SUMMARY:
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The Pope recounts his pastoral trip in Asia
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Appeal for Niger
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Inter-Christian collaboration in view of interreligious dialogue
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Other Pontifical Acts
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The
Pope recounts his pastoral trip in Asia
Vatican
City, 21 January 2015 (VIS) – Before proceeding to the Paul VI Hall
for this morning's Wednesday general audience, the Holy Father,
following a centuries-long tradition, blessed two lambs in the hall
of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, whose wool will be used to weave the
pallia imposed on the new archbishops on 29 June, on the solemnity of
Sts. Peter and Paul.
During
today's audience, Pope Francis gave an account of his apostolic trip
to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. “I will always keep in my heart
the recollection of the joyful welcome I received from the crowds”,
he confessed. The culmination of his stay in Sri Lanka, he said, was
the canonisation of St. Joseph Vaz. “His example of holiness and
love for his neighbour continues to inspire the Church in Sri Lanka
in her apostolate of charity and education”, he said, adding that
the new saint represented “a model for all Christians, who are
called upon today to offer the salvific truth of the Gospel in a
multi-religious context. With regard to the meeting with the
governmental authorities, he emphasised the importance of dialogue,
respect for human dignity and efforts to involve all in finding
suitable solutions for reconciliation and the common good.
He
also spoke about his encounter with religious leaders, which
confirmed the good relations that exist between the various
communities. “In this context, I wanted to encourage the
cooperation that has already been initiated between the followers of
different religious traditions, also in order to heal with the balsam
of forgiveness those who are still afflicted by the sufferings of
recent years”.
In
the Philippines, he noted “the constant fruitfulness of the Gospel
and its capacity to inspire a society worthy of mankind, in which
there is a place for the dignity of each person and the aspirations
of the Filipino population”. He explained that the main aim of his
visit was to express his closeness to those brothers and sisters who
had suffered as a result of the devastation wrought by typhoon
Yolanda. “The power of God's love, revealed in the mystery of the
Cross, was made evident in the spirit of solidarity shown by the many
acts of charity and sacrifice that marked those days of darkness”.
He also mentioned the young volunteer Kristel, killed following his
visit to Tacloban by collapsing scaffolding due to extreme weather
conditions.
Francis
went on to speak about his encounter with families in Manila. “I
have heard it said that families with many children and high birth
rates are among the causes of poverty. It seems to me a simplistic
opinion. I can say that the main cause of poverty is an economic
system that has removed the person from the centre and replaced him
with the god of money; an economic system that excludes and creates
the throwaway culture in which we live. … It is necessary to
protect families, which face various threats, so that they can bear
witness to the beauty of the family in God's plan”.
Finally,
he spokes about his meeting with the young. “I wanted to offer them
my encouragement for their efforts in contributing to the renewal of
society, especially through their service to the poor and the
protection of the natural environment. Care for the poor is an
essential element of our Christian life and witness – because
corruption steals from the poor – and requires a culture of
honesty”, he concluded.
Appeal
for Niger
Vatican
City, 21 January 2015 (VIS) – The Pope launched an appeal for
prayer for “the victims of the events of recent days in beloved
Niger”, adding, “Let us invoke from the Lord the gift of
reconciliation and peace, so that religious feeling is not
transformed into a cause of violence, oppression and destruction. I
hope that a climate of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence may be
reinstated as soon as possible, for the good of all”.
Inter-Christian
collaboration in view of interreligious dialogue
Vatican
City, 21 January 2015 (VIS) – Yesterday the annual meeting took
place between the officials of the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue (PCDI) and the staff of the Office for
Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation (IRDC) of the World Council
of Churches (WCC). The event enabled information to be exchanged
regarding activities carried out during 2014.
The
meeting also offered the opportunity to reflect on future
partnerships between the two institutions, which have collaborated
for some years now, in order to exchange information and with a view
to joint initiatives for the examination of various issues.
The
most recent initiatives include the presentation, in 2011, of the
document “Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World:
Recommendations for Conduct”, by the PCDI, the World Council of
Churches and the World Evangelical Alliance.
Other
Pontifical Acts
Vatican
City, 21 January 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed:
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the following members of the College for the review of appeals to the
Ordinary Session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
instituted by the Rescriptum ex Audientia SS.mi of 3 November 2014:
President:
Bishop Charles J. Scicluna, auxiliary of Malta;
Members:
Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic
Education; Cardinal Attilio Nicora, president emeritus of the
Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See (APSA) and the
Financial Information Authority (AIF); Cardinal Francesco
Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative
Texts; Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, president of the Prefecture of the
Economic Affairs of the Holy See; Archbishop Jose Luis Mollaghan,
emeritus of Rosario, Argentina; and Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa
de Chinchetru, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative
Texts;
Supplementary
members: Cardinal Julian Herranz, president emeritus of the
Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; Bishop Giorgio Corbellini,
president of the Labour Office of the Apostolic See and of the
Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia.
-Rev.
Fr. Daniel Elias Garcia as auxiliary of Austin (area 57,424,
population 2,902,992, Catholics 536,183, priests 218, permanent
deacons 207, religious 201), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in
Cameron, Texas, U.S.A. in 1960 and was ordained a priest in 1988. He
holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, a Master of Divinity from
the University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas, and a Master's degree
in liturgical studies from St. John's University, Collegeville,
Minnesota. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including
parish priest of the “St. Vincent de Paul” parish in Austin and
dean of the “Austin North Deanery”. He is currently a member of
the presbyteral council, diocesan consultor, member of the Priests'
Personnel Board, and vicar general and moderator of the Curia.
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confirmed the appointment by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin of Dr. Tommaso Di Ruzza as director of the Financial
Information Authority (AIF). Dr. Di Ruzza is currently “ad interim”
deputy director of the same institution.
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