SUMMARY:
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To the Swiss Bishops' Conference: safeguard your country's long
Christian tradition
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The Pope speaks to the press on the return flight to Rome
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Francis denounces the degrading living conditions of many refugees
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Pope Francis' prayer intentions for December
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Audiences
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Other Pontifical Acts
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To
the Swiss Bishops' Conference: safeguard your country's long
Christian tradition
Vatican
City, 1 December 2014 (VIS) – This morning Pope Francis received
the prelates of the Swiss Bishops' Conference at the end of their
five-yearly “ad Limina” visit and handed them the text of the
discourse he had prepared in advance, in which he referred to the
country's long Christian tradition and the responsibility of prelates
to keep faith strong. “Without living faith in the risen Christ,
your beautiful churches and monasteries will gradually transform into
museums; all the commendable works and institutions lose their soul,
leaving behind only empty spaces and abandoned people”, he writes.
“The mission that has been entrusted to you is to nurture your
flock, proceeding in accordance with current circumstances. … The
People of God cannot exist without their pastors, bishops and
priests; the Lord has given the Church the gift of the apostolic
succession in the service of the unity of faith and its full
transmission”.
In
this way, the Pope encourages them to continue their efforts in the
formation of the seminarians, which constitutes the challenge for the
future of the Church, and invites them to pay attention to their
priests, especially in the case of estrangement or when the meaning
of episcopal paternity appears to be forgotten. “A humble, honest
and fraternal dialogue often enables a new beginning”, he writes.
Similarly, he urges the bishops to acknowledge the support and
efforts of the laity, differentiating between the common priesthood
of the faithful and the ministerial priesthood. He encourages them to
continue in the formation of the baptised regarding the truths of
faith and their importance to liturgy, the parish, family and life,
and to carefully select personnel to permit the laity to be truly
integrated in and to take their rightful place in the Church.
The
Holy Father mentions that the Church was born in Pentecost when the
apostles went out and spoke in all languages thus reaching all
mankind through the power of the Holy Spirit, and he recalls the
Redeemer's invitation to preach the Gospel to all, proclaiming the
Good News without bending to the whims of man. Finally, he imparts
his apostolic blessing and expresses his hope that they may continue
to cultivate God's field with diligence and patience, maintaining
their passion for the truth, and he encourages them to entrust the
future of evangelisation in their country to the Virgin Mary and to
the intercession of St. Nicolas de Flue, St. Maurice, and their
companions.
The
Pope speaks to the press on the return flight to Rome
Vatican
City, 1 December 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday, as is his custom, Pope
Francis spoke with the journalists accompanying him on the return
flight from Istanbul to Rome. The questions touched mostly on the
themes of relations between Islam and Christianity, and ecumenism.
The
Holy Father affirmed that the Qu'ran is a book of peace and that
Islam cannot be equated with terrorism; however, he remarked, it is
necessary for Muslim political, religious and academic leaders to
condemn terrorist attacks so that the people may hear this directly
from such figures. He also revealed that in the Blue Mosque, he
prayed above all for peace. Referring later on to so-called
“Christianophobia” or anti-Christian sentiment, as opposed to
“Islamophobia”, he underlined that today there are many Christian
martyrs among the populations of the Middle East, and he mentioned
those compelled to leave their homes. This martyrdom has been the
fate of faithful of different Christian confessions and has given
rise to an “ecumenism of blood”.
With
regard to the Middle East, he spoke about the situation in Syria,
condemning the traffic and sale of arms, and reiterated that behind
every war there are always political and economic problems and
commercial interests, in attempts to save a system that accords
centrality to the god of money, rather than human beings. The Pope
observed that it seems to him we are experiencing a third world war,
fragmented and dispersed in various places, and expressed his wish to
go to Iraq, although he remarked that at the moment it would not be
possible since it would create important problems for the authorities
and difficulties regarding security. Francis revealed that he
considers the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border to be a very
important issue, but is aware that there are political issues that
make this difficult, and he invited prayer to contribute to making
this opening possible.
The
Pope focused closely on the question of ecumenism, commenting that it
is a path that must be followed together and stressing the importance
of spiritual ecumenism – praying, working and carrying out
charitable works together. He added that with orthodoxy, this joint
path is proving successful thanks to the sacraments and the apostolic
succession, and that it will be fundamental to provide an answer to
the question posed by John Paul II when he asked the Orthodox to help
arrive at a formula for primacy acceptable to these Churches. He also
expressed his wish to go to Moscow in order to meet with the
Patriarch Kiril, but not at the moment due to the pressing problems
in Ukraine. Again in relation to ecumenism, he stressed that when the
Church looks inwardly to herself rather than at Christ, when she
believes herself to be a creator of light rather than a bringer of
light, she creates divisions. Finally, he remarked on the desire of
Christians to be able to celebrate Easter on the same date.
One
of the final questions related to the recent Synod of Bishops, and
the Holy Father affirmed that the Synod is a path and a process, and
therefore a person's opinion or a draft document cannot be given
consideration. Nor is the Synod a parliament, but rather a protected
space where one may let the voice of the Spirit be heard.
Francis
denounces the degrading living conditions of many refugees
Vatican
City, 30 November 2014 (VIS) – Pope Francis chose to conclude his
final day in Turkey by meeting a group of around a hundred refugees
and asylum seekers. Christians and Muslims, they were mostly from
Iraq and Syria, although some were from other countries in the Middle
East and Africa, and have been assisted for some time by the Salesian
community in Istanbul. The meeting took place in the Cathedral of the
Holy Spirit.
“I
wish to assure you that I share your sufferings; I hope my visit, by
the grace of God, may offer you some consolation in your difficult
situation”, said the Pope. “Yours is the sad consequence of
brutal conflicts and war, which are always evils and which never
solve problems. Rather, they only create new ones”.
He
emphasised the difficulty of the living conditions of refugees, who
often find themselves deprived, sometimes for long periods, of “basic
needs such as a dignified home, healthcare, education and work. They
have had to abandon not only their material possessions, but above
all their freedom, closeness to family, their homeland and cultural
traditions. The degrading conditions in which so many refugees are
forced to live are intolerable! For this reason, we must do
everything possible to eradicate the causes of this situation. I
appeal for greater international cooperation to resolve the conflicts
which are causing bloodshed in your homelands, to counter the other
causes which are driving people to leave their home countries, and to
improve conditions so that people may remain or return home. I
encourage all who are working generously and steadfastly for justice
and peace not to lose heart. I ask political leaders to always
remember that the great majority of their people long for peace, even
if at times they lack the strength and voice to demand it”.
The
Holy Father praised the work of many organisations in aid of
refugees, including numerous Catholic groups “which offer generous
aid to many in need without discriminating. I wish also to express
deep gratitude to the Turkish authorities for the great efforts they
have made in assisting the displaced, in particular Syrian and Iraqi
refugees, and for the authorities’ tangible commitment in trying to
meet their needs. I hope that the necessary support of the
international community may not be lacking”.
He
offered some words of encouragement to the young people present. “It
is easy to say this, but please make an effort not to be discouraged.
With the help of God, continue to hope in a better future, despite
the difficulties and obstacles which you are currently facing. The
Catholic Church is with you, including through the invaluable work of
the Salesians. The Church, in addition to other forms of help, also
offers you the opportunity to see to your education and formation.
Remember always that God does not forget any of his children, and
that those who are the smallest and who suffer the most are closest
to the Father’s heart”.
“For
my part, together with the whole Church, I will continue to pray to
the Lord, asking him to inspire those in leadership, so that they
will not hesitate to promote justice, security and peace and do so in
ways that are clear and effective”, he concluded. “Through her
social and charitable organisations, the Church will remain at your
side and will continue to hold up your cause before the world. May
God bless you all! Please pray for me. Thank you!”
Following
the meeting, the Pope proceeded to the hospital to visit the Armenian
Orthodox Patriarch Mesrob II, who was admitted some years ago and
remains in a coma. He subsequently went to Ataturk Airport where,
after farewell greetings with the local civil and religious
authorities, he departed for Rome. The aircraft carrying the Holy
Father landed at 6.40 p.m. Before returning to the Vatican, he
stopped in the Basilica of St. Mary Major to commend the fruits of
his apostolic trip in Turkey to the Virgin.
Pope
Francis' prayer intentions for December
Vatican
City, 1 December 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father's universal prayer
intention for December is: “That the birth of the Redeemer may
bring peace and hope to all people of good will”.
His
intention for evangelisation is: “That parents may be true
evangelisers, passing on to their children the precious gift of
faith”.
Audiences
Vatican
City, 1 December 2014 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in
audience:
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Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, apostolic nuncio in the Dominican
Republic and apostolic delegate in Porto Rico;
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Archbishop Jean-Marie Speich, apostolic nuncio in Ghana;
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Marco Vinicio Vargas Pereira, new ambassador of Costa Rica to the
Holy See, presenting his credential letters;
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Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church;
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Archbishop Stephan Burger of Freiburg im Breisgau, Federal Republic
of Germany;
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Thirteen prelates of the Swiss Bishops' Conference, on their “ad
Limina” visit:
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Bishop Felix Gmur of Basel, with his auxiliaries, Bishop Martin
Gachter and Bishop Denis Theurillat;
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Bishop Vitus Huonder of Chur, with his auxiliary Bishop Marian
Eleganti;
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Bishop Charles Morerod, O.P., of Lausanne, Geneve et Fribourg, with
his auxiliaries, Bishop Pierre Farine and Bishop Alain de Raemy;
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Bishop Valerio Lazzeri of Lugano;
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Bishop Markus Buchel of Sankt Gallen;
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Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey, C.R.B. of Sion;
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Fr. Urban Federer, O.S.B., abbot of Maria Einsiedeln, and
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Bishop Joseph Roduit, abbot of Saint-Maurice.
Other
Pontifical Acts
Vatican
City, 1 December 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has accepted the
resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Mocoa-Sibundoy,
Colombia, presented by Bishop Luis Alberto Parra Mora, in accordance
with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
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