"Attention to human life, especially when it is most in difficulty, in the   
   case of the sick, the elderly, and children, profoundly involves the mission   
   of the Church. She is also called upon to participate in the debate on human   
   life, presenting her outlook based on the Gospel. In many contexts, quality of   
   life is linked predominantly to economic conditions, 'well-being', beauty and   
   the pleasure of life in a physical sense, forgetting other deeper dimensions -   
   relational, spiritual and religious - of existence. In reality, in the light   
   of faith and good reason, human life is always sacred and always 'of quality'.   
   There does not exist a human life that is more sacred than another, just as   
   there is no human life qualitatively more significant than another, simply on   
   the basis of greater means, rights, and economic and social opportunities",   
   emphasised the Holy Father.   
    Therefore, he continued, the work of Catholic doctors must offer witness "by   
   word and by deed that human life is always sacred, valid and inviolable, and   
   as such must be loved, defended and cared for". The profession of medicine,   
   "enriched with the spirit of faith, is a further reason to collaborate with   
   those - even of different religious beliefs or thought - who recognise the   
   dignity of human beings as a criterion for their activity. Indeed, while the   
   Hippocratic oath commits you to serving life, the Gospel leads you further -   
   to love it always and anyway, especially when in need of particular care and   
   attention".   
    "Prevalent thought offers a 'false compassion': that which sees abortion as   
   being in favour of women, procuring euthanasia as an act of dignity, and the   
   'production' of a child - considered as a right instead of being welcomed as a   
   gift - as a scientific conquest, as well as using human lives as 'guinea   
   pigs', presumably to save others. Instead, compassion based on the Gospel is   
   that which accompanies in times of need, that of the Good Samaritan, who   
   'sees', who 'has compassion', who approaches and offers concrete help". The   
   Pontiff concluded, "Your mission as doctors puts you in daily contact with   
   many forms of suffering: I encourage you to take these on as 'good   
   Samaritans', taking special care of the elderly, the sick and the disabled.   
   Faithfulness to the Gospel of life and the response to it as a gift from God   
   will at times require courageous, counter-current decisions that, in   
   particular circumstances, may lead to conscientious objection, and to the many   
   social consequences that such fidelity leads to. We are living in a time of   
   experimentation with life. But it is a bad form of experimentation. ...   
   Playing with life ... is a sin against the Creator: against God the Creator,   
   Who created all things as they are".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Holy See at the United Nations: defending the civil population from   
   remnants of war   
    Vatican City, 15 November 2014 (VIS) - Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Holy See   
   Permanent Observer at the United Nations and Other International Organisations   
   in Geneva spoke on 10 November at the 8 th Conference of the States Party to   
   Protocol V of the Convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of   
   certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious   
   or to have indiscriminate effects (CCW). Protocol V stipulates the obligations   
   and the best practices to defend the civil population against the dangers of   
   explosive remnants of war and abandoned ordinances.   
    "For the sake of credibility and to keep the door open for negotiating and   
   adopting other instruments in the future, it is incumbent upon all States   
   parties to take seriously the implementation of this instrument in its   
   preventative dimension as well as in its remedial dimension", said Archbishop   
   Tomasi in his English-language address. "The many conflicts in the Middle   
   East, Africa, North Africa and Europe remind us of our responsibilities   
   regarding explosive remnants of war and abandoned ordinances. Apart from the   
   safety of civilians, we are witnessing national and regional destabilisation   
   because of the lack of safety and security of stocks, that the international   
   community is unable or not sufficiently prepared to prevent. ... It is true   
   that the primary responsibility lies with the affected State. But   
   international cooperation is also an obligation. Almost all current conflicts   
   involve national, regional and international actors, state actors and   
   non-state actors. It must also be borne in mind that the majority of countries   
   in conflict are developing countries which do not always have sufficient means   
   to overcome the consequences of armed conflict on their soil".   
    "The success of the partnership between States, international organisations   
   and non-governmental organisations in several areas of disarmament is well   
   established. CCW, including Protocol V, has always opened its door to the   
   participation of civil society and its organisations. We all profit from the   
   professionalism and expertise of these organisations. We believe they should   
   continue to have a place and a voice in this sphere, and a role to play in   
   international cooperation in the prevention and remedy of damages caused by   
   explosive remnants of war".   
    "Wars and armed conflicts are always a failure of politics and of humanity",   
   he concluded. "International humanitarian law should keep this essential human   
   dimension to make coexistence possible nationally and internationally. When   
   the international community fails to preserve peace, it should not accept a   
   second failure. Protocol V is a modest attempt to prevent innocent people from   
   becoming victims once the conflict is over. Compliance is not only a legal   
   obligation. It is in the first place a moral duty towards the people and a   
   political duty to restore peace".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Cardinal Gracias, Pope's special envoy at the 500th anniversary of the   
   evangelisation of Myanmar   
    Vatican City, 15 November 2014 (VIS) - In a letter made public today, written   
   in Latin and dated 16 October, the Holy Father nominated Cardinal Oswald   
   Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, as his special envoy at the celebration of the   
   fifth centenary of the evangelisation of Myanmar, scheduled to take place in   
   Yangon from 21-23 November 2014.   
    The pontifical mission accompanying the cardinal will be composed of Rev. Fr.   
   Mariano Soe Naing, S.D.B., professor in the Theological Institute of the St.   
   Joseph Major Seminary, Yangon, and Rev. Fr. Peter Sein Hlaing, O.O., lecturer   
   at the same Institute.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 17 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has received in   
   audience:   
    - Archbishop Ivan Jurkovie, apostolic nuncio in Russia and Uzbekistan;   
    - Mehmet Pagaci, new ambassador of Turkey to the Holy See, presenting his   
   credential letters;   
    - Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik of Daejeon, Korea;   
    - Maestro Daniel Baremboim and entourage;   
    - Eleven prelates of the Zambia Episcopal Conference, on their five-yearly   
   "ad Limina" visit:   
    - Archbishop Ignatius Chama of Kasama, apostolic administrator "sede vacante   
   et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis"of Mpika;   
    - Bishop Patrick Chisanga, O.F.M. Conv., of Mansa;   
    - Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu of Lusaka;   
    - Bishop George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu of Chipata, with his auxiliary, Bishop   
   Benjamin Phiri;   
    - Bishop Clement Mulenga, S.D.B., of Kabwe;   
    - Bishop Raymond Mpezele of Livingstone;   
    - Bishop Evans Chinyama Chinyemba, O.M.I., of Mongu;   
    - Bishop Moses Hamungole of Monse;   
    - Bishop Alick Banda of Ndola;   
    - Bishop Charles Joseph Sampa Kasonde of Solwezi.   
    On Saturday, 15 November, the Holy Father received in audience:   
    - Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;   
    - Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the   
   Evangelisation of Peoples;   
    - Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher of Gatineau, Canada, president of the   
   Conference of Catholic Bishops of Canada, with the deputy president, Bishop   
   David Douglas Crosby of Hamilton, and the deputy secretary, Bede Hubbard.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 17 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:   
    - appointed Rev. Fr. Cristobal Ascencio Garcia as bishop of Apatzingan (area   
   13,102, population 404,000, Catholics 373,000, priests 59, religious 126),   
   Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in El Josefino de Allende, Mexico in 1955   
   and ordained a priest in 1985. He holds a licentiate in canon law from the   
   Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral   
   roles in the diocese of San Juan de los Lagos, including parish priest of the   
   "Espiritu Santu" parish; prefect and subsequently rector of the major   
   seminary, and judge in the ecclesiastical tribunal and the Appeals Tribunal.   
   He is currently parish priest of the "San Francisco de Asis" parish in   
   Tepatitlan di Morelos. He succeeds Bishop Miguel Patino Velazquez, M.S.F.,   
   whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the   
   age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.   
    - appointed Rev. Fr. Juan Carlos Ares as auxiliary of the archdiocese of   
   Buenos Aires (area 203, population 2,944,000, Catholics 2,696,000, priests   
   782, permanent deacons 10, religious 1,951), Argentina. The bishop-elect was   
   born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1989. He has   
   served as parish priest of the "San Rafael" parish, chaplain of Scouts in   
   Argentina for the Episcopal Vicariate Devoto, deputy director of the Schools   
   Department of the archiepiscopate of Buenos Aires, and parish priest of "San   
   Ramon Nonato". He is currently parish priest of "Nuestra Senora de Balvanera".   
    - appointed Rev. Martin Fassi as auxiliary of the diocese of San Isidro (area   
   1,379, population 1,178,000, Catholics 1,120,000, priests 138, permanent   
   deacons 38, religious 203), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in San   
   Isidro, Argentina in 1960 and was ordained a priest in 1984. He studied   
   philosophy and theology in the San Agustin major seminary, San Isidro, and has   
   served as formator of the regional seminary "Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion"   
   in Resistencia, missionary in the diocese of Olguin, Cuba, and parish priest   
   in the "Purisima Concepcion" parish of Pacheco. He is currently vicar general   
   of the diocese of San Isidro.   
    - accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of   
   Guadalajara, Mexico, presented by Bishop Miguel Romano Gomez, in accordance   
   with canons 411 and 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.   
    On Saturday, 15 November, the Holy Father:   
    - appointed Bishop Stephen Tjephe as bishop of the diocese of Loikaw (area   
   11,670, population 346,000, Catholics 74,868, priests 93, religious 235),   
   Myanmar. Msgr. Tjephe is currently auxiliary of Liokaw and apostolic   
   administrator "sede vacante ed ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same diocese.   
    - appointed Rev. Fr. Francisco Javier Pistilli Scorzara, J. Sch., as bishop   
   of Encarnacion (area 16,525, population 611,000, Catholics 502,000, priests   
   52, permanent deacons 1, religious 110), Paraguay. The bishop-elect was born   
   in Asuncion, Paraguay in 1965, gave his religious vows in 1988 and was   
   ordained a priest in 1997. He completed his studies at the theologate of the   
   Capuchin Franciscan Fathers in Munster, Germany, and has served as parish   
   vicar in the Nuestra Senora del Rosario parish in Luque, Asuncion; and master   
   of novices in Tuparanda, San Lorenzo. He is currently regional superior of the   
   Secular Institute of Schonstatt Fathers for Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and   
   Nigeria. He succeeds Bishop Ignacio Gogorza Izaguirre, S.C.I. Of Beth, whose   
   resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age   
   limit was accepted by the Holy Father.   
    - accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of   
   Encarnacion, Paraguay, presented by Bishop Claudio Silvero Acosta, S.C.I.   
   Beth, upon reaching the age limit.   
    - appointed Rev. Fr. Heinz Wilhem Steckling, O.M.I., as bishop of Ciudad del   
   Este (area 29,562, population 795,000, Catholics 783,200, priests 111,   
   permanent deacons 1, religious 198), Paraguay. The bishop-elect was born in   
   Werl, Germany in 1947 and was ordained a priest in 1974. He holds a diploma in   
   theology from the University of Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany. He has served in   
   as provincial of the vice provincia of Pilcomayo e Nord Argentina of the   
   Oblate Missionaries and superior general of his congregation and is currently   
   rector of the major seminary of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Asuncion,   
   Paraguay, and consultor for the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples   
   and of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.   
    - appointed Rev. Fr. Lorenzo Lorusso, O.P., as under secretary of the   
   Congregation for the Oriental Churches. Fr. Lorusso is currently consultor of   
   the same dicastery, rector of the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, and   
   lecturer in Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
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