SUMMARY:
-
Telegram for the death of Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia
-
The Pope at the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear
Weapons: “Now is the time to counter the logic of fear with the
ethic of responsibility”
-
Publication of the Lineamenta of the next Synod on the Family
-
Presentation of the International Campaign “Stop Threats on the
Internet”
-
Pope Francis pays homage to the Immaculate Conception in Piazza di
Spagna
-
Angelus: like Mary, welcome grace and correspond with faith
-
The Pope lights the tallest Christmas tree in the world
-
Angelus: be messengers of God's consolation
-
Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
-
Director of the Holy See Press Office on the inquiry on two
ex-executives of the IOR
-
Telegram for the death of Queen Fabiola of Belgium
-
Pope's video message for the Christians and people of Iraq
-
Audiences
-
Other Pontifical Acts
______________________________________
Telegram
for the death of Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia
Vatican
City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) – Pope Francis has sent a telegram of
condolences to Alejandro Jaime Mejia for the death of his brother,
Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia, archivist and librarian emeritus of the
Holy Roman Church, at the age of 91. The Pontiff comments that the
cardinal dedicated “long years of service with fidelity and
competence to various organs of the Holy See”, and assures his
prayers for the deceased, to whom he was joined in “a long
friendship”, so that the Lord may grant peace to the Cardinal, who
demonstrated “such intense and generous commitment to the Church”.
“With
faith in the Paschal mystery of Christ, that illuminates and fills
Christian life with hope, and the memory of a Pastor devoted to the
evangelising mission, I beg for divine consolation in these moments
of suffering, for you and for those loved ones who mourn his passing,
to whom I impart the comfort of my heartfelt apostolic blessing”,
he concluded.
The
Pope at the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons:
“Now is the time to counter the logic of fear with the ethic of
responsibility”
Vatican
City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) – Pope Francis' message to Sebastian
Kurz, Austrian federal minister for Foreign Affairs and Integration
was read today during the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of
Nuclear Weapons held in Vienna, Austria on 8 and 9 December.
“The
humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons are predictable and
planetary. While the focus is often placed on nuclear weapons’
potential for mass-killing, more attention must be given to the
'unnecessary suffering' brought on by their use. Military codes and
international law, among others, have long banned peoples from
inflicting unnecessary suffering. If such suffering is banned in the
waging of conventional war, then it should all the more be banned in
nuclear conflict. There are those among us who are victims of these
weapons; they warn us not to commit the same irreparable mistakes
which have devastated populations and creation”.
He
continued, “Nuclear deterrence and the threat of mutually assured
destruction cannot be the basis for an ethics of fraternity and
peaceful coexistence among peoples and states. … Now is the time to
counter the logic of fear with the ethic of responsibility, and so
foster a climate of trust and sincere dialogue. Spending on nuclear
weapons squanders the wealth of nations. To prioritise such spending
is a mistake and a misallocation of resources which would be far
better invested in the areas of integral human development,
education, health and the fight against extreme poverty. When these
resources are squandered, the poor and the weak living on the margins
of society pay the price”.
“The
desire for peace, security and stability is one of the deepest
longings of the human heart. It is rooted in the Creator who makes
all people members of the one human family. This desire can never be
satisfied by military means alone, much less the possession of
nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. … Peace must
be built on justice, socio-economic development, freedom, respect for
fundamental human rights, the participation of all in public affairs
and the building of trust between peoples. Pope Paul VI stated this
succinctly in his Encyclical Populorum Progressio: 'Development is
the new name for peace'. It is incumbent on us to adopt concrete
actions which promote peace and security, while remaining always
aware of the limitation of short-sighted approaches to problems of
national and international security”.
“In
the context of this Conference, I wish to encourage sincere and open
dialogue between parties internal to each nuclear state, between
various nuclear states, and between nuclear states and non-nuclear
states”. He emphasised, “This dialogue must be inclusive,
involving international organisations, religious communities and
civil society, and oriented towards the common good and not the
protection of vested interests. 'A world without nuclear weapons' is
a goal shared by all nations and echoed by world leaders, as well as
the aspiration of millions of men and women. The future and the
survival of the human family hinges on moving beyond this ideal and
ensuring that it becomes a reality”.
Publication
of the Lineamenta of the next Synod on the Family
Vatican
City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) – The General Secretariat of the Synod
of Bishops has today issued a press release regarding the publication
of the Lineamenta of the next Ordinary General Synod of Bishops, to
take place from 4 to 25 October, on the theme “The vocation and the
mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world”.
The
Lineamenta, or rather the first document for this Assembly, as
indicated by Pope Francis in the concluding discourse of the Third
Extraordinary Assembly, are constituted essentially by the Relatio
Synodi, drafted by the same Assembly. However, to facilitate the
reception of the synodal document and to allow its themes to be
considered in depth, the Relatio is accompanied by a series of
questions that help to further the Synod's progress on the path it
has undertaken, and to assist in the preparation of the subsequent
Instrumentum laboris for the next Ordinary Synod.
The
document, thus composed – the Italian-language original of which is
published today – is sent to the Episcopal Conferences, the Synods
of the sui iuris Oriental Catholic Churches, the Union of Religious
Superiors and the dicasteries of the Roman Curia.
The
aforementioned ecclesial organisms, who will receive the document
translated into the most commonly-used languages, will be able to
select the most appropriate methods for confirming the reception and
further examination of the Relatio Synodi, involving the different
components of the particular Churches and academic organisations, lay
associations and other ecclesial bodies with the aim of promoting
wide consultation on the family in accordance with the spirit of the
synodal process.
The
results of this consultation shall be sent to the General Secretariat
of the Synod of Bishops by 15 April 2015, to allow them to be
examined and taken into consideration in the preparation of the
Instrumentum laboris, to be published before the summer.
The
Episcopal Conferences and the various ecclesial bodies are invited to
accompany the synodal process with timely moments of prayer and
celebration for the family and in preparation for the next Assembly.
This should take place in particular on the occasion of the upcoming
liturgical feast of the Holy Family on 28 December. In addition, the
faithful are invited to recite the Holy Father's prayer for the Synod
on the Family. The full text in Italian can be found at
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it
The
text of the Lineamenta in Italian may be consulted on the Vatican
website: http://www.vatican.va
Presentation
of the International Campaign “Stop Threats on the Internet”
Vatican
City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) – This morning a press conference was
held in the Holy See Press Office during which Cardinal Peter Kodwo
Appiah Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council “Justice and
Peace”, presented the international online bullying awareness
campaign “Stop Threats on the Internet”, in the context of the
25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Other
speakers at the conference were Don Fortunato Di Noto, president of
the Associazione Meter; Olivier Duval, president of the BICE (Bureau
International Catholique de l'Enfance), Laetitia Chanut, a former
victim of cyber-bullying and witness for the campaign, and Flaminia
Giovanelli, under secretary of the Pontifical Council “Justice and
Peace”.
In
the presentation, it was shown that bullying on the Internet is a new
form of violence, and the related issue of the time the internet
subtracts from family relations emerged. Alongside this there arose
the question of adolescents and young people living in a condition of
being continually “connected”, a problem about which we all
complain, and it was suggested that this might have its origins
precisely in parents not spending enough time with them, and in not
taking the time to listen to them. It was explained that numerous
sociological studies exist, examining the risks linked to the rapid
development of information and communication technology, a phenomenon
that requires parents to act as mediators of the technological
experience for their children. Therefore, there are examples that
show that when family relationships are positive it is more likely
that the potential of social networks lead to greater inter- and
intra-generational cohesion, and where family relationships are poor
or conflictual, the social networks more easily facilitate
individualistic routes and forms of surrogate relationship. It was
also mentioned that, in the globalised world in which we live, it is
increasingly common for family members to live far from each other,
and therefore social networks may constitute an important vehicle for
information and entertainment. However, it is essential to remember
that online connection is accompanied by “real”, offline
relationships, and that we cannot live alone, wrapped up in
ourselves.
Faced
with these situations, it was noted that the Church cannot be
excluded: emphasis was placed on the opportunities that the Web
offers for evangelisation or spiritual assistance, and the need for
pastoral efforts in the formation of families. In this way, Cardinal
Turkson highlighted that the Holy See, through the ratification of
treaties on the rights of the Child, expresses its constant concern
for the well-being of children and their families, in the hope that
these agreements are able to guarantee the protection of the rights
and interests of children, whom St. John Paul II described as a
precious treasure, given to each generation as a challenge to its
wisdom and humanity.
Pope
Francis pays homage to the Immaculate Conception in Piazza di Spagna
Vatican
City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday, the Solemnity of the
Immaculate Conception, the Holy Father went to the Basilica of St.
Mary Major to pray before the image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, and
then to Piazza di Spagna where he carried out the traditional act of
veneration of Mary Immaculate. For the occasion, Francis composed and
recited a prayer, the full text of which is published below:
“Mary
our Mother, today the People of God celebrate you and venerate you as
Immaculate, preserved forever from the stain of sin.
Accept
the homage I offer you in the name of the Church in Rome and
throughout the world.
Knowing
that you, who are our Mother, are totally free from sin, is of great
comfort to us.
Knowing
that evil has no power over you, fills us with hope and strength in
the daily struggle we have to face against the threats of the evil
one.
But
we are not alone in this struggle, we are not orphans because Jesus,
before dying on the Cross, gave you to us as our Mother.
Even
though we are sinners, we are still your children, children of the
Immaculate, called to that holiness that shines in you by the grace
of God since the beginning.
Inspired
by this hope, today we invoke your maternal protection for us, our
families, this city and the whole world.
Through
your intercession, may the power of God’s love that preserved you
from original sin, free humanity from every form of spiritual and
material slavery and make God’s plan of salvation be victorious in
both hearts and in history.
May
grace prevail over pride in us too, your children.
May
we become merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful.
During
this time leading to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, teach us to
go against the flow: to strip ourselves, to be humble and giving, to
listen and be silent, to go out of ourselves, giving space to the
beauty of God, source of true joy.
Pray
for us, our Immaculate Mother!”.
Angelus:
like Mary, welcome grace and correspond with faith
Vatican
City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) – “Everything is given freely by God,
all is grace, all is a gift of His love for us”. This, said Pope
Francis, is the message of the Solemnity of the Immaculate
Conception, appearing at the window of his study to pray the Angelus
at midday with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
The
Holy Father explained that in the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel
called Mary “full of grace”, since “in her there was no space
for sin: God had always chosen her as the mother of Jesus, and so He
protected her from original sin. Mary corresponds to this grace and
abandons herself to it, saying to the Angel, 'Be it done to me
according to your word'. She does not say 'I will do it according to
your word', but rather, 'Be it done to me…'. And the Word was made
flesh in her womb. We too are asked to listen to God Who speaks to us
and to accept His will; according to the logic of the Gospel, nothing
is more active and fruitful than to listen and receive the Word of
the Lord”.
The
attitude of Mary of Nazareth “shows us that being comes before
doing, and we must let God act in order to truly become what He wants
us to be. It is He Who works so many marvels in us. Mary is
receptive, but not passive. Just as, at a physical level, she
receives the power of the Holy Spirit but then gives flesh and blood
to the Son of God Who grows in her, she also receives grace and
corresponds with faith, on a spiritual level. This mystery of the
acceptance of grace, that in Mary by unique privilege was without the
obstacle of sin, is a possibility for all. … As Mary is greeted by
St. Elizabeth as 'blessed among women', so we too have always been
'blessed', that is, loved, and therefore 'chosen first from the
creation of the world to be holy and immaculate'. Mary was preserved,
whereas we have been saved thanks to baptism and faith: all of us,
however, Mary and ourselves, through Christ”.
“Faced
with love, faced with mercy, with the divine grace poured into our
hearts, just one consequence is imposed: gratuity. None of us can buy
salvation! Salvation is a gift freely given by the Lord, a free gift
from God who comes to us and abides in us. In the same way as we have
received his gift freely, so we are called to freely give, in
imitation of Mary, who straight after having received the
Annunciation of the Angel, goes to share the gift of her fertility
with her relative Elizabeth. Because, if all has been given,
everything must be given again in turn. How? By letting the Holy
Spirit make of us a gift for others. The Spirit is a gift for us and
we, through the Spirit, must be a gift for others and enable the Holy
Spirit to make us into instruments of acceptance, instruments of
reconciliation, instruments of forgiveness”.
“If
our existence is allowed to be transformed by the Lord's grace, so
that the Lord's grace may transform us, we cannot keep for ourselves
the light that comes from His face, but must instead pass it on so
that it may illuminate others”.
The
Pope lights the tallest Christmas tree in the world
Vatican
City, 8 December 2014 (VIS) – Every year on this day in Gubbio, the
Italian city where St. Francis tamed the wolf, the tallest Christmas
tree in the world is lit up. Situated on the slopes of Mount Ingino,
it is made up of dots of light of different types: 250 green dots
trace a silhouette more than 650 metres high, which contains more
than 300 lights of various colours. It is topped with a star of 1000
square metres, made up of 200 white lights. At dusk yesterday, 7
December, the Holy Father illuminated the tree from the Vatican using
a tablet, and he greeted those in attendance in Gubbio.
“In
switching on the light of the Nativity scene, we wish for the light
of Christ to be in us. A Christmas without light is not Christmas.
Let there be light in the soul, in the heart; let there be
forgiveness to others; let there be no hostilities, which are dark.
Let there be the beautiful light of Jesus. This is my wish for all of
you, when you turn on the light of the crib.
“Many
thanks for your gift, it is beautiful. Also I give to you my warmest
wishes, peace and happiness.
“If
you have something dark in your soul, ask the Lord for forgiveness.
Christmas is a great opportunity to cleanse the soul. Do not fear,
the priest is merciful, forgiving all in the name of God, because God
forgives everything.
“May
there be light in your hearts, in your families, in your cities. And
now, with this wish, let us turn on the light.
“Blessed
be God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Merry
Christmas and pray for me”.
Angelus:
be messengers of God's consolation
Vatican
City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father appeared at the
window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace at midday today
to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Before the Marian prayer, Francis spoke about the second Sunday of
Advent as a “wonderful time that reawakens in us the expectation of
Christ's return and the memory of his historic coming. It is the
Lord's invitation as expressed by the prophet Isaiah: 'Comfort, O
comfort my people, says your God'”.
“The
prophet invites those who listen to him – including us, today –
to spread among the people this message of hope: that the Lord
consoles us. And to allow room for the Lord's consolation”, he
continued. “But we cannot be messengers of God's consolation if we
do not first experience the joy of being consoled and loved by Him.
This happens especially when we listen to the Word, the Gospel, which
we should carry with us in our pockets … and when we remain in
silent prayer in His presence, when we encounter Him in the Eucharist
or in the sacrament of Reconciliation”.
The
Pope recalled those who are “oppressed by suffering, injustice and
abuse; those who are slaves to money, to power, to success and
worldliness. “Theirs are false consolations, they are not the true
consolation of the Lord! We are all called to console our brethren,
showing that only God can eliminate the causes of existential and
spiritual crisis”. The Pontiff went on to encourage all those
present to allow themselves to be consoled by the Lord, and he
concluded by entrusting to Mary the hopes for salvation and peace for
all men and women of our time.
Decrees
of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Vatican
City, 7 December 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon, 6 December, Pope
Francis received in private audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B.,
prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During the
audience, the Holy Father authorised the promulgation of the
following decrees regarding:
MIRACLES,
attributable to the intercession of:
-
Blessed Jeanne-Emilie de Villeneuve, France, foundress of the Sisters
of the Immaculate Conception of Castres (1811-1854);
-
Blessed Marie-Alphonsine (nee Maryam Sultanah Danil Ghattas),
Turco-British Palestine, co-foundress of the Congregation of the
Sisters of the Holy Rosary of Jerusalem of the Latins (1843-1927);
-
Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified (nee Maryam Baouardy), Turkish
Palestine, professed nun of the Order of Discalced Carmelites
(1846-1878);
HEROIC
VIRTUES
-
Servant of God Carmela of Jesus (nee Francesca Paola Prestigiacomo),
Italy, foundress of the Institute of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus of the Incarnate Word (1858- 1948);
-
Servant of God Maria Seiquer Gaya, Spain, foundress of the Apostolic
Sisters of Christ Crucified (1891-1975);
-
Servant of God Adalberta (nee Vojtecha) Hasmandova, Czech Republic,
superior general of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of St.
Charles Borromeo (1914-1988);
-
Servant of God Praxedes Fernandez Garcia, Spain, laywoman and member
of the Third Order of St. Dominic (1886-1936);
-
Servant of God Elisabetta Tasca, Italy, laywoman and mother
(1899-1978).
Director
of the Holy See Press Office on the inquiry on two ex-executives of
the IOR
Vatican
City, 7 December 2014 (VIS) – The director of the Holy See Press
Office has issued the following statement in response to questions
from the press:
“I
can confirm that the Promoter of Justice of the Vatican City State
Tribunal has opened an investigation against two former executives of
the IOR for suspected embezzlement of funds in the context of real
estate transactions that took place during the period from 2001 to
2008. The investigation has also been extended to a lawyer for
involvement in the case.
The
matter was presented to the Vatican City State judiciary by the IOR
authorities as a result of the internal audit carried out last year.
The
accounts of those concerned in the IOR were frozen as a precautionary
measure a few weeks ago.
Telegram
for the death of Queen Fabiola of Belgium
Vatican
City, 6 December 2014 (VIS) – The Pope has sent a telegram of
condolences to His Majesty the King Philippe of Belgium for the death
of Queen Fabiola yesterday, 5 December, at the age of 86.
In
the text, Francis communicates to the monarch and all the Royal
family, along with the Government and the Belgian people, his sorrow
at learning of the death of the Queen, and expressed his deepest
condolences. “I fervently pray that the Lord may receive his
faithful servant in His Kingdom of Light, and that He may grant
comfort and hope to all those affected by her departure”, he
writes.
Pope's
video message for the Christians and people of Iraq
Vatican
City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) – Cardinal Philippe Barbarin,
archbishop of Lyon, France, will transmit a video message from Pope
Francis to the Christians and the population as a whole in Iraq, to
be screened this afternoon in the city of Erbil. The twinning of the
diocese with Mosul, which began last summer, has given rise to
several initiatives to support the Iraqi population. The full text of
the Pope's message is published below:
“I
would like to greet each and every one of you, along with Cardinal
Philippe Barbarin, who once again brings you the concern and the love
of the entire Church. I too would like to be there with you, but
since I am unable to travel, I will do this instead … but I am very
close to you in these difficult moments. I said, during my return
journey from Turkey: Christians are being driven out of the Middle
East, with suffering. I thank you for the witness you give; and there
is a great deal of suffering in your witness. Thank you! Many thanks.
“It
would seem that there they do not want there to be any Christians,
but you bear witness to Christ. I think of the wounds, of the pain of
women with their children, the elderly and the displaced, the wounds
of those who are victims of every type of violence.
“As
I mentioned in Ankara, particular concern is caused by the fact that
above all, due to an extremist and fundamentalist group, entire
communities, especially, – but not only – Christians and Yazidi,
have suffered and continue to suffer inhuman violence because of
their religious and ethnic identity. Christians and Yazidis have been
forced out of their homes, they have had to abandon everything to
save their lives, but they have not denied their faith. Even holy
buildings, monuments, religious symbols and cultural heritage have
been affected by the violence, almost as if to cancel every trace,
every memory of the other.
“As
religious leaders, we are obliged to denounce all violations of the
dignity and rights of humanity.
“Today
I wish to draw closer those of you who tolerate this suffering, and
to be close to you … And I think of St. Therese of the Baby Jesus,
who said that she and the Church were like a rod: when the wind rises
and the storm comes, the rod bends but it does not break. At the
moment, you are like this rod: you bend painfully, but you have the
strength to carry forth your faith, which is a testimony to us. You
are God's rod today! The rods that bend under this ferocious wind,
but then rise up again.
“I
wish to thank you again. I pray that the Spirit, Who makes all things
new, will give each of you strength and resistance. It is a gift of
the Holy Spirit. And I strongly urge, as I did in Turkey, greater
international collaboration to resolve the conflicts that cause blood
to be shed in your lands of origin, to combat the other causes that
lead people to leave their homelands and to promote suitable
conditions for them to remain or return. I hope that you will return,
that you will be able to return.
“Dear
brothers and sisters, you are in my heart and my prayers, and in the
hearts and prayers of all Christian communities, whom I will ask to
pray in a special way for you on 8 December, to pray to Our Lady to
protect you: she is our mother and will protect you.
“Brothers
and sisters, your resistance is martyrdom, it is dew that brings
fruitfulness. Please, I ask you to pray for me. May the Lord bless
you and Our Lady protect you.
May
God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, bless you”.
Audiences
Vatican
City, 6 December 2014 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in
audience:
-
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for
Bishops;
-
Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy;
-
Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla, apostolic nuncio in Korea and Mongolia;
-
Bishop Pier Giorgio Debernardi of Pinerolo, Italy;
-
Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B.;
-
Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for the
Clergy.
Other
Pontifical Acts
Vatican
City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed:
-
Bishop Martin Musonde Kivuva of Machakos, Kenya, as archbishop of
Mombasa (area 38,000, population 2,214,000, Catholics 323,000,
priests 116, religious 321), Kenya.
-
Msgr. Adolfo Ramon Canecin as coadjutor of the diocese of Goya (area
33,603, population 307,500, Catholics 283,000, priests 48, religious
51), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Formosa, Argentina in
1958 and was ordained a priest in 1988. He has served as vicar in the
parish of “Maria Madre de la Iglesia” and parish priest of the
“Sagrada Familia” parish, Formosa; rector of the cathedral of
Formosa; and vicar general and rector of “La Encarnacion”
interdiocesan seminary in Resistencia, Chaco. He is currently
episcopal vicar for pastoral ministry and parish priest in the “San
Francisco de Asis” parish.
On
Monday, 8 December, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Filomeno do
Nascimento Vieira Dias of Cabinda, Angola, as archbishop of Luanda
(area 343, population 3,682,000, Catholics 2,717,000, priests 14,
religious 493), Angola.
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