SUMMARY:
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The Pope addresses the Diplomatic Corps: peace must guide the destiny
of peoples
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The Pope baptises thirty-three infants in the Sistine Chapel
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Angelus: deafness to the voice of the Holy Spirit leads to muteness
in evangelisation
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Rebuilding the country means rebuilding the person: the Pope at the
conference on Haiti
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Meeting of the presidents of the European Episcopal Conferences
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Note on security in the Vatican
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Audiences
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Other Pontifical Acts
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In Memoriam
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The
Pope addresses the Diplomatic Corps: peace must guide the destiny of
peoples
Vatican
City, 12 January 2014 (VIS) – This morning in the Clementine Hall
the Holy Father addressed members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited
to the Holy See for the exchange of greetings that traditionally
takes place at the beginning of the new year. Francis thanked the
dean of the ambassadors, Jean-Claude Michel of Monaco, for the
efforts made by the Corps in fostering, in a spirit of mutual
collaboration, the relations between the states and international
organisations they represent and the Holy See, and added that during
the past year “these relations were consolidated by an increase in
the presence of ambassadors resident in Rome and by the signing of
new bilateral Accords, both general, like the one concluded last
January with Cameroon, and specific, like those signed with Malta and
Serbia”.
During
his address to the diplomats, Pope Francis examined the international
situation from the dual perspective of hope and peace and the aspect
of rejection, both personal and social, “leading to the breakdown
of society and spawning violence and death”. The Pope mentioned a
number of dramatic events, such as the massacre of over one hundred
children in Pakistan, the confrontation in Ukraine, the continuing
tension in the Middle East, the recent attacks in Paris, the violence
against the population in Nigeria, and the civil conflicts in Libya,
the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo; he also emphasised the fact that wars often
involve the widespread incidence of the horrendous crime of rape of
women and girls. He also made reference to those afflicted by the
Ebola virus, the problems faced by immigrants and refugees, and the
lack of assistance for families. The Holy Father remarked that the
overview should not however be dominated by pessimism, and he cited
positive elements such as the resurgence of Albania, the results of
ecumenical dialogue in Turkey, the expectations for Jordan and
Lebanon, the decision of the U.S.A. and Cuba to break their mutual
silence, the transformations in Burkina Faso, the efforts towards
achieving stable peace in Colombia and Venezuela and the decision of
the U.S.A. to close the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. He concluded
by expressing his hope for the adoption of the Sustainable
Development Goals and the drafting of a new Climate Change Agreement
over the coming year.
“I
thank you for your presence at this traditional meeting, which allows
me at the beginning of each new year to offer to you, your families,
and the peoples you represent, my cordial greetings and best wishes.
I am especially grateful to your Dean, Ambassador Jean-Claude Michel,
for the kind words which he addressed to me in the name of all, and I
thank each of you for your constant dedication and efforts to foster,
in a spirit of mutual cooperation, relations between the countries
and international organisations which you represent and the Holy See.
In the course of the past year too, these relations were consolidated
by an increase in the presence of ambassadors resident in Rome and by
the signing of new bilateral Accords, both general, like that
concluded last January with Cameroon, and specific, like those signed
with Malta and Serbia.
“Today
I wish to repeat a word quite dear to us: peace! It comes to us from
the angelic hosts who proclaimed it on Christmas night as a precious
gift of God, while at the same time as a personal and social
responsibility which calls for our commitment and concern. But
together with peace, the image of the Christmas creche speaks to us
another tragic reality: that of rejection. In some iconographic
representations, both in the West and in the East – I think for
example of the splendid Nativity icon of Andrej Rublev – the Child
Jesus is shown not lying in a manger, but in a tomb. The image, which
is meant to connect the two principal Christian feasts of Christmas
and Easter, shows that the joyful acceptance of this new birth is
inseparable from the entire drama of Jesus’ life, his humiliation
and rejection, even to death on the cross.
“The
Christmas stories themselves show us the hardened heart of a humanity
which finds it difficult to accept the Child. From the very start, he
is cast aside, left out in the cold, forced to be born in a stable
since there was no room in the inn. If this is how the Son of God was
treated, how much more so is it the case with so many of our brothers
and sisters! Rejection is an attitude we all share; it makes us see
our neighbour not as a brother or sister to be accepted, but as
unworthy of our attention, a rival, or someone to be bent to our
will. This is the mindset which fosters that 'throwaway culture'
which spares nothing and no one: nature, human beings, even God
himself. It gives rise to a humanity filled with pain and constantly
torn by tensions and conflicts of every sort.
“Emblematic
of this, in the Gospel infancy narratives, is King Herod. Feeling his
authority threatened by the Child Jesus, he orders all the children
of Bethlehem to be killed. We think immediately of Pakistan, where a
month ago, more than a hundred children were slaughtered with
unspeakable brutality. To their families I wish to renew my personal
condolences and the assurance of my continued prayers for the many
innocents who lost their lives.
“The
personal dimension of rejection is inevitably accompanied by a social
dimension, a culture of rejection which severs the deepest and most
authentic human bonds, leading to the breakdown of society and
spawning violence and death. We see painful evidence of this in the
events reported daily in the news, not least the tragic slayings
which took place in Paris a few days ago. Other people 'are no longer
regarded as beings of equal dignity, as brothers or sisters sharing a
common humanity, but rather as objects'. Losing their freedom, people
become enslaved, whether to the latest fads, or to power, money, or
even deviant forms of religion. These are dangers which I pointed out
in my recent Message for the World Day of Peace, which dealt with the
issue of today’s multiple forms of enslavement. All of them are
born of a corrupt heart, a heart incapable of recognising and doing
good, of pursuing peace.
“It
saddens us to see the tragic consequences of this mentality of
rejection and this 'culture of enslavement' in the never-ending
spread of conflicts. Like a true world war fought piecemeal, they
affect, albeit in different forms and degrees of intensity, a number
of areas in our world, beginning with nearby Ukraine, which has
become a dramatic theatre of combat. It is my hope that through
dialogue the efforts presently being made to end the hostilities will
be consolidated, and that the parties involved will embark as quickly
as possible, in a renewed spirit of respect for international law,
upon the path of mutual trust and fraternal reconciliation, with the
aim of bringing an end to the present crisis.
“My
thoughts turn above all to the Middle East, beginning with the
beloved land of Jesus which I had the joy of visiting last May, and
for whose peace we constantly pray. We did this with extraordinary
intensity, together with the then president of Israel, Shimon Peres,
and the president of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, inspired by a
confident hope that negotiations between the two parties will once
more resume, for the sake of ending violence and reaching a solution
which can enable Palestinians and Israelis alike to live at last in
peace within clearly established and internationally recognised
borders, thus implementing the 'two state solution'.
“The
Middle East is tragically embroiled in other conflicts which have
lasted far too long, with chilling repercussions, due also to the
spread of fundamentalist terrorism in Syria and in Iraq. This
phenomenon is a consequence of the throwaway culture being applied to
God. Religious fundamentalism, even before it eliminates human beings
by perpetrating horrendous killings, eliminates God himself, turning
him into a mere ideological pretext. In the face of such unjust
aggression, which also strikes Christians and other ethnic and
religious groups in the region – the Yezidis for example – a
unanimous response is needed, one which, within the framework of
international law, can end the spread of acts of violence, restore
harmony and heal the deep wounds which the ongoing conflicts have
caused. Here, in your presence, I appeal to the entire international
community, as I do to the respective governments involved, to take
concrete steps to bring about peace and to protect all those who are
victims of war and persecution, driven from their homes and their
homeland. In a letter written shortly before Christmas, I sought to
express my personal closeness and the promise of my prayers to all
the Christian communities of the Middle East. Theirs is a precious
testimony of faith and courage, for they play a fundamental role as
artisans of peace, reconciliation and development in the civil
societies of which they are a part. A Middle East without Christians
would be a marred and mutilated Middle East! In urging the
international community not to remain indifferent in the face of this
situation, I express my hope that religious, political and
intellectual leaders, especially those of the Muslim community, will
condemn all fundamentalist and extremist interpretations of religion
which attempt to justify such acts of violence.
“Sadly,
comparable acts of brutality, which not infrequently reap victims
from among the poor and the most vulnerable, are found in other parts
of the world as well. I think in particular of Nigeria where acts of
violence continue to strike indiscriminately and there is a constant
increase in the tragic phenomenon of kidnappings, often of young
girls carried off to be made objects of trafficking. This is an
abominable trade which must not continue! It is a scourge which needs
to be eradicated, since it strikes all of us, from individual
families to the entire international community.
“I
also look with concern to the many civil conflicts taking place in
other parts of Africa, beginning with Libya, ravaged by a drawn-out
internecine war which has caused unspeakable suffering among its
people, with grave repercussions for the delicate balances in the
region. I think of the dramatic situation in the Central African
Republic, in which, sad to say, the good will inspiring the efforts
of those seeking to build a future of peace, security and prosperity,
has encountered resistance and selfish partisan interests. These risk
frustrating the hopes of a people which has endured so much and which
now longs to shape its future in freedom. Of particular concern, too,
is the situation in South Sudan and in some areas of Sudan, the Horn
of Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where civilian
casualties are on the rise and thousands of persons, including many
women and children, are being forced to flee and to endure conditions
of extreme distress. I voice my hope for a common commitment on the
part of individual governments and the international community to end
every form of fighting, hatred and violence, and to pursue
reconciliation, peace and the defence of the transcendent dignity of
the person.
“Nor
can we overlook the fact that wars involve another horrendous crime,
the crime of rape. This is a most grave offence against the dignity
of women, who are not only violated in body but also in spirit,
resulting in a trauma hard to erase and with effects on society as
well. Sadly, even apart from situations of war, all too many women
even today are victims of violence.
“Every
conflict and war is emblematic of the throwaway culture, since
people’s lives are deliberately crushed by those in power. Yet that
culture is also fuelled by more subtle and insidious forms of
rejection. I think in the first place of the way the sick are
treated; often they are cast aside and marginalised like the lepers
in the Gospel. Among the lepers of our own day we can count the
victims of the new and terrible outbreak of Ebola which, especially
in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, has already taken over six
thousand lives. Today I wish publicly to praise and thank those
healthcare workers who, alongside men and women religious and
volunteers, are caring in every way possible for the sick and their
families, especially orphaned children. At the same time I renew my
appeal to the entire international community to provide adequate
humanitarian assistance to patients and to make concerted efforts to
combat the disease.
“Together
with lives thrown away because of war and disease, there are those of
numerous refugees and displaced persons. Once again, the reality can
be appreciated by reflecting on the childhood of Jesus, which sheds
light on another form of the throwaway culture which harms
relationships and causes the breakdown of society. Indeed, because of
Herod’s brutality, the Holy Family was forced to flee to Egypt, and
was only able to return several years later. One consequence of the
situations of conflict just described is the flight of thousands of
persons from their homeland. At times they leave not so much in
search of a better future, but any future at all, since remaining at
home can mean certain death. How many persons lose their lives during
these cruel journeys, the victims of unscrupulous and greedy thugs? I
raised this issue during my recent visit to the European Parliament,
where I insisted that 'we cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a
vast cemetery'. Then too there is the alarming fact that many
immigrants, especially in the Americas, are unaccompanied children,
all the more at risk and in need of greater care, attention and
protection.
“Often
coming without documents to strange lands whose language they do not
speak, migrants find it difficult to be accepted and to find work. In
addition to the uncertainties of their flight, they have to face the
drama of rejection. A change of attitude is needed on our part,
moving from indifference and fear to genuine acceptance of others.
This of course calls for 'enacting adequate legislation to protect
the rights of… citizens and to ensure the acceptance of
immigrants'. I thank all those who, even at the cost of their lives,
are working to assist refugees and immigrants, and I urge states and
international organisations to make every effort to resolve these
grave humanitarian problems and to provide the immigrants’
countries of origin with forms of aid which can help promote their
social and political development and settle their internal conflicts,
which are the chief cause of this phenomenon. 'We need to take action
against the causes and not only the effects'. This will also enable
immigrants to return at some point to their own country and to
contribute to its growth and development.
“Together
with immigrants, displaced people and refugees, there are many other
'hidden exiles' living in our homes and in our families. I think
especially of the elderly, the handicapped and young people. The
elderly encounter rejection when they are considered a 'burdensome
presence', while the young are thrown away when they are denied
concrete prospects of employment to build their future. Indeed, there
is no poverty worse than that which takes away work and the dignity
of work, or which turns work into a form of enslavement. This is what
I sought to stress during my recent meeting with popular movements
working to finding adequate solutions to some of today’s problems,
including the scourge of rising unemployment among the young, illegal
labour, and the dramatic situation of so many workers, especially
children, who are exploited out of greed. All this is contrary to
human dignity and the fruit of a mentality which is centred on money,
benefits and economic profit, to the detriment of our fellow man.
“Then
too, the family itself is not infrequently considered disposable,
thanks to the spread of an individualistic and self-centred culture
which severs human bonds and leads to a dramatic fall in birth rates,
as well as legislation which benefits various forms of cohabitation
rather than adequately supporting the family for the welfare of
society as a whole.
“Among
the causes of these realities is a model of globalisation which
levels out differences and even discards cultures, cutting them off
from those factors which shape each people’s identity and
constitute a legacy essential to their sound social development. In a
drab, anonymous world, it is easy to understand the difficulties and
the discouragement felt by many people who have literally lost the
sense of being alive. This tragic situation is aggravated by the
continuing economic crisis, which fosters pessimism and social
conflict. I have been able to see its effects here in Rome, where I
meet many people in trying situations, and in the various journeys I
have made in Italy.
“To
the beloved Italian nation, then, I would like to express my hope
that in the continuing climate of social, political and economic
uncertainty the Italian people will not yield to apathy or
dissension, but will rediscover those values of shared concern and
solidarity which are at the basis of their culture and civic life,
and are a reason for confidence both now and in the future,
especially for the young.
“Speaking
of the young, I wish to mention my journey to Korea, where last
August I met thousands of young people assembled for the Sixth Asian
Youth Day. There I spoke of the need to treasure our young, 'seeking
to pass on the legacy of the past and to apply it to the challenges
of the present'. This demands that we reflect on 'how well we are
transmitting our values to the next generation and on the kind of
world and society we are preparing to hand on to them'.
“This
evening I will have the joy of setting off once more for Asia, to
visit Sri Lanka and the Philippines as a sign of my interest and
pastoral concern for the people of that vast continent. To them and
to their governments I wish to voice yet again the desire of the Holy
See to offer its own contribution of service to the common good, to
harmony and social concord. In particular, I express my hope for a
resumption of dialogue between the two Koreas, sister countries which
speak the same language.
“Your
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, at the beginning of a new year,
though, we do not wish our outlook to be dominated by pessimism, or
the defects and deficiencies of the present time. We also want to
thank God for the gifts and blessings he has bestowed upon us, for
the occasions of dialogue and encounter which he has granted us, and
for the fruits of peace which he has enabled us to savour.
“I
experienced an eloquent sign that the culture of encounter is
possible during my visit to Albania, a nation full of young people
who represent hope for the future. Despite the painful events of its
recent history, the country is marked by the 'peaceful coexistence
and collaboration that exists among followers of different
religions', in an atmosphere of respect and mutual trust between
Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims. This is an important sign that
sincere faith in God makes one open to others, generates dialogue and
works for the good, whereas violence is always the product of a
falsification of religion, its use as a pretext for ideological
schemes whose only goal is power over others. Similarly, in my recent
journey to Turkey, a historic bridge between East and West, I was
able to see the fruits of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, as
well as efforts made to assist refugees from other countries of the
Middle East. I also encountered this spirit of openness in Jordan,
which I visited at the beginning of my pilgrimage to the Holy Land,
and in the testimonies which come from Lebanon, a country which I
pray will overcome its current political problems.
“One
example close to my heart of how dialogue can build bridges comes
from the recent decision of the United States of America and Cuba to
end a lack of communication which has endured for more than half a
century, and to initiate a rapprochement for the benefit of their
respective citizens. Here I think too of the people of Burkina Faso,
who are experiencing a period of significant political and
institutional change, with the hope that a renewed spirit of
cooperation will contribute to the growth of a more just and
fraternal society. I also note with pleasure that last March an
agreement was signed to end long years of tension in the Philippines.
I wish to encourage the efforts made to ensure a stable peace in
Colombia, as well as the initiatives taken to restore political and
social harmony in Venezuela. At the same time, I express my hope that
a definitive agreement may soon be reached between Iran and the 5+1
Group regarding the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and
my appreciation of the efforts already made in this regard. I note
with satisfaction the intention of the United States to close the
Guantanamo detention facilities, while acknowledging the generous
willingness of several countries to receive the detainees. I heartily
thank those countries. Finally, I would like to express my
appreciation and encouragement to those countries actively engaged in
promoting human development, political stability and civil
coexistence between their citizens.
“Your
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, on 6 August 1945, humanity
witnessed one of the most horrendous catastrophes in its history. For
the first time, in a new and unprecedented way, the world experienced
the full potential of man’s destructive power. From the ashes of
that immense tragedy which was the Second World War, there arose
among the nations a new will for dialogue and encounter which
inspired the United Nations Organisation, whose seventieth
anniversary we will celebrate this year. In his visit to the UN
headquarters fifty years ago, my predecessor, Pope Paul VI, noted
that 'the blood of millions, countless unheard-of sufferings, useless
massacres and frightening ruins have sanctioned the agreement that
unites you with an oath that ought to change the future of the world:
never again war, never again war! It is peace, peace, that has to
guide the destiny of the nations of all mankind'.
“This
is likewise my own hope-filled prayer for this new year, which, for
that matter, will see the continuation of two significant processes:
the drawing up of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, with the adoption
of Sustainable Development Goals, and the drafting of a new Climate
Change Agreement. The latter is urgently needed. The indispensable
presupposition of all these is peace, which, even more than an end to
all wars, is the fruit of heartfelt conversion. With these
sentiments, I once more offer to each of you, to your families and
your peoples, my prayerful good wishes that this new year of 2015
will be one of hope and peace”.
The
Pope baptises thirty-three infants in the Sistine Chapel
Vatican
City, 11 January 2014 (VIS) – This morning in the Sistine Chapel
the Holy Father presided at a Eucharistic celebration during which he
baptised thirty-three children of Vatican employees. In his homily,
citing the first reading, the Pope remarked that the Lord is
concerned for his children, like a parent, and therefore ensures they
receive substantial nourishment. “God, like a good father or a good
mother, wishes to give good things to his children. And what is this
nourishment that God gives us? It is His Word”.
The
Word “enables us to grow and to be fruitful in life, like the rain
and the snow are good for the earth and make it fecund. Therefore
you, parents and godparents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, will
help these children to grow well if you give them the Word of God, te
Gospel of Jesus. And also offer this to them by example! Every day,
get used to reading a passage from the Gospel, a short one, and
always carry a copy of the Gospel in your pocket, in your bag, so you
can read it. And this will be an example for your children – seeing
their father, mother, godparents, grandfather, grandmother, aunts and
uncles all reading the Word of God”.
“You,
mothers, give you children milk – and even now, if they cry with
hunger, feel free to feed them. Let us give thanks to the Lord for
the gift of milk and pray for those mothers – there are many,
unfortunately – who are not able to give their children food to
eat. Let us pray and try to help these mothers. So, what the milk
does for the body, the Word of God does for the spirit: the Word of
God enables faith to grow. As we heard in the words of the apostle
John: 'Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by
God”. Your children are baptised in this faith. Today it is your
faith, dear parents and godparents. It is the faith of the Church, in
which these little ones will receive Baptism. But tomorrow, but the
grace of God, it will be their faith, their personal 'yes' to Jesus
Christ, who gives us the love of the Father”.
He
continued, “Baptism brings us within the body of the Church, as
part of God's holy people. And in this body, in this journeying
people, faith is transmitted from generation to generation: it is the
faith of the Church. It is the faith of Mary, our mother, the faith
of St. Joseph, of St. Peter, of St. Andrew, of St. John, of the
apostles and the martyrs, that has arrived with us through Baptism: a
chain that transmits faith”.
“The
candle of faith is passed from one hand to another”, explained the
Pope, alluding to the Paschal candle that is lit during Baptismal
rites and which represents Christ, resurrected and living in our
midst. You, families, take from Him this light of faith to transmit
to your children. You take this light from the Church, the body of
Christ, the people of God that journeys through every time and every
place. Teach your children that it is not possible to be Christian
outside the Church, and it is not possible to follow Christ outside
the Church, as the Church is our mother, and lets us grow in the love
of Jesus Christ”.
Francis
then turned to the final aspect to emerge from today's biblical
readings: that in Baptism we are consecrated in the Holy Spirit. “The
word 'Christian' means consecrated like Jesus, in the same Spirit in
which Jesus was immersed in all his earthly existence. He is the
'Christ', the anointed, the consecrated, and the baptised are
Christians, that is, consecrated, anointed. And therefore, dear
parents and godparents, if you want your children to become true
Christians, help them to grow 'immersed' in the Holy Spirit, that is,
in the warmth of God's love, in the light of His Word”.
Angelus:
deafness to the voice of the Holy Spirit leads to muteness in
evangelisation
Vatican
City, 11 January 2014 (VIS) – The feast of the Baptism of the Lord
concludes the season of the Nativity and the Pope, during the Angelus
at midday today, commenting on the passage in the Gospel of St. Mark
– when the heavens open at the moment at which John the Baptist
baptises Jesus in the Jordan – affirmed that this event marks the
end of “the time of the closed heavens, which indicated the
separation of God and man as a consequence of sin”.
Sin
“alienates us from God and ruptures the bond between earth and
heaven, causing misery and failure in our lives. The open heavens
indicate that God has given His grace so that the earth may bear His
fruit. Thus the world transforms into God's dwelling amid humanity,
and each one of us has the opportunity to meet the Son of God,
experiencing all of His love and infinite mercy. We find Him truly
present in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. We are able to
recognise Him in the face of our brothers, especially the poor, the
sick, the imprisoned, and refugees; they are the living flesh of the
suffering Christ and the visible image of the invisible God”.
With
the Baptism of Jesus, not only did the heavens open, but also “God
speaks, making his voice resound anew: 'You are my beloved Son: with
you I am well pleased'. … And then the Holy Spirit descends, in the
form of a dove: this enables Christ, the consecrated of the Lord, to
inaugurate His mission, which is our salvation”. The Holy Father
remarked that the Holy Spirit is forgotten in our prayers: “We need
to ask for His help, His strength, His inspiration. The Holy Spirit,
that fully inspired the life and ministry of Jesus, is the same
Spirit that today guides Christian existence, the existence of a man
and a woman who say they wish to be Christians. Placing under the
action of the Holy Spirit our life as Christians and the mission that
we have all received by virtue of our Baptism means rediscovering the
apostolic courage necessary to overcome easy worldly comforts. … A
Christian or a community that is deaf to the voice of the Holy
Spirit, Who urges us to take the Gospel to the outermost limits of
the world and of society, also becomes a mute Christian or community,
unable to speak or to evangelise”.
“Remember
to pray often that the Holy Spirit might help us and give us strength
and inspiration, leading us forward”, concluded Pope Francis who,
following the Angelus prayer, asked the faithful gathered in St.
Peter's Square, especially those from Sri Lanka and the Philippines,
to pray for him during his apostolic trip to these two countries, to
commence tomorrow.
Rebuilding
the country means rebuilding the person: the Pope at the conference
on Haiti
Vatican
City, 10 January 2014 (VIS) – This morning Pope Francis received in
audience the participants in the conference “The communion of the
Church: memory and hope for Haiti five years after the earthquake”,
organised by the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” and the Pontifical
Commission for Latin America in collaboration with the bishops of
Haiti. He began by thanking those who “in numerous ways came to the
aid of the Haitian people following that tragedy which left in its
wake so much death, destruction and desperation”. He emphasised
that, “through the help given to our brothers and sisters in Haiti,
we have shown that the Church is a great body, one in which the
various members care for one another. It is in this communion,
prompted by the Holy Spirit, that our charitable service finds its
deepest motivation”.
“How
much has been done toward rebuilding the country in these five years!
Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the fact that much remains to be done.
All that has been done, and all that, with God’s help, will yet be
done, rests on three solid pillars: the human person, ecclesial
communion, and the local Church”, added the Pope, who went on to
further explain these three pillars.
Firstly,
“the person is at the centre of the Church’s activity. We have
just celebrated Christmas, and it is precisely the Incarnation which
tells us how important man is to God, who wished to assume our human
nature. Our first concern must thus be that of helping everyone, each
man and woman, to live fully as persons. There can be no true
rebuilding of a country without also rebuilding each person in his or
her totality. This means ensuring that the material needs of every
person in Haiti be met, and that they be able to be free, to assume
their responsibilities and to further their own spiritual and
religious lives. The human person has a transcendent dimension, and
the Church first of all cannot neglect this dimension, which finds
its fulfilment in the encounter with God. Consequently, in this phase
of reconstruction, humanitarian and pastoral activities are not in
competition with one another, but rather are complementary: each
needs the other, and together they help Haitians to be mature persons
and Christians capable of devoting themselves to the good of their
brothers and sisters”.
With
regard to the second fundamental aspect, ecclesial communion, the
Holy Father remarked that Haiti has seen “effective cooperation
between many ecclesial institutions – dioceses, religious
institutes, charitable organisations” alongside many laypersons,
all of whom have carried out important charitable works. “This
variety of agencies, and thus of ways of offering assistance and
development, is a positive factor, since it is a sign of the vitality
of the Church and of the generosity of so many. … But charity is
even yet more authentic and more incisive when it is lived in
communion. Communion shows that charity is not merely about helping
others, but is a dimension that permeates the whole of life and
breaks down all those barriers of individualism which prevent us from
encountering one another. Charity is the inner life of the Church and
is manifested in ecclesial communion. Communion between bishops and
with bishops, who are the first ones responsible for the service of
charity. Communion among the various charisms and charitable
institutions, since none of us works for or by themselves, but rather
in the name of Christ who has shown us the way of service. It would
be a contradiction to live charity apart from one another! I invite
you therefore to strengthen every possible means of working together.
Ecclesial communion is reflected as well in collaboration with the
civil authorities and international organisations, so that all may
strive for authentic progress for the Haitian people, in the spirit
of the common good”.
Finally,
Pope Francis underlined the importance of the local Church, “because
it is here that the Christian experience is made tangible. The Church
in Haiti must become always more alive and fruitful, to witness to
Christ and to make its contribution to the development of the
nation”. In this regard, he encouraged the bishops of Haiti, all
the priests and those engaged in pastoral work on the island to
“inspire in the faithful renewed efforts in Christian formation and
in joyful and fruitful evangelisation. The witness of evangelical
charity is effective when it is sustained by a personal relationship
with Jesus in prayer, in listening to the word of God, and in
receiving the Sacraments. This is the true 'strength' of the local
Church”.
The
Pope concluded by reiterating his heartfelt gratitude, and urging
those present to continue along their path, assuring them of his
prayers and his blessing.
Meeting
of the presidents of the European Episcopal Conferences
Vatican
City, 10 January 2014 (VIS) – The presidents of the European
Episcopal Conferences and the superiors of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith will meet from 13 to 15 January in Esztergom,
Hungary.
By
the Instruction of 23 February 1967, the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, on behalf of Blessed Pope Paul VI, had asked
the Episcopal Conferences to institute an internal Doctrinal
Commission, as a advisory organ for the same Episcopal Conferences
and for the individual bishops in their concern for matters of
doctrine of the faith.
To
strengthen collaboration between the Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith and the Doctrinal Commissions, in 1982 it was decided to
periodically gather together the presidents of the aforementioned
Commissions at a continental level. One of the original
characteristics of these meetings was the fact that the superiors of
the Congregation travel to the various continents, thus underlining
the importance of local and regional issues and their responsibility
in facing doctrinal questions. The first of these meetings, during
the prefecture of the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, took place in
Latin America, in Bogota, (1984); it was followed by meetings in
Kinshasa, Africa (1987); Vienna, Europa (1989); Hong Kong, Asia
(1993); Guadalajara, Latin America (1996); and San Francisco, North
America (1999). During the prefecture of Cardinal William Levada
another encounter took place in Dar es Salaam (2009).
Now,
Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and president
of the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CCEE), has
accepted the request made by Cardinal Gerhard L. Muller, prefect of
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for a new meeting with
the presidents of the European Doctrinal Commissions in Esztergom.
Such an encounter demonstrates the will on the part of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to support the local
episcopates – as Pope Francis emphasises – in their commitment to
the promotion and protection of the doctrine of the faith, taking
into consideration the specific challenges to be faced in Europe
today.
Note
on security in the Vatican
Vatican
City, 12 January 2014 (VIS) – The director of the Holy See Press
Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., gave the following declaration
to journalists today:
“Contrary
to the claims made by some organs of the media, the Holy See has not
been informed of specific risks by the security services of other
Countries.
The
Holy See maintains its usual, appropriate contacts with the security
services, and in view of the current situation advises a reasonable
level of attention and prudence, but concrete and specific risks have
not been indicated.
There
is therefore no reason to arouse concerns that may needlessly affect
both those who live and work in the Vatican and the many pilgrims and
tourists who visit on a daily basis”.
Audiences
Vatican
City, 10 January 2014 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in
audience Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation
for Bishops.
Other
Pontifical Acts
Vatican
City, 12 January 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed:
-
Fr. Fernand J. Cheri, O.F.M., as auxiliary of the archdiocese of New
Orleans (area 10,898, population 1,238,228, Catholics 520,056,
priests 352, permanent deacons 211, religious 664), U.S.A. The
bishop-elect was born in New Orleans in 1952, was ordained a priest
in 1978 and gave his solemn vows in 1996. He holds a master's degree
in theology from Xavier University, New Orleans, and has served in a
number of pastoral roles, including administrator of the “St.
Joseph the Worker” parish; parish priest of the “St. Francis de
Sales” parish, New Orleans; administrator of the “St. Theresa of
the Child Jesus” parish, New Orleans; chaplain and teacher at the
“Hales Franciscan High School”, Chicago; parish priest of the
“St. Vincent de Paul” parish, Nashville; teacher at the Althoff
Catholic High School, Belleville; director of the O.F.M. Office of
Friar Life, vocation minister of the O.F.M. Vocation Office and
deputy director of the university chaplaincy of Xavier University,
New Orleans. He is currently director of campus ministry at Quincy
University, Quincy.
-
Msgr. Janusz Urbanczyk, nunciature counsellor at the Holy See
Permanent Mission at the United Nations, New York, as Holy See
Permanent Representative at the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE), and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear
Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), and as Holy See Permanent
Observer at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
(UNIDO) and at the United Nations in Vienna.
On
Saturday, 10 January, the Holy Father appointed:
-
Bishop Juan Barros Madrid, military ordinary for Chile, as bishop of
Osorno (area 9,236, population 241,000, Catholics 125,000, priests
204, permanent deacons 23, religious 97), Chile.
-
Msgr. Nicolo Anselmi as auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of
Genoa (area 966, population 812,246, Catholics 690,409, priests 553,
permanent deacons 31, religious 1,402), Italy. The bishop-elect was
born in Genoa, Italy in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1992. He
holds a bachelor's degree in theology from the theological faculty of
Genoa and has served in a number of pastoral and administrative
roles, including parish vicar of the “Santi Pietro e Bernardo alla
Foce” parish in Genoa, head of the youth pastoral service for the
archdiocese of Genoa, regional head of youth pastoral care for the
Liguria Episcopal Conference, administrator of the parish of “San
Giovanni Bosco della Rimessa”, lecturer at the major seminary of
Genoa and head of the national youth pastoral service. He is
currently episcopal vicar for university, youth and sport pastoral
ministry; director of the office for youth pastoral ministry; provost
of the parish-basilica of Santa Maria delle Vigne; member of the
presbyteral council and member of the college of consultors. In 2012
he was named Chaplain of His Holiness.
-
Bishop Guglielmo Borghetti of Pitigliano-Sovana-Orbetello, Italy, as
coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Albenga-Imperia (area 979,
population 170,010, Catholics 157,000, priests 181, permanent deacons
22, religious 388), Italy.
-
Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent as apostolic nuncio in Haiti.
Archbishop Nugent was formerly apostolic nuncio in Madagascar,
Mauritius and the Seychelles, and apostolic delegate in the Cormoros
Islands, with the function of apostolic delegate in La Reunion,
France.
In
Memoriam
Vatican
City, 12 January 2014 (VIS) – The following prelates died in recent
months:
-
Bishop Sofron Stefan Wasyl Mudry, O.S.B.M., emeritus of
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, on 31 October 2014 at the age of 90.
-
Bishop Alberto Johannes Först, O. Carm. emeritus of Dourados, Mato
Grosso do Sul, Brazil, on 1 November 2014 at the age of 87.
-
Archbishop James Mwewa Spaita, emeritus of Kasama, Zambia, on 4
November 2014 at the age of 80.
-
Archbishop Juan Antonio Flores Santana, emeritus of Santiago de los
Caballeros, Dominican Republic, on 9 November 2014 at the age of 87.
-
Bishop Caetano Antonio Lima dos Santos, O.F.M. Cap., emeritus of
Ilheus, Bahia, Brazil, on 11 November 2014 at the age of 98.
-
Bishop Henri Marie Raoul Brincard, C.R.S.A, of Le Puy-en-Velay,
France, on 14 November 2014 at the age of 74.
-
Bishop Javier Azagra Labiano, emeritus of Cartagena, Spain, on 16
November 2014 at the age of 91.
-
Bishop Jeremiah Joseph Coffey, emeritus of Sale, Australia, on 19
November 2014 at the age of 81.
-
Bishop Leonard James Olivier, S.V.D, auxiliary emeritus of
Washington, U.S.A., on 19 November 2014 at the age of 91.
-
Bishop Sebelio Peralta Alvarez, of San Lorenzo, Paraguay, on 19
November 2014 at the age of 75.
-Cardinal
Fiorenzo Angelini, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for
the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers (for Health Care Pastoral),
on 22 November 2014 at the age of 98.
-
Bishop Joseph Francis Maguire, emeritus of Springfield, U.S.A., on 23
November 2014 at the age of 95.
-
Archbishop Joseph Thomas Dimino, military ordinary emeritus of the
U.S.A., on 25 November 2014 at the age of 91.
-
Bishop Alfredo Ernest Novak, C.SS.R. emeritus of Paranagua, Brazil,
on 3 December 2014, at the age of 84.
-
Bishop Patrick Edward O’Connor, emeritus of Tokelau, New Zealand,
on 3 December 2014, at the age of 82.
-
Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia, archivist and librarian emeritus of the
Holy Roman Church, on 9 December 2014 at the age of 91.
-
Bishop Georges Lagrange, emeritus of Gap, France, on 11 December 2014
at the age of 85.
-
Bishop Anthony Edward Pevec, auxiliary emeritus of Cleveland, U.S.A.,
on 14 December 2014 at the age of 89.
-
Bishop Stephen Hector Youssef Doueihi, emeritus of St. Maron of
Brooklyn (Maronites), U.S.A., on 17 December 2014 at the age of 87.
-
Bishop Claude Henri Edouard Frikart, C.I.M., auxiliary emeritus of
Paris, France, on 18 December 2014, at the age of 92.
-
Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau, S.J. secretary emeritus of la
Congregation for Catholic Education, on 26 December 2014, at the age
of 86.
-
Bishop Gery-Jacques-Charles Leuliet, emeritus of Amiens, France, on 1
January 2015, at the age of 104.
-
Archbishop Paulinus Costa, emeritus of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 3
January 2015 at the age of 78.
-
Bishop Natalino Pescarolo, emeritus of Cuneo, Italy, on 4 January
2015 at the age of 85.
-
Bishop Bernard Joseph McLaughlin, auxiliary emeritus of Buffalo,
U.S.A., on 5 January 2015, at the age of 102.
-
Bishop Joseph Djida, O.M.I., of Ngaoundere, Cameroon, on 6 January
2015 at the age of 69.
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