SUMMARY:
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Dialogue, religious freedom and rejection of extremism and violence
at the centre of the Pope's meeting with the president of Tunisia
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Pope Francis to visit the European Parliament
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The Pope's message to the Ecclesial Pan-Amazonian Network
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Satisfactory meeting of the Vietnam – Holy See Joint Working Group
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Cardinal Sandri: educate so as not to fall prey to a vision of
conflict between civilisations or religions
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Audiences
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Dialogue,
religious freedom and rejection of extremism and violence at the
centre of the Pope's meeting with the president of Tunisia
Vatican
City, 11 September 2014 (VIS) – Today the Holy Father Francis
received in audience Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, president of the
Tunisian Republic, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of
State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti,
Secretary for Relations with States.
During
the cordial discussions, various themes of common interest were
reviewed, such as the promotion of peace, interreligious dialogue and
human rights, with particular reference to the defence of freedom of
conscience and religious freedom, as well as the refusal of every
form of extremism or violence. The Parties noted the commitment of
the Catholic Church in social issues and the fields of health and
education, in the service of all Tunisian citizens, especially the
poorest and most in need.
Finally,
various questions of an international and regional nature were
examined, paying special attention to the situation in the
Mediterranean Basin.
Pope
Francis to visit the European Parliament
Vatican
City, 11 September 2014 (VIS) – This morning the director of the
Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, confirmed the
communique issued this morning in Strasbourg by the president of the
European Parliament, Martin Schulz, that Pope Francis has accepted
the invitation to visit the European Parliament and to address its
members during a solemn session. The visit will take place on 25
November.
The
Pope's message to the Ecclesial Pan-Amazonian Network
Vatican
City, 11 September 2014 (VIS) – Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin has sent a message on behalf of the Holy Father to the
participants in the meeting of the Ecclesial Pan-Amazonian Network in
Brasilia, Brazil, which concludes tomorrow. The message is addressed
to Archbishop Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno S.J., of Huancayo,
Colombia, president of the Department of Justice and Solidarity of
the CELAM (Latin American Episcopal Council).
The
Pope, referring to his apostolic exhortation “Evangelii gaudium”,
remarks that the participants in the meeting respond to the crucial
challenge of “living together, of mingling, of meeting, of taking
each other's hands, of supporting each other, of participating in
this chaotic and high tide so that it may be transformed into a true
experience of fraternity, a cavalcade of solidarity, a holy
pilgrimage. In this way, the great potential of communication
translates into greater possibilities for encounter and solidarity”.
Francis
expresses his joy at seeing the results of his appeal for the
creation of an innovative network dedicated specifically to
ecological matters related to the Amazon and his hopes for the
outcome of the initiative. He also takes the opportunity to remind
those present that the network must be rich in humanity – a network
not of threads, but of people. “It is not enough to circulate on
digital 'paths'”, he writes. “It is necessary for this connection
to be accompanied by true encounter: we cannot live alone, closed up
in ourselves; we need to love and be loved, and we need tenderness.
Only in this way can Christian witness, thanks to this network, reach
the existential peripheries of humanity, facilitating the work of
Christian leaven and bringing progress to the living cultures of
Amazonia and their values”.
Satisfactory
meeting of the Vietnam – Holy See Joint Working Group
Vatican
City, 11 September 2014 (VIS) – The Vietnam – Holy See Joint
Working Group held its fifth meeting in Hanoi from 10 to 11
September, co-chaired by Bui Thanh Son, deputy minister for foreign
affairs and head of the Vietnamese delegation, and Msgr. Antoine
Camilleri of the Holy See Secretariat for Relations with States and
head of the Holy See delegation.
According
to a press release published at the end of the meeting, the Holy See
delegation “appreciated the support given by the competent
authorities at all levels to the Catholic Church in Vietnam for the
accomplishment of her mission. It also took note of the development
in the religious policies of Vietnam, reflected in the 2013 Amended
Constitution. The Vietnamese State has facilitated working visits to
Vietnam by the non-resident special envoy of the Holy See to Vietnam,
Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli. The Holy See delegation reaffirmed that
it attached great importance to the development of relations with
Vietnam in particular and Asia in general, as evidenced by the recent
and upcoming papal trips to the continent. The Holy See reaffirmed
its commitment towards the goal of establishing diplomatic relations
with Vietnam, and, together with the Catholic Church in the country,
wishes to make more active contributions to the country’s
development where the Catholic Church is strong, for example in
health care, education, charity and humanitarian works. The
Vietnamese side reiterated the consistent policy of the State and
Party in respecting freedom of religion and belief of all people and
supporting the Catholic Church in Vietnam to actively participate in
national social and economic development”.
“Both
Parties emphasised again the underlying principles of 'living the
Gospel within the Nation' and that 'being a good Catholic means being
a good citizen'. The Holy See delegation stressed that Pope Francis
had followed with interest recent developments in relations between
Vietnam and the Holy See, and encouraged the Catholic Community in
Vietnam to continue contributing towards the country’s major goals.
Both Parties noted with satisfaction the positive developments in
relations between Vietnam and the Holy See, as shown by increased
exchanges and contacts at all levels, meetings of the Joint Working
Group and working visits of the non-resident special envoy in
Vietnam. They agreed on maintaining dialogue and contacts while
creating favourable conditions for his mission, as he helps the
Catholic Church in Vietnam to implement papal teaching”.
“The
meeting took place in a sincere, candid and mutually respectful
atmosphere. The Parties agreed to convene the 6th meeting of the
Vietnam – Holy See Joint Working Group in the Vatican, at a date to
be arranged through diplomatic channels”.
“On
this occasion, the Holy See delegation paid a courtesy visit to the
deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs Pham Binh Minh,
and met with the deputy minister of of the interior and Chairman of
the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Pham Dung. The
delegation also took the opportunity to visit some Catholic
institutions in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City”.
Cardinal
Sandri: educate so as not to fall prey to a vision of conflict
between civilisations or religions
Vatican
City, 11 September 2014 (VIS) – Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect
of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, addressed the
Permanent Council of the United States Episcopal Conference in
Washington D.C. on Tuesday 9 September. The prelate declared that
after his trips to Syria in January 2011 and Iraq in December 2012,
he “never would have imagined that we would find ourselves in the
present situation”. He added, “Still in the twenty-first century,
as if history has taught nothing, we must witness barbarities and
atrocities which strike above all the weakest: the elderly, women and
children. Along with my preoccupations for the thousands of refugees
… I have ever in mind the bishops and priests still in the hands of
kidnappers in Syria, and I cannot forget the journalists so brutally
killed”.
Cardinal
Sandri remarked that, “On the one hand, the action of the Holy
Spirit continues to make the Church fertile in every part of the
world, manifesting its characteristic maternity. Yet, on the other
hand, it must be recognised that the Churches, which gave rise in
great part to the diffusion of the Gospel in the Apostolic era, are
now shaken at their foundations and threatened in their very
existence”. He also referred to the difficulties experienced by the
Church in Jerusalem, reiterating his conviction that “a durable
peace in the Holy Land would contribute significantly to the
stability of the whole Middle East”, also highlighting “the drama
of the Church in Antioch”. He emphasised, “If these Churches, the
historic mothers of the evangelising mission, are struck at their
foundations, we, as their children, cannot be silent. … God chose
that part of the world as 'the cradle of a universal plan of
salvation in love'”, adding that “for nearly two thousand years
these Christians have kept alive the flame of the first Pentecost in
those lands”.
Cardinal
Sandri repeated the words of Pope Francis to the members of the
Oriental Congregation at the end of their Plenary Session last
November: “Every Catholic owes a debt of thanks to the Churches
that live in that region. From these Churches we may learn, among
other things, the effort of the daily exercise of the spirit of
ecumenism and of interreligious dialogue. The geographical,
historical and cultural context in which they have lived for
centuries has indeed made them natural interlocutors with numerous
other Christian confessions and with other religions”.
He
thanked the American Episcopal Conference for the “constant and
generous attention” shown to the Oriental Churches, especially in
relation to efforts to raise the awareness of the political
authorities. He also thanked the Catholic Near East Welfare
Association (CNEWA) for the work of the Pontifical Mission for
Palestine, as well as Aid to the Church in Need and Catholic Relief
Services, and highlighted the “great hospitality the United States
has given over the decades to all of the Eastern Churches in the
diaspora”.
He
mentioned the situation “of extreme urgency” in Iraq, and
remarked that “in dialogue both clarity and fraternal respect are
needed. … We have the responsibility of educating our faithful lest
they yield to a vision of conflict between civilisations or
religions. We must recall that it has taken Catholic theological and
biblical reflection centuries to arrive at its present capacity for
interpreting our sacred texts without undue fear of violating the
depositum fidei”.
He
concluded by encouraging those present to follow with attention the
interventions of the Holy See in its various modes and the
representatives of the Holy See in various international
organisations, and to support the role of the United Nations, an
“effective forum through which to prevent the repetition of
violence and injustice”.
Audiences
Vatican
City, 11 September 2014 (VIS) – Today the Holy Father received in
audience:
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Archbishop Santo Gangemi, apostolic nuncio in Guinea and Mali
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Twenty-four prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Congo, on their
“ad Limina” visit:
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Archbishop Francois Xavier Maroy Rusengo of Bukavu;
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Bishop Melchisedech Sikuli Paluku of Butembo-Beni;
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Bishop Theophile Kaboy Ruboneka of Goma;
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Bishop Placide Lubamba Ndjibu, M. Afr., of Kasongo;
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Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele, M. Afr., of Kindu;
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Bishop Sebastien Muyengo Mulombe of Uvira;
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Archbishop Marcel Madila Basanguka of Kananga
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Bishop Valentin Masengo Nkinda of Kabinda;
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Bishop Pierre-Celestin Tshitoko Mamba of Luebo;
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Bishop Felicien Mwanama Galumbulula of Luiza;
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Bishop Bernard-Emmanuel Kasanda Mulenga of Mbujimayi;
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Bishop Gerard Mulumba Kalemba of Mweka;
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Bishop Nicolas Djomo Lola of Tshumbe;
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Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, archbishop of Kinshasa, with his
auxiliaries, Bishop Edouard Kisonga Ndinga, S.S.S., and Bishop
Timothee Bodika Mansiyai, P.S.S.;
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Bishop Cyprien Mbuka, C.I.C.M., of Boma;
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Bishop Jose Moko Ekanga, P.S.S., of Idiofa;
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Bishop Philippe Nkiere Kena, C.I.C.M., of Inongo;
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Bishop Jean Gaspard Mudiso Mund’la, S.V.D., of Kenge;
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Bishop Edouard Mununu Kasiala of Kikwit;
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Bishop Fidele Nsielele Zi Mputu of Kisantu;
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Bishop Daniel Nlandu Mayi of Matadi; and
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Bishop Louis Nzala Kianza of Popokabaka.
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Archbishop Emil Paul Tscherrig, apostolic nuncio in Argentina.
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