VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 059   
   DATE 24-03-2015   
      
   Summary:   
   - International vigil at St. Mary Major for the 20th anniversary of the   
   encyclical Evangelium Vitae   
   - Pope's Second lottery for charity   
   - The Holy See: equality of access to education for girls   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
      
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    International vigil at St. Mary Major for the 20th anniversary of the   
   encyclical Evangelium Vitae   
    Vatican City, 24 March 2015 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for the Family has   
   organised an international vigil to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of   
   the   
   publication of St. John Paul II's encyclical "Evangelium Vitae". According to a   
   press release from the dicastery, the event is a form of thanksgiving for the   
   fruits of the pastoral care of life, and will also serve to spread the benefits   
   of prayer for life as well as to recall eternal life, the destiny of every   
   human   
   being.   
    The vigil will be divided into three stages: it will begin at 5 p.m. in the   
   Roman basilica of St. Mary Major, with an explanation of various artistic   
   elements of the basilica relating to the theme of life. At 6 p.m. an original   
   rosary will be prayed, focusing on the contemplation of the Gospel passages   
   linked to the theme of life, interspersed with experiences related by the   
   faithful. This will be followed, at 7 p.m., by a Eucharistic celebration   
   presided by Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the   
   Family, who comments that "the anniversary of the Encyclical and this vigil   
   that   
   commemorates it, on the eve of the Annunciation, is particularly meaningful as   
   it makes manifest the intimate connection between the mystery of life and the   
   experience of the family, made up of affection and social relationships.   
   Defending life means participating in the alliance between God, man and woman".   
    The international character of the vigil is accentuated by the participation   
   of   
   the shrines of Fatima, Lourdes and Guadalupe, where rosaries will be recited,   
   dedicated to life, as part of the initiative "A rosary embraces the world".   
    The Italian television channel Telepace will transmit live the events of the   
   vigil from 5.15 p.m., while English-, French- and Italian-speaking viewers will   
   be able to take part in the Holy Rosaries of Lourdes, according to the   
   following   
   schedule: at 2.30 p.m. (local time) the Rosary will be broadcast by the main   
   American Catholic television channels; at 3.30 p.m. by the French Catholic   
   channel KTO, and at 6 p.m. in Italy, by the broadcaster TV2000.   
      
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    Pope's Second lottery for charity   
    Vatican City, 24 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has expressed his   
   gratitude   
   for the proceeds raised by the lottery in support of his works of charity,   
   which   
   took place in January. The entire sum has been consigned to Archbishop Konrad   
   Krajewski, almoner of His Holiness. In view of the widespread participation and   
   generosity of many people, Pope Francis has made more prizes available to   
   enable   
   the initiative to be repeated.   
    The second lottery draw will take place on the solemnity of the Saints Peter   
   and Paul, patrons of Rome, and the lucky numbers draw (each ticket costs 10   
   euros) is scheduled for 30 July, in the presence of a commission to guarantee   
   the correct procedures. Prizes can be claimed during the following thirty days   
   in the Department of Events Coordination of the Governorate of Vatican City   
   State. Also on this occasion, like the first lottery, the proceeds will go   
   directly to the Pope.   
    Tickets will be available from the Vatican Pharmacy, the Post Office, the   
   Vatican supermarket, the "Station" warehouse, the sales outlets of the   
   Philatelic and Numismatic Office, and the Vatican Museums bookshop.   
      
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    The Holy See: equality of access to education for girls   
    Vatican City, 24 March 2015 (VIS) - Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Holy See   
   Permanent Observer at the United Nations in New York, spoke on 13 March at the   
   59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which analysed the   
   Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, with a view also to advancing   
   women's empowerment and equality in a post-2015 development agenda.   
    "There has been considerable progress for the cause of women in many   
   countries,   
   especially in the areas of education, political representation, and economic   
   participation", said the nuncio. "In spite of the admirable efforts and   
   significant advances, however, still too many women continue to face   
   discrimination and many forms of violence just for being women".   
    "The goal of eradicating poverty, in particular extreme poverty, is at the   
   heart of the Holy See's concerns. The Catholic Church has nearly unparalleled   
   experience of the needs of the poor through its bimillennial experience and   
   through hundreds of thousands of programs and institutions serving poor women   
   and men the world over", he continued. "The promotion of inclusive and   
   equitable   
   economies has a profound impact in advancing the status of women. Indeed, women   
   are experiencing unique economic distress linked to unfair employment policies,   
   unequal pay for equal work, the denial of access to credit and property, and   
   victimisation in situations of conflicts and migration. Notwithstanding the   
   fact   
   that women constitute the majority of the poor and are affected by the burden   
   of   
   poverty in very specific ways, they are nevertheless courageously at the   
   forefront in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty. From this perspective, the   
   fight for the advancement of women must also mean assuring them equal access to   
   resources, capital and technology".   
    The archbishop underlined that "studies have demonstrated that fragile family   
   structures and the decline of marriage among the poor are very closely linked   
   to   
   poverty among women. Single mothers are left alone to raise children. Many   
   mothers in situations of distress fail to send their children to school, thus   
   entangling them in the vicious circle of poverty and marginalisation. ...   
   Numerous   
   reports by the Secretary-General have highlighted the centrality of the family   
   for poverty eradication and sustainable development".   
    The Holy See takes note of the report by the UN Office of the High   
   Commissioner   
   for Human Rights on the problems and attacks girls continue to suffer in   
   accessing education. "My delegation is convinced that the fight for equal   
   access   
   to education for girls, especially quality education, is an indispensable   
   component in the fight for the advancement of women ... and reiterates Pope   
   Francis' readiness of to work with all those who are seeking each day to build   
   a   
   world that concretely treats women as equals, in the diversity of gifts and   
   strengths, toward the greater common good of all".   
      
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    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 24 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Bishop   
   Bertram Victor Wick Enzler, auxiliary of Guayaquil, Ecuador, as bishop of Santo   
   Domingo en Ecuador (area 8,500, population 801,000, Catholics 685,000, priests   
   82, permanent deacons 2, religious 135), Ecuador.   
      
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   For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:   
   www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va   
      
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