the logic of the Kingdom of Heaven, we must recognise that we are poor with the poor. A pure heart is necessarily one which has been stripped bare, a heart that knows how to bend down and share its life with those most in need.
Encountering God in prayer, the reading of the Bible and in the fraternal life
will help you better to know the Lord and yourselves. 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.
Some of you feel, or will soon feel, the Lord's call to married life, to forming a family. Many people today think that this vocation is "outdated", but
that is not true! For this very reason, the ecclesial community has been engaged in a special period of reflection on the vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and the contemporary world. I also ask you to consider
whether you are being called to the consecrated life or the priesthood. How beautiful it is to see young people who embrace the call to dedicate themselves
fully to Christ and to the service of his Church! Challenge yourselves, and with a pure heart do not be afraid of what God is asking of you! From your "yes" to the Lord's call, you will become new seeds of hope in the Church and in society. Never forget: God's will is our happiness!
4. On the way to Krakow
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God". Dear young men and women, as you see, this beatitude speaks directly to your lives and is a guarantee of your happiness. So once more I urge you: Have the courage to be happy!
This year's World Youth Day begins the final stage of preparations for the great gathering of young people from around the world in Krakow in 2016. Thirty
years ago St. John Paul II instituted 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. Together let us thank the Lord for the precious fruits which these World Youth Days have produced in the lives of countless young people in every part of the globe! How many amazing discoveries have been made, especially the discovery that Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life! How many people have realised that the Church is a big and welcoming family! How many conversions, how many vocations have these gatherings produced! May the saintly Pope, the Patron of World Youth Day, intercede on behalf of our pilgrimage toward his beloved Krakow. And may the maternal gaze of the Blessed Virgin Mary, full of grace, all-beautiful and all-pure, accompany us at every step along the way.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 17 February 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, apostolic nuncio in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as apostolic nuncio in Australia.

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For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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Communique from the Managing Board and the College of Auditors of the Vatican Pensions Fund
Vatican City, 20 February 2015 (VIS) - The following is the full text of the communique issued today by the Managing Board and the College of Auditors of the Vatican Pension Fund:
"Since for some months, and amplified by press reports, alarming data has been
circulating regarding the situation of the Vatican Pensions Fund and on the sustainability of honouring the commitments undertaken towards present and future subscribers, the Managing Board of the Fund and the College of Auditors consider it opportune to officially communicate the actuarial situation, assets
and income of the aforementioned Fund, as it appears in the actuarial Technical
Financial Statements drawn up by the actuary and the Financial Statements regularly approved by the Secretary of State.
With regard to the actuarial aspect, there is a substantial balance between available resources and commitments to current and future employees, due also to interventions (approved by the Secretary of State following proposals by the
Managing Board) both in terms of contributions (increase of rates throughout the years up to the current rate of 26% on the total of taxable income) and in relation to performance (increase of two years of working life, raising the age
of retirement to 67 for laypersons and 72 for clergy and persons religious.
The working Statements also show, throughout the years, the solidity of the assets and financial structure of the Fund itself. The funding ratio of the Pensions Fund is 0.95%. From a strictly income-based perspective, the economic and financial situation of the institution records a gradual increase of financial and real estate resources both in terms of capital resources which, from 1993 to 2013 increased on average from Ç 22,256,196 per year, and in terms
of the upward trend in net profit, which during the last 6 years has passed from Ç 23,583,882 to Ç 26,866,657, sums sufficient to cover the current costs of pensions.
To complete the picture, the Fund's assets on 31 December 2014 were recorded at Ç 477,668,000. Adding the budget surplus for 2015, estimated to be around Ç 27,140,000, a net worth by 31 December 2015 of over 504 million euros may be hypothesised, confirming the real solidity of the Fund, which has progressed from an initial budget of 10 billion of the old Italian lire in 1993 to over 500 million euros in little more than twenty years".

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The Holy See at the United Nations: social development policies must address the spiritual and ethical dimension of the human person
Vatican City, 20 February 2015 (VIS) - Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations in New York addressed the 53rd Session
of the Commission for Social Development on 10 February. He highlighted the Holy See's concerns regarding economic growth which has led to new challenges, but has not benefited everyone in society equally. Significant inequalities remain and many of the most vulnerable groups in society have been left behind.
Without addressing these inequalities, especially as we transition into the post 2015 development agenda, we risk undermining the impact of economic growth
on poverty and on the well-being of society as a whole.
"To be sustainable and beneficial for all, social development must be ethical,
moral and person-centred", he said. "We must be attentive to those indicators that give a complete picture of the well-being of every individual in society while promoting policies that encourage a truly integral approach to the development of the human person as a whole".
He continued, "It is not enough to have gainful employment. Work must also be dignified and secure. Investments in education, access to basic health-care services, and the creation of social safety nets are primary, not secondary factors to improving a person's quality of life, and ensuring the equitable distribution of wealth and resources in society. By placing the human person at
the centre of development and encouraging investments and policies that meet real needs, the progress made towards eradicating poverty remains permanent and
society more resilient in the face of potential crises".
The archbishop reiterated that the market economy does not exist to serve itself, but rather to serve the common good of all of society, and therefore particular attention must be given to the welfare of the most vulnerable. He added that "the authentic integral development of the person and the eradication of poverty are achievable only by focusing on the tremendous value of the family to society", and by adopting a strategic approach towards the eradication of poverty, "based on true social justice in order to help reduce the suffering of millions of our brothers and sisters. ... Social development policies must address not only the economic and political needs, but also the spiritual and ethical dimension of each human person".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 20 February 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Prelates of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, on their "ad Limina" visit:
- His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, major archbishop of Kyiv-Halyc, accompanied by his auxiliaries, Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh and Bishop Yosyf Milan;
- Bishop Stepan Meniok, archiepiscopal exarch of Donetsk;
- Bishop Mykhaylo Bubniy, archiepiscopal exarch of Odessa;
- Bishop Josaphat Oleh Hovera, archiepiscopal exarch of Lutsk;
- Archbishop Volodymyr Viytyshyn of Ivano-Frankivsk, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Yosafat Moshchych;
- Bishop Vasyl Ivasiuk, of Kololyia-Chernivtsi;
- Bishop Ihor Voznyak, archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Venedykt Aleksiychuk;
- Bishop Jaroslav Pryriz of Sambir-Drohobych, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Hryhoriy Komar;
- Bishop Mykhaylo Koltun of Sokal-Zhovkva;
- Bishop Taras Senkiv of Stryi. accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Bohdan Manyshyn;
- Archbishop Vasyl Semeniuk of Ternopil-Zboriv;
- Bishop Dmytro Hryhorak, Vescovo di Buchach;
- Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets, archiepiscopal exarch of Kharkiv;
- Bishop Dionisio Lachovicz, apostolic visitator for the Ukrainian faithful of
Byzantine Rite resident in Italy and Spain;
***
- Bishop Milan Sasik of Mukachevo of Byzantine Rite, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Nil Yuriy Lushchak:
***
Prelates of the Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops in Ukraine on their "ad Limina" visit:
- Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, of Lviv of the Latins;
- Bishop Leonid Dubrawski of Kamyanets-Podilskyi, accompanied by his auxiliary, Bishop Radoslaw Zmitrowicz;
- Bishop Stanislav Szyrokoradiuk of Kharkiv-Zaporizhia, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Marian Buczek and his auxiliary, Bishop Jan Sobilo;
- Archbishop-Bishop Petro Herkulan Malchuk of Kyiv-Zhytomir;
- Bishop Vitaliy Skomarovskyi of Lutsk;
- Bishop Antal Majnek of Mukachevo of the Latins;
- Bishop Bronislaw Bernacki of Odessa-Simferopol, with his auxiliary Bishop Jacek Pyl.

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The Holy Father greeted the representatives of the various associations from the area that are occupied in "welcoming the suffering Christ", especially those who have problems of substance abuse through support centres and homes, and recalled last year's meeting with the detainees in the Castrovillari prison, with the sick, and the extraordinary presence of the people on the Sibaris plain. "May the Lord help you to be welcoming communities, to accompany
toward Christ those who find it difficult to discern his presence that saves".
"I would like to reaffirm a thought that I suggested to you during my visit: he who loves Jesus, he who listens to Him and welcomes His Word, and he who lives in a sincere way the response to the Lord's call cannot in any way lend himself to the works of evil. Either Jesus, or evil! Jesus did not invite us to
dine with demons: he cast them out, because they were evil. It is not possible to declare oneself Christian and then violate the dignity of people; those who belong to the Christian community cannot plan and implement violent acts against others and against the environment. The outward gestures of religiosity, unaccompanied by true and public conversion, are not sufficient to
believe oneself in communion with Jesus and with His Church. The external gestures of religiosity are not enough to credit as believers those who, with the wickedness and arrogance typical of miscreants, make illegality their way of living. To those who have chosen the way of evil and who are affiliated to delinquent organisations, I renew my invitation to conversion. Open your heart to the Lord! The Lord awaits you and the Church will welcome you if, just as your decision to serve evil is public, your wish to serve good is clear and public".
"The beauty of your land is a gift from God and an asset to conserve and to hand down in all its splendour to future generations", remarked Francis. "Therefore, there is a need for courageous efforts by all, starting with the institutions, to ensure that it is not defaced irreparably by sordid interests". He went on to list the Emmanuel Community among the places of beauty in the area: an place of "welcome and sharing" where young people whose lives have been devastated by drug abuse can find a "good Samaritan who tends to their wounds and knows how to anoint them with the balsam of closeness and affection", and noted that it has restored hope to many families. "The Church thanks you for this service", he said. "Placing yourself by the side of young people and adults who suffer as a result of addiction, you have embraced the suffering Christ and sowed hope".
"Our time has a great need for hope!", exclaimed the Holy Father. "The young can no longer be robbed of hope. ... The young need hope. It is necessary to offer concrete signs of hope to those who experience pain and suffering. Social
organisations and associations, as well as individuals who strive towards acceptance and sharing, are generators of hope. Therefore, I exhort your Christian communities to be agents of solidarity, never to stop before those who, for mere personal interest, sow self-centredness, violence and injustice. Oppose yourselves to the culture of death and be witnesses to the Gospel of life! May the light of God's Word and the support of the Holy Spirit help you to look with new and willing eyes upon the new forms of poverty that drive so many young people and families to desperation".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 21 February 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
- Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 23 February 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
- Bishop Freddy Antonio de Jesus Breton Martinez of Bani, Dominican Republic, as metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de los Caballeros (area 3,633, population 1,320,000, Catholics 1,105,000, priests 128, permanent deacons 121, religious 325), Dominican Republic. He succeeds Archbishop Ramon Benito de la Rosa y Carpio, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- Rev. Andres Napoleon Romero Cardenas as bishop of Barahona (area 6,973, population 396,270, Catholics 215,000, priests 28, permanent deacons 2, religious 54), Dominican Repubilc. The bishop-elect was born in Ramonal Arriba,
Dominican Republic in 1967 and was ordained a priest in 1995. He holds a licentiate in philosophy and letters and in religious sciences from the Pontifical University Mater et Magistra, Dominican Republic, and in biblical theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles, including parish vicar, formator in the minor seminary and diocesan director for priestly vocations, professor of sacred scripture and research methodology, dean of the faculties of philosophy and theology, and formator at the St. Thomas Aquinas Pontifical major seminary. He is currently parish priest of the Cathedral of Santa Ana in the diocese of San Francisco de Macoris. He succeeds Bishop Rafael Leonidas Felipe y Nunez, whose resignation from the pastoral governance of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- Fr. Hector Rafael Rodriguez Rodriguez M.S.C., as bishop of La Vega (area 4,919, population 977,000, Catholics 801,000, priests 92, permanent deacons 65,
religious 223), Dominican Republic. The bishop-elect was born in Sanchez, Dominican Republic in 1961, gave his solemn vows in 1984 and was ordained a priest in 1989. He holds a licentiate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical
Gregorian University. During his pastoral ministry he has served as parish vicar and, within his community, director for aspirants at the Vocational Centre, director of the post-novitiate, master of novices, Provincial. He has also served as member of the Managing Body of the Dominican Conference of Religious. He is currently first adviser of the Congregation of Missionaries of
the Sacred Heart. He succeeds Bishop Antonio Camilo Gonzalez, whose resignation
from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- Bishop Jose Miguel Gonzalez Rodriguez of Libano-Honda, Colombia, as bishop of Facatativa (area 2,311, population 546,000, Catholics 512,000, priests 93, permanent deacons 4, religious 305), Colombia.
On Saturday, 21 February appointed Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, apostolic nuncio in Pakistan, as apostolic nuncio in Mozambique.

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The third suggestion relates to the relationship between the economy and social justice, dignity and the value of the person. "It is well known that a certain liberalism believes it is necessary first and foremost to produce wealth, and that it is not important how, before promoting any form of redistributive policy", explained the Pope. "Others think that it is the same enterprise that must donate the crumbs of accumulated wealth, thus absolving it
of its so-called 'social responsibility'". However, we know in achieving a new quality of the economy, it is possible to enable people to grow in all their potential. A member of a cooperative must not be merely ... a worker ... but must instead always be a protagonist, and must grow, through the cooperative, as a person, socially and professionally, in responsibility ... an enterprise managed by a cooperative must grow in a truly cooperative way, involving all".
"If we look around us, we see that the economy is never renovated in an ageing
society, instead of one that grows", he continued, presenting his fourth suggestion: strengthening the harmonisation between work and family within the cooperative movement. "Doing this also means helping women to fully achieve their vocation and to put their talents to use" through initiatives that meet the needs of all, from nurseries to domestic care.
"The fifth suggestion may be surprising. Doing all these things takes money! Cooperatives are not generally founded by great capitalists. ... The Pope instead says to you: you must invest, and you must invest well! In Italy certainly, but not only, it is difficult to obtain public funding to compensate
for the scarcity of resources. The solution I propose to you is this: unite with determination the right means for carrying out good works. Collaborate more with cooperative banks and businesses, organise resources to allow families to live with dignity and serenity, and pay fair salaries to your workers. ... Money, placed at the service of life, can be managed in the right way by the cooperative, if however it is an authentic and true cooperative, where capital does not rule over people, but people over capital".
"Therefore, I say that you do well to oppose and combat false cooperatives, and to continue to do so; they prostitute the name of cooperative, a very positive thing, to deceive people in the interests of profit, contrary to those
of a true and authentic cooperative. ... In the field in which you are active, to display an honourable facade while instead pursuing dishonourable and immoral objectives, often associated with the exploitation of labour or the manipulation of the market, or even a scandalous traffic in corruption, is a shameful and serious falsehood. The cooperative economy ... if it seeks to fulfil a strong social function, if it wishes to be an agent of the future for a nation and for each local community, must pursue clear and transparent aims. It must promote an economy of honesty, a healing economy in the treacherous sea
of the global economy. A real economy promoted by people who have at heart and in their minds only the common good".
The final part of the Pope's address was dedicated to cooperation at the international level. "Extend your hand to the old and new existential peripheries, where there are disadvantaged people, where there are people who are alone and discarded, where there are people who do not receive respect. ...
It is necessary to have the courage and imagination to build the right road to integrate development, justice and peace throughout the world", he concluded.

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Presentation of the Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network (REPAM): Incentive and relaunch of the Church in the Amazon
Vatican City, 2 March 2015 (VIS) - A press conference was held in the Holy See
Press Office this morning to present the Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network, established in 2014 in Brasilia, Brazil, during a meeting of bishops whose territories include Amazon regions, priests, missionaries of congregations who work in the Amazon jungle, national representatives of Caritas and laypeople belonging to various Church bodies. The speakers were Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace"; Archbishop Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno, S.J., of Huancayo, Peru and president of the Department of Justice and Solidarity of the Latin American Episcopal Council; Michel Roy, secretary general of Caritas Internationalis; and Mauricio
Lopez Oropeza, executive secretary of REPAM. Cardinal Claudio Hummes, O.F.M., president of the Commission for Amazonia of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, was unable to be present but participated via an audio message.
The Amazon territory is the largest tropical forest in the world. It covers six million square kilometres and includes the territories of Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. It is home to 2,779,478 indigenous people, comprising 390 indigenous tribes and 137 isolated (uncontacted) peoples with their valuable ancestral cultures, and 240 spoken languages belonging to 49 linguistic families. As Archbishop Barreto
explained, it is "a territory that is devastated and threatened by the concessions made by States to transnational corporations. Large-scale mining projects, monoculture and climate change place its lands and natural environment at great risk", leading to the destruction of cultures, undermining
the self-determination of peoples and above all affronting Christ incarnate in the people who live there (indigenous and riparian peoples, peasant farmers, afro-descendants and urban populations). REPAM was founded as "God's answer to this heartfelt and urgent need to care for the life of people so they are able to live in harmony with nature, starting from the widespread and varied presence of members and structures of the Church in Pan-Amazonia".
Cardinal Turkson illustrated the main characteristics of the network, starting
with transnationality. "The large number of countries involved is due to the awareness that effective action to face challenges that cross the borders of a single State requires synergy between the living forces of all the nations involved, from the Secretariat of the REPAM to that of the dioceses and other Church initiatives in the various States, without forgetting that, from the beginning, the REPAM has worked in harmony with the Holy See, CELAM and its structures". Another key feature is ecclesiality: "as well as working transnationally, REPAM proposes the institution of harmonious collaboration between the various components of the Church: religious congregations, dioceses, Caritas, various Catholic associations and Foundations, and lay groups".
Commitment to the defence of life is, for Cardinal Turkson, the third characteristic. "REPAM was born in response to important challenges. It is engaged in defending the life of a number of communities who cumulatively comprise 30 million people. They are threatened by pollution, the radical and rapid change of the ecosystem upon which they depend, and the lack of protection for their basic human rights". He added that the network is presented in Rome not only on account of the symbolic value of the See of Peter, but also to give visibility to REPAM. "The form in which REPAM, acting as a platform, is structured and defines its working methods, its agenda, its allies or its methods of accreditation, could serve as a model for other local churches in other countries facing similar challenges. In addition, REPAM has been conceived so as to become a took that may be applied in different basic contexts, such as justice, legality, the promotion and protection of human rights; cooperation between the Church and public institutions at various levels; conflict prevention and management; research and spread of information;
inclusive and equitable economic development; responsible and equitable use of natural resources, respecting Creation; and the preservation of the traditional
cultures and ways of life of the different populations".
Cardinal Hummes, in his audio message, reiterated that the creation of the Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network "represents a new incentive and relaunch of the work of the Church in Amazonia, strongly desired by the Holy Father. There, the
Church wishes to be, with courage and determination, a missionary Church, merciful, prophetic, and close to all the people, especially the poorest, the excluded, the discarded, the forgotten and wounded. A Church with an 'Amazonian
face' and an 'native clergy', as Pope Francis proposed in his address to the bishops of Brazil".

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Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, Pope's special envoy to the 4th centenary of the martyrdom of St. John Ogilvie, S.J.
Vatican City, 28 February 2015 (VIS) - Today a letter was published, written in Latin and dated 15 February, by which the Holy Father appoints Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, archbishop emeritus of Westminster, as his special envoy to the solemn celebrations in honour of St. John Ogilvie S.J. (from 9 to 10 March in Glasgow, Scotland).
The pontifical mission accompanying the cardinal will be composed of his personal secretary Rev. Roger Reader, and Msgr. Javier Herrera Corona, adviser to the apostolic nunciature in London.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 2 March 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Irina Bokova, director general of UNESCO, and entourage;
- Rev. Janusz Urbanczyk, Holy See permanent observer at the International Governing Organisations in Vienna;
- Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Council of Ministers of the Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan;
- Ten prelates of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (C.E.R.N.A) on their "ad Limina" visit:
Bishop Claude Rault of Laghouat, Algeria;
Archbishop Ghaleb Moussa Abdalla Bader of Algiers, Algeria;
- Bishop Paul Desfarges of Constantine, Algeria;
- Bishop Jean-Paul Vesco of Oran, Algeria;
- Bishop Sylvester Carmel Magro, apostolic vicar of Benghazi, Libya;
- Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, apostolic vicar of Tripoli, Libya;
- Archbishop Vincent Landel of Rabat, Morocco;
- Archbishop Santiago Agrelo Martønez of Tangier, Morocco;
- Fr. Mario Leon Dorado, O.M.I., apostolic prefect of the Western Sahara; and
- Archbishop Ilario Antoniazzi of Tunis, Tunisia.
On Saturday, 28 February, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, Italy.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 2 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Fidencio Lopez Plaza as bishop of San Andres Tuxtla (area 13,495, population 1,113,000, Catholics 1,035,000, priests 100, permanent deacons 33, religious 109), Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in Capullin, Mexico in 1950 and was ordained a priest in 1982. He specialised in pastoral and catechesis at the Pastoral Theological Institute of Medellin, Colombia, and has served in a number of pastoral roles, including coordinator of the diocesan secretariat for
evangelisation and catechesis, professor in the conciliar seminary of Queretaro, parish priest in a number of parishes, head of the deanery of Guanajuato and member of the presbyteral council and the college of consultors.
He is currently episcopal vicar for pastoral ministry of the diocese of Queretaro and parish priest of the "Pentecostes" parish.
On Saturday, 28 February, the Holy Father appointed:
- Rev. Fr. Francesco Savino as bishop of Cassano all'Jonio (area 1,311, population 108,100, Catholics 104,187, priests 98, permanent deacons 3, religious 74), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Bitonto, Italy in 1954 and was ordained a priest in 1978. He holds a licentiate in theology from the Istituto Teological Pugliese and has served in a number of pastoral roles in the archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto, including parish vicar of San Silvestro-Crocifisso and parish priest of Cristo Re Universale in Bitonto. He is currently parish priest-rector of the parish-santuary of the Santi Medici in
Bitonto, member of the College of Consultors, the diocesan presbyteral council and the Ministry of Health Commission on palliative care. He succeeds Bishop Nunzio Galantino, secretary general of the Italian Episcopal Conference, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese was accepted by the Holy
Father.
- Msgr. Marek Marczak as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Lodz (area 5,200, population 1,490,000, Catholics 1,410,000, priests 763, religious 759), Poland.
The bishop-elect was born in Piotrkow Trybunalski, Poland in 1969 and was ordained a priest in 1994. He holds a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and has served in a number of roles, including lecturer in dogmatic theology and the major seminary of Lodz, president of the Commission for the Lay Apostolate, visitator for catechesis, pastoral collaborator in the parish of St. Dorothy in Loz-Mileszki, and collaborator for the pastoral ministry of university lecturers in the archdiocese. He is currently rector of the major seminary and member of the presbyteral council.

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Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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The delegation of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue will meet
with the academic community of the Catholic University of Western Africa (UCAO)
in Abidjan Cocody.
In Yamoussoukro, Cardinal Tauran will meet with members of the Episcopal Conference of Cote d'Ivoire and will preside at Mass concelebrated in the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
The visit will offer the opportunity to promote and encourage interreligious dialogue in Cote d'Ivoire, in a context of respect and friendship, in accordance with the teaching of Pope Francis. With this objective, various meetings are scheduled with leaders of other religious traditions, especially of Islam and traditional African religions, first in Korhogo, and subsequently in Yamoussoukro and Abidjan.
On 17 March, Cardinal Tauran will pay a private visit to the president of the Republic, Alessane Ouattara.

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The Holy See reaffirms its opposition to the death penalty
Vatican City, 12 March 2015 (VIS) - Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva gave an address at the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council on 4 March, regarding the issue of the death penalty.
Speaking in English, the nuncio said, "The Delegation of the Holy See ... joins an increasing number of States in supporting the fifth U.N. General Assembly resolution calling for a global moratorium on the use of the death penalty. Public opinion in support of the various provisions aimed at abolishing the death penalty, or suspending its application, is growing. This provides a strong momentum which this delegation hopes will encourage States still applying the death penalty to move in the direction of its abolition".
The archbishop explained that twenty years ago, during the papacy of St. John Paul II, the position of the Holy See was "framed within the proper ethical context of defending the inviolable dignity of the human person and the role of
the legitimate authority to defend in a just manner the common good of society". He continued, "Considering the practical circumstances found in most States, as a result of steady improvements in the organisation of the penal system, it appears evident nowadays that means other than the death penalty are
sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons. For that reason, public authority must limit itself to such means, because they better correspond to the concrete conditions
of the common good and are more in conformity with the dignity of the human person".
Benedict XVI affirmed in 2011 that "the political and legislative initiatives promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to
continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order are moving in the right direction. Pope Francis has further emphasised that the legislative and judicial practice of the State authority must always be guided by the primacy of human life and the dignity of the human person", noting also "the possibility of judicial error and the use made by totalitarian and dictatorial regimes ... as a means of suppressing political dissidence or of persecuting religious and cultural minorities".
"Respect for the dignity of every human person and the common good are the two
pillars on which the position of the Holy See has developed. These principles converge with a similar development in international human rights law and jurisprudence. Moreover, we should take into account that no clear positive effect of deterrence results from the application of the death penalty and that
the irreversibility of this punishment does not allow for eventual corrections in the case of wrongful convictions".
Therefore, the Holy See "contends that bloodless means of defending the common
good and upholding justice are possible, and calls on States to adapt their penal system to demonstrate their adhesion to a more humane form of punishment.
As for those countries that claim it is not yet feasible to relinquish this practice, my delegation encourages them to strive to become capable of doing so".
In conclusion, the Holy See delegation "fully supports the efforts to abolish the use of the death penalty. In order to arrive at this desired goal, these steps need to be taken: sustaining the social reforms that would enable society
to implement the abolition of the death penalty and improving prison conditions, to ensure respect for the human dignity of people deprived of their
freedom".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 12 March 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Archbishop Girolamo Prigione, apostolic nuncio;
- Archbishop Andres Carrascosa Coso, apostolic nuncio in Panama;
- Fourteen prelates of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, on their "ad
Limina" visit:
- Bishop Matthias Ri Iong-hoon of Suwon, with his auxiliary, Bishop Linus Lee Seong-hyo;
- Bishop Peter Lee Ki-heon of Uijeongbu, with Bishop emeritus Joseph Lee Han-taek;
- Bishop Jacobus Kim Ji-Seok of Wonju;
- Archbishop Thaddeus Cho Hwan-kil of Daegu;
- Bishop John Chrisostom Kwon Hyeok-ju of Andong;
- Bishop Paul Hwang Chul-soo of Busan, with his auxiliary, Bishop Joseph Son Sam-seok;
- Bishop Gabriel Chang Bong-hun of Cheongnju;
- Bishop Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok of Masan, with Bishop emeritus Michael Pak Jeon-il;
- Bishop Francis Xavier Yu Soo-il, military ordinary; and
- Bishop Wenceslao S. Padilla, apostolic prefect of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 12 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Rev. Fr. John Stowe, O.F.M. Conv., as bishop of Lexington (area 42,520, population 1,601,000, Catholics 47,900, priests 64, permanent deacons 71, religious 89), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Amherst, Ohio, U.S.A. in
1966, gave his solemn vows in 1992, and was ordained a priest in 1995. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including deputy priest, administrator and parish priest of the "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" parish in El Paso, Texas; vicar general of the diocese of El Paso; administrator of the "Our Lady of the Valley" parish; and chancellor of the diocese of El Paso. He is currently provincial vicar of the "Our Lady of Consolation" Franciscan Conventual Province and rector of the Basilica and national shrine of "Our Lady of Consolation", Carey, Ohio.
- appointed Bishop Thomas Anthony Daly, auxiliary of San Jose in California, U.S.A., as bishop of Spokane (area 63,325, population 325,161, Catholics 107,271, priests 146, permanent deacons 43, religious 230), U.S.A.
- given his assent to the canonical election by the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church of Rev. Fr. Teodor (Taras) Martynyuk, M.S.U., as auxiliary of the archieparchy of Ternopil'-Zboriv (area 8,346, population 636,000, Catholics 385,000, priests 320, permanent deacons 1, religious 128), Ukraine. The bishop-elect was born in Yaremche, Ukraine in 1974, gave his solemn vows in 1997 and was ordained a priest in 2000. He holds a doctorate in Oriental canon law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute. During his pastoral ministry he has served in various roles in the Lavra of Univ and the monastery of St. Michael in Lviv, and as a lecturer in Oriental canon law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Rome. He is currently Igumen of the Lavra of the Dormition in Univ, Ukraine.

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Notice
Vatican City, 12 March 2015 (VIS) - We wish to inform our readers that tomorrow, 13 March, the second anniversary of the election to the papacy of the
Holy Father Francis, the Vatican Information Service bulletin will not be transmitted. The service will resume on Monday, 16 March.

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the duty of a good teacher, and far more so for a good Christian, is to love with greater intensity the most difficult, weakest, most disadvantaged students".
Francis mentioned that if a professional association of Christian teachers wishes to bear witness to its inspiration, it is required to engage with the peripheries of school, "that cannot be abandoned to marginalisation, ignorance, and the underworld", and he encouraged them to follow the example of many great teachers who exist in the Christian community to encourage from within the school that, independently of whether or not it is administered by the state, is
in need of credible teachers and witnesses of mature and complete humanity. "Teaching is not just a job", he concluded. "It is a relationship in which each teacher must feel that he is fully involved as as person, to give meaning to the
task of educating his pupils. ... I encourage you to renew your passion for mankind in the process of formation, and to be witnesses of life and hope".

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"Follow Me" Association: engage with earthly reality to serve the good of man
Vatican City, 14 March 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis received in audience members of the "Seguimi" ("Follow Me") lay community, on the 50th anniversary of its foundation. "The gesture, symbolic and intensely spiritual, of the first members
to depart from the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, demonstrate this wish, that you have expressed in the statutory form of your programme of life: 'Jesus Christ lives at the centre of Seguimi'. This is beautiful. ... I encourage you to live according to this programme every day, with commitment; that is, to be decentred
from yourselves and to place your vital centre in the living Person of Jesus. Yours is a form of evangelical life that is practised in a context of laicism and liberty. A programme of Christian life for laypeople, with clear and demanding objectives, an original way of incarnating the Gospel, an effective way of walking the world".
Francis encouraged them to "conserve and develop this fraternal communion and exchange of gifts, aimed at the human and Christian growth of all, along with creativity, optimism, joy and the courage to go - when appropriate - against the
grain. Be vigilant in your spiritual path and help each other to practice spiritual charity, which means defending yourselves against individualistic selfishness in order to be true witnesses to the Gospel".
"As laypeople, you are immersed in the world and are occupied within earthly situations to serve the good of man. You are required to permeate with Christian
values the environments in which you work with your witness and word, meeting people in their concrete situations, so that they have full dignity and are reached by Christ's salvation". The Pope concluded by urging them to be "laypeople on the front line", to "feel like an active part of the Church's mission, to live your secularity dedicating yourself to the situations typical of the earthly city: the family, the professions, social life in its various expressions. In this way you are able, as a leaven, to bring the spirit of the Gospel into the folds of history with your witness of faith, hope and charity".

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To be able to confess our sins is a gift from God
Vatican City, 14 March 2015 (VIS) - "The Sacrament of Reconciliation enables us
to draw near to the Father trustfully, to have the certainty of his forgiveness.
He is truly 'rich in mercy' and he extends it abundantly to those who turn to him with a sincere heart", said the Pope in his homily during the penitential celebration in St. Peter's Basilica on Friday afternoon. "The transformation of the heart that leads us to confess our sins is a gift from God ... it is 'His work'" he continued. "As we leave the confessional, we were his strength that restores life and rekindles the enthusiasm of faith. After confession we are reborn".
"Jesus' call impels us all not to stop at the surface of things, especially when facing a person. We are called to look beyond, to focus on the heart to see
how much generosity each person is capable of. No-one must be excluded from God's mercy. Everyone knows that the way to reach it, and the Church, is the house that welcomes all and refuses no-one. Its doors are always wide open, so that those who are touched by grace may find the certainty of forgiveness. The greater the sin, the greater the love must be that the Church expresses towards those who convert".
"Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought of how the Church may make more evident her mission as witness to mercy. It is a path that begins with a spiritual conversion; and we must take this path. Therefore, I have decided to convoke an extraordinary Jubilee, which will be centred upon God's mercy. It will be a Holy Year of Mercy. Let us live this in the light of the Word of the Lord: 'Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful'. And this is especially for
confessors! Have mercy!".
"I am convinced that all the Church, which is in great need of receiving mercy,
as we are sinners, may find in this Jubilee the joy of rediscovering and making fruitful God's mercy, with which we are all called upon to give consolation to every man and every woman in our time. Let us not forget that God forgives everything, and God always forgives. Let us never tire of asking for forgiveness. Let us hereafter entrust this Year to the Mother of Mercy, that she
might turn her gaze upon us and keep watch over our path; our path of repentance, our path with an open heart, a year long, to receive God's indulgence, to receive God's mercy".

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To the Korean community: be a Church of martyrs
Vatican City, 14 March 2015 (VIS) - On the afternoon of Thursday, 12 March, the
Pope celebrated Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica with the Korean community of Rome, accompanied by prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, in
Rome on their "ad Limina" visit and whom Pope Francis had received in audience in the morning. In his homily, the Pope spoke about the laity, who carried forth
the Church for two centuries, encouraging them to be as courageous as the first faithful; he urged all those present to be aware of this responsibility.
He went on to mention Korea's martyrs, and emphasised that the seedbed of the Church has been watered with their blood and thus given life. "Do not give up. Be on your guard against 'religious wellbeing'", he said. "If you do not go ahead with the strength of faith, with the zeal and love of Jesus Christ, if you
become soft - 'rosewater Christians', weak - your faith will diminish". The Pope
also highlighted the importance of being sons of martyrs, adding that "apostolic
zeal is not negotiable. ... You are a Church of martyrs, and this is a promise for
all Asia. Keep going, and do not give up. No spiritual worldliness, nothing. No easy Catholicism, without zeal. No religious wellbeing. Love for Jesus Christ, love for Jesus Christ's Cross, and love for your history".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 16 March 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the
Discipline of the Sacraments;
- FrΦre Alois, prior of TaizΘ
- Delegation of the Latin American Network on the Social Doctrine of the Church;
- Six prelates of the Bishops' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on their "ad Limina" visit:
- Cardinal Vinko Puljic, archbishop of Vrhbosna, Sarajevo, with his auxiliary, Bishop Pero Sudar;
- Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka, with his auxiliary, Bishop Marko Senren;
- Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar-Duvno, apostolic administrator of Trebinje and Mrkan;
- Bishop Tomo Vuksic, military ordinary.
On Saturday, 14 March, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
- Archbishop Orlando Antonini, apostolic nuncio in Serbia.

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From the Oriental Churches
Vatican City, 16 March 2015 (VIS) - The Synod of Bishops of the Maronite Patriarchal Church, in its extraordinary session of 10 to 14 March 2015:
- accepted the resignation of Bishop Elias Sleiman from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Lattaquie upon reaching the age limit, and elected him as president of the Patriarchal Tribunal.
- elected Bishop Joseph Mouawad, patriarchal vicar of Ehden-Zgorta, Syria, as bishop of Zahle (Catholics 50,000, priests 34, religious 42), Lebanon.
- elected, with pontifical assent, the Rev. Corepiscopa Antoine Chbeir as bishop of Lattaquie of the Maronites (Catholics 35,000, priests 27, religious 50), Syria. The bishop-elect was born in Ghosta, Lebanon, and was ordained a priest in 1988. He holds a doctorate in biblical theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome and has served as parish priest and diocesan chancellor. He is currently chancellor of the patriarchal vicariate of Jounieh, Lebanon, and succeeds Bishop Elias Sleiman.

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Other Pontifical Acts
On Saturday, 14 March, the Holy Father:
- appointed Rev. Fr. Alojzij Cvikl, S.J., as metropolitan archbishop of Maribor
(area 45,520, population 1,601,000, Catholics 47,900, priests 46, permanent deacons 71, religious 89), Slovenia. The bishop-elect was born in Celje, Slovenia in 1955 and was ordained a priest in 1983. He studied philosophy and theology at the Faculty of Theology in Ljubljana and at the Pontifical Gregorian
University, Rome, and holds a licentiate in pedagogy and social sciences from the "Lumen Vitae" Institute in Brussels, Belgium. He has served in a number of roles, including: deputy priest and parish priest in the parish of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ in Ljubljana - Dravlje, rector of the Internate at the St. Stanislaw Archiepiscopal Institute in Ljubljana-Sentvid and teacher of religion at the Classical Lyceum of the same Institute, provincial of the Jesuits in Slovenia, president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Slovenia,
and rector of the Pontifical Russian College (Russicum), Rome. He is currently bursar of the Archdiocese of Maribor.
- appointed the following consultors of the general secretariat of the Synod of
Bishops: Msgr. Lluis Clavell, ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas; Giuseppe Bonfrate, lecturer in the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; Maurizio Gronchi, ordinary professor of dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome; Michele Giulio Masciarelli, lecturer in dogmatic theology at the Marianum Faculty, Rome, and fundamental theology at the Theological Institue of Abruzzo and Molise, Chieti; Peter Paul Saldanha, lecturer in ecclesiology at the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome; Dario Vitali, lecturer in ecclesiology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; Aimable Musoni, S.D.B., lecturer in systematic theology, ecclesiology and ecumenism at the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome; Fr. Franτois Xavier Dumortier, S.J., Magnificent Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; Fr. Georges Ruyssen, S.J., lecturer in canon law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome; Fr. Sabatino Majorano, C.SS.R., lecturer in systematic moral theology at the Alphonsianum Academy, Rome; Fr. Manuel Jesus Arroba Conde, C.M.F., dean of the Institutum Utriusque Iuris at the
Pontifical Lateran University, Rome; Fr. Jose Granados, D.C.J.M., vice president
of the John Paul II Pontifical Institute for Marriage and Family Studies, lecturer at the Pontifical Gregorian Institute.

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possibility of confession, by which a man expresses his inner conversion, and contrition, the gateway to atonement and expiation, to reach an encounter with God's merciful and healing justice. It is furthermore frequently used by totalitarian regimes and groups of fanatics for the extermination of political dissidents, minorities, and any subject labelled as 'dangerous' or who may be perceived as a threat to its power or to the achievement of its ends".
"The death penalty is contrary to the sentiment of humanitas and to divine mercy, which must be the model for human justice. ... There is discussion in some
quarters about the method of killing, as if it were possible to find ways of 'getting it right'. ... But there is no humane way of killing another person".
"On the other hand, life imprisonment entails for the prisoner the impossibility of planning a future of freedom, and may therefore be considered as a sort of covert death penalty, as they deprive detainees not only of their freedom, but also of hope. However, although the penal system can stake a claim to the time of convicted persons, it can never claim their hope".
"Dear friends, I encourage you to continue with your work, as the world needs witnesses of God's mercy and tenderness, and may the Lord Jesus grant the gift of wisdom, so that the action taken against this cruel punishment may be successful and fruitful".

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Press release from the Dean of the College of Cardinals
Vatican City, 20 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of the rights and privileges of a Cardinal, expressed in canons 349,
353 and 356 of the Code of Canon Law, presented by His Eminence Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, archbishop emeritus of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, after
a long period of prayer. With this provision, His Holiness would like to manifest his pastoral solicitude to all the faithful of the Church in Scotland, and to encourage them to continue with hope the path of renewal and reconciliation.

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Pope's telegram for terrorist attack in Tunisia
Vatican City, 20 March 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a telegram of condolences on behalf of the Holy Father to the Archbishop of Tunis, Ilario Antoniazzi, for the victims of the terrorist attack on 18 March.
"Having learned of the grave terrorist attack on the city of Tunis, which caused numerous deaths and injuries, Pope Francis reiterates his strong condemnation of any act against peace and the sacredness of human life, and joins in prayer with the suffering of the families who mourn their loved ones and all those affected by this tragedy, as well as with all the Tunisian people.
He asks the Lord to welcome the departed in His peace and to comfort those who are seriously injured. As a pledge of consolation, the Pope asks that God might grant His abundant blessings to all.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 20 March 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
New Evangelisation
- Sixteen prelates of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan, on their "ad Limina" visit:
- Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki;
- Bishop Dominic Ryoji Miyahara of Fukuoka;
- Bishop Paul Kenjiro Koriyama of Kagoshima;
- Bishop Berard Toshio Oshikawa of Naha;
- Bishop Paul Sueo Hamaguchi of Oita;
- Archbishop Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda of Osaka, with his auxiliary, Bishop Michael Goro Matsuura;
- Bishop Paul Yoshinao Otsuka of Kyoto;
- Bishop Augustinus Jun-ichi Nomura of Nagoya;
- Bishop John Eijiro Suwa of Takamatsu;
- Archbishop Peter Takeo Okada of Tokyo, apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Saitama, with his auxiliary, Bishop James Kazuo Koda;
- Bishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi of Niigata;
- Bishop Bernard Taiji Katsuya of Sapporo;
- Bishop Martin Tetsuo Hiraga of Sendai; and
- Bishop Rafael Masahiro Umemura of Yokohama.
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 20 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Rev. Fr. Mario Eduardo Dorsonville-Rodriguez as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Washington, (area 5,447, population 2,824,893, Catholics 621,476,
priests 793, permanent deacons 246, religious 1,176), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in 1960 in Bogota, Colombia, and was ordained a priest in 1985. He holds a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Xaverian University of Bogota
and a D.Min. from the Catholic University of America, Washington. In Bogota, he served as deputy priest and parish priest, associate chaplain and professor of ethics at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and professor of pastoral counsel and catechesis at the major seminary of Bogota. In Washington, he has served as deputy priest and is currently director of the "Spanish Catholic Centre", vice president for the Mission of Catholic Charities, adjunct spiritual
director at the St. John Paul II Seminary, and member of the college of consultors and the presbyteral council.
- reorganised the Hungarian Greek-Catholic Church, elevating it to the status of "sui iuris Metropolitan Church, by the following measures:
- elevation of the eparchy of Hajdudorog for Catholics of Byzantine rite (Cathlics 270,000, priests 190, permanent deacons 4, religious 13) to a metropolis, with its seat in Debrecen, appointing eparchal Bishop Fulop Kocsis as the first Metropolitan;
- elevation of the apostolic exarchate of Miskolc (Catholics 56,200, priests 70) for Catholics of Byzantine rite to the status of eparchy, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Hajdudorog, appointing Msgr. Atanaz Orosz, formerly apostolic exarch of Miskolc, as the first eparchal bishop;
- erection of the eparchy of Nyiregyhaza for Catholics of Byzantine rite, with territory taken from the eparchy of Hajdudorog, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Hajdudorog, appointing Bishop Atanaz Orosz as apostolic administrator "sede vacante".
On Thursday, 19 March, the Holy Father:
- appointed Msgr. Vlastimil Krocil as bishop of Ceske Budejovice (area 12,500, population 760,600, Catholics 291,700, priests 136, permanent deacons 19, religious 164), Czech Republic. The bishop-elect was born in Brno, Czech Republic in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1994. Following studies at the Pontifical Lateran University and the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, he obtained a degree in theology and philosophy from the Catholic University of Ruzomberok, Slovakia. He has served as chaplain in Jindrichuv Hradec, and is currently professor of patrology and early Christian literature in the faculty of theology at Ceske Budejovice, parish administrator at Veseli nad Luznici, member of the presbyteral council and the college of consultors, and diocesan representative for pastoral ministry.
- erected the diocese of Nogales, Mexico, with territory from the archdiocese of Hermosillo, Mexico, making it a suffragan of the same archdiocese.
- appointed Bishop Jose Leopoldo Gonzalez Gonzalez, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Guadalajara, Mexico, as bishop of the new diocese of Nogales (area 44,243, population 483,180, Catholics 381,398, priests 44, religious 62), Mexico.

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Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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Syrian crisis. It was thought by many that the Syrian refugee flow was temporary
and such refugees would leave their countries of asylum in a matter of months. Now, after four years of conflict, it appears likely that these refugees will remain and the locals have to learn to live side by side with them. ? In the camps, there areonly 40 teachers for more than 1,000 students, aged 6 to 17. ? For different reasons, whether in their home countries or in the refugee camps, children find an inadequate education system that jeopardizes their future. Everywhere there is an urgent need for an education system that could absorb these children and bring some normalcy to their lives.?
?Third, another disruptive consequence of the continuing violence that torments the Middle East is the separation of family members, which forces many minors to
fend for themselves. ? To prevent the further exploitation of children and to protect them properly, an additional effort should be made to facilitate the reunification of minors with their respective families.?
?The right to a legal identity, to an adequate education, and to a family,? the archbishop concluded, ?are key elements and specific requirements in a comprehensive system of protection for children. Such measuresrequire the close collaboration of all stakeholders. Access to quality education and psycho-social
care, together with other basic services, is extremely important. However, children cannot benefit from such services unless they are registered at birth and their families and communities are supported to protect them better. If the violence does not stop and the normal pace of education and development is not resumed, these children are at risk of becoming a lost generation.?

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Freedoms of Religion and Expression: Adopting an Ethics of Responsibility Vatican City, 27 March 2015 (VIS) ? On 10 March, Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, spoke at the 28th meeting of the Council for Human Rights. His speech, the majority of which is presented here below, emphasized the fundamental importance of religious freedom as well as the freedom of expression.
?The International Community is now confronted with a delicate, complex, and urgent challenge with regard to respect for religious sensibilities and the need
for peaceful coexistence in an ever more pluralistic world: namely, that of establishing a fair relationship between freedom of expression and freedom of religion. The relationship between these fundamental human rights has proven difficult to manage and to address on either a normative or institutional level.
On theother hand, it should be recognized ?that the open, constructive, and respectful debate of ideas, as well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue at the local, national, and international levels, can play a positive role in combating religious hatred, incitement, and violence.? Failure in this effort is
evident when an excessive and irresponsible use of freedom of expression results
in intimidation, threats, and verbal abuse and these infringe upon freedom of religion and can sadly lead to intolerance and violence. Likewise, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion has focused on the violence committed ?in the name of religion?, and on its root causes.?
?Unfortunately, violence abounds today. If genocide means any act committed with
the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group, as such, then the International Community as a whole is certainly witnessing a sort of genocide in some regions of theworld, where the enslavement and sale of women and children, the killing of young men, the burning, beheading and the forcing into exile of people continue. In this context, the Delegation of the Holy See would like to submit to the joint reflection of the Human Rights Council that these and other unspeakable crimes are being committed against people belonging to ancient communities simply because their belief, social system, and culture are different from the fundamentalist combatants of the so-called ?Islamic State? group. The appeal to religion in order to murder people and destroy the evidence of human creativity developed in the course of history makes the on-going atrocities even more revulsive and damnable. An adequate response from the International Community, which should finally put aside sectarian interests and save lives, is a moral imperative.?
?Violence, however, does not stem from religion but from its false interpretation or itstransformation into ideology. In addition, the same violence can derive from the idolatry of State or of the economy, and it can be an effect of secularization. All these phenomena tend to eliminate individual freedom and responsibility towards others. But, violence is always an individual?s act and a decision that implies personal responsibility. It is in fact by adopting an ethics of responsibility that the way toward the future can become fruitful, preventing violence and breaking the impasse between extreme positions: one that upholds any form of freedom of expression and the other that
rejects any criticism of a religion. ??
?Freedom of expression that is misused to wound the dignity of persons by offending their deepest convictions sows the seeds of violence. Of course, freedom of expression is a fundamental human right that is always to be upheld and protected; in fact, it also implies the obligation to say in a responsible way what a person thinksin view of the common good. ? It does not, however, justify relegating religion to a subculture of insignificant weight or to an acceptable easy target of ridicule and discrimination. Antireligious arguments even in the form of irony can surely be accepted, as it is acceptable to use irony about secularism or atheism. Criticism of religious thinking can even help
dismantle various extremisms. But what can justify gratuitous insults and spiteful derision of the religious feelings and convictions of others who are, after all, equal in dignity? Can we make fun of the cultural identity of a person, of the colour of his skin, of the belief of his heart? A ?right to offend? does not exist. ??
?Several mutually interdependent issues like freedom of religion, freedom of expression, religious intolerance, and violence in the name of religion come together in the concrete situations the world faces today. The way forward seems
to be the adoption of acomprehensive approach that would consider these issues together in domestic legislation and deal with them in such a way that they may facilitate a peaceful coexistence based on the respect of the inherent human dignity and rights of every person. While opting to be on the side of freedom, the consequences of its exercise cannot be ignored and they should respect this dignity and, thus, build a more humane and more brotherly global society.?

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ourselves or leading us merely to inner balance, enable us always to start again
from Jesus, and constitute a genuine school for growth in love for God and neighbour".
"Starting from her encounter with Jesus, St. Teresa lived 'another life'; she transformed herself into a tireless communicator of the Gospel. Keen to serve the Church, and faced with the great problems of her time, she did not limit herself to being an observer of the situations surrounding her. ... In this way she began the Teresian reform in which she asked her sisters not to waste time discussing 'matters of little importance' with God while "the world is in flames'. This missionary and ecclesial dimension has always distinguished the Discalced Carmelites. As she did during her times, St. Teresa opens up new horizons to us today; she calls us to a great enterprise, to look upon the world
through Christ's eyes, to seek what He seeks and to love what He loves".
"St. Teresa knew that neither prayer nor mission could sustain an authentic community life. Therefore, the foundation she laid in her monasteries was fraternity. ... She was very careful to warn her sisters of the danger of self-referentiality in fraternal life", emphasising the need to "'place what we are at the service of others. To avoid such risks, the Saint of Avila reminded her sisters above all of the virtue of humility, which is neither outward neglect nor inner timidness of the soul; instead, it involves each person being aware of their own possibilities and of what God can achieve in us. The contrary
is what she refers to as a 'false point of honour', a source of gossip, jealousy
and criticism, that seriously harm relations with others. ... With these noble roots, Teresian communities are called to become houses of communion, able to bear witness to the fraternal and maternal love of the Church, presenting to the
Lord the needs of the world, riven by divisions and wars".

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Pope's telegram for the death of the Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East
Vatican City, 28 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolences to His Beatitude Mar Aprem Locum Tenens of the Assyrian Church of the East for the death of the His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East.
The Pope assures the Assyrian faithful of the spiritual closeness of all Catholics, and remarked that the Christian world has lost "an important spiritual leader, a brave and prudent pastor, who faithfully served his community in extremely difficult times".
His Holiness Mar Dinka "suffered greatly as a result of the tragic situation in
the Middle East, especially in Iraq and in Syria", he continues, "resolutely calling attention to the plight of our Christian brothers and sisters and other religious minorities suffering daily persecution. I recall how we spoke of this at length during the recent visit of His Holiness to Rome. I give heartfelt thanks to Almighty God for the enduring commitment of His Holiness to improving relations among Christians and in particular between the Catholic Church and the
Assyrian Church of the East. May the Lord receive him and grant him eternal repose, and may the memory of his long and devoted service to the Church live on
as a challenge and an inspiration to us all".

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Francis prays for flood victims in Chile and Peru
Vatican City, 28 March 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a telegram on behalf of the Holy Father to Archbishpo Ivo Scapolo, apostolic nuncio in Chile, on account of the floodings and landslides caused by intense rainfall, that have already claimed six lives and left 19 people missing
and thousands injured in the north of Chile; in southern Peru a further six people have been killed. The torrential rains have caused a total of at least 4,000 victims in both countries.
"Due to the severe flooding that has affected areas of Peru and Chile, causing casualties and heavy damage to property, the Holy Father offers prayers for the eternal repose of the deceased and asks for the Lord to grant consolation and strength to those affected by this disaster.
The Holy Father furthermore exhorts all institutions and persons of good will, motivated by sentiments of fraternal solidarity and Christian charity, to offer assistance to overcome these difficult moments, and offers them his heartfelt blessing".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 30 March 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo, secretary of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life;
- Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity;
- Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa, Italy, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference;
- Msgr. Jean-Louis Brugues, archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church;
- Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican; vicar general of His Holiness for Vatican City State; president of the Fabric of St. Peter;
- Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 30 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
- Fr. Alberto Vera Arejula, O. de M., as auxiliary of the diocese of Xai-Xai (area 75,709, population 1,664,000, Catholics 298,000, priests 27, religious 81), Mozambique. The bishop-elect was born in Aguilar del Rio Alhama, Spain in 1957, gave his solemn vows in 1981, and was ordained a priest in the same year. He studied theology and psychology and, in his pastoral ministry has served in a
number of roles including parish vicar, formator of postulants and promoter of vocations in the Vicariate of Central America in Guatemala; provincial counsellor and head of youth and vocational pastoral ministry for the Province of Aragon, Spain; formator of the community, superior of the Community of Matola-Mozambiqye, rector of studies of the Mercedarian Seminary, parish priest,
primary and secondary school director, and diocesan counsellor for Caritas in Maputo, Mozambique. He is currently provincial delegate for the Mercedarian Fathers in Mozambique and parish priest in Xai-Xai.
On Sunday, 29 March, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Michael Goro Matsuura, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Osaka, Japan, as bishop of Nagoya (area 25,306, population 12,379,569, Catholics 26,666, priests 115, permanent deacons 3, religious 268), Japan. He succeeds Bishop Augustinus Jun-ichi Nomura, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
On Saturday, 28 March, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria, presented by Bishop Athanasius
Atule Usuh, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. He is
succeeded by Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, C.M.F., coadjutor of the same diocese.

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the Virgin Mary protect and intercede for us all".

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Holy Father's calendar for April to June 2015
Vatican City, 14 April 2015 (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 from April to June 2015:
APRIL
Sunday 26, Fourth Sunday of Easter: at 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, priestly ordinations and Holy Mass.
MAY
Sunday 3, Fifth Sunday of Easter: at 4 p.m., pastoral visit to the parish of "Santa Maria Regina Pacis", Ostia.
Tuesday 12: at 5.30 p.m., at the Altar of the Cathedra in St. Peter's Basilica,
Holy Mass to inaugurate the General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis.
Sunday 17, Seventh Sunday of Easter: at 10 a.m. St. Peter's Basilica, Holy Mass
for the canonisation of Blesseds Jeanne-Emilie de Villeneuve; Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception Brando; Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas; and Marie of Jesus Crucified Baouardy.
Sunday 24: Pentecost. At 10 a.m. Holy Mass in the Vatican Basilica.
JUNE
Thursday 4: Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. At 7 p.m., Holy Mass in the Vatican Basilica; procession to St. Mary Major and Eucharistic blessing.
Saturday 6: Apostolic trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia.
Sunday 21 - Monday 22: Pastoral visit to Turin.
Saturday 27: At 10 a.m. in the Consistory Hall, consistory for various causes for canonisation.
Monday 29: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. At 9.30 in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass and blessing of the Pallia of the new metropolitan archbishops.

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Programme of the Pope's visit to Sarajevo
Vatican City, 14 April 2015 (VIS) - On 6 June the Pope will make an apostolic trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. He will leave from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 7.30 a.m., and will arrive at Sarajevo International Airport an hour later. A welcome ceremony will be held in the square adjacent to the presidential palace, during which he will meet with the presidency of the country and the local authorities, to whom he will address his greetings.
At 11 a.m., in the Kosevo Stadium, he will celebrate Holy Mass, after which he will transfer to the apostolic nunciature where he will lunch with bishops. Following a short rest, at 4.20 p.m. he will meet with priests, men and women religious, and seminarians. An hour later he will participate in an ecumenical and interreligious meeting in the International Centre for Franciscan students.
He will meet with young people at 8.30 in the "John Paul II" diocesan youth centre, and at around 8 p.m. will return to the airport to embark on his return flight for Rome, where he is expected to arrive at 9.20 p.m.

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Presentation of the Holy See Pavilion at EXPO 2015
Vatican City, 14 April 2015 (VIS) - A press conference was held this morning in
the Holy See Press Office to present the Holy See Pavilion at "EXPO Milan" 2015,
Italy, to be held from 1 May to 31 October this year, which will take as its theme: "Not by bread alone". The Pavilion was promoted, constructed and organised by the Pontifical Council for Culture, the Italian Episcopal Conference, the diocese of Milan and the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum".
The speakers at the conference were Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture and commissioner general for the Holy See for
EXPO 2015; Msgr. Domenico Pompili, under-secretary of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) and Msgr. Luca Bressan, episcopal vicar for culture, charity, the mission and social action in the diocese of Milan.
Cardinal Ravasi explained that "the presence of the Holy See Pavilion at EXPO Milan 2015 is not a novelty, considering that from the papacies of Pius IX to Benedict XVI the Holy See has taken part in international exhibitions to demonstrate the Church's desire to make her voice heard and to offer her testimony regarding the delicate themes, relevant to the future, that are from time to time proposed by the Expositions, especially in recent decades. The cultural policy of the Holy See therefore remains coherent in confirming the importance of being present and taking part in debates on crucial matters regarding the ways in which we inhabit our planet and safeguard the future".
In particular, for EXPO 2015, the Holy See intends to guide visitors' attention
towards the symbolic relevance of nourishment and the potential for the anthropological development of the theme in all its breadth and complexity. The Holy See Pavilion will take as its title two short Biblical phrases: 'Not by bread alone' and 'Give us today our daily bread', which lead towards a broad and
full rather than a reductive view of human needs, and to a concrete approach mindful of daily life, with its demands and emergencies".
Msgr. Domenico Pompili affirmed that "the intention of EXPO 2015 is to imagine another form of food justice, thereby providing the opportunity for world Countries to share ideas on how to improve food security. Its purpose is also to
reconsider the role of science and research, crucial to the development of risk management technology. In the meantime, it is important to acknowledge the ongoing commitment of Italian churches to ensuring food to those in need. The participation of the Italian Episcopal Conference, alongside the Holy See and the diocese of Milan, thus represents a commitment that extends beyond the timeframe of Milan's Universal Exhibition. Over 4,000,000 people in Italy (70 per cent of whom are Italian citizens) currently live below the poverty line while the number of the most deprived requiring food aid in Italy continues to rise. These people are supported in their primary needs by almost 15,000 territorial charitable structures. Through food parcels, soup kitchens or other more innovative forms of intervention, such structures offer support to the most
needy".
Msgr. Luca Bressan commented that the Holy See Pavilion will offer to help tourists and citizens encounter "the mystical dimension, openness to God". He added that the method to be followed will be that of posing problems and making suggestions to solve them, "used with success by Pope Francis, to show that the Church is not a sour schoolmistress but rather a sister who shares our path with
lucidity and a vision of the future, a devoted mother able to show the ways and the resources of the future". On 18 May, the Church's presence at Expo Milan 2015 will be inaugurated with a show demonstrating that the relationship with food is the place in which man's lack of harmony with Creation and with other human beings is made most tangible; "where, more than any other place, the throwaway culture is most glaringly evident".
The feast day of Corpus Christi will be celebrated during Expo Milan 2015, offering an opportunity to show to the world that "the nourishment and future of
man and of Creation are protected and generated by this bread that is, in reality, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, Who died for us and rose again, God's love made flesh. ... We will be able to show how, in Jesus Christ, God makes
us able to be in solidarity with all these hungers". Expo will also serve to highlight that Christians cannot fail to be environmentally aware, since the consequences of consumerism and wastefulness that obscure the original role linked to food and the act of nourishing are clearly visible in "emergencies such as the waste of resources and the enormous inequalities in their distribution, ... and in the phenomenon of pollution and the unchecked exploitation of the planet's resources". All this "is contrary to the Creator's original plan and is the sign of a still very immature way of undertaking our task of inhabiting the planet like a garden able to nourish everyone". Therefore, in the streets of Milan, in the abbeys that surround the city and in the "Sacri Monti" of the Alps, the feast day of Creation, a traditional event for Eastern Christians, will be celebrated and will become for the visitors of Expo Milan 2015 a form of "sentinel" for nature.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 14 April 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Msgr. Luigi Misto, secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony
of the Apostolic See, as secretary of the Administrative Section of the Secretariat for the Economy;
- appointed Msgr. Mauro Rivella as secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See;
- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archieparchy of Petra of Philadelphia of the Greek-Melkites, Jordan, presented by Bishop Yasser Ayyash, in accordance with canon 210 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

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that what we hold in common is much greater than any of our differences".
Archbishop Sartain added, "Over the past several years, I have had the honour of working with L.C.W.R. officers and meeting a large number of L.C.W.R. members
through the implementation of the Mandate. Our work included the revision of L.C.W.R. Statutes;review of L.C.W.R. publications, programs and speakers; and discussion of a wide range of issues raised by the Doctrinal Assessment, L.C.W.R., and the Bishop Delegates.The assistance of C.D.F. officials was essential to the great progress we made. Our work together was undertaken in an atmosphere of love for the Church and profound respect for the critical place of
religious lifein the United States, and the very fact of such substantive dialogue between bishops and religious women has been mutually beneficial and a blessing from the Lord. As we state in our joint final report, æThe commitment of L.C.W.R. leadership to its crucial role in service to the mission and membership of the Conference will continue to guide and strengthen L.C.W.R.'s witness to the great vocation of Religious Life, to its sure foundation in Christ, and to ecclesial communion'. The other two Bishop Delegates and I are grateful for the opportunity to be involved in such a fruitful dialogue."

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Presentation of the Annuarium Pontificium
Vatican City, 16 April 2015 (VIS) - The Annuarium Pontificium 2015 and the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2013 have been issued this morning. The former reveals some new aspects of the life of the Church that have emerged between February 2014 and February 2015, and the latter illustrates the changes that took place in 2013.
The statistics referring to the year 2013, show the dynamics of the Catholic Church in the world's 2,989 ecclesiastical circumscriptions. It may be seen that
in this period one diocese and two eparchies have been elevated to the level of metropolitan sees; three new episcopal sees, three eparchies and one archiepiscopal exarchate have been erected; one territorial prelature has been elevated to a diocese, and one apostolic prefecture to an apostolic vicariate.
Since 2005, the number of Catholics worldwide has increased from 1,115 million to 1,254 million, an increase of 139 million faithful. During the last two years, the presence of baptised Catholics in the world has increased from 17.3% to 17.7%.
There has been a 34% increase in Catholics in Africa, which has experienced a population increase of 1.9% between 2005 and 2013. The increase of Catholics in Asia (3.2% in 2013, compared to 2.9% in 2005) has been higher than that of population growth in Asia. In America Catholics continue to represent 63% of a growing population. In Europe, where the population is stagnant, there has been a slight increase in the number of baptised faithful in recent years. The percentage of baptised Catholics in Oceania remains stable although in a declining population.
From 2012 to 2013 the number of bishops has increased by 40 from 5,133 to 5,173. In North America and Oceania there has been a reduction of 6 and 5 bishops respectively, in contrast to an increase of 23 in the rest of the American continent, 5 in Africa, 14 in Asia and 9 in Europe.
The number of priests, diocesan and religious, increased from 414,313 in 2012 to 415,348 in 2013.
Candidates to the priesthood - diocesan and religious - dropped from 120,616 in
2011 to 118,251 in 2013 (-2%). An increase of 1.5% is recorded in Africa, compared to a decrease of 0.5% in Asia, 3.6% in Europe and 5.2% in North America.
The number of permanent deacons continues to grow well, passing from 33,391 in 2005 to 43,000 in 2013. They are present in North America and Europe in particular (96.7%), with the remaining 2.4% distributed between Africa, Asia and
Oceania.
The number of professed religious other than priests has grown by 1%, from 54,708 in 2005 to 55,000 in 2013. They have increased in number in Africa by 6% and Asia by 30%, and decreased in America (2,8%), Europe (10.9%) and Oceania (2%). The significant reduction in women religious is affirmed: currently 693,575 compared to 760,529 in 2005: -18.3% in Europe, -17.1 % in Oceania, and -15.5 in America. However, an increase of 18% in Africa and 10% in Asia is recorded.

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Cardinal Montenegro to take possession of his titular church
Vatican City, 16 April 2015 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff today announced that on Sunday, 19 April at 11.30 a.m., Cardinal Francesco Montenegro, archbishop of Agrigento, Italy, will take possession of the title of Santi Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio (Piazza San Gregorio, 1).

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Audiences
Vatican City, 16 April 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Twenty-seven prelates of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, on their "ad Limina" visit:
- Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth of Kisumu;
- Bishop Norman King'oo Wambua of Bungoma;
- Bishop Cornelius Kipng'eno Arap Korir of Eldoret;
- Bishop Philip A. Anyolo of Homa Bay;
- Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe of Kakamega;
- Bishop Joseph Mairura Okemwa of Kisii;
- Bishop Maurice Anthony Crowley, S.P.S., of Kitale;
- Bishop Dominic Kimengich of Lodwar;
- Archbishop Martin Musonde Kivuva of Mombasa;
- Bishop Paul Darmanin, O.F.M. Cap., of Garissa, with his coadjutor, Bishop Joseph Alessandro;
- Bishop Emanuel Barbara, O.F.M. Cap., of Malindi;
Cardinal John Njue, archbishop of Nairobi;
- Bishop Emanuel Okombo Wandera of Kericho;
- Bishop Anthony Muheria of Kitui;
- Bishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Nakuru;
- Bishop John Oballa Owaa of Ngong;
- Archbishop Peter J. Kairo of Nyeri;
- Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru of Embu;
- Bishop Virgilio Pante of Maralal;
- Bishop Peter Kihara Kariuki, I.M.C., of Marsabit;
- Bishop Salesius Mugambi of Meru;
- Bishop James Maria Wainaina Kungu of Muranga;
- Bishop Joseph Mbatia of Nyahururu, with Bishop emeritus Luigi Paiaro;
- Bishop Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich, military ordinary;
- Bishop Anthony Ireri Mukobo, I.M.C., apostolic vicar of Isiolo.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 16 April 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- appointed Msgr. Werner Freistetter as military ordinary of Austria (priests 12, permanent deacons 3, religious 4), Austria. The bishop-elect was born in Linz, Austria in 1953 and was ordained a priest in 1979. He studied theology in Vienna and in Rome at the Germanic-Hungarian College, and has held a number of pastoral roles, including parish vicar and parish priest in Vienna, assistant at
the Institute of Ethical and Social Sciences at the Catholic Faculty of the University of Vienna, collaborator in the Pontifical Council for Culture, and member of the Holy See Representation at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (O.S.C.E.). He is currently director of the Institut fur Religion und Friede and episcopal vicar of the Austrian Military Ordinariate, and spiritual assistant of the Catholic International Military Apostolate. He succeeds Bishop Christian Werner, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same military ordinary in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
- appointed Msgr. Wilhelm Krautwaschl as bishop of Graz-Seckau (area 16,401, population 1,210,971, Catholics 853,594, priests 449, permanent deacons 69, religious 722), Austria. The bishop-elect was born in Gleisdorf, Austria in 1963
and was ordained a priest in 1990. He holds a doctorate in theology from the University of Graz, and has served as deputy priest and parish priest in numerous parishes in the diocese of Graz-Seckau, and as dean of the deanery of Bruck an der Mur. He is currently rector of the seminary of Graz and responsible
for vocational pastoral ministry, and judge at the diocesan tribunal.

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People of God; may your homilies never be dull; may your homilies arrive straight to the heart of the people as they come from your heart: what you say to them is what you have in your heart. In this way one offers the Word of the Lord, and in this way your doctrine will be joy and sustenance to Christ's faithful; the aroma of your life will be witness, as example edifies, whereas words without example are empty. They are ideas that never reach the heart and may even do harm; they do not do good".

"When you celebrate Mass, acknowledge then what you are doing. Do not be hasty! Imitate what you celebrate - it is not an artificial rite. ... With Baptism, you
will add new faithful to the People of God. You must never refuse Baptism to those who ask for it. With the Sacrament of Penance you will forgive sins in the
name of Christ and of the Church. And I, in the name of the Jesus Christ, the Lord, and His spouse, the Holy Church, I ask you never to tire of being merciful. You will be in the confessional to forgive, not to condemn! Imitate the Father, Who never tires of forgiving. With the holy oils you will bring relief to the sick. By celebrating the holy rites and raise at the different times of the day the prayers of praise and supplication, you will become the voice of the People of God and of the whole of humanity. Aware of having been chosen among men and constituted for their benefit to attend to matters of God, exercise Christ's priestly work with joy and sincere charity, intent solely on pleasing God and not yourselves. A priest who lives to please himself, who acts like a peacock, is unpleasant".

"Finally, participating in Christ's mission as Head and Pastor in filial communion with your bishop, make efforts to unite the faithful in a single family - you are ministers of unity in the Church and in the family - to lead them to God the Father by means of Christ in the Holy Spirit", he concluded, adding. "and always keep before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, Who did not come to be served, but to serve; not to remain in comfort, but to reach out to seek and save what was lost".

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Regina Coeli: contemplation and thanksgiving are not enough - we must follow the
Good Shepherd

Vatican City, 26 April 2015 (VIS) - At the end of the celebration of Holy Mass for new vocations, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray this Sunday's Regina Coeli with the faithful gathered in the square. Beforehand the Holy Father spoke about the figure of Jesus, the Good Shepherd in Whom we contemplate God's Providence.

"The Father gave us the greatest and most precious gift He could give. It is the
highest and purest love, as it is not motivated by any need, it is not conditioned by any calculation, it is not attracted by any interest to receive in exchange. Before this love of God, we experience immense joy and open ourselves up to the the acknowledgement of what we have freely received. But contemplating and giving thanks are not enough. We must also follow the Good Shepherd. In particular, those who have the mission of guides in the Church - priests, bishops, popes - are called upon to assume not the mentality of a manager but rather that of a servant, in imitation of Jesus Who, despoiling Himself, saved us with His mercy. The new priests of the diocese of Rome, whom I
have had the joy of ordaining this morning in St. Peter's Basilica, are also called to this style of pastoral life".

The Pope invited two of the newly ordained priests to appear at the window to greet the people and to thank the faithful for their ordination, and he asked that Our Lady might obtain for him, for the bishops and the priests of all the world the grace of serving the holy people of God through the joyful preaching of the Gospel, heartfelt celebration of the Sacraments and patient and gentle pastoral guidance".

Following the Marian prayer, the Pope assured his closeness to those affected by
the powerful earthquake in Nepal and neighbouring countries. "I pray for the victims, for the injured, and for all those who suffer as a result of this disaster", he said. "May they have the support of fraternal solidarity. And let us pray to Our Lady to be close to them".

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Telegram for the earthquake in Nepal

Vatican City, 26 April 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a telegram of condolences on behalf of the Holy Father to Bishop Paul Simick, of the apostolic vicariate of Nepal, for the victims of the earthquake that struck the country and neighbouring India, Tibet and Bangladesh.

"His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the earthquake and the resultant loss of many hundreds of lives in Nepal, as well as in neighbouring countries. He expresses his solidarity with all affected by this disaster and assures those who grieve for deceased family members of his closeness in prayer. His Holiness commends the souls of the victims to the loving mercy of the Almighty and he offers encouragement to the civil authorities and emergency personnel as they continue their rescue efforts and assistance to those touched by this tragedy. Upon them all he invokes the blessings of the Almighty as a pledge of healing and consolation".

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To the John Paul II Foundation: nurture solidarity with Christian fraternity

Vatican City, 25 April 2015 (VIS) - "The canonisation of John Paul II has given a new impulse to your work in the service of the Church and evangelisation. It has rendered it, if possible, even more universal. And you offer a valuable contribution to ensuring that the spiritual legacy of this Pope saint may continue to make fertile the great field of the Church and to support her path through history", said the Pope this morning to the members of the John Paul II Foundation, whom he received in audience in the Sala Clementina of the Apostolic
Palace.

Francis thanked them for their initiatives in the educational field, recalling John Paul II's great love for the young. "You contribute to ensuring that his charism and his paternity continue to bear fruit", he remarked, also emphasising
the valuable opportunities they offer to priests and laypeople to enhance their formation, to be better prepared and to accompany communities in facing the cultural and pastoral challenges of our times.

"It is enough to think of one of the key words of his teaching, 'solidarity': a word that some people thought ought to become obsolete, but which in reality still retains all its prophetic force", he continued. "Therefore, it is important that you, first of all, in your 'network' of the Circles of Friends of
the Foundation, live this solidarity among yourselves, nurturing it continually with Christian fraternity, inspired in turn by prayer and obedience to the Word of God".

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Audiences

Vatican City, 27 April 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Professor Riccardo Di Segni, Chief Rabbi of Rome;

- Archbishop Bruno Musaro, apostolic nuncio to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Holy See delegate at the League of Arab States;

- Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, apostolic nuncio to Cuba;

- Ten prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Benin, on their "ad Limina" visit:

- Archbishop Antoine Ganye of Cotonou;

- Bishop Eugene Cyrille Houndekon of Abomey;

- Bishop Francois Gnonhossou, S.M.A., of Dassa-Zoume;

- Bishop Victor Agbanou of Lokossa;

- Archbishop Pascal N'Koue of Parakou;

- Bishop Paul Kouassivi Vieira of Djougou;

- Bishop Clet Feliho of Kandi;

- Bishop Antoine Sabi Bio of Natitingou;

- Bishop Martin Adjou Moumouni of N'Dali;

- Rev. Jean-Benoit Gnambode, diocesan administrator of Porto Novo.

On Saturday, 25 April, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;

- Guillermo Leon Escobar Herran, new ambassador of Colombia to the Holy See, presenting his letters of credence;

- Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines;

- Msgr. Fernando Chica Arellano, Holy See permanent observer at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (F.A.O.), International Fund for Agricultural Development (I.F.A.D.), and World Food Programme (W.F.P.);

- Bishop Antonio Augusto dos Santos Marto of Leiria-Fatima, Portugal.

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Other Pontifical Acts

Vatican City, 27 April 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Bishop John C.
Wester of Salt Lake City, U.S.A., as metropolitan archbishop of Sante Fe (area 158,296, population 1,473,000, Catholics 328,850, priests 207, permanent deacons
215, religious 269), U.S.A. He succeeds Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age
limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

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who,in transmitting the life of faith, support Christian communities and, in particular, our parishes in a decisive way. On June 12, we will have a large gathering for the sick and disabled, as well as for those who care for them with
such love and dedication. On November 6, we will celebrate the Jubilee for those
in prison. This will be held not only in prisons but we have been studying the possibility of giving many of those in prison the opportunity to celebrate their
own Holy Year with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica.
"Secondly, there will significant efforts to enact Pope Francis vision and witness of reaching out to those on the existential 'peripheries' of society, in
order to give a direct testimony to the Church's affinity and care for the poor,
the suffering, the marginalised, and all those who need a sign of tenderness. These moments will have a symbolic meaning, but we will also ask bishops and priests to perform in their own dioceses similar symbolic gestures of communion with Pope Francis so that everyone may receive a concrete sign of the Church's ministry of mercy and closeness. As a concrete sign of the Pope's charitable love, which is an essential component of this Jubilee, effective measures will be taken to meet real needs in the world that will express mercy through tangible assistance.
"Thirdly, we must meet the needs of the many pilgrims who will come alone to Rome apart from any organised tour or tour group. For these individuals, there will be a number of churches in the historic centre of Rome where they will feel
welcome, where they can have moments of reflective prayer and prepare themselves
thoroughly to walk through the Holy Door in an atmosphere of genuine spiritual devotion. All the pilgrims who will come to Rome, however, will have a privileged route through which to walk through the Holy Door. This is necessary in order to ensure that the event is lived in a religious way, safe from any climate of abuse that can easily confront millions of people making a pilgrimage
to Christian holy sites.
"The official website for the Jubilee has already been launched: www.iubilaeummisericordiae.va, and can be accessed also at www.im.va. The site is available in seven languages: Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and Polish. On the site you will find official information regarding the
calendar of the major public events, information for participating in the events
with the Holy Father, and all of the official communications regarding the Jubilee. Also, through the site,dioceses will be able to receive information and
pastoral suggestions, register pilgrimage groups, andrelay to us their local diocesan projects. The website uses a number of social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus and Flickr) through which we will be able to provide updates on the Holy Father's initiative and follow in real time the major events as they take place. We have also been studying the possibility of an app with which to better integrate all this information".
Archbishop Fisichella concluded, "We are convinced that the path of mercy on which Pope Francis has placed the Church in this journey of the Jubilee will be a moment of true grace for all Christians and a reawakening to the path of the new evangelisation and the pastoral conversion the Pope has indicated. As Pope Francis wrote: 'In this Jubilee Year, may the Church echo the word of God that resounds strong and clear as a message and a sign of pardon, strength, aid, and love. May she never tire of extending mercy, and be ever patient in offering compassion and comfort. May the Church become the voice of every man and woman, and repeat confidently without end: Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old'".

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Cardinal Leonardo Sandri: signs of light in the churches of Iraq
Vatican City, 5 May 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, concluded his visit to Iraq with a meeting with the bishops of the country with the entities that form the Roaco (Riunione Opere Aiuto Chiese Orientali", "Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches") in Erbil.
The cardinal, in his second trip to Iraq, brought Pope Francis' blessing to Iraqi Christians the acknowledgement and encouragement of the Authorities for their work in the difficult current context of Iraq in favour of Christians, other minorities and those who suffer as a result of the violence. From 1 to 3 May Cardinal Sandri visited Baghdad where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph and lunched with refugees assisted by various ecclesial institutions. In Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, he met
with the Roaco delegation which is planning aid projects in various areas of pastoral life and in the assistance of refugees.
In his final address to the bishops in Erbil, the cardinal referred to the "signs of light" he had seen in the Churches of Iraq during his visit: "The liturgy, the hymns, the trust in Mary, but above all the splendour of charity, through ordinary works and those linked to the various forms of welcome and pastoral assistance to displaced and persecuted people. I have encountered first
hand the heroic dedication of the many priests who are truly good pastors, who do not flee, who stay beside their flock; I have been moved by the profound communion that goes before any theological discussion, although the latter is necessary, and any other form of ecumenical agreement, when priests of different
Christian churches wish well to each other and, along with the laypeople, organise aid activities for displaced persons, or guide educational paths in schools and parishes. It is also good to see the collaboration that the various agencies of the Roaco have offered in the planning and implementation phases for
the good of all of you".
"You are all members of the Synods of the respective patriarchal Churches", he affirmed, addressing the bishops. "Along with the patriarchs and in communion with them, seek to ensure that the ecclesial body grows with collaboration at every juncture. And I add: especially in this time of difficulty that Iraq is experiencing requires ever deeper communion between the Churches. I hope that this may occur between the Chaldean and Syro-Catholic Churches, which represent the majority, and between these two and the smaller Churches. Let us reject any form of isolation or self-referentiality, and I invite you to recognise and enhance the value of the assembly of Catholic bishops of Iraq and the assembly in which you gather with your brethren in the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Indeed, ensure that the logic of majority and minority that is causing so much harm to the country does not have implications within the confines of the Church, although I am sure that this danger is far removed from reality".
Cardinal Sandri concluded his address by invoking the protection of Our Lady and of St. Peter for Pope Francis, "always so close to the Christians of the Middle East and to all those who are persecuted", and for their Beatitudes the Patriarchs Louis Raphael I Sako of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and Ignatius Joseph III Younan of the Syro-Catholic Church.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 5 May 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, Monday 4 May, the Holy Father received in audience Bishop Nunzio Galantino, secretary of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

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Composition and Members, Plenary Assembly, Personnel, Working Groups, and General Norms.
The first part explains that the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is an autonomous institution linked to the Holy See with a public legal personality and has an advisory function in the service of the Holy Father. The protection of minors, the text continues, is of the first importance, and therefore it is the role of the Commission to propose initiatives to the Pontiff, following the modalities indicated in the Statutes, to promote the responsibility of the particular Churches in the protection of all minors and vulnerable adults. These proposals will have to receive prior approval by the majority of two thirds of the members of the Commission. For the elaboration of the proposals, when the matter falls within the competence of other ecclesial bodies, the president of the Commission, with the assistance of the secretary, will consult the competent entities for the protection of minors in the particular Churches, the episcopal conferences, the conferences of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, as well as the dicastery of the Roman Curia competent in the matter. This consultation will
take place in a transparent manner with the members of the Commission, based in Vatican City State.
The Commission, according to the second part, is composed of a maximum of eighteen members appointed by the Holy Father for a three-year period, which may
be reconfirmed, and are selected from persons of recognised competence in various areas linked to the activity entrusted to the Commission. Both the president and the secretary are appointed from among the members by the Holy Father for a period of three years, a mandate that may be reconfirmed.
The plenary assembly, as explained in the third part, will be convoked twice yearly. Upon request by two thirds of the Members and with the consent of the president, an extraordinary plenary assembly may be convoked. For the plenary assembly to be considered valid, at least two thirds of the members must be present; they may participate via video conference.
The members of the Commission, the personnel and the collaborators with the working groups, according to the final part, are required to observe the norms of professional secrecy regarding the news and information they become aware of in the exercise of their tasks and functions.

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Publication of the Chirograph by which Pope Francis instituted the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
Vatican City, 8 May 2015 (VIS) - To complete the publication of the Statutes, the Chirograph by which the Pope instituted the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors on 22 March 2014 was also published today.
"The effective protection of minors and a commitment to ensure their human and spiritual development, in keeping with the dignity of the human person, are integral parts of the Gospel message that the Church and all members of the faithful are called to spread throughout the world. Many painful actions have caused a profound examination of conscience for the entire Church, leading us to
request forgiveness from the victims and from our society for the harm that has been caused. This response to these actions is the firm beginning for initiatives of many different types, which are intended to repair the damage, to
attain justice, and to prevent, by all means possible, the recurrence of similar
incidents in the future.
For these reasons, and after having received the counsel of many cardinals and members of the college of bishops, together with other collaborators and experts
in these matters, I decided to continue the work begun by my Predecessors by establishing a permanent Commission attached to the Holy See. The aim of the Commission is to promote the protection of the dignity of minors and vulnerable adults, using the forms and methods, consonant with the nature of the Church, which they consider most appropriate, as well as through their cooperation with individuals and groups pursuing these same objectives.
As I had the opportunity to highlight during an encounter with several victims of sexual abuse, I rely on the members of this Commission for the effective protection of minors and vulnerable adults, regardless of religion they profess,
because they are the little ones on whom the Lord looks with love. To my collaborators in this work, I ask for all efforts possible to assist me in responding to these needs of these little ones.
The Commission's specific task is to propose to me the most opportune initiatives for protecting minors and vulnerable adults, in order that we may do
everything possible to ensure that crimes such as those which have occurred are no longer repeated in the Church. The Commission is to promote local responsibility in the particular Churches, uniting their efforts to those of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, for the protection of all children and vulnerable adults.
It is for all these reasons that I have instituted the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
All that is established with the present Chirograph has full and stable effect,
anything to the contrary not notwithstanding, even if deserving of special mention".

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The Pope meets with a group of evangelical pastors
Vatican City, 8 May 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father received in private a group of around one hundred Pentecostal evangelical pastors from various parts of the world, who had expressed their wish to meet him. The group was led by Pastor Giovanni Traettino, whose community the Pope visited in Caserta last year. The meeting took place in the room adjacent to the Paul VI Hall and was characterised by lively cordiality and a spirit of prayer for unity. The Holy Father was accompanied by Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 8 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy;
- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., emeritus secretary of State;
- Cardinal Franc Rode, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life;
- Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.

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and its fundamental nature as a game and social activity, ensuring that it does not become distorted under the pressure of many interests, especially those of an economic nature, which are increasingly evident nowadays".

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Canonisation of Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas and Maryam Baouardy: a sign of hope for the men and women of the Middle East
Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office Fr.
Rifat Bader, director of the Catholic Centre for Studies and Media in Amman, Jordan, presented the figure of the Palestinian blesseds Sister Marie-Alphonsine
Danil Ghattas, founder of the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem, and the descalzed Carmelite Maryam Baouardy (Mary of Jesus Crucified). Along with another two women religious, the French Jeanne-Emilie de Villeneuve and the Italian Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception Brando, they will be canonised by Pope Francis this coming Sunday in St. Peter's Square.
The solemn celebration will be attended by cardinals and bishops resident in Rome and from various parts of the world, including a delegation of 2124 people from the Palestine territories and Jordan headed by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal. The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will also be present, along with numerous prelates from Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Cyprus.
"Patriarch Fouad Twal affirmed that 'the declaration of the sainthood of the two nuns from Palestine is a spiritual event of prime importance for the citizens of the Holy Land, amid the difficulties we are experiencing, as the two
saints enlighten our path'", said Fr. Badir. "As the Holy Land, wrecked by violence and dissent, has for some time had a tarnished image, our two saints emerge to restore its sanctity, reminding us that sanctity is possible even in the most difficult circumstances. The canonisation of the two girls from the East during these dark times is an invitation from His Holiness Pope Francis to pray, knowing that only prayer can miraculously help save our faith in the midst
of these times of trial. Now we have two new saints who represent a model of perfection for Christians, as well as for Muslims and Jews alike. They are both named Mary, and this name is widespread and commonly used among all three traditions. It is a sign of our modern time which suggests that we can talk about the three religions without any discrimination".
"This grand event", added Fr. Badir, "is a message of solidarity and encouragement to the Christians of the Holy Land, especially for those in all other Middle East countries, to those who have been forcibly displaced and deported from their home countries, and to all those who suffer persecution, and
whose persecutors sometimes think that by killing they are offering a sacrifice to God, as Jesus Himself warned".
The new saint Mary of Jesus Crucified was "subjected to acts of extremism and an attempt on her life, seeking to force her to change her religion. She now intercedes for those who are being killed because of their religion and their religious affiliation. Her life and intercession are a cry urging respect for religious and ethnic differences as well as acknowledging human beings as creatures who are made in the image and likeness of God". St. Marie-Alphonsine "succeeded in gaining the support of the religious authorities to set up the first Arab religious congregation, and placing the Arab world on the map in the fields of education and religious teaching".
"Furthermore, the rosary schools associated with this Arab religious congregation have a prominent and influential presence in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, the Gulf states and Rome. We realise that during the late 19th and early 20th century this religious congregation contributed to increasing the Arab role in culture, social awareness, spiritual guidance and education of generations of men and women. Illiteracy has been eliminated in many parts of the Middle East as a direct result of the active contribution of nuns and religious congregations to literacy education".
He concluded, "The two saintly nuns, whose canonisation coincides with the Church celebrations of the year of consecrated life and the blessed Marian Month
of May, pray that the Lord would bring peace and calmness to our hearts and minds, and that we will return to worshipping the Almighty. ... We view the consecration of the founder of the Rosary Sisters as an invitation to intensify the daily Rosary prayers in Churches, houses, and parish groups to bring peace, love and mutual respect among all the peoples of the Middle East".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
- Daniel Ramada Piendibene, ambassador of Uruguay to the Holy See, on his farewell visit;
- nine prelates of the Episcopal Conference of the Central African Republic on their "ad Limina" visit:
- Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., of Bangui;
- Bishop Peter Marzinkowski, C.S.Sp., of Alindao, with his coadjutor, Bishop Cyr-Nestor Yapaupa;
- Bishop Edouard Mathos of Bambari;
- Bishop Dennis Kofi Agbenyadzi, S.M.A., of Berberati;
- Bishop Nestor-Desire Nongo-aziagbia, S.M.A., of Bossangoa;
- Bishop Armando Umberto Gianni, O.F.M. Cap., of Bouar;
- Bishop Albert Vanbuel, S.D.B., of Kaga-Bandoro; and
- Bishop Guerrino Perin, M.C.C.I., of Mbaiki.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
- Bishop Francescantonio Nole, O.F.M. Conv., of Tursi-Lagonegro, Italy, as metropolitan archbishop of Cosenza-Bisignano (area 2,537, population 384,000, Catholics 382,000, priests 230, permanent deacons 40, religious 377), Italy. He succeeds Archbishop Salvatore Nunnari, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
- Msgr. Domenico Pompili as bishop of Rieti (area 1,818, population 99,046, Catholics 93,003, priests 96, deacons 15, religious 227), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Rome, Italy in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1988. He holds a licentiate and doctorate in moral theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral and administrative roles in the diocese of Anagni-Alatri, including parish priest, special secretary to the bishop, director of the diocesan office for social communications and episcopal vicar for pastoral ministry. He is currently director of the national office for social communications of the Italian Episcopal Conference, under-secretary of the Italian Episcopal Conference, secretary of the Communication and Culture Foundation, and lecturer in moral theology at the Pontifical Theological Leonian Institute of Anagni.
Yesterday, Thursday 14 May, the Holy Father appointed Msgr. Patrick McKinney as
bishop of Nottingham (area 13,000, population 4,535,000, Catholics 155,000, priests 163, permanent deacons 39, religious 92), England. The bishop-elect was born in Birmingham, England in 1954 and was ordained a priest in 1978. He holds a licentiate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and has served in a number of pastoral roles in the archdiocese of Birmingham, including parish assistant, teacher of fundamental theology and subsequently rector of the Seminary of St. Mary's, parish priest, episcopal vicar for the northern sector of Birmingham, and vicar forane of the deanery of Dudley. He was
named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness in 1990.

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reaffirming the importance of combating terrorism, the need for interreligious dialogue was underlined.

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"Never fail to listen to those who knock at your door", say the Pope to men and
women religious in Rome
Vatican City, 16 May 2015 (VIS) - Thousands of men and women religious from Rome - representing the 25 thousand who belong to the Pope's diocese - gathered in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall this morning to meet with the Holy Father, who spoke with them for over an hour, answering all their questions on consecrated life and its difficulties and joys, the relationship between the bearers of different charisms in the Church, and the rapport between cloistered monasteries
and the outside world.
The first question, asked by a nun, related to the balance between cloistered life and involvement in diocesan life, and between silent prayer and proclamation.
"Your vocation is a tension between enclosure and visibility, between God's call to a hidden life and His call to make oneself visible in a certain way, to give a sign", answered the Pope. "One of the things you must never, ever leave behind is time to listen to people. ... It is important to have a connection with
the world, to know what is happening, as your vocation is not a refuge: it is about going straight onto the battlefield, it is about fighting, calling to the heart of the Lord for your city. ... Like Moses who lifted his hands up in prayer
as his people fought. There are also monasteries that set aside half an hour or an hour a day to give food to those who come to ask for it, and this does not go
against enclosure in God. ... It is a service, it is a smile".
The second question, again from a religious sister, concerned the similarities between marriage and consecrated virginity in the vocation to love, and the help
that consecrated persons can offer Christian spouses and vice versa.
"In female consecration there is a spousal element", said Francis. "It is present in male consecration too: we say that a bishop is the spouse of the Church, in Jesus' place. But do not forget that the Church is feminine: she is Jesus' bride. We often forget this, as we forget that the love of nuns is maternal, since the love of the Church is maternal, and the love of Our Lady is maternal. Faithfulness, the expression of the love of the consecrated woman, should - not as a duty but as a natural characteristic - reflect the faithfulness, love and tenderness of the Mother Church and the Mother Mary. ...
It
is the concrete love ... that we find in the Beatitudes. ... Jesus' plan is concrete. I often think that the Beatitudes are the Church's first encyclical".
The third question, from a monk, was dedicated to the concrete collaboration between bearers of different charisms in the local Church, without friction or competition.
"The Church is currently thinking of offering and restoring an old document on the relations between consecrated persons and the bishop", the Holy Father explained. "The 1994 Synod called for the document 'Mutuae relationes' (14 May 1978). Many years have passed and it has not been done. The relationship between
consecrated persons and the bishop, the diocese and priests is not an easy one. However it is necessary to face this task together. In the prefectures, how does
one work on the pastoral plan for this quarter, all together? So it should be in
the Church too. The bishop should not use consecrated persons as substitutes, and equally the religious should not see the bishop as the head of a company providing work".
The last question regarded the accompaniment and spiritual direction of consecrated persons, over 80% of whom are women.
"The accompaniment of men and women religious can be a problem", acknowledged the Pope. "In my former diocese, I always said to the nuns who came to ask for advice, 'Tell me, in your community or your congregation, is there not a wise sister, one who lives the charism well, a good sister with experience, who might
be your spiritual guide?'. 'But she is a woman! But it is a charism of the laity'. Yes, spiritual direction is not the exclusive charism of presbyters: it is a charism of the laity. In primitive monasticism the laity were the great directors. ... The spiritual director is one thing, the confessor is another. I tell the confessor my sins ... but I tell the spiritual director what is happening
in my heart. ... Superiors have the responsibility of finding those in the community, in the congregation, and in the province, who have this charism, of giving them this mission and of forming them and helping them in this. ... I think
that in this respect, however, we are still immature".

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The Pontifical Council for the Family presents the initiative "The Great Mystery: the Gospel of the family, school of humanity for our times"
Vatican City, 16 May 2015 (VIS) - This morning a press conference was held in the Holy See Press Office for the presentation of the project "The Great Mystery: the Gospel of the Family, school of humanity for our times", promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Family and by Maestro Andrea Bocelli. It is a series of events, in particular light and sound shows, to take place in different European cities during the year dedicated to reflection on the family in view of the upcoming Synod assembly in October. The speakers at the conference were Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, the tenor Andrea Bocelli, and Cardinal Lluis Martinez Sistach, archbishop of Barcelona, the first city to host the event in the Basilica of the
Sagrada Familia.
Cardinal Martinez Sistach recalled the universal dimension of Barcelona's basilica, which is visited by more than three million people every year, and its
wealth of biblical, theological and liturgical symbolism. He emphasised that the
initiative of the Pontifical Council, which will open during a time dedicated to
the holy family, will propose, through beauty, music and thought, to "present the beauty and transcendence of the mystery of the Christian family, which consists of an intimate community of life and love between spouses and between parents, children, brothers and sisters, in the bosom of a much larger family, in society and in the Church. The great virtues and values of today's Christian family are necessary and very urgent. We must not forget that Vatican Council II, speaking of marriage and the family, tells us that the well-being of people,
society and the Church are strictly linked to the prosperity of the conjugal and
family communities".
"The basilica of the Sagrada Familia is a manifestation of the great mystery of
God and man", explained the archbishop of Barcelona. "In our time, in which man attempts to build a life without God, as if He had nothing to say to us, this magnificent temple has great meaning. Gaudi, in his masterpiece, shows us that God is the true measure of man. That the secret of his authentic originality resides, as he himself said, in returning to his origins, which are God. The basilica, in the middle of this great city, a space of beauty, faith and hope, leads man to the encounter with He Who is Truth and Beauty itself".

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Audiences
Vatican City, 16 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in separate audiences:
- Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa, Italy, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference;
- Archbishop Alberto Bottari de Castello, apostolic nuncio in Hungary;
- Archbishop Nicola Girasoli apostolic nuncio in Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, Santa Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname; apostolic delegate in the Antilles;
- Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, president of the Supervisory Board of the Institute
for the Works of Religion.
- Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, penitentiary major, with the regent of the apostolic
penitentiary, Msgr. Krzysztof Josef Nykiel.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 16 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Rev. Dariusz Buras as apostolic administrator of Atyrau (area 747,600, population 2,395,000, Catholics 2,000, priests 8, religious 4), Kazakhstan. Rev. Buras was born in Skrzyszow, Poland in 1971 and was ordained a priest in 1998. He has served as parish vicar of the Cathedral Church of Oslo and head of continuing formation of
the priests of the diocese of Tarnow, Poland in service in Norway.

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barriers or walls behind which we can hide to protect ourselves from the effects
of environmental and social degradation. There is no room for the globalisation of indifference, the economy of exclusion or the throwaway culture so often denounced by Pope Francis.Of course, the path is not easy, since this ethical and moral responsibility calls into question the resetting of the development model, requiring a major political and economic commitment. However, as I said to the UN Climate Summit on 23 September 2014, 'the technological and operational bases needed to facilitate this mutual responsibility are already available or within our reach. We have the capacity to start and strengthen a true and beneficial process which will irrigate, as it were, through adaptation and mitigation activities, the field of economic and technological innovation where it is possible to cultivate two interconnected objectives: combating poverty and easing the effects of climate change'".
Cardinal Parolin concluded by conveying Pope Francis' best wishes to the participants, and his hope that "the discussions and reflections of this Conference may contribute to further and deepen reflection on the meaning of the
economy and its goals, as well as to finding ways to guarantee access to a truly
integral human development for all, especially the poor and the future generations".

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The Holy See at the 68th Assembly of the World Health Organisation
Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, president of the
Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers and head of the Holy See delegation at the 68th Assembly of the World Health Organisation, held in Geneva from 18 to 26 May, participated in the debate on the Ebola virus epidemic which has claimed 9,380 lives out of a total of more than 23,000 cases of contagion throughout the world, mainly in West Africa.
"The Holy See delegation wishes to note the importance and the timeliness of the theme for the general discussion", said the archbishop. "The recent Ebola outbreak was a human and public health tragedy, which, among others, showed that
the need to build resilient health systems cannot be over emphasised, as they are essential for the provision of universal health coverage and for a prompt response to outbreaks of disease".
"Unfortunately, most low income countries, which are still afflicted by infectious disease and epidemics, have very poor health systems that need urgent
intervention, if they are to respond to the health needs of the whole population. ... This requires long-term commitment from national governments and
international donors to support resilient health systems and to ensure universal
coverage of health services, thus strengthening the capacity of national health systems to deliver equitable and quality health-care services, and also stepping
up their ability to respond to outbreaks and to improve community ownership and participation. This means short and long-term investment in a number of key elements of the health system; particularly, improved primary health care, an adequate number of trained health workers, availability of medicine, appropriate
infrastructure, update statistical data, sufficient public financing, public-private partnership and scaling up the number of well-equipped health posts and district hospitals. It is also a challenge to donors to make a shift from short-term program funding to long-term comprehensive health service financing".
"The recent report on Global evidence on inequities in rural health protection,
by the International Labour Office, revealed that more than half of the population in rural areas worldwide does not have access to basic healthcare, with many of them at risk of impoverishment or deepened poverty due to out of pocket payment for services. This is clear evidence that, in 2015, we are still a long way from universal coverage. For various reasons, there are strong inequalities in access to healthcare between the rural and urban areas, with the
latter often more advantaged than the former which are most deprived. Embracing the recommendation of the report, my delegation wishes to note the urgent need to address this rural urban divide in the post-2015 Development Agenda, bearing in mind that "human life is always sacred and always has æquality'".
"In many countries, the Catholic Church is privileged to be one of the primary partners of the State in providing much needed health care services to populations in remote areas, through its over 110,000 health and social-welfare institutions around the world", he concluded. "It is therefore important to offer them the necessary collaboration and support so as to enable them to bring
the services close and to render them accessible to poor people in particular. Indeed, in many low-income countries, the contribution of civil society and communities to health services delivery is fundamental".

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Alto Solimoes, Brazil, presented by Bishop Evangelista Alcimar Caldas Magalhaes, O.F.M. Cap., upon reaching the age limit. He is succeeded by Bishop Adolfo Zon Pereira, S.X., coadjutor of the same diocese.
- appointed Fr. Paulo Jackson Nobrego de Sousa as bishop of Garanhuns (area 8,734, population 677,000, Catholics 609,000, priests 60, permanent deacons 7, religious 94), France. The bishop-elect was born in Sao Jose de Espinharas, Brazil in 1969 and was ordained a priest in 1993. He holds a licentiate in Biblical Sciences from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, and a doctorate in biblical theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He has served in a number of pastoral roles in the diocese of Patos, Brazil, including parish administrator, parish vicar, rector of the diocesan seminary, formator of
major seminarians at the archdiocesan seminary of Joao Pessoa, diocesan pastoral
coordinator, and parish priest. He has also served as national secretary of the Organisation of Seminaries and Philosophical and Theological Institutes of Brazil. He is currently professor of sacred scripture at the Pontifical Catholic
University of Minas Gerais, parish priest of the "Senhor Bom Jesus do Horto" parish in Belo Horizonte, and formator of seminarians in Patos.
- appointed Bishop Laurent Dognin, auxiliary of Bordeaux, France, as bishop of Quimper (area 6,785, population 899,870, Catholics 733,000, priests 271, permanent deacons 33, religious 582), France.
- appointed Bishop Pedro Cunha Cruz, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as coadjutor of the diocese of Campanha (area 15,420, population 780,000, Catholics 762,000, priests 116, religious 181), Brazil.
- accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Hamburg, Germany, presented by Bishop Norbert Werbs upon reaching the age limit.

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that a just society recognises the primacy of the right to life from conception to natural end. However, I would like us to go beyond this, and to think carefully about the time that joins the beginning to the end. Therefore, recognising the inestimable value of human life, we must also reflect on the use
we make of it".
Francis emphasised that the measure of the progress of a civilisation is "its capacity to protect life, especially in its most fragile phases, rather than the
spread of technological tools. When we speak about man, we must never forget all
the assaults on the sacredness of human life. The scourge of abortion is an assault on life. Leaving our brothers to die on boats in the Sicilian straits is
an assault on life. Death at work due to a failure to respect the minimum safety
requirements is an assault on life. Death due to hunger is an assault on life. Terrorism, war, violence are all assaults on life, as is is euthanasia".
"I encourage you to relaunch a culture of life, that knows how to establish networks of trust and reciprocity, and how to offer prospects of peace, mercy and communion", he concluded.

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Francis receives the passengers of the "Children's Train"
Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) - "Never stop dreaming ... You can fly with your
dreams, and dreaming opens the doors to happiness"; said Pope Francis to the six
hundred children on the "Children's Train", an initiative of the Courtyard of the Gentiles in support of children who live in difficult situations. This year it was dedicated to the children of detainees in the Italian penitentiaries of Roma, Civitavecchia, Latina, Bari and Trani, on the theme "Flight".
The train, on which two-hundred children travelled from Bari and Trani, arrived
at the Vatican railway station, where they joined those already present from the
other three provinces. Upon arrival they were welcomed by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture and Michele Mario Elia, director of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane SpA, the Italian rail network infrastructure company.
The Holy Father met with the passengers of the train in the Paul VI Hall, and spoke with them on the theme of flight, inviting them to fly with their imagination to be with their families and to fulfil their dreams.

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The Pope receives a group of sick children: "You are life's heroes"
Vatican City, 30 May 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Pope received in audience a group of twenty seriously
ill children, accompanied by their parents, along with volunteers and leaders from the UNITALSI association, which organises pilgrimages to Lourdes and Loreto. The majority of the children were aged between seven and 14 years, although there were also some as young as two and three.
The Pope approached each child affectionately. One of the children then spoke to the Holy Father about a similar previous meeting two years ago, recalling all
those who had been present and some who have passed away in the meantime, and assured him that they have all prayed a lot for the Pope, as he had asked them too.
The Holy Father went on to speak about the mystery of the suffering of children. "It is a question I often ask myself, and which many of you, many people, ask themselves: why do children suffer? And there are no explanations. ...
I simply look to God and ask, 'But why?'. And looking at the Cross: 'Why is Your
Son there, why?' It is the mystery of the Cross. ... I also often think of the Virgin when as they brought her the lifeless body of her Son. ... She did not understand either. She would have recalled what the Angel had told her: 'He will
be King, He will be great, He will be a prophet'. With that wounded body in her arms, that had suffered so greatly before death, she would surely have wanted to
say to the Angel: 'Liar! I have been deceived'. She had no answers either".
"Do not be afraid of asking, indeed even challenging the Lord. 'Why?'", he exclaimed. "Perhaps no explanation will come, but the gaze of the Father will give you the strength to go on. ... The only explanation He will be able to give
you is: 'My son suffered too'. This is the explanation. The most important is his gaze. This is your strength, the loving gaze of the Father".
"In a world in which it is so normal to experience a throwaway culture - if we are not happy with something we discard it - you live this situation ... with heroism. ... You are the little heroes of life. I thank you for your example", affirmed the Pope, visibly moved. "I pray for you, for these mixed feelings of joy and sadness. ... The Lord knows how to comfort you in your suffering in a special way".
Those present then prayed a Hail Mary and received the Pope's blessing. He continued the meeting by talking with each child and their parents. The group left the Domus Sanctae Marthae at 6 p.m.

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Fr. Lombardi issues clarification on Cardinal George Pell
Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) - In response to questions from journalists, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., explained that the statement made by Mr. Peter Saunders (one of the 17 members of the Commission for the Protection of Minors) during a television broadcast was evidently given in an entirely personal way and not on behalf of the Commission, which is not competent to investigate or to pronounce specific judgements on individual cases.
Moreover, Cardinal George Pell has always responded carefully and thoroughly to
the accusations and questions posed by the competent Australian authorities, and
his position has been made known again in recent days by a public declaration on
his part, which must be considered reliable and worthy of respect and attention.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 31 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience Archbishop Paolo Gualtieri, apostolic nuncio in Madagascar.
On Saturday 30 May, the Holy Father received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
- Archbishop Hector Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte of Trujillo, Peru.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
- Bishop Gustavo Rodriguez Vega of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, as metropolitan archbishop of Yucatan (area 39,612, population 2,064,151, Catholics 1,655,449, priests 237, permanent deacons 37, religious 700), Mexico. He succeeds Archbishop Emilio Carlos Berlie Belaunzaran, whose resignation upon reaching the
age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
On Saturday 30 May, the Holy Father appointed:
- Bishop Orlando Roa Barbosa, auxiliary of Ibague, Colombia, as bishop of Espinal (area 14,000, population 484,000, Catholics 437,000, priests 92, religious 71), Colombia.
- Rev. Fr. Eugene Joseph as bishop of Varanasi (area 21,296, population 21,165,000, Catholics 19,536, priests 154, religious 675), India. The bishop-elect was born in Madurai, India in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1985. He holds a bachelor's degree in education from the Gorakhpur University, Varanasi; a master's degree in English from the Mahatma Gandhi K.V. University, Varanasi, and a masters in business administration from the Townsend School of Business, New York, U.S.A.

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has sent a telegram of condolences on behalf of the Holy Father to Bishop Joseph
Osei-Bonsu of Konongo-Mampong, president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, for the many victims of the explosion and subsequent fire in a petrol station in Accra.
"Deeply saddened to learn of the tragic incident at a petrol station in Accra in which so many people died or were seriously injured, the Holy Father sends heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the deceased and injured, to the authorities and to the entire nation. His Holiness commends the souls of the departed to Almighty God and willingly invokes the divine gifts of consolation and strength upon those who mourn and upon all who have been affected by this tragedy".

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Solemnity of Corpus Christi: the Eucharist is not a reward for the good
Vatican City, 5 June 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday, on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), the Holy Father celebrated Holy Mass before thousands of people at the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The Eucharist the procession began, led by Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar of His Holiness for the diocese of Rome, along the Via Merulana to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where the Pope imparted his solemn blessing with the Holy Sacrament.
In his homily, the Pope recalled that during the Last Supper, Jesus gives us His Body and Blood in the bread and wine, to leave us the memorial of His sacrifice of infinite love, and by means of this 'viaticum', full of grace, the disciples have everything that is necessary for their path through history, to extend the kingdom of God to all. As the responsory of today's liturgy shows, "See in this bread the body of Christ which hung upon the cross, and in this cup
the blood which flowed from His side. Take His body, then, and eat it; take His blood and drink it, and you will become His members. The body of Christ is the bond which unites you to Him: eat it, or you will have no part in Him. The blood
is the price He paid for your redemption: drink it, lest you despair of your sinfulness".
Francis explained the meaning today of being torn from Him and of despairing, as cowards. "We are torn from Him when we are not obedient to the Word of the Lord, when we do not live brotherhood between us, when we race to occupy the first places, ... when we find the courage to witness to charity, when we are unable to offer hope. The Eucharist allows us to be not torn from Him, for it is
the bond of communion, is the fulfilment of the Covenant ... that we might remain
united. ... The Christ present in our midst, in the signs of bread and wine, requires that the power of love exceed every laceration, and at the same time that it become communion with the poor, support for the weak, fraternal attention to those who are struggling to carry the weight of everyday life and are in danger of losing faith".
To be cowardly, to despair of our sinfulness, he said, "means to let ourselves be affected by the idolatries of our time: appearance, consumption, the self at the centre of everything; but also being competitive, arrogance as the winning attitude, the idea that one never need admit to a mistake or to find oneself in need. All this demeans us, makes us mediocre, lukewarm, insipid Christians, pagans".
"Jesus shed his blood as a ransom and as a lavacrum - a cleansing agent, that we might be purified of all sins", he continued, "that we might be preserved from the risk of corruption. ... The Blood of Christ will ... give us back our dignity. ... We will be His eyes that go in search of Zacchaeus and of the Magdalene; we will be His hand who helps the sick in body and spirit; we will be
His heart that loves those in need of reconciliation and understanding. ... In this way we understand that the Eucharist is not a reward for the good, but rather strength for the weak, for sinners. It is forgiveness, the viaticum that helps us on our way".
"Today, the feast of Corpus Christi, we have the joy not only of celebrating this mystery, but also of praising Him and singing in the streets of our city", he continued. "May the procession we will make at the end of the Mass, express our gratitude for all the journey that God has allowed us to make through the desert of our poverty, to take us out of slavery, by nourishing us with His love
through the Sacrament of his Body and the Blood. Soon, as we walk the streets, let us perceive ourselves in communion with our many brothers and sisters who do
not have the freedom to express their faith in the Lord Jesus. Let us feel that we are united with them, let us sing with them, praise with them, worship with them. And we venerate in our hearts those brothers and sisters who have been asked to sacrifice their lives for their fidelity to Christ. May their blood, united to that of the Lord, be a pledge of peace and reconciliation for the whole world".

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Pope Francis' new encyclical to be published on 18 June
Vatican City, 5 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office Bulletin today reports that Pope Francis' new encyclical will be published on Thursday 18 June.
Further information on its presentation will shortly be made available in the Bulletin.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 5 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience:
- Michelle Bachelet Jeria, president of the Republic of Chile, and entourage;
- Archbishop Leon Kalenga Badikebele, apostolic nuncio in El Salvador and in Belize;
- Claudio Descalzi, chief executive officer of ENI SpA., with his family.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 5 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
- accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Cologne, Germany, presented by Bishop Manfred Melzer, in accordance with canons 401 para. 2 and 411 of the Code of Canon Law.
- Fr. Oscar Munera Ochoa as apostolic vicar of Tierradentro (area 2,087, population 68,000, Catholics 64,000, priests 15, religious 17), Colombia. The bishop-elect was born in San Pedro de los Milagros, Colombia in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1988. He holds a licentiate in philosophy and religious sciences at the Catholic University of Oriente, Colombia and a diploma in "Missione ad gentes y etnias" from the Pontifical Xavierian University, Bogota, Colombia. He has served in a number of pastoral roles in the diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos, including parish vicar, spiritual director and subsequently rector
of the Apostolic School in Liborina, diocesan delegate for youth and vocational pastoral ministry, director of the department of youth in the Episcopal Conference of Colombia; episcopal vicar for the western sector of the diocese; vicar for pastoral ministry and bursar, and director of the department for missions of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia. He is currently parish priest of the "Senor de los Milagros de San Pedro" parish.
- appointed Libero Milone as auditor general of the Holy See and Vatican City State.
On Thursday 4 June, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao, auxiliary of the Xuan Loc, Vietnam, as coadjutor of the same diocese.

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Notice
Vatican City, 5 June 2015 (VIS) - A special edition of the Vatican Information Service bulletin will be transmitted tomorrow, Saturday 6 June, on the occasion of Pope Francis' apostolic trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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he was awaited by more than sixty thousand people to participate in the Holy Mass. The readings were dedicated to peace and justice, and the ceremony took place in the Croatian language. In his homily (which he pronounced in Italian, with translations in Croatian), the Holy Father emphasised that peace is God's plan for humanity, and again denounced those who seek confrontation between cultures and civilizations; citing the prophet Isaiah, he reiterated that if the
work of justice is peace, then that peace is built by hand, day by day. The following is the full text of his homily.
"The word peace echoes several times through the Scripture readings which we have just heard. It is a powerful, prophetic word! Peace is God's dream, his plan for humanity, for history, for all creation. And it is a plan which always meets opposition from men and from the evil one. Even in our time, the desire for peace and the commitment to build peace collide with the reality of many armed conflicts presently affecting our world. They are a kind of third world war being fought piecemeal and, in the context of global communications, we sense an atmosphere of war.
"Some wish to incite and foment this atmosphere deliberately, mainly those who want conflict between different cultures and societies, and those who speculate on wars for the purpose of selling arms. But war means children, women and the elderly in refugee camps; it means forced displacement of peoples; it means destroyed houses, streets and factories; it means, above all, countless shattered lives. You know this well, having experienced it here: how much suffering, how much destruction, how much pain! Today, dear brothers and sisters, the cry of God's people goes up once again from this city, the cry of all men and women of good will: no more war!
"Within this atmosphere of war, like a ray of sunshine piercing the clouds, resound the words of Jesus in the Gospel: 'Blessed are the peacemakers'. This appeal is always applicable, in every generation. He does not say: 'Blessed are the preachers of peace', since all are capable of proclaiming peace, even in a hypocritical, or indeed duplicitous, manner. No. He says: 'Blessed are the peacemakers', that is, those who make peace. Crafting peace is a skilled work: it requires passion, patience, experience and tenacity. Blessed are those who sow peace by their daily actions, their attitudes and acts of kindness, of fraternity, of dialogue, of mercy... These, indeed, 'shall be called children of
God', for God sows peace, always, everywhere; in the fullness of time, he sowed in the world his Son, that we might have peace! Peacemaking is a work to be carried forward each day, step by step, without ever growing tired.
"So how does one do this, how do we build peace? The prophet Isaiah reminds us succinctly: 'The effect of righteousness will be peace'. Opus justitiae pax ('the work of justice is peace'), from the Vulgate version of Scripture, has become a famous motto, even adopted prophetically by Pope Pius XII. Peace is a work of justice. Here too: not a justice proclaimed, imagined, planned ... but rather a justice put into practice, lived out. The Gospel teaches us that the ultimate fulfilment of justice is love: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'. When, by the grace of God, we truly follow this commandment, how things change! Because we ourselves change! Those whom I looked upon as my enemy
really have the same face as I do, the same heart, the same soul. We have the same Father in heaven. True justice, then, is doing to others what I would want them to do to me, to my people.
"St. Paul, in the second reading, shows us the attitude needed to make peace: 'Put on then ... compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive'. These are the attitudes necessary to become artisans of peace precisely where we live out our daily lives. But we should not fool ourselves into thinking that this all depends on us! We would fall into an illusive moralising. Peace is a gift from God, not in the magical sense, but because with his Spirit he can imprint these attitudes in our hearts and in our flesh, and can make us true instruments of his peace. And, going further, the Apostle says that peace is a gift of God because it is the fruit of his reconciliation with us. Only if we allow ourselves to be reconciled with God can human beings become artisans of peace.
"Dear Brothers and Sisters, today we ask the Lord together, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, for the grace to have a simple heart, the grace
of patience, the grace to struggle and work for justice, to be merciful, to work
for peace, to sow peace and not war and discord. This is the way which brings happiness, which leads to blessedness".

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Decrees for the Causes of Saints
Vatican City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father Francis received in private audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, during which he authorised the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees:
MIRACLES
- attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Francesco de Paola Victor, Brazilian diocesan priest (1827-1905);
- attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Klara Ludwika Szcz?sna, Polish co-founder of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (1863-1916).
MARTYRDOM
- Servant of God Frederic de Berga (nΘ Martø TarrΘs Puigpelat) and 25 companions, Spanish priests and lay brothers of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, killed in hatred of the faith in 1936;
- Servant of God Joseph Thao TiΩn, diocesan priest, and ten companions, professed priests of the Society of the Paris Foreign Missions and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and four lay companions, killed in hatred of the faith in Laos between 1954 and 1970.
HEROIC VIRTUES
- Servant of God Antonino Celona, Italian diocesan priest and founder of the Handmaids of Reparation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1873-1952);
- Servant of God Ottorino Zanon, Italian priest and founder of the Congregation
of the Pious Society of St. Cajetan (1915-1972);
- Servant of God Marcello Labor, Italian diocesan priest (1890-1954);
- Servant of God Maria Antonia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (nΘe Rachele Lalia), Italian founder of the Dominican Sisters of St. Sisto Vecchio (1839-1914).

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Audiences
Vatican City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) - In the afternoon of Friday 5 June the Holy Father received in separate audiences:
- Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints;
- Bishop Jorge Eduardo Lozano of Gualeguaychu, Argentina;
- Bishop Vicente Bokalic Iglic of Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Jose Alberto Gonzalez Juarez as bishop of Tuxtepec (area 6,000, population 781,000, Catholics 738,000, priests 50, permanent deacons 10, religious 34), Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in El Parral, Mexico in 1967 and was ordained a priest in 1995. He holds a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical University in Mexico, and has served in a number of pastoral roles in the archdiocese of Tuxtla Gutierrez, including parish vicar, parish priest, superior of the preparatory course and teacher in philosophy, and rector of the seminary. He is currently parish of the Church of the Immaculate Conception and episcopal vicar for consecrated life.

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Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
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the feasibility study conducted by the same Commission.
Starting from the analyses and reports of McKinsey and the previous commissions
(COSEA and the Vatican Media Commission chaired by Lord Chris Patten), the current Commission presented a plan for reform to be implemented over a four-year period, ensuring the protection of staff and a gradual integration of institutions. These are the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, the Holy See Press Office, Vatican Radio, the Vatican Television Centre, the Osservatore Romano, the Photographic Service, the Vatican Publishing House, the Vatican Typography and the Internet Office.
The Council of Cardinals expressed a positive judgement to the Holy Father, also in relation to the expected time span. The constitution of the dicastery will be drafted, and the necessary appointments made during the coming months to
enable the process to be initiated. The Commission is currently continuing its work, which has yet to be completed.
On Wednesday morning, the Council heard a communique from Fr. Michael Czerny of
the Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace" regarding the Holy Father's new encyclical and the preparation for its publication. Fr. Czerny explained that, at the Pope's behest, emails will be sent, introduced by a letter from Cardinal Turkson, to inform ordinaries throughout the world of the upcoming publication of the encyclical and to provide suggestions and assistance on the teaching and previous interventions by the Pope on the theme of the environment. It is hoped that this will allow individual bishops and episcopates to prepare for the new document and to accompany it with appropriate explanations and comments, so as to ensure that the publication of the encyclical is experienced as an important event in the life of the universal Church and in communion with the Holy Father.
The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals is scheduled for 14 to 16 September.

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The Holy See and the United States sign agreement against tax evasion
Vatican City, 10 June 2015 (VIS) - This morning Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States, and the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Kenneth F. Hackett, signed an historic agreement between the Holy See (acting also in the name of and on behalf of Vatican City State) and the United States of America to improve international tax compliance and the exchange of tax information in view of the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
This agreement - which is the first formal intergovernmental agreement between the Holy See and the United States - underscores the commitment of both parties to promote and ensure ethical behaviour in the financial and economic fields. In
particular, this agreement will prevent tax evasion and facilitate the compliance of fiscal duties by those U.S. citizens who conduct financial activities in Vatican City State.
Ensuring the payment of taxes and preventing tax evasion are of crucial economic importance for every community since adequate tax revenues and public spending are indispensable for governments to become instruments of development and solidarity, to encourage employment growth, to sustain business and charitable activities, and to provide systems of social insurance and assistance
designed to protect the weakest members of society.
In a context of economic globalisation, it is therefore essential to strengthen
the exchange of information with the view to prevent tax evasion. The present agreement is thus based on the most up-to-date global standards to curtail offshore tax evasion through the automatic exchange of tax information.

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The Holy See at the 39th Conference of the FAO: sustainable human development
Vatican City, 10 June 2015 (VIS) - Msgr. Fernando Chica Arellano, head of the Holy See delegation at the 39th session of the Conference of the FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation), being held in Rome from 6 to 13 June, spoke this morning at the seventh plenary session dedicated to the theme "Breaking the cycle of rural poverty and hunger by strengthening rural resilience: social protection and sustainable agricultural development". Tomorrow in the Vatican the Holy Father will receive in audience the 450 attendees of the Conference.
"The member States and various intergovernmental institutions who work in the sector of development and cooperation keep a close eye on the FAO and its activities, as does civil society in its different and valuable forms of organisation. The work that this organisation is called upon to undertake, in the present and in the near future, in the various regions of the world, must be
focused on this reality", affirmed the prelate. "This requires extra effort: in facing the problems of the rural world and the needs of those who suffer from hunger and malnutrition it is also necessary to consider the condition of agricultural workers and their earnings, but without forgetting that the agricultural worker is not solely an economic subject. He or she is a person capable of participating in decision-making regarding production, conservation and distribution of the fruits of the land".
"Therefore, more than sustainable development, it would be far more incisive and coherent to speak about sustainable human development, or rather a development that places at the centre the human person, with his or her real capacities, limitations, peculiarities and needs, both individually and as a family. If the economic parameters do not take all this into account, the resulting damage is clear and irreparable, for greater progress can never be equivalent to less humanity. An ethical and human vision of development requires
us instead to share resources, strategies and financing, but above all reminds us of the urgency and importance of solidarity as well as determination to put an end, once and for all, to the underdevelopment of the rural world. The Organisation may then continue to be the competent 'centre' for the gathering, study and dissemination of information on agriculture, production methods and regulations, as its Constitution stipulates and as is justly expected of it at all levels".
"The Holy See delegation wishes here to reaffirm the willingness of the Catholic Church, in her structures and organisational forms, to contribute to this effort", concluded Msgr. Chica Arellano.

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Audiences
Vatican City, 10 June 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience Archbishop Piergiorgio Bertoldi, apostolic nuncio in Burkina Faso and Niger, with family members.
This afternoon, he is scheduled to receive in audience Vladimir V. Putin, president of the Russian Federation, and entourage.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 10 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has accepted:
- the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Amargosa, Brazil, presented by Bishop Joao Nilton dos Santos Souza, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
- appointed Bishop Teodoro Mendes Tavares, C.S.Sp., auxiliary of the archdiocese of Belem do Para, Brazil, as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Ponta de Pedras (area 2,082, population 2,253,045, Catholics 1,857,243, priests 199, permanent deacons 82, religious 545), Brazil.

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For more information and to search for documents refer to the site: www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source: V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

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between what we Pastors preach and the various social environments. ? At the same time, both they and you are in daily contact with other Christian traditions that are present in your territory and together you can support ecumenical dialogue, which is so necessary today in view of the fact that social
peace is sometimes shaken by ethnic and linguistic differences.?
The Pope shares the bishops' determination to promote the family, noting however
that ?marriage today is often considered a form of emotional gratification that can be constituted in any way whatsoever or changed according to the sensibilities of each. Unfortunately, this reductive conception also affects the
mindset of Christians, causing a ease inresorting to divorce or separation. As pastors we are called to question on the preparation for marriage given to engaged couples and also on how to assist those who are living in these situations so that the children do not become the primary victims and the spouses do not feel excluded from God's mercy and the Church's care but are helped on their faith journey and in the Christian education of their children.?
Finally, the Pope recalled the economic and social crisis that has also affected
Latvia and Estonia, provoking a migration the result of which has been a large number of single-parent families in need of special pastoral attention. The absence of a father or mother in many families causes the other spouse greater effort, in every sense, in raising the children. For these families your attention and the pastoral outreach of your priests is truly valuable, combined with the effective nearness of the communities.?

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Pope's Audience with Vladimir Putin: Ukraine and Middle East, Key Points of Meeting
Vatican City, 11 June 2015 (VIS) - President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir
Putin was received in audience by the Holy Father yesterday afternoon according to a press release from the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J.
The private meeting held in the library of the Apostolic Palace began approximately at 6:15pm and lasted some 50 minutes. Afterwards there was a presentation of the president's entourage and an exchange of gifts. President Putin offered the Pope an image of the famous Church of Christ the Savior which the Holy Father reciprocated with a medallion by artist Guido Veroi that represented the angel of peace?an invitation to build a world of solidarity and peace based on justice?and a copy of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium.
As foreseen, given the current globalstate of affairs, the meeting was mainly devoted to the conflict in the Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. Regarding the situation in the Ukraine, the Holy Father affirmed that a great and sincere effort is necessary to achieve peace. He agreed on the importance of
re-establishing a climate of dialogue and that all parties must commit themselves to enforcing the Minsk Accords. It is also essential to address the serious humanitarian situation, in particular guaranteeing access to humanitarian workers and, with the contribution of all parties, a progressive easing of tensions in the region.
On the other hand, as regards the conflicts of the Middle East, regarding the territories of Syria and Iraq, the common and urgent idea of seeking peace with the concrete participation of the international community, at the same time ensuring the necessary conditions of life to all area of society, including religious minorities, Christians inparticular was substantially confirmed.
At the same time as the meeting with President Putin, a meeting was held between
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov during which the topics of the conflict in the Ukraine and the worrying situation in the Middle East were also discussed.

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National Holy See Day at Milan's Expo 2015
Vatican City, 11 June 2015 (VIS) ? Today marked the celebration of the National Day of the Holy See at the Expo 2015 in Milan. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, General Commissioner of the Holy See for Expo Milan 2015, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president on the Italian Episcopal Conference, and Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan, all spoke this morning. This afternoon the ?Courtyard of the Gentiles? will also intervene with a presentation on the theme of ?The Faces of the Earth?.
During the course of the celebrations this morning, Archbishop Becciu's speech emphasized that the Holy See considers the vast objective of ensuring an adequate level of nutrition as a real necessity, a result of true sharing, the same which is evidenced in the participation of so many countries in ExpoMilan 2015.
?A shared action,? the archbishop stated, ?whose priority is the reduction of the number of hungry persons must include not only interventions during emergency situations, but also projects in favor of agricultural development and
their funding proportionate to the different capacity of donors and the needs of
beneficiaries. Giving and receiving according to justice requires a formation of
conscience attentive to the needs of others, of each one, including when the problem is related to the use of technology, their transfer to the most vulnerable areas and the ability to meet the needs of beneficiaries without limiting the prerogatives, rights, and?not the least?alimentary customs and cultures. Such a commitment demands that governments, international institutions, and civil social organizations involved in food safety work together, preserving diversity without putting them at odds, and using dialogue as the only concretetool.?
?Religions and their traditions,? he added, ?know well that freedom from hunger also means freedom from conflicts and prevention of war as the Catholic Church's
litany of saints recalls, in the prayer for liberation from disease, hunger, and
war: 'a peste, fame, et bello libera nos, Domine'.?

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ROACO Plenary Assembly to Analyze Situation of Christians in Middle East, Armenia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the Holy Land
Vatican City, 11 June 2015 (VIS) ? ROACO (Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches) will hold its 88th annual plenary assembly in the Vatican from 15 to 17 June.
The assembly will begin on Monday morning with an audience granted by Pope Francis to the representatives of the various aid projects to the Oriental Catholic Churches. As in previous years, it will be a session dedicated to the situation in Syria with attention also given to Iraq in view of the recent tragic developments in that region which also affect the faithful of the Eastern
Churches. The results of the recent visit to Iraq made by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, during which he and a delegation from ROACO met with refugees, bishops, priests, and religious in Baghdad, Erbil, and Dohuk, will bepresented.
On Tuesday, 16 June, the cardinal will celebrate Holy Mass at St. Stephen of the
Abyssinians, a historical presence of the Oriental Church within the Vatican walls, to pray for peace in the Middle East as well as the Ukraine where the Greek-Catholic Church has a presence, and to pray for the benefactors, living and deceased, of the Oriental Catholic Churches.
On the occasion of the centenary memorial of the Medz Yeghern suffered by the Armenian people, a session will be dedicated to the Armenian Catholic Church in Eastern Europe, which is present in Georgia and Russia as well as Armenia. Another session will study the Church of Ethiopia and the Church of Eritrea, which was recently elevated by Pope Frances to a metropolitan church (metropolitana sui iuris). As customary, during the assembly the situation of the Church in the Holy Land will be examined, with verifications of the projects
undertaken thanks to the proceeds of the GoodFriday collection.
The objective of the proceedings, which will conclude on Thursday 17 June, is to
identify priorities for the work of evangelization and charitable interventions in order that they be coordinated by ROACO as a gesture of the solidarity of the
universal Church.

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Audiences
Vatican City, June 2015 (VIS) ? Today, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:
Five prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Latvia and Estonia, on their ad Limina visit:
- Archbishop Zbig?ev Stankevics of Riga,
- Bishop Eduards Pavlovskis of Jelgava,
- Bishop Viktors Stulpins of Liepaja,
- Bishop Janis Bulis of Rezkene-Aglona, and
- Bishop Philippe Jean-Charles Jourdan, Apostolic Adminstrator of Estonia. Archbishop emeritus Antonio Maria Rouco Varela of Madrid, Spain, and
a delegation from the San Andres School of Evangelization.

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Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, June 2015 (VIS) ? Today, the Holy Father has appointed Bishop Lionginas Virbalas, S.J., as Metropolitan Archbishop of Kaunas (area 8,750, population 661,000, Catholics 530,000, priests 135, religious 227), Lithuania. Archbishop Virbalas, previously bishop of Panevezys, Lithuania, succeeds Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius, S.J., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

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