SUMMARY:
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General audience: the complementarity between man and woman
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Pope's telegram for the death of Cardinal Roberto Tucci, S.J.
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Ninth meeting of the Council of Cardinals
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Other Pontifical Acts
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General
audience: the complementarity between man and woman
Vatican
City, 15 April 2015 (VIS) – Pope Francis continued his catechesis
on the family by dedicating this morning's general audience to the
difference and complementarity between man and woman, recalling first
of all that the Book of Genesis insists that both are the image and
semblance of God. “Not only man as such, not only woman as such,
but rather man and woman, as a couple, are the image of God. The
difference between them is not a question of contrast or
subordination, but instead of communion and generation, always in the
image and semblance of God”.
“Experience
teaches us that for the human being to know him- or herself well and
to grow harmoniously, there is a need for reciprocity between man and
woman”, said the Pope to the thirty thousand faithful present in
St. Peter's Square. “When this does not happen, we see the
consequences. We are made to listen to each other and to help each
other. We can say that, without mutual enrichment in this
relationship – in terms of thought and action, in personal
relationships and in work, and also in faith – the two cannot even
fully understand what it means to be a man and a woman”.
“Modern
and contemporary culture has opened up new spaces, new freedoms and
new depths for the enrichment and understanding of this difference.
But it has also introduced many doubts and much scepticism. I wonder,
for example, if so-called gender theory is not an expression of
frustration and resignation, that aims to cancel out sexual
difference as it is no longer able to face it. Yes, we run the risk
of taking step backwards. Indeed, the removal of difference is the
problem, not the solution. To solve their problems in relating to
each other, men and women must instead speak more, listen more, know
each other better, value each other more. They must treat each other
with respect and cooperate in friendship. With these human bases,
supported by God's grace, it is possible to plan a lifelong
matrimonial and family union. The marriage and family bond is a
serious matter for all, not only for believers. I would like to
encourage intellectuals not to ignore this theme, as if it were
secondary to our efforts to promote a freer and more just society”.
“God
has entrusted the earth to the alliance between man and woman; its
failure makes our emotional life arid and obscures the heaven of
hope. The signs are already worrying, and we can see them. I would
like to indicate due points, among many, that I believe must concern
us with greater urgency”.
“Undoubtedly
we must do far more in favour of women, if we want to strengthen to
the reciprocity between men and women. Indeed, it is necessary for a
woman not only to be listened to, but also for her voice to carry
real weight, recognised authority, in society and in the Church. The
way in which Jesus Himself regarded women, in a context that was far
less favourable than our own, casts a powerful light illuminating a
road that takes us far, on which we have travelled only a short
distance. It is a road we must travel with more creativity and
boldness”.
He
added, “a second point relates to the theme of man and woman
created in God's image. I wonder if the crisis of collective trust in
God, that is so harmful to us, that causes us to ail with resignation
to incredulity and cynicism, is not also connected to the crisis in
the alliance between man and woman. In effect, the biblical account,
with the great symbolic fresco of earthly paradise and original sin,
tells us precisely that communion with God is reflected in the
communion of the human couple, and the loss of trust in the heavenly
Father generates division and conflict between man and woman”.
“This
leads to the great responsibility of the Church, of all believers,
and above all of Christian families, to rediscover the beauty of the
Creator's plan that inscribes the image of God also in the alliance
between man and woman. The earth is filled with harmony and trust
when the alliance between man and woman is lived well. And if men and
women seek this together between them and with God, without doubt
they will find it. Jesus explicitly encourages us to bear witness to
this beauty, which is the image of God”, concluded the Pontiff.
Pope's
telegram for the death of Cardinal Roberto Tucci, S.J.
Vatican
City, 15 April 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father has sent a telegram of
condolences to Fr. Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, superior general of the
Society of Jesus, for the death of Cardinal Roberto Tucci, S.J.,
yesterday afternoon in Rome at the age of 93.
In
the text, the Pope expresses his heartfelt condolences and recalls
with gratitude the prelate's valuable service over several decades as
director of “Civilta Cattolica”, expert at Vatican Council II,
director general of Vatican Radio and in particular as coordinator of
papal trips outside Italy. “He leaves us with the memory of an
industrious and dynamic life, spent in the coherent and generous
fulfilment of his vocation as a religious man mindful of the needs of
others, and a pastor faithful to the Gospel and to the Church,
following the example of St. Ignatius. I raise fervent prayers that
the Lord might receive him in joy and eternal peace, and I offer you
and to your Jesuit brethren the consolation of my apostolic blessing,
the sign of my intense participation in our sorrow”.
Ninth
meeting of the Council of Cardinals
Vatican
City, 15 April 2015 (VIS) – The ninth meeting of the Council of
Cardinals (C9), which began on 13 April, was brought to a close this
afternoon, according to a briefing by the director of the Holy See
Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J.
The
Council of Cardinals dedicated the majority its work regarding reform
of the Roman Curia to two aspects: reflections on the methodologies
to be followed for work during 2015 and 2016 in order to be able to
effectively accomplish the task of preparing the new Constitution,
and a rereading of the interventions by the Cardinals in relation to
reform of the Curia made during the recent Consistory (there were
over sixty interventions on this theme with useful indications and
cues, both for the prologue of the constitution and for specific
aspects of reform).
The
orientation towards the constitution of two dicasteries – one
competent in fields of charity, justice and peace, the other
regarding the laity, families and life – would appear to be
confirmed.
The
Council also focused on the issue of the reorganisation of Vatican
media, following the submission of the final report of the Commission
presided over by Lord Chris Patten.
It
is expected that the Pope will constitute a Commission to consider
how the recommendations of the report can be put into practice. This
body will also include members of the Patten Commission, to ensure
continuity.
Finally,
Cardinal O'Malley, president of the new Commission for the Protection
of Minors, under the auspices of the same Commission, has proposed
that the Pope and the Council consider the theme of “Accountability”
with regard to the protection of minors, in order to establish
appropriate procedures and methods for evaluating and judging cases
of “abuse of office” in this area, especially on the part of
persons holding responsibility within the Church.
Further
meetings of the Council of Cardinals are scheduled to take place from
8 to 10 June, 14 to 16 September and 10 to 12 December 2015.
Other
Pontifical Acts
Vatican
City, 15 April 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed:
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Bishop Wilson Luis Angotti Filho, auxiliary of the archdiocese of
Belo Horizonte, Brazil, as bishop of Taubate (area 4,534, population
692,000, Catholics 592,000, priests 123, permanent deacons 55,
religious 433), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Carmo Joao Rhoden, S.C.I.,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon
reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
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Msgr. Oriolo dos Santos as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Belo
Horizonte (area 7,222, population 4,785,000, Catholics 3,350,000,
priests 771, permanent deacons 16, religious 2,465), Brazil. The
bishop-elect was born in Itajuba, Brazil in 1964 and was ordained a
priest in 1990. He holds degrees in philosophy from the University of
Campinas and in marking and strategic personnel management from the
“Gama Filho” University in Rio de Janeiro. He has served in a
number of pastoral roles in the archdiocese of Pouso Alegre,
including parish vicar, parish priest, canon of the metropolitan
chapter, episcopal vicar for the administration of the Sacrament of
Confirmation, promotor of justice of the ecclesiastical tribunal, and
professor of philosophy at the archdiocesan seminary. He is currently
parish priest of the Cathedral of Pouso Alegre.
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