VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 164   
   DATE 25-09-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - Catholics and Orthodox to the international community: listen to religious   
   leaders in the Middle East   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
   - Note regarding the succession of the bishop of Ciudad del Este, Paraguay   
   - Audiences   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Catholics and Orthodox to the international community: listen to religious   
   leaders in the Middle East   
    Vatican City, 25 September 2014 (VIS) - The eighth meeting of the Joint   
   International Commission for dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the   
   Roman Catholic Church was held in Amman, Jordan from 15 to 23 September. It   
   was hosted by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude   
   Theophilos III, and attended by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad   
   of Jordan who participated in the plenary session held on the afternoon of   
   Monday, 22 September. The meeting was attended by twenty-three members   
   representing the Catholic Church and all the Orthodox Churches, with the   
   exception of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria. The meetings were chaired by   
   Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting   
   Christian Unity and by the Metropolitan of Pergamon Ioannis (Zizioulas) of the   
   Ecumenical Patriarchate.   
    On the first day of the meeting, as is customary, the Roman Catholic and   
   Orthodox members met separately to coordinate their work and to discuss, among   
   other things, the draft text of the document "Synodality and Primacy", drawn   
   up by the Coordinating Committee in 2012 during the two meetings held in Rome   
   in 2011 and Paris in 2012. Because of the many questions raised about the   
   text, the Commission proposed the drafting of a new one, to be referred to the   
   next Coordinating Committee for further elaboration and improvement, in view   
   of the next plenary session of the Joint Commission.   
    The Commission members, assembled near the holy sites connected with the   
   baptism of Jesus Christ, united their voices to express their deep concern for   
   and solidarity with the Christians and members of other religious traditions   
   of this entire region who are being persecuted, displaced and murdered. They   
   categorically rejected the idea that such horrifying crimes can be justified   
   in the name of God or of religion, and expressed their profound gratitude to   
   all those engaged in bringing relief to millions of refugees and displaced   
   persons. Furthermore, they prayed for all the religious leaders of the region,   
   so that they might continue to comfort their people and keep alive their   
   vision of their return to their lands and homes, which in recent times have   
   been occupied and often profaned. The Commission implored the international   
   community to listen seriously to those leaders regarding the most useful ways   
   to intervene and protect those who are being persecuted, and to ensure the   
   continuing vital presence of Christianity in the Middle East. They also   
   launched a fresh appeal for the liberation of the Metropolitans of Aleppo, Mar   
   Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi, and all others who have been   
   kidnapped, including priests and religious.   
    The meeting of the Joint Commission was marked by a spirit of friendship and   
   trustful collaboration. The members greatly appreciated the generous   
   hospitality of the host Church, and they strongly commend the continuing work   
   of the dialogue to the prayers of the faithful.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 25 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has proceeded with   
   the replacement of Bishop Rogelio Ricardo Livieres Plano of Ciudad del Este,   
   Paraguay, appointing Bishop Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios of Villarrica del   
   Espiritu Santo as apostolic administrator Sede Vacante.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Note regarding the succession of the bishop of Ciudad del Este, Paraguay   
    Vatican City, 25 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today   
   published the following note regarding the succession of the bishop of Ciudad   
   del Este, Paraguay, Msgr. Rogelio Ricardo Livieres Plano.   
    "Following a careful examination of the conclusions drawn following the   
   apostolic visits carried out by the Congregation for Bishops and the   
   Congregation for the Clergy to the bishop, the diocese and the seminarians of   
   Ciudad del Este, the Holy Father has decided to substitute Bishop Rogelio   
   Livieres Plano and has appointed Bishop Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios of   
   Villarrica del Espiritu Santo as apostolic administrator of the diocese of   
   Ciudad del Este.   
    "This was a difficult decision on the part of the Holy See, taken for serious   
   pastoral reasons and for the greater good of the unity of the Church in Ciudad   
   del Este and the episcopal communion in Paraguay.   
    "The Holy Father, in the exercise of his ministry as the 'perpetual and   
   visible foundation of the unity of both the bishops and the multitude of the   
   faithful', asked the clergy and all the People of God of Ciudad del Este to   
   accept the Holy See's decision with a spirit of obedience and docility and   
   without prejudice, guided by faith.   
    "On the other hand, the Church in Paraguay, guided by her pastors, is invited   
   to embark on a serious process of reconciliation in order to overcome any form   
   of sectarianism or discord, so as not to harm the countenance of the one   
   Church, 'born of the blood of His Son' and so that Christ's flock may not be   
   deprived of the joy of the Gospel".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 25 September 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in   
   audience:   
    - Miroslava Rosas Vargas, the new ambassador of Panama to the Holy See,   
   presenting her credential letters;   
    - Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, Italy;   
    - Cardinal Andrew Yeom-Soo-jung, archbishop of Seoul, Korea;   
    - Archbishop Giacinto Berloco, apostolic nuncio in Belgium and Luxembourg;   
    - Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, apostolic nuncio in Belorus;   
    - Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, apostolic nuncio in Colombia;   
    - Marcos Aguinis.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:   
   www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va   
      
   Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican   
   Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting   
   the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.   
   http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)