VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXIV - # 81   
   DATE 05-05-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - THE FOUR PILLARS OF FUTURE PRIESTS: INTELLECTUAL, SPIRITUAL, HUMAN AND   
   PASTORAL FORMATION   
   - THE POPE TO NEW SWISS GUARDS: IT IS NOT THE UNIFORM THAT SETS AN EXAMPLE,   
   BUT THE MAN WHO WEARS IT   
   - THE HOLY SEE AND THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE   
   - BE RESURRECTED WAYFARERS, LET THE WORD OF GOD WARM YOUR HEARTS   
   - FRANCIS: REIGNITE HOPE IN OUR HEARTS   
   - CATHOLIC ACTION: REACH OUT TO THE BOUNDARIES WITH THE JOY OF BEING WITH   
   CHRIST   
   - TO THE BISHOPS OF SRI LANKA: CONTRIBUTE TO NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND   
   FOSTER INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AGAINST EXTREMISM   
   - PONTIFICAL COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS: THE BEST INTERESTS OF A   
   CHILD OR VULNERABLE ADULT ARE PRIMARY IN ANY DECISION   
   - INFORMATIVE NOTE ON THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE ECONOMY   
   - 90TH DAY FOR THE CATHOLIC SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY   
   - AUDIENCES   
   - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    THE FOUR PILLARS OF FUTURE PRIESTS: INTELLECTUAL, SPIRITUAL, HUMAN AND   
   PASTORAL FORMATION   
    Vatican City, 5 May 2014 (VIS) - Collaboration with civil society, the   
   evangelisation of a divided society and the formation of future clergy were   
   the central themes of the written discourse that the Pope handed to the   
   bishops of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Burundi, whom he received   
   today at the end of their "ad limina" visit.   
    The Holy Father mentions the collaboration between the Holy See and the   
   Republic of Burundi, formalised in the framework Agreement signed in November   
   2012, which came into effect last February, and which promises "a rich future   
   for the proclamation of the Gospel". He encourages the bishops to take their   
   place, as they have already done, in social and political dialogue, and to   
   meet with political figures without hesitation. "Persons in positions of   
   authority are the first to be in need of your witness of faith and your   
   courageous proclamation of Christian values, to know better the social   
   doctrine of the Church, appreciate its value and to be inspired by it in the   
   administration of public affairs".   
    Burundi in its recent past, has experienced terrible conflicts that continue   
   to influence the unity of the people, causing deep wounds that are yet to   
   heal. "Only an authentic conversion of hearts to the Gospel can turn men to   
   fraternal love and forgiveness, as to the extent that He reigns within us, the   
   life of society will be a setting for universal fraternity, justice, peace and   
   dignity for all. The profound evangelisation of your people remains your first   
   concern for ensuring true reconciliation".   
    If the first witnesses called upon to live the authenticity of this   
   conversion are naturally priests, it is necessary for future clergy to   
   receive, "as well as the necessary intellectual formation, a solid spiritual,   
   human and pastoral formation. These are the four pillars of formation. Because   
   it is through their lives, through their daily relations, that they bring the   
   Gospel to all. An administrative approach should not prevail over a pastoral   
   approach, and neither should concentration on administering the sacraments   
   apart from other forms of evangelisation".   
    Pope Francis notes the admirable work of religious congregations in   
   education, hospitals and assistance to refugees, and reminded the prelates   
   that many new communities that are formed require "careful and prudent   
   discernment to guarantee a sound formation for their members, and to accompany   
   the evolution they are called upon to live for the good of all the Church".   
    "The recent history of your country has been difficult", he concludes,   
   "marked by division and violence in a context of extreme poverty, which   
   unfortunately continues. In spite of this, the courageous efforts of   
   evangelisation in your pastoral ministry bear fruit in the form of conversion   
   and reconciliation. I invite you to not falter in hope, but to go forward   
   boldly with a renewed missionary spirit, to bring the Good News to all those   
   who are still waiting or who most need to finally know the Lord's mercy".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    THE POPE TO NEW SWISS GUARDS: IT IS NOT THE UNIFORM THAT SETS AN EXAMPLE, BUT   
   THE MAN WHO WEARS IT   
    Vatican City, 5 May 2014 (VIS) - Today in the Sala Clementina of the Vatican   
   Apostolic Palace the Holy Father received in audience the new recruits to the   
   Pontifical Swiss Guard who will swear their allegiance to the Pope tomorrow,   
   accompanied by their families and friends. "It is a special day, as it   
   commemorates the Sack of Rome and the heroic act of your predecessors who, in   
   1527, offered their lives to defend the Church and the Pope. Your dedication   
   confirms that their courage and loyalty have borne fruit".   
    "The social and ecclesial context has changed greatly since then", he   
   continued. "Society is different with respect to those times. But man's heart,   
   his capacity to be loyal and courageous - acriter et fideliter, as your motto   
   says, - has remained the same. ... Serving in the Swiss Guard means living an   
   experience that involves a meeting of time and space in a very particular way.   
   ... With your special service, you are called upon to offer serene and joyful   
   Christian witness to whoever arrives in the Vatican to visit St. Peter's   
   Basilica and to meet the Pope. Live your days intensely! Be firm in your faith   
   and generous in your charity towards the people you meet".   
    He commented that the celebrated uniform of the Swiss Guard will celebrate   
   one hundred years this year. "Its colours and shape are known throughout the   
   world, and stand for dedication, seriousness and security. They are identified   
   with singular service and a glorious past. However, behind every uniform there   
   is a real person: with a family and a homeland, with a personality and   
   sensibility, with wishes and plans in life. Your uniform is an evocative trait   
   of the Swiss Guard and attracts the attention of the people. But remember that   
   it is not the uniform, but rather he who wears it, who must be noted for his   
   kindness, his spirit of welcome, for his charitable attitude towards all.   
   Consider this also in your relations between yourselves, according importance,   
   also in your community life, to sharing both joyful moments and those that are   
   more difficult, without ignoring those among you who are in difficulty and who   
   are at times in need of a smile and a gesture of encouragement and friendship.   
   Avoid that negative distance that divides companions and, in the lives of all   
   people in the world, can give rise to disdain, marginalisation and racism".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    THE HOLY SEE AND THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE   
    Vatican City, 5 May 2014 (VIS) - Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, head of the the   
   Holy See delegation before the United Nations in Geneva, presented his initial   
   periodical report to the Committee on the Convention against Torture (CAT),   
   which is currently holding its 52nd session.   
    In his comprehensive report, the prelate remarks that "the Holy See acceded   
   to the Convention against Torture (CAT) on 22 June 2002. It did so with the   
   very clear and direct intention that this Convention applied to Vatican City   
   State (VCS). In its capacity as the sovereign of Vatican City State, the Holy   
   See provided an important 'Interpretative Declaration' that shows its approach   
   to the CAT".   
    "In the first place, the Interpretative Declaration lauds the Convention as a   
   worthy instrument for the defence against acts of torture when it says: 'The   
   Holy See considers the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or   
   Degrading Treatment or Punishment a valid and suitable instrument for fighting   
   against acts that constitute a serious offence against the dignity of the   
   human person'. In this sense indeed, the Holy See wished to express the   
   harmony of its own principles and vision of the human person with those ideals   
   and practices set forth in the Convention against Torture".   
    "The Interpretative Declaration insists that 'The Holy See, in becoming a   
   party to the Convention on behalf of the Vatican City State, undertakes to   
   apply it insofar as it is compatible, in practice, with the peculiar nature of   
   that State'. As such, in regard to the application of the Convention and any   
   examination, questions or criticisms, or implementation thereof, the Holy See   
   intends to focus exclusively on Vatican City State, respecting the   
   international sovereignty of this State and the legitimate and specific   
   authority of the Convention and of the Committee competent to examine State   
   reports".   
    "The Holy See, as a member of the international Community, is related but   
   separate and distinct from the territory of Vatican City State, over which it   
   exercises sovereignty. Its international personality has never been confused   
   with the territories over which it has exercised State sovereignty. In its   
   present form, Vatican City State was established in 1929 to more effectively   
   guarantee the spiritual and moral mission of the Holy See. Therefore,   
   colloquial references to the Holy See as the 'Vatican' can be misleading. In   
   this sense, the Holy See, as mentioned, globally encourages basic principles   
   and authentic human rights recognized in the CAT, while implementing it within   
   the territory of Vatican City State in harmony with the Interpretative   
   Declaration.   
    After presenting some of the essential points to guide and assist discussion,   
   the archbishop goes on to give an overview of the Holy See's Initial Report,   
   submitted to the Committee in December 2012.   
    "Apart from presenting the essential distinctions and relations between the   
   Holy See, Vatican City State and the Catholic Church, I wish to highlight   
   several important elements presented within the section of "General   
   Information". In particular, the first point of reference is the legal system   
   of Vatican City State, that is autonomous in respect to the legal system of   
   the Catholic Church. In fact, not all canonical norms are relevant for the   
   governance of this territory. In relation to the topic of crime and punishment   
   there are specific laws that criminalise illicit activities and provide for   
   proportionate penalties in Vatican City State".   
    "As noted in the section on Statistics, the small population of Vatican City   
   State, while receiving roughly 18 million pilgrims and tourists annually, has   
   a relatively tiny number of criminal and penal matters registered".   
    "Turning now to the third part of the Initial Report, which addresses   
   systematically each of the sixteen substantive articles of the CAT, my   
   Delegation wishes to highlight several significant steps and improvements in   
   Vatican City State to comply with the Convention, even since the consigning of   
   the Initial Report in December 2012. In the first place, there is the   
   modification of Vatican City State legislation with the promulgation of Pope   
   Francis' Apostolic Letter on 11 July 2013, 'On the Jurisdiction of Judicial   
   Authorities of Vatican City State in Criminal Matters', particularly article   
   3, of Law N. VIII, which deals specifically with the crime of torture. While   
   the implementation of this basic law into the criminal and penal law of   
   Vatican City State in some fashion touches upon different articles of the   
   Convention, it is worth mentioning a few directly. In relation to Article 1 of   
   the Convention, the new Vatican City State legislation integrates, practically   
   verbatim, the definition of torture and cruel and inhuman punishment as   
   supplied therein and, therefore, de facto, fulfils Article 4 of the Convention   
   by its integration into the penal code and the establishment of appropriate   
   penalties for such offences. Paragraph 6 of the same article 3 of the amended   
   Law VIII effectively restates article 15 of the Convention, prohibiting the   
   use of any statement made as a result of torture to be considered as evidence".   
    "Also modified in July 2013, the amendments of Law IX address with greater   
   specificity and clarity the questions of crimes, whether within or outside the   
   territory of the State, of jurisdiction, of extradition, and of terms of   
   sentencing. The procedural and legislative changes seek to implement the   
   principles contained in the Convention against Torture under articles 3, 5,   
   and 8. In particular, one should note the development on the question of   
   extradition and also the denial thereof on the part of the Holy See if the   
   requesting State practices torture or uses capital punishment".   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)