SUMMARY:
-
TO THE BISHOPS OF ZIMBABWE: GUIDE YOUR PEOPLE TOWARDS UNITY AND
RECONCILATION
-
TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL LOURDUSAMY
-
FRANCIS AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM: REMEMBER THAT THE CHURCH WAS BORN ON
THE PENTECOST TO REACH OUT
-
REGINA COELI: JESUS' LAST WORD TO THE DISCIPLES WAS THE ORDER TO GO
FORTH
-
CONCLUSION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MARY IS OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOUR
-
THE POPE ON THE CHILDREN'S TRAIN
-
THE POPE: SILENCE WEAPONS IN SYRIA
-
EPISCOPAL ORDINATION IN ST. PETER'S: PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE, LIKE MOSES
-
DECLARATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE FOR THE
LIBERATION OF THE MISSIONARIES ABDUCTED IN CAMEROON
-
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF
CILICIA, TO VISIT ROME
-
AUDIENCES
-
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
______________________________________
TO
THE BISHOPS OF ZIMBABWE: GUIDE YOUR PEOPLE TOWARDS UNITY AND
RECONCILATION
Vatican
City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) – “The Church in your country has stood
fast with her people both before and after independence, now also in
the years of overwhelming suffering as millions have left the country
in frustration and desperation, as many lives have been lost, so many
tears shed”, writes Pope Francis in the address he handed to the
prelates of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference this morning,
at the end of their “ad limina” visit.
The
Holy Father writes about the growth of the Church in the country,
comparing it to a young, strong tree, full of life and bearing fruit,
and mentions that “generations of Zimbabweans – including many
political leaders – have been educated in Church schools. He then
goes on to praise the prelates for the exercise of their prophetic
ministry, in which they have given voice to all the struggling people
of their country, especially to the downtrodden and refugees. He
refers to their 2007 Pastoral Letter, “God Hears the Cry of the
Oppressed”, which describes “the origins of the spiritual and
moral crisis, stretching from colonial times through the present
moment”, and how the “structures of sin” embedded in the social
order “are ultimately rooted in personal sin, requiring of all a
profound personal conversion”.
“Christians
find themselves on all sides of the conflict in Zimbabwe, and so I
urge you to guide everyone with great tenderness towards unity and
healing”, he continues. “This is a people both black and white,
some richer but most exceedingly poorer, of numerous tribes; the
followers of Christ belong to all political parties, some in
positions of authority, many not. But together as the one pilgrim
People of God, they need conversion and healing, in order to become
ever more fully 'one Body, one Spirit in Christ'. Through preaching
and works of the apostolate, may your local Churches demonstrate that
'reconciliation is not an isolated act but a lengthy process by which
all parties are re-established in love – a love that heals through
the working of God’s word'”.
“While
Zimbabweans’ faithfulness is already a balm on some of these
national wounds, I know that many people have reached their human
limit, and do not know where to turn. In the midst of all this, I ask
you to encourage the faithful never to lose sight of the ways in
which God is hearing their supplications and answering their prayers,
for, as you have written, he cannot fail to hear the cry of the poor.
In this Easter season, as the Church throughout the world celebrates
the victory of Christ over the power of sin and death, the Gospel of
the resurrection which you are entrusted to proclaim must be clearly
preached and lived in Zimbabwe. Let us never forget the lesson of the
resurrection: 'on razed land life breaks through, stubbornly yet
invincibly. However dark things are, goodness always re-emerges and
spreads”. Pope Francis concluded by quoting from his Apostolic
Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium: “Each day in our world beauty is
born anew, it rises transformed through the storms of history”.
TELEGRAM
FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL LOURDUSAMY
Vatican
City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has sent a telegram of
condolences to Archbishop Anthony Anandarayar of Ponticherry and
Cuddalore, India, for the death last night in Rome of Cardinal Simon
D. Lourdusamy, aged 90, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the
Oriental Churches and archbishop emeritus of Bangalore, India. In his
text, the Pope expresses his gratitude for the cardinal's “priestly
life spent in spreading the Gospel first in India and subsequently in
service to the Universal Church” and commends his noble soul to the
Lord.
Cardinal
Lourdusamy's funeral will be held on 5 June at 11.30 a.m. at the
altar of the Vatican Basilica, and will be presided by Cardinal
Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals. At the end of the
Eucharist, Pope Francis will administer the rites of “Ultima
Commendatio” and “Valedictio”.
FRANCIS
AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM: REMEMBER THAT THE CHURCH WAS BORN ON THE
PENTECOST TO REACH OUT
Vatican
City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon fifty-two thousand
people gathered for the National Convocation of “Renewal in the
Spirit”, from 55 countries, applauded Pope Francis' entry into the
Olympic Stadium in Rome where he joined in with the chorus in Spanish
of “Vive Jesus, el Senor”, a hymn that the bishop of Rome said he
enjoyed greatly when he celebrated Mass in the cathedral of Buenos
Aires with members of this movement. Two bodies for the coordination
of Catholic Charismatic Renewal throughout the world: ICCRS
(International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services) and CFCCCF
(Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and
Fellowships).
The
Pope answered the questions posed to him by priests, young people,
families, the sick and the elderly, asking the first among them to
remain close to Christ and to his faithful, and warning the second
not to keep their youth “locked away in a safe” but rather to
“bet on great things”. He reminded families of their roles as a
domestic church, and commented that the sick imitate Jesus in the
difficult moments of life, and that the elderly are the wisdom and
memory of the Church. Finally, he prayed that God might grant to all
the “holy intoxication of the Spirit, that enables us to speak many
languages, the languages of charity, always close to those brothers
and sisters who need us. Teach us not to fight between ourselves over
a little more power, … teach us to increasingly love the Church
that is our 'team', and to keep our hearts open to receive the Holy
Spirit”.
In
his address, he affirmed that Renewal in the Spirit is “a great
force in the service of the proclamation of the Gospel in the joy of
the Holy Spirit. … In the early times, it was said that you always
carried a Bible with you, a New Testament. … If not, return to this
first love, always carry the Word of God with you, in your pocket, in
your bag!”
He
urged them never to lose the freedom that the Holy Spirit gives us,
warning them of the danger of “excessive organisation”. “Yes,
you need organisation, but do not lose the grace of letting God be
God!”. He also warned them of the danger of becoming “controllers”
of God's grace, administrators of race who decide who may receive the
prayer of effusion or baptism in the Spirit, and who instead may not.
“If any of you do this, I beg you, do not do this any more. You are
dispensers of God's grace, not controllers!”, he underlined.
“Evangelisation,
spiritual ecumenism, attention to the poor and needy and welcome to
the marginalised, and all on the basis of adoration; the foundation
for renewal is adoring God”: thus Pope Francis defined the path of
Renewal in the Spirit, to explain the future direction he hoped they
would take.
“First
of all”, he said, “conversion to the love of Jesus, that changes
life and makes a Christian a witness to God's love. I hope that you
will share with all in the Church the grace of Baptism in the Holy
Spirit. I expect from you an evangelisation with the Word of God that
proclaims that Jesus lives and loves all humankind. May you give
witness of spiritual ecumenism with all those brothers and sisters of
other Churches and Christian communities who believe in Jesus as the
Lord and Saviour. May you remain united in the love that the Lord
Jesus asks of all for all mankind, and in prayer to the Holy Spirit
to reach this unity, necessary for evangelisation in the name of
Jesus. Be close to the poor and needy to touch in their flesh the
wounded flesh of Jesus. Seek unity in Renewal because unity comes
from the Holy Spirit and is born of the unity of the Trinity. Where
does division come from? The devil! Division comes from the devil.
Flee from internal struggles, please!”.
In
conclusion, Francis called upon them to “Go forth onto the streets
and evangelise, proclaim the Gospel. Remember that the Church was
born to go forth, that morning of Pentecost. … Let yourselves be
guided by the Holy Spirit, with that same freedom. And please, do not
cage the Holy Spirit! With freedom!”.
REGINA
COELI: JESUS' LAST WORD TO THE DISCIPLES WAS THE ORDER TO GO FORTH
Vatican
City, 1 June 2014 (VIS) – At midday today, Pope Francis appeared at
the window of his study to pray the Regina Coeli with the faithful
gathered below in St. Peter's Square and, before the Marian prayer,
he mentioned that today in Italy and in other countries we celebrate
the Ascension of Jesus Christ, which takes place forty days after the
Resurrection. On that day, Jesus returns to His Father and commands
the disciples to proclaim His message of salvation to the world.
“Jesus
leaves and goes up to Heaven”, he explains; “He returns to the
Father Who sent Him to the world. He had finished his work and
returned to His Father. But this is not a separation, because he
remains with us always, in a new form. With His ascension, the Risen
Lord lifts the gaze of the Apostles – and also ours – to the
heights of Heaven to show us that our path leads us to the Father.
However, Jesus remains present and at work in the vicissitudes of
human history with the power and gifts of His Spirit; this
accompanies each one of us, even though we do not see Him with our
eyes. He accompanies us and guides us, He gives us His hand and lifts
us up when we fall. The resurrected Jesus is close to those
Christians who are persecuted and discriminated against; He is close
to every man and woman who suffers.
“And
Jesus, when He returns to Heaven, takes a gift to His Father: his
wounds. His body is beautiful, without the wounds of flagellation,
but the wounds are still present. And when He returns to the Father,
He says: Look, this is the price of the forgiveness you give. And
when the Father looks upon Christ's wounds, He always forgives. Not
because we are good: no. Looking at Jesus' wounds, the Father becomes
more merciful”.
“But
Jesus is also present through the Church, which He sent to continue
His mission. Jesus' last word to His disciples is the order to go
forth: 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations'. It is a
precise mandate – it is not optional! The Christian community is a
community that is on the move, that goes out. More than this: the
Church was born outgoing. And you will ask me, but what about
cloistered communities? Yes, it applies to them too, as they always
reach out through prayer, with their hearts open to the world, to
God's horizons. And the elderly, the sick? They too are in prayer and
union with Jesus' wounds”.
Following
the Regina Coeli, the Pope said, “It is with a heavy heart that I
pray for the victims of the continuing tension in some areas of
Ukraine, and also in the Republic of Central Africa. I renew my
urgent appeals to all the parties involved to overcome their
misunderstandings and to seek patiently dialogue and pacification.
May Mary Queen of Peace help all of us by her maternal intercession”.
He
went on to mention that today is World Social Communications Day, the
theme of which this year is communication in the service of the
culture of encounter: “Social communication media may promote a
sense of unity within the human family, solidarity and commitment to
a dignified life for all. Let us pray that communication, in every
form it takes, may be effectively at the service of encounter between
people, communities, families, nations; an encounter based on respect
and mutual listening”.
Finally,
he mentioned the beatification on Saturday afternoon in Collevalenza,
Italy, of Mother Maria Esperanza of Jesus (Maria Josefa Alhama
Valera), foundress of the Congregations of the Handmaids and the Sons
of Merciful Love, and expressed his hope that “her witness may help
the Church to proclaim everywhere, with concrete daily gestures, the
infinite mercy of the heavenly Father towards every person”.
CONCLUSION
OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MARY IS OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOUR
Vatican
City, 1 June 2014 (VIS) – The ceremony concluding the Marian month
took place yesterday at 8 p.m. in the Vatican Gardens. The faithful
prayer the rosary in procession from the church of St. Stephen of the
Abyssinians to the grotto of the Virgin of Lourdes. At 9 p.m., Pope
Francis arrived at the grotto and, before imparting his apostolic
blessing, addressed the following words to those present:
“Today,
at the end of the month of May, we celebrate the feast day that
commemorates her visit to St. Elizabeth. The Gospel tells us that,
after the angel's annunciation, she went in haste, she went
immediately to serve. This is the virgin of readiness … Our Lady of
Prompt Succour. She immediately comes to our assistance when we pray,
when we ask for help and protection. In many moments in life, when we
need her help and her protection, let us remember that she does not
make us wait: she is the Virgin of Prompt Succour and immediately
comes to our aid”.
THE
POPE ON THE CHILDREN'S TRAIN
Vatican
City, 31 May 2014 (VIS) – This morning in the Vatican's Paul VI
Hall the Holy Father received in audience the five hundred children
from Naples and Rome participating in the “Il Treno dei Bambini”
(“The Children's Train”) initiative organised by the Pontifical
Council for Culture, within the ambit of the “Courtyard of the
Gentiles for Children”, which completes its second edition this
year.
The
children presented the Pope with bracelets made by hand with coloured
rubber bands, which he immediately put on, and a plant in a vase with
earth from the Neapolitan catacombs of St. Gennaro. Francis enjoyed
their adaptation of the famous song, “O Sole mio”, as “O Papa
mio”, sung by a choir of children and, after listening to them, he
chatted with the participants, and told them that the plant they had
given to him was a plant of light.
The
pontiff, recalling that the catacombs were dark, said, “You have
brought me earth that comes from the darkness … so that it turns
into light. … Light is always more important than darkness. … We
must go in search of light. Always, inside ourselves. Because light
gives us joy and hope. … And thanks to the light it is possible to
do what you said when you gave me the plant: ensure that the fruits
help us to make a better world. Can we make a better world? Yes! And
how do we do this? With hate? No, with love, all together as brothers
and sisters, fighting alongside each other for love. And for this,
let me tell you something: when the Apostle John, who was a great
friend of Jesus, wanted to say who God is, do you know what he said?
He said, 'God is love'. … And we go towards the light to find God's
love. But God's love is inside us. … Even in moments of darkness,
he never abandons us”.
All
the Pope's words were interspersed with answers from the children. At
the end, Francis said that he was very happy to have spent time with
them, and said he would pray to the Lord to make them into boys and
girls, men and women who would go forward with love. “When God's
love goes ahead, everything goes well”. Finally, he asked the
children to sing another song together.
THE
POPE: SILENCE WEAPONS IN SYRIA
Vatican
City, 31 May 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon the Pope delivered a
message to the participants in the meeting with Catholic charitable
associations who work in the context of the crisis in Syria,
organised by the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”.
“We
meet again to evaluate the work carried out so far and to renew our
will to follow this path”, he writes. “But we must accept with
great sorrow that the Syrian crisis has not been resolved, but
instead continues, and there is the risk of growing accustomed to it:
of forgetting the victims claimed on a daily basis, the unspeakable
suffering, the thousands of refugees, which include the elderly and
children, who suffer and at times die of hunger and of diseases
causes by the conditions of war. This indifference is harmful! Once
again we must repeat the name of this illness that does so much
damage in today's world: the globalisation of indifference”.
He
continues, “The action of peace and the work of humanitarian aid
carried out by Catholic charitable entities in this context
constitute a faithful expression of God's love for his children, who
find themselves in conditions of oppression and anguish. God hears
their cry, He knows their suffering, and He wishes to free them; and
you lend your hands and your abilities to Him. … This meeting
offers a useful opportunity to identify suitable forms of stable
collaboration, in dialogue between the various actors, in order to
improve the organisation of our efforts to support the local Churches
and all the victims of the war, without distinction on ethnic,
religious or social grounds”.
Pope
Francis launches a further appeal to the consciences of the parties
to the conflict, to world institutions and public opinion, and
affirms: “We are all aware that the future of humanity is built
with peace and not by war: war destroys, kills, and impoverishes
peoples and countries. I ask that all parties, with a view to the
common good, immediately consent to humanitarian aid and to silence
their weapons as soon as possible, making efforts to negotiate and to
make their first priority the well-being of Syria, of all her
inhabitants, including the many who have had to seek refuge elsewhere
and who have the right to return to their homeland as soon as
possible. I think in particular of the dear Christian communities,
the face of a Church who suffers and hopes. Their survival in the
Middle East is of profound concern to the universal Church:
Christianity must be able to continue to live there, where its
origins lie”.
EPISCOPAL
ORDINATION IN ST. PETER'S: PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE, LIKE MOSES
Vatican
City, 31 May 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon, in the Vatican
Basilica, the Holy Father conferred episcopal ordination to Msgr.
Fabio Fabene, under-secretary of the Synod of Bishops.
During
the Eucharistic celebration, he pronounced the ritual homily from the
Roman Pontifical for the ordination of bishops, making various
off-the-cuff additions. “You have been chosen by the flock: may
vanity, pride and arrogance never come to you. And you have been
constituted by men: may your attitude always be one of service, like
Jesus. … I advise you to keep before you the words of Paul that we
have heard: Keep watch over yourselves and keep watch over God's
flock. This watchfulness means keeping vigil, being attentive, to
defend yourself from many sins and many worldly attitudes, and to
defend the people of God from the wolves that Paul said would come. …
And overseeing the people also means praying, praying for the people,
as Moses did: with raised hands, that prayer of intercession, that
courageous prayer, face-to-face with the Lord, for the people”.
The
Pope also reminded the new bishop to pay great attention to those who
do not belong to Christ's single flock, as they too have been
entrusted to him by the Lord. “And pray for them”, he added.
Finally,
he emphasised that, by virtue of his mission, the prelate must be
show concern for all the Churches, generously assisting those most in
need. He concluded, “I think that this will be easy for you,
considering the task that has been entrusted to you in the
Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops”.
DECLARATION
OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE FOR THE LIBERATION OF
THE MISSIONARIES ABDUCTED IN CAMEROON
Vatican
City, 31 May 2014 (VIS) – The Director of the Holy See Press
Office, Father Federico Lombardi, S.J, has issued the following
declaration:
“The
release of the two Italian missionary priests from Vicenza,
Gianantonio Allegri and Giampaolo Martha, and of the Canadian nun
Gilberte Bussière, who had been kidnapped in Cameroon at the
beginning of April, is news that fills us with joy. The Holy Father,
who had followed the dramatic story from the outset, was promptly
informed. We thank God that this incident has come to a successful
conclusion. At the same time we continue to pray and to make efforts
so that every form of violence, hatred, and conflict in the various
regions of Africa and in other parts of the world might be overcome;
and we renew the memory of, and the commitment to, the many other
innocent people in different conditions and of different ages, who –
as we know well – are victims of unacceptable abductions in
different places of conflict”.
HIS
HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF
CILICIA, TO VISIT ROME
Vatican
City, 31 May 2014 (VIS) – His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of Cilicia, will visit Rome to meet with
His Holiness Pope Francis. His Holiness Aram I was elected Catholicos
of Cilicia of Antelias in 1995.
The
Armenian Church consists of two catholicates and two patriarchates,
and around six million faithful. The two catholicates of Etchmiadzin
and Antelias are in full communion, but they are independent from an
administrative point of view. The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
and the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople refer to Etchmiadzin
for spiritual questions.
Following
Vatican Council II, new relations have developed between the Catholic
Church and the Armenian Church. Representatives of the two
Catholicates of Etchmiadzin and Antelias are members of the Mixed
International Commission for theological dialogue between the
Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
His
Holiness Aram I visited the Church of Rome and met with Pope John
Paul II from 23 to 26 January 1997. More recently, the Catholicos
Aram I visited Pope Benedict XVI in November 2008, and on that
occasion they presided over an ecumenical prayer together.
On
Thursday 5 June the Catholicos will meet Pope Francis and they will
pray together. They will visit the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity and various other dicasteries of the Roman Curia.
Finally, they will visit the tomb of St. Peter and pray before the
statue of St. Gregory the Illuminator, which is located on the north
courtyard of the Vatican Basilica.
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) – The Holy father received in audience:
-
Mehriban Aliyeva, president of the “Heydar Aliyev Foundation,
Azerbaijan.
-
Eight prelates of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference, on their
“ad limina” visit:
Archbishop
Alexander Thomas Kaliyanil, S.V.D., of Bulawayo;
Bishop
Xavier Johnsai Munyongani of Gweru;
Bishop
Joseph Albert Serrano Anton, I.E.M.E., of Hwange;
Bishop
Michael Dixon Bhasera of Masvingo;
Archbishop
Robert Christopher Ndlovu of Harare;
Bishop
Dieter Bernd Scholz , S.J., of Chinhoyi;
Bishop
Angel Floro Martinez, I.E.M.E., of Gokwe;
Bishop
Alexio Churu Muchabaiwa of Mutare.
On
Saturday, 31 June, the Holy Father received in audience:
-
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
-
Twelve prelates of the Mexican Episcopal Conference, on their “ad
limina” visit:
Archbishop
Valentin Sanchez Espinosa of Puebla de los Angeles, with his
auxiliaries, Bishop Eugenio Andres Lira Rugarcia, Bishop Rutilo
Felipe Pozos Lorenzini, and Bishop Tomas Lopez Duran;
Bishop
Teodoro Enrique Pino Miranda of Huajuapan de Leon;
Bishop
Rodrigo Aguilar Martinez of Tehuacan;
Archbishop
Jesus Carlos Cabrero Romero of San Luis Potosi;
Bishop
Roberto Octavio Balmori Cinta, M.J., of Ciudad Valles;
Bishop
Sigifredo Noriega Barcelo of Zacatecas;
Archbishop
Domingo Diaz Martinez of Tulancingo;
Bishop
Gerardo de Jesus Rojas Lopez of Tabasco;
Bishop
Georges M. Saad Abi Younes, O.L.M., of Nuestra Senora de los Martires
del Libano en Mexico of the Maronites.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has:
-
accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of
Paramaribo, Suriname, presented by Bishop Wilhelmus de Bekker, upon
reaching the age limit. He is succeeded by Fr. Antonius te Dorshorst,
O.M.I., as apostolic administrator “sede vacante et at nutum
Sanctae Sedis” of the same diocese.
-
appointed Fr. Tadeusz Kusy, O.F.M. as coadjutor of the diocese of
Kaga-Bandoro (area 95,000, population 251,000, Catholics 91,691,
priests 20, religious 20), Central African Republic. The bishop-elect
was born in Cieszyn, Poland in 1951 and was ordained a priest in
1974. He holds a licentiate in theology from the Institute of Science
and Theology of Religions, Paris, France, and has served in a number
of pastoral roles, including: master of novices in Mbujimayi and
Lukafu, Democratic Republic of Congo, and priest of the parishes of
Obo and Rafai, Central African Republic. He is currently master of
postulants and head of formation in the archdiocese of Bangui, head
of the diocesan commission for consecrated life, and member of the
council of consultors.
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