The Pope remarked that the good relations between generations can be learned   
   from the Heavenly Father Who "does not take steps backwards in His love for us   
   - never! He always moves forward, and if He cannot go ahead He waits for us,   
   but He never goes backwards; He wants all his children to be courageous and   
   take their steps ahead. Sons and daughters, on their part, must not be afraid   
   of the commitment to building a new world: it is right for them to want it to   
   be better than the one they have received! But this must be done without   
   arrogance, without presumption".   
    He mentioned the fourth commandment, to honour one's father and mother, and   
   explained that "a society of children who do not honour their parents is a   
   society without honour. It is a society destined to become full of barren and   
   greedy young people". He added that a society in which the adult generations   
   "do not love to be surrounded by children, considering them above all as a   
   worry, a burden, a risk, is a depressed society" and that while the conception   
   of children must be responsible, having many children should not automatically   
   be considered an irresponsible decision, and choosing not to have children is   
   "a selfish decision". "Life is rejuvenated and acquires energy by multiplying;   
   it is enriched, not impoverished. ... In the multiplication of generation   
   there is the mystery of the enrichment of the life of all, that comes from God   
   Himself. We must rediscover this, challenging prejudice; and live it, in faith   
   and in perfect joy". He concluded by addressing the mothers and fathers who   
   raise their children to be blessed as he passes through the square: "it is a   
   gesture that is almost divine. Thank you for doing it!".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Francis prays for the victims of the Lampedusa tragedy   
    Vatican City, 11 February 2015 (VIS) - "I follow with concern the news from   
   Lampedusa, where there have been deaths among immigrants due to the cold   
   during the Mediterranean crossing. I offer the assurance of my prayers for the   
   victims and again encourage solidarity so that those affected do not lack the   
   necessary aid", said the Holy Father following the catechesis of today's   
   general audience.   
    The Pope also invited prayer for the upcoming Consistory, so that "the Holy   
   Spirit might assist in the work of the College of Cardinals and enlighten the   
   new Cardinals and their service to the Church".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Eighth session of the Council of Cardinals   
    Vatican City, 11 February 2015 (VIS) - The Eighth Session of the Council of   
   Cardinals took place from 9 to 11 February, with meetings both in the morning   
   and the afternoon.   
    All members of the Council were present, and the Pope participated in all the   
   meetings apart from on Wednesday morning, as usual, due to the General   
   Audience.   
    The first meeting on Monday morning was dedicated to the preparation of the   
   Report on the work carried out by the Council and on the theme of reform of   
   the Curia, which will be presented on Thursday 12 at the Consistory of the   
   College of Cardinals. The Secretary of the Council, Bishop Semeraro, gave a   
   presentation.   
    The Monday afternoon meeting was dedicated to a meeting with Cardinal Ravasi   
   regarding the Pontifical Council for Culture within the framework of reform of   
   the Curia.   
    The Tuesday morning meeting was instead dedicated mostly to a presentation by   
   Msgr. Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social   
   Communications and the Commission for Vatican Media, of the Commission's   
   Interim Report, with the main results and proposals for the reorganisation of   
   Vatican media. The Council expressed its appreciation for the work carried out   
   by the Commission and confirmed its principle orientations.   
    In the afternoon, questions regarding the Secretariat and Council for the   
   Economy were again taken into consideration, in view of the finalisation of   
   the Statutes of these new entities.   
    The first part of the meeting on Wednesday morning was again devoted to the   
   preparation of the following day's Consistory, especially the contribution to   
   be offered by the Coordinator of the Council, Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga,   
   while during the second part an update was offered on the organisation and   
   activities of the Secretariat for the Economy.   
    In the final meeting, on Wednesday morning, the topics covered in the morning   
   will be examined again with the Holy Father, and it is expected that a report   
   will be given by Cardinal O'Malley on the recent plenary session of the new   
   Commission for the Protection of Minors.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 12 February 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in   
   audience Shahindokht Molaverdi, deputy president of the Islamic Republic of   
   Iran.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 12 February 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:   
    - Fr. Luc Crey, C.J.M., as bishop of Puy-en-Velay (area 5,000, population   
   231,877, Catholics 181,700, priests 147, permanent deacons 10, religious 459),   
   France. The bishop-elect was born in Lille, France in 1958, gave his perpetual   
   vows in 1988 and was ordained a priest in 1989. He holds a doctorate in   
   biology and a licentiate in theology, and has served in a number of roles in   
   the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists), as rector of the interdiocesan   
   seminary of Orleans, president of the Conference of Major Superiors in France,   
   and pontifical commissioner for the province of France and Switzerland of the   
   Societe des Filles du Coeur de Marie. He is currently procurator general of   
   the Congregation of Eudists in Rome.   
    - Fr. Francois Gnonhossou, S.M.A., as bishop of Dassa-Zoume (area 13,931,   
   population 717,772, Catholics 217,401, priests 85, religious 65), Benin. The   
   bishop-elect was born in Dassa-Zoume, Benin in 1961, gave his religious vows   
   in 1996, and was ordained a priest in 1997. He holds a licentiate in civil law   
   and a bachelor's degree in theology, he has served in a number of pastoral   
   roles, including parish priest in Guffanti, Nigeria; chaplain of the Apprentis   
   d'Auteil in Paris; vice-superior and subsequently superior of the S.M.A.   
   district in formation Africa, assistant in various parishes in the diocese of   
   Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, Canada; parish vicar of St. Sylvain, Montreal,   
   Canada, and bursar of the local community. He is currently general counsel of   
   the Society of African Missions in Rome.   
    - Msgr. Fernando Chica Arellano, nunciature counsellor, as Holy See permanent   
   observer at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (F.A.O.),   
   International Fund for Agricultural Development (I.F.A.D.), and World Food   
   Programme (W.F.P.).   
    On Wednesday, 11 February, the Holy Father appointed:   
    - Bishop Juan Nsue Edjang Maye of Ebebiyin, Equatorial Guinea, as archbishop   
   of Malabo (area 2,034, population 312,000, Catholics 283,000, priests 37,   
   religious 106), Equatorial Guinea. He succeeds Archbishop Ildefonso Obama   
   Obono whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, upon   
   reaching the age limit, was accepted by the Holy Father.   
    - Fr. Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, C.I.C.M., as bishop of Lisala (area 67,674,   
   population 1,683,000, Catholics 897,000, priests 66, religious 124),   
   Democratic Republic of Congo. The bishop-elect was born in Kanya Mbonda,   
   Democratic Republic of Congo in 1964, gave his perpetual vows in 1987, and was   
   ordained a priest in 1996. He studied philosophy and theology in Yaounde,   
   Cameroon, and theology at the Catholic Theological Union (C.T.S.), U.S.A. He   
   has served as a missionary and parish priest in Dakar, Senegal; superior of   
   the autonomous C.I.C.M. district of Senegal for three consecutive mandates;   
   rector of the theological seminary of Cameroon and coordinator of the C.I.C.M.   
   for the Region Africa. He is currently vicar general of his Congregation in   
   Rome.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)