VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 081   
   DATE 30-04-2015   
      
   Summary:   
   - The Pope receives the president of the Republic of the Seychelles   
   - To the Anglican-Catholic Commission: the cause of unity is not an optional   
   undertaking   
   - To the Community of Christian Life: reach out to the neediest frontiers of   
   humanity   
   - Telegram for the death of Cardinal Giovanni Canestri: a wise pastor,   
   attentive   
   to the needs of others   
   - Pope Francis' prayer intentions for May   
   - Presentation of the concert for Papal works of charity   
   - New commission for Vatican communications   
   - The international community must not resign itself to the tragedy of   
   Christians in the Middle East   
   - Audiences   
   - Notice   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope receives the president of the Republic of the Seychelles   
    Vatican City, 30 April 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic   
   Palace the Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of the   
   Republic of the Seychelles, James Alix Michel, who subsequently met with   
   Cardinal secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Msgr. Antoine   
   Camilleri, under secretary for Relations with States.   
    During the cordial discussions, satisfaction was expressed for the good   
   relations existing between the Holy See and the Republic of the Seychelles.   
   Mention was made of the Catholic Church's contribution to the service of   
   society, especially in the fields of welfare and education, and themes of   
   common   
   interest were considered, such as the dignity and full development of the human   
   person and the protection of the environment.   
    Finally, there was an exchange of opinions on the socio-political situation in   
   the country and in the region.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    To the Anglican-Catholic Commission: the cause of unity is not an optional   
   undertaking   
    Vatican City, 30 April 2015 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis received in   
   audience twenty members of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International   
   Commission,   
   meeting in these days in order to study the relationship between the universal   
   Church and the local Church, with particular reference to processes for   
   discussions and decision making regarding moral and ethical questions. The   
   Commission was created as a result of the historic meeting in 1966 between Pope   
   Paul VI and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Arthur Michael Ramsey, who signed a   
   joint declaration to establish dialogue based on the Gospel and the common   
   tradition in the hope of leading to the unity in truth for which Christ prayed.   
    Although that goal has not yet been reached, the Commission's visit to the   
   Pope   
   shows how "the shared tradition of faith and history between Anglicans and   
   Catholics can inspire and sustain our efforts to overcome the obstacles to full   
   communion". Furthermore, the commission will shortly publish five jointly   
   agreed   
   statements from the second phase of the Anglican-Catholic dialogue, a reminder   
   that ecumenical relations and dialogue are not secondary elements of the life   
   of   
   the Churches. "The cause of unity is not an optional undertaking and the   
   differences which divide us must not be seen as inevitable", said the Holy   
   Father.   
    "There is a strong bond that already unites us which goes beyond all   
   divisions", underlined Francis. "It is the testimony of Christians from   
   different Churches and traditions, victims of persecution and violence simply   
   because of the faith they profess. And not only now, that there are many of   
   them; I think also of the martyrs of Uganda, half Catholics and half Anglicans.   
   The blood of these martyrs will nourish a new era of ecumenical commitment, a   
   fervent desire to fulfil the last will and testament of the Lord: that all may   
   be one. The witness by these our brothers and sisters demands that we live in   
   harmony with the Gospel and that we strive with determination to fulfil the   
   Lord's will for his Church. Today the world urgently needs the common, joyful   
   witness of Christians, from the defence of life and human dignity to the   
   promotion of justice and peace. Together let us invoke the gifts of the Holy   
   Spirit in order to be able to respond courageously to the 'signs of the times'   
   which are calling all Christians to unity and common witness".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    To the Community of Christian Life: reach out to the neediest frontiers of   
   humanity   
    Vatican City, 30 April 2015 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis received in   
   audience the Community of Christian Life (CVX) and the Student Missionary   
   League, for the inauguration of the National Conference of the two Italian   
   groups, exponents of Ignatian spirituality, to be held in Frascati, Italy, from   
   today until 3 May, on the theme "Beyond Walls". The Holy Father handed them a   
   written discourse in which he indicates various priorities to be taken into   
   account on their spiritual and community path.   
    First, he mentions the challenge of promoting a culture of justice and peace.   
   "Faced with a culture of illegality, corruption and confrontation, you are   
   called to devote yourselves to the common good, also through service to those   
   linked to politics. If Christians dissociate themselves from direct involvement   
   in politics, it would be a betrayal of the mission of the lay faithful, who are   
   called upon to be salt and light in the world, also through this form of   
   presence".   
    He focuses on family pastoral ministry, following the last Synod of Bishops,   
   as   
   a second apostolic priority, and encouraged them to help diocesan communities   
   in   
   their care for families, the vital cell of society, an in accompanying couples   
   as they prepare for marriage. He also emphasises the importance of working with   
   those who have "drifted away" from the Church: among them there are many   
   separated couples, "who suffer as a result of the failure of their plans for   
   married life", and also other difficult family situations.   
    Finally, he turns his attention to missionary life, and encourages them to   
   maintain their capacity to "go out towards the frontiers of humanity at its   
   neediest". The Pope mentions the members of communities present in Syria,   
   Lebanon and plans for the reception of immigrants in Sicily, and reminds them   
   that, "in this luminous and fruitful apostolic style, you too can be active in   
   inspiring the various educational institutions in Italy, Catholic and   
   state-managed, as in other parts of the world".   
      
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    Telegram for the death of Cardinal Giovanni Canestri: a wise pastor, attentive   
   to the needs of others   
    Vatican City, 30 April 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a telegram of   
   condolences to Cardinal Agostino Vallini, his vicar for the diocese of Rome,   
   for   
   the death at the age of 97 of Cardinal Giovanni Canestri, who was archbishop of   
   Genoa, Italy from 1987 to 1995. Originally from the diocese of Alessandria, the   
   late cardinal belonged to the clergy of Rome.   
    "The passing of the venerated cardinal elicits in my heart profound emotion   
   and   
   sincere admiration for an esteemed man of the Church who lived with humility   
   and   
   devotion his long and fruitful priesthood and episcopate in the service of the   
   Gospel and of the souls entrusted to him. I recall with gratitude his fervent   
   ministry, first as a deputy priest during the difficult war years in the   
   outskirts of Rome, areas affected by suffering and poverty; then as a parish   
   priest in two populous suburbs, intent on educating the young in particular in   
   the joy of faith. Upon being appointed as auxiliary bishop of Rome, he devoted   
   himself with apostolic intensity to the spiritual and material needs of the   
   people, while participating diligently in the work of Vatican Council II. In   
   his   
   episcopal ministry in Tortona, then as vicegerent and subsequently archbishop   
   of   
   Cagliari, and finally Genoa-Bobbio, he demonstrated pastoral wisdom and   
   generous   
   attention to the needs of others, reaching out to all with goodness and   
   gentleness. I raise fervent prayers that the Lord receive the late cardinal in   
   eternal joy and peace, and I bestow upon you and those who share in sorrow the   
   comfort of my apostolic blessing, with a special thought for the Apostolic   
   Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who lovingly cared for him especially in   
   these last years of his infirmity".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Pope Francis' prayer intentions for May   
    Vatican City, 30 April 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father's universal prayer   
   intention for May is: "That, rejecting the culture of indifference, we may care   
   for our neighbours who suffer, especially the sick and the poor".   
    His intention for evangelisation is: "That Mary's intercession may help   
   Christians in secularised cultures be open to proclaiming Jesus".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Presentation of the concert for Papal works of charity   
    Vatican City, 30 April 2015 (VIS) - This morning a press conference was held   
   in   
   the Holy See Press Office to present the concert organised to support the   
   Pope's   
   charitable work, which will take place on 14 May, solemnity of the Ascension,   
   at   
   6 p.m. in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. The concert, to be conducted by Maestro   
   Daniel Oren and performed by the Philarmonic Orchestra of Salerno, Italy and   
   the   
   choir of the diocese of Rome led by Msgr. Marco Frisina, is sponsored by the   
   Papal Almoner, the Pontifical Council for Culture, the Pontifical Council for   
   Promoting New Evangelisation, and the St. Matthew Foundation, in memory of   
   Cardinal Van-Thuan, and unites culture with charitable concerns. For the   
   occasion, the donations gathered will be entirely devolved to the office of the   
   Apostolic Almoner, the dicastery responsible for the Pope's charity.   
    The protagonists of the event are the most needy, the poor and sick, who will   
   occupy the front rows and have been invited through charitable and voluntary   
   associations: the Great Priory of Rome and the Sovereign Military Order of   
   Malta, the Circle of St. Peter, diocesan Caritas, the Sant'Egidio Community and   
   the Centro Astalli, which assists migrants and refugees, the Daughters of   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)