"However, we know that there are many temptations we must resist. I will   
   present you at least two of them. The first is that of Pelagianism, which leads   
   the Church not to be humble, selfless and blessed. ... Often it leads us even   
   to   
   assuming a style of control, of hardness, normativity. Rules give to the   
   Pelagian the security of feeling superior, of having a precise orientation. In   
   this it finds its strength, not in the soft breath of the Spirit. Faced with   
   the   
   ills or the problems of the Church, it is useless to seek solutions in   
   conservatism or fundamentalism, in the restoration of outdated forms and   
   conduct   
   that have no capacity for meaning, even culturally. Christian doctrine is not a   
   closed system incapable of generating questions, doubts and uncertainties, but   
   it is living, it knows how to disturb and to encourage. Its face is not rigid,   
   it has a body that moves and develops, it has tender flesh; Christian doctrine   
   is called Jesus Christ".   
    "A second temptation is the gnosticism that leads us to place our trust in   
   logical and clear reasoning that, however, loses the tenderness of our   
   brother's   
   flesh. ... The difference between Christian transcendence and any other form of   
   gnostic spiritualism resides in the mystery of the Incarnation. Not putting   
   into   
   practice, not leading the Word to reality, means building on sand, remaining in   
   the pure idea and degenerating into intimisms that do not bear fruit, that   
   render its dynamism sterile".   
    "The Italian Church has great saints whose examples help live faith with   
   humility, generosity and joy, from St. Francis of Assisi to St. Philip Neri.   
   But   
   let us also think of invented characters such as Don Camillo and Peppone. I am   
   struck by how, in the stories of Guareschi, the prayer of a good pastor unites   
   with evident closeness to the people".   
    "But then, you will ask, what must we do? What is the Pope asking of us? It is   
   up to you to decide: people and pastor together. And I invite you, again,   
   simply   
   to contemplate the Ecce Homo above us".   
    "I ask the bishops to be pastors. Nothing more: pastors. May this be your joy:   
   'I am a pastor'. It will be the people, your flock, who support you. ... May   
   nothing and no-one remove from you the joy of being supported by your people.   
   As   
   pastors, do not be preachers of complex doctrines, but rather announcers of   
   Christ, Who died and rose again for us. Focus on the essential, the kerygma.   
   There is nothing more solid, profound and sure than this announcement. But may   
   it be all the people of God who announce the Gospel, people and pastors".   
    "I recommend all the Italian Church what I indicated in the Apostolic   
   Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium: the social inclusion of the poor, who occupy a   
   special place in the People of God, and the capacity for encounter and dialogue   
   to promote friendship and in your country, in search of the common good".   
    "May God protect the Church in Italy from any kind of surrogate of power,   
   image   
   and money. Evangelical poverty is creative, it welcomes, supports and is rich   
   in   
   hope. The mother Church ... recognises all her abandoned, oppressed and weary   
   children. And this has always been one of your virtues, as you are well aware   
   that the Lord shed his blood not for some, for few or for many, but for all".   
    "I also recommend, in a special way, the capacity for dialogue and encounter.   
   Dialogue is not negotiation. Negotiating is bargaining to obtain your own piece   
   of the common 'pie'. That is not what I mean. Instead it is seeking the common   
   good for all".   
    "May the Church be a leaven for dialogue, encounter, unity. Indeed, our very   
   formulations of faith are the fruit of dialogue and encounter between different   
   cultures, communities and claims. We must not be afraid of dialogue; on the   
   contrary, it is precisely comparison and criticism that helps us to preserve   
   theology from being transformed into ideology. Also remember that the best way   
   to engage in dialogue is not that of speaking and discussing, but rather of   
   doing something together, of constructing something, of making projects: not   
   alone, among Catholics, but along with all people of goodwill".   
    "But the Church also knows how to give a clear answer to the threats that   
   emerge within public debate: this is one of the forms of specific contributions   
   that the faithful offer to the construction of common society. Believers are   
   citizens. ... I appeal above all to the young: overcome apathy. ... Do not   
   look down   
   on life from the balcony, but rather get involved, immerse yourselves in broad   
   social and political dialogue. ... Our times require us to live problems as   
   challenges and not as obstacles: the Lord is active and at work in the world.   
   ...   
   Wherever you are, never construct walls or frontiers, but instead open squares   
   and field hospitals".   
    "I would like a restless Italian Church, ever closer to the abandoned, the   
   forgotten, the imperfect. I wish for a joyful Church with the face of a mother,   
   who understands, accompanies and caresses. May you too dream of this Church,   
   believe in her, innovate freely. The Christian humanism that you are called   
   upon   
   to live radically affirms that dignity of every person as Son of God,   
   establishes between all human beings a fundamental fraternity, teaches to   
   understand work, to inhabit creation as our common home, and provides reasons   
   for joy and humour, even in a life that is often very hard".   
    Following his encounter with the representatives of the ecclesial congress,   
   shortly before midday, the Pope went to the Basilica of the Santissima   
   Annunziata to pray the Angelus with various sick and disabled people, after   
   which he lunched with the poor in the San Francesco Poverino refectory.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Episcopal ordination in the Basilica of St. John Lateran: the Kingdom of God   
   is   
   built with patience   
    Vatican City, 10 November 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday, 9 November, festivity of the   
   dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Pope Francis conferred   
   episcopal   
   ordination to Msgr. Angelo De Donatis, of the clergy of Rome, who was appointed   
   auxiliary bishop of Rome on 14 September.   
    The homily pronounced by the Holy Father during the mass was essentially the   
   ritual homily for the ordination of bishops from the Italian edition of the   
   Pontificale Romanum. However, Francis added some phrases dedicated in   
   particular   
   to the proclamation of the Word, the welcome of the poor and vulnerable, and   
   mercy.   
    "Announcing the Word at every opportunity and also at less opportune moments;   
   admonish ... but always kindly, exhort with magnanimity and doctrine. May your   
   words be simple, so that everyone can understand, rather than long homilies.   
   ...   
   Remember your father, how happy he was to find nearby another parish where Mass   
   was celebrated without a homily! May your homilies be the transmission of God's   
   grace: simple, that everyone may understand, and so that all wish to become   
   better".   
    "With your heart, love like a father and a brother all those whom God entrusts   
   to you; as I have said, first and foremost the priests, deacons and   
   seminarians;   
   but also the poor, the vulnerable, and those who are in need of welcome and   
   help. Exhort the faithful to cooperate in apostolic efforts and listen to them   
   willingly and with patience. Often you will need a lot of patience ... but the   
   Kingdom of God is built in this way".   
    "As we near the Year of Mercy, I ask you as a brother to be merciful. The   
   Church and the world are in need of great mercy. Teach priests and seminarians   
   the path of mercy. With words, but most of all through your attitude. The   
   Father's mercy always receives, there is always room in His heart, He never   
   turns anyone away. He waits, and waits. ... I wish you great mercy".   
    During the rite of consigning the episcopal ring, the Pope also added: "Do not   
   forget that, before this ring, there was that of your parents. Defend the   
   family".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Clarifications from Fr. Federico Lombardi   
    Vatican City, 10 November 2015 (VIS) - The director of the Holy See Press   
   Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., in response to questions from journalists,   
   today affirmed that:   
    "There is no basis to the reports in some articles claiming that in recent   
   days, as part of the investigations in process in the Vatican, a number of   
   cardinals and high prelates have been heard (it has even been stated that four   
   cardinals were involved). This is absolutely false.   
    "Similarly, the reports in recent days in some articles regarding contacts   
   with   
   the Italian authorities by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello in relation to the   
   problems of leaked documents are entirely untrue".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   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.   
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)