VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 078   
   DATE 27-04-2015   
      
   Summary:   
   - Queen Silvia of Sweden and her family visit the Pope   
   - The Pope praises the dynamism of the Church in Benin   
   - Ordination of nineteen new priests: imitate the Father, who never tires of   
   forgiving   
   - Regina Coeli: contemplation and thanksgiving are not enough - we must follow   
   the Good Shepherd   
   - Telegram for the earthquake in Nepal   
   - To the John Paul II Foundation: nurture solidarity with Christian fraternity   
   - Audiences   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Queen Silvia of Sweden and her family visit the Pope   
      
   Vatican City, 27 April 2015 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. today, in the private Library of   
   the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received in private audience Her Majesty   
   Queen Silvia of Sweden, accompanied by various family members and her   
   entourage.   
      
   This afternoon, Her Majesty will participate in a workshop at the Pontifical   
   Academy of Sciences organised by the Embassy of Sweden to the Holy See and the   
   Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences on the theme of the fight against human   
   trafficking, with particular attention to children. She will subsequently visit   
   the Vatican Apostolic Library for the inauguration of the "distribution desk"   
   realised with the contribution of the King Gustaf VI Adolf Foundation.   
      
   During the conversation, which took place mostly in Spanish, a language the   
   Queen knows well, she informed the Pope of the activities she promotes in   
   Sweden, especially for the benefit of children, and the Pope took the   
   opportunity the express his gratitude for the welcome extended by Sweden to   
   refugees and displaced persons. Among the gifts from Queen Silvia, the Pope   
   received three small Swedish prayer books, also adapted for children. The   
   religious education of her children has been particularly close to the   
   sovereign's heart, and the Pope expressed his lively appreciation.   
      
   Princess Madeleine, with her husband and one year-old daughter Leonore, were   
   also present in the Queen's entourage, and the Pope therefore received the   
   young   
   family with particular affection.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
      
   The Pope praises the dynamism of the Church in Benin   
      
   Vatican City, 27 April 2015 (VIS) - The vitality of the Church, the pastoral   
   ministry of the family, attention to priests and persons religious, and   
   relations with the civil authorities are the central themes of the written   
   discourse that the Pope handed to the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of   
   Benin this morning, at the end of their "ad Limina" visit.   
      
   The Holy Father begins by praising the dynamism of parish life, the extensive   
   participation of the faithful in ceremonies and the increase of vocations to   
   the   
   priesthood, but he also echoed the prelates' reports that it is at times   
   superficial and lacking in solidity and strength. "Therefore, it is important   
   that the desire for a profound knowledge of the Christian mystery not be the   
   prerogative of an elite, but instead must inspire all faithful, as everyone is   
   called to holiness. It is imperative that the Church in Benin resists and   
   defeats the winds to the contrary that are rising throughout the world and do   
   not fail to blow upon you too. I know that you are vigilant in the face of   
   numerous ideological and media attacks. The spirit of secularisation is at work   
   in your country too, although it is not yet very visible. Only a faith   
   profoundly rooted in the heart of the faithful, and lived in a concrete way,   
   will enable you to face this".   
      
   One of the challenges to the Church in Benin is family pastoral ministry, to   
   which the upcoming Synod will seek to respond. The Pope thanks the prelates of   
   Benin for their prayers for this assembly, and for their mobilisation of the   
   dioceses to participate in such important event. "I can only encourage you to   
   continue with determination in the efforts you have undertaken to support   
   families, both in their faith and in their daily life. I know that the pastoral   
   ministry of marriage remains difficult, considering the real social and   
   cultural   
   situation of the people. However, do not be discouraged, but persevere   
   tirelessly as the family in defence of the Catholic Church is a reality willed   
   by God; it is a gift of God that brings joy, stability and happiness to people   
   and to societies. It is an important challenge since the family, as the basic   
   unit of both society and of the Church, is the place where authentic human and   
   Gospel values are transmitted".   
      
   The bishop of Rome then turns to the theme of the education of the younger   
   generations, who must bring solidarity, justice and mutual respect to the   
   society of the future. "It is necessary to promote in your country - without of   
   course renouncing any of the Truth as revealed by the Lord - the encounter   
   between cultures and dialogue between religions, especially with Islam. It is   
   well known that Benin offers an example of harmony between the religions   
   present   
   in her territory. It is however wise to be vigilant, considering the current   
   world climate, in order to conserve this fragile heritage. I am particularly   
   pleased that an international colloquium on interreligious dialogue has been   
   held, under the presidency of Cardinal Tauran, which was widely appreciated".   
      
   "Your local Churches have a key role in promoting harmony and justice in the   
   progress of the country", Pope Francis observes. "But it is a role they also   
   play in healthcare and human development. How much work is carried out in the   
   name of the Gospel in your dioceses! While the global crisis is affecting many   
   countries, it is necessary to go against the grain with courage, fighting   
   against the throwaway culture that reaches everywhere and spreading the Gospel   
   values of hospitality and encounter. The service of charity is a constitutive   
   dimension of the mission of the Church, and it is an expression of her essence.   
   However, it should be borne in mind that the spirit of the works accomplished   
   by   
   the Church has a specific nature that must be clearly identified: she never   
   acts   
   as a form of simple social aid, but rather as the manifestation of the   
   tenderness and mercy of Jesus Himself, who tends to the wounds and weaknesses   
   of   
   His brothers. The joy of the Gospel is thus announced to humanity in the most   
   effective way".   
      
   The Pope thanks the priests of Benin for their generous service into the Gospel   
   and mentions again the great number of vocations, a blessing from the Lord, and   
   encourages the Church in Benin to share her resources with the Churches of   
   other   
   regions which are lacking. However, he writes, "when you send your priests to   
   study or on missions elsewhere, do so with judgement, without forgetting the   
   needs of your own Churches".   
      
   The final paragraphs of the text are dedicated to the good relationship between   
   the Church and the civil authorities in the country. "The voice of the Church   
   is   
   listened to and her action is appreciated. I invite you to continue to take   
   your   
   place fully in the public life of the country, especially in these times. I   
   know   
   you are engaged in constant work to encourage relations between the different   
   components of society. I invite you to continue along this path, taking care   
   not   
   to enter directly into the political arena or party disputes. The conduct of   
   public affairs remains the duty of the laity, whom you have the important duty   
   of ceaselessly educating and encouraging".   
      
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   Ordination of nineteen new priests: imitate the Father, who never tires of   
   forgiving   
      
   Vatican City, 26 April 2015 (VIS) - On the 52nd World Day of Prayer for   
   Vocations, Pope Francis conferred priestly ordination to nineteen deacons:   
   thirteen from the Roman diocesan seminaries (Pontifical Roman Major Seminary,   
   "Redemptoris Mater" Diocesan College, Seminary of Our Lady of Divine Love) and   
   six from other colleges. The Mass was concelebrated by the Holy Father and   
   Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, Archbishop   
   Filippo Iannone, vicegerent, the auxiliary bishops, the superiors of the   
   seminaries involved, and the deacons' parish priests.   
      
   During the liturgy of ordination, the Pope pronounced the homily for this rite,   
   improvising some paragraphs. "These sons of ours are called to the order of the   
   presbytery. It is good for us to reflect a little on the ministry to which they   
   will be elevated within the Church. As you well know, the Lord Jesus is the   
   sole   
   Supreme Priest of the New Testament, but in Him also all the holy people of God   
   is constituted as a priestly people. All of us! Nonetheless, among all His   
   disciples, Jesus wishes to choose some in particular to publicly exercise   
   priestly office on behalf of all mankind, thus continuing His personal mission   
   as teacher, priest and pastor. ... They have reflected on this, their vocation,   
   and now they are to receive the ordination to the priesthood. And the bishop   
   risks - risks! - and chooses them, just as the Father risked for each one of   
   us".   
      
   "And to you, who are about to be raised to the order of the presbytery,   
   consider   
   that by exercising the ministry of the Holy Doctrine you will participate in   
   the   
   mission of Christ, the sole master. Dispense to all that Word of God, that you   
   yourselves have received with joy. Read and meditate diligently on the Word of   
   the Lord so as to believe in what you have read, to teach what you have learnt   
   in faith, to live what you have taught. And may this be the nourishment of the   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)