VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 093   
   DATE 20-05-2015   
      
   Summary:   
   - Education, the natural vocation of the family   
   - The Pope joins the Catholics of China in prayer and recalls Christians   
   persecuted for their faith   
   - Cardinal Parolin: when the future of the planet is at stake, there are no   
   political frontiers, barriers and walls that can protect us from environmental   
   and social degradation   
   - The Holy See at the 68th Assembly of the World Health Organisation   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Education, the natural vocation of the family   
    Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - The education of children as the natural   
   vocation of the family was the theme of Pope Francis' catechesis during this   
   Wednesday's general audience in St. Peter's Square.   
    The Holy Father, first citing the words of St. Paul to the Colossians:   
   "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers,   
   do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged", emphasised the   
   duty   
   of parents to accompany their children step by step, without demanding the   
   impossible, so as not to overwhelm them. He then went on to speak of the   
   difficulties faced by mothers and fathers who often only have the opportunity   
   to   
   see their children in the evening when they return home tired after work -   
   "those who are lucky enough to have work", he added - and also referred to the   
   even more critical situation faced by separated parents, inviting them to   
   ensure   
   that the conflicts between the couple do not have an impact on the children.   
    Francis also mentioned that the family has been accused of other things,   
   including authoritarianism, favouritism, conformism, and emotional repression   
   that generates conflicts. "In fact, a fracture has opened up between family and   
   society, undermining mutual trust, and in this way, the alliance between family   
   and society in the education of children has entered into a crisis".   
    "There are many symptoms", he continued. "For example, in schools this has   
   affected relationships between parents and teachers. ... On the other hand,   
   there   
   has been a proliferation of so-called 'experts' who occupy the role of parents   
   even in the most intimate aspects of education ... and parents are expected   
   only   
   to listen, to learn and to adapt. Deprived of their role, they often become   
   excessively apprehensive and possessive with regard to their children, to the   
   point of never correcting them. They tend to increasingly entrust them to   
   'experts', even in relation to the most delicate and personal aspects of their   
   life, placing themselves in the corner. In this way, parents run the risk of   
   excluding themselves from the life of their children". "How have we arrived at   
   this point? Without doubt in the past parents, or rather, certain educational   
   models, had certain limits. But it is also true that there are mistakes that   
   only parents are authorised to make, as they are able to compensate for them in   
   a way that is impossible for any other person. On the other hand, as we well   
   know, life now spares us little time for speaking, reflection and exchange.   
   Many   
   parents are 'kidnapped' by their work and other worries, and they find   
   themselves paralysed by the fear of making mistakes. The problem, however, is   
   not only about talking. ... Let us ask ourselves instead: do we seek to   
   understand   
   'where' our children truly are on their path? Where is their soul? ... And   
   above   
   all, do we want to know?".   
    Francis underlined that the Christian communities are called upon to offer   
   support to the educational mission of the family. "At the base of everything   
   there is love, that which God gives to us, that "is not arrogant or rude. It   
   does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not   
   rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things,   
   believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things". Even in the best of   
   families, there is much to be endured, and it takes a lot of patience. Jesus   
   Himself experienced education in the family". "Even in this case, the grace of   
   Christ's love fulfils what is inscribed in human nature. How many excellent   
   examples we have of Christian parents full of human wisdom! They show that good   
   family education is the backbone of humanism. Its spread through society is the   
   resource that allows us to compensate for the shortcomings, the wounds, the   
   lack   
   of paternity and maternity that affect the least fortunate children, and works   
   true miracles".   
    "I hope that the Lord may give Christian families the faith, freedom and   
   courage necessary for their missions. If family education rediscovers the pride   
   of its central role, many things will change for the better, for uncertain   
   parents and disappointed children. It is time for fathers and mothers to return   
   from their exile, and to fully resume their role as educators", concluded   
   Francis.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope joins the Catholics of China in prayer and recalls Christians   
   persecuted for their faith   
    Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - Following today's catechesis, the Pope   
   remarked that on 24 May Catholics in China pray with devotion to Our Lady Help   
   of Christians, venerated in the Sheshan shrine in Shanghai. "In the statue   
   above   
   the Shrine, Mary holds her Son aloft, presenting Him to the world with His arms   
   open in a gesture of love and mercy. We too ask Mary to help Catholics in China   
   always to be credible witnesses of this merciful love among their people and to   
   live spiritually united with the rock of Peter upon which the Church is built".   
    The Holy Father also mentioned the initiative of the Italian Episcopal   
   Conference, which has proposed that the dioceses, on the occasion of the Eve of   
   Pentecost, remember the many brothers and sisters exiled or killed for the mere   
   fact of being Christians. "They are martyrs. I hope that this moment of prayer   
   may help spread the knowledge that religious freedom is an inalienable human   
   right and raise awareness of the tragedy of Christians persecuted in our time,   
   and bring an end to this unacceptable crime".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Cardinal Parolin: when the future of the planet is at stake, there are no   
   political frontiers, barriers and walls that can protect us from environmental   
   and social degradation   
    Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin   
   has sent a message to the participants in the conference "The New Climate   
   Economy: how economic growth and sustainability can go hand in hand", held   
   today   
   in the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, in collaboration with   
   the Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace" the World Resource Institute, the   
   New   
   Climate Economy and the embassy of the Netherlands to the Holy See.   
    The conference takes place in the context of two key steps in the preparatory   
   process adopted by the United Nations: the UN Summit to adopt the post-2015   
   development agenda and the 21st conference on the United Nations Framework   
   Convention on Climate Change to be held in Paris next December, to adopt a new   
   agreement to face the adverse effects of climate change. "Both of them   
   represent   
   the serious ethical and moral responsibility that each of us has towards the   
   whole human family, especially the poor and future generations", observed the   
   cardinal.   
    "When the future of the planet is at stake, there are no political frontiers,   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)