SUMMARY:
- TO GIVE
SPACE TO THE ELDERLY IS TO GIVE SPACE TO LIFE
- NO ACT
OF KINDNESS IS MEANINGLESS BEFORE GOD
- HOLY
FATHER'S GREETINGS FOLLOWING THE ANGELUS
- SACRED
MUSIC CONTRIBUTES TO NEW EVANGELISATION
- POPE
ESTABLISHES PONTIFICAL ACADEMY FOR LATIN
- MESSAGE
TO THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
- VATICAN
TRIBUNAL SENTENCE AGAINST CLAUDIO SCIARPELLETTI
-
CARDINAL AMIGO VALLEJO, POPES SPECIAL ENVOY TO PUERTO RICO
-
AUDIENCES
- OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
______________________________________
TO
GIVE SPACE TO THE ELDERLY IS TO GIVE SPACE TO LIFE
Vatican
City, 12 November 2012 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father visited
the Sant Egidio Community's "Viva gli Anziani" rest home
for the elderly in Rome. In a brief address to the residents he said
that he came among them "as Bishop of Rome, but also as an
elderly person visiting his peers. I well know the difficulties and
limitations of age, and am aware that for many people these
difficulties are aggravated by the economic crisis".
"At
times", he continued, "at a certain age, one turns to the
past with regret for the loss of youth, its energy and plans for the
future. At times our perspective is veiled with sadness, as we
consider this phase as the twilight of life. This morning, ideally
addressing all the elderly and aware of the difficulties that our age
brings, I would like to say to you with profound conviction: it is
good to be elderly! At every age it is necessary to know how to
discover the presence and the blessing of the Lord, and the richness
that this brings. We must not allow ourselves to be imprisoned by
sadness! We have received the gift of long life. To live is
beautiful, even at our age and despite infirmities or limitations.
Let our faces always reflect the joy of being loved by God, and never
sadness".
The Holy
Father recalled that in the Bible, "longevity is considered as a
blessing from God; today this blessing is widespread and must be seen
as a gift to appreciate and value. Yet often society, dominated by
the logic of efficiency and profit, does not welcome it as such; on
the contrary, it often rejects it, considering the elderly as
unproductive and useless". However, the Pope observed, the
elderly are a source of wisdom and "a great resource. The
quality of a society, of a civilisation, may also be judged by how it
treats its elderly and by the place reserved for them in communal
life. To give space to the elderly is to give space to life!"
Benedict
XVI's visit forms a part of the European Year for Active Ageing and
Solidarity Among Generations, and in this context he affirmed that
the elderly "are of value to society, above all for the young.
There can be no true human education and growth without fruitful
contact with the elderly, because their very existence is like an
open book in which younger generations may find valuable guidance for
their own journey through life".
"At
our age", he observed, "we often experience the need for
the assistance of others, and this also happens to the Pope. ... I
would like to invite you to see in this too a gift from the Lord. It
is a grace to be supported and accompanied, to receive the affection
of others! This is important in every phase of life: no one can live
alone and without help; humans are relational beings. … Never be
discouraged: you are valuable to society, even in suffering and
sickness. And this phase of life is a gift that also allows us to
deepen our relationship with God. The example of Blessed Pope John
Paul II was and remains illuminating to all. Do not forget that,
among the valuable resources you have, there is the essential gift of
prayer".
"The
prayer of the elderly can protect the world, helping it perhaps in a
more incisive way than is achieved by the efforts of many. I would
like, today, to entrust to your prayer the good of the Church and
peace in the world. The Pope loves you and counts on you all! Know
that you are loved by God, and bring to our society, often so
individualistic and intent upon efficiency, a ray of God's love".
NO ACT
OF KINDNESS IS MEANINGLESS BEFORE GOD
Vatican
City, 11 November 2012 (VIS) - At midday, Benedict XVI appeared at
the window of his studio to pray the Angelus with faithful gathered
in St. Peter's Square. He commented on this Sunday's liturgy of the
Word, which presents two widows as examples of faith: one in the
First Book of Kings, the other in the Gospel of Mark.
"Both
these women are very poor, and it is precisely in this condition that
they demonstrate their great faith in God. The first widow appears in
the cycle of narratives on the prophet Elijah. During a period of
famine he receives an order from the Lord to go to Sidon, therefore
outside Israel and in pagan territory. There he encounters a widow
and asks her for some water to drink and a little bread. The woman
answers that all she has is a handful of flour and a drop of oil, but
since the prophet insists and promises her that, if she listens to
him, she will no longer lack flour and oil, she grants his request
and is rewarded. The second widow, from the Gospel, is noticed by
Jesus in the temple of Jerusalem, in the treasury where the people
offer contributions. Jesus sees that this woman throws two coins into
the chest and then calls the disciples to Him, explaining that her
offering is greater than that given by the rich as, while they gave
what was superfluous to them, she gave all she had to live on".
These two
biblical episodes offer us "valuable teaching on faith",
said the Pope. "The faith is presented as the interior attitude
of one who bases his or her own life on God, on the Word, and who
confides fully in Him. To be a widow, in ancient times, constituted
in itself a condition of grave need. Thus, in the Bible, widows and
orphans are people of whom God takes particular care; although they
have lost their means of subsistence on earth, God remains as their
Spouse or their Father. However, the Scriptures state that the
objective condition of need, in this case the fact of being a widow,
is not enough: God always asks us to adhere willingly to faith, which
is expressed as love for Him and for one's neighbour. No one is so
poor that they are unable to give something. And indeed, both these
widows show their faith in an act of charity: one towards the prophet
and the other in giving alms. They therefore demonstrate the
indivisible unity of faith and charity, which is like that between
love for God and love for neighbour".
The Pope
concluded by recalling the words of St. Leo the Great, "No act
of kindness is meaningless before God, no mercy is fruitless".
HOLY
FATHER'S GREETINGS FOLLOWING THE ANGELUS
Vatican
City, 11 November 2012 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus, the Pope
recalled how yesterday in Spoleto, Italy, Maria Luisa Prosperi, an
Italian abbess of the Benedictine convent of Trevi who lived in the
nineteenth century, was declared a blessed. "Let us praise God
for this His daughter, who chose to dedicate her life to the Passion
of Christ", he said.
Going on
then to refer to the Day of Thanksgiving, which is being celebrated
today in Italy, he observed: "In the context of the Year of
Faith, the theme of this Day - 'Trust in the Lord and do good, so you
will live in the land' - reminds us of the need for a lifestyle
rooted in the faith so that, with a grateful heart, we may recognise
the creative and provident hand of God which nourishes His children.
My greetings and best wishes to all who work in agriculture".
The Holy
Father also had words for Polish pilgrims. "The Feast of
Independence which is being celebrated today in Poland, commemorates
the faith of your forefathers, your history and the strength of
spirit of recent generations. On these foundations build the
prosperity of your nation. Today, moreover, I support the prayers
which - at the initiative of the Aid to the Church in Need - you are
offering for Christians in Egypt on this Day of Solidarity with the
Persecuted Church".
Finally,
the Pope greeted participants in a congress on Fr. Teilhard de
Chardin, which has been held over recent days at the Pontifical
Gregorian University in Rome.
SACRED
MUSIC CONTRIBUTES TO NEW EVANGELISATION
Vatican
City, 10 November 2012 (VIS) - "Sacred music can support faith
and contribute to new evangelisation", said the Pope to members
of the "Santa Cecilia" Italian musical association gathered
in Rome.
In his
address to the group, Benedict XVI, noting that this event coincides
with the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II
and the proclamation of the Year of Faith, spoke at length about the
teachings of the Conciliar Constitution on the liturgy, and in
particular the part referring to sacred music.
He said,
"on the subject of the faith, our thoughts naturally tend
towards St. Augustine, … and the important role in his conversion
played by psalms and hymns in the liturgies presided by St. Ambrose.
If indeed faith is born of listening to the Word of God - listening
not only with the senses, but also allowing the passage from the
senses to the mind and the heart - there is no doubt that music and
above all song are able to confer greater communicative power to
psalms and canticles. Among the charisms of St. Ambrose was a notable
musical capacity and sensibility and, following his consecration as
bishop of Milan, he dedicated this gift to the service of faith and
evangelisation".
Benedict
XVI observed that "the Constitution 'Sacrosanctum Concilium', in
accordance with the tradition of the Church, teaches that 'sacred
song united to the words ... forms a necessary or integral part of
the solemn liturgy'. Why 'necessary' and 'integral'? Certainly not
for purely aesthetic reasons, in a superficial sense, but because by
virtue of beauty, it contributes to nurturing and expressing faith,
and therefore to the glory of God and the sanctification of the
faithful, which are the aims of sacred music. Music … is not solely
an accessory to or external embellishment of the liturgy, but is
itself liturgy".
Referring
to the relationship between sacred song and new evangelisation, the
Pope remarked that the Conciliar Constitution on the liturgy reminds
us of "the importance of sacred music in the 'missio ad gentes'
and exhorts us to give due recognition to traditional forms of music.
But it is precisely in countries of ancient evangelisation … that
sacred music, with its great tradition belonging to our western
culture can, and indeed does, have an important role to play in
encouraging the rediscovery of God, a renewed approach to the
Christian message and the mysteries of faith".
The Pope
recalled the example of the poet Paul Claudel, whose conversion
occurred while he listened to the 'Magnificat' during Christmas
Vespers at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. "But, such
illustrious cases aside, let us consider how many hearts have been
deeply touched by listening to sacred music, and how many, like
Claudel, have been newly drawn to God by the beauty of liturgical
music". Benedict XVI urged the members of the association to
"make efforts to improve the quality of liturgical song, to
recover and promote the great musical tradition of the Church, that
finds two of its most exalted expressions in Gregorian chant and
polyphony".
"The
active participation of all the People of God in the liturgy cannot
consist only of speaking, but also of listening, welcoming the Word
with the senses and the spirit, and this is true also of sacred
music".
POPE
ESTABLISHES PONTIFICAL ACADEMY FOR LATIN
Vatican
City, 10 November 2012 (VIS) - By the Motu Proprio "Latina
lingua" published today, Benedict XVI has established the
Pontifical Academy for Latin, which will be part of the Pontifical
Council for Culture. The new academy will be directed by a president
assisted by a secretary, to be appointed by the Pope, and will
comprise an academic council. It will supersede the foundation
"Latinitas", established by Paul VI with the Chirograph
"Romani Sermonis" of 30 June 1976.
"The
Latin language", says the Pope in his Motu Proprio, "has
always been held in high regard by the Catholic Church and the Roman
pontiffs, who have promoted the knowledge and diffusion of the
language by making it their own, able to universally transmit the
message of the Gospel, as was authoritatively confirmed by my
predecessor Blessed John XXIII in the Apostolic Constitution 'Veterum
sapientia'.
"Since
the Pentecost the Church has spoken and prayed in all languages known
to humanity; however, the Christian communities of the first
centuries made extensive use of Greek and Latin, languages of
universal communication in the world in which they lived, thanks to
which the novelty of the Word of Christ encountered the heritage of
Hellenistic-Roman culture. After the fall of the western Roman empire
the Church of Rome not only continued to use Latin, but in a certain
sense also became its custodian and promoter in the theological and
liturgical fields, as well as in education and the transmission of
knowledge.
"In
our times too, knowledge of Latin language and culture remains as
necessary as ever for the study of the sources of numerous
ecclesiastical disciplines including, among others, theology,
liturgy, Patristics and canon law, as confirmed by Vatican Council
II. Furthermore, the 'editio typica' of the liturgical books of the
Roman Rite, the most important documents of the pontifical
Magisterium and the most solemn Acts of the Roman pontiffs are
written in Latin, precisely to emphasise the universal nature of the
Church.
"However,
in contemporary culture, within the context of a generalised
deterioration in humanistic studies, we see the danger of an
increasingly superficial knowledge of Latin, which may also be
detected in the philosophical and theological studies of future
priests. On the other hand, in our world in which science and
technology are so prominent, we also find renewed interest in the
Latin language and culture, and not only in those continents with
Greco-Roman cultural roots. This interest seems particularly
significant inasmuch as it is present not only in academic and
institutional environments, but also involves young people and
scholars from very different nations and traditions.
"There
is therefore an apparent pressing need to encourage commitment to a
greater knowledge and more competent use of Latin, in the ecclesial
environment as well as in the world of culture at large. To give
prominence and resonance to this effort, it is important to adopt
teaching methods adapted to contemporary conditions, and to promote a
network of relationships between academic institutions and among
scholars with the aim of promoting the rich and varied heritage of
Latin civilisation".
The Holy
Father concludes by saying that, "in order to contribute to the
achievement of these aims, and following in the wake of my venerated
predecessors, with the present Motu Proprio I today establish the
Pontifical Academy for Latin".
By this
Motu Proprio the Pope approves the statute of the new academy "ad
experimentum" for a five-year period.
MESSAGE
TO THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
Vatican
City, 10 November 2012 (VIS) - Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, has sent a message
to the new Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Anglican
Communion, the Right Reverend Justin Welby. Writing on behalf of Pope
Benedict XVI and of his own dicastery, the cardinal expresses his
"congratulations and warmest best wishes.
"Relations
between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion are a
hugely important part of the ecumenical call for all Christians to
seek greater fidelity to the Lord’s will, so clearly expressed in
his prayer to the Father at the Last Supper 'that all may be one'.
For almost fifty years, as you are well aware, there has been a
formal theological dialogue which continues to seek a deeper
understanding of the great heritage shared by Anglicans and
Catholics, as well as the points of divergence which still impede
fully restored ecclesial communion. During that same time, relations
between succeeding Popes and Archbishops of Canterbury have been
marked by numerous meetings which have expressed intense spiritual
and human friendship, and a shared concern for our Gospel witness and
service to the human family.
"I
am certain that under your leadership those excellent relations will
continue to bear fruit, and I look forward to meeting you personally,
and to future opportunities to share our common commitment to the
cause of Christian Unity, 'so that the world may believe'.
"Please
accept the assurance of my earnest prayers for you and your family as
you prepare for a new phase in your dedicated service of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ".
VATICAN
TRIBUNAL SENTENCE AGAINST CLAUDIO SCIARPELLETTI
Vatican
City, 10 November 2012 (VIS) - This morning the Tribunal of Vatican
City State published its ruling in the trial against Claudio
Sciarpelletti, the computer technician employed by the Secretariat of
State implicated in the "Vatileaks" case.
The
Tribunal, pursuant to Article 225 of the Penal Code, ruled that the
defendant was "guilty of the offence of assisting in the elusion
of the investigations by the Authorities" and "therefore
sentences him to prison for four months".
"Pursuant
to Article 26 of the Law of 21 June 1969, in view of the accused's
service record and lack of previous convictions, the Tribunal reduces
the sentence to imprisonment for two (2) months". Pursuant to
Article 90 of the same law, the Tribunal "orders the suspension
of the sentence for a period of five years, according to the
conditions of law". In the light of Article 427 of the Penal
Code, the Tribunal orders the suspension of "mention of the
sentence on the record of previous offences until such time as the
accused commits further offence".
"Pursuant
to Articles 39 of the Penal Code and 429 of the Code of Penal
Procedure", the Tribunal "orders Claudio Sciarpelletti to
defray the costs of the trial and reimburses him the sum of one
thousand euros he had deposited as bail".
"Signed:
Giuseppe Dalla Torre, president; Paolo Papanti-Pelletier; Venerando
Marano, and Raffaele Ottaviano, substitute registrar".
CARDINAL
AMIGO VALLEJO, POPES SPECIAL ENVOY TO PUERTO RICO
Vatican
City, 10 November 2012 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter,
written in Latin and dated 10 October, in which the Holy Father
appoints Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo O.F.M., archbishop emeritus of
Seville, Spain, as his special envoy to concluding celebrations for
the fifth centenary of the arrival of the first bishop of Puerto
Rico, Don Alonso Manso O.F.M. The event is due to take place in the
city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 19 November.
The
Cardinal will be accompanied on his mission by Msgr. Elias Salvador
Morales Rodriguez, rector of the major seminary and judicial vicar of
the diocese of Ponce, and Msgr. Mario Alberto Guijarro de Corzo,
paster of the parish of the "Martires de Verona" in San
Juan de Puerto Rico.
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 10 November 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in
audience:
-
Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for
Bishops.
-
Archbishop Richard William Smith of Edmonton, Canada, president of
the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Canada, accompanied by
Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher of Gatineau and Msgr. Patrick Powers,
respectively vice president and secretary general.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 12 November 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr.
Fortunatus Nwachukwu, chief of protocol at the Secretariat of State,
as apostolic nuncio to Nicaragua. The bishop-elect was born in
Ntigha, Nigeria in 1960 and ordained a priest in 1984. He entered the
diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1994 and has served, among
other places, in Ghana, Paraguay and Algeria.
On
Saturday 10 November the Holy Father:
-
Appointed Cardinal Paul Poupard, president emeritus of the Pontifical
Council for Culture, as his special envoy to the concluding
celebrations of the Jubilee Year dedicated to the Venerable Servant
of God Pauline Jaricot on the 150th anniversary of her death, and the
fiftieth anniversary of her Decree of heroic virtue, to be held in
Lyons, France, on 9 January 2013.
-
Appointed Bishop Carlos Maria Franzini of Rafaela, Argentina as
bishop of Mendoza (area 63,839, population 1,226,000, Catholics
1,042,000, priests 165, permanent deacons 54, religious 276),
Argentina. He succeeds Bishop Jose Maria Arancibia, whose resignation
from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted,
upon having reached the age limit.
-
Appointed Msgr. Serge Poitras, under secretary for the Congregation
of Bishops, as bishop of Timmins (area 26,200, population 89,300,
Catholics 48,900, priests 24, permanent deacons 7, religious 20),
Canada. The bishop-elect was born in Jonquiere, Quebec in 1949 and
ordained a priest in 1973. He obtained a doctorate in theology from
the Gregorian Pontifical University in 1988 and in 2000 became a
collaborator in the apostolic nunciature in Ottawa.
-
Appointed Fr. P. Quesnel Alphonse S.M.M., of the clergy of the
diocese Port-au-Prince, Haiti, pastor of the parish of "Saint-Louis,
Roi di France", as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese (area
5,500, population 4,110,000, Catholics 2,960,000, priests 274,
permanent deacons 1, religious 1,635). The bishop-elect was born in
Port-au-Prince in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1977. He has served
in various pastoral offices in the archdiocese of Cap-Haitien and the
dioceses of Port-de-Paix and Port-au-Prince.
-
Appointed Archbishop Tommaso Caputo, apostolic nuncio to Malta and
Libya, as prelate of Pompei, Italy, and pontifical delegate for the
Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Holy Rosary.
-
Appointed Ivano Dionigi and Fr. Roberto Spataro S.D.B., respectively,
as president and secretary of the Pontifical Academy for Latin.
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