VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 015   
   DATE 21-01-2015   
      
   Summary:   
   - The Pope recounts his pastoral trip in Asia   
   - Appeal for Niger   
   - Inter-Christian collaboration in view of interreligious dialogue   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope recounts his pastoral trip in Asia   
    Vatican City, 21 January 2015 (VIS) - Before proceeding to the Paul VI Hall   
   for this morning's Wednesday general audience, the Holy Father, following a   
   centuries-long tradition, blessed two lambs in the hall of the Domus Sanctae   
   Marthae, whose wool will be used to weave the pallia imposed on the new   
   archbishops on 29 June, on the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.   
    During today's audience, Pope Francis gave an account of his apostolic trip   
   to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. "I will always keep in my heart the   
   recollection of the joyful welcome I received from the crowds", he confessed.   
   The culmination of his stay in Sri Lanka, he said, was the canonisation of St.   
   Joseph Vaz. "His example of holiness and love for his neighbour continues to   
   inspire the Church in Sri Lanka in her apostolate of charity and education",   
   he said, adding that the new saint represented "a model for all Christians,   
   who are called upon today to offer the salvific truth of the Gospel in a   
   multi-religious context. With regard to the meeting with the governmental   
   authorities, he emphasised the importance of dialogue, respect for human   
   dignity and efforts to involve all in finding suitable solutions for   
   reconciliation and the common good.   
    He also spoke about his encounter with religious leaders, which confirmed the   
   good relations that exist between the various communities. "In this context, I   
   wanted to encourage the cooperation that has already been initiated between   
   the followers of different religious traditions, also in order to heal with   
   the balsam of forgiveness those who are still afflicted by the sufferings of   
   recent years".   
    In the Philippines, he noted "the constant fruitfulness of the Gospel and its   
   capacity to inspire a society worthy of mankind, in which there is a place for   
   the dignity of each person and the aspirations of the Filipino population". He   
   explained that the main aim of his visit was to express his closeness to those   
   brothers and sisters who had suffered as a result of the devastation wrought   
   by typhoon Yolanda. "The power of God's love, revealed in the mystery of the   
   Cross, was made evident in the spirit of solidarity shown by the many acts of   
   charity and sacrifice that marked those days of darkness". He also mentioned   
   the young volunteer Kristel, killed following his visit to Tacloban by   
   collapsing scaffolding due to extreme weather conditions.   
    Francis went on to speak about his encounter with families in Manila. "I have   
   heard it said that families with many children and high birth rates are among   
   the causes of poverty. It seems to me a simplistic opinion. I can say that the   
   main cause of poverty is an economic system that has removed the person from   
   the centre and replaced him with the god of money; an economic system that   
   excludes and creates the throwaway culture in which we live. ... It is   
   necessary to protect families, which face various threats, so that they can   
   bear witness to the beauty of the family in God's plan".   
    Finally, he spokes about his meeting with the young. "I wanted to offer them   
   my encouragement for their efforts in contributing to the renewal of society,   
   especially through their service to the poor and the protection of the natural   
   environment. Care for the poor is an essential element of our Christian life   
   and witness - because corruption steals from the poor - and requires a culture   
   of honesty", he concluded.   
      
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    Appeal for Niger   
    Vatican City, 21 January 2015 (VIS) - The Pope launched an appeal for prayer   
   for "the victims of the events of recent days in beloved Niger", adding, "Let   
   us invoke from the Lord the gift of reconciliation and peace, so that   
   religious feeling is not transformed into a cause of violence, oppression and   
   destruction. I hope that a climate of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence   
   may be reinstated as soon as possible, for the good of all".   
      
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    Inter-Christian collaboration in view of interreligious dialogue   
    Vatican City, 21 January 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday the annual meeting took place   
   between the officials of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue   
   (PCDI) and the staff of the Office for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation   
   (IRDC) of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The event enabled information   
   to be exchanged regarding activities carried out during 2014.   
    The meeting also offered the opportunity to reflect on future partnerships   
   between the two institutions, which have collaborated for some years now, in   
   order to exchange information and with a view to joint initiatives for the   
   examination of various issues.   
    The most recent initiatives include the presentation, in 2011, of the   
   document "Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for   
   Conduct", by the PCDI, the World Council of Churches and the World Evangelical   
   Alliance.   
      
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    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 21 January 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:   
    - the following members of the College for the review of appeals to the   
   Ordinary Session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, instituted   
   by the Rescriptum ex Audientia SS.mi of 3 November 2014:   
    President: Bishop Charles J. Scicluna, auxiliary of Malta;   
    Members: Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for   
   Catholic Education; Cardinal Attilio Nicora, president emeritus of the   
   Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See (APSA) and the Financial   
   Information Authority (AIF); Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of   
   the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi,   
   president of the Prefecture of the Economic Affairs of the Holy See;   
   Archbishop Jose Luis Mollaghan, emeritus of Rosario, Argentina; and Bishop   
   Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru, secretary of the Pontifical Council   
   for Legislative Texts;   
    Supplementary members: Cardinal Julian Herranz, president emeritus of the   
   Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; Bishop Giorgio Corbellini, president   
   of the Labour Office of the Apostolic See and of the Disciplinary Commission   
   of the Roman Curia.   
    -Rev. Fr. Daniel Elias Garcia as auxiliary of Austin (area 57,424, population   
   2,902,992, Catholics 536,183, priests 218, permanent deacons 207, religious   
   201), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Cameron, Texas, U.S.A. in 1960 and   
   was ordained a priest in 1988. He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, a   
   Master of Divinity from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas, and a   
   Master's degree in liturgical studies from St. John's University,   
   Collegeville, Minnesota. He has served in a number of pastoral roles,   
   including parish priest of the "St. Vincent de Paul" parish in Austin and dean   
   of the "Austin North Deanery". He is currently a member of the presbyteral   
   council, diocesan consultor, member of the Priests' Personnel Board, and vicar   
   general and moderator of the Curia.   
    - confirmed the appointment by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin of   
   Dr. Tommaso Di Ruzza as director of the Financial Information Authority (AIF).   
   Dr. Di Ruzza is currently "ad interim" deputy director of the same institution.   
      
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