VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXIV - # 89   
   DATE 15-05-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - THE POPE TO NEW AMBASSADORS: ARMS TRADE AND FORCED MIGRATION CHALLENGE PEACE   
   - FRANCIS RECEIVES THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND   
   - TELEGRAM FOR THE ASIAN CONFERENCE ON THE FAMILY   
   - POPE'S VISIT TO THE "DIVINO AMORE" SANCTUARY POSTPONED   
   - JOINT APPEAL IN AMMAN FOR WORLD SOLIDARITY   
   - FIFTY YEARS OF PROMOTING INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE   
   - AUDIENCES   
   - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    THE POPE TO NEW AMBASSADORS: ARMS TRADE AND FORCED MIGRATION CHALLENGE PEACE   
    Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis received the   
   credential letters of seven new ambassadors to the Holy See: Pierre Yves Fux,   
   Switzerland; Rudolf P. von Balimoos, Liberia; Nega Tsegaye Tessema, Ethiopia;   
   Nasreldin Ahmed Wali Abdeltif, Sudan; Margaret Ann Louise Jobson, Jamaica;   
   Claudinah Ntini Ramosepele, South Africa; and Mysore Kapanalah Lokesh, India.   
    The Holy Father focused his address to the diplomats on the challenges posed   
   to peace by the arms trade and forced migration.   
    "Peace: this word summarises all the assets to which every person and all   
   human societies aspire", he said. "Also the effort with which we seek to   
   promote diplomatic relations has, in the final analysis, the sole aim of   
   allowing peace to grow in the human family, in development and justice. It is   
   a target that is never fully reached, and that must be continually sought   
   after by every generation, facing the challenges presented in every age".   
    "Everyone talks about peace", he observed; "everyone claims to want it, but   
   unfortunately the proliferation of weapons of every type leads in the opposite   
   direction. The arms trade has the effect of complicating and distancing us   
   from a solution to conflicts, all the more so since it takes place to a great   
   extent outside the boundaries of the law. Therefore I consider that, while we   
   are gathered in this Apostolic See, which by nature is invested in a special   
   service to the cause of peace, we can unite our voices in expressing hope that   
   the international community may make new, concerted and courageous efforts   
   against the proliferation of weapons and to promote their reduction".   
    The Holy Father mentioned that another challenge to peace, which   
   "unfortunately takes on, in certain regions and in certain moments, the nature   
   of a full-blown human tragedy", is that of forced migration. He commented that   
   it is a very complex phenomenon, and recognised that important efforts are   
   being made by international organisations, States, and social bodies, as well   
   as religious communities and volunteer groups, to respond "in a civil and   
   organised way to the most critical aspects, emergencies, and situations of   
   greatest need". However, also in this case, "we are aware that we cannot limit   
   ourselves to reacting to emergencies. This phenomenon has fully manifested its   
   epochal character. The moment has arrived to face it with a serious and   
   responsible political outlook, involving all levels: global, continental,   
   macro-regional, in relations between nations, and finally at national and   
   local levels".   
    In relation to this problem we see examples of a contrary nature: on the one   
   hand, "marvellous cases of humanity, of welcome, of encounter: people and   
   families who have succeeded in leaving behind these inhuman situations and   
   have rediscovered dignity, freedom and security. Unfortunately, on the other   
   hand there are stories that make us weep for shame: human beings, our brothers   
   and sisters, children of God who, inspired by the wish to live and work in   
   peace, face harrowing journeys and are subjected to blackmail, torture and   
   harassment of every kind, and at times end up dying in the desert or at the   
   bottom of the sea".   
    The phenomenon of forced migration is "closely linked to conflicts and wars,   
   and therefore also to the problem of the proliferation of weapons. ... They   
   are the wounds of a world that is our world, in which God has placed us to   
   live today, and He calls us to be responsible for our brothers and sisters, so   
   that the violation of no human being be violated. It would be an absurd   
   contradiction to speak about peace, to negotiate peace, and at the same time   
   promote and permit the arms trade. We could also consider it to be in a   
   certain sense cynical to proclaim human rights and at the same time ignore or   
   fail to take account of the men and women who, forced to leave their homeland,   
   die in the attempt or are not welcomed by international solidarity".   
    The Pope concluded, "The Holy See today declares to you and to the   
   governments of your respective countries its firm resolve to continue to   
   collaborate to take steps forward in these areas and along all the roads that   
   lead to justice and peace, on the basis of universally recognised human   
   rights".   
      
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    FRANCIS RECEIVES THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND   
    Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father Francis received in   
   audience the governor general of New Zealand, Sir Jerry Mateparae, who   
   subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin,   
   accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with   
   States.   
    During the cordial discussions the Parties focused on a number of aspects of   
   the social and economic life of the country, as well as the valuable   
   contribution of the Catholic Church in various sectors of New Zealand society.   
   There was also an exchange of opinions on the international situation, with   
   particular reference to regional cooperation in various development programmes   
   and participation in peace missions in different parts of the world.   
      
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    TELEGRAM FOR THE ASIAN CONFERENCE ON THE FAMILY   
    Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin   
   has sent a telegram to the archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Socrates P.   
   Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, on   
   the occasion of the "Asian Conference on the Family", which is being held from   
   13 to 16 May on the theme "Families of Asia: Lights of Hope".   
    "Recalling that the 'family is the fundamental cell of society where we learn   
   to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one other'", he   
   continues, "His Holiness calls upon all the lay faithful gathered to deepen   
   their experience of faith and communion, under the guidance of the Successor   
   of Peter and the Bishops, so as to be a leaven of Christ's love in the midst   
   of humanity".   
      
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    POPE'S VISIT TO THE "DIVINO AMORE" SANCTUARY POSTPONED   
    Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - Pope Francis' visit to the Sanctuary and   
   Roman parish of "Divino Amore", planned for Sunday 18 May, has been cancelled   
   to lighten the burden of the Pope's activities in view of preparations for his   
   imminent apostolic journey in the Holy Land. The visit to the sanctuary will   
   be rescheduled at a later date.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    JOINT APPEAL IN AMMAN FOR WORLD SOLIDARITY   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)