SUMMARY:
-
POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF CAMEROON
-
THE POPE PRAISES THE WORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON ENGLISH
IN THE LITURGY
-
THIRTY YEARS OF THE VATICAN TELEVISION CENTRE
-
VIDEO MESSAGE TO THE FIRST PHILIPPINE CONFERENCE ON NEW
EVANGELISATION: MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT BRING JUSTICE AND PEACE TO ASIA
-
POPE FRANCIS AND THE CURIA IN ALBANO FOR SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
-
JEWS AND CATHOLICS FACE THE CHALLENGES OF RELIGION IN CONTEMPORARY
SOCIETY
-
AUDIENCES
______________________________________
POPE
FRANCIS RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF CAMEROON
Vatican
City, 18 October 2013 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic
Palace the Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of
the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, who then went on to meet with
Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
During
the colloquial discussions, satisfaction was expressed for the good
existing bilateral relations, further strengthened by the conclusion
of negotiations for a framework Agreement on the legal status of the
Catholic Church in Cameroon, which will be signed forthwith. In this
regard, appreciation was expressed for the work of the Church in
Cameroon society, especially in the fields of education and
healthcare, as well as for her contribution to promoting peace and
reconciliation.
Finally,
attention turned to various challenges relating to sub-Saharan
Africa, emphasising Cameroon’s commitment to security and peace in
the Region.
THE
POPE PRAISES THE WORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON ENGLISH IN
THE LITURGY
Vatican
City, 18 October 2013 (VIS) – The International Commission on
English in the Liturgy celebrates today its fiftieth anniversary.
Founded as part of the implementation of the liturgical renewal
called for by the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the
Divine Liturgy, over the past fifty years, the Commission has carried
out the enormous task of providing English translations of the texts
of the liturgy, and has also contributed to the study, understanding
and appropriation of the Church’s sacramental and euchological
tradition.
The
Pope received the members of the Commission in audience this morning,
and remarked that the fruits of their labours “have not only helped
to form the prayer of countless Catholics, but have also contributed
to the understanding of the faith, the exercise of the common
priesthood and the renewal of the Church’s missionary outreach, all
themes central to the teaching of the Council”.
The
Commission, “by enabling the vast numbers of the Catholic faithful
throughout the world to pray in a common language … has helped to
foster the Church’s unity in faith and sacramental communion. That
unity and communion, which has its origin in the Blessed Trinity, is
one which constantly reconciles and enhances the richness of
diversity” concluded the Holy Father, imparting his Apostolic
Blessing to those present.
THIRTY
YEARS OF THE VATICAN TELEVISION CENTRE
Vatican
City, 18 October 2013 (VIS) – “Your work is a service to the
Gospel and to the Church”, writes the Holy Father to Msgr. Dario
Edoardo Vigano, director of the Vatican Television Centre (Centro
Televisivo Vaticano, CTV) on the occasion of the congress held to
commemorate thirty years since its foundation, an anniversary that
coincides with another important date – fifty years since the
approval of the Conciliar decree “Inter Mirifica”, which “numbers
among the marvellous gifts of God the tools of social communication
including, indeed, television”.
“During
these decades technology has advanced at great speed, creating
unexpected and interconnected networks”, continued Pope Francis.
“It is necessary to maintain the evangelical perspective in this
type of 'global communication highway'”, he added; “in presenting
events, your approach must be not worldly, but ecclesial”.
In
this regard, the Pontiff recalled how, shortly after being elected as
bishop of Rome, in his meeting with the journalists who had covered
the Conclave, he stated that the role of the media “has continually
grown in recent times, to the extent that they have become
indispensable for transmitting to the world the events of
contemporary history”. He continued, “All this is also reflected
in the life of the Church. But if it is not easy to narrate the
events of history, it is even more complex to report the events
linked to the Church. … This requires a special responsibility, a
great capacity for interpreting reality in a spiritual light.
Effectively, the events in the life of the Church have a special
character: they are governed by a logic that is not primarily that
of, so to say, 'worldly' categories, and precisely for this reason it
is not easy to interpret and communicate them to a broad and varied
public”.
Finally,
the Pope reiterates that the Vatican Television Centre does not
fulfil “a merely documentary, 'neutral' function in relation to
events, but rather contributes to bringing the Church closer to the
world, bridging distances, taking the word of God to millions of
Catholics, even to places where often professing one's faith is a
courageous choice. Thanks to the images [it transmits], CTV walks
alongside the Pope in bringing Christ to the many forms of solitude
of contemporary man, even reaching sophisticated technological
peripheries. In this, your mission, it is important to remember that
the Church is present in the world of communication, in all its
variegated expressions, first and foremost to lead people to the
encounter with Jesus Christ”.
Francis
concluded by asking the Virgin to guide the steps of the “pilgrims
of communication”, and invoked the intercession of St. Clare of
Assisi, patron of television.
VIDEO
MESSAGE TO THE FIRST PHILIPPINE CONFERENCE ON NEW EVANGELISATION: MAY
THE HOLY SPIRIT BRING JUSTICE AND PEACE TO ASIA
Vatican
City, 18 October 2013 (VIS) – Pope Francis has sent a video message
to participants in the first Philippine Conference on the New
Evangelisation which closes today at the Santo Tomas University in
Manila. Delegates from throughout the nation and from various parts
of Asia took part in the conference.
“The
first Philippine Conference on the New Evangelisation is a worthy
offering to the Year of Faith”, said the Holy Father. “I am happy
to learn that you came to Manila from different parts of the
Philippines and Asia. The Holy Spirit is actively at work in you. The
Church of Christ is alive!
“Through
this conference, I hope you would experience again the loving
presence of Jesus in your lives, that you would love the Church more
and that you would share the Gospel to all people with humility and
joy. Don’t get tired of bringing the mercy of the Father to the
poor, the sick, the abandoned, the young people and families. Let
Jesus be known in the world of politics, business, arts, science,
technology and social media. Let the Holy Spirit renew creation and
bring forth justice and peace in the Philippines and in the great
continent of Asia that is close to my heart.
“Please
pray for me, I need it. I promise to pray for you, especially to Our
Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the New Evangelisation”.
POPE
FRANCIS AND THE CURIA IN ALBANO FOR SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
Vatican
City, 18 October 2013 (VIS) – Pope Francis and the Curia Romana
will transfer to Albano Laziale from 9 to 14 March 2014 for the
annual Lenten Spiritual Exercises. The “Casa Divin Maestro” is
the location selected for their stay. The meditations will be guided
by Don Angelo De Donatis, of the clergy of Rome.
The
aim is to permit seclusion and greater dedication to the spiritual
exercises in a reserved and silent context, far from the offices of
daily work.
JEWS
AND CATHOLICS FACE THE CHALLENGES OF RELIGION IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
Vatican
City, 18 October 2013 (VIS) - The International Catholic-Jewish
Liaison Committee (ILC), the official forum for ongoing dialogue
between the Holy See´s Commission for Religious Relations with the
Jews and the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious
Consultations (IJCIC), held its 22nd meeting in Madrid, Spain, from
13-16 October, 2013. The meeting was co-chaired by Betty Ehrenberg,
chair of IJCIC and Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Holy See's
Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews. The theme of the
meeting was “Challenges for Religion in Contemporary Society”,
and at the end the participants published a joint declaration that
touched upon several important points:
“1.
Our Shared Heritage
Jews
and Christians share the heritage of the biblical testimony of God's
relationship with the human family throughout history. Our Scriptures
bear witness to both individuals and the people as a whole being
called, taught, guided and protected by Divine Providence. In light
of this sacred history, Catholic and Jewish participants in the
meeting responded to emerging opportunities and difficulties facing
religious belief and practice in today's world.
2.
Religious Freedom
Encouraged
in our work by Pope Francis' expressions of his concern for the
universal welfare of all, particularly the poor and the oppressed, we
share the belief in the God-given dignity of every individual. This
requires that each person be accorded full freedom of conscience and
freedom of religious expression individually and institutionally,
privately and publicly. We deplore the abuse of religion, the use of
religion for political ends. Both Jews and Catholics condemn
persecution on religious grounds.
3.
Persecution of Christians
The
ILC recommends to the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations with
the Jews and IJCIC to work together on situations involving the
persecution of Christian minorities worldwide as they arise; to call
attention to these problems and to support efforts to guarantee full
citizenship to all citizens regardless of religious or ethnic
identity in the Middle East and beyond. Further, we encourage efforts
to promote the well-being of minority Christian and Jewish
communities throughout the Middle East.
4.
The Rise of Anti-Semitism
As
Pope Francis has repeatedly said, 'a Christian cannot be an
anti-Semite'. We encourage all religious leaders to continue to be a
strong voice against this sin. The celebration of the 50th
anniversary of 'Nostra Aetate' in 2015 is a privileged moment in
which to reaffirm its condemnation of anti-Semitism. We urge that
anti-Semitic teachings be eliminated from preaching and textbooks
everywhere in the world. Similarly, any expression of anti-Christian
sentiment is equally unacceptable.
5.
Education
We
recommend that all Jewish and Catholic seminaries include instruction
about “Nostra Aetate” and the subsequent documents of the Holy
See implementing the Council's Declaration in their curricula. As a
new generation of Jewish and Catholic leaders arises, we underscore
the profound ways that 'Nostra Aetate' changed the relationship
between Jews and Catholics. It is imperative that the next generation
embrace these teachings and ensure that they reach every corner of
the world.
In
the face of these challenges, we Catholics and Jews renew our
commitment to educate our own respective communities in the knowledge
of and respect for each other”.
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 18 October 2013 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in
audience:
-
Paul Biya, president of the Republic of Cameroon, with his wife and
entourage.
-
Archbishop Ramiro Moliner Ingles, apostolic nuncio to Albania.
-
Bishop Ernesto Vecchi, apostolic administrator of Terni-Narni-Amelia.
-
Bishop Javier Echevarria Rodriguez, prelate of Opus Dei.
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