SUMMARY:
- FAITH
MEANS BELIEVING IN THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH REDEEMS US FROM SLAVERY
-
CONSISTORY FOR THE CREATION OF SIX NEW CARDINALS
-
AGREEMENT BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND LITHUANIA COMES INTO FORCE
- OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
______________________________________
FAITH
MEANS BELIEVING IN THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH REDEEMS US FROM SLAVERY
Vatican
City, 24 October 2012 (VIS) - The faith, its meaning and significance
in the modern world, were the main themes of Benedict XVI's
catechesis during his weekly general audience held this morning in
St. Peter's Square. "In our time", the Pope said, "we
need a renewed education in the faith. Certainly this must include a
knowledge of its truths and of the events of salvation, but above all
it must arise from an authentic encounter with God in Jesus Christ".
"Today,
along with many signs of goodness, a spiritual desert is spreading
around us. ... Even the ideas of progress and well-being are
revealing their shadows and, despite the great discoveries of science
and progress of technology, mankind today does not seem to have
become freer. ... Many forms of exploitation, violence and injustice
persist. ... Moreover, there are growing numbers of people who seem
disorientated and who, in their search to go beyond a purely
horizontal vision of reality, are ready to believe everything and the
opposite of everything. In this context, certain fundamental
questions arise: ... What meaning does life have? Do men and women,
we and coming generations, have a future? What awaits us beyond the
threshold of death?"
From
these questions, the Pope explained, it is clear that "scientific
knowledge, though important for the life of man, is not of itself
enough. We need not only material bread, we need love, meaning and
hope. We need a sure foundation ... which gives our lives true
significance even in moments of crisis and darkness, even in daily
difficulties. This is what the faith gives us. It means entrusting
ourselves confidently to the 'You? that is God, the which gives me
certainty: a certainty different but no less solid than that which
comes from exact calculations and science. The faith is not a mere
intellectual assent on man's part to the specific truths about God,
it is an act by which I freely entrust myself to God Who is a Father
and Who loves me, ... Who gives me hope and inspires my trust.
"Of
course", the Pope added, "such adherence to God is not
without content. Through it we are aware that God showed Himself to
us in Christ. ... With the mystery of the death and resurrection of
Christ, God descended to the depths of our human condition in order
to draw it to Himself, to raise it to His heights. Faith means
believing in this love of God, which does not diminish in the face of
the corruption of man, in the face of evil and death; on the
contrary, it is capable of transforming all forms of slavery, giving
them the possibility of salvation".
"This
possibility of salvation through faith is a gift which God gives to
all mankind. I believe we should meditate more often - during our
daily lives often marked by problems and dramatic situations - on the
fact that Christian belief means abandoning oneself trustingly to the
profound meaning which upholds me and the world, the meaning which we
cannot give to ourselves but only receive as a gift, and which is the
foundation upon which we can live without fear. We must be capable of
announcing this liberating and reassuring certainty of the faith with
words, and showing it with our Christian lives".
"Underpinning
our journey of faith is Baptism, the Sacrament which gives us the
Holy Spirit, makes us children of God in Christ, and marks our entry
into the community of faith, into the Church. A person does not
believe alone, without God's grace, nor do we believe by ourselves,
but together with our brothers and sisters. From Baptism on all
believers are called to re-live this confession of the faith and to
make it their own, together with their brethren".
The Holy
Father concluded: "The faith is a gift of God but it is also a
profoundly free and human act. ... It does not run counter to our
freedom or our reason. ... Believing means entrusting oneself in all
freedom and joy to God's providential plan for history, as did the
Patriarch Abraham, as did Mary of Nazareth".
In his
greetings at the end of his audience, the Pope recalled how "last
Monday we celebrated the memory of Blessed John Paul II, who remains
alive among us". In this context, he invited young people "to
learn to face life with his ardour and enthusiasm", and the sick
"to carry the cross of suffering joyfully, as he himself taught
us".
CONSISTORY
FOR THE CREATION OF SIX NEW CARDINALS
Vatican
City, 24 October 2012 (VIS) - At the end of his general audience
today, the Pope announced that he has called a consistory to take
place on 24 November, during which he will appoint six new cardinals.
"It
is with great joy", he said, "that I announce my intention
to hold a consistory on 24 November, in which I will appoint six new
members of the College of Cardinals. Cardinals have the task of
helping Peter's Successor carry out his mission to confirm people in
the faith and to be the source and foundation of the Church's unity
and communion".
The Holy
Father then read out the names of the new cardinals. They are:
-
Archbishop James Michael Harvey, prefect of the Pontifical Household
who, Benedict XVI said, "I intend to appoint as archpriest of
the papal basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls".
- His
Beatitude Bechara Boutros Rai, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites,
Lebanon.
- His
Beatitude Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, major archbishop of Trivandrum
of the Syro-Malankars, India.
-
Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria.
-
Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez of Bogota, Colombia.
-
Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle of Manila, Philippines.
"As
you have heard", the Pope concluded, "the new cardinals
carry out their ministry at the service of the Holy See or as fathers
and pastors of particular Churches in various parts of the world. I
invite everyone to pray for them, asking for the maternal
intercession of the Blessed Virgin May that they may always love
Christ and His Church with courage and commitment".
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND LITHUANIA COMES INTO FORCE
Vatican
City, 24 October 2012 (VIS) - The Holy See and the Republic of
Lithuania have, by means of "notes verbale", given
notification of the completion of the procedures required to bring
into force the Agreement on the Recognition of Qualifications
concerning Higher Education, which was signed in Vilnius on 8 June.
In this
way the Agreement, which establishes rules, procedures and
instruments guaranteeing the recognition of higher education, came
into effect on 23 October, pursuant to its own article 8 paragraph 2.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 24 October 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Cardinal
Francesco Monterisi as a member of the Congregation for Bishops.
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