SUMMARY:
-
VATICAN TELEVISION CENTRE (CTV): PROFESSIONALS IN THE SERVICE OF THE
CHURCH
-
MESSAGE TO HINDUS FOR THE FEAST OF DEEPAVALI
-
CHRISTIAN FAMILIES: SALT AND LEAVEN OF FAITH IN DAILY LIFE
-
ANGELUS: MARY, QUEEN OF THE FAMILY, PRAY FOR US
-
FAMILY PILGRIMAGE TO ST. PETER'S SQUARE
-
POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
PANAMA
-
POPE FRANCIS THANKS HIS PREDECESSOR FOR THE “JESUS OF NAZARETH”
TRILOGY, AND AWARDS THE RATZINGER PRIZE FOR THEOLOGY
-
POPE FRANCIS TO EX-STUDENTS OF JESUITS IN URUGUAY: “PRAY FOR ME AND
MY COLLABORATORS, THERE IS MUCH WORK TO BE DONE”
-
CARDINAL RAFFAELE FARINA, SPECIAL ENVOY TO FIRST CENTENARY OF SOPHIA
UNIVERSITY, TOKYO
-
AUDIENCES
-
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
______________________________________
VATICAN
TELEVISION CENTRE (CTV): PROFESSIONALS IN THE SERVICE OF THE CHURCH
Vatican
City, 28 October 2013 (VIS) – The Vatican Television Centre (CTV),
instituted by Blessed John Paul II on 22 October 1983, celebrates its
thirtieth anniversary and, this morning, as he received its members
in audience, Pope Francis remarked, “It has come a long way in
these three decades of activity”. Nowadays we find ourselves before
new challenges “which we cannot elude, in order to maintain a firm
evangelical perspective in this form of global communication
highway”.
The
Holy Father, after thanking the employees of the CTV for their
dedication, and also their families, since “they live according to
the Pope's weekly agenda. He advised the workers to “play as a
team”, since “the effectiveness of the pastoral of communication
is possible when bonds are created, by making a group of people
converge around shared projects, in a 'unity of planning and
resources'. We know that this is not easy, but if you help each other
together to work as a team, the burden is lessened and, above all,
also your style of working becomes a testimony of communion”.
“Be
professionals in your service to the Church”, he continued. “Your
work is of great quality, as it needs to be for the task that has
been assigned to you. But your professionalism must always be in the
service of the Church, in everything you do: in filming, in
directing, in editorial decisions, in administration... Everything
must be done with an ecclesiastical style and a perspective, that of
the Holy See. It is necessary for the CTV to be able to effuse to
spectators, to the faithful and to those who are further away, the
perfume and hope of the Gospel”.
MESSAGE
TO HINDUS FOR THE FEAST OF DEEPAVALI
Vatican
City, 28 October 2013 (VIS) - “Christians and Hindus: fostering
human relationships through friendship and solidarity” is the theme
of the message addressed to followers of Hinduism by Cardinal
Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue on the occasion of Deepevali, the feast of
lights, which is celebrated on 3 November this year. The document is
also signed by Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J., secretary of
the same dicastery.
“In
this highly competitive world where increasingly individualistic and
materialistic tendencies adversely affect human relationships and
often create divisions in families and society as a whole, we wish to
share our thoughts on how Christians and Hindus can foster human
relationships for the good of all humanity through friendship and
solidarity.
“Relationships
are fundamental to human existence. Security and peace in the local,
national and international communities are largely determined by the
quality of our human interaction. Experience teaches us that, the
deeper our human relationships, the more we are able to advance
towards cooperation, peace-building, genuine solidarity and harmony.
In short, the ability to foster respectful relationships is the
measure of authentic human progress and essential for promoting peace
and integral development.
“Such
relationships ought to flow naturally from our shared humanity.
Indeed, human relationships are at the heart of human existence and
its progress and naturally give rise to a sense of solidarity with
others. Regardless of our ethnic, cultural, religious and ideological
differences, all of us belong to the one human family.
“Sadly,
with the increase of materialism in society and a growing disregard
for deeper spiritual and religious values, there now exists a
dangerous trend to accord the same value to material things as to
human relationships, thereby reducing the human person from a
‘someone’ to a ‘something’ that can be cast aside at will.
Furthermore, individualistic tendencies engender a false sense of
security and favour what His Holiness Pope Francis has described as
‘a culture of exclusion’, ‘a throwaway culture’ and ‘a
globalisation of indifference’.
“The
promotion of a ‘culture of relationship’ and ‘a culture of
solidarity’ is thus imperative for all peoples, and calls for the
fostering of relationships based on friendship and mutual respect for
the benefit of the entire human family. This requires a common
recognition and promotion of the intrinsic dignity of the human
person. It is evident then that friendship and solidarity are closely
related. In the end, a 'culture of solidarity means seeing others not
as rivals or statistics, but brothers and sisters' (Pope Francis,
Visit to the Community of Varginha (Manguinhos), Rio de Janeiro, 25
July 2013).
“Finally,
we wish to state our conviction that a culture of solidarity can only
be achieved as 'the fruit of a concerted effort on the part of all,
in service of the common good' (Pope Francis, Meeting with Brazil’s
Leaders of Society, Rio de Janeiro, 27 July 2013). Sustained by the
teachings of our respective religions and aware of the importance of
building genuine relationships, may we, Hindus and Christians, work
individually and collectively, with all religious traditions and
people of good will, to foster and strengthen the human family
through friendship and solidarity”.
CHRISTIAN
FAMILIES: SALT AND LEAVEN OF FAITH IN DAILY LIFE
Vatican
City, 27 October 2013 (VIS) – The pilgrimage of families to Rome as
part of the Year of Faith concluded this morning with the Holy Mass
celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, which was crowded
with participants, as were Via della Conciliazione and the adjacent
streets. Below is the full text of the Holy Father's homily,
following the Gospel reading.
“The
readings this Sunday invite us to reflect on some basic features of
the Christian family.
“First:
the family prays. The Gospel passage speaks about two ways of
praying: one is false – that of the Pharisee – and the other is
authentic – that of the tax collector. The Pharisee embodies an
attitude which does not express thanksgiving to God for his blessings
and his mercy, but rather self-satisfaction. The Pharisee feels
himself justified, he feels his life is in order, he boasts of this,
and he judges others from his pedestal. The tax collector, on the
other hand, does not multiply words. His prayer is humble, sober,
pervaded by a consciousness of his own unworthiness, of his own
needs. Here is a man who truly realizes that he needs God’s
forgiveness and his mercy.
“The
prayer of the tax collector is the prayer of the poor man, a prayer
pleasing to God. It is a prayer which, as the first reading says,
'will reach to the clouds', unlike the prayer of the Pharisee, which
is weighed down by vanity.
“In
the light of God’s word, I would like to ask you, dear families: Do
you pray together from time to time as a family? Some of you do, I
know. But so many people say to me: But how can we? As the tax
collector does, it is clear: humbly, before God. Each one, with
humility, allowing themselves to be gazed upon by the Lord and
imploring his goodness, that he may visit us. But in the family how
is this done? After all, prayer seems to be something personal, and
besides there is never a good time, a moment of peace… Yes, all
that is true enough, but it is also a matter of humility, of
realising that we need God, like the tax collector! And all families,
we need God: all of us! We need his help, his strength, his blessing,
his mercy, his forgiveness. And we need simplicity to pray as a
family: simplicity is necessary! Praying the Our Father together,
around the table, is not something extraordinary: its easy. And
praying the Rosary together, as a family, is very beautiful and a
source of great strength! And also praying for one another! The
husband for his wife, the wife for her husband, both together for
their children, the children for their grandparents ... praying for
each other. This is what it means to pray in the family and it is
what makes the family strong: prayer.
“The
second reading suggests another thought: the family keeps the faith.
The Apostle Paul, at the end of his life, makes a final reckoning and
says: 'I have kept the faith'. But how did he keep the faith? Not in
a safe! Nor did he hide it underground, like the somewhat lazy
servant. Saint Paul compares his life to a fight and to a race. He
kept the faith because he didn’t just defend it, but proclaimed it,
spread it, took it to distant lands. He stood up to all those who
wanted to preserve, to 'embalm' the message of Christ within the
limits of Palestine. That is why he made courageous decisions, he
went into hostile territory, he let himself be challenged by distant
peoples and different cultures, he spoke frankly and fearlessly.
Saint Paul kept the faith because, in the same way that he received
it, he gave it away; he went out to the fringes, and didn’t dig
himself into defensive positions.
“Here
too, we can ask: How do we keep our faith as a family? Do we keep it
for ourselves, in our families, as a personal treasure like a bank
account, or are we able to share it by our witness, by our acceptance
of others, by our openness? We all know that families, especially
young families, are often 'racing' from one place to another, with
lots to do. But did you ever think that this 'racing' could also be
the race of faith? Christian families are missionary families.
Yesterday in this square we heard the testimonies of missionary
families. They are missionary also in everyday life, in their doing
everyday things, as they bring to everything the salt and the leaven
of faith! Keeping the faith in families and bringing to everyday
things the salt and the leaven of faith.
“And
one more thought we can take from God’s word: the family
experiences joy. In the responsorial psalm we find these words: 'let
the humble hear and be glad'. The entire psalm is a hymn to the Lord
who is the source of joy and peace. What is the reason for this
gladness? It is that the Lord is near, he hears the cry of the lowly
and he frees them from evil. As Saint Paul himself writes: 'Rejoice
always … The Lord is near'. I would like to ask you all a question
today. But each of you keep it in your heart and take it home. You
can regard it as a kind of 'homework'. Only you must answer. How are
things when it comes to joy at home? Is there joy in your family? You
can answer this question.
“Dear
families, you know very well that the true joy which we experience in
the family is not superficial; it does not come from material
objects, from the fact that everything seems to be going well ...
True joy comes from a profound harmony between persons, something
which we all feel in our hearts and which makes us experience the
beauty of togetherness, of mutual support along life’s journey. But
the basis of this feeling of deep joy is the presence of God, the
presence of God in the family and his love, which is welcoming,
merciful, and respectful towards all. And above all, a love which is
patient: patience is a virtue of God and he teaches us how to
cultivate it in family life, how to be patient, and lovingly so, with
each other. To be patient among ourselves. A patient love. God alone
knows how to create harmony from differences. But if God’s love is
lacking, the family loses its harmony, self-centred individualism
prevails and joy fades. But the family which experiences the joy of
faith communicates it naturally. That family is the salt of the earth
and the light of the world, it is the leaven of society as a whole.
“Dear
families, always live in faith and simplicity, like the Holy Family
of Nazareth! May the joy and peace of the Lord be always with you!”
ANGELUS:
MARY, QUEEN OF THE FAMILY, PRAY FOR US
Vatican
City, 27 October 2013 (VIS) – At the end of the Mass celebrated on
the Day of the Family, part of the Year of Faith, Pope Francis prayed
before an image of the Holy Family of Nazareth, to whom he commended
all families in order that the wonder of grace be renewed in them.
Before
praying the Angelus, the Pope greeted and thanked all the pilgrims,
especially families, present in the square. He then addressed the
bishops and the faithful of Equatorial Guinea, in Rome on the
occasion of the ratification of an Agreement with the Holy See. “May
the Immaculate Virgin protect your beloved people, so that they make
progress on the path of harmony and justice”.
“And
now, let us pray the Angelus together. With this prayer, we invoke
the maternal protection of Mary for families throughout the world,
and especially for those who live in situations of great difficulty.
Mary, Queen of the Family, pray for us!” concluded the Pope,
inviting those present to repeat the invocation of the Virgin.
FAMILY
PILGRIMAGE TO ST. PETER'S SQUARE
Vatican
City, 26 October 2013 (VIS) – More than 150,000 people from 75
countries representing all five continents gathered in Rome this
afternoon to meet the Pope in St. Peter's Square, following the
pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Peter as part of the Year of Faith. The
pilgrimage was entitled “Family, live the joy of faith”, and the
Holy Father, who toured St. Peter's Square by open car, embracing
children along the way, dedicated his address to this theme.
Francis
entered the square, shaking hands with ten children carrying
balloons; before his address he listened to several people who
recounted their experiences: families going through difficult times
and young people who would like to marry but are unable to find work,
and he asked, “How is it possible to live the joy which comes from
faith, in the family, today? … Life is often wearisome, and many
times tragically so. We have heard this recently… But what is most
burdensome in life is not this: what weighs more than all of these
things is a lack of love. … Without love, the burden becomes even
heavier, intolerable”.
“Dear
families”, he continued, “the Lord knows our struggles: he knows
them. He knows the burdens we have in our lives. But the Lord also
knows our great desire to find joy and rest! … Jesus wants our joy
to be complete! He said this to the apostles and today he says it to
us. … Take home this Word of Jesus, carry it in your hearts, share
it with the family”.
Francis
took his second word from the Rite of Marriage. “'I promise to be
true to you, in joy and in sadness' … At that moment, the couple
does not know what will happen, nor what joys and pains await them.
They are setting out, like Abraham, on a journey together. And that
is what marriage is! Setting out and walking together, hand in hand,
putting yourselves in the Lord’s powerful hands. Hand in hand,
always and for the rest of your lives. And do not pay attention to
this makeshift culture, which can shatter our lives. With trust in
God’s faithfulness, everything can be faced responsibly and without
fear. Christian spouses are not naive; they know life’s problems
and temptations. But they are not afraid to be responsible before God
and before society. They do not run away, they do not hide, they do
not shirk the mission of forming a family and bringing children into
the world”.
He
added, “Christians celebrate the sacrament of marriage because they
know they need it! … They need Jesus’ help to walk beside one
another in trust, to accept one another each day, and daily to
forgive one another. And this is important! To know how to forgive
one another in families because we all make mistakes, all of us!
Sometimes we do things … which harm others. It is important to have
the courage to ask for forgiveness when we are at fault in the
family”.
He
repeated the three key words for family life: please, thank you and
sorry. “We say please so as not to be forceful in family life. ...
We say thank you, thank you for love! … And the last word: sorry.
We all make mistakes and … harsh words are spoken but please listen
to my advice: don’t ever let the sun set without reconciling. Peace
is made each day in the family. … If love is missing, joy is
missing, nothing is fun. Jesus gives always gives us that love: he is
its endless source”.
Finally,
he offered as an example the scene of Jesus’ Presentation in the
Temple, chosen by the Pontifical Council for the Family as the image
to represent this event. “Like all of you, the persons depicted in
this scene have a journey to make: Mary and Joseph have travelled as
pilgrims to Jerusalem in obedience to the Law of the Lord; the aged
Simeon and the elderly prophetess Anna have come to the Temple led by
the Holy Spirit. In this scene three generations come together, the
interweaving of three generations. … These two elderly persons
represent faith as memory. But let me ask you: Do you listen to your
grandparents? … Grandparents are like the wisdom of the family,
they are the wisdom of a people. … And a people that does not
listen to grandparents is one that dies! … Mary and Joseph are the
family, sanctified by the presence of Jesus who is the fulfilment of
all God’s promises. Like the Holy Family of Nazareth, every family
is part of the history of a people; it cannot exist without the
generations who have gone before it. Therefore, today we have
grandparents and children. The children learn from their
grandparents, from the previous generation”.
“Dear
families”, he concluded, “you, too, are a part of God’s people.
Walk joyfully in the midst of this people. Remain ever close to Jesus
and bring him to everyone by your witness”.
POPE
FRANCIS RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
Vatican
City, 26 October 2013 (VIS) – This morning, Saturday 16 October, in
the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received in audience
the president of the Republic of Panama, Ricardo Alberto Martinelli
Berrocal, who subsequently went on to meet with Archbishop Dominique
Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
During
the colloquial discussions, the parties discussed various themes
relevant to the current situation of the country, especially in
relation to the social policies initiated by the Government, and
development projects for the nation. The country's long Christian
tradition was mentioned, and the historic bilateral links were
emphasised as being of particular interest with regard to current
relations between the Church and the State. In this respect,
gratitude was expressed for the gift of a statue of Santa Maria La
Antigua, patroness of the nation, offered to the Pontiff by the head
of State and placed in the Vatican Gardens. The conversation then
turned to a panoramic view of the regional situation.
POPE
FRANCIS THANKS HIS PREDECESSOR FOR THE “JESUS OF NAZARETH”
TRILOGY, AND AWARDS THE RATZINGER PRIZE FOR THEOLOGY
Vatican
City, 26 October 2013 (VIS) – This morning in the Sala Clementina
of the Vatican Apostolic Palace Pope Francis awarded the Ratzinger
Prize, granted by the Vatican Foundation: Joseph Ratzinger - Benedict
XVI, to the Rev. Richard Burridge, Anglican minister and deacon of
King's College, London, and to the German theologian Christian
Schaller, layperson, lecturer in dogmatic theology and vice director
of the Benedict XVI Institute in Regensburg, Germany, which is
publishing critical editions of Joseph Ratzinger's full works.
The
symposium, always organised by the Foundation, took place at the
Lateran University in Rome from 24 to 26 October, and studied the
theme “The Gospel: history and Christology”, taking Joseph
Ratzinger's works as a starting point.
“I
thank you, and am happy to meet with you, especially as a sign of our
recognition and of our great affection for Pope emeritus Benedict
XVI. I would like to share with you a reflection, which comes to me
spontaneously when I think of the truly unique gift that he has given
the Church in his books on Jesus of Nazareth”.
“I
recall that when the first volume came out, some people said: what is
this? A Pope doesn't write books on theology, he writes encyclicals!
… Certainly, Pope Benedict had considered this problem, but also in
this case, as always, he followed the voice of the Lord in his
enlightened conscience. With these books, he did not offer teaching
in the strict sense of the word, and he did not produce an academic
study. He gave a gift to the Church, and to all humanity, of what was
most precious to him: his knowledge of Jesus, the fruit of years and
years of study, of prayer, of theological investigation, and he made
it available in the most accessible form”.
He
continued, “No one can measure the good he has done by means of
this gift; only the Lord knows! But we all have a certain perception
of this, having listened to so many people who, thanks to these books
on Jesus of Nazareth, have nurtured and deepened their faith, or have
indeed drawn close to Christ for the first time, as adults, bringing
the demands of reason alongside their search for the face of God”.
“At
the same time, the work of Benedict XVI has stimulated a new era of
study of the Gospels, between history and Christology, and our
Symposium, for which I congratulate the organisers and speakers,
forms a part of this”.
The
Holy Father concluded by congratulating the recipients of this years
prize, also in the name of his predecessor.
POPE
FRANCIS TO EX-STUDENTS OF JESUITS IN URUGUAY: “PRAY FOR ME AND MY
COLLABORATORS, THERE IS MUCH WORK TO BE DONE”
Vatican
City, 26 October 2013 (VIS) – Today in the Sala di Papi of the
Vatican Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis met with and briefly addressed
a group of ex-students of the Jesuits of Uruguay.
“Thank
you again for your visit and your greetings. You bring so many
memories to me! The only thing that surprises me is that no-one has
brought any 'mate'! Did no-one have the courage? The Uruguayan streak
is missing – when your president came, he brought 'mate'! Thank
you, truly.
“I
see there are many young people: this is a promise and a hope. It
brings to mind many memories linked to the companions who organised
this visit, and many other good things.
“I
do not know when a visit to your country will be planned, but it
certainly will not be before 2016. One thing is sure: if I visit
Argentina, I must also visit Chile and Uruguay, all three together.
So, we will meet again there.
“I
thank you again and ask a favour of you: pray for me. People here are
very good, my companions are good and everyone works together, but
there is much work to be done and it is difficult to keep up. Pray
for me, and for my collaborators, so that we can carry on. Many
thanks!”.
CARDINAL
RAFFAELE FARINA, SPECIAL ENVOY TO FIRST CENTENARY OF SOPHIA
UNIVERSITY, TOKYO
Vatican
City, 26 October 2013 (VIS) - A letter from the Pope was published
today, dated 7 October and written in Latin, in which he appoints
Cardinal Raffaele Farina, S.D.B., archivist and librarian emeritus of
the Holy Roman Church, as his special envoy to the celebration of
first centenary of the Sophia University of Tokyo, Japan, scheduled
for 1 November 2013.
The
mission accompanying the cardinal will be composed of Fr. Juan
Haidar, S.J., Argentine, associate professor of the faculty of
theology and director of the Catholic Centre of the Sophia
University; Fr. Celestino Cavagna, Italian, previously vicar general
and secretary general of the archdiocese of Tokyo and currently
parish priest of Tachikawa, Tokyo; and Fr. Nobukuni Suzuki, S.J.,
lecturer at the faculty of theology of the Sophia University.
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 28 October 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in
audience:
-
Teruaki Nagasaki, the new ambassador of Japan to the Holy See,
presenting his letters of credence.
-
Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect emeritus of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith.
-
Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank.
-
Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 1991.
-
Rrok Logu, ambassador of Albania to the Holy See, on his farewell
visit.
On
Saturday, 26 October the Holy Father received in audience:
-
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for
Bishops.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 28 October 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father:
-
appointed Bishop Richard Joseph Gagnon as archbishop of Winnipeg
(area 116,405, population 723,000, Catholics 169,000, priests 82,
permanent deacons 19, religious 135), Canada. Archbishop Gagnon,
previously bishop of Victoria, was born in Lethbridge, Canada in
1948, was ordained to the priesthood in 1983, and received episcopal
ordination in 2004. He succeeds Archbishop James Weisgerber, whose
resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, upon
having reached the age limit, was accepted by the Holy Father.
-
accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of El
Obeid, Sudan, presented by Bishop Macram Max Gassis, M.C.C.J., upon
having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop
Michael Didi Adgum Mangoria.
On
Saturday, 26 October the Holy Father:
-
accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the
archdiocese of Luanda, Angola, presented by Bishop Anastacio Kahango
O.F.M. Cap., upon having reached the age limit.
-
appointed Fr. Giovanni Battista Piccioli of the clergy of Portoviejo,
Ecuador, and Fr. Bertram Victor Wick Enzler, episcopal vicar and
member of the clergy of Guayaquil, Ecuador, as auxiliaries of
Guayaquil (area 12,446, population 2,916,000, Catholics 2,657,000,
priests 317, permanent deacons 21, religious 621), Ecuador.
Bishop-elect
Piccioli was born in Erbusco, Italy in 1957 and ordained a priest in
1982. He holds a licentiate in theology from the theological faculty
of Emilia-Romagna, Bologna. He was sent to Ecuador as a “fidei
donum” missionary in 1995. He has served in the following pastoral
roles and academic roles: in Italy, parish vicar of two parishes in
Brescia and parish priest of San Vito di Bedizzole; in Ecuador,
parish priest of “Santa Ana” in Manabi and “Santisima Trinidad
del Floron” in Portoviejo, professor of theology in the major
seminary of Portoviejo, and parish priest of “Santa Rosa de Lima”
in San Vicente.
Bishop-elect
Wick Enzler was born in Waldkirch, Switzerland in 1955, and was
ordained a priest in 1991. He was sent to Portoviejo, Ecuador as a
missionary in 1990, entering the “Santa Maria del fiat”
Institute. He has served in the following pastoral roles: parish
vicar in Guayaquil, parish priest in the peninsula Santa Elena and in
the parishes of “Gesu Buon Pastor”, “Santa Madre de la
Iglesia”, and “Santa Elena”; he currently holds the office of
episcopal vicar.
-
appointed Msgr. Aldo Giordano as apostolic nuncio to the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela, at the same time elevating him to the dignity
of archbishop. Archbishop-elect Giordano was previously special envoy
and permanent observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe in
Strasbourg.
The
news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used,
in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S.
-Vatican Information Service.
Copyright
© Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City
