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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXIII - N° 31
DATE 13-02-2013
Summary:
- BENEDICT XVI: THANK YOU ALL. THE LORD WILL GUIDE US.
- POPE: DO NOT GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION TO INSTRUMENTALIZE GOD
- YOUTH, PROTAGONISTS OF FRATERNITY CAMPAIGN IN BRAZIL
- THE CHURCH DEFENDS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORKER ON THE LAND
- FR. LOMBARDI: BRIEFING ON PAPAL ACTIVITIES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
___________________________________________________________
BENEDICT XVI: THANK YOU ALL. THE LORD WILL GUIDE US.
Vatican City, 13 February 2013 (VIS) – Before his catechesis in the
General Audience this morning, the Holy Father spoke of his decision to leave
the pontificate. Interrupted by the applause of the crowd filling the Paul VI
Hall he said:
"As you know, I have decided?thank you for your kindness?to renounce the
ministry which the Lord entrusted to me on 19 April 2005. I have done this in
full freedom for the good of the Church, after much prayer and having examined
my conscience before
God, knowing full well the seriousness of this act, but also realizing that I
am no longer able to carry out the Petrine ministry with the strength which it
demands. I am strengthened and reassured by the certainty that the Church is
Christ’s, who
will never leave her without his guidance and care. I thank all of you for the
love and for the prayers with which you have accompanied me. Thank you; in
these days which have not been easy for me, I have felt almost physically the
power of prayer?your
prayers?which the love of the Church has given me. Continue to pray for me,
for the Church, and for the future Pope. The Lord will guide us."
___________________________________________________________
POPE: DO NOT GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION TO INSTRUMENTALIZE GOD
Vatican City, 13 February 2013 (VIS) – Benedict XVI dedicated the
catechesis of today's General Audience to the season of Lent, which begins
today, Ash Wednesday. "Forty days," he said, "that prepare us for the
celebration of Easter. It is a time
of particular commitment in our spiritual journey. … Forty days was
also the period that Jesus spent in the desert before beginning his public
life, when he was tempted by the devil."
Reflecting on Jesus' temptations in the desert, is "an invitation to each of
us to respond to a fundamental question: What is truly important in our lives?
… The core of the three temptations that Jesus faced is the proposal to
instrumentalize
God, to use Him for personal interests, for self-glory and success. In
essence, it is putting oneself in God's place, eliminating Him from our
existence and making Him seem superfluous. … Giving God the first place
is a path that each Christian
has to undertake. 'Conversion' … means following Jesus, so that His
Gospel becomes the practical guide of our lives. … It means recognizing
that we are creatures who depend on God, on His love ...This requires us to
make our decisions in
light of the Word of God. Today it is no longer possible to be a Christian as
a simple consequence of living in a society that has Christian roots. Even
those who come from a Christian family … must renew daily their
decision to
be
Christian, to give God the first place in the face of the temptations
continuously suggested by a secularized culture, in the face of the criticism
of many of their contemporaries."
"The tests that Christians are subjected to by society today are numerous and
affect our personal and social life. It is not easy to be faithful to
Christian marriage, to practice mercy in our everyday lives, or to leave space
for prayer and inner
silence. It is not easy to publicly oppose the decisions that many consider to
be obvious, such as abortion in the case of an unwanted pregnancy, euthanasia
in the case of serious illness, or the selection of embryos to avoid
hereditary diseases. The
temptation to set one's faith aside is always present and conversion becomes a
response to God that must be confirmed at various times throughout our lives."
The Holy Father recalled that in history there have been "great conversions
such as St. Paul's on the road to Damascus or St. Augustine's. But also in our
age, when the sense of the sacred is eclipsed, God's grace acts and works
wonders in the lives of
many people … as was the case for the Orthodox Russian scientist Pavel
Florensky who, after a completely agnostic education … found himself
exclaiming, 'It's impossible without God.' He completely changed his life,
even becoming a monk."
The Pope also cited the case of the intellectual Etty Hillesum (1914-1943), "a
young Dutch woman of Jewish origin, who died in Auschwitz. Initially far from
God, she discovered Him by looking deep within herself, writing: 'There is a
well deep within
me. And God is that well.' … In her scattered and restless life, she
rediscovered God in the midst of the great tragedy of the twentieth century,
the Shoah."
"In our age, there are more than a few conversions that are seen as the return
of those who, after a Christian education, perhaps a superficial one, have
turned away from the faith for years, then later rediscover Christ and His
Gospel. … In this
time of Lent, in the Year of Faith, we renew our commitment to the path of
conversion, overcoming the tendency to be wrapped up in ourselves and to make
room for God, seeing our everyday reality with His eyes. Conversion means not
being wrapped up in
ourselves in the search for success, prestige, or social position, but rather
of making each day, in the small things, truth, faith in God, and love, become
what is most important," the Pope concluded.
___________________________________________________________
YOUTH, PROTAGONISTS OF FRATERNITY CAMPAIGN IN BRAZIL
Vatican City, 13 February 2013 (VIS) – The Holy Father sent a message to
the faithful in Brazil for the Fraternity Campaign that takes place in that
country every year during Lent, and that has the theme of "Fraternity and
Youth" this year.
"The path of Lent opens before us permeated with prayer, penitence, and
charity, to prepare us to experience and to participate more deeply in Jesus
Christ's passion, death, and resurrection," the Pope writes. "In Brazil, this
preparation has found
valuable support and encouragement in the Fraternity Campaign, which this year
celebrates its 50th anniversary and which is coloured by the spiritual
overtones of the 27th World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro this July."
"I gladly join in this Lenten initiative of the Church in Brazil and I send
each and every one of you my cordial greetings in the Lord, to whom I entrust
the efforts of those who are committed to helping the youth become …
'protagonists of a more
just and more fraternal society inspired by the Gospel'. The 'signs of the
times' in society and in the Church also arise through the youth. Disregarding
these signs, or not discerning them, means losing opportunities for renewal.
If they are part of
the present then they will also be part of the future. We want the youth to be
protagonists and to be integrated into the community that welcomes them, which
demonstrates the confidence that the Church has in each of them. This requires
guides?priests,
consecrated persons, or lay persons?who remain young at heart even if they are
not young in age, who are capable of walking without imposing a march, capable
of solidarity and empathy, capable of giving the witness of salvation, whi
ch is
nourished by faith and the following of Christ every day."
___________________________________________________________
THE CHURCH DEFENDS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORKER ON THE LAND
Vatican City, 13 February 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Pope sent a message to
participants in the meeting of the Board of Governors of the International
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which celebrates its 36th
anniversary this year.
The Holy Father praised "the methodology followed by IFAD, which gives ongoing
development priority over mere assistance, and places the group dimension
alongside the purely individual dimension, to the point of setting up forms of
interest-free grants
and loans, often choosing, as the primary beneficiaries, the 'poorest of the
poor'. This activity shows that approaches inspired by the principle of
gratuitousness and by the culture of gift can 'find their place within normal
economic activity'
(Caritas in Veritate)."
"Indeed, the approach taken by the Fund is to link the elimination of poverty
not only to the fight against hunger and the guarantee of food security, but
also to the creation of work opportunities and institutional decision-making
structures. It is
well known that when these elements are missing, the involvement of rural
labourers in choices that affect them is restricted, hence reinforcing their
sense of being limited in their capacity and their dignity."
"In this area there are two specific lines taken by the Organization that are
to be commended. The first is the constant attention given to Africa, where,
by supporting projects of 'rural credit', IFAD aims to endow small farmers
with modest but
essential financial resources, and to empower them in the decision-making and
administrative phase as well. The second line is the support given to
indigenous communities, which have a particular care for preserving
biodiversity, recognized as a
precious good that the Creator has placed at the disposal of the entire human
family. The safeguarding of these peoples’ identity needs to be given
priority, and their indispensable role in handing down traditional know-how
needs to be
acknowledged."
"The Catholic Church, in her teaching and her activity, has always upheld the
centrality of the worker on the land, urging concrete political and economic
action in areas that affect him. This stance, I am happy to observe,
harmonizes with the
Fund’s approach in underlining the role of farmers, as individuals and
as small groups, thus actively involving them in the development of their
communities and countries. This attention to the person, both individually and
collectively, will be
more effective if it is achieved through forms of association, both
cooperatives and small family businesses with the wherewithal to produce an
income that is sufficient to support a decent standard of living."
Referring to "the next International Year that the United Nations has chosen
to dedicate to the rural family," the Pope added that it will promote "a
deep-rooted and sound notion of agricultural development and of the fight
against poverty, based on
this fundamental cell of society. IFAD knows from experience that the family
is at the heart of the social order, and what serves to regulate family life,
prior to the laws of a State or international norms, are the moral principles
inscribed in the
natural patrimony of values which are immediately identifiable in the rural
world as well. These principles inspire the conduct of individuals, the
relationship between spouses and between generations, and the sense of shared
ownership. To ignore this
reality, or to fail to recognize it, would be to undermine the foundations not
only of the family, but of the entire rural community, with consequences whose
gravity is easily foreseeable."
___________________________________________________________
FR. LOMBARDI: BRIEFING ON PAPAL ACTIVITIES
Vatican City, 13 February 2013 (VIS) – Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J.,
director of the Holy See Press Office, presented the Holy Father's activities
up to 28 February.
Tomorrow, as announced in Tuesday's briefing, Benedict XVI will meet with the
Roman pastors in the Paul VI Hall. On the 15th he will receive, respectively,
the "Pro Petri Sede" association and the president of Romania. On the 16th he
will meet with the
president of Guatemala. On those same days he will meet with the Italian
bishops from Liguria and Lombardy on their 'ad limina' visits. However, the
audience with the president of Cameroon, which was scheduled for 28 February,
has been cancelled as well
as the 'ad limina' visits scheduled with the Italian prelates from the Le
Marche region between 25 and 28 February. On Saturday the 16th at 6:00pm, the
Pope will meet with the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti, and the following
Saturday, the 23rd in
the late morning, with the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano. "Both," Fr.
Lombardi clarified, "have expressed the desire to meet briefly with the Pope."
From the 17th, after the Angelus, until the morning of the 23th, the Holy
Father and the Roman Curia have the Lenten Spiritual Exercises, which will be
led this year by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi. As is traditional, for the
Wednesday of that week there
will be no general audience and no activity with the Pope is planned. On the
24th, he will pray the Angelus with the faithful who are gathered in St.
Peter's Square.
On the 25th, the Holy Father will receive some of the cardinals in a private
audience. On the 27th, the general audience will take place in St. Peter's
Square. On the 28th, the last day of his pontificate, Benedict XVI will meet
with members of the
College of Cardinals in the Clementine Hall and at 5:00pm he will travel by
helicopter to Castel Gandolfo.
The period of Sede vacante begins on 1 March. All the visits and activities
that call for the Pope's presence during that time are therefore cancelled.
Finally, the director of the Holy See Press Office recalled that when the
period of Sede vacante begins, the congregations of cardinals to prepare for
the conclave also begin. The congregations have a number of juridical
requirements to meet along with
serving to exchange viewpoints regarding the problems to be addressed, the
situation of the Church, etc., so that each of the members of the College of
Cardinals might develop his criteria regarding the election of the new Pope.
For this reason, the
regulations provide that the beginning of the conclave be established between
15 and 20 days from the beginning of the Sede vacante. "If everything goes
normally, it could be envisioned," Fr. Lombardi said, "that the conclave
begins between 15 and 19
March. At the moment, we cannot give an exact date because it falls to the
cardinals to determine it."
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 13 February 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father appointed
Bishop Giuseppe Sciacca as auditor general of the Apostolic Camera. Bishop
Sciacca, titular of Fundi, is the secretary general of the Governorate of
Vatican City State.
___________________________________________________________
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VISnews130213
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXIII - N° 31DATE 13-02-2013
Summary: - BENEDICT XVI: THANK YOU ALL. THE
LORD WILL GUIDE US. -
POPE: DO NOT GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION TO INSTRUMENTALIZE GOD - YOUTH,
PROTAGONISTS OF FRATERNITY CAMPAIGN IN BRAZIL - THE CHURCH DEFENDS THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE WORKER ON THE LAND - FR. LOMBARDI: BRIEFING ON PAPAL
ACTIVITIES - OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
BENEDICT XVI: THANK YOU ALL. THE LORD WILL GUIDE US.
Vatican City, 13 February 2013 (VIS) – Before his catechesis in the
General Audience this morning, the Holy Father spoke of his decision to leave
the pontificate. Interrupted by the applause of the crowd filling the Paul VI
Hall he said:
"As you know, I have decided?thank you for your kindness?to renounce the
ministry which the Lord entrusted to me on 19 April 2005. I have done this in
full freedom for the good of the Church, after much prayer and having examined
my conscience before
God, knowing full well the seriousness of this act, but also realizing that I
am no longer able to carry out the Petrine ministry with the strength which it
demands. I am strengthened and reassured by the certainty that the Church is
Christ’s, who
will never leave her without his guidance and care. I thank all of you for the
love and for the prayers with which you have accompanied me. Thank you; in
these days which have not been easy for me, I have felt almost physically the
power of prayer?your
prayers?which the love of the Church has given me. Continue to pray for me,
for the Church, and for the future Pope. The Lord will guide us."
POPE: DO NOT GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION TO INSTRUMENTALIZE GOD
Vatican City, 13 February 2013 (VIS) – Benedict XVI dedicated the
catechesis of today's General Audience to the season of Lent, which begins
today, Ash Wednesday. "Forty days," he said, "that prepare us for the
celebration of Easter. It is a
time of particular commitment in our spiritual journey. … Forty days
was also the period that Jesus spent in the desert before beginning his public
life, when he was tempted by the devil."
Reflecting on Jesus' temptations in the desert, is "an invitation to each
of us to respond to a fundamental question: What is truly important in our
lives? … The core of the three temptations that Jesus faced is the
proposal to instrumentalize
God, to use Him for personal interests, for self-glory and success. In
essence, it is putting oneself in God's place, eliminating Him from our
existence and making Him seem superfluous. … Giving God the first place
is a path that each Christian
has to undertake. 'Conversion' … means following Jesus, so that His
Gospel becomes the practical guide of our lives. … It means recognizing
that we are creatures who depend on God, on His love ...This requires us to
make our decisions in
light of the Word of God. Today it is no longer possible to be a Christian as
a simple consequence of living in a society that has Christian roots. Even
those who come from a Christian family … must
renew daily their decision to be Christian, to give God the first place in the
face of the temptations continuously suggested by a secularized culture, in
the face of the criticism of many of their contemporaries."
"The tests that Christians are subjected to by society today are numerous
and affect our personal and social life. It is not easy to be faithful to
Christian marriage, to practice mercy in our everyday lives, or to leave space
for prayer and inner
silence. It is not easy to publicly oppose the decisions that many consider to
be obvious, such as abortion in the case of an unwanted pregnancy, euthanasia
in the case of serious illness, or the selection of embryos to avoid
hereditary diseases. The
temptation to set one's faith aside is always present and conversion becomes a
response to God that must be confirmed at various times throughout our
lives."
The Holy Father recalled that in history there have been "great conversions
such as St. Paul's on the road to Damascus or St. Augustine's. But also in our
age, when the sense of the sacred is eclipsed, God's grace acts and works
wonders in the lives
of many people … as was the case for the Orthodox Russian scientist
Pavel Florensky who, after a completely agnostic education … found
himself exclaiming, 'It's impossible without God.' He completely changed his
life, even becoming a
monk." The Pope also cited the case of the intellectual Etty Hillesum
(1914-1943), "a young Dutch woman of Jewish origin, who died in Auschwitz.
Initially far from God, she discovered Him by looking deep within herself,
writing: 'There is a well deep
within me. And God is that well.' … In her scattered and restless life,
she rediscovered God in the midst of the great tragedy of the twentieth
century, the
Shoah."
"In our age, there are more than a few conversions that are seen as the
return of those who, after a Christian education, perhaps a superficial one,
have turned away from the faith for years, then later rediscover Christ and
His Gospel. … In
this time of Lent, in the Year of Faith, we renew our commitment to the path
of conversion, overcoming the tendency to be wrapped up in ourselves and to
make room for God, seeing our everyday reality with His eyes. Conversion means
not being wrapped up
in ourselves in the search for success, prestige, or social position, but
rather of making each day, in the small things, truth, faith in God, and love,
become what is most important," the Pope concluded.
YOUTH, PROTAGONISTS OF FRATERNITY CAMPAIGN IN BRAZIL
Vatican City, 13 February 2013 (VIS) – The Holy Father sent a message
to the faithful in Brazil for the Fraternity Campaign that takes place in that
country every year during Lent, and that has the theme of "Fraternity and
Youth" this year.
"The path of Lent opens before us permeated with prayer, penitence, and
charity, to prepare us to experience and to participate more deeply in Jesus
Christ's passion, death, and resurrection," the Pope writes. "In Brazil, this
preparation has found
valuable support and encouragement in the Fraternity Campaign, which this year
celebrates its 50th anniversary and which is coloured by the spiritual
overtones of the 27th World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro this July."
"I gladly join in this Lenten initiative of the Church in Brazil and I send
each and every one of you my cordial greetings in the Lord, to whom I entrust
the efforts of those who are committed to helping the youth become …
'protagonists of a
more just and more fraternal society inspired by the Gospel'. The 'signs of
the times' in society and in the Church also arise through the youth.
Disregarding these signs, or not discerning them, means losing opportunities
for renewal. If they are part
of the present then they will also be part of the future. We want the youth to
be protagonists and to be integrated into the community that welcomes them,
which demonstrates the confidence that the Church has in each of them. This
requires
guides?priests, consecrated persons, or lay persons?who remain young at heart
even if they are not young in age, who are capable of walking without imposing
a march, capable of solidarity and empathy, capable of
giving the witness of salvation, which is nourished by faith and the following
of Christ every day."
