SUMMARY:
- VATICAN
POST ISSUES COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE FOR CHRISTMAS 2012
- WORD OF
GOD - THE LIGHT THAT LEADS TO JUSTICE AND PEACE
- OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
______________________________________
VATICAN
POST ISSUES COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE FOR CHRISTMAS 2012
Vatican
City, 11 December 2012 (VIS) - A note released today by the
Governorate of Vatican City State announces the issue of the
traditional commemorative envelope for Christmas 2012.
On the
left side of the envelope there is a reproduction of the "Nativity
and journey of the Three Kings", in tempera and gold leaf on
board, of the Marchigian School (mid 15th century), on display in the
Vatican Museums Picture Gallery.
The 60
cent stamp from the "Christmas 2012" series, issued on 6
November 2012, is franked with the special postmark in use on
Christmas Day. The postmark is completed with the Latin phrase
"Christus Natus est Alleluia" and the inscription "POSTE
VATICANE. 25.12.2012". The serial code PV/78 is printed the back
of the envelope in the lower right corner.
The
commemorative envelope costs 3.50 Euros, or five Euros in a
protective portfolio.
WORD
OF GOD - THE LIGHT THAT LEADS TO JUSTICE AND PEACE
Vatican
City, 11 December 2012 (VIS) - The secretary of the World Council of
Churches (WCC), Olav Fykse Tveit, has addressed a traditional
Christmas message to the faithful of the 349 communities that form
this ecumenical fellowship. The text opens with two Biblical
citations, the first from the Prophet Isaiah: "a bruised reed he
will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will
faithfully bring forth justice", and the second from the Gospel
of St. John: "What has come into being in him was life, and the
life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it".
"What
the Word has brought into being is life, and the life is the light of
all people", writes Tveit. "In the coming year, the World
Council of Churches will focus its witness and work around a simple
prayer which serves as the theme of our tenth Assembly: 'God of life,
lead us to justice and peace'".
This
prayer will also be the theme of the tenth General Assembly of the
WCC, which will take place in Busan, South Korea, from 30 October to
8 November 2013. The programme covers "five dimensions of being
the church together in the world today – koinonia (one faith and
fellowship in Christ), martyria (witness in the world), diakonia
(serving justice and peace), ecumenical formation (for leadership)
and inter-religious cooperation (a common context)".
"In
the seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, we are particularly
aware of God’s gift of light revealed in the eternal Word who
became flesh, and who dwells among us even now. This is the light
that gives us hope for this present world in spite of disunity,
abuse, hatred, violence, poverty, greed and corruption. Christ’s
light is the lamp for our feet that shows us the way toward justice
and peace. Even when our own wicks burn dimly, the Word of God
withstands the darkness, faithfully bringing forth justice on our
common way toward peace", concludes the secretary of the World
Council of Churches.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 11 December 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:
- Daniela
Leggio, official of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated
Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as head officer of the same
dicastery.
-
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, currently apostolic nuncio in
Guatemala, as apostolic nuncio in Australia.
You
can find more information at: www.visnews.org
The
news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used,
in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S.
-Vatican Information Service.
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