encounter" is the theme chosen by the Holy Father for World Communications Day.   
   The choice of theme this year has clearly been determined by the Celebration of   
   the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, and the Holy Father undoubtedly desired   
   that   
   World Communications Day would provide the appropriate occasion to reflect on   
   the deep synergy between communication and mercy.   
    In the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee Year, in paragraph 12, the Pope   
   affirms   
   that the Church is commissioned to announce the mercy of God, the beating heart   
   of the Gospel, which in its own way must penetrate the heart and mind of every   
   person. He adds that her language and her gestures must transmit mercy, so as   
   to   
   touch the hearts of all people and inspire them once more to find the road that   
   leads to the Father.   
    It is helpful, in this regard, that communication is a key element for the   
   promotion of a culture of encounter. The Pope, on this occasion, refers to the   
   language and gestures of the Church but the context makes it clear that all men   
   and women in their own communications, in their reaching out to meet others,   
   ought to be motivated by a deep expression of welcome, availability and   
   forgiveness.   
    The theme highlights the capacity of good communication to open up a space for   
   dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation, thereby allowing fruitful   
   human encounters to flourish. At a time when our attention is often drawn to   
   the   
   polarised and judgemental nature of much commentary on the social networks, the   
   theme invokes the power of words and gestures to overcome misunderstandings, to   
   heal memories and to build peace and harmony.   
    Once again, Pope Francis is reminding us that, in its essence, communication   
   is   
   a profoundly human achievement. Good communication is never merely the product   
   of the latest or most developed technology, but is realised within the context   
   of a deep interpersonal relationship.   
    World Communications Day, the only annual worldwide event called for by the   
   Second Vatican Council, is celebrated in most countries, on the recommendation   
   of the bishops of the world, on the Sunday before Pentecost (in 2016, May 8th).   
    The Holy Father's message for World Communications Day is traditionally   
   published on 24 January, in conjunction with the Memorial of St. Francis de   
   Sales, patron of writers.   
    Communication and Mercy: a fruitful encounter   
    Vatican City, 29 September 2015 (VIS) "Communication and mercy: a fruitful   
   encounter" is the theme chosen by the Holy Father for World Communications Day.   
   The choice of theme this year has clearly been determined by the Celebration of   
   the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, and the Holy Father undoubtedly desired   
   that   
   World Communications Day would provide the appropriate occasion to reflect on   
   the deep synergy between communication and mercy.   
    In the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee Year, in paragraph 12, the Pope   
   affirms   
   that the Church is commissioned to announce the mercy of God, the beating heart   
   of the Gospel, which in its own way must penetrate the heart and mind of every   
   person. He adds that her language and her gestures must transmit mercy, so as   
   to   
   touch the hearts of all people and inspire them once more to find the road that   
   leads to the Father.   
    It is helpful, in this regard, that communication is a key element for the   
   promotion of a culture of encounter. The Pope, on this occasion, refers to the   
   language and gestures of the Church but the context makes it clear that all men   
   and women in their own communications, in their reaching out to meet others,   
   ought to be motivated by a deep expression of welcome, availability and   
   forgiveness.   
    The theme highlights the capacity of good communication to open up a space for   
   dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation, thereby allowing fruitful   
   human encounters to flourish. At a time when our attention is often drawn to   
   the   
   polarised and judgemental nature of much commentary on the social networks, the   
   theme invokes the power of words and gestures to overcome misunderstandings, to   
   heal memories and to build peace and harmony.   
    Once again, Pope Francis is reminding us that, in its essence, communication   
   is   
   a profoundly human achievement. Good communication is never merely the product   
   of the latest or most developed technology, but is realised within the context   
   of a deep interpersonal relationship.   
    World Communications Day, the only annual worldwide event called for by the   
   Second Vatican Council, is celebrated in most countries, on the recommendation   
   of the bishops of the world, on the Sunday before Pentecost (in 2016, May 8th).   
    The Holy Father's message for World Communications Day is traditionally   
   published on 24 January, in conjunction with the Memorial of St. Francis de   
   Sales, patron of writers.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    "Cantate Domino", the music of Popes, recorded in the Sistine Chapel   
    Vatican City, 29 September 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press   
   Office a conference was held to present the music CD "Cantate Domino. The   
   Sistine Chapel and the music of Popes", produced by Deutsche Grammophon. The   
   speakers were Archbishop Georg Ganswein, prefect of the Papal Household; Msgr.   
   Massimo Palombella, S.D.B., director of the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir;   
   Mark Wilkinson, president of Deutsche Grammophon; and Mirko Gratton, director   
   of   
   the classical music section of Universal Italia.   
    "The Pontifical Musical Choir, also known as the Sistine Chapel Choir, is   
   among   
   the oldest choral institutions in the world and has the unique characteristic   
   of   
   being the Pope's choir", explained Archbishop Ganswein. This characteristic   
   makes it part of the life of the "Pope's Home" and places the Pontifical   
   Sistine   
   Chapel Choir within the structure of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, and   
   gives it the specific task of being an entity whose service is entirely devoted   
   to the Pontiff. "The Prefecture is the point of reference for the Choir in   
   terms   
   of its artistic, administrative and disciplinary management. It is a composite   
   and structured entity made up of 20 adult singers regularly employed by the   
   Holy   
   See, with the addition of 20 pueri cantores who attend the private elementary   
   school annexed to the Choir. The release of a musical CD under the prestigious   
   Deutsche Grammaphon label is an unprecedented event in the history of the   
   Pontifical Musical Choir, and attests to the quality and professionalism that   
   this Institution has achieved, thanks to its serious and diligent work under   
   the   
   guidance of Maestro Massimo Palombella".   
    The album, released on 25 September, includes Renaissance music written for   
   the   
   Sistine Chapel Choir by Palestrina, Lassus and Victoria. There are also two   
   pieces of Gregorian chant, alongside world premiere recordings of the original   
   version of Allegri's fabled Miserere (Sistine Codex of 1661) and a Nunc   
   dimittis   
   attributed to Palestrina which is still used during papal celebrations. Cantate   
   Domino offers listeners the chance to hear these pieces as the composers   
   intended - in Latin and in the surroundings for which they were originally   
   written. In order to capture the magic, mystery and beauty of the music in such   
   unique surroundings, Deutsche Grammophon set up a specially constructed studio   
   within the Chapel. The mixing desk was set up in an ante-chamber, next to the   
   "Sala del Pianto" (where the newly elected pontiff first dresses in the papal   
   vestments).   
    "The Sistine Chapel was consecrated in 1483, and since then it has been home,   
   without interruption, of the Pontifical Musical Choir", explained Msgr.   
   Palombella. "In recent years, after intense and specific study of Renaissance   
   religious music and its aesthetic importance, we have been able to undertake an   
   interesting and significant recording. My hope is that these musical   
   masterpieces will reach millions of people throughout the world, bringing them   
   into contact with the historical culture and profound spirituality of the   
   Catholic Church".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 29 September 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:   
    - Bishop Hugo Alberto Torres Marin, auxiliary of Medellin, Colombia, as bishop   
   of Apartado (area 26,000, population 561,000, Catholics 403,000, priests 65,   
   religious 118), Colombia.   
    - Bishop Joao Evangelista Pimental Lavrador, auxiliary of Oporto, Portugal, as   
   coadjutor of the diocese of Angra (area 2,243, population 246,102, Catholics   
   224,105, priests 147, permanent deacons 5, religious 129), Portugal.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Vatican Radio   
    Vatican City, 29 September 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro   
   Parolin has appointed Fr. Andrzej Majewksi, S.J., as director of programming   
   for   
   Vatican Radio.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   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)