VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 213   
   DATE 01-12-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - To the Swiss Bishops' Conference: safeguard your country's long Christian   
   tradition   
   - The Pope speaks to the press on the return flight to Rome   
   - Francis denounces the degrading living conditions of many refugees   
   - Pope Francis' prayer intentions for December   
   - Audiences   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    To the Swiss Bishops' Conference: safeguard your country's long Christian   
   tradition   
    Vatican City, 1 December 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis received the   
   prelates of the Swiss Bishops' Conference at the end of their five-yearly "ad   
   Limina" visit and handed them the text of the discourse he had prepared in   
   advance, in which he referred to the country's long Christian tradition and   
   the responsibility of prelates to keep faith strong. "Without living faith in   
   the risen Christ, your beautiful churches and monasteries will gradually   
   transform into museums; all the commendable works and institutions lose their   
   soul, leaving behind only empty spaces and abandoned people", he writes. "The   
   mission that has been entrusted to you is to nurture your flock, proceeding in   
   accordance with current circumstances. ... The People of God cannot exist   
   without their pastors, bishops and priests; the Lord has given the Church the   
   gift of the apostolic succession in the service of the unity of faith and its   
   full transmission".   
    In this way, the Pope encourages them to continue their efforts in the   
   formation of the seminarians, which constitutes the challenge for the future   
   of the Church, and invites them to pay attention to their priests, especially   
   in the case of estrangement or when the meaning of episcopal paternity appears   
   to be forgotten. "A humble, honest and fraternal dialogue often enables a new   
   beginning", he writes. Similarly, he urges the bishops to acknowledge the   
   support and efforts of the laity, differentiating between the common   
   priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial priesthood. He encourages them   
   to continue in the formation of the baptised regarding the truths of faith and   
   their importance to liturgy, the parish, family and life, and to carefully   
   select personnel to permit the laity to be truly integrated in and to take   
   their rightful place in the Church.   
    The Holy Father mentions that the Church was born in Pentecost when the   
   apostles went out and spoke in all languages thus reaching all mankind through   
   the power of the Holy Spirit, and he recalls the Redeemer's invitation to   
   preach the Gospel to all, proclaiming the Good News without bending to the   
   whims of man. Finally, he imparts his apostolic blessing and expresses his   
   hope that they may continue to cultivate God's field with diligence and   
   patience, maintaining their passion for the truth, and he encourages them to   
   entrust the future of evangelisation in their country to the Virgin Mary and   
   to the intercession of St. Nicolas de Flue, St. Maurice, and their companions.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope speaks to the press on the return flight to Rome   
    Vatican City, 1 December 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday, as is his custom, Pope   
   Francis spoke with the journalists accompanying him on the return flight from   
   Istanbul to Rome. The questions touched mostly on the themes of relations   
   between Islam and Christianity, and ecumenism.   
    The Holy Father affirmed that the Qu'ran is a book of peace and that Islam   
   cannot be equated with terrorism; however, he remarked, it is necessary for   
   Muslim political, religious and academic leaders to condemn terrorist attacks   
   so that the people may hear this directly from such figures. He also revealed   
   that in the Blue Mosque, he prayed above all for peace. Referring later on to   
   so-called "Christianophobia" or anti-Christian sentiment, as opposed to   
   "Islamophobia", he underlined that today there are many Christian martyrs   
   among the populations of the Middle East, and he mentioned those compelled to   
   leave their homes. This martyrdom has been the fate of faithful of different   
   Christian confessions and has given rise to an "ecumenism of blood".   
    With regard to the Middle East, he spoke about the situation in Syria,   
   condemning the traffic and sale of arms, and reiterated that behind every war   
   there are always political and economic problems and commercial interests, in   
   attempts to save a system that accords centrality to the god of money, rather   
   than human beings. The Pope observed that it seems to him we are experiencing   
   a third world war, fragmented and dispersed in various places, and expressed   
   his wish to go to Iraq, although he remarked that at the moment it would not   
   be possible since it would create important problems for the authorities and   
   difficulties regarding security. Francis revealed that he considers the   
   opening of the Turkish-Armenian border to be a very important issue, but is   
   aware that there are political issues that make this difficult, and he invited   
   prayer to contribute to making this opening possible.   
    The Pope focused closely on the question of ecumenism, commenting that it is   
   a path that must be followed together and stressing the importance of   
   spiritual ecumenism - praying, working and carrying out charitable works   
   together. He added that with orthodoxy, this joint path is proving successful   
   thanks to the sacraments and the apostolic succession, and that it will be   
   fundamental to provide an answer to the question posed by John Paul II when he   
   asked the Orthodox to help arrive at a formula for primacy acceptable to these   
   Churches. He also expressed his wish to go to Moscow in order to meet with the   
   Patriarch Kiril, but not at the moment due to the pressing problems in   
   Ukraine. Again in relation to ecumenism, he stressed that when the Church   
   looks inwardly to herself rather than at Christ, when she believes herself to   
   be a creator of light rather than a bringer of light, she creates divisions.   
   Finally, he remarked on the desire of Christians to be able to celebrate   
   Easter on the same date.   
    One of the final questions related to the recent Synod of Bishops, and the   
   Holy Father affirmed that the Synod is a path and a process, and therefore a   
   person's opinion or a draft document cannot be given consideration. Nor is the   
   Synod a parliament, but rather a protected space where one may let the voice   
   of the Spirit be heard.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Francis denounces the degrading living conditions of many refugees   
    Vatican City, 30 November 2014 (VIS) - Pope Francis chose to conclude his   
   final day in Turkey by meeting a group of around a hundred refugees and asylum   
   seekers. Christians and Muslims, they were mostly from Iraq and Syria,   
   although some were from other countries in the Middle East and Africa, and   
   have been assisted for some time by the Salesian community in Istanbul. The   
   meeting took place in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.   
    "I wish to assure you that I share your sufferings; I hope my visit, by the   
   grace of God, may offer you some consolation in your difficult situation",   
   said the Pope. "Yours is the sad consequence of brutal conflicts and war,   
   which are always evils and which never solve problems. Rather, they only   
   create new ones".   
    He emphasised the difficulty of the living conditions of refugees, who often   
   find themselves deprived, sometimes for long periods, of "basic needs such as   
   a dignified home, healthcare, education and work. They have had to abandon not   
   only their material possessions, but above all their freedom, closeness to   
   family, their homeland and cultural traditions. The degrading conditions in   
   which so many refugees are forced to live are intolerable! For this reason, we   
   must do everything possible to eradicate the causes of this situation. I   
   appeal for greater international cooperation to resolve the conflicts which   
   are causing bloodshed in your homelands, to counter the other causes which are   
   driving people to leave their home countries, and to improve conditions so   
   that people may remain or return home. I encourage all who are working   
   generously and steadfastly for justice and peace not to lose heart. I ask   
   political leaders to always remember that the great majority of their people   
   long for peace, even if at times they lack the strength and voice to demand   
   it".   
    The Holy Father praised the work of many organisations in aid of refugees,   
   including numerous Catholic groups "which offer generous aid to many in need   
   without discriminating. I wish also to express deep gratitude to the Turkish   
   authorities for the great efforts they have made in assisting the displaced,   
   in particular Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and for the authorities' tangible   
   commitment in trying to meet their needs. I hope that the necessary support of   
   the international community may not be lacking".   
    He offered some words of encouragement to the young people present. "It is   
   easy to say this, but please make an effort not to be discouraged. With the   
   help of God, continue to hope in a better future, despite the difficulties and   
   obstacles which you are currently facing. The Catholic Church is with you,   
   including through the invaluable work of the Salesians. The Church, in   
   addition to other forms of help, also offers you the opportunity to see to   
   your education and formation. Remember always that God does not forget any of   
   his children, and that those who are the smallest and who suffer the most are   
   closest to the Father's heart".   
    "For my part, together with the whole Church, I will continue to pray to the   
   Lord, asking him to inspire those in leadership, so that they will not   
   hesitate to promote justice, security and peace and do so in ways that are   
   clear and effective", he concluded. "Through her social and charitable   
   organisations, the Church will remain at your side and will continue to hold   
   up your cause before the world. May God bless you all! Please pray for me.   
   Thank you!"   
    Following the meeting, the Pope proceeded to the hospital to visit the   
   Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Mesrob II, who was admitted some years ago and   
   remains in a coma. He subsequently went to Ataturk Airport where, after   
   farewell greetings with the local civil and religious authorities, he departed   
   for Rome. The aircraft carrying the Holy Father landed at 6.40 p.m. Before   
   returning to the Vatican, he stopped in the Basilica of St. Mary Major to   
   commend the fruits of his apostolic trip in Turkey to the Virgin.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Pope Francis' prayer intentions for December   
    Vatican City, 1 December 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father's universal prayer   
   intention for December is: "That the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and   
   hope to all people of good will".   
    His intention for evangelisation is: "That parents may be true evangelisers,   
   passing on to their children the precious gift of faith".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 1 December 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in   
   audience:   
    - Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, apostolic nuncio in the Dominican Republic   
   and apostolic delegate in Porto Rico;   
    - Archbishop Jean-Marie Speich, apostolic nuncio in Ghana;   
    - Marco Vinicio Vargas Pereira, new ambassador of Costa Rica to the Holy See,   
   presenting his credential letters;   
    - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church;   
    - Archbishop Stephan Burger of Freiburg im Breisgau, Federal Republic of   
   Germany;   
    - Thirteen prelates of the Swiss Bishops' Conference, on their "ad Limina"   
   visit:   
    - Bishop Felix Gmur of Basel, with his auxiliaries, Bishop Martin Gachter and   
   Bishop Denis Theurillat;   
    - Bishop Vitus Huonder of Chur, with his auxiliary Bishop Marian Eleganti;   
    - Bishop Charles Morerod, O.P., of Lausanne, Geneve et Fribourg, with his   
   auxiliaries, Bishop Pierre Farine and Bishop Alain de Raemy;   
    - Bishop Valerio Lazzeri of Lugano;   
    - Bishop Markus Buchel of Sankt Gallen;   
    - Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey, C.R.B. of Sion;   
    - Fr. Urban Federer, O.S.B., abbot of Maria Einsiedeln, and   
    - Bishop Joseph Roduit, abbot of Saint-Maurice.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 1 December 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has accepted the   
   resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Mocoa-Sibundoy, Colombia,   
   presented by Bishop Luis Alberto Parra Mora, in accordance with canon 401   
   para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)