Friday, October 13, 2006

News Vatican Information Services 10/13/2006


SUMMARY:

- Serve the Lord with Detachment from the World
- Telegram for the Death of Cardinal Monduzzi
- Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi Visits Holy Father
- In Brief
- Audiences

___________________________________________________________

SERVE THE LORD WITH DETACHMENT FROM THE WORLD

VATICAN CITY, OCT 13, 2006 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received prelates from the Zambia Episcopal Conference who have just completed their five-yearly "ad limina" visit. Addressing them in English, the Holy Father told the bishops that his individual meetings with them over the days of their visit had led him to a "deeper appreciation of the Catholic Church in your country: her joys, her difficulties and her hopes."

"I encourage you," the Holy Father continued, "to urge your people to dedicate themselves to prayer and holiness, discovering the treasure of a life built on faith in Christ. ... The light of holiness that shines forth in those who have discovered this treasure is enkindled at the moment of Baptism. In Baptism Christ liberates the believer from the dominion of sin, freeing him from an existence filled with fear and superstition and calling him to a new life."

Pope Benedict then called on the bishops to instruct the faithful "in the value and the practice of prayer, especially liturgical prayer, where in a sublime way the Church is united with Christ the High Priest in His eternal intercession for the salvation of the world. Moreover, the Catholic Church encourages the faithful to practise popular forms of piety. Therefore, always teach your people the value of the intercession of the saints, who are the great friends of Jesus, and particularly the special intercession of Mary, His Mother, who is always attentive to our needs."

He then went on to consider the prelates' duty to guide the faithful "on the way that leads to sanctity ... with wise advice, unwavering resolve and paternal affection," and highlighted the importance of guidance "in your dealings with your brother priests, who at times can be led astray by the many temptations of contemporary society. As pastors and fathers to your co-workers in the vineyard, you must always communicate to them the joy of serving the Lord with a proper detachment from the things of this world."

"We believe that the Church is holy. When you urge your priests to live holy lives in accordance with their calling, when you preach generous love and fidelity in marriage and when you exhort everybody to practise the works of mercy, remind them of the Lord's own words: 'You are the light of the world.' ... Show Christ's compassion especially for the poor, for refugees, for the sick and for all who suffer.

"At the same time," he concluded, "in your teaching continue to proclaim the need for honesty, family affection, discipline and fidelity, all of which have a decisive impact on the health and stability of society."
AL/.../ZAMBIA VIS 061013 (450)

TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL MONDUZZI

VATICAN CITY, OCT 13, 2006 (VIS) - Benedict XVI has sent a telegram of condolence to Luigi Monduzzi for the death of his brother Cardinal Dino Monduzzi, prefect emeritus of the Pontifical Household, who died early this morning in Vatican City at the age of 84.

"It was with great sadness that I learned the news of the death of the dear Cardinal Dino Monduzzi at the end of a long and painful illness, and I wish to express my profound condolences to his relatives, to those who knew and respected him, and to the diocesan community of Faenza-Modigliana which numbers him among its most illustrious sons. During his life he provided, with great dedication, generous service to four Popes in the office of Chamberlain, later known as the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, and I especially recall the alacrity and intelligence with which he would organize the daily pontifical audiences and the pastoral visits within Italy. I raise fervent prayers to the Lord to welcome him to eternal joy and peace, and I send to you, to his nieces and nephews, to all his relatives, and to those sharing in the mourning for the loss of such a faithful servant of the Holy See, a comforting apostolic blessing as a sign of my intense participation in the general grief."

At 5 p.m. on Monday, October 16, the Holy Father will preside at the cardinal's funeral at the altar of the Cathedra in the Vatican Basilica.
TGR/DEATH/MONDUZZI VIS 061013 (260)

ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI VISITS HOLY FATHER

VATICAN CITY, OCT 13, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office has released a declaration concerning today's visit to the Holy Father by Romano Prodi, prime minister of the Italian Republic. The prime minister was accompanied on his visit by Enrico Letta, under-secretary of State at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and by the Italian ambassador to the Holy See. Following his meeting with the Pope, Romano Prodi went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.

"During the cordial meetings," reads the declaration, "consideration was given to topics concerning bilateral relations between the Holy See and the Italian Republic, with particular reference to the fields of bioethics, of the defense and promotion of life and the family, of solidarity, of dialogue between religions and cultures, and of the education of youth. Time was also dedicated to examining questions concerning international politics, especially as regards the situation in the Middle East and the Italian commitment in Lebanon, as well as the importance of Christian values in the process of European integration. The desire for close collaboration between the parties was reiterated, for the progress of the Italian nation and for the good of the international community."
OP/VISIT PRIME MINISTER/PRODI:LETTA VIS 061013 (220)

IN BRIEF

ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, AT THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIATURE IN BERLIN, Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender, apostolic nuncio to Germany, and Ole von Beust, mayor and president of the senate of Hamburg, Germany, exchanged the instruments of ratification of an agreement between the Holy See and the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg signed on November 29, 2005. The agreement regulates relations between the Catholic Church and this city "lande" and came into effect on the day following the exchange of the instruments of ratification.

ARCHBISHOP CELESTINO MIGLIORE, PERMANENT OBSERVER of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, spoke yesterday before the plenary of the UN General Assembly, on the theme: "New Partnership for Africa's Development." In his English-language talk, Archbishop Migliore affirmed the need "to create new forms of solidarity at bilateral and multilateral levels through a more decisive commitment on the part of all, with the complete conviction that the well-being of the peoples of Africa is an indispensable condition for the attainment of the universal common good."
.../IN BRIEF/... VIS 061013 (180)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 13, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, India.

- Bishop Emilio Patriarca of Monze, Zambia, on his "ad limina" visit.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
AP:AL/.../... VIS 061013 (60)


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

Thursday, October 12, 2006

News Vatican Information Services 10/12/2006


SUMMARY:

- Not Just Tolerance But Authentic Respect among Religions
- Holy Father Receives Prime Minister of Poland
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

NOT JUST TOLERANCE BUT AUTHENTIC RESPECT AMONG RELIGIONS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 12, 2006 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received a group from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The league was founded in 1913 and its aim, according to its founding charter, is "to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people."

Speaking English, Pope Benedict recalled how members of the ADL had visited John Paul II on a number of occasions and expressed his own happiness at being able "to continue to meet representative groups of the Jewish people.

"In our world today," he added, "religious, political, academic and economic leaders are being seriously challenged to improve the level of dialogue between peoples and between cultures. To do this effectively requires a deepening of our mutual understanding and a shared dedication to building a society of ever greater justice and peace. We need to know each other better and, on the strength of that mutual discovery, to build relationships not just of tolerance but of authentic respect. Indeed, Jews, Christians and Muslims share many common convictions, and there are numerous areas of humanitarian and social engagement in which we can and must cooperate.

"The Vatican Council II Declaration 'Nostra Aetate' reminds us that the Jewish roots of Christianity oblige us to overcome the conflicts of the past and to create new bonds of friendship and collaboration. It affirms in particular that the Church deplores all forms of hatred or persecution directed against the Jews and all displays of anti-Semitism at any time and from any source.

"The four decades since the Declaration have brought many positive advances, and they have also witnessed some early steps, perhaps still too tentative, towards a more open conversation on religious themes. It is precisely at this level of frank exchange and dialogue that we will find the basis and the motivation for a solid and fruitful relationship."

The Holy Father concluded by calling upon the Lord to "bless every effort to eliminate from our world any misuse of religion as an excuse for hatred or violence."
AC/ANTI-SEMITISM/ADL VIS 061012 (360)

HOLY FATHER RECEIVES PRIME MINISTER OF POLAND

VATICAN CITY, OCT 12, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today released the following declaration:

"This morning Jaroslaw Kaczynski, prime minister of the Republic of Poland, paid a visit to His Holiness Benedict XVI. He subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.

"In the course of the discussions, there was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, with particular reference to the process of European integration and to questions associated with the Christian roots of the continent. Attention was also given to the moral and religious problems affecting the life of States today, especially those concerning bioethics and the defense and promotion of life and the family, solidarity, religious freedom, and dialogue between cultures."
OP/EUROPE:RELIGION/POLAND:KACZYNSKI VIS 061012 (130)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 12, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences four prelates from the Zambia Episcopal Conference on their "ad limina" visit:

- Archbishop James Spaita of Kasama.

- Coadjutor Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu of Lusaka, apostolic administrator of Mpika.

- Bishop Paul Francis Duffy O.M.I., of Mongu.

- Bishop Noel Charles O'Regan S.M.A., of Ndola, apostolic administrator of Solwezi.

This evening, he is scheduled to receive Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, archbishop of Bologna, Italy.
AP:AL/.../... VIS 061012 (80)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 12, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Martin J. Amos, auxiliary of the diocese of Cleveland, U.S.A., as bishop of Davenport (area 29,632, population 744,990, Catholics 105,650, priests 121, permanent deacons 46, religious 191), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop William Edwin Franklin, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Boston, presented by Bishop John P. Boles, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. John A. Dooher of the clergy of the archdiocese of Boston, U.S.A., pastor of the parish of St. Mary in Dedham, and Fr. Robert F. Hennessey of the clergy of the archdiocese of Boston, pastor of the parish of the Most Holy Redeemer in East Boston, as auxiliaries of the archdiocese of Boston (area 6,386, population 4,000,403, Catholics 2,079,730, priests 1,451, permanent deacons 254, religious 3,252). Bishop-elect Dooher was born in Dorchester in 1943 and ordained a priest in 1969. Bishop-elect Hennessey was born in Boston in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1978.

- Appointed Msgr. Juan Pedro Juarez Melendez, vicar general of the diocese of Tlaxcala, Mexico, as bishop of Tula (area 8,289, population 1,228,000, Catholics 982,000, priests 73, permanent deacons 1, religious 96) Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in Tlalcuapan, Mexico, in 1951, and ordained a priest in 1975.
NER:RE:NEA/.../... VIS 061012 (250)


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

DreamHost discount