VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXIV - # 80   
   DATE 02-05-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF ANGOLA: FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AND   
   SOCIAL INEQUALITY   
   - TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE ECONOMY: TRANSPARENCY IN THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL   
   - POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE "PAPAL FOUNDATION"   
   - FOOTBALLERS: SET AN EXAMPLE BOTH ON AND OFF PITCH   
   - HOLY SEE, VATICAN CITY AND THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE   
   - AUDIENCES   
   - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
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    POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF ANGOLA: FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AND   
   SOCIAL INEQUALITY   
    Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the   
   Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of the Republic of   
   Angola, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary   
   of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti,   
   secretary for Relations with States.   
    During the cordial discussions, the good relations between the Holy See and   
   the Republic of Angola were evoked. In particular, mention was made of the   
   planned bilateral Agreement regarding the legal state of the Catholic Church   
   in the country. In this context, reference was also made to the important   
   contribution offered by the Catholic Church to the country through its   
   educational and healthcare institutions.   
    Finally, attention focused on various challenges relating to the Country and   
   the Region, such as the fight against poverty and social inequality, the full   
   development of the person, reconciliation, justice and peace, with particular   
   attention to the different situations of conflict that affect the African   
   Continent.   
      
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    TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE ECONOMY: TRANSPARENCY IN THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL   
    Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received in   
   audience the members of the Council for the Economy on the occasion of their   
   first meeting. After greeting Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munchen   
   und Freising, Germany and coordinator of the Council for the Economy, the Pope   
   underlined the Church's "awareness of her responsibility to protect and manage   
   prudently her assets in the light of her mission of evangelisation, with   
   particular care for the needy", and added that "We must not stray from this   
   path. Everything, transparency, efficiency, everything is for this purpose. It   
   is all for this".   
    Pope Francis emphasised that the Holy See is called upon to carry out this   
   mission, paying special attention to its responsibility to the universal   
   Church, and without forgetting that this challenge reflects the wish to   
   implement the necessary reform of the Roman Curia to serve better the Church   
   and Peter's mission. "A significant challenge that takes loyalty and prudence.   
   The path will not be easy and will require courage and determination".   
    Before concluding, the Pope reiterated that the Council is made up of eight   
   cardinals and seven laypersons, and that the latter are fully-fledged members   
   of the new council. "They are not second class members", he remarked. "The   
   work of the Council is of great weight and importance, and will offer a   
   fundamental contribution to the service performed by Roman Curia and the   
   various administrations of the Holy See".   
      
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    POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE "PAPAL FOUNDATION"   
    Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) - Today at midday, in the Vatican's Sala   
   Clementina, the Pope received two hundred members of the "Papal Foundation"   
   during its annual visit to Rome. The "Papal Foundation" is an American   
   Catholic association founded in Philadelphia, U.S.A. in 1990 by the late   
   Cardinal John Krol, which provides funds to meet the needs of the Church   
   throughout the world.   
    The Bishop of Rome thanked the Foundation for the help it offers the Church   
   in developing countries by supporting educational, charitable and apostolic   
   projects, and also for the scholarships it makes available to laity, priests   
   and religious for study in Rome. "In this way, you help to ensure the training   
   of a new generation of leaders whose minds and hearts are shaped by the truth   
   of the Gospel, the wisdom of Catholic social teaching and a profound sense of   
   communion with the universal Church in her service to the entire human family".   
    He concluded by mentioning the momentousness of these days marked by the   
   canonisation of John XXIII and John Paul II, and assured the members of the   
   Papal Foundation of his prayers that they may "be confirmed in the grace of   
   your Baptism and in your commitment to be missionary disciples filled with the   
   joy born of a personal encounter with the Risen Jesus".   
      
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    FOOTBALLERS: SET AN EXAMPLE BOTH ON AND OFF PITCH   
    Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) - "Football is a social entity, and requires   
   social responsibility on the part of players, both on and off the pitch, and   
   by national and local managers", said Pope Francis this morning at the   
   beginning of his address to the Fiorentina and Napoli football clubs, and a   
   delegation from the Football Federation and the Serie A League. The Pope   
   shared some "joyful moments" from his youth, when he used to visit the stadium   
   with his family on Sundays, and commented that he would like football and   
   every other popular sport to rediscover a celebratory dimension.   
    "Today, even football is caught up in the world of business, advertising,   
   television and so on", he continued. "But the economic aspect must not prevail   
   in sport, as it risks contaminating it all, at international, national and   
   also local levels. It is therefore necessary to react positively from above,   
   restoring sporting dignity to events".   
    The Pontiff reminded the footballers of the great responsibility inherent in   
   being the focus of attention and role models to many young people: "bear this   
   in mind, and consider that your behaviour is resonant, both positively and   
   negatively. Always be true sportsmen!". In conclusion, the Pope emphasised   
   that sport has great educative value, for the growth of the person: personal   
   growth, in the harmony of body and spirit, and social growth, in terms of   
   solidarity, loyalty and respect. May football always enable the development of   
   this potential!".   
      
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    HOLY SEE, VATICAN CITY AND THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE   
    Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) - The following is the full text of the   
   informative note from Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., for Vatican Radio:   
    The "Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading   
   treatment or punishments" is one of the important international Conventions   
   implemented within the ambit of the activities of the United Nations, and   
   which has been signed voluntarily by numerous member States of the   
   international community, the so-called "State Parties" to the Conventions.   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)