SUMMARY:
- The Pope asks for prayers for the Synod on the family
- Bringing bread to the table is a matter of dignity
- Condolences following the air disaster in France
- Programme of the Holy Father's visit to Turin
- The exhibition of the Holy Shroud of Turin
- Members and substitutes for the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
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The Pope asks for prayers for the Synod on the family
Vatican City, 25 March 2015 (VIS) – On the solemnity of the Annunciation, during this Wednesday's general audience held in a rain-soaked St. Peter's Square, the Pope announced to the faithful that today would be a special catechesis, a pause for prayer during his path of reflections on the family.
“On 25 March, the Church solemnly celebrates the Annunciation, the beginning of the mystery of the Incarnation. The Archangel Gabriel visits the humble girl from Nazareth and announces that she will conceive and give birth to the Son of God. By this announcement the Lord illuminates and strengthens Mary's faith, as He will also do for her spouse Giuseppe, so that Jesus may be born in a human family. This is beautiful: it shows us how deeply the mystery of the Incarnation, as God wished it to be, includes not only conception in the womb of the mother, but also the fact of being welcomed into a true family. Today I would like to contemplate with you the beauty of this bond, of this, God's condescension, and we can do so reciting together the Hail Mary, which in its first part includes the words the Angel addressed to the Virgin”.
After praying the Hail Mary with all those present, Francis commented that today in many countries is the Day for Life, and that twenty years ago on this date St. John Paul II signed his encyclical “Evangelium Vitae”, in which the family “occupies a central role, inasmuch as it is the womb of human life”.
“The word of my venerated predecessor reminds us that the human couple has been blessed by God since the beginning to form a community of love and life, to whom the mission of procreation has been entrusted. Christian couples, by celebrating the sacrament of Marriage, indicate they are willing to honour this blessing, with the grace of Christ, for all their life. The Church, for her part, solemnly commits to caring for the family that is thus born, as a gift from God for her own life, in good times and bad: the bond between the Church and the family is sacred and inviolable. The Church, as a mother, never abandons her family, even when it is debased, hurt and humiliated in many ways. Not even when it gives in to sin or drifts away from the Church; she will always do everything to seek to cure and heal it, to invite it to convert and be reconciled with the Lord”.
If this is her task, the Pontiff observed, then it appears clear how much prayer the Church needs in order to be able to carry out this mission. “A prayer full of love for the family and for life. A prayer that knows how to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to suffer with those who suffer”. The Holy Father explained that he and his collaborators had decided to propose a renewal of the prayer for the Synod of Bishops on the family, and asked all present to continue to recite it until October, when the Synod assembly dedicated to the family is due to take place.
“I would like this prayer, like the entire Synod path, to be inspired by the Good Shepherd's compassion for his flock, especially for those people and families who for various reasons are 'harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd'. In this way, supported and inspired by the grace of God, the Church will be able to be even more committed, and even more united, in her witness of the truth of God's love and His mercy for the world's families, without exception, both inside and outside the fold”.
“I ask you, please, to ensure that your prayer is not lacking. All of us – the Pope, cardinals, bishops, priests, men and women religious – we must all pray for the Synod. We need this, not chatter! I encourage even those who feel distant to pray too, and those who are not used to doing so. This prayer for the Synod on the family is for the good of all of us. I know that this morning an image has been given to you, which you now hold in your hands. I invite you to keep it and carry it with you always, so that over the coming months you can recite the prayer often, with holy insistence, as Jesus asked us. Now, let us pray together:
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
In you we contemplate
The splendour of true love,
We turn to you with confidence.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
Make our families, also,
Places of communion and cenacles of prayer,
Authentic schools of the Gospel,
And little domestic Churches.
Holy Family of Nazareth
May our families never more experience
Violence, isolation, and division:
May anyone who was wounded or scandalised
Rapidly experience consolation and healing.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
May the upcoming Synod of Bishops
Re-awaken in all an awareness
Of the sacred character and inviolability of the family,
Its beauty in the project of God.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Hear and answer our prayer. Amen”.
Bringing bread to the table is a matter of dignity
Vatican City, 25 March 2015 (VIS) – At the end of today's general audience, the Pope greeted those present in various languages. In Italian he addressed a group of workers from the province of Vibo Valentia, in the Calabria region, which is currently experiencing a situation of economic crisis.
“I express my concern and closeness to your persistent problems. I make a heartfelt appeal that the logic of profit may not prevail over that of solidarity and justice. At the centre of every issue, especially in relation to work, there must always be the human person and his or her dignity. Being unable to bring bread to the table means losing one's dignity. This is the crisis of our time, especially for the young who, without work, have no prospects for the future and may become easy prey to criminal organisations”.
Condolences following the air disaster in France
Vatican City, 25 March 2015 (VIS) – Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a telegram of condolences to Bishop Jean-Philippe Nault, France, on behalf of the Holy Father following the air crash that occurred in the area yesterday, in which all 150 passengers and crew were killed.
“Upon learning of the tragic air accident that occurred in the region of Digne, claiming numerous victims, including many schoolchildren, His Holiness Pope Francis participates in the suffering of the families, expressing his closeness in prayer. He prays for the eternal repose of the departed, commending them to God's mercy, so that He might welcome them into his house of peace and light. He expresses his profound sympathy for all those affected by the tragedy, and for the rescuers who have to intervene in such difficult conditions. The Holy Father asks the Lord to bring strength and consolation to all and, as a pledge of solace, invokes divine blessings in abundance”.
Programme of the Holy Father's visit to Turin
Vatican City, 25 March 2015 (VIS) – On Sunday 21 June the Pope will visit Turin. Francis will arrive in the Italian city at 8 a.m. and, half an hour later, will meet with representatives of the world of work in the Piazzetta Reale. From there, he will move on to the Cathedral where he will pray before the Holy Shroud and before the altar of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. At 10.45 a.m. he will celebrate the Eucharist in Piazza Vittorio and will recite the Sunday Angelus prayer.
Following Mass, the Pope will proceed to the Archbishop's residence to lunch with young detainees from the “Ferrante Aporti” penitentiary for minors, several immigrants and homeless people, and a Rom family.
At 2.40 p.m. he will visit the Sanctuary of the Consolata, where he will withdraw for a few minutes in private prayer. At 3 p.m., in the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians, where he will meet with Salesians and the Daughters of Our Lady Help of Christians. An hour later, in the Church of Cottolengo, he will meet with the sick and disabled.
Back in Piazza Vittorio, at 6 p.m., he will meet with young people of the city, after which he will retire to the archbishop's residence.
On Monday 22, at 9 a.m., he will visit the Valdese Temple. Upon returning to the archbishop's residence, where he will meet privately with some of his relatives. He will celebrate a Holy Mass with them in the Chapel and will lunch with them. Before his departure from “Torino Caselle” airport, he will pay a short visit to the members of the Committee of the Shroud, the organisers and supporters of his visit.
The exhibition of the Holy Shroud of Turin
Vatican City, 25 March 2015 (VIS) – This morning a press conference was held in the Holy See Press Office to present the upcoming exhibition of the Holy Shroud of Turin (Turin, 19 April – 24 June 2015), on the occasion of the second centenary of the birth of St. John Bosco, which will be specially dedicated to the young and to those who suffer. The Pope will also make a pilgrimage to Turin from 21 to 22 June.
The speakers at the conference were the archbishop of Turin, Cesare Nosaglia, papal guardian of the Shroud; Elide Tisi, mayor of the city; Roberto Gottardo, president of the diocesan commission for the Shroud; and Rev. Luca Ramello, director of youth pastoral ministry for the diocese.
Archbishop Nosaglia explained that the Shroud represents, for the Universal Church, a point of reference of the first order for the life of the faith of many people and communities, who in this image recognise the signs of the Lord's passion, of Jesus who “inspires our lives and challenges us to fully realise our deepest vocation. Therefore”, he added “the theme I have chosen for the next exhibition is 'The Greatest Love': the gift of salvation which is made visible in our response, the worship of God and service to our brothers”.
“The Pope's trip, like the exhibition as a whole, is also intended to give thanks for 'the Saint of youth', and for the service that the Salesian family carries out in Turin and throughout the world in the fields of education, mission, sport and communication. … The world of youth is particularly involved in the Salesian mission, and during the Pope's visit there will be a sort of mini Youth Day, a series of meetings, encounters, prayer, moments of celebration that help resume contact with the young. An extraordinary sign will be the presence of the Word Youth Day Cross, which will make a stop in Turin during its journey to Krakow”.
Another peculiarity of this exhibition is attention to the world of those who suffer, and therefore this year sick or disabled pilgrims and those who accompany them will be able to benefit from new hospitality structures based on the model of the “Accueil” in Lourdes. It is also hoped that the Pilgrimage to the Shroud will offer an opportunity to partake in the sacrament of Reconciliation, as a “concrete sign of forgiveness” and, as on previous occasions, “in various places priests will hear the confessions of the faithful in all the world's major languages”.
The prelate emphasised that the 2015 exhibition has been organised according to the criterion of austerity, in a period of severe economic and social crisis throughout the area, and he thanked those entities that have offered their cooperation to help limit costs as far as possible. He also announced that during the display of the Shroud, Beato Angelico's celebrated “Lamentation over the Dead Christ” will be exhibited in the diocesan museum, on loan for the occasion from the city of Florence.
“As you are aware, visiting the Shroud is completely free. Traditionally many pilgrims at the leave a simple offering at the end of their journey, deposited with full discretion at the exit of the Cathedral and in the places of confession. On this occasion all the offerings will be given to the Pope when he is with us in Turin on 21 June. We will ask him to use them, naturally with full freedom, for a work, or a project to assist the poorest or neediest”.
Members and substitutes for the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
Vatican City, 25 March 2015 (VIS) – The following is a list of the members and substitutes appointed by the competent entities and ratified by the Holy Father on 17 March.
A) Episcopal Conferences
NORTH AFRICA (C.E.R.N.A.)
Member: Bishop Jean-Paul Vesco, O.P., of Oran, Algeria
Substitute: Archbishop Santiago Agrelo Martinez, O.F.M., of Tangier, Morocco
BOTSWANA, SOUTH AFRICA and SWAZILAND
Members: Archbishop Stephen Brislin, of Cape Town, Kaapstad, president of the Episcopal Conference, South Africa
Bishop Zolile Peter Mpambani, S.C.I., of Kokstad, South Africa
Substitutes: Bishop Dabula Anton Mpako of Queenstown, South Africa
Bishop Jan De Groef, M. Afr., of Bethlehem, South Africa
BURKINA FASO and NIGER
Member: Bishop Joseph Sama of Nouna, Burkina Faso
Substitute: Archbishop Djalwana Laurent Lompo of Niamey, Niger
CHAD
Member: Bishop Henri Coudray, S.J., apostolic vicar of Mongo
Substitute: Bishop Joachim Kouraleyo Tarounga of Moundou
CONGO (Democratic Republic)
Members: Bishop Nicolas Djomo Lola of Tshumbe, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Philibert Tembo Nlandu, C.I.C.M., of Budjala
Substitute: Bishop Joseph Banga Bane of Buta
GUINEA
Member: Archbishop Vincent Coulibaly of Conakry
Substitute: Bishop Raphael Balla Guilavogui of N'Zerekore
LESOTHO
Member: Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, O.M.I., of Maseru, president of the Episcopal Conference
Substitute: Bishop Augustinus Tumaole Bane, O.M.I., of Leribe
LIBERIA
Member: Bishop Anthony Fallah Borwah of Gbarnga
Substitute: Bishop Andrew Jagaye Karnley of Cape Palmas
MALI
Member: Bishop Jonas Dembele of Kayes
Substitute: Archbishop Jean Zerbo of Bamako
MOZAMBIQUE
Member: Archbishop Francisco Chimoio, O.F.M. Cap., of Maputo
Substitute: Bishop Adriano Langa, O.F.M., of Inhambane
NAMIBIA
Member: Bishop Philipp Pollitzer, O.M.I., of Keetmanshoop
Substitute: Bishop Joseph Shipandeni Shikongo, O.M.I., apostolic vicar of Rundu
NIGERIA
Members: Archbishop Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso of Kaduna
Bishop Camillus Raymond Umoh of Ikot Ekpene
Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade of Ondo
Substitutes: Bishop Hilary Paul Odili Okeke of Nnewi
Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Jos, president of the Episcopal Conference
TOGO
Member: Bishop Jacques Danka Longa of Kara
Substitute: Bishop Benoit Comlan Messan Alowonou of Kpalime
UGANDA
Members: Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana, Vice president of the Episcopal Conference
Substitutes: Bishop Lambert Bainomugisha, auxiliary of Mbarara
Bishop Sanctus Lino WANOK of Nebbi
AMERICA
ANTILLES
Member: Bishop Francis Alleyne, O.S.B., of Georgetown, Co-operative Republic of Guiana
Substitute: Bishop Emmanuel Lafont of Cayenne, French Guiana
BOLIVIA
Members: Bishop Braulio Saez Garcia, O.C.D., auxiliary of Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Bishop Krzysztof Janusz Bialasik Wawrowska, S.V.D., of Oruro
Substitute: Bishop Aurelio Pesoa Ribera, O.F.M., auxiliary La Paz
GUATEMALA
Member: Bishop Rodolfo Valenzuela Nunez of Vera Paz, Coban, president of the Episcopal Conference
Substitute: Bishop Gonzalo De Villa y Vasquez, S.J., of Solola-Chimaltenango
HAITI
Member: Bishop Yves-Marie Pean, C.S.C., of Les Gonaives
Substitute: Archbishop Max Leroy Mesidor of Cap-Haitien
NICARAGUA
Member: Bishop Cesar Bosco Vivas Robelo of Leon en Nicaragua
Substitute: Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata Guevara, S.D.B., of Esteli
PANAMA
Member: Bishop AnÃbal Saldana Santamaria, O.A.R., prelate of Bocas del Toro
Substitute: Cardinal Jose Luis Lacunza Maestrojuan, O.A.R., bishop of David, president of the Episcopal Conference
PERU
Members: Archbishop Salvador Pineiro Garcia-Calderon of Ayacucho, president of the Episcopal Conference
Archbishop Hector Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, O.F.M., of Trujillo
Substitute: Archbishop Jose Antonio Eguren Anselmi, S.C.V., of Piura
VENEZUELA
Members: Cardinal Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino, archbishop of Caracas
Archbishop Diego Rafael Padron Sanchez of Cumana, president of the Episcopal Conference
Substitutes: Bishop Fernando Jose Castro Aguayo, auxiliary of Caracas, Santiago de Venezuela
Bishop Rafael Ramon Conde Alfonzo of Maracay
ASIA
CHINA
Member: Bishop John Baptist Lee Keh-Mien of Hsinchu
Substitute: Bishop Thomas Chung An-Zu of Kiayi
PHILIPPINES
Members: Archbishop Romulo G. Valles of Davao
Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Cebu
Bishop Gilbert A. Garcera of Daet
Substitutes: Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David, auxiliary of San Fernando
Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., of Cagayan de Oro
INDONESIA
Members: Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, president of the Episcopal Conference, military ordinary for Indonesia
Bishop Fransiskus Kopong Kung of Larantuka
Substitute: Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar, O.F.M., of Jayapura
KAZAKHSTAN
Member: Archbishop Tomash Bernard Peta, of Mary Most Holy in Astana, president of the Episcopal Conference
Substitute: Athanasius Schneider, O.R.C., auxiliary of Mary Most Holy in Astana
LAOS and CAMBODIA
Member: Bishop Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, apostolic vicar of Pakse, Laos
Substitute: Olivier Michel Marie Schmitthaeusler, M.E.P., apostolic vicar of Phnom-Penh, Cambodia, president of the Episcopal Conference
MALAYSIA - SINGAPORE - BRUNEI
Member: Archbishop John Wong Soo Kau of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Substitute: Bishop Sebastian Francis of Penang, Malaysia
MYANMAR
Member: Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., archbishop of Yangon
Substitute: Bishop Felix Lian Khen Thang of Kalay
ARAB STATES (C.E.L.R.A.)
Member: His Beatitude Fouad TWAL, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, president of the Episcopal Conference
Substitute: Archbishop Maroun Elias Lahham, auxiliary and patriarchal vicar for Jerusalem of the Latins for Jordan
EUROPE
BELARUS
Member: Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Minsk-Mohilev
Substitute: Bishop Antoni Dziemianko of Pinsk
CROATIA
Member: Bishop Valter Zupan, emeritus of Krk, president of the Council of the Croation Episcopal Conference for the Family and Life
Substitute: Bishop Antun Skvorcevic of Pozega
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Member: Archbishop Paolo Pezzi, F.S.C.B., of Mother of God in Moscow, president of the Episcopal Conference
Substitute: Bishop Joseph Werth, S.J., of Transfiguration in Novosibirsk
GERMANY
Members: Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munchen und Freising
Bishop Heiner Koch of Dresden-Meissen
Bishop Franz-Josef Hermann Bode of Osnabruck
Substitutes: Bishop Karl-Heinz Wiesemann of Speyer
Bishop Wilfried Theising, auxiliary of Munster
GREAT BRITAIN (SCOTLAND)
Member: Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, president of the Episcopal Conference of Scotland
Substitute: Bishop John Keenan of Paisley
PORTUGAL
Members: Cardinal Manuel Jose Macario Do Nascimento Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon, president of the Episcopal Conference
Bishop Antonino Eugenio Fernandes Dias of Portalegre-Castelo Branco, president of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity and the Family
Substitute: Bishop Antonio Augusto Dos Santos Marto of Leiria-Fatima, vice president of the Episcopal Conference
CZECH REPUBLIC
Member: Bishop Jan Vokal of Hradec Kralove
Substitute: Bishop Ladislav Hucko, apostolic exarch for Catholic of Byznantine rite in the Czech Republic
SWITZERLAND
Member: Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey, C.R.B., of Sion, Sitten
Substitute: Bishop Valerio Lazzeri of Lugano
B) “Sui Iuris” Oriental Catholic Churches
Synod of the Syro-Malabar Churches
Members:Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Palai of the Syro-Malabars, India
Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur of the Syro-Malabars, India
Substitutes: Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad of the Syro-Malabars, India
Bishop Thomas Elavanal, M.C.B.S., of Kalyan of the Syro-Malabars, India
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