and its fundamental nature as a game and social activity, ensuring that it does   
   not become distorted under the pressure of many interests, especially those of   
   an economic nature, which are increasingly evident nowadays".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Canonisation of Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas and Maryam Baouardy: a sign of   
   hope for the men and women of the Middle East   
    Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office   
   Fr.   
   Rifat Bader, director of the Catholic Centre for Studies and Media in Amman,   
   Jordan, presented the figure of the Palestinian blesseds Sister    
   arie-Alphonsine   
   Danil Ghattas, founder of the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem, and   
   the descalzed Carmelite Maryam Baouardy (Mary of Jesus Crucified). Along with   
   another two women religious, the French Jeanne-Emilie de Villeneuve and the   
   Italian Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception Brando, they will be   
   canonised by Pope Francis this coming Sunday in St. Peter's Square.   
    The solemn celebration will be attended by cardinals and bishops resident in   
   Rome and from various parts of the world, including a delegation of 2124 people   
   from the Palestine territories and Jordan headed by the Latin Patriarch of   
   Jerusalem, Fouad Twal. The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will also be   
   present, along with numerous prelates from Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia,   
   Egypt, Libya and Cyprus.   
    "Patriarch Fouad Twal affirmed that 'the declaration of the sainthood of the   
   two nuns from Palestine is a spiritual event of prime importance for the   
   citizens of the Holy Land, amid the difficulties we are experiencing, as the   
   two   
   saints enlighten our path'", said Fr. Badir. "As the Holy Land, wrecked by   
   violence and dissent, has for some time had a tarnished image, our two saints   
   emerge to restore its sanctity, reminding us that sanctity is possible even in   
   the most difficult circumstances. The canonisation of the two girls from the   
   East during these dark times is an invitation from His Holiness Pope Francis to   
   pray, knowing that only prayer can miraculously help save our faith in the   
   midst   
   of these times of trial. Now we have two new saints who represent a model of   
   perfection for Christians, as well as for Muslims and Jews alike. They are both   
   named Mary, and this name is widespread and commonly used among all three   
   traditions. It is a sign of our modern time which suggests that we can talk   
   about the three religions without any discrimination".   
    "This grand event", added Fr. Badir, "is a message of solidarity and   
   encouragement to the Christians of the Holy Land, especially for those in all   
   other Middle East countries, to those who have been forcibly displaced and   
   deported from their home countries, and to all those who suffer persecution,   
   and   
   whose persecutors sometimes think that by killing they are offering a sacrifice   
   to God, as Jesus Himself warned".   
    The new saint Mary of Jesus Crucified was "subjected to acts of extremism and   
   an attempt on her life, seeking to force her to change her religion. She now   
   intercedes for those who are being killed because of their religion and their   
   religious affiliation. Her life and intercession are a cry urging respect for   
   religious and ethnic differences as well as acknowledging human beings as   
   creatures who are made in the image and likeness of God". St. Marie-Alphonsine   
   "succeeded in gaining the support of the religious authorities to set up the   
   first Arab religious congregation, and placing the Arab world on the map in the   
   fields of education and religious teaching".   
    "Furthermore, the rosary schools associated with this Arab religious   
   congregation have a prominent and influential presence in Jordan, Palestine,   
   Lebanon, the Gulf states and Rome. We realise that during the late 19th and   
   early 20th century this religious congregation contributed to increasing the   
   Arab role in culture, social awareness, spiritual guidance and education of   
   generations of men and women. Illiteracy has been eliminated in many parts of   
   the Middle East as a direct result of the active contribution of nuns and   
   religious congregations to literacy education".   
    He concluded, "The two saintly nuns, whose canonisation coincides with the   
   Church celebrations of the year of consecrated life and the blessed Marian   
   Month   
   of May, pray that the Lord would bring peace and calmness to our hearts and   
   minds, and that we will return to worshipping the Almighty. ... We view the   
   consecration of the founder of the Rosary Sisters as an invitation to intensify   
   the daily Rosary prayers in Churches, houses, and parish groups to bring peace,   
   love and mutual respect among all the peoples of the Middle East".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience:   
    - Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine   
   of the Faith;   
    - Daniel Ramada Piendibene, ambassador of Uruguay to the Holy See, on his   
   farewell visit;   
    - nine prelates of the Episcopal Conference of the Central African Republic on   
   their "ad Limina" visit:   
    - Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., of Bangui;   
    - Bishop Peter Marzinkowski, C.S.Sp., of Alindao, with his coadjutor, Bishop   
   Cyr-Nestor Yapaupa;   
    - Bishop Edouard Mathos of Bambari;   
    - Bishop Dennis Kofi Agbenyadzi, S.M.A., of Berberati;   
    - Bishop Nestor-Desire Nongo-aziagbia, S.M.A., of Bossangoa;   
    - Bishop Armando Umberto Gianni, O.F.M. Cap., of Bouar;   
    - Bishop Albert Vanbuel, S.D.B., of Kaga-Bandoro; and   
    - Bishop Guerrino Perin, M.C.C.I., of Mbaiki.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:   
    - Bishop Francescantonio Nole, O.F.M. Conv., of Tursi-Lagonegro, Italy, as   
   metropolitan archbishop of Cosenza-Bisignano (area 2,537, population 384,000,   
   Catholics 382,000, priests 230, permanent deacons 40, religious 377), Italy. He   
   succeeds Archbishop Salvatore Nunnari, whose resignation from the pastoral care   
   of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy   
   Father.   
    - Msgr. Domenico Pompili as bishop of Rieti (area 1,818, population 99,046,   
   Catholics 93,003, priests 96, deacons 15, religious 227), Italy. The   
   bishop-elect was born in Rome, Italy in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1988.   
   He holds a licentiate and doctorate in moral theology from the Pontifical   
   Gregorian University, Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral and   
   administrative roles in the diocese of Anagni-Alatri, including parish priest,   
   special secretary to the bishop, director of the diocesan office for social   
   communications and episcopal vicar for pastoral ministry. He is currently   
   director of the national office for social communications of the Italian   
   Episcopal Conference, under-secretary of the Italian Episcopal Conference,   
   secretary of the Communication and Culture Foundation, and lecturer in moral   
   theology at the Pontifical Theological Leonian Institute of Anagni.   
    Yesterday, Thursday 14 May, the Holy Father appointed Msgr. Patrick McKinney   
   as   
   bishop of Nottingham (area 13,000, population 4,535,000, Catholics 155,000,   
   priests 163, permanent deacons 39, religious 92), England. The bishop-elect was   
   born in Birmingham, England in 1954 and was ordained a priest in 1978. He holds   
   a licentiate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and   
   has served in a number of pastoral roles in the archdiocese of Birmingham,   
   including parish assistant, teacher of fundamental theology and subsequently   
   rector of the Seminary of St. Mary's, parish priest, episcopal vicar for the   
   northern sector of Birmingham, and vicar forane of the deanery of Dudley. He   
   was   
   named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness in 1990.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:   
   www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va   
      
   Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican   
   Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting   
   the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.   
   http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)