Pope Benedict XVI

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

News Vatican Information Services 07/4/2006

SUMMARY:

- Pope's Sadness at Accident on Valencia Underground
- Theological Pastoral Congress on the Family
- Holy Father to Take Alpine Holiday in Valle d'Aosta
- In Memoriam

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POPE'S SADNESS AT ACCIDENT ON VALENCIA UNDERGROUND

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2006 (VIS) - Benedict XVI has sent a telegram of condolence to Archbishop Agustin Garcia-Gasco of Valencia, Spain, for the death of more than 40 people in an accident on the city's underground railway system at midday yesterday.

"As I learn, with profound regret, the sad news of the accident on the Valencia underground which has filled so many families with grief, I offer up prayers for the eternal repose of the dead and request the Lord to concede consolation and serenity to those weeping the loss of their loved ones. I ask you to transmit my most heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the victims and to express my feelings of paternal spiritual closeness to the many injured; at the same time, I affectionately impart to everyone my consoling apostolic blessing as a sign of faith and hope in the Risen Christ."

The accident took place five days before the Pope's own arrival in Valencia where, on Saturday and Sunday next, he is due to close the Fifth World Meeting of Families, currently being held in that city.
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THEOLOGICAL PASTORAL CONGRESS ON THE FAMILY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2006 (VIS) - This evening in Valencia, Spain, Agustin Garcia-Gasco, archbishop of that city, will inaugurate the International Theological Pastoral Congress on the Family. Cardinals, bishops, theologians, and experts in education, pastoral care of families and the communications media are all due to attend the event, as are various ecclesial movements from some 30 countries.

The congress - which is taking place as part of the Fifth World Meeting of Families and is due to last from July 4 to 7 - will consider various themes associated with the family and reflect upon how best to transmit the faith within families. It will involve talks, reports, testimonies and round table discussions.

Following a contribution from Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, archbishop of Bologna, Italy, on "the family and laicism," the inaugural address will be delivered by Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

Over the remaining days of the congress - July 5 to 7 - experts will analyze the question of the family in its social, educational, legislative, demographic, economic, juridical and bioethical aspects. Representatives from different Christian confessions, including Orthodox and Evangelical, will also offer reflections on the family from an ecumenical standpoint.

On Friday evening, the International Theological Pastoral Congress will close with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

Between July 4 and 7 a youth congress is also due to be held, in which young people between the ages of 16 and 25 will participate. Its aim is to analyze the problems facing the young and to offer Christian alternatives to the culture of leisure. Finally, a third congress will also be held over the same period, directed at the elderly and focussing on their irreplaceable role within their families.
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HOLY FATHER TO TAKE ALPINE HOLIDAY IN VALLE D'AOSTA

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2006 (VIS) - Benedict XVI is due to spend a period of rest at the alpine resort of Les Combes in the Italian region of Valle d'Aosta, from July 11 to 28.

During this period, the Wednesday general audiences will be suspended. On Sunday July 16 and Sunday July 23, the Pope will pray the Angelus from his residence in Les Combes.

Upon the conclusion of his stay in Valle d'Aosta, the Pope will travel to his summer residence at Castelgandolfo south of Rome, where he will remain until the end of September.

Over the summer period, all private and special audiences are suspended. The general audiences will resume regularly from Wednesday, August 2.
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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2006 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Leonard Petion Laroche, emeritus of Hinche, Haiti, on June 14 at the age of 87.

- Bishop Mykhajlo Sabryha C.SS.R., of Ternopil-Zboriv of the Ukrainians, Ukraine, on June 29 at the age of 65.

- Bishop Salvatore Sorrentino, emeritus of Pozzuoli, Italy, on June 19 at the age of 89.
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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.

Monday, July 03, 2006

News Vatican Information Services 07/1-3/2006

SUMMARY: JULY 1 - 3

- Pope to Canonize Four Blesseds on October 15
- Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for July
- Family: Adults Must Renew and Transmit Their Faith
- Peaceful Coexistence in Holy Land and in Iraq
- Audiences

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POPE TO CANONIZE FOUR BLESSEDS ON OCTOBER 15

VATICAN CITY, JUL 1, 2006 (VIS) - During an Ordinary Public Consistory held this morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI decreed that on October 15 he will canonize the following four Blesseds:

Rafael Guizar Valencia (1878-1938), bishop; Filippo Smaldone (1848-1923), priest, founder of the Institute of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart; Rosa Venerini (1656-1728), virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the "Maestre Pie Venerini;" Teodora Guerin, nee Anne-Therese (1798-1856), virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary "ad Nemus" (Saint Mary of the Woods).
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HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 1, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for July is: "That all those who are in prison, and especially young people, may receive the necessary support from society to help them rediscover a sense to their own existence."

His mission intention is: "That, in the mission territories, different ethnic and religious groups may live in peace and together build a society inspired by human and spiritual values."
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FAMILY: ADULTS MUST RENEW AND TRANSMIT THEIR FAITH

VATICAN CITY, JUL 2, 2006 (VIS) - The Fifth World Meeting of Families, which will take place in Valencia, Spain next Saturday and Sunday in the Pope's presence, was the theme of Benedict XVI's comments before praying the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square at midday today. Today's Angelus was the Pope's last before his apostolic trip to Valencia and his summer holidays, which he is due to spend in Italy's Valle d'Aosta region.

The Holy Father recalled that the first such gathering of families took place in Rome in 1994 on the occasion of the International Year of the Family promoted by the United Nations. It was then that John Paul II wrote his famous Letter to Families. Subsequent World Meetings of Families have been held in Rio de Janeiro (1997), Rome (2000) for the occasion of the Jubilee of Families, and Manila (2003). "It is important," Pope Benedict said, "that today's families also hear the memorable appeal launched 25 years ago in the Apostolic Exhortation 'Familiaris consortio' by John Paul II: 'Family, become what you are!'."

The Holy Father proceeded: "The theme of the forthcoming Valencia meeting is the transmission of faith within the family. This is what has inspired the motto of my apostolic visit to that city: 'Families, live and transmit the faith!' In so many of today's secularized communities, the primary need for believers in Christ is precisely that of renewing the faith of adults, that they may become capable of communicating that faith to the new generations. At the same time, the path of Christian initiation of babies and children can become a useful occasion for parents to draw near the Church once more, and deepen their knowledge of the beauty and truth of the Gospel.

"The family," he added, "is a living organism in which a reciprocal exchange of gifts takes place, what is important is that the Word of God, which keeps the flame of faith alive, should never be lacking. During the rite of Baptism, in an extremely significant gesture, the father or godfather lights a candle at the great Easter candle, symbol of the risen Christ; then, addressing the members of the family, the celebrants says: 'ensure that your baby, illuminated by Christ, always lives as a child of the light'."

The Pope concluded: "In order to be authentic, that gesture - which contains all the significance of the transmission of faith within the family - must be preceded and accompanied by the commitment of parents to deepen their knowledge of their own faith, reviving its flame through prayer and the assiduous practice of the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist."
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PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE IN HOLY LAND AND IN IRAQ

VATICAN CITY, JUL 2, 2006 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus today with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope spoke of the "growing concern" with which he was following events in Iraq and the Holy Land.

"Faced, on the one hand, with blind violence that provokes appalling massacres and, on the other, with the threat of a worsening of the crisis which over the last few days has become even more dramatic, what is needed is justice and a serious and credible commitment to peace, which unfortunately are nowhere to be seen.

"For this reason," the Holy Father added, "I invite everyone to join in faithful and persistent prayer: may the Lord illuminate hearts and may no one evade their duty to construct peaceful coexistence, recognizing that all men are brothers, whatever the people to which they belong."

The Pope then recalled that in Moscow, Russia, from July 3 to 5 "an important summit meeting of religious leaders" is taking place, "organized by the inter-religious council of Russia. At the invitation of the Patriarch of Moscow, the Catholic Church is taking part with its own delegation. I wish to communicate my most cordial greetings to His Holiness Alexis II and to all the participants."

Benedict XVI went on: "This important meeting of so many religious leaders of the world, is a sign of a shared desire to promote dialogue between civilizations and a search for a more just and peaceful world order. I hope that, with sincere commitment on everyone's part, areas for effective collaboration may be identified, while maintaining respect and mutual understanding, in order to face up to today's challenges.

"For Christians," the Pope added, "this means learning to know one another even more profoundly and to esteem one another, in the light of man's dignity and his eternal destiny. Giving assurances of my prayers to God that He may render the summit's work fruitful, upon everyone I invoke abundant blessings from heaven."

Turning then to address French pilgrims, the Pope said: "May the holidays be a period for rest and of more intense family life, in order to strengthen ties between generations, especially enabling young people to talk with adults upon essential questions of faith and the meaning of life."
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 3, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid, Spain.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

- Three prelates from the Croatian Bishops' Conference, on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop Ivan Prendja of Zadar.

- Archbishop Ivan Devcic of Rijeka.

- Bishop Ivan Milovan of Porec i Pula.

On Saturday, July 1, he received in audience Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum."
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