VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXV - # 223   
   DATE 14-12-2015   
      
   Summary:   
   - Audience with the president of Sri Lanka: may the process of peace and   
   reconciliation promote stable social harmony   
   - The Policoro Project: in search of dignified and liberating work   
   - Francis opens the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran   
   - Angelus: joy, gift of the Lord Who receives with conversion   
   - Joint commitment to caring for the climate   
   - The Pope to visit Guadalupe on 13 February   
   - Programme of the Pope's apostolic trip to Mexico   
   - Rescriptum ex audientia for the institution of the Pontifical Commission for   
   activities of public legal persons of the Church in the healthcare sector   
   - Identity and mission of the religious brother in the Church   
   - The Holy Father attends the twelfth meeting of the Council of Cardinals   
   - Audiences   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audience with the president of Sri Lanka: may the process of peace and   
   reconciliation promote stable social harmony   
    Vatican City, 14 December 2015 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace   
   the Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of Sri Lanka,   
   Maithripala Sirisena, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State   
   Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for   
   Relations with States.   
    The cordial discussions, which began with a recollection of the Holy Father's   
   visit to Sri Lanka last January, focused on certain aspects of the country's   
   recent history and the process of peace and reconciliation that is underway,   
   with the hope that it may contribute to promoting stable social harmony.   
   Furthermore, the contribution of the Catholic Church in various sectors of   
   society and the importance of interreligious dialogue were shown to be   
   important.   
    There was also an exchange of opinions on the theme of the environment and an   
   evaluation of the results of the Conference on climate change, recently   
   concluded in Paris.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Policoro Project: in search of dignified and liberating work   
    Vatican City, 14 December 2015 (VIS) - Finding answers to the existential   
   question of many young people who risk passing from a lack of employment to   
   detachment from life in general is the aim of the Policoro Project undertaken   
   twenty years ago in the ecclesial Convention of Palermo. This morning, in the   
   Vatican's Paul VI Hall, its members were received by the Holy Father who   
   remarked that, in seeking to combine the Gospel with the reality of life, the   
   Project represented an important initiative for the promotion of youth and a   
   true opportunity for local development at national level. "Its key ideas have   
   guided its success: the formation of the young, the establishment of   
   cooperatives, the creation of mediation figures such as 'community animators'   
   and a long series of concrete gestures, a visible sign of commitment throughout   
   these twenty years of active presence".   
    "With its concrete attention to the territory and the search for shared   
   solutions, the Policoro Project has shown how the quality of 'free, creative,   
   participatory and mutually supportive labour that human beings express and   
   enhance the dignity of their lives'. Let us not lose sight of the urgency of   
   reaffirming this dignity! It belongs to each and every one of us. .. When there   
   is no work, dignity is at risk, as unemployment not only prevents you from   
   putting food on the table; it also makes you feel unworthy of earning a living.   
   Today young people are victims of this. How many of them have given up looking   
   for work, resigned to continual rejection or the indifference of a society that   
   rewards only the usual privileged few - even if they are corrupt - and   
   obstructs   
   those who deserve affirmation. The reward seems to go to those who are sure of   
   themselves, even if this security is gained through corruption. Work is not a   
   gift to be kindly granted to the select few: it is a right for all!"   
    He added, "You represent without doubt a sign of real hope for many people who   
   have not resigned themselves but have instead decided to commit themselves   
   courageously to creating or improving their opportunities for work", and he   
   invited them to "continue to promote initiatives for participation for young   
   people in a community and participatory form. ... Here you can play your role.   
   To   
   the question, 'what has the Church to do with my situation?', that you have   
   said   
   and heard many times, the answer is 'witness'. And here you are able to provide   
   your witness, face to face with those who are in need of courage and support".   
    Francis concluded by emphasising that his task is not simply that of helping   
   the young to find a job but rather "a responsibility of evangelisation through   
   the sanctifying value of work. But not any form of work: not work that   
   exploits,   
   crushes, humiliates and abuses, but work that makes man truly free, in   
   accordance with his noble dignity".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Francis opens the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran   
    Vatican City, 13 December 2015 (VIS) - On the third Sunday of Advent the Pope   
   opened the third Holy Door of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Following the Holy   
   Door   
   of the Cathedral of Bangui in the Central African Republic on 29 November and   
   that of St. Peter's Basilica on 8 December, today he opened the Holy Door of   
   the   
   Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, the Basilica of St. John Lateran. On "Gaudete   
   Sunday", the Sunday of Joy, Francis reaffirmed that the reason for this joy is   
   expressed in the readings with words infused with hope and which allow us to   
   look to the future with serenity, as "the Lord has annulled every condemnation   
   and chose to live among us".   
    This third Sunday of Advent draws our gaze towards Christmas, which is now   
   close, said the Pope in his homily. "We cannot let ourselves be taken in by   
   weariness; sadness in any form is not allowed, even though there may be good   
   reason, with our many concerns and the many forms of violence that harm our   
   humanity. The coming of the Lord, however, must fill our hearts with joy".   
    The Pope cites the first reading of the prophet Zephaniah, who taught that "in   
   a historical context of great abuse and violence, especially by men of power,   
   God knows that He will reign over his people, who would never leave them at the   
   mercy of the arrogance of their leaders, and will free them from all anxiety.   
   Today, we are asked not to let our 'hands grow weak' because of doubt,   
   impatience or suffering. St. Paul returns to the teaching of Zephaniah and   
   reiterates: 'The Lord is near'. Because of this we should rejoice always, and   
   with our affability give all witness of closeness and care that God has for   
   each   
   person".   
    "We have opened the Holy Door, here and in all the cathedrals of the world.   
   Even this simple sign is an invitation to joy. It begins a time of great   
   forgiveness. It is the Jubilee of Mercy. It is time to rediscover the presence   
   of God and his fatherly tenderness. God does not love rigidity. He is Father;   
   He   
   is tender; everything done with the tenderness of the Father. We too are like   
   the crowds who asked John, 'What do we do?'. The Baptist's response was   
   immediate. He invites us to act justly and to attend to the needs of those in   
   need. What John demands of his representatives is already in the law. We,   
   however, are prompted toward a more radical commitment. Before the Holy Door we   
   are called to pass through, we are asked to be instruments of mercy, knowing   
   that we will be judged on this. He who is baptised knows he has a greater   
   commitment. Faith in Christ leads to a journey that lasts a lifetime: to be   
   merciful, like the Father. The joy of crossing through the Door of Mercy is   
   accompanied by a commitment to welcome and bear witness to a love that goes   
   beyond justice, a love that knows no boundaries. For this infinite love, in   
   spite of our contradictions, we are responsible".   
    "Let us pray for us and for all those who pass through the Door of Mercy, that   
   we may understand and welcome the infinite love of our Heavenly Father, that   
   recreates, transforms and reforms life", said the Pope at the end of his   
   homily.   
    Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, also   
   opened   
   the Holy Door of the Basilica today, while throughout the rest of the world, as   
   the Pope had requested, all the Holy Doors of churches and cathedrals were   
   opened for the Year of Mercy.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Angelus: joy, gift of the Lord Who receives with conversion   
    Vatican City, 13 December 2015 (VIS) - At midday today the Holy Father   
   appeared   
   at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus   
   with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. Before the   
   Marian   
   prayer, the Pontiff addressed some words to those present.   
    "In today's Gospel, there is a question repeated three times: 'What should we   
   do?'. Three categories of people pose this question to John the Baptist: first,   
   the crowd in general; second, the publicans, or tax collectors; and, third,   
   some   
   soldiers, to know what must be done to convert in the way he preaches. John's   
   reply to the crowd is to share basic necessities: 'Whoever has two cloaks,   
   should share with the person who has none, and whoever has food should do   
   likewise'. He tells the second group, the tax collectors, to stop collecting   
   more than is due. What does this mean? No 'kickbacks': John the Baptist is   
   clear. And to the third group, the soldiers, he says do not exhort anyone for   
   anything, and be content with your pay".   
    These three answers refer to an identical path of conversion, which is   
   manifested in concrete commitments to justice and solidarity. "It is the road   
   that Jesus indicates in all His preaching: the active path of love for one's   
   neighbour. From these admonitions of John the Baptist, we understand what were   
   the general trends of those who at that time held power, in various forms.   
   Little has changed. However, no group of people is excluded from the path of   
   conversion for salvation, not even tax collectors who were considered sinners   
   by   
   definition. ... God does not preclude for anyone the possibility of salvation.   
   He   
   is eager to show mercy to all, and welcome everyone in the tender embrace of   
   reconciliation and forgiveness".   
    Francis went on to explain that "today's liturgy tells us, with John's words,   
   that is necessary to repent, to change direction and take the path of justice,   
   solidarity and sobriety: these are the essential values of a fully human and   
   genuinely Christian life. Repent! This sums up John the Baptist's message. The   
   liturgy of this Third Sunday of Advent helps us rediscover a special dimension   
   of conversion: joy. Whoever converts and approaches the Lord experiences joy".   
    He also emphasised that nowadays "it takes courage to speak of joy, which,   
   above all, requires faith. The world is beset by many problems, the future   
   weighed down by uncertainties and fears. And yet, the Christian is a joyful   
   person, and his joy is not something superficial and ephemeral, but deep and   
   stable, because it is a gift from God that fills life. Our joy comes from   
   knowing that 'the Lord is near', that He is close by with His tenderness, His   
   mercy, His forgiveness and His love".   
    He concluded, "May the Virgin Mary help us to strengthen our faith, so that we   
   may welcome the God of joy, the God of mercy, who always wants to live in the   
   midst of her children. May our Mother teach us to share tears with those who   
   weep, but also to be able to share a smile".   
      
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)