coming from Libya are likewise encouraging and offer the hope of a renewed   
   commitment to ending violence and re-establishing the country's unity. On the   
   other hand, it appears increasingly evident that only a common and agreed   
   political action will prove able to stem the spread of extremism and   
   fundamentalism, which spawn terrorist acts which reap countless victims, not   
   only in Syria and Libya, but in other countries like Iraq and Yemen".   
    "May this Holy Year of Mercy also be the occasion of dialogue and   
   reconciliation aimed at consolidating the common good in Burundi, in the   
   Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in South Sudan. Above all, may it be a   
   favourable time for definitively ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Of   
   fundamental importance is the support which the international community,   
   individual states and humanitarian organisations can offer the country from a   
   number of standpoints, in order to surmount the present crisis. Yet the   
   greatest   
   challenge we face is that of overcoming indifference and working together for   
   peace, which remains a good which must constantly be sought. Sadly, among the   
   many parts of our beloved world which long fervently for peace, there is the   
   land for which God showed a particular love and chose to show to all the face   
   of   
   his mercy. I pray that this new year can heal the deep wounds dividing Israelis   
   and Palestinians, and enable the peaceful coexistence of two peoples who - of   
   this I am sure - in the depths of their heart ask only for peace".   
    The Pope concluded his address by reiterating that on the diplomatic level,   
   the   
   Holy See "will never cease its efforts to enable the message of peace to be   
   heard to the ends of the earth. I thus reiterate the complete readiness of the   
   Secretariat of State to cooperate with you in favouring constant dialogue   
   between the Apostolic See and the countries which you represent, for the   
   benefit   
   of the entire international community. I am certain that this Jubilee year will   
   be a favourable occasion for the cold indifference of so many hearts to be won   
   over by the warmth of mercy, that precious gift of God which turns fear into   
   love and makes us artisans of peace. With these sentiments I renew to each of   
   you, to your families and your countries, my heartfelt good wishes for a   
   blessed   
   New Year".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Baptisms in the Sistine Chapel: offer your children the legacy of faith   
    Vatican City, 10 January 2016 (VIS) - "Give your children the legacy of   
   faith",   
   said the Pope this morning in the Sistine Chapel to the parents and godparents   
   of 26 children (13 boys and 13 girls) he baptised during the Holy Mass   
   celebrated on the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord.   
    In his brief homily the Holy Father explained to those present that Mary and   
   Joseph took Jesus to the temple forty days after His birth to present Him to   
   God, just as today parents take their children to receive Baptism and to   
   receive   
   the faith as they show in their reply to the question at the beginning of the   
   rite. "In this way, faith is transmitted from one generation to another, like a   
   chain through time. These boys, these girls, over the years, will take your   
   place with their children, your grandchildren, and they too will ask for faith.   
   The faith that is given in Baptism, the faith that the Holy Spirit brings today   
   to the heart, the soul and the life of these children of yours".   
    "You have ask for faith. The Church, when she gives you the lighted candle,   
   will tell you to safeguard the faith in these children. And, in the end, do not   
   forget that the greatest legacy you can give your children is faith. Take care   
   that it is not lost, to make it grow and to leave it as a legacy. This I wish   
   to   
   you today, on this day that is joyful for you: I hope that you will be able to   
   raise these children in faith and that the greatest legacy they will receive   
   from you will be faith".   
    The Pope concluded by commenting that when a baby cries it may be because he   
   or   
   she is hungry, and so he invited mothers to feel free to feed their babies in   
   the Sistine Chapel if necessary.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Angelus: the importance of celebrating the day of our Baptism   
    Vatican City, 10 January 2016 (VIS) - Today at midday, following Mass in the   
   Sistine Chapel, 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 asked all   
   those present to pray for the 25 babies he had just baptised, and remarked that   
   the Gospel of the day "presents Jesus to us, in the waters of the river Jordan,   
   at the centre of a wonderful divine revelation". In the words of the apostle   
   Luke, "after all the people had been baptised, and Jesus also had been baptised   
   and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in   
   bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son;   
   with you I am well pleased".   
    "In this event - attested to by all four Gospels - the transition from the   
   baptism of John the Baptist, based on the symbol of water, to the baptism of   
   Jesus happens 'in the Holy Spirit and fire'", the Pope continued. "The Holy   
   Spirit, in fact, in the Christian Baptism is the principal architect: it is He   
   who burns and destroys Original Sin, restoring to the baptised the beauty of   
   divine grace; It is He who delivers us from the dominion of darkness, that is,   
   of sin, and transfers us into the realm of light, that is, of love, truth and   
   peace. This is the realm of light".   
    Francis explained that "the Holy Spirit, received for the first time on the   
   day   
   of our Baptism, opens our hearts to the truth, the whole truth. The Spirit   
   guides our life along a demanding path, but one joyous in charity and   
   solidarity   
   toward our brothers. The Spirit gives us the tenderness of God's forgiveness   
   and   
   pervades us with the invincible strength of the Father's mercy. Let us not   
   forget that the Holy Spirit is a living and life-giving presence in those who   
   welcome Him, that prays with us and fills us with spiritual joy".   
    He invited all present to give thanks for this gift and to seek out the date   
   of   
   their own Baptism. "It is very important to know, because it is a date to   
   celebrate: it is the date of our rebirth as children of God. So, this week's   
   homework is to find out the date of your baptism. Celebrating that day means   
   reaffirming our our attachment to Jesus, with the commitment to live as   
   Christians, members of the Church and new humanity, in which we are all   
   brothers". Following the Marian prayer, the Pope gave a special blessing to   
   "all   
   those children who have been baptised recently, as well as young people and   
   adults who have recently received the Sacraments of Christian initiation or who   
   are preparing. May Christ's grace accompany them always!".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Holy Father's calendar for January and February   
    Vatican City, 11 January 2016 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of   
   the Supreme Pontiff has published the following calendar of liturgical   
   celebrations at which the Holy Father will preside in the months of January   
   2016   
   and February 2016:   
    JANUARY   
    Monday 25: Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul. At 5.30 p.m., in the   
   Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, celebration of Vespers.   
    FEBRUARY   
    Tuesday 2: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 20th World Day of   
   Consecrated   
   Life. At 5.30 p.m., Holy Mass, Jubilee of Consecrated Life and closure of the   
   Year of Consecrated Life.   
    Wednesday 10: Ash Wednesday. At 5 p.m., in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass,   
   blessing and imposition of the Ashes, sending of Missionaries of Mercy.   
    Friday 12 - Thursday 18: Apostolic trip in Mexico.   
    Monday 22: Solemnity of the Chair of St. Peter. At 10.30 a.m. in the Vatican   
   Basilica, Jubilee of the Roman Curia.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 9 January 2016 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience:   
    - Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;   
    - Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, archbishop of Santiago de Chile, Chile,   
   president of the Episcopal Conference of Chile, with Bishop Alejandro Goic   
   Karmelic of Rancagua, deputy president, and Bishop Cristian Contreras   
   Villarroel   
   of Melipilla, general secretary;   
    - Fr. Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, prepositor general of the Society of Jesus, with   
   Fr. Mauro Johri, minister general of the Franciscan Order of Capuchin Friars   
   Minor, president of the Union of Superiors General (U.S.G.).;   
    - Nicola Zingarelli, president of the Latium region, Italy.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 9 January 2016 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Msgr.   
   Antonio Augusto de Oliveira Azevedo as auxiliary of the diocese of Porto (area   
   3,010, population 2,106,000, Catholics 1,906,000, priests 423, permanent   
   deacons   
   82, religious 892), Portugal. The bishop-elect was born in Sao Pedro de Avioso,   
   Portugal in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1986. He has served in a number   
   of   
   pastoral roles, including parish vicar, military chaplain, parish priest,   
   parish   
   administrator and diocesan assistant in the pastoral ministry of workers. He is   
   currently rector of the major seminary of Nossa Senhora da Conceidao, diocesan   
   assistant at the Centre for Preparation for Marriage, professor in the faculty   
   of theology of the Catholic University of Porto, judge at the ecclesiastical   
   tribunal and secretary of the presbyteral council.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   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   
      
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)