SUMMARY:
- PRAYER,
COMMITMENT AND FRATERNITY FOR SYRIA
- AUDIENCE WITH
PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO AND RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN HOLY
SEE AND MONTENEGRO
- PRESENTATION
OF THE YEAR OF FAITH
- CARDINAL
WOELKI TO TAKE POSSESSION OF HIS TITULAR CHURCH
- AUDIENCES
______________________________________
PRAYER,
COMMITMENT AND FRATERNITY FOR SYRIA
Vatican
City, 21 June 2012 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received
participants in the annual general meeting of the Reunion of
Organisations for Aid to the Oriental Churches (ROACO).
In his
remarks to the group Benedict XVI mentioned the social and economic
crisis which, "due to the global dimension it has taken on, does
not spare the more economically developed parts of the world and,
even more worryingly, also affects the most disadvantaged areas".
Above all in the East, "homeland to ancient Christian
traditions", this process "generates insecurity and
instability also at the ecclesial level, and in the ecumenical and
inter-religious fields. These factors nourish endemic wounds of
history and make dialogue, peace, coexistence among peoples and
authentic respect for human rights even more fragile, especially the
right to religious freedom for individuals and communities".
In this
year's meeting, representatives form the Holy Land were joined by
prelates from the Syro-Malabar Church in India, the Greek-Catholic
Church of Ukraine, the apostolic nuncio to Syria and the president of
Caritas in Syria.
"This",
the Holy Father said, "is an occasion to reaffirm my closeness
to the great suffering of our brothers and sister in Syria, in
particular the young innocents and those most defenceless. May our
prayers, our commitment and our concrete fraternity in Christ ...
help them not to lose the light of hope at this moment of darkness;
and may God give wisdom of heart to those in positions of
responsibility, that all violence and bloodshed may cease".
The Pope
went on: "May the international community spare no effort to
help Syria emerge from its current situation of violence and crisis,
which has already gone on a long time and risks becoming a
generalised conflict which would have highly negative consequences
for the country and the entire region. I also make an urgent and
heartfelt appeal that, in the face of the dire need of the
population, the necessary humanitarian assistance be guaranteed, also
to the many people who have had to abandon their homes, some of whom
have taken shelter in neighbouring countries. Human life is a
precious gift which must always be protected".
In
closing Benedict XVI called on the members of ROACO to be "eloquent
signs of the charity that pours from Christ’s heart" and to
"present the Church to the world in her most authentic identity
and mission". He concluded by expressing the hope that the
Virgin would give them hope and watch over his own forthcoming trip
to Lebanon.
AUDIENCE
WITH PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO AND RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN
HOLY SEE AND MONTENEGRO
Vatican
City, 21 June 2012 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the
following communique at midday today:
"This
morning 21 June 2012 the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in
audience Filip Vujanovic, president of Montenegro. The president
subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State
Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique
Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
"The
principal reason for the visit was to exchange the instruments of
ratification of the Basic Agreement between the Holy See and
Montenegro, something the cardinal secretary of State and the
president of Montenegro duly did at the end of their meeting. With
that exchange the Agreement comes into force, pursuant to article 21.
"The
Agreement was signed in 2011 and is the result of the excellent
relations between the Holy See and Montenegro, which have been
established ever since the country gained its independence. The
document recognises the juridical status of the Catholic Church and
her principal institutions in civil society, her liberty and
independence in apostolic activity and in regulating matters that
specifically concern the Church, as well as freedom of worship, and
freedom of action in the fields of culture, education, pastoral care
and charity.
"During
the cordial discussions it was noted that the Agreement represents a
positive development in the consolidation of the rule of law and
democratic principles, upon which Montenegro wishes to base its
future. Moreover, a fruitful exchange of opinions took place on
current international issues and the regional situation. with
particular appreciation being expressed for the way in which the Holy
See is following Montenegro's journey towards full European
integration. Finally the parties stated their desire to keep the
spirit of collaboration alive through constructive dialogue on areas
of mutual interest for the Church and State".
PRESENTATION
OF THE YEAR OF FAITH
Vatican
City, 21 June 2012 (VIS) - A press conference was held this morning
in the Holy See Press Office for the presentation of the Year of
Faith which is due to last from 11 October 2012 to 24 November 2013.
The conference was presented by Archbishop Rino Fisichella and Msgr.
Graham Bell, respectively president and under secretary of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation.
Archbishop
Fisichella also presented the website and logo of the Year of Faith,
and outlined the calendar of events due to take place in Rome during
that period.
"In
his Apostolic Letter 'Porta fidei' Benedict XVI speaks ... of the
need to rediscover the journey of faith so as to shed ever clearer
light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of the encounter with
Christ", the archbishop said. "For this reason he called
the Year of Faith, which will also coincide with two anniversaries:
the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of Vatican Council II and
the twentieth anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church. ... The Year of Faith aims, above all, to support
the faith of believers who, in their daily trials, never cease to
entrust to entrust their lives to the Lord Jesus, with courage and
conviction. Their precious testimony, which does not make the news,
... is what enables the Church to present herself to the world today,
as she did in the past, supported by the strength of the faith and
the enthusiasm of ordinary people.
"The
Year of Faith", Archbishop Fisichella added, "falls into a
broader context which is characterised by a generalised crisis that
also touches the faith. ... The crisis of faith is a dramatic
expression of an anthropological crisis which has abandoned man to
his own devices. We must overcome the spiritual poverty affecting so
many of our contemporaries who do no longer perceive the absence of
God from their lives as a void that needs to be filled. The Year of
Faith, then, is an opportunity which the Christian community offers
to the many people who feel nostalgia for God and who desire to
rediscover Him".
The
programme of events for the Year "touches the daily life of all
believers and the ordinary pastoral care of the Christian community,
in order to rediscover that genuine missionary spirit which we need
in order to give life to the new evangelisation". In this
context, the archbishop announced that the Congregation for Divine
Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has approved the formula
for a special "Mass for New Evangelisation". This, he said,
is a sign that during the Year of Faith "priority will be given
to prayer, and especially to the Eucharist as source and summit of
all Christian life".
The
president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation
then went on to present the logo of the Year of Faith in which the
image of a ship symbolises the Church. The mast of the vessel is a
cross with full-blown sails which form the monogram of Christ (IHS)
and in the background is a sun representing the Eucharist. The
website of the event (www.annusfidei.va) is available in various
languages and can be consulted by smartphone and tablet. The Year
also has an official hymn entitled: "Credo, Domine, adauge nobis
fidem". A multilingual pastoral guide entitled "Living the
Year of Faith" is due to be published in early September and
pilgrims will receive an image of the Christ from the cathedral of
Cefalu in Sicily, with the Creed written on the back.
Finally
Archbishop Fisichella turned his attention to the most important
events of the Year of Faith, those to be celebrated in Rome in the
presence of the Holy Father: They include the opening, which "will
take place in St. Peter's Square on Thursday 11 October, fiftieth
anniversary of the beginning of Vatican Council II. There will be a
solemn Eucharistic celebration concelebrated by the Synod Fathers,
the presidents of the world's episcopal conferences and by Council
Fathers who are still alive".
Sunday 21
October will see the canonisation of seven martyrs: Jacques Berthieu,
Pedro Calungsod, Giovanni Battista Piamarta, Maria del Carmen (born
Maria Salles y Barangueras), Kateri Tekakwitha, Maria Anna Cope, and
Anna Schaffer. On 25 January 2013, during the traditional ecumenical
celebration at the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls,
participants will pray that, "through their joint profession of
the Symbol, Christians ... may not forget the path of unity". On
28 April the Holy Father will impart the Sacrament of Confirmation to
a group of young people, while 5 May will be dedicated to expressions
of popular piety.
On 18
May, the eve of Pentecost, Catholic movements, both old and new, will
gather in St. Peter's Square. On 2 June, Corpus Christi, the Blessed
Sacrament will be adored at the same time all over the world. Sunday
16 June will be dedicated to the Gospel of Life. On 7 July
seminarians and novices from all over the world will conclude their
pilgrimage by gathering in St. Peter's Square. The 29 September will
be dedicated to catechists on the twentieth anniversary of the
publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and 13 October
will focus on the presence of Mary in the Church. Finally, the
closing celebration of the Year of Faith will take place on 24
November 2013.
The Year
of Faith will also include a number of cultural events including an
exhibition on St. Peter to be held at Castel Sant'Angelo from 7
February 2013 to 1 May 2013 and a concert in St. Peter's Square on 22
June 2013.
CARDINAL
WOELKI TO TAKE POSSESSION OF HIS TITULAR CHURCH
Vatican
City, 21 June 2012 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff today announced that at 7 p.m. on Saturday 30
June Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, archbishop of Berlin, Germany,
will take possession of the title of St. John Mary Vianney in Via
Lentini 6, Rome.
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 21 June 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience
Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of
Bishops.
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