VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 157   
   DATE 17-09-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - The Church, universal and missionary, cannot be wrapped up in herself   
   - The Pope to the faithful: accompany me in Albania in prayer   
   - Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints   
   - Sixth meeting of the Council of Cardinals   
   - "Evangelii gaudium" and pastoral ministry: three day meeting in the Vatican   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Church, universal and missionary, cannot be wrapped up in herself   
    Vatican City, 17 September 2014 (VIS) - The meaning of the terms "Catholic"   
   and "apostolic" when we speak about the Church was the theme of Pope Francis'   
   catechesis at this morning's Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square,   
   attended by 50,000 faithful.   
    When we profess the Creed, we state that we believe in a Catholic and   
   apostolic Church. "Catholic means universal", said the Holy Father, "and a   
   clear sign of this Catholicity is that she speaks all languages. This is none   
   other than the effect of the Pentecost: indeed, it was the Holy Spirit that   
   enabled the Apostles and the entire Church to communicate to all, to the very   
   ends of the earth, the Good News of salvation and of God's love. Thus, the   
   Church was born Catholic - that is, 'symphonic' since the beginning, and she   
   cannot be otherwise, destined as she is for evangelisation and for   
   encountering everyone": The Pope, remarking that everyone is able to read the   
   Word of God in his or her own language, again encouraged those present always   
   to carry a copy of the Gospel and to read one or two passages each day.   
    "If the Church is born Catholic, it means that she was born to go forth,   
   missionary", continued Pope Francis. "If the Apostles had stayed in the   
   Cenacle without going out to preach the Gospel, the Church would have remained   
   there, in that city, in that country, in that room. It is what we express when   
   we describe her as 'apostolic'. But they went forth. An apostle spreads the   
   good news of Jesus' resurrection. This term reminds us that the Church, on the   
   foundations of the Apostles and in continuity with them, is sent to proclaim   
   the Gospel to all humanity, with the signs of the tenderness and strength of   
   God. The Apostles went forth, they travelled the world, they founded new   
   churches, they consecrated new bishops and in this way, we continue their   
   work".   
    "And this too derives from the Pentecost. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is able to   
   overcome any resistance, to defeat the temptation to remain wrapped up in   
   ourselves, an elect few, and to consider ourselves as the only ones destined   
   to receive God's blessing. Imagine if a group of Christians were to consider   
   itself in this way; they would die out. First in soul and then in body, as   
   they would not be able to generate new life. They would not be apostolic. The   
   Holy Spirit leads us towards our brothers, even to those who are far away in   
   every sense, so that they can share with us the gift of love, peace and joy   
   that the Risen Lord has left us".   
    "What does it mean, for our communities and for each of us, to be part of a   
   Church that is Catholic and apostolic? First of all, it means taking to heart   
   the salvation of all humanity, not to be indifferent or removed from the fate   
   of so many of our brothers, but rather to be open and in solidarity with them.   
   It also means having a sense of the fullness, the completeness, the harmony of   
   Christian life, always rejecting partial and unilateral positions that close   
   us up in ourselves".   
    Being part of the apostolic Church means "being aware that our faith is   
   anchored in the proclamation and the witness of Jesus' Apostles, and therefore   
   always being aware that were are sent out, in communion with the successors of   
   the Apostles, with our hearts full of joy, to proclaim Christ and His love for   
   all humanity".   
    Pope Francis recalled the "heroic life" of all the missionaries who leave   
   their homelands to take the Gospel to others, encouraging those present to   
   give thanks to God for the missionaries the Church has had and will continue   
   to need.   
    "Let us ask the Lord to renew in us the gift of His Spirit, so that every   
   Christian community and baptised person may be an expression of the Catholic   
   and apostolic Holy Mother Church".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope to the faithful: accompany me in Albania in prayer   
    Vatican City, 17 September 2014 (VIS) - At the end of today's general   
   audience, the Holy Father greeted those present in various languages. In his   
   greetings in Arabic, he addressed the faithful of the Holy Land "from where   
   the light of proclamation issued forth to the ends of the earth", urging them   
   always to be, "despite difficulties, courageous and joyful bearers of the   
   Message of salvation, truth and blessing".   
    Before his greetings in Italian, the Pope spoke about his trip to Albania   
   this coming Sunday, 21 September, and invited the faithful to accompany him in   
   prayer. "I decided to visit this country because it has suffered greatly as a   
   result of a terrible atheist regime and is now realising the peaceful   
   co-existence of its various religious components".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints   
    Vatican City, 17 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in   
   audience Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the   
   Causes of Saints. During the audience he authorised the promulgation of   
   decrees concerning the following causes:   
    MIRACLES   
    - Blessed Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception (nee Adelaide Brando),   
   Italian foundress of the Oblation Sisters of the Holy Sacrament (1856-1906);   
    - Venerable Servant of God Pio Alberto del Corona, Italian professed priest   
   of the Order of Preachers, bishop of San Miniato and founder of the Dominican   
   Sisters of the Holy Spirit (1837-1912);   
    - Venerable Servant of God Marie-Elisabeth Turgeon, Canadian foundress of the   
   Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (1840-1881).   
    The Pontiff also approved the votes of the Ordinary Session of the Cardinal   
   and Bishop Fathers in favour of the canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz, Indian   
   priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, founder of the Oratory of the Holy   
   Cross of Miracles in Goa (1651-1711).   
    Finally, the Holy Father decided that a Consistory will be convoked shortly   
   for the canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz and Blessed Maria Cristina of the   
   Immaculate Conception, nee Adelaide Brando.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Sixth meeting of the Council of Cardinals   
    Vatican City, 17 September 2014 (VIS) - This morning, the director of the   
   Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., provided an update on the   
   sixth meeting of the Council of Cardinals, which began on Monday, 15 September   
   and will conclude this afternoon. As usual, the Holy Father was present at all   
   sessions apart from this morning's, due to the Wednesday general audience.   
    "In the previous meetings, the Cardinals had worked by examining all the   
   Congregations and Pontifical Councils, but they had also assigned a   
   significant amount of time to hearing the referring Commissions on economic   
   and organisational questions (COSEA and CRIOR) and on matters pertaining to   
   the economic Dicasteries. Work in this area may now be considered complete,   
   following the constitution of the Council and the Secretariat for the Economy.   
   The press conference held by Cardinal Pell in July focused on the results of   
   this work and on the initiation of the activities of these new organs.   
    "Therefore, in this meeting the Council of Cardinals resumed work on the   
   other Dicasteries. In the meantime, several contributions had been prepared by   
   various members of the Council on the different issues within their sphere of   
   competence, which were proposed or presented to the Council. During these   
   days, the Council focused on two principal "hotspots".   
    "The first includes the themes of the laity and the family. It is a very   
   broad area, encompassing many issues, including for instance the role of women   
   in society and in the Church, youth, childhood, or matters related to lay   
   associations and movements, and so on.   
    "The second comprises themes linked to justice and peace, charity, migrants   
   and refugees, health, and the protection of life and ecology, especially human   
   ecology.   
    "As can be seen, the discussions therefore involved many of the major issues   
   that fall within the competences of the current Pontifical Councils, and how   
   to face them in a coordinated and integrated fashion.   
    "The Council of Cardinals, as we are aware, does not make decisions, but   
   formulates proposals for the Pope, who certainly intends to consult in further   
   depth, also with regard to the various Dicasteries, involving those in roles   
   of responsibility. Therefore, the Council's proposals will be studied further,   
   and it is to be expected that the Pope will speak about them, for instance,   
   during the meetings with the Heads of the Dicasteries, which are convoked   
   regularly and will certainly take place in the coming months.   
    "A draft Introduction for the new Constitution was also drawn up and   
   distributed.   
    "In order to speed up this new phase in the work of the Council, the   
   coordinator Cardinal Maradiaga has prepared an overall plan to facilitate the   
   organisation of the contributions and reflections already offered during the   
   previous meetings and the integration of new ones.   
    "It may be assumed that, with the next two meetings of the Council (9-11   
   December 2014 and 9-11 February 2015), the draft Constitution will reach an   
   advanced stage of preparation, making it possible for the Pope to proceed with   
   further consultations".   
    With regard to the Commission for the Protection of Minors, the director of   
   the Holy See Press Office commented that the appointment of the Secretary,   
   Msgr. Robert Oliver, had been made public during recent days, adding: "In the   
   next few weeks other very important aspects will be specified regarding the   
   Statutes and further members of the Commission. It is expected that these will   
   be clarified at the time of the next meeting of the Commission itself,   
   scheduled for early October (4-5)".   
    "With regard to the Commission on Vatican media, chaired by Lord Chris   
   Patten, the first meeting will be held from 22-24 September at the Domus   
   Sanctae Marthae. As a first meeting, it will be dedicated primarily to drawing   
   up a framework for the common base of information necessary to enable the work   
   of the members (several of whom are from contexts external to the Vatican),   
   the planning of the work to be done over the coming months, and the method to   
   be used. The Commission itself, during its first meeting, will establish its   
   own strategy of communication. Therefore, interviews or communications will   
   not be given prior to the meeting", he concluded.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    "Evangelii gaudium" and pastoral ministry: three day meeting in the Vatican   
    Vatican City, 17 September 2014 (VIS) - The international meeting "The   
   Pastoral Project of 'Evangelii gaudium'", organised by the Pontifical Council   
   for Promoting New Evangelisation, will be held in the Vatican from 18 to 20   
   September and will be attended by more than two thousand pastoral workers from   
   seventy countries worldwide. Bishops, priests, catechists, consecrated   
   persons, pastoral workers and members of associations and movements will   
   explore in depth the content of the apostolic Exhortation that Pope Francis   
   has indicated as the programmatic document of his papacy. Renowned speakers   
   will discuss specific themes in relation to pastoral ministry and   
   evangelisation. The meeting will culminate with an encounter with the Holy   
   Father on Friday afternoon.   
    A detailed programme of the event can be found at   
   www.novaevangelizatio.va   
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
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