VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 196   
   DATE 06-11-2015   
      
   Summary:   
   - The Pope receives the governor general of Grenada   
   - Francis: helping human life means reaching out to those in need   
   - The Pope is interviewed by the newspaper Straatnieuws: "The Church teaches   
   that everyone has the right to work, a home and the earth"   
   - Christians and Hindus: promoting human ecology together   
   - Audiences   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope receives the governor general of Grenada   
    Vatican City, 6 November 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic   
   Palace Pope Francis received in audience the governor general of Grenada,   
   Cecile   
   Ellen Fleurette La Grenade, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of   
   State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Gallagher, secretary for   
   Relations with States.   
    During the cordial discussions, emphasis was placed on the good bilateral   
   relations between the Holy See and Grenada, as well as the important   
   contribution of the Catholic Church to the development of the country,   
   especially with reference to social challenges and the education of the young.   
    Finally, this was followed by an overview of the situation of the Caribbean   
   region, with particular reference to economic problems and environmental issues   
   linked to climate changes.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Francis: helping human life means reaching out to those in need   
    Vatican City, 6 November 2015 (VIS) - "I encourage you to continue your   
   important work in favour of life from conception until its natural end, also   
   taking into account the conditions of suffering that many brothers and sisters   
   have to face and at times submit to", said Pope Francis this morning as he   
   received, in the Sala Regia, the 510 participants in the Congress of the   
   Movement for Life being held in Sacrofano, Italy from 6 to 8 November.   
    "In existential dynamics everything is related, and we need to nurture a   
   personal and social sensibility both towards the welcoming of a new life and   
   towards those situations of poverty and exploitation that affect the weakest   
   and   
   most disadvantaged. On the one hand, 'how can be genuinely teach the importance   
   of concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient   
   they   
   may be, if we fail to protect a human embryo?". On the other, 'human life   
   itself   
   is a gift which must be defended from various forms of debasement'", he   
   affirmed, citing his encyclical "Laudato si'" and adding that "indeed, we must   
   note sadly that there are many people who experience uncomfortable conditions   
   of   
   life, who require our attention and our solidarity".   
    "For Christ's disciples, helping wounded human life meant going towards people   
   in need, putting themselves by their sides, and taking on board their frailty   
   and suffering so as to relieve them. How many families are vulnerable due to   
   poverty, illness, unemployment and homelessness? How many elderly people suffer   
   the burden of suffering and loneliness? How many young people are lost,   
   threatened by addiction and other forms of slavery, waiting to rediscover trust   
   in life? These people, wounded in body and spirit, are icons of that man of the   
   Gospel who, travelling the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, ran into some   
   brigands who robbed and beat him. He experienced first the indifference of   
   some,   
   and then the closeness of the good Samaritan".   
    On this path, "that crosses the desert of life, even in our times there are   
   still many wounded people, caused by today's brigands, who despoil them not   
   only   
   of their belongings but also of their dignity. Faced with the suffering and   
   need   
   of our defenceless brothers, some turn away or move on, whereas others stop and   
   respond with generous dedication to their cry for help. You, members of the   
   Movement for Life, have sought to imitate the good Samaritan during the forty   
   years of your activity. Before the various forms of threats to human life, you   
   have approached the frailty of others, you have taken action so that in society   
   there may no longer be excluded or marginalised who live in precarious   
   conditions".   
    The Pope again thanked the members of the Movement for their work, and invited   
   them to continue "to protect the most vulnerable people, who have the right to   
   be born into life, as well as those who ask for a healthier and more dignified   
   existence. In particular, there is a need to work at different levels and with   
   perseverance, in the promotion and defence of the family, society's foremost   
   resource, especially with reference to the gift of children and the affirmation   
   of the dignity of the woman".   
    To this end, he concluded, "I would like to underline that in your activity,   
   you have always welcomed everyone regardless of religion and nationality. The   
   relevant number of women, especially immigrants, who attend your centres show   
   that when women are offered concrete support, in spite of problems and   
   influences, they are able to make the sense of love, life and maternity triumph   
   within them".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope is interviewed by the newspaper Straatnieuws: "The Church teaches   
   that   
   everyone has the right to work, a home and the earth"   
    Vatican City, 6 November 2015 (VIS) - The Dutch newspaper "Straatnieuws",   
   published by the homeless, today published an interview granted by Pope Francis   
   on 27 October. The article is also present in other dailies of the same type   
   associated with the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), which has   
   113   
   members. This type of publication is sold directly by the homeless, thus   
   providing them with a source of income.   
    The following are extensive extracts from the interview, especially with the   
   theme of poverty.   
    Interviewer: What is the Church's message for the homeless? What does   
   Christian   
   solidarity mean for them in practice?   
    Pope Francis: "Two things come to mind. Jesus came to the world homeless, and   
   made Himself poor. Then, the Church wishes to embrace all and to say that it is   
   a right to have a roof over your head. In popular movements they work according   
   to the three Spanish 't's: trabajo (work), techo (casa) and tierra (earth). The   
   Church teaches that every person has a right to all three".   
    Interviewer: You often ask for attention to the poor and refugees. Do you not   
   fear that in this way a sort of weariness in relation to this theme may be   
   generated in the mass media or in society in general?   
    Pope Francis: "When we return to a theme that is not pleasant, because it is   
   disagreeable to talk about it, we are all tempted to say. 'That's enough, I am   
   tired of this'. I feel that this weariness exists, but I am not afraid of it. I   
   must continue to speak the truth and say how these things are".   
    Interviewer: Are you not afraid that your defence of solidarity and assistance   
   for the homeless and other poor people may be exploited politically? How should   
   the Church speak in order to be influential and at the same time remain   
   external   
   to political affiliations?   
    Pope Francis: "There are roads that lead to errors in this regard. I would   
   like   
   to underline two temptations. The Church must speak truthfully and also by her   
   witness: the witness of poverty. If a believer speaks about poverty or the   
   homeless and lives like a pharaoh, this is not good. This is the first   
   temptation.   
    "The second temptation is to make agreements with governments. Agreements can   
   be made but they must be clear and transparent. For example, we manage this   
   building, but the accounts are all audited, in order to avoid corruption, as   
   there is always the temptation to corruption in public life, both political and   
   religious. ... Once I asked a question to a minister in Argentina, an honest   
   man -   
   one who left his post because he could not reconcile himself with various   
   obscure aspects. I asked him: when you give assistance in the form of meals,   
   clothing or money to the poor and needy, what percentage of what you send   
   arrives? And he answered, 35 per cent. That means that 65 per cent is lost. It   
   is corruption: a cut for me, another cut for you".   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)