VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 090   
   DATE 15-05-2015   
      
   Summary:   
   - Francis receives the president of Romania on the 25th anniversary of the   
   restoration of diplomatic relations with the Holy See   
   - To the bishops of the Central African Republic: justice, truth and honesty in   
   institutional transition   
   - Coaches, be an example of integrity   
   - Canonisation of Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas and Maryam Baouardy: a sign of   
   hope for the men and women of the Middle East   
   - Audiences   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Francis receives the president of Romania on the 25th anniversary of the   
   restoration of diplomatic relations with the Holy See   
    Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace   
   the Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of Romania, Klaus   
   Werner Iohannis, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro   
   Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for   
   Relations with States.   
    During the cordial discussions, which took place on the twenty-fifth   
   anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and   
   Romania on 15 May 1990, the parties focused on bilateral relations   
   characterised   
   by fruitful collaboration, as well as the relations between the State   
   authorities and the local Catholic communities, and the healthy co-existence of   
   minorities.   
    Attention then turned to issues regarding various regions in the world.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    To the bishops of the Central African Republic: justice, truth and honesty in   
   institutional transition   
    Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - The role of the Church in the process of   
   national reconciliation, Christian formation and the deepening of faith at all   
   levels, and the defence of the family as the primary locus for learning   
   forgiveness and faith were the central themes of the discourse Pope Francis   
   handed to the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of the Central African   
   Republic this morning, at the end of their "ad Limina" visit. "I would like you   
   to convey to all your people the assurance of my closeness", writes the Holy   
   Father. "I know of the suffering that they have experienced and continue to   
   experience, as well as the countless testimonies of faith and fidelity   
   Christians have rendered to the risen Christ on numerous occasions. I am   
   particularly aware of all that your communities have done to for victims of   
   violence and for refugees".   
    "Your task is difficult, but it touches the very mystery of Jesus Christ, who   
   died and rose again. It is when evil and death seem to triumph that the hope of   
   renewal in Christ emerges. It is when hatred and violence are unleashed that we   
   are called upon - and find the strength through the power of the Cross and the   
   grace of Baptism - to respond with forgiveness and love. If, sadly, this has   
   not   
   always been the case in the recent events that you have experienced, it is a   
   sign that the Gospel has not yet deeply penetrated the heart of the People of   
   God, to the point of changing their reflexes and their behaviour. Your churches   
   are the result of recent evangelisation, and your primary mission is to   
   continue   
   the work recently begun. You must not be discouraged by the storm you are   
   passing through, but on the contrary must find, in faith and hope, a source of   
   renewed enthusiasm and dynamism".   
    Christian formation and the deepening of faith at all levels must be the   
   bishops' priorities, "so that the Gospel permeates the life of the baptised,   
   for   
   the good not only of the Christian communities, but also the whole of Central   
   African society. ... You, brothers in the episcopate, must play an   
   indispensable   
   prophetic role during the current institutional transition, recalling and   
   reflecting the witness of the fundamental values of justice, truth and honesty,   
   which are the foundation of any renewal, promoting dialogue and peaceful   
   coexistence between members of different societies and ethnicities, thus   
   encouraging reconciliation and social cohesion, which is the key to the future.   
   ... You are called upon to form the conscience of the faithful, and indeed   
   that of   
   all the people, as your voice is heard and respected by all. It is in this way   
   that you should take your rightful place in current developments, avoiding   
   direct involvement in political quarrels. However, by forming and encouraging   
   the laity so they are steadfast in their faith and solidly trained in the   
   social   
   doctrine of the Church, able to engage in political debate and to take   
   responsibility - their role - you are able to gradually transform society   
   according to the Gospel and to prepare a happy future for your people".   
    The Pope also emphasises the formation of seminarians and priests, and thanks   
   them for their witness even in the most difficult situations, and he recalls   
   the   
   importance of consecrated persons who live close to afflicted populations and   
   whose devotion is praiseworthy.   
    Finally, he spoke about families, "who are the first victims of violence and   
   who are too often destabilised or destroyed as a result of the departure of a   
   member, bereavement, poverty, discord and separations. I wish to express to   
   them   
   my closeness and my affection. ... Families are not only the privileged   
   location   
   for the announcement of faith, the practice of Christian virtues and the cradle   
   of many priestly and religious vocations, but they are also 'the best setting   
   for learning and applying the culture of forgiveness, peace and    
   econciliation',   
   which your country needs. It is essential that the family be protected and   
   defended 'so that it may offer society the service expected of it, that of   
   providing men and women capable of building a social fabric of peace and   
   harmony'. I can therefore only encourage you to accord to the pastoral care of   
   marriage the attention that it deserves, and not to be discouraged by   
   resistance   
   due to cultural traditions, human weakness or the new forms of ideological   
   colonisation that are spreading everywhere".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Coaches, be an example of integrity   
    Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - Pope Francis has sent a message to Cardinal   
   Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, for the   
   international study seminar on the theme "Coaches: Educating People", organised   
   by the dicastery's Church and Sport section.   
    "We all, in life, need educators: mature, wise and balanced people who help us   
   to grow in the family, in study, in work, in faith", writes the Holy Father.   
   "The presence of a good coach-educator is shown to be providential especially   
   during the years of adolescence and early youth, when the personality is   
   developing and in search of role models to refer to and identify with. ...In   
   this delicate phase of life, a coach bears a great responsibility: he often has   
   the privilege of spending many hours each week with the young and of having a   
   great influence on them in terms of their behaviour and personality. ... How   
   important it is, then, that a coach be an example of integrity, coherence, good   
   judgement, impartiality, and also joy, patience, and the capacity for   
   appreciation and benevolence towards all, and especially the most   
   disadvantaged!".   
    "And how important it is for him to offer an example of faith!", he adds.   
   "Faith always helps us to raise our gaze towards God, and not to treat any of   
   our activities as absolute, including sport ... as well as to maintain the just   
   distance and wisdom to put into perspective both our defeats and our victories.   
   Faith gives us this outlook of goodness towards others which helps us overcome   
   the temptation of excessive rivalry and aggression, which enables us to   
   understand the dignity of each person, including those who are less gifted or   
   privileged. The coach, in this respect, may make a very valuable contribution   
   to   
   creating a climate of solidarity and inclusion in relation to marginalised   
   young   
   people or those at risk socially, finding suitable ways and methods to involve   
   them in sport and in the experience of socialisation. A coach with human and   
   spiritual balance will also know how to preserve the authentic values of sport   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)