SUMMARY:
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POPE RECEIVES ECUMENICAL DELEGATION FROM FINLAND; URGES CONTINUOUS
EFFORT FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
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POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES WORKERS FROM VATICAN'S “FLORERIA”
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A FARM IN THE CITY TO CELEBRATE ST. ANTHONY ABBOT
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AUDIENCES
______________________________________
POPE
RECEIVES ECUMENICAL DELEGATION FROM FINLAND; URGES CONTINUOUS EFFORT
FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Vatican
City, 17 January 2014 (VIS) - Today the Pope received in audience an
ecumenical delegation from the Lutheran Church of Finland during
their annual pilgrimage to Rome. They have been celebrating the feast
of Saint Henry of Uppsala, patron saint of Finland, in this manner
for 25 years now.
The
Holy Father addressed them, saying: “The Apostle asks the members
of the community of Corinth, marked by divisions, 'Is Christ
divided?' This question has been chosen as the theme for the Week of
Prayer for Christian unity, which begins tomorrow. Today it is
addressed to us. Faced with voices that no longer recognize the full
and visible unity of the church as an achievable goal, we are invited
to not give up our ecumenical efforts, faithful to what the Lord
Jesus himself asked of the Father: 'That they may all be one'.”
“At
the present moment, the ecumenical path and relations among Christian
are undergoing significant changes due primarily to the fact that we
must profess our faith in the context of societies and cultures where
reference to God, and everything that recalls the transcendent
dimension of life, is always less present. We notice it especially in
Europe, but not only here.”
“It
is precisely for this reason that it is necessary for our witness to
concentrate upon the centre of our faith, upon the announcement of
God's love that is made manifest in Christ, his Son. Here we find the
room to grow in communion and in unity among, promoting spiritual
ecumenism, which is born directly from the commandment of love that
Jesus left his disciples. The Second Vatican Council also made
reference to this dimension: 'This change of heart and holiness of
life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of
Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical
movement, and merits the name, "spiritual ecumenism”.'
Ecumenism is, in fact, a spiritual process, which is carried out in
faithful obedience to the Father, in fulfilment of Christ's will, and
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
Pope
Francis bid the delegation from Finland farewell, inviting them all
to “call tirelessly upon the help of the grace of God and the
illumination of the Holy Spirit, bearer of reconciliation and
communion, who leads us into full truth.”
POPE
FRANCIS RECEIVES WORKERS FROM VATICAN'S “FLORERIA”
Vatican
City, 17 January 2014 (VIS) – This morning in the Clementine Hall
of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis received employees from the
Vatican's “Floreria” services. Their main task is preparing the
adornments for audiences and ceremonies in St. Peter's Basilica and
Square, the Paul VI Audience Hall, the Apostolic Palace, and the
other papal basilicas. They are also in charge of furnishing and
maintaining the Vatican apartments for the Pope and other bishops and
prelates of the Curia. Its services include three workshops: one for
the restoration and repair of textiles, one for woodworking, and one
for gilding.
“In
these past months,” the Holy Father commented, “I have realized
the importance of your work … which requires dedication, sacrifice
of spirit, and much patience. I am thinking, for example, of the task
of placing, each week, the thousands of chairs needed for the
pilgrims who attend the general audiences as well as the work you
carry out in the workshops. I wholeheartedly thank you for the care,
the professionalism, and the willingness with which you carry out
your work. I encourage you to persevere in the faithfulness to your
tasks and to keep up amongst yourselves the atmosphere of serenity,
mutual trust, and goodwill. This way of life and work will return to
the benefit of the Vatican's entire working community.”
In
conclusion, the Bishop of Rome bid the workers farewell, invoking
upon them and their family members the blessing of St. Joseph the
Worker.
A
FARM IN THE CITY TO CELEBRATE ST. ANTHONY ABBOT
Vatican
City, 17 January 2014 (VIS) – Today, 17 January, marks the
liturgical commemoration of St. Anthony Abbot, patron and protector
of animals. Just as in years past for this feastday, St. Peter's
square will be filled with animals. The Italian Association of
Livestock Farmers (AIA) has organized a series of events in honour of
their patron saint.
The
day began at 10:30 with Mass in the Vatican Basilica presided by
Cardinal Angelo Comastri, vicar general of His Holiness for Vatican
City. At noon there was a procession of horses and riders along Via
della Conciliazione in which the military band of the IVth Regiment
of mounted police will take part. After the procession, around 12:30,
the guests of honour...cows, goats, rabbits, sheep, chickens, etc.,
and their owners...were blessed.
The
members of AIA also invited all residents with pets to join in the
celebration and, if they wished, to make use of the free veterinary
visit offered to their four-legged friends.
Throughout
the day, from 9:00am to 3:00pm, there was an exhibition of animals in
the Pio XII Square directly in front of the Bernini colonnade around
St. Peter's Square, an entire farm in the city, showcasing Italian
livestock production.
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 17 January 2014 (VIS) – Today the Holy Father received in
audience:
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Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, archbishop of Lima, Peru.
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Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity.
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Archbishop Aldo Giordano, apostolic nuncio to Venezuela and titular
of Tamada, with members of his family.
-
Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, with a delegation from
Milan's EXPO 2015.
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