SUMMARY:
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UPCOMING VISIT OF ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY TO POPE
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ANGELUS: JESUS' COMPASSION IS LIKE A MOTHER'S LOVE
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MESSAGE TO GERMAN NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS
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FRANCIS TO YOUTH OF MACERATA: BE OPEN TO GOD'S SURPRISES
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TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE INDICATIONS FOR FREEDOM
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OFFICIAL VISIT OF PRESIDENT OF ITALIAN REPUBLIC TO POPE
-
CARDINAL TAGLE TAKES POSSESSION OF HIS TITULAR CHURCH
-
AUDIENCES
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
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UPCOMING
VISIT OF ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY TO POPE
Vatican
City, 10 June 2013 (VIS) – In a press release today, the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity states that the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Justin Welby, will be in Rome to visit Pope Francis on
Friday, 14 June.
“This
brief visit”, reads the release, “is of particular interest since
it is the first meeting of the Archbishop and the Pope since their
inaugurations, which took place at about the same time, just over two
months ago.”
“This
visit is an opportunity for the Archbishop and Pope Francis to review
the present state of relations between the Roman Catholic Church and
Anglican Communion. In particular, the interest shown by Archbishop
Welby in global justice and the ethical regulation of financial
markets so that they do not oppress men and women, is echoed in the
constant teaching of the Holy Father. Ever since his experience as an
executive in an oil company, Archbishop Welby has placed great
emphasis on reconciliation, and has continued to press for the
resolution of conflicts within the Church and society. This also
evokes Pope Francis’ own call to build bridges between people of
every nation, so that they may be seen not as rivals and threats, but
as brothers and sisters.”
“Anglicans
and Catholics also must work together to provide clear moral guidance
to society and Archbishop Justin has collaborated closely with the
Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, to safeguard
marriage and other Christian values in society. It is a sign of their
close relations that Archbishop Nichols will accompany the Archbishop
of Canterbury on this visit.”
“Following
the audience, and brief speeches, there will be a short service of
mid-day prayer presided over by the Holy Father and the Archbishop of
Canterbury. Earlier in the day, at the Archbishop’s own request, he
will visit the Excavations beneath St Peter’s Basilica to pray at
the tomb of St Peter, as his predecessor Archbishop Rowan Williams
did on his first visit to Rome. He has also asked particularly for a
time of prayer before the tomb of Blessed John Paul II. Following
this, Archbishop Welby will call upon Cardinal Koch at the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity, to renew the acquaintance made
at the time of the Archbishop’s inauguration at Canterbury, and to
learn about the workings of the Pontifical Council.”
ANGELUS:
JESUS' COMPASSION IS LIKE A MOTHER'S LOVE
Vatican
City, 9 June 2013 (VIS) – Pope Francis appeared at the window of
his study at noon today to pray the Angelus with the thousands of
faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. He first noted that the
month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus, “the greatest human expression of divine love”.
“Popular
piety,” he said, “embraces many symbols and the Heart of Jesus is
the ultimate symbol of God's mercy. It is not, however, an imaginary
symbol but a real symbol that represents the centre, the source from
which flows the salvation for all of humanity.” Among various
references in the Gospels to the Heart of Jesus, the Pope emphasized
the witness of Christ's death according to St. John. When Jesus was
already dead, a soldier pierced his side with a lance and immediately
blood and water flowed out. “John recognized in that, apparently
random, sign the fulfilment of the prophecies: from the heart of
Jesus, the Lamb sacrificed upon the Cross, spring forth forgiveness
and life for all humanity.”
“But
Jesus' mercy is not just a feeling. It is a force that gives life,
that brings humanity back to life! Today's Gospel reading says the
same thing, in the story of the widow of Nain. Jesus, with his
disciples, is arriving in Nain, a village in Galilee, at exactly the
moment of a funeral. A young man, the only son of a widowed woman is
being carried out to be buried. Jesus' gaze immediately fixes upon
the crying mother. The Gospel writer Luke tells us: 'When the Lord
saw her, He was moved with pity for her'. This compassion is God's
love for humanity. It is mercy, that is, God's attitude in contact
with human misery, with our indigence, our suffering, our anguish.
The biblical term 'compassion' recalls the maternal womb: indeed, a
mother feels a reaction all her own when faced with her children's
pain. That is how God loves us, Scripture says.”
“And
what is the fruit of this love, this mercy? It is life! Jesus said to
the widow of Nain: 'Do not weep', and he called to the dead son and
woke him as if from sleep. Let's think about this. It's beautiful.
God's mercy gives life to the man, raises him from the dead. The Lord
always looks upon us with mercy … awaits us with mercy. Let us not
be afraid to draw near to him! He has a merciful heart! If we show
him our inner wounds, our sins, He always forgives us. He is pure
mercy!”
After
the Marian prayer, the Bishop of Rome noted that today, in Krakow,
Poland, two Polish nuns are being beatified: Zofia
Czeska-Maciejowska, who founded the Congregation of the Virgins of
the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the first half of the
17th century, and Malgorzata Lucja Szewczyk, who founded the
Congregation of the Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother of God
(Seraphic Sisters) in the 19th century. “With the Church in Krakow,
let us give thanks to the Lord!”
Lastly
he addressed a group of pilgrims from the Italian city of Ortona
where relics of the Apostle Thomas are venerated, thanking them for
the journey “from Thomas to Peter” that they had undertaken.
MESSAGE
TO GERMAN NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS
Vatican
City, 9 June 2013 (VIS) – This morning at the beginning of the Mass
closing the German National Eucharistic Congress that took place in
Cologne, Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president emeritus of the
Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” and the Holy Father's special envoy
to the event, read the message that Pope Francis had written to those
participating in the Congress.
The
theme of the Congress was “Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?”, Peter's
question to Jesus after his words in the synagogue in Capernaum when
He announced that He was the Bread of Life, scandalizing many who
then stopped following him.
“We,
members of today's Church, also ask ourselves this question,“ the
Pope wrote. “Our answer, like that of the Apostle, can only be the
person of Jesus. Yes, He lived two thousand years ago. However, we
can encounter him in our time when we listen to his Word and are
close to him, in a unique way, in the Eucharist. … May the Mass not
become a superficial routine for us! May we always draw more and more
from its depth! It is precisely what puts us within Christ's immense
work of salvation, sharpening our spiritual sight with his love,
[becoming part] of his 'prophecy in action' in the Upper Room with
which He initiated his gift of Himself upon the Cross and his
irrevocable victory over sin and death.”
“This
is the same question that some contemporaries are asking who—either
lucidly or with foreboding—are still in search of the Father of
Jesus Christ. The Redeemer wants to meet them through us … With our
lives and our words we must proclaim to them what we have recognized
together with Peter and the Apostles: 'Lord, You have the words of
eternal life.' … All of us, bishops, priests, deacons, religious,
and lay persons, have the duty to bring God to the world and the
world to God.”
FRANCIS
TO YOUTH OF MACERATA: BE OPEN TO GOD'S SURPRISES
Vatican
City, 9 June 2013 (VIS) – Yesterday at 8:30pm, the Holy Father
called Bishop Giancarlo Vecerrica of Fabriano-Matelica, who was
together with thousands of youth in the Helvia Recina Stadium before
the Mass celebrated by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., to initiate the
35th pilgrimage on foot from Macerata to Loreto. This year the theme
of the pilgrimage is “What can truly satisfy human desire?” and
it is promoted by the Communion and Liberation movement.
Pope
Francis addressed the youth, from Italy and around the world, who
were about to walk the 28 kilometres (over 17 miles) praying the
Rosary and singing together. “All of life is a pilgrimage,” said
the Pope. “What is important is meeting Jesus on the path of life.
… Let yourselves be guided by Jesus. … So many times, even for
us, faith is an obvious presupposition of living. We say 'I believe
in God'—and that's good—but, how do you live this on the path of
life? Faith must become a present experience.”
“When
we encounter the Lord,” the Holy Father continued, “He surprises
us. The Lord can be called the Lord of surprises. Be open to God's
surprises. For you too, this evening's event, which grows every year,
is a surprise. It is the sign that nothing is impossible with God.
How else could you explain that from the 300 of you in 1978 you would
have become the 90,000 of last year?”
“When
you get tired,” Francis added, “and the temptation to go your own
way arises, think of this: repeat your 'yes', pray that each one of
you might recognize in your body and your spirit the very humanity
that needs Christ's humanity, the only one that can truly satisfy
human desire.”
The
Holy Father bid them farewell, reminding the youth to continue
forward with hope. “Please,” he said, “don't let yourselves be
robbed of hope. It is the Lord who gives it to you.”
TEN
COMMANDMENTS ARE INDICATIONS FOR FREEDOM
Vatican
City, 9 June 2013 (VIS) – “The Ten Commandments are not a
limitation, but an indication for freedom.” This was the heart of
Pope Francis' video message that was broadcast yesterday at 9:40pm
local time to the thousands gathered in Milan's Cathedral Square to
participate in the “Ten Squares for Ten Commandments” initiative
promoted by the “Renewal in the Spirit” movement in collaboration
with the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization as
part of the Year of Faith.
Milan
is the fourth city to host the initiative, which began under the
pontificate of Benedict XVI in September of 2013, following events in
Rome, Naples, and Verona. In the coming months, Pope Francis will
send video messages to participants gathering in squares in Bari,
Genoa, Cagliari, Florence, Palermo, Bologna, and Turin.
“The
Ten Commandments,” the pontiff affirmed, “are a gift from God.
The word 'commandment' isn't fashionable. To today's persons, it
recalls something negative, someone's will that imposes limits, that
places obstacles to our lives. … Unfortunately history, even recent
history, is marked by tyranny, ideologies, mindsets that have been
imposed and oppressive, that haven't sought the good of humanity but
rather power, success, and profit. The Ten Commandments, however,
come from a God who created us out of love, from a God who
established a covenant with humanity, a God who only wants the good
of humanity. Let us trust in God! … The Ten Commandments show us a
path to travel and also constitute a sort of 'moral code' for
building just societies that are made for men and women. How much
inequality there is in the world! How much hunger for food and for
truth! How much moral and material poverty resulting from the
rejection of God and from putting so many idols in his place! Let us
be guided by these Ten Words that enlighten and guide those seeking
peace, justice, and dignity.”
“It
is important to remember when God, through Moses, gave the people of
Israel the Ten Commandments. At the Red Sea the people had
experienced great deliverance. They had seen first hand the power and
faithfulness of God, the God who liberates. Now God himself, upon
Mount Sinai, indicates to his people and to all of us the way to
remain free, a path that is engraved upon the human heart as a
universal moral Law. We shouldn't see the Ten Commandments as
restriction upon our freedom; no, not that way. We should see them as
signs for our freedom. … They teach us how to avoid the slavery to
which the many idols that we ourselves build reduce us. … They
teach us to open ourselves to a wider dimension than the material
one; to live with respect for others; overcoming the greed of power,
possessions, and money; to be honest and sincere in our
relationships; to protect all of creation and to nurture our planet
with high, noble, and spiritual ideals. Following the Ten
Commandments means being faithful to ourselves, to our most authentic
nature, and walking towards the true freedom that Christ taught us in
the Beatitudes.”
OFFICIAL
VISIT OF PRESIDENT OF ITALIAN REPUBLIC TO POPE
Vatican
City, 8 June 2013 (VIS) – The official state visit of the President
of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, to Pope Francis “once again
confirms—even after troubled and painful events—the normalcy and
excellence of relations between Italy and the Holy See”. The
dialogue between the two “has the good of the Italian people as its
principle goal and has its historically unique role in Europe and the
world as its ideal backdrop”.
Those
were the words of the Bishop of Rome this morning on receiving for
the first time in his pontificate the representative of Italy's
highest institution. He thanked the president, as well as all the
entire Italian population, for the warm welcome that they have given
him, saying that they have made him feel “at home again”. At the
same time the pontiff expressed the wish that Italy might always be
“a welcoming home for all”.
President
Napolitano, the first head of state to officially visit Pope Francis,
arrived in the Vatican shortly before 11:00am, accompanied by the
Italian minister of Foreign Affairs, Emma Bonino, and Italy's
ambassador to the Holy See, Francesco Maria Greco. Upon arriving he
was greeted by the Prefect of the Papal Household, Archbishop Georg
Ganswein, and an honour guard of the Swiss Guard in the San Damaso
Courtyard. After a private conversation with the Pope in the Sala del
Tronetto (“little throne room”) of the Vatican Apostolic Palace,
they moved to the Library where they both delivered speeches.
The
Pope noted that, after the conciliation and the inclusion of the
Lateran Pacts in the Italian Constitution and further, in a new light
after the Second Vatican Council and the revision of the Treaty,
relations between Italy and the Holy See have developed well. “In
Italy,” he added, “the collaboration between State and Church,
always focused on the interest of the people and of society, is
carried out in the daily relationship between civil agencies and
those of the Catholic community, represented by the Bishops and their
offices, and in a very particular way, by the Bishop of Rome. Thus,
even this first visit of the President to the Pope can be effectively
expressed with the image of the two hills, the Quirinal and the
Vatican, that look upon one another with esteem and fondness.”
The
Pope then observed that 2013 marks the 1700th anniversary of the
Edict of Milan, a symbol for many of the first affirmation of the
principle of religious freedom, noting that, a century ago, the
commemoration of the Edict of Milan represented “a stage in the
historical process that favoured the awareness and the contribution
of Catholics in the construction of Italian society. … In today's
world, religious freedom is more often asserted than accomplished. …
The serious outrages inflicted on this primary right are a source of
serious concern.”
“Against
every attack, the unanimous reaction of the world's countries must be
seen reaffirming the inviolable dignity of the human person. It is
the duty of all to defend religious freedom and to promote it for
all. In sharing the protection of this moral good is also found a
guarantee of the growth and development of the entire community.”
Continuing, he mentioned the “profound and persistent” world
crisis, which also affects Italy, “emphasizing the economic and
social problems, which weigh especially upon the weakest part of
society”. He noted some particularly troubling phenomena such as
“the weakening of family and social ties, the decreasing
population, the prevalence of mentalities favouring profit over work,
and the insufficient attention paid to younger generations and their
formation”.
“In
this difficult context, which certainly is not easy, it is essential
to guarantee and to develop the overall system of the democratic
institutions to which Italian Catholics have decisively, loyally, and
creatively contributed in recent decades. In a time of crisis such as
this one it is, therefore, urgent that a new consideration of
political commitment, above all among young persons, might arise and
that believers and non-believers together might collaborate in
promoting a society in which injustice can be overcome and every
person can be welcomed and can contribute to the common good. … The
distance between the letter and the spirit of laws and democratic
institutions is always to be recognized and we need the commitment of
all involved to bridge it every time again. We Catholics also have
the duty to always strive more along the serious journey of spiritual
conversion so that we might every day draw closer to the Gospel,
which compels us to concretely and effectively serve persons and
society.”
The
Pope ended his discourse repeating that “what faith assures us of
is true even in the civil sphere: we must never lose hope. How many
examples of this have our parents and grandparents given us, facing
the hardships of their times with great courage and spirit of
sacrifice. On various occasions, Benedict XVI repeated that the
current crisis should be an opportunity for the fraternal renewal of
human relationships. Even the Italian people, drawing confidently and
creatively from their rich Christian tradition and from the examples
of their patron saints, Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena, …
can and must overcome every division and grow in justice and peace,
continuing thus to play their unique role in the European context and
in the family of nations, and working to create a culture of
encounter.”
After
the addresses, the head of the Italian State met with Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., secretary of State, and with the diplomatic
corps accredited to the Holy See. Before leaving, he went to the
Vatican Basilica where he visited the Chapel of the Pieta.
CARDINAL
TAGLE TAKES POSSESSION OF HIS TITULAR CHURCH
Vatican
City, 10 June 2013 (VIS) – The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff today announced that this coming Saturday, 15
June, at 6:30pm, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, archbishop of
Manila, Philippines, will take possession of the title of San Felice
da Cantalice a Centocelle in Piazza San Felice da Cantalice, 20.
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 10 June 2013 (VIS) – Today the Holy Father received:
-
the credential letters of the new ambassador of Mexico to the Holy
See, His Excellency Mr. Mariano Palacios Alcocer,
-
Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples,
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Bishop Javier Echevarria Rodriguez, prelate of personal prelature
Opus Dei and titular of Cilibia.
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Her Excellency Ms. Anna Suchocka, ambassador of Poland; His
Excellency Mr. Almir Franco de Sa' Barbuda, ambassador of Brazil; and
His Excellency Mr. Alejandro Emilio Valladares Lanza, ambassador of
Honduras on their farewell visits.
On
Saturday, 8 June, Pope Francis received Cardinal Marc Ouellet,
P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 8 June 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father:
-
appointed Fr. Jeremiah Madimetja Masela as bishop of Polokwane (area
69,533, population 2,658,000, Catholics 94,700, priests 27, permanent
deacons 8, religious 50), South Africa. The bishop-elect, previously
apostolic administrator of the diocese, was born in Bergzich, Western
Cape, South Africa and was ordained a priest in 1958. Since
ordination he has served in several parochial and diocesan roles,
most recently as vicar general of the diocese and pastor of
Doorspruit. He has been the apostolic administrator of the diocese
since 2011.
On
Saturday, 8 June, the Holy Father:
-
appointed Bishop Giuseppe Petrocchi as metropolitan archbishop of
L'Aquila (area 1,516, population 112,500, Catholics 111,100, priests
118, permanent deacons 8, religious 167), Italy. Bishop Petrocchi,
previously of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno, Italy, succeeds
Archbishop Giuseppe Molinari, whose resignation from the pastoral
care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having
reached the age limit.
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appointed Archbishop Miroslaw Adamczyk, apostolic nuncio to Liberia,
as apostolic nuncio to Gambia.
-
appointed Bishop Jean Teyrouz, I.C.P.B., of Sainte-Croix-de-Paris of
the Armenians, France, as apostolic visitor to Armenian Catholic
faithful resident in Western Europe without their own ordinary. He
succeeds Bishop Gregoire Ghabroyan, I.C.P.B., whose resignation from
the same office the Holy Father accepted in accordance with canon 210
para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO).
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