VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 102   
   DATE 02-06-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - TO THE BISHOPS OF ZIMBABWE: GUIDE YOUR PEOPLE TOWARDS UNITY AND RECONCILATION   
   - TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL LOURDUSAMY   
   - FRANCIS AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM: REMEMBER THAT THE CHURCH WAS BORN ON THE   
   PENTECOST TO REACH OUT   
   - REGINA COELI: JESUS' LAST WORD TO THE DISCIPLES WAS THE ORDER TO GO FORTH   
   - CONCLUSION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MARY IS OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOUR   
   - THE POPE ON THE CHILDREN'S TRAIN   
   - THE POPE: SILENCE WEAPONS IN SYRIA   
   - EPISCOPAL ORDINATION IN ST. PETER'S: PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE, LIKE MOSES   
   - DECLARATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE FOR THE LIBERATION   
   OF THE MISSIONARIES ABDUCTED IN CAMEROON   
   - HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF CILICIA,   
   TO VISIT ROME   
   - AUDIENCES   
   - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    TO THE BISHOPS OF ZIMBABWE: GUIDE YOUR PEOPLE TOWARDS UNITY AND RECONCILATION   
    Vatican City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) - "The Church in your country has stood fast   
   with her people both before and after independence, now also in the years of   
   overwhelming suffering as millions have left the country in frustration and   
   desperation, as many lives have been lost, so many tears shed", writes Pope   
   Francis in the address he handed to the prelates of the Zimbabwe Catholic   
   Bishops' Conference this morning, at the end of their "ad limina" visit.   
    The Holy Father writes about the growth of the Church in the country,   
   comparing it to a young, strong tree, full of life and bearing fruit, and   
   mentions that "generations of Zimbabweans - including many political leaders -   
   have been educated in Church schools. He then goes on to praise the prelates   
   for the exercise of their prophetic ministry, in which they have given voice   
   to all the struggling people of their country, especially to the downtrodden   
   and refugees. He refers to their 2007 Pastoral Letter, "God Hears the Cry of   
   the Oppressed", which describes "the origins of the spiritual and moral   
   crisis, stretching from colonial times through the present moment", and how   
   the "structures of sin" embedded in the social order "are ultimately rooted in   
   personal sin, requiring of all a profound personal conversion".   
    "Christians find themselves on all sides of the conflict in Zimbabwe, and so   
   I urge you to guide everyone with great tenderness towards unity and healing",   
   he continues. "This is a people both black and white, some richer but most   
   exceedingly poorer, of numerous tribes; the followers of Christ belong to all   
   political parties, some in positions of authority, many not. But together as   
   the one pilgrim People of God, they need conversion and healing, in order to   
   become ever more fully 'one Body, one Spirit in Christ'. Through preaching and   
   works of the apostolate, may your local Churches demonstrate that   
   'reconciliation is not an isolated act but a lengthy process by which all   
   parties are re-established in love - a love that heals through the working of   
   God's word'".   
    "While Zimbabweans' faithfulness is already a balm on some of these national   
   wounds, I know that many people have reached their human limit, and do not   
   know where to turn. In the midst of all this, I ask you to encourage the   
   faithful never to lose sight of the ways in which God is hearing their   
   supplications and answering their prayers, for, as you have written, he cannot   
   fail to hear the cry of the poor. In this Easter season, as the Church   
   throughout the world celebrates the victory of Christ over the power of sin   
   and death, the Gospel of the resurrection which you are entrusted to proclaim   
   must be clearly preached and lived in Zimbabwe. Let us never forget the lesson   
   of the resurrection: 'on razed land life breaks through, stubbornly yet   
   invincibly. However dark things are, goodness always re-emerges and spreads".   
   Pope Francis concluded by quoting from his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii   
   Gaudium: "Each day in our world beauty is born anew, it rises transformed   
   through the storms of history".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL LOURDUSAMY   
    Vatican City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a telegram of   
   condolences to Archbishop Anthony Anandarayar of Ponticherry and Cuddalore,   
   India, for the death last night in Rome of Cardinal Simon D. Lourdusamy, aged   
   90, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and   
   archbishop emeritus of Bangalore, India. In his text, the Pope expresses his   
   gratitude for the cardinal's "priestly life spent in spreading the Gospel   
   first in India and subsequently in service to the Universal Church" and   
   commends his noble soul to the Lord.   
    Cardinal Lourdusamy's funeral will be held on 5 June at 11.30 a.m. at the   
   altar of the Vatican Basilica, and will be presided by Cardinal Angelo Sodano,   
   dean of the College of Cardinals. At the end of the Eucharist, Pope Francis   
   will administer the rites of "Ultima Commendatio" and "Valedictio".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    FRANCIS AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM: REMEMBER THAT THE CHURCH WAS BORN ON THE   
   PENTECOST TO REACH OUT   
    Vatican City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon fifty-two thousand   
   people gathered for the National Convocation of "Renewal in the Spirit", from   
   55 countries, applauded Pope Francis' entry into the Olympic Stadium in Rome   
   where he joined in with the chorus in Spanish of "Vive Jesus, el Senor", a   
   hymn that the bishop of Rome said he enjoyed greatly when he celebrated Mass   
   in the cathedral of Buenos Aires with members of this movement. Two bodies for   
   the coordination of Catholic Charismatic Renewal throughout the world: ICCRS   
   (International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services) and CFCCCF (Catholic   
   Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships).   
    The Pope answered the questions posed to him by priests, young people,   
   families, the sick and the elderly, asking the first among them to remain   
   close to Christ and to his faithful, and warning the second not to keep their   
   youth "locked away in a safe" but rather to "bet on great things". He reminded   
   families of their roles as a domestic church, and commented that the sick   
   imitate Jesus in the difficult moments of life, and that the elderly are the   
   wisdom and memory of the Church. Finally, he prayed that God might grant to   
   all the "holy intoxication of the Spirit, that enables us to speak many   
   languages, the languages of charity, always close to those brothers and   
   sisters who need us. Teach us not to fight between ourselves over a little   
   more power, ... teach us to increasingly love the Church that is our 'team',   
   and to keep our hearts open to receive the Holy Spirit".   
    In his address, he affirmed that Renewal in the Spirit is "a great force in   
   the service of the proclamation of the Gospel in the joy of the Holy Spirit.   
   ... In the early times, it was said that you always carried a Bible with you,   
   a New Testament. ... If not, return to this first love, always carry the Word   
   of God with you, in your pocket, in your bag!"   
    He urged them never to lose the freedom that the Holy Spirit gives us,   
   warning them of the danger of "excessive organisation". "Yes, you need   
   organisation, but do not lose the grace of letting God be God!". He also   
   warned them of the danger of becoming "controllers" of God's grace,   
   administrators of race who decide who may receive the prayer of effusion or   
   baptism in the Spirit, and who instead may not. "If any of you do this, I beg   
   you, do not do this any more. You are dispensers of God's grace, not   
   controllers!", he underlined.   
    "Evangelisation, spiritual ecumenism, attention to the poor and needy and   
   welcome to the marginalised, and all on the basis of adoration; the foundation   
   for renewal is adoring God": thus Pope Francis defined the path of Renewal in   
   the Spirit, to explain the future direction he hoped they would take.   
    "First of all", he said, "conversion to the love of Jesus, that changes life   
   and makes a Christian a witness to God's love. I hope that you will share with   
   all in the Church the grace of Baptism in the Holy Spirit. I expect from you   
   an evangelisation with the Word of God that proclaims that Jesus lives and   
   loves all humankind. May you give witness of spiritual ecumenism with all   
   those brothers and sisters of other Churches and Christian communities who   
   believe in Jesus as the Lord and Saviour. May you remain united in the love   
   that the Lord Jesus asks of all for all mankind, and in prayer to the Holy   
   Spirit to reach this unity, necessary for evangelisation in the name of Jesus.   
   Be close to the poor and needy to touch in their flesh the wounded flesh of   
   Jesus. Seek unity in Renewal because unity comes from the Holy Spirit and is   
   born of the unity of the Trinity. Where does division come from? The devil!   
   Division comes from the devil. Flee from internal struggles, please!".   
    In conclusion, Francis called upon them to "Go forth onto the streets and   
   evangelise, proclaim the Gospel. Remember that the Church was born to go   
   forth, that morning of Pentecost. ... Let yourselves be guided by the Holy   
   Spirit, with that same freedom. And please, do not cage the Holy Spirit! With   
   freedom!".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    REGINA COELI: JESUS' LAST WORD TO THE DISCIPLES WAS THE ORDER TO GO FORTH   
    Vatican City, 1 June 2014 (VIS) - At midday today, Pope Francis appeared at   
   the window of his study to pray the Regina Coeli with the faithful gathered   
   below in St. Peter's Square and, before the Marian prayer, he mentioned that   
   today in Italy and in other countries we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus   
   Christ, which takes place forty days after the Resurrection. On that day,   
   Jesus returns to His Father and commands the disciples to proclaim His message   
   of salvation to the world.   
    "Jesus leaves and goes up to Heaven", he explains; "He returns to the Father   
   Who sent Him to the world. He had finished his work and returned to His   
   Father. But this is not a separation, because he remains with us always, in a   
   new form. With His ascension, the Risen Lord lifts the gaze of the Apostles -   
   and also ours - to the heights of Heaven to show us that our path leads us to   
   the Father. However, Jesus remains present and at work in the vicissitudes of   
   human history with the power and gifts of His Spirit; this accompanies each   
   one of us, even though we do not see Him with our eyes. He accompanies us and   
   guides us, He gives us His hand and lifts us up when we fall. The resurrected   
   Jesus is close to those Christians who are persecuted and discriminated   
   against; He is close to every man and woman who suffers.   
    "And Jesus, when He returns to Heaven, takes a gift to His Father: his   
   wounds. His body is beautiful, without the wounds of flagellation, but the   
   wounds are still present. And when He returns to the Father, He says: Look,   
   this is the price of the forgiveness you give. And when the Father looks upon   
   Christ's wounds, He always forgives. Not because we are good: no. Looking at   
   Jesus' wounds, the Father becomes more merciful".   
    "But Jesus is also present through the Church, which He sent to continue His   
   mission. Jesus' last word to His disciples is the order to go forth:   
   'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations'. It is a precise mandate - it   
   is not optional! The Christian community is a community that is on the move,   
   that goes out. More than this: the Church was born outgoing. And you will ask   
   me, but what about cloistered communities? Yes, it applies to them too, as   
   they always reach out through prayer, with their hearts open to the world, to   
   God's horizons. And the elderly, the sick? They too are in prayer and union   
   with Jesus' wounds".   
    Following the Regina Coeli, the Pope said, "It is with a heavy heart that I   
   pray for the victims of the continuing tension in some areas of Ukraine, and   
   also in the Republic of Central Africa. I renew my urgent appeals to all the   
   parties involved to overcome their misunderstandings and to seek patiently   
   dialogue and pacification. May Mary Queen of Peace help all of us by her   
   maternal intercession".   
    He went on to mention that today is World Social Communications Day, the   
   theme of which this year is communication in the service of the culture of   
   encounter: "Social communication media may promote a sense of unity within the   
   human family, solidarity and commitment to a dignified life for all. Let us   
   pray that communication, in every form it takes, may be effectively at the   
   service of encounter between people, communities, families, nations; an   
   encounter based on respect and mutual listening".   
    Finally, he mentioned the beatification on Saturday afternoon in   
   Collevalenza, Italy, of Mother Maria Esperanza of Jesus (Maria Josefa Alhama   
   Valera), foundress of the Congregations of the Handmaids and the Sons of   
   Merciful Love, and expressed his hope that "her witness may help the Church to   
   proclaim everywhere, with concrete daily gestures, the infinite mercy of the   
   heavenly Father towards every person".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    CONCLUSION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MARY IS OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOUR   
    Vatican City, 1 June 2014 (VIS) - The ceremony concluding the Marian month   
   took place yesterday at 8 p.m. in the Vatican Gardens. The faithful prayer the   
   rosary in procession from the church of St. Stephen of the Abyssinians to the   
   grotto of the Virgin of Lourdes. At 9 p.m., Pope Francis arrived at the grotto   
   and, before imparting his apostolic blessing, addressed the following words to   
   those present:   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)