Showing posts with label Under the Roman Sky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Under the Roman Sky. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

News Vatican Information Service 09/04/2012



SUMMARY:

- MESSAGE OF THE POPE FOR THE FUNERAL OF CARDINAL MARTINI
- ACTIVITIES OF POPE BENEDICT XVI IN AUGUST
- HOLY SEE-RELATED ACTIVITY IN AUGUST
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
- IN MEMORIAM
______________________________________

MESSAGE OF THE POPE FOR THE FUNERAL OF CARDINAL MARTINI

Vatican City, 4 September 2012 (VIS) - The Pope has sent a message to the archdiocese of Milan, the Society of Jesus, the relatives of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, and "all those who loved and esteemed (him) and have chosen to accompany him on his final journey". The message was read out during the funeral of the late cardinal, archbishop emeritus of Milan, Italy, by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the Pope's special envoy to the event.

"'Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path'. The Psalmist's words encapsulate the entire existence of this generous and faithful pastor of the Church. He lived as a man of God, who not only studied Sacred Scripture but loved it intensely, making it the light of his life that all things might be 'ad maiorem Dei gloriam', for the greater glory of God. It was for this reason that he was able to teach believers and seekers after truth that the only word worthy to listen to, accept and follow is that of God, because it leads everyone along the path of truth and love. He lived with great openness of heart, never rejecting encounter and dialogue with anyone, and giving a concrete response to the Apostle’s invitation always 'to be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope'. He lived with a spirit of profound pastoral charity, in keeping with his own episcopal motto of 'Pro veritate adversa diligere', attentive to all situations especially the most difficult, and lovingly close to the lost, the poor and the suffering".

"May the Lord, who guided Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini throughout his life, receive this tireless servant of the Gospel and of the Church in the heavenly Jerusalem".

ACTIVITIES OF POPE BENEDICT XVI IN AUGUST

Vatican City, 4 September 2012 (VIS) - Following is a list of Pope Benedict's activities during the month of August. It includes the Angelus, general and private audiences, other pontifical acts, letters, messages, telegrams and other news. The activities are presented in chronological order under their respective headings.

ANGELUS

- 5: The Pope explains that Jesus, the true Bread of Life Who satisfies our hunger for meaning, cannot be "achieved" through human efforts, He comes to us only as a gift of God which we must ask and accept.

- 12: Continuing his comments on the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, the Holy Father affirms that Christ invites people who have satisfied their physical hunger to seek the Bread which satisfies the hunger for eternal life.

- 15: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is the full realisation, in her, of the Paschal Mystery of Christ. In Mary we contemplate the reality of the glory to which all of us are called.

- 19: Benedict XVI invites the faithful to discover the beauty of the Eucharist, which is an expression of the humility and sanctity of God. God becomes a small fragment of the universe in order to reconcile everyone in His love.

- 26: Recalling the fact that many disciples abandoned Jesus in Capernaum when He affirmed that He was the Bread of Life, the Pope recalls how our life is oriented by the decisions we make, and he asks Go to help us better discern the path.

WEDNESDAY GENERAL AUDIENCES

- 1: The Pope focuses his catechesis on the prayer of St. Alphonsus Maria of Liguori, bishop and Doctor of the Church whose liturgical memory falls today.

- 8: The Holy Father tells the faithful that St. Dominic de Guzman, priest and founder of the Order of Friars Preachers, reminds us that prayer lies at the foundation of the witness of faith, which all Christians must show at home, in the workplace and in their social life.

- 22: On today's feast of the Blessed Virgin, Queen of Heaven, the Pope affirms that Mary participates in Christ's own regality, which is service and love.

- 30: The Pope tells the faithful that St. John the Baptist, prophet and martyr, reminds the Christians of our time that they must accept no compromise in their love for Christ, for His Word and for Truth.

MESSAGES AND TELEGRAMS

- 3: Benedict XVI sends a message to Kojun Handa, supreme priest of the Buddhist Temple of Mount Hiei, Japan, to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Inter-religious Meeting of Prayer for Peace in the World.

- 6: Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sends a message, in the name of the Holy Father, to the Knights of Columbus for their 130th Supreme Convention, being held in Anaheim, U.S.A.

- 17: The Holy Father sends a telegram of condolence for the death of His Holiness Abuna Paulos, patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia.

- 19: The Pope sends a message to the twenty-third Meeting for Friendship among Peoples, being held in Rimini, Italy, from 19 to 25 August on the theme: "By Nature, Man is Relation to the Infinite".

- 22: Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sends a telegram of condolence, in the name of the Holy Father, to Girma Wolde-Giorgis, president of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, for the sudden death of Meles Zenawi, prime minister of that country.

- 23: The Holy Father sends a message to the sixth Ordinary Assembly of the International Forum of Catholic Action, being held in the Romanian city of Iasi from 22 to 26 August.

- 23: The Pope sends a telegram of condolence for the death of Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi S.J., bishop emeritus of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

- 28: Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sends a telegram of condolence, in the name of the Holy Father, to Archbishop Diego Rafael Padron Sanchez, president of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference, for the death of many people in an explosion at an oil refinery in the town of Amuay.

- 31: The Pope sends a telegram of condolence to Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, Italy, for the death of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini S.J., archbishop emeritus of the same see.

OTHER NEWS

- 4: The Pope attends a "Bavarian homage" at Castelgandolfo. The event, intended to mark his eighty-fifth birthday, was organised by representatives from the archdiocese of Munich and Friesing, Germany, on pilgrimage to Rome from 1 to 4 August.

- 11: Caritas of Regensburg, Germany, which is currently celebrating ninety years of activity, organises a concert by Thomas Beckmann in honour of the Pope at Castelgandolfo.

- 15: For the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin, the Pope celebrates Mass and pronounces a homily in the parish church of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castelgandolfo.

- 27: Mario Monti, prime minister of Italy, is received by Benedict XVI in private audience.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

- 1: Appointment of Fr. Paul Bird C.Ss.R. as bishop of the diocese of Ballarat, Australia. He succeeds Bishop Peter Joseph Conners, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit. Appointment of Bishop Tarcisio Nascentes dos Santos of Divinopolis, Brazil, as bishop of Duque de Caixas, Brazil.

- 2: Appointment of Bishop Sigifredo Noriega Barcelo of Ensenada, Mexico, as bishop of Zacatecas, Mexico.

- 4: Appointment of Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam, apostolic nuncio to Uganda, as apostolic nuncio to Thailand and Cambodia, and apostolic delegate to Myanmar and Laos. Appointment of Fr. Leonardo Sapienza S.C.I. as regent of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household. He succeeds Bishop Paolo De Nicolo, whose resignation from the same office the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- 8: Appointment of Bishop Manoel Delson Pedreira da Cruz O.F.M. Cap. of Caico, Brazil, as bishop of Campina Grande, Brazil.

- 9: Appointment of Bishop Jean-Yves Nahmias, auxiliary of Paris, France, as bishop of Meaux, France. He succeeds Bishop Albert-Marie de Monleon O.P., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- 11: Appointment of Cardinal Josef Tomko, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, as special papal envoy to celebrations marking the 600th anniversary of the archiepiscopal and metropolitan see of Lviv of the Latins, Ukraine, due to take place in Lviv, on 8 September.

- 17: Resignation of Bishop Paul Henry Walsh from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Rockville Centre, U.S.A., upon having reached the age limit.

- 18: Appointment of Bishop Francois-Xavier Le Van Hong, auxiliary of Hue, Vietnam, as metropolitan archbishop of the same archdiocese. He succeeds Archbishop Etienne Nguyen Nhu The, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit. Appointment of Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, apostolic nuncio to Australia, as apostolic nuncio to Israel and apostolic delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine.

- 24: The Holy Father gives his assent to the election carried out by the Synod of the Major Archiepiscopal Syro-Malabar Church of Fr. George Rajendran Kuttinadar S.D.B. as bishop of the eparchy of Thuckalay of the Syro-Malabars, India. He likewise gives his assent to the election of Fr. Jacob Muricken as auxiliary of the eparchy of Palai of the Syro-Malabars, India.

25: Appointment of Cardinal Raul Eduardo Vela Chiriboga, archbishop emeritus of Quito, Ecuador, as special papal envoy to celebrations marking the 475th anniversary of the first diocese of South America, now the archdiocese of Cuzco, Peru, due to take place from 24 to 28 October.

- 29: Resignation of Archbishop Luis Sainz Hinojosa O.F.M. from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Cochabamba, Brazil, upon having reached the age limit.

- 30: Resignation of Bishop Joseph Boishu from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Reims, France, in accordance with canons 411 and 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. Appointment of Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, apostolic nuncio to Israel and apostolic delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, also as apostolic nuncio to Cyprus.

- 31: Resignation of Bishop Michel Pollien from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Paris, France, upon having reached the age limit.

HOLY SEE-RELATED ACTIVITY IN AUGUST

Vatican City, 4 September 2012 (VIS) - Following is a chronological presentation of Holy See-related activities for the month of August:

- 2: The Holy See Press Office announces that Benedict XVI has completed the third volume of his work "Jesus of Nazareth", dedicated to the Lord's infancy.

- 3: Message to Muslims for the end of Ramdan, issued by the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue on the theme: "Educating young Christians and Muslims for justice and peace".

- 13: Following the leaking of confidential Vatican documents, Paolo Gabriele is sent for trial on charges of aggravated theft, and Claudio Sciarpelletti on charges of complicity.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 4 September 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Andrea Palmieri, official of Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, as under secretary of the same council.

IN MEMORIAM

Vatican City, 4 September 2012 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini S.J., archbishop emeritus of Milan, Italy, on 31 August at the age of 85.

- Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi S.J., bishop emeritus of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on 22 August at the age of 88.

- Bishop Paul Bassim O.C.D., former apostolic vicar of Beirut, Lebanon, on 21 August at the age of 89.

- Bishop Paul Ch'eng Shih-kuang, emeritus of Tainan, Taiwan, on 23 August at the age of 96.

- Bishop Maffeo Giovanni Ducoli. emeritus of Belluno-Feltre, Italy, on 28 August at the age of 93.

- Bishop Aurelio Granada Escudeiro, emeritus of Angra, Portugal, on 25 August at the age of 92.

- Bishop William Pascal Kikoti of Mpanda, Tanzania, on 28 August at the age of 55.

- Bishop Eduardo Koaik, emeritus of Piracicaba, Brazil, on 25 August at the age of 86.

- Bishop Herve.Marie Le Cleac'h SS.CC., emeritus of Taiohae or Tefenuaenata, Marquises Islands, French Polynesia, on 14 August at the age of 97.

- Bishop Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu O.S.M. of Manzini, Swaziland, on 27 August at the age of 67.

- Bishop Riccardo Ruotolo, former auxiliary of the archdiocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, on 1 August at the age of 83.

- Bishop Stefan Siczek, auxiliary of Radom, Poland, on 31 July at the age of 74.

- Bishop Manuel Eguiguren Galarraga O.F.M., former auxiliary of El Beni, Bolivia, on 15 July at the age of 82.

- Bishop Vinzenz Guggenberger, former auxiliary of Regensburg, Germany, on 4 July at the age of 83.


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.
Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

Friday, April 09, 2010

News Vatican Information Service 04/09/2010



SUMMARY:

- Pope to Attend Screening of a Film on Pius XII
- Exposition of Holy Shroud to Begin Tomorrow in Turin
- Fr. Lombardi on Debate Concerning Sexual Abuse

____________________________________
 
POPE TO ATTEND SCREENING OF A FILM ON PIUS XII


VATICAN CITY, 9 APR 2010 (VIS) - At 5.30 p.m. today in the pontifical residence at Castelgandolfo, Benedict XVI will attend the screening of a film entitled "Under the Roman Sky", an international production starring the American actor James Cromwell which reconstructs Hitler's plan to kidnap Pope Pius XII.
.../PIUS XII FILM/...                                                              VIS 20100409 (70)
 
EXPOSITION OF HOLY SHROUD TO BEGIN TOMORROW IN TURIN


VATICAN CITY, 9 APR 2010 (VIS) - Tomorrow 10 April, the exposition of the Holy Shroud of Turin will open in the cathedral of that Italian city. One of the highlights of the exposition, which is due to end on 23 May, will be the visit of Benedict XVI, who will celebrate Mass in the city's Piazza San Carlo on 2 May.

  The Shroud of Turin is believed by millions of Christians to be the burial cloth which wrapped the body of Jesus Christ following His death. The pure linen cloth in a fishbone weave measures 4.37 metres by 1.11 metres. It contains the full frontal and dorsal imprints of a supine man and has carmine-colour stains corresponding to blood. It is marked with a double series of dark spots caused by burns it suffered in a fire in the sixteenth century, while the water use to douse the flames has left broad symmetrical rings, clearly visible. Less visible are transverse marks corresponding to creases in the linen which, before its final voyage to Turin in 1578, had been preserved in a reliquary in forty-eight folds.

  The man in the image is 180 centimetres tall and has long hair, a beard and moustache. The eyes are closed, the hands and forearms crossed, and the body bears signs of torture.

  During the period of the exposition, daily Mass will be celebrated in the cathedral in front of the Shroud at 7 a.m., followed by Lauds. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in the penitentiary of Palazzo Chiablese throughout the day. The chapel will be reserved for silent prayer and Eucharistic worship.

  Priests will be available in the penitentiary to hear confessions and administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The exposition route to view the Shroud will be open from the end of Mass up to 8 p.m. (reservations are required). It will also be possible to enter the cathedral by the main door, but then the Shroud will only be visible from a distance. The nave will be reserved for prayers and silent reflection. In the evening, depending on the calendar, the cathedral may be open for special ceremonies or religious cultural events.

  The website www.sindone.org provides texts and information concerning all aspects of the organisation of the exposition.
.../EXPOSITION SHROUD/TURIN                         VIS 20100409 (390)

FR. LOMBARDI ON DEBATE CONCERNING SEXUAL ABUSE

VATICAN CITY, 9 APR 2010 (VIS) - Given below is a text entitled "Following Holy Week, Holding Our Course", written by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. and published today on the website of Vatican Radio.

  "The debate concerning sexual abuse, and not only that committed by the clergy, continues with news items and comments of various kinds. How can we sail through these stormy waters while maintaining a secure course and responding to the evangelical motto 'Duc in altum - Put out into the deep'?

  In the first place, by continuing to seek truth, and peace for the victims. One of the most striking things is that today so many inner wounds are coming to light, wounds that also date to many years (sometimes decades) ago, but evidently still open, Many victims do not seek financial compensation but inner assistance, a judgement on their painful individual experiences. There is something that we have yet to fully understand; perhaps we need a more profound experience of events that have had such a negative impact on the lives of individuals, of the Church and of society. One example of this, at the collective level, is the hatred and violence of conflicts between peoples which are, as we see, so difficult to overcome in true reconciliation. Abuse opens wounds at a deep inner level. For this reason, certain episcopates were right when they courageously resumed developing ways and places in which victims could express themselves freely, listening to them without taking it for granted that the problem had already been faced and overcome by the workshops established sometime ago. For this reason also, other episcopates and individual bishops were right to intervene paternally, showing spiritual, liturgical and human concern for victims. It seems certain that the number of new accusations of abuse is falling, as is happening in the United States, but for many people the road to profound healing is only now beginning, and for others it has yet to start. In the context of this concern for victims, the Pope has written of his readiness to hold new meetings with then, thus sharing in the journey of the entire ecclesial community. But this journey, in order to achieve profound effects, must take place in respect for people and the search for peace.

  Alongside concern for victims we must continue to implement, decisively and truthfully, the correct procedures for the canonical judgement of the guilty, and for collaborating with the civil authorities in matters concerning their judicial and penal competencies, taking the specific norms and situations of the various countries into account. Only in this way can we hope effectively to rebuild a climate of justice and complete trust in the ecclesiastical institution. It has happened that a number of leaders of communities and institutions, through inexperience or unpreparedness, have not had a ready understanding of the protocols and criteria for intervention which could have helped them intervene decisively even when this was very difficult or painful for them, also because they were often surprised by the accusations. But, while civil law intervenes through general norms, canon law must take account of the specific moral gravity of an abuse of the trust placed in persons who hold positions of responsibility within the ecclesial community, and of the flagrant contradiction with the conduct they should show. In this sense, transparency and rigour are urgent requirements if the Church is to bear witness to wise and just government.

  The formation and selection of candidates for the priesthood, and more generally of the staff of educational and pastoral institutions, is the basis for an effective prevention of the risk of future abuses. Achieving a healthy maturity of the personality, also from a sexual point of view, has always been a difficult challenge, but today it is particularly so, although the best psychological and medical knowledge is of great help in spiritual and moral formation. It has been observed that the greatest frequency of abuses coincided with the most intense period of the 'sexual revolution' of past decades. Formation must take account of this context and of the more general context of secularisation. In the final analysis, this means rediscovering and reaffirming the sense and importance of sexuality, chastity and emotional relationships in today's world, and doing so in concrete, not just verbal or abstract, terms. What a source of disorder and suffering their violation or undervaluation can be! As the Pope observed in his Letter to Irish Catholics, a Christian priestly life today can respond to the requirements of its vocation only by truly nourishing itself at the wellspring of faith and friendship with Christ.

  People who love truth and the objective evaluation of problems will know where to seek and find information for a more overall comprehension of the problem of paedophilia and the sexual abuse of minors in our time, in different countries, understanding its range and pervasiveness. Thus they will be able to achieve a better understanding of the degree to which the Catholic Church shares problems that are not only her own, to what extent they have particular gravity for her and require specific interventions,and, finally, the extent to which the experience the Church is going through in this field may also be useful for other institutions or for society as a whole. In this context, we truly feel that the communications media have not yet worked sufficiently, especially in countries in which the Church has a stronger presence and in which she is more easily subject to criticism. Yet, documents such as the national US report on the mistreatment of children deserve to be better known in order to understand what fields require urgent social intervention, and the proportions of the problem. In the U.S.A. in 2008 alone, 62,000 people were identified as having committed acts of abuse against minors, while the proportion of Catholic priests was so small as not to be taken into consideration as a group.

  The protection of minors and young people is, then, an immense and unlimited field, which goes well beyond the specific problem concerning certain members of the clergy. People who sensitively, generously and attentively dedicate their efforts to this problem deserve gratitude, respect and encouragement from everyone, especially from the ecclesial and civil authorities. Theirs is an essential contribution for the serenity and credibility of the education and formation of young people, both inside and outside the Church. The Pope rightly expressed words of great appreciation for them in his Letter to Irish Catholics, though naturally with a view to a vaster horizon.

  Finally, Pope Benedict XVI, a coherent guide along the path of rigour and truth, merits all respect and support, testimony of which is reaching him from all parts of the Church. He is a pastor well capable of facing - with great rectitude and confidence - this difficult time in which there is no lack of criticism and unfounded insinuations. It must be said that he is a Pope who has spoken a lot about the Truth of God and about respect for truth; and he has become a credible witness of this. We accompany him, learning from him the constancy necessary to grow in truth and transparency, continuing to open our horizons to the serious problems of the world and responding patiently to the slow and gradual release of partial or presumed 'revelations' which seek to undermined his credibility, and that of other institutions or individuals of the Church.

  This patient and solid love of truth is necessary, in the Church, in the society in which we live, in communicating and in writing, if we wish to serve rather than confuse our fellow men and women".
OP/ABUSE DEBATE/LOMBARDI           VIS 20100409 (1290)



You can find more information at: www.vatican.va - 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.
Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City
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