SUMMARY:
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POPE FRANCIS TO SEMINARIANS: IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO ACT LIKE
SHEPHERDS, CHANGE PATH
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PALM SUNDAY: WHO ARE WE BEFORE JESUS WHO TRIUMPHS AND BEFORE JESUS
WHO SUFFERS
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ANGELUS: MAY THE WYD CROSS BE A SIGN OF HOPE FOR THE WORLD
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THE STUDY OF HISTORY, ONE OF THE PATHS TO THE TRUTH
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POPE FRANCIS: CARE FOR YOUR PATIENTS WITHOUT FORGETTING THEY ARE
PEOPLE
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AUDIENCES
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
______________________________________
POPE
FRANCIS TO SEMINARIANS: IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO ACT LIKE SHEPHERDS,
CHANGE PATH
Vatican
City, 14 April 2014 (VIS) This morning the Holy Father met with the
seminarians of the community of the Pontifical College Leoniano de
Anagni, and warned them not to fall into the trap of thinking that
they are preparing to exercise a profession, to become the employees
of a business enterprise or a bureaucratic entity. You are becoming
'good shepherds', in the image of Jesus, to be like Him, in the midst
of His flock, to graze His sheep. Before this vocation, we can answer
like the Virgin Mary to the Angel: 'How is this possible'
Becoming
good shepherds in the image of Jesus is something very great, and we
are so small, he continued. Yes, it is true, it is too great; but it
is not our work! It is the work of the Holy Spirit, with our
collaboration. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, said
Francis, emphasising that only in this way is it possible to be
deacons and priests of the Church. If you are not willing to follow
this path, with these attitudes and these experiences, it is better
to have the courage to seek another. There are many ways, in the
Church, to bear Christian witness. Before concluding, the Pope
encouraged the seminarians to reflect on this theme and emphasised
that following in Christ's ministry allows no place for mediocrity,
who always leads to using the holy people of God to one's own
advantage.
PALM
SUNDAY: WHO ARE WE BEFORE JESUS WHO TRIUMPHS AND BEFORE JESUS WHO
SUFFERS?
Vatican
City, 13 April 2014 (VIS) Today in St. Peter's Square Pope Francis
began the rites of Holy Week with the solemn liturgical celebration
of Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Lord.
The
ceremony began with the blessing of the palms and the olive branches
placed beside the obelisk in the Square, carried in procession to the
entrance of the basilica. The young people of Rome and other diocese
took part in the celebration, in relation to the 29th World Youth
Day, which this year takes the theme, Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
The
Pope based his homily on the question, Who am I, before my Lord? Who
am I, before Jesus? Who enters Jerusalem on this feast day? Who am
I, before Jesus Who suffers?
This
week, we begin with a celebratory procession with olive branches: all
the people welcome Jesus. Children and young people sing in praise of
Jesus. But this week proceeds in the mystery of Jesus' death and His
resurrection. We have listened to the Passion of the Lord. It will do
us good to ask the question, who am I? Who am I before my Lord? Who
am I, before Jesus? Who enters Jerusalem on this feast day? Am I able
to express my joy, to praise Him Or do I keep my distance? Who am I,
before Jesus Who suffers?
We
have heard many names: the group of leaders, some who are priests,
some Pharisees, some doctors of the Law, who had decided to kill Him.
They waited for the opportunity to take Him. Am I like one of them?
We
have also heard another name: Judas. Thirty coins. Am I like Judas?
We have heard of other names: the disciples who understood nothing,
who slept while the Lord suffered. Do I spend my life asleep Or am I
like the disciples, who did not understand what it was to betray
Jesus? Like that other disciple who wanted to resolve everything by
the sword: am I like them? Am I like Judas, who pretended to love and
to kiss the Master in order to deliver Him into the hands of His
enemy, to betray Him? Am I a traitor? Am I like those leaders who are
quick to judge and seek false witnesses: am I like them? And when I
do these things, if I do them, do I believe that in so doing I save
the people?
Am
I like Pilate, in that when I see that the situation is difficult, I
wash my hands of it and do not assume my responsibility and condemn
people, or allow them to be condemned? Am I like that crowd that does
not know if it is in a religious meeting, a court of judgement or a
circus, and chooses Barabas? For them it was all the same: it was
more entertaining to humiliate Jesus.
Am
I like the soldiers who strike the Lord, who spit on Him, insult Him,
who amuse themselves by humiliating the Lord? Am I like the Cyrenian
who returned from work, weary, but who had the good will to help the
Lord carry the cross? Am I like those who passed before the Cross and
made fun of Jesus: 'He was so brave! If he comes down from the Cross
we will believe in Him!' Making fun of Jesus.
Am
I like those brave women, such as the Mother of Jesus, who were
there, who suffered in silence? Am I like Joseph, the secret disciple
who carried the copy of Jesus with love, to bury him? Am I like the
two Marys, who remained before His tomb crying and praying?
Am
I like the leaders who, the following day went to Pilate to say,
'Look, this man said that he would be resurrected. Careful that this
is not another trick', and blocked the life, blocked the tomb to
defend doctrine, so that life does not come out?
Where
is my heart? Which of these people do I resemble? May this question
accompany us throughout the week.
ANGELUS:
MAY THE WYD CROSS BE A SIGN OF HOPE FOR THE WORLD
Vatican
City, 14 April 2014 (VIS) Following the solemn liturgical
celebration of Palm Sunday, the Pope prayed the Angelus with the
seventy thousand faithful present in St- Peter's Square and, before
the Marian prayer, he greeted the 250 delegates, bishops, priests,
religious and laypeople who participated during these days in the
meeting for the World Youth Day organised by the Pontifical Council
for the Laity.
In
this way there begins the path of preparation for the next world
meeting that will take place in July 2016 in Krakow on the theme
'Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy'. Before long
the young Brazilians will deliver to the Polish youth the Cross of
the World Youth Days. It was Blessed John Paul II who entrusted the
Cross to the young thirty years ago: he asked them to take it all
over the world as a sign of Christ's love for humanity. On 27 April
we will have the joy of celebrating the canonization of this Pope,
along with John XXIII. John Paul II, who initiated the World Youth
Days, will become its great patron; in the communion of saints he
will continue to be a father and a friend for the young of the world.
Let us ask the Lord that the Cross, along with the icon of Mary
'Salus Populi Romani', be a sign of hope for all, revealing Christ's
invincible love to the world.
Following
these words, the World Youth Day Cross was consigned, and Pope
Francis added, I greet all Romans and all pilgrims, and I greet in
particular the delegations from Rio de Janeiro and Krakow, led by
their archbishops, Cardinals Orani Joao Tempesta and Stanislaw
Dziwisz. In this context, I have the joy of announcing that, God
willing, on 15 August at Daejeon, in the Republic of Korea, I will
meet with the young of Asia in their great continental meeting.
And
now, let us turn to the Virgin Mary, so that she might help us always
to follow Jesus' example faithfully.
THE
STUDY OF HISTORY, ONE OF THE PATHS TO THE TRUTH
Vatican
City, 12 April 2014 (VIS) The study of history indeed represents one
of the paths for the impassioned search for the truth, which has
always pervaded man's soul, said the Pope in his audience with the
participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Committee for
Historical Sciences, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
Your research, marked both by a genuine passion for the Church and by
sincere love for the truth, can be of great help to those who have
the task of discerning what the Holy Spirit wants to say to today's
Church. ... In your encounter and collaboration with researchers from
every culture and religion, you can offer a specific contribution to
the dialogue between the Church and the contemporary world.
At
the end of the meeting, Pope Francis commented on one of the
initiatives planned by the Committee, the international conference to
mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, and
recalled the prophetic words of Benedict XV in his letter of August
1917 to the leaders of the warring nations: Nothing is lost by peace;
everything may be lost by war.
POPE
FRANCIS: CARE FOR YOUR PATIENTS WITHOUT FORGETTING THEY ARE PEOPLE
Vatican
City, 12 April 2014 (VIS) This morning the Holy Father met with the
participants in the Congress of the Italian Society for Oncological
Surgery, organised by the La Sapienza University of Rome and by the
Sant'Andrea Hospital. Scientific research has multiplied the
possibilities for prevention and treatment, and has discovered
therapies to treat many illnesses, said the Pope. But when we speak
of in full health, it is necessary not to lose sign of the fact that
the human person, created in the image and semblance of God, is a
unity of body and spirit. These two elements are distinct but
inseparable, because the person is one entity. Therefore, even
illness, the experience of pain and suffering, does not relate only
to the bodily dimension, but to man in his entirety. This creates the
need for an integral treatment, that considers the person as a whole
and unites medical care with human, psychological and social support,
spiritual guidance, and support for patients' families.
Pope
Francis recalled Pope John Paul II's Moto Proprio Dolentium hominum
of 1985, remarking that it is indispensable for healthcare workers to
'be led by an integrally human view of illness and as a result be
able to effect a fully human approach to the sick person who is
suffering'. Fraternal communion with the sick opens us up to the
true beauty of human life.
Finally,
referring the beginning of Holy Week, which culminates in the Triduum
of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, he affirmed, Here
human suffering reaches its lowest point, and is redeemed by God. God
as love. Only Christ can give meaning to the scandal of innocent
pain.
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 14 April 2014 (VIS) Today, the Holy Father received in
audience:
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Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the
Oriental Churches.
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Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general of His Holiness for the
diocese of Rome.
On
Saturday 12 April the Holy Father received in audience:
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Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for
Bishops.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 14 April 2014 (VIS) The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Alan
Williams, S.M., as bishop of Brentwood (area 3,967, population
2,789,000, Catholics 225,700, priests 154, permanent deacons 11,
religious 293), England. The bishop-elect was born in Blackburn,
England in 1951, gave his solemn vows in 1976, and was ordained a
priest in 1983. After teaching at St. Mary's College, Blackburn, he
served as director of the national shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.
He was subsequently chaplain at Sheffield Hallam University and
priest of the parish of Sidcup in Southwark, as well as regional
superior of the Marist Fathers. In 2008 he returned to the role of
director of the national shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, in which
he continues to serve. He succeeds Bishop Thomas McMahon, whose
resignation upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy
Father.
On
Saturday, 12 April, the Holy Father:
-
appointed Fr. Columba Macbeth-Green, O.S.P.P.E., as bishop of
Wilcannia-Forbes (area 414,378, population 117,000, Catholics 35,200,
priests 21, religious 42), Australia. The bishop-elect was born in
Forbes, Australia in 1968, gave his solemn vows in 1996, and ordained
a priest in 1997. He has served in a number of pastoral roles,
including: priest of the parish of Tarcutta, Wagga Wagga; prefect of
novices in Tarcutta; first counsellor of the Australian Province of
the Order; master of novices in Tarcutta; secretary of the Australian
Province of the Order; sub-prior of the Penrose Park Monastery,
Wollongong; and priest of the parish of Moss Vale, Wollongong. He is
currently prior of the Monastery and rector of the Marian Valley
shrine, Canugra, Brisbane, and provincial vicar of the Australian
Province of the Order. He has also served as chaplain of the police
of New South Wales and is currently chaplain of the police of
Queensland.
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accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of
Kharkiv-Zaporizhia, Ukraine, presented by Bishop Marian Buczek, in
accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
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appointed Bishop Stanislav Szyrokoradiuk, O.F.M., auxiliary of
Kyiv-Zhytomyr, Ukraine, and apostolic administrator ad nutum Sanctae
Sedis of Lutsk, as bishop of Kharkiv-Zaporizhia (area 196,300,
population 19,000,000, Catholics 40,000, priests 64, religious 97),
Ukraine.
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appointed Bishop Vitaliy Skomarovskyi, auxiliary of Kyiv-Zhytomyr,
Ukraine, as bishop of Lutsk (area 40,300, population 2,217,730,
Catholics 27,160, priests 26, religious 19), Ukraine.
-
appointed Bishop Giovanni D'Ercole, F.D.P., as bishop of Ascoli
Piceno (area 840, population 107,503, Catholics 106,512, priests 111,
permanent deacons 7, religious 151), Italy. He was previously
auxiliary of the archdiocese of L'Aquila, Italy.
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appointed Fr. Maurizio of the clergy of the diocese of
Faenza-Modigliana as relator of the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints. Fr. Tagliaferri is ordinary professor of History of the
Church at the Theological Faculty of Emilia-Romagna.
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confirmed Msgr. Guido Marini as Master of Pontifical Liturgical
Celebrations.
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appointed Professor Margaret Scotford Archer, Great Britain, as
president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. Professor
Scotford Archer is currently director of the Centre d'Ontologie
Sociale at the EPFL Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne,
pontifical academic and member of the Council of the Academy.
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