News Vatican Information Service 12/07/2011

SUMMARY:

-Divine Revelation Does Not Follow Earthly Logic
-Pope in French on YouTube
-Archbishop Mamberti Proposes World Day Against Persecution of Christians
-Audiences
-Other Pontifical Acts
-Notice

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DIVINE REVELATION DOES NOT FOLLOW EARTHLY LOGIC

VATICAN CITY, 7 DEC 2911 (VIS) - Benedict XVI dedicated the catechesis of today's Wednesday audience, celebrated in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, to the Messianic Hymn of Jubilee, Jesus' prayer of praise recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, which constitutes the "apex of a path of prayer in which Jesus' profound and intimate communion with the Father in the Holy Spirit and His divine filiation clearly emerges ".

Already at the opening of the hymn, the Pope observed, Jesus addresses God by calling him Father, a term that expresses "Jesus' awareness and certainty of being 'the Son' in close and constant communion with Him. This is the central point and the source of Jesus' every prayer. ... The name of 'Father' is followed by a second title: 'Lord of heaven and earth'", which "recalls the great biblical narration of the history of God's love for human beings that began with creation. Jesus ... is the pinnacle and the fullness of this history of love. ... Through the expression 'Lord of heaven and earth' we also recognize how, in Jesus, the one who reveals the Father, the possibility of access to God is opened to humanity".

But, to whom does the Son want to reveal the mysteries of God? "Divine revelation", the pontiff explained, "does not occur within earthly logic, according to which humans are the wise and powerful who posses important knowledge and transmit it to those who are more simple. ... God's style is another: His communication is addressed precisely to the 'childlike'. ... And what is this childlikeness that opens humans to a filial intimacy with God and to welcoming His will? ... It is the pureness of heart that allows us to recognize the face of God in Jesus Christ. It is keeping our hearts as simple as those of children, without the presumptions of those who are locked in themselves, thinking they have no need of anyone, not even God".

"In Matthew's Gospel, after the Hymn of Jubilee, we encounter one of Jesus' most moving pleas: 'Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.' Jesus asks that we go to Him, the true wisdom, to the one who is 'meek and humble of heart'; He proposes His 'yoke', the path of evangelical wisdom, which is neither a doctrine to learn nor an ethical proposal, but rather a Person to follow: He himself, the only-begotten Son, in perfect communion with the Father".

"We also can address God with the confidence of sons and daughters", Benedict XVI concluded, "calling Him Father when we pray. But we have to keep the heart of a child, the heart of those 'poor in spirit', in order to recognize that we are not self-sufficient ... that we need God, that we have to seek Him, listen to Him, speak to Him. Prayer opens us to receiving the gift of God, His wisdom who is Jesus himself, in order to accept the will of the Father in our lives and to find consolation in the weariness of our journey".

At the end of the audience, Benedict XVI greeted the pilgrims present in the hall in their various languages and noted that the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated tomorrow, "reminds us of Mary's singular acceptance of God's salvific plan. Preserved from any stain of sin in order to be the holy dwelling place of the Incarnate Word, she always trusted fully in the Lord". The Pope especially urged the youth to make the effort to imitate the Virgin "with pure and clean hearts, letting yourselves be shaped by God who, in you as well, desires to bring about 'great things'".

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POPE IN FRENCH ON YOUTUBE

VATICAN CITY, 7 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Beginning today it is possible to follow the Pope and the happenings of the Holy See through videos in French accessible at:www.youtube.co/vaticanfr.

Vatican Radio and Vatican Television are thus extending their offerings on YouTube, which previously were only available in Italian, English, Spanish, and German. Joining the Vatican radio and television centers is the French Catholic television channel KTO, which manages the French version of the short daily video reports of the main public acts of Pope Benedict XVI.

The communique made public today reads that, with this initiative, the Catholic Church "again shows its commitment to the use of new technologies that allow the faithful to draw ever nearer to the Pope's voice and teachings".

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ARCHBISHOP MAMBERTI PROPOSES WORLD DAY AGAINST PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

VATICAN CITY, 7 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Holy See's secretary for Relations with States, addressed the Eighteenth Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) held this 6-7 December in Vilnius, Lithuania.

In his address, the archbishop discussed, among other themes, the topic of migration, which for the Holy See constitutes an argument of constant interest, above all in the actual circumstances of economic and financial crisis. Msgr. Mamberti noted that there is a growing consensus in the international community on the necessity of paying greater attention to migrants. In this context he emphasized that it is necessary to support migrants reunification with their families since "the family plays a fundamental role in the integration process, in giving stability to the presence of the immigrants in the new social environment ... Migrants, aware of their rights, can be more secure in offering their services and talents and the receiving community, well-informed and respectful of these rights, will feel freer in extending its solidarity in order to build together a common future".

The Secretary for Relations with States also addressed the Organization's commitments in defence of fundamental freedoms and human rights, one of which is the right to freedom of religion. "The right to religious freedom, despite being repeatedly proclaimed by the international community, as well as in the constitutions of most States, continues to be widely violated today". Pope Benedict XVI himself recalled, in his message from this year's World Day of Peace, that Christians "are the religious group which suffers most from persecution on account of its faith". According to Archbishop Mamberti, "there may be more than two hundred million Christians, of different confessions, who are in difficulty because of legal and cultural structures that lead to their discrimination". For this reason, he proposed the institution of an International Day against persecution and discrimination of Christians as "an important sign that governments are willing to deal with this serious issue".

Against Trafficking in Human Beings

The archbishop also addressed the problem of trafficking in human beings, especially of women and minors, for sexual exploitation as well as for labor exploitation and domestic servitude, which has become a "powerful global business involving many countries of origin, transit, and destination. To counteract the scourge of trafficking in human beings with greater determination and more concrete results, a convergence of efforts is necessary: a mentality that is centered on the unique dignity of every person, a sure punishment of traffickers, the fight against corruption, ... and the fairness of mass media in reporting the damages created by trafficking".

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 7 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in separate audiences today:

- Dr. Carl Albert Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus, and

- Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum"

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OTHERPONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 7 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father appointed:

- Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega, formerly archbishop of Monterrey, Mexico, as archbishop of Guadalajara (area 20,827, population 7,158,000, Catholics 6,452,000, priests 1,432, permanent deacons 5, religious 4286), Mexico. He succeeds Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Fr. Michael Robert Kennedy as bishop of Armidale (area 120,000, population 176,621, Catholics 42,748, priests 34, permanent deacons 1, religious 45), Australia. The bishop-elect was born in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia in 1968 and was ordained a priest in 1999.

- as consultors for the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization:

- Msgr. Georg Austen, of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Paderborn, Secretary General of the "Bonifatiuswerk der deutschen Katholiken", and member of the Central Committee of German Catholics;

- Fr. Denis Biju-Duval, ordinary professor of theology at the "Redemptor Hominis" Pastoral Institute of the Pontifical Lateran University and member of the Emmanuel Community;

- Fr. Achim Buckenmaier, professor of dogmatic theology in the "Akademie fur die theologie des Volkes Gottes" Institute of the Pontifical Lateran University;

- Fr. José Luis Del Palacio y Perez Medel, of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Madrid, founder and member of the directive council of the "Redemptoris Mater" Faculty of Theology of Callao, and professor of theology and canon law;

- Fr. Marian Krolikowski, of the clergy of the Diocese of Kielce, founder of the St. Paul School of New Evangelization, founder and prior of the Koinonia St. Paul community of consecrated life in Kielce;

- Msgr. Sergio Lanza, of the clergy of the Diocese of Como, ecclesiastic assistant general of the Sacred Heart Catholic University of Milan, ordinary professor of pastoral theology in that same university's theology faculty as well as at the "Redemptor Hominis" Pastoral Institute of the Pontifical Lateran University;

- Fr. Xavier Morlans i Molina of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, professor of fundamental theology at the "Facultat de teologia de Catalunya" in Barcelona;

- Msgr. Antonio Pitta, of the clergy of the Diocese of Lucera-Troia, ordinary professor of New Testament exegesis in the faculty of theology at the Pontifical Lateran University;

- Msgr. Henryk Seweryniak, of the clergy of the Diocese of Plock, professor of fundamental theology at the "Universytet Kardynala Stefana Wyszynskiego" of Warsaw;

- Dr. Moyses Louro De Azevedo Filho, founder and general moderator of the Shalom Catholic Community, International Association of the Faithful;

- Dr. Curtis A. Martin, founder and president of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), professor at the Augustine Institute in Denver;

- Dr. Ralph Martin, director of the Graduate Theological Programs in Evangelization of the Sacred Heart School of Theology in Detroit;

- Professor Thomas Soding, professor of the New Testament in the "Katholisch-Theologische Fakultat" of the Ruhr Universitat of Bochum and member of the International Theological Commission;

- Dr. Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement (Opera di Maria); and

- Dr. Petroc Willey, dean of graduate research at the Maryvale Institute of Birmingham.

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NOTICE

VATICAN CITY, 7 DEC 2011 (VIS) - As previously advised, there will be no VIS bulletin tomorrow, Thursday 8 December, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day and a holiday in the Vatican.Service will resume on Friday 9 December.

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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

News Vatican Information Service 12/06/2011

SUMMARY:

- Benedict XVI to Light the World's Biggest Christmas Tree
- Cordial Relations between Christians and Jains
- Holy See Becomes a Member of the IOM-OIM
- Cardinal Bertone Awarded John Paul II Peace Prize
- Christmas Reminds Us of Our Duty to Help Children in Need

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BENEDICT XVI TO LIGHT THE WORLD'S BIGGEST CHRISTMAS TREE

VATICAN CITY, 6 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Tomorrow 7 December, Benedict XVI will switch on the lights of the biggest Christmas tree in the world, a "sign of universal peace and brotherhood among peoples" located in the Italian town of Gubbio.

  The "tree", which is made up of an arrangement of coloured lights on the side of Mount Ingino, has been erected by volunteers every year since 1981. Its base is approximately 450 metres wide and it extends for 750 metres up the hillside from the city's mediaeval walls to the basilica of St. Ubaldo. The silhouette of the tree is marked with 300 green lights, and it covers a surface area of some 130,000 square meters illuminated with 400 multicoloured lights. At the top is a comet made up of 250 lights covering an area of 1,000 square metres.

  The tree is illuminated every year on 7 December, during a traditional celebration attended by representatives of the world of culture, show business and politics. Benedict XVI will activate the illumination from his apartments in the Vatican Apostolic Palace. He will touch the screen of a Sony "Tablet" with an "Android" operating system which, via the Internet, will transmit the command to switch on the electric current to the tree.

  The Holy Father will be seen in Gubbio thanks to a television linkup organised by the Vatican Television Centre. The event, which will be televised both nationally and internationally, is due to begin at 5.30 p.m. and the illumination of the tree will take place at 6.30 p.m.

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CORDIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND JAINS

VATICAN CITY, 6 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue today met with a delegation from the Jain religion. The meeting was presided by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the pontifical council, and by Nemu Chandaria, deputy chairman of the board of directors of the Institute of Jainology.

  "This meeting was the second one after that of 14 February 1995. Moreover, there have been contacts between the Jain community and the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue since 1986", reads an English language communique published today. During the meeting, "held in an atmosphere of mutual respect and friendship, members of the delegations expressed satisfaction over the cordial relations and cooperation that exist between both the Christian and Jain communities in countries where they live their day-to-day lives in proximity.

  "While expressing the desire to expand mutual concrete collaboration", the communique adds, "the delegations agreed that it must be ever more strengthened at the local levels to better contribute towards the common good of the entire society. In particular, they stressed the importance of educating the younger generations to be aware of their own traditions, and to know and better respect those of others.

  "With an aim to find concrete areas of convergence as the basis of collaboration, they discussed the Jain principle of 'non-violence' (Ahimsa) and that of Christian 'charity'. They found some common elements that can motivate and sustain Jain-Catholic collaboration, recognising the differences between the two principles.

  "They also recognised that these elements, on a practical level, call upon the followers of both the traditions to promote mutual respect, truthfulness, honesty, freedom, peace, social harmony and to commit themselves to eliminate every form of violence against human beings, in particular injustice, poverty and exploitation of natural resources".

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HOLY SEE BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE IOM-OIM

VATICAN CITY, 6 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Holy See yesterday became a member State of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM-OIM). The Holy See's request was accepted by the Geneva-based institution in the course of its recent plenary.

  The OIM was established in 1951 and bases its activities on the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits both migrants and society. It has 130 member States and around 100 observers, including States and non-governmental organisations.

  Speaking on Vatican Radio yesterday, Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi C.S., Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations at Geneva, noted that, "as we are witnessing a continuous increase in the number of migrants and refugees in the world, it is important for us to be present and to participate in the efforts of the international community with the specific contribution of the Holy See: an ethical voice which gives a fresh interpretation to these new situations. ... What must prevail is not so much politics, as the need to meet the human needs of these people, as they migrate through the various regions of the world".

  Archbishop Tomasi recalled how the Church has always been in the frontline in helping migrants, through a broad network of Catholic organisations. For this reason, "collaboration with the structures of the international community is a logical operative step helping us to make our service even more effective", he said. Ecclesiastical structures "serve all people generously, irrespective of their religious faith, colour or legal status. What counts is human beings and their dignity, and this is often at risk in the situations of marginality which arise as people move from one country to another seeking work or new forms of survival". The Church's ethical contribution will, then, focus on "the defence of human beings and their dignity".

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CARDINAL BERTONE AWARDED JOHN PAUL II PEACE PRIZE

VATICAN CITY, 6 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. has been awarded the John Paul II peace prize, which is granted by the cultural association "Anassilaos", based in the Italian city of Reggio Calabria.

  In his acceptance speech, the cardinal recalled how John Paul II's Encyclical "Redemptoris hominis" identified "respect for human rights as the best way to ensure peace among peoples". Benedict XVI likewise, "by emphasising the universal values shared by religious, cultures and schools of thought", has "identified the foundation of peace in an absolute value: truth".

  For this reason, Cardinal Bertone continued, "the current Pontiff never ceases to remind Christians of the centrality of Jesus Who, breaking down the walls that separate us, shows us the real possibility ... of commitment to universal peace".

  The secretary of State also dwelt on John Paul II's "concrete gestures for peace", such as his concern for human rights, his trips to conflict zones, his initiatives in the international community and the inter-religious meetings he promoted in Assisi.

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CHRISTMAS REMINDS US OF OUR DUTY TO HELP CHILDREN IN NEED

VATICAN CITY, 6 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Given below is an English-language translation made by Vatican Radio of a comment by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. for "Octavia Dies", a weekly programme produced by the Vatican Television Centre.

  "'What will become of this child?' The Gospel relates that this is the question on the lips of friends and relatives at the birth of the young John, who will be known as the Baptist. It is also the question that we all ask when we contemplate the wonder of a child coming into the world. And in that question there is hope, but also a certain concern.

  "It is the question we asked at the Pope's meeting with children two weeks ago - certainly the most wonderful and moving moment of the entire visit to Benin - with the elderly Pontiff surrounded by delightful little children dancing and holding his hand. The synodal document brought to Africa by the Pope enumerates, in a striking passage, some of the 'intolerable treatment inflicted on so many children'; 'children killed before birth, unwanted children, orphans, albinos, street children, abandoned children, child soldiers, child prisoners, children forced into labour, children ill-treated on account of physical or mental handicap, children said to be witches or warlocks, children sold as sex slaves, traumatised children without any future prospects'. The Church knows she must work for all of these children. Of the more than 125,000 health institutions and charities headed by the Church in the world, over 20,000 are specifically dedicated to children; many others are dedicated to education, or to the rescue of children from a life on the streets or other difficulties.

  "On the occasion of a recent international conference on the protection of children from sexual abuse, the intervention of Msgr. Scicluna - with its 'Decalogue' of clear and firm principles on how to protect children - was well received. And it is fair to remember the valuable and generous efforts of so many women, religious and lay, in this field. This is certainly one of the most wonderful - and beneficial - ways in which women serve humanity and the Church. In this time of Advent and Christmas, which is especially the Christ child, these are spontaneous reflections: we have every reason to continue to be in the frontline on these frontiers".

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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