News From Vatican Information Services 12/29/2005

SUMMARY:

- Papal, Holy See Highlights for 2005: August - December
- Almost three million persons have encountered the Pope
- Other Pontifical Acts

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PAPAL, HOLY SEE HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2005: AUGUST - DECEMBER

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2005 (VIS) - Following are highlights of the activities of Pope Benedict XVI and the Holy See for the months of August through December 2005.

AUGUST

- 18 - 21: Apostolic trip to Cologne, Germany, for the celebration of 20th World Youth Day on the theme: "We have come to adore Him."

SEPTEMBER

- 2: Benedict XVI entrusts Vatican Radio with the exercise and protection of the copyright and intellectual property rights of all audio recordings of his voice dating back to the period prior to his elevation to the Chair of Peter, with the exception of those rights already legitimately acquired by third parties.

- 16: The Holy Father receives in audience participants in an international congress on the theme: "Holy Scripture in the Life of the Church." The congress, held in Rome from September 14 - 18, was jointly organized by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and by the Catholic Biblical Federation (FBC), for the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the promulgation of Vatican Council II's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation "Dei Verbum."

- 23: Benedict XVI receives the Letters of Credence of Luis Felipe Bravo Mena, the new ambassador of Mexico to the Holy See.

- 24: The Holy Father Benedict XVI meets with Professor Hans Kung of Tubingen, Germany

- 29: Boris Tadic, president of the Republic of Serbia, invites the Holy Father to visit his country.

OCTOBER

- 2: Opening of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, on the theme: "The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church."

- 9: Beatification of Servant of God Clemens August Von Galen (1878 - 1946), bishop of Munster, Germany.

- 11: Presentation of the book "La Rivoluzione di Dio" (The Revolution of God), a collection of the twelve discourses pronounced by Benedict XVI in August 2005 during World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, the Pope's first apostolic trip outside Italy,

- 15: One hundred thousand children from Italy and other parts of the world who took First Communion this year, gather in St. Peter's Square for a meeting of prayer and catechesis with the Holy Father. The theme of the event was: "The bread of heaven."

- 17: Telegram of condolence from the Holy Father for the death of Cardinal Giuseppe Caprio, who passed away on October 15.

- 22: Publication in various languages of the final message of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, entitled: "The Eucharist: Living Bread for the Peace of the World."

- 23: The presidents delegate and the secretary general of the Synod of Bishops send a letter to the four Chinese prelates absent from the synodal assembly: Bishops Antonio Li Duan, Xi'an; Luca Li Jingfeng, Fengxiang; Aloysius Jin Luxian S.J., Shanghai; and Giuseppe Wei Jingyi, Qiqihar.

- 23: Mass in St. Peter's Square, concelebrated by the Synod Fathers and presided by Benedict XVI for the closing of the Year of the Eucharist and of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Canonization of Blesseds: Archbishop Jozef Bilczewski of Lviv of the Latins, died in 1923; Gaetano Catanoso, priest, founder of the Congregation of the Veronica Sisters of the Holy Countenance, died in 1963; Zygmunt Gorazdowski, priest, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, died in 1920; Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga, Jesuit priest, died in 1952; and Felice da Nicosia, of the Friars Minor Capuchin, died in 1787.

- 27: Day of commemoration for the promulgation of the Vatican Council II Declaration "Nostra aetate" on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions.

- 28: Presentation of the Holy Father's Message for the 92nd World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which is due to be celebrated on January 15, 2006, and which has the theme: "Migrations, sign of the times."

- 29: Beatification of Servants of God: Josep Tapies Sirvant and six companions, priests, martyrs died in 1936; and Maria de los Angeles Ginard Marti, professed religious of the Sisters Guardians of the Eucharistic Cult, virgin and martyr, died in 1936.

NOVEMBER

- 6: Beatification of Eurosia Fabris (1866 - 1932), of the Third Order of St. Francis, known as "Mother Rosa."

- 12: Benedict XVI receives the Letters of Credence of Francis Rooney, the new ambassador of the United States to the Holy See.

- 13: Beatification of Servants of God: Charles de Foucauld, priest (1858-1916); Maria Pia Mastena, virgin and foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Holy Countenance (1881-1951); and Maria Crocifissa Curcio, virgin and founder of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus (1877-1957).

- 17: Visit to the Holy Father Benedict XVI by Moshe Katsav, president of the State of Israel.

- 19: "Motu proprio" entitled "De Basilicis Sancti Francisci et Sanctae Mariae Angelorum," establishing new norms concerning the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, which is run by the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in the same city, which is in the hands of the Order of Friars Minor.

- 20: Beatification in the Jalisco Stadium of Guadalajara, Mexico, of thirteen martyrs who were killed during religious persecutions in Mexico last century: Anacleto Gonzalez Flores and seven companions, Jose Trinidad Rangel, Andres Sola Molist, Leonardo Perez, Dario Acosta Zurita, and the fourteen-year-old boy Jose Sanchez del Rio.

- 22: Presentation of the calendar of events to commemorate the fifth centenary of the foundation of the Pontifical Swiss Guard (1506 - 2006).

- 25: Visit by the Holy Father Benedict XVI to Rome's Sacred Heart Catholic University for the inauguration of the academic year.

- 28: Publication of a Message from the Holy Father to the young Dutch participants in the first National Day of Catholic Youth, celebrated in Nieuwegein, Netherlands.

- 29: The Holy Father Benedict XVI grants the faithful a Plenary Indulgence for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2005, the fortieth anniversary of the closure of Vatican Council II.

- 29: Publication of the document: "Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders."

DECEMBER

- 1: Benedict XVI receives the Letters of Credence of eleven new ambassadors to the Holy See: Ali Abeid A. Karume of Tanzania; Madan Kumar Bhattarai of Nepal; Pekka Ojanen of Finland; Gilbert Ramirez Chagoury of Santa Lucia; Francisco A. Soler of El Salvador; Sten Erik Malmborg Lilholt of Denmark; Konji Sebati of South Africa; Idriss Jazairy of Algeria; Petros Tseggai Asghedom of Eritrea; Feliz Kodjo Sagbo of Togo; and Antoni Morell Mora of Andorra.

- 3: At the end of the "ad limina" visit of a group of prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Poland, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow invites the Holy Father to visit Poland.

- 3: Holy Father receives in audience Mahmud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority.

- 8: Benedict XVI presides at a Eucharistic concelebration in the Vatican Basilica to mark today's Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the fortieth anniversary of the closure of Vatican Council II.

- 13: Presentation of Holy Father's Message for the World Day of Peace 2006 on the theme: "In truth, peace."

- 15: Benedict XVI receives members of the joint coordinating committee of the International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

- 16: Publication of the Pope's Message for the 14th World Day of the Sick, which is celebrated every year on February 11, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

- 18: First pastoral visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the parishes in the Diocese of Rome and celebration of the Holy Mass in the Parish of Santa Maria Consolatrice in Casalbertone. The then Cardinal Ratzinger became titular of this parish in 1977.

- 19: Presentation to the Holy Father of the Letters of Credence of Mr. Bernard Kessedjian, the new French ambassador to the Holy See.

- 23: Presentation of the Letters of Credence for the new ambassador of Great Britain to the Holy See, Mr. Francis Martin-Xavier Campbell.
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ALMOST THREE MILLION PERSONS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE POPE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2005 (VIS) - From the beginning of Benedict XVI Papacy, this past April 24th, 2,855,500 persons participated in public meetings with the Holy Father, according to a communication by the Prefecture of the Pontifical House.

Benedict XVI held his first general audience on April 27th, and with yesterday's, the last one for this year, he has celebrated a total of 32, in which 810,000 faithful participated. The months with the highest number of persons participating were, respectively: October, with 190,000 persons; June, with 130,000 and September, with 126,000.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Octavio Villegas Aguilar of Tula (Mexico), Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Morelia (area 17, 710, population 2,378,720, Catholics 2,259,784, priests 513, religious 1,254, permanent deacons 8) in Mexico.
Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, Archbishop Major of Kyiv-Halyc, with the consent of the Synod of the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Church and after having informed the Apostolic See, transferred Bishop Ihor Vozniak, C.SS.R., from Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Lviv of the Ukrainians to residential Archbishop of the same see.
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V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

News From Vatican Information Service 12/25-28/2005

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE

FIFTEENTH YEAR - N. 230

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2005

SUMMARY: DECEMBER 25 - 28

- The Light of Bethlehem has never been extinguished

- Modern and Adult Man, Trust in the Child of Bethlehem

- To live the Gospel Coherently bears a High Price

- The Human Being, Masterpiece of Creation

- Other Pontifical Acts



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THE LIGHT OF BETHLEHEM HAS NEVER BEEN EXTINGUISHED

VATICAN CITY, DEC 25, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father celebrated Midnight Mass in the Vatican Basilica for the Solemnity of the Lord's Nativity. During the "Gloria", children coming from the five continents deposited flowers before the image of the Baby Jesus.

After the Gospel, Benedict XVI addressed the homily, the salient paragraphs being given below:

"The Lord said to me: You are my son; this day I have begotten you". With these words of the second Psalm, the Church begins the Vigil Mass of Christmas, at which we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Redeemer in a stable in Bethlehem. This Psalm was once a part of the coronation rite of the kings of Judah. The people of Israel, in virtue of its election, considered itself in a special way a son of God, adopted by God. Just as the king was the personification of the people, his enthronement was experienced as a solemn act of adoption by God, whereby the King was in some way taken up into the very mystery of God. At Bethlehem night, these words, which were really more an expression of hope than a present reality, took on new and unexpected meaning. The Child lying in the manger is truly God's Son. God is not eternal solitude but rather a circle of love and mutual self-giving".

"But there is more: in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God himself became man. (...) God's everlasting today has come down into the fleeting today of the world and lifted our momentary today into God's eternal today. God is so great that he can become small. God is so powerful that he can make himself vulnerable and come to us as a defenceless child, so that we can love him. (...) This is Christmas: "You are my son, this day I have begotten you". God has become one of us, so that we can be with him and become like him. As a sign, he chose the Child lying in the manger (...) And on every child shines something of the splendour of that "today", of that closeness of God which we ought to love and to which we must yield - it shines on every child, even on those still unborn".

"Let us listen to a second phrase from the liturgy of this holy Night, one taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah: "Upon the people who walked in darkness a great light has shone". (...) But first, light means knowledge; it means truth, as contrasted with the darkness of falsehood and ignorance. Light gives us life, it shows us the way. But light, as a source of heat, also means love. Where there is love, light shines forth in the world; where there is hatred, the world remains in darkness. In the stable of Bethlehem there appeared the great light which the world awaits".

"The light of Bethlehem has never been extinguished. In every age it has touched men and women, "it has shone around them". Wherever people put their faith in that Child, charity also sprang up - charity towards others, loving concern for the weak and the suffering, the grace of forgiveness. From Bethlehem a stream of light, love and truth spreads through the centuries. (...) In that Child, God countered the violence of this world with his own goodness. He calls us to follow that Child".

"On this night, when we look towards Bethlehem, let us pray in a special way for the birthplace of our Redeemer and for the men and women who live and suffer there. We wish to pray for peace in the Holy Land: Look, O Lord, upon this corner of the earth, your homeland, which is so very dear to you! Let your light shine upon it! Let it know peace!"

"The word "peace" brings us to a third key to the liturgy of this holy Night. The Child foretold by Isaiah is called "Prince of Peace". His kingdom is said to be one "of endless peace". The shepherds in the Gospel hear the glad tidings: "Glory to God in the highest" and "on earth, peace...". At one time we used to say: "to men of good will". Nowadays we say "to those whom God loves". What does this change mean?" (...) We would do better to ask: who are those whom God loves, and why does he love them? (...) The Gospel answers these questions by pointing to some particular people whom God loves. There are individuals, like Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon and Anna. But there are also two groups of people: the shepherds and the wise men from the East, the Magi".

"Tonight let us look at the shepherds. (...) In the world of their time, shepherds were looked down upon; they were considered untrustworthy and not admitted as witnesses in court. But really, who were they? To be sure, they were not great saints, if by that word we mean people of heroic virtue. They were simple souls. The Gospel sheds light on one feature which later on, in the words of Jesus, would take on particular importance: they were people who were watchful. This was chiefly true in a superficial way: they kept watch over their flocks by night. But it was also true in a deeper way: they were ready to receive God's word. Their life was not closed in on itself; their hearts were open. In some way, deep down, they were waiting for him. Their watchfulness was a kind of readiness - a readiness to listen and to set out. They were waiting for a light which would show them the way. That is what is important for God. He loves everyone, because everyone is his creature".

"Among Christians, the word "peace" has taken on a very particular meaning: it has become a name for the Eucharist. There Christ's peace is present. In all the places where the Eucharist is celebrated, a great network of peace spreads through the world. The communities gathered around the Eucharist make up a kingdom of peace as wide as the world itself. When we celebrate the Eucharist we find ourselves in Bethlehem, in the house of bread".

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MODERN AND ADULT MAN, TRUST IN THE CHILD OF BETHLEHEM

VATICAN CITY, DEC 25, 2005 (VIS) - At noon today, the Solemnity of the Lord's Birth, the Pope addressed the traditional Nativity message from the central balcony of the Vatican Basilica, the first one of his pontificate and transmitted by 111 television stations from 68 nations.

The Holy Father said: "On this solemn day, the Angel's proclamation rings out once again, inviting us, the men and women of the third millennium, to welcome the Saviour. May the people of today's world not hesitate to let him enter their homes, their cities, their nations, everywhere on earth!".

Benedict XVI stated that "men and women in our technological age risk becoming victims of their own intellectual and technical achievements, ending up in spiritual barrenness and emptiness of heart. That is why it is so important for us to open our minds and hearts to the Birth of Christ, this event of salvation which can give new hope to the life of each human being".

He exhorted: "Wake up, O men and women of the third millennium! At Christmas, the Almighty becomes a child and asks for our help and protection. His way of showing that he is God challenges our way of being human. By knocking at our door, he challenges us and our freedom; he calls us to examine how we understand and live our lives."

"Men and women of today, humanity come of age yet often still so frail in mind and will, let the Child of Bethlehem take you by the hand! Do not fear; put your trust in him! The life-giving power of his light is an incentive for building a new world order based on just ethical and economic relationships. May his love guide every people on earth and strengthen their common consciousness of being a family called to foster relationships of trust and mutual support".

The Pope assured that "a united humanity will be able to confront the many troubling problems of the present time: from the menace of terrorism to the humiliating poverty in which millions of human beings live, from the proliferation of weapons to the pandemics and the environmental destruction which threatens the future of our planet".

Looking at the situations in the different continents, the Holy Father asked "for peace, integral development and the prevention of fratricidal conflicts, for the consolidation of the present, still fragile political transitions, and the protection of the most elementary rights of those experiencing tragic humanitarian crises, such as those in Darfur and in other regions of central Africa".

Benedict XVI also asked God to "lead the peoples of Latin America to live in peace and harmony. May he grant courage to people of good will in the Holy Land, in Iraq, in Lebanon, where signs of hope, which are not lacking, need to be confirmed by actions inspired by fairness and wisdom; may he favour the process of dialogue on the Korean Peninsula and elsewhere in the countries of Asia, so that, by the settlement of dangerous disputes, consistent and peaceful conclusions can be reached in a spirit of friendship, conclusions which their peoples expectantly await".

The Pope also imparted his blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (to Rome and to the World) with this message in 32 languages.

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TO LIVE THE GOSPEL COHERENTLY BEARS A HIGH PRICE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 26, 2005 (VIS) - At noon today, before thousands of people convened in Saint Peter's Square, the Pope spoke these words before the Angelus: "After having celebrated the solemnity of Christ's Birth yesterday, today we remember Saint Stephen's rise to heaven, the first martyr".

"In an atmosphere of Christmas joy, remembering the martyrdom of Saint Stephen should not seem out of place. In fact, already the shadow of the Cross falls over the Manger in Bethlehem. This is announced by the poverty of the stall where the Baby cries, the prophecy by Simeon about the contradiction and the sword destined to pierce the Virgin's soul, the persecution by Herod that will make flight from Egypt a necessity".

Benedict XVI pointed out that "we should not be surprised if one day, this Child, becoming an adult, would ask his disciples to follow him on the path of the Cross with complete trust and faithfulness. Attracted by his example and supported by the love of many Christians, already from the beginning of Christianity, they would testify their faith with a profusion of blood. Other martyrs followed the first ones throughout the centuries until today".

"How can we avoid acknowledging that also today, in various parts of the world, to profess the Christian faith requires the heroism of martyrs? How can we not say that everywhere, even where there is no persecution, to live the Gospel with coherence bears a high cost with it?".

"Contemplating the Divine Child in Mary's arms and looking at the example of Saint Stephen, we ask God for the grace to live our faith with coherence, always ready to answer anybody asking us the reason for the hope which is in us".

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THE HUMAN BEING, MASTERPIECE OF CREATION

VATICAN CITY, DEC 28, 2005 (VIS) - Today, 20,000 persons participated in Wednesday's General Audience, in Saint Peter's Square. Benedict XVI, once again, spoke about the Psalms.

The Pope said: "Psalm 138, (...) knowledgeable hymn of intense beauty and passion, points at the highest and most admirable reality of the entire universe, man, defined as the "prodigy" of God. A theme completely in harmony with the Christmas atmosphere (...) when we celebrate the great mystery of the Son of God, made man for our salvation".

Benedict XVI reminded that throughout this psalm runs the recurrent symbol of the pottery maker and the sculptor that "form and model the artistic creation, the masterpiece" and adds that in the text the "idea that God already sees all the future of that still unformed embryo is extremely potent: in the book of the life of the Lord, already the days that creature will live has been written and would fill with works during his worldly existence. Thus the transcendent greatness of Divine knowledge re-emerges, which not only embraces the past and the present of humanity, but also the entire range hidden by the future".

The Pope concluded quoting the reflection by Saint Gregory Major on this psalm which represents "a meditation on those who are weakest in their spiritual path in the Christian community". No matter how "imperfect or small they may be, according to their capabilities, they love God and their brethren (...) contributing to the edification of the Church (...) This is a message of hope for all, even for those who continue with difficulty along the path of spiritual and ecclesial life".

After the catechesis, the Pope welcomed the pilgrims in various languages and in particular remembered "the dear populations hit by the tsunami a year ago, which caused many victims and great damage to the environment. We pray the Lord for them and for those, even in other areas of the world, that have suffered natural calamities, and await our concrete and active solidarity".

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 28 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

-Approved the canonical election of the following prelates for the Synod of Bishops of the Church of Antioch of the Maronites, which met in Bkerké (Lebanon) from the 18th to the 24th of September 2005:

-Fr. Georges Bou-Jaoudé, C.M., Superior of the Religious Order of Mejdlaya, as Archbishop of Tripoli of the Maronites (Catholics 101,350, priests 171, religious 226) in Lebanon. The Archbishop elect was born in 1943 in Jouret El-Ballout (Lebanon), took his vows in 1966 and was ordained priest in 1968.

-Fr. Elias Nassar, parish priest of Jezzine in the Eparchy of Saïd, as Bishop of Saïd of the Maronites (Catholics 83,000, priests 85, religious 80) in Lebanon. The Bishop elect was born in 1960 in Sarba (Lebanon), was ordained priest in 1990.

-Fr. Abbott Simon Atallah, O.A.M., Superior of the Convent of Saint John in Ajaltoun (Lebanon), as Bishop of Baalbek - Deir El-Ahmar of the Maronites (Catholics 30,000, priests 14, religious 20, permanent deacons 2) in Lebanon. The Bishop elect was born in 1937 in Hemayri (Lebanon), took his vows in 1959 and was ordained priest in 1963.

-Fr. Abbott François Eid, O.M.M., General Procurator of the Maronite Mariamite Order, as Bishop of Cairo of the Maronites (Catholics 5,003, priests 6, religious 3) in Egypt. The Bishop elect was born in 1943 in Mtolleh (Lebanon) and was ordained in 1971.

-Nominated Fr. Patrick K. Lynch, SS.CC. and Fr. Paul Hendricks, auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Southwark (area 3,000, population 404,890, Catholics 385,384, priests 393, religious 865, permanent deacons 78) in England. The Bishop elect Lynch was born in Cork City (Ireland) in 1947, took his vows in 1965, was ordained priest in 1972 and until today was the episcopal vicar for the religious persons and the parish priest in the same archdiocese. The Bishop elect Hendricks was born in Beckenham (England) in 1956, was ordained in 1984 and until today was a parish priest of Peckham (England).

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