VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 022   
   DATE 30-01-2015   
      
   Summary:   
   - The Pope recalls the "immense tragedy" of Syria and Iraq   
   - Telegram from the Pope for the explosion in the Mexican maternity hospital   
   of Cualjimalpa   
   - Pope Francis' prayer intentions for February   
   - The Master of Papal Ceremonies explains the new method of imposing the   
   pallium   
   - Audiences   
      
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    The Pope recalls the "immense tragedy" of Syria and Iraq   
    Vatican City, 30 January 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Consistory Hall the   
   Pope received thirty representatives of the Joint International Commission for   
   Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox   
   Churches, constituted in 2003 following an initiative of the Pontifical   
   Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the ecclesiastical authorities of   
   the family of Oriental Orthodox Churches. During the last ten years, from a   
   historical perspective, it has examined the roads through which the Churches   
   have expressed their communion in the first centuries, and what this means for   
   our search for communion today. During this week's meeting, the Commission   
   embarked upon a deeper examination of the nature of the Sacraments, especially   
   Baptism.   
    Francis recalled the inspiring commitment to dialogue of His Holiness   
   Ignatius Zakka I Was, Patriarch of the Syro-Orthodox Church of Antioch and all   
   the East, who died last year, and joined in prayer with the clergy and the   
   faithful for this "dedicated servant of God".   
    "At this time we especially feel dismay and deep sadness at what is happening   
   in the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Syria. I think of all those living   
   in the region, including our Christian brothers and sisters, and many   
   minorities, who are experiencing the effects of a prolonged and painful   
   conflict. I join you in praying for a negotiated solution and in imploring   
   God's goodness and mercy upon all those affected by this immense tragedy. All   
   Christians are called to work together, in mutual acceptance and trust, in   
   order to serve the cause of peace and justice. May the intercession and   
   example of many martyrs and saints who have borne courageous witness of Christ   
   in all our Churches sustain and strengthen you and your Christian communities".   
      
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    Telegram from the Pope for the explosion in the Mexican maternity hospital of   
   Cualjimalpa   
    Vatican City, 30 January 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro   
   Parolin has sent a telegram on behalf of the Holy Father to Cardinal Norberto   
   Rivera Carrera, archbishop of Mexico, Mexico, following an explosion in the   
   Maternity Hospital of Cualjimalpa caused during the transfer of fuel to the   
   centre, which claimed several victims and casualties including a number of   
   babies.   
    Pope Francis, "greatly saddened by this tragic news", according to the text,   
   "offers his prayers for the eternal repose of the souls of the departed" and   
   "wishes to convey his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased,   
   along with expressions of comfort, his fervent hope for the swift recovery of   
   the injured. He imparts the comfort of his apostolic blessing as a sign of   
   hope in the Resurrected Lord".   
      
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    Pope Francis' prayer intentions for February   
    Vatican City, 30 January 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father's universal prayer   
   intention for February is: "That prisoners, especially the young, may be able   
   to rebuild lives of dignity".   
    His intention for evangelisation is: "That married people who are separated   
   may find welcome and support in the Christian community".   
      
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    The Master of Papal Ceremonies explains the new method of imposing the pallium   
    Vatican City, 30 January 2015 (VIS) - In a letter sent to all the apostolic   
   nunciatures and dated 12 January, 2015, the Master of Papal Ceremonies, Msgr.   
   Guido Marini, made public the Pope's decision to modify the method of imposing   
   the pallium on the new metropolitan archbishops. The strip of white wool,   
   symbolising the sheep on the shoulders of Jesus the Good Shepherd, will be   
   delivered and no longer "imposed" by the Holy Father, according to tradition   
   on 29 June, Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. Instead the imposition of the   
   pallium upon the new archbishops will take place in their dioceses, by the   
   hand of the local apostolic nuncios.   
    Yesterday, in an interview for Vatican Radio, Msgr. Marini explained the   
   meaning of the Pontiff's decision, indicating that from next 29 June the   
   archbishops, "as is customary, will be present in Rome, will concelebrate with   
   the Holy Father and will participate in the blessing of the pallia, but the   
   imposition will not take place. Each archbishop will receive his pallium from   
   the Holy Father in a simple and private way. The imposition will occur in the   
   diocese of origin, and therefore in a second moment, in the presence of the   
   local Church and in particular the bishops of the suffragan dioceses,   
   accompanied by their faithful".   
    This is intended, continued the Master of Papal Ceremonies, to "emphasise the   
   relationship between the newly appointed metropolitan archbishops and their   
   local Church, therefore enabling more faithful to be present and this rite   
   that is so important for them, and especially for the bishops of the suffragan   
   dioceses, which in this way will be able to participate in the moment of the   
   imposition. This maintains the significance of the celebration on 29 June,   
   which underlines the relationship of communion, including the hierarchical   
   communion between the Holy Father and the new archbishops, but at the same   
   time adds, with a meaningful gesture, the bond with the local Church. ... It   
   is a beautiful gesture which accompanies the other [the imposition of the   
   pallium, Ed.], which remains with all its entirety and depth".   
      
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    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 30 January 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in   
   audience:   
    - Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the   
   Family;   
    - Bishop Pietro Lagnese of Ischia, Italy;   
    - Francesco Maria Greco, ambassador of Italy, on his farewell visit;   
    - Colonel Daniel Rudolf Anrig, Commandant of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, on   
   his farewell visit.   
      
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