* Original message posted in: VATICAN.   
   * Crossposted in: IN_CATHOLIC.   
      
   VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
      
   TWENTIETH YEAR - N. 232   
   ENGLISH   
   THURSDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2010   
      
   SUMMARY:   
      
   - Holy Father Receives the "Pueri Cantores"   
   - Motu Proprio on Illegal Activities in the Financial Sector   
   - Communique of Secretariat of State on Pope's Motu Proprio   
   - Fr. Lombardi's Note Concerning the Motu Proprio   
   - Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2011   
   - Papal, Holy See Highlights September-December 2010   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
   - Notice   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   HOLY FATHER RECEIVES THE "PUERI CANTORES"   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 30 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI   
   received participants in an international congress of the International   
   Federation of "Pueri Cantores", currently being held in Rome.   
      
     The Pope addressed the group in English, French, Spanish, German,   
   Portuguese, Polish and Ukrainian. "As you use your talents and your =   
   faith to   
   sing God's praises, you give voice to the natural desire of every human   
   being to glorify Him, with songs of love", he said. "Yet beautiful music =   
   is   
   able to express something of the mystery of God's love for us and ours =   
   for   
   Him, as we are reminded by the theme chosen for your Congress: 'Deus =   
   Caritas   
   Est'".   
      
     "Always remember that your singing is a service. Firstly, it is a =   
   service   
   to God, a way of giving Him the praise that is due. It is also a service =   
   to   
   your fellow worshippers, helping them to raise their hearts and minds to =   
   the   
   Lord in prayer. And it is a service to the whole Church, offering a   
   foretaste of the heavenly liturgy that is the goal of all true worship, =   
   when   
   the choirs of angels and saints unite in one unending song of love and   
   praise".   
   AC/                                                                     VIS   
   20101230 (210)   
      
   MOTU PROPRIO ON ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 30 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Given below is the text of the Pope's   
   Apostolic Letter "Motu Proprio data" on the prevention and countering of   
   illegal activities in the financial and monetary sectors:   
      
     The Apostolic See has always raised its voice to exhort all men and =   
   women   
   of good will, and especially the leaders of nations, to commit =   
   themselves to   
   building - also through just and lasting peace in all parts of the world =   
   -   
   the universal city of God, towards which the history of peoples and =   
   nations   
   progresses [Benedict XVI, Enc. Let. 'Caritas in veritate' (29 June =   
   2009), 7:   
   AAS 101/2009, 645]. Unfortunately, peace in our time and in an =   
   increasingly   
   globalised society is threatened by various causes, among them the   
   inappropriate use of the market and the economy, as well as the terrible   
   destruction of terrorist violence, which causes death, suffering, hatred =   
   and   
   social instability.   
      
     Quite rightly, the international community is increasingly equipping   
   itself with juridical principles and instruments that enable it to =   
   prevent   
   and contrast the phenomena of money laundering and the financing of   
   terrorism.   
      
     The Holy See approves this commitment and intends to adopt these rules =   
   in   
   its own use of the material resources it needs to carry out its mission, =   
   and   
   to carry out the tasks of Vatican City State.   
      
     In this context, also in implementation of the Monetary Convention of =   
   17   
   December 2009 between Vatican City State and the European Union, I have   
   approved for Vatican City State the publication of the Law of 30 =   
   December   
   2010 concerning the prevention and countering of the laundering of =   
   proceeds   
   from criminal activities and of the financing of terrorism, which is =   
   being   
   promulgated today.   
      
     With this Apostolic Letter in the form of "Motu Proprio":   
      
   (a) I decree that the abovementioned Law of Vatican City State, and its   
   future modifications, is also valid for the dicasteries of the Roman =   
   Curia   
   and for all Institutions and Entities dependent on the Holy See, when =   
   they   
   undertake the activities defined in article 2 of the said Law.   
      
   (b) I establish the "Autorita di Informazione Finanziaria" (AIF), as   
   indicated in article 33 of the Law concerning the prevention and =   
   countering   
   o   
   f the laundering of proceeds from criminal activities and of the =   
   financing   
   of terrorism, as an Institution connected with the Holy See in =   
   accordance   
   with articles 186 and 190-191 of the Apostolic Constitution "Pastor =   
   Bonus",   
   conferring thereon public juridical canonical status and Vatican civil   
   status, and approving its Statute which is attached to this Motu =   
   Proprio.   
      
   (c) I decree that the "Autorita di Informazione Finanziaria" (AIF) is to   
   exercise its functions in relation to the dicasteries of the Roman Curia =   
   and   
   in relation to all the Institutions and Entities mentioned in paragraph =   
   (a)   
   above.   
      
   (d) I delegate the competent judicial bodies of Vatican City State to   
   exercise their penal jurisdiction - only as concerns the crimes =   
   conjectured   
   in the abovementioned Law - in relation to the dicasteries of the Roman   
   Curia and in relation to all the Institutions and Entities mentioned in   
   paragraph (a) above.   
      
     I order that what has thus been established is to have full and stable   
   validity as of today's date, notwithstanding any dispositions to the   
   contrary, though worthy of special mention.   
      
     I decree that this Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio is to =   
   be   
   published in the "Acta Apostolicae Sedis".   
      
     Published in Rome, from the Apostolic Palace, 30 December of the year   
   2010, sixth of the Pontificate.   
   MP/                                                                     VIS   
   20101230 (590)   
      
   COMMUNIQUE OF SECRETARIAT OF STATE ON POPE'S MOTU PROPRIO   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 30 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Given below is the English-language =   
   text   
   of a communique issued by the Secretariat of State regarding the new   
   legislation for the prevention and countering of illegal activities in =   
   the   
   financial and monetary sectors:   
      
     (1) Today, in implementation of the Monetary Convention of 17 December   
   2009 (2010/C 28/05) between Vatican City State and the European Union, =   
   four   
   new Laws were adopted:   
      
    - the "Law concerning the prevention and countering of the laundering =   
   of   
   proceeds from criminal activities and of the financing of terrorism";   
    - the "Law on fraud and counterfeiting of Euro banknotes and coins";   
    - the "Law concerning the size, specifications, reproductions,   
   substitutions of and withdrawals from use of Euro banknotes and =   
   concerning   
   the implementation of measures to be taken against the irregular   
   reproduction of Euro banknotes and the substitution of and withdrawal =   
   from   
   use of Euro banknotes";   
   - the "Law regarding the face, unitary value and technical =   
   specifications,   
   as well as the copyright of the designs of the national faces of the =   
   Euro   
   coins destined for circulation".   
      
     The process of drafting the above-mentioned Laws was conducted with =   
   the   
   assistance of the Mixed Committee, established in Art.11 of the Monetary   
   Convention, composed of representatives of Vatican City State and of the   
   European Union. The European Union delegation is composed of =   
   representatives   
   of the Commission and of the Republic of Italy as well as =   
   representatives of   
   the Central European Bank.   
      
     The Law concerning the prevention and countering of money laundering =   
   and   
   of the financing of terrorism is published together with this =   
   communique,   
   while the others will be published on the website of Vatican City State, =   
   at   
   www.vaticanstate.va   
      
     (2) The Law concerning the prevention of money laundering and of the   
   financing of terrorism contains the following in a single piece of   
   legislation:   
      
    - specification of criminal activities which comprise the laundering of   
   money, self money-laundering, and the so-called "predicate crimes" (that =   
   is,   
   the criminal activities which generate incomes, that are subsequently   
   laundered), for which penal fines are foreseen;   
    - specification of activities with a more administrative content =   
   related to   
   international co-operation, but also to prevention, for which pecuniary   
   administrative fines are foreseen.   
      
     The above Law is based on the following main obligations:   
      
    - "adequate verification" of the counterpart;   
    - registration and conservation of data concerning ongoing relations =   
   and   
   operatio   
   ns;   
    - reporting of suspicious transactions.   
      
     The structure of this Law, while taking into account the specificity =   
   of   
   the Vatican legal system into which it is inserted, conforms to the   
   principles and rules in force throughout the European Union and is =   
   therefore   
   in conformity with the norms of other nations which have more developed   
   rules in this regard. This is seen in the provisions concerning, among =   
   other   
   things, self money-laundering, the controls on cash entering or leaving   
   Vatican City State, the obligations regarding the transfer of funds, and =   
   the   
   heavy administrative sanctions that are applicable not only to legal =   
   persons   
   and entities but also to the physical persons who act on their behalf, =   
   by   
   means of the binding recourse action.   
      
     (3) In conformity with what is found in the most recent norms of the   
   European Union, the Law on fraud and counterfeiting responds to the need =   
   to   
   adopt a solid network of legal protection of Euro banknotes and coins =   
   from   
   counterfeiting. This requires procedures of withdrawal from circulation =   
   of   
   counterfeited banknotes and coins, the reinforcing of penal sanctions, =   
   as   
   well as various forms of European and international cooperation.   
      
     (4) The Laws concerning the Euro banknotes and coins contain the =   
   following   
   for those Banknotes and coins:   
      
    - norms for the protection of the copyright of the designs;   
    - rules regarding size, technical characteristics, circulation and   
   substitution;   
    - the prospective application of administrative pecuniary fines for   
   violation of any of these Laws.   
      
     (5) The drafting of the Laws that are adopted today does not involve   
   Vatican City State alone. The Holy See, which is legally distinct from   
   Vatican City State and which directs entities and institutions active in   
   various areas, has adopted as its own the "Law concerning the prevention =   
   and   
   countering of the laundering of proceeds from criminal activities and of =   
   the   
   financing of terrorism". The adoption of this Law was accomplished by =   
   means   
   of the "Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio for the =   
   prevention   
   and countering of illegal activities in the area of monetary and =   
   financial   
   dealings".   
      
     With that Apostolic Letter, which is also published today and signed =   
   by   
   the Supreme Pontiff Pope Benedict XVI:   
      
    - it is also established that the Law of Vatican City State and its =   
   future   
   modifications apply as well to the "Dicasteries of the Roman Curia and =   
   for   
   each and every institution or entity dependent on the Holy See", among =   
   which   
   the Istituto per le Opere di Religione (IOR) is included, so as to =   
   confirm   
   the latter's firm intention to operate according to principles and =   
   criteria   
   which are internationally recognised;   
    - the Autorit=E0 di Informazione Finanziaria (AIF) is established, an   
   autonomous and independent body with the specific task of preventing and   
   countering the laundering of money and the financing of terrorism with   
   respect to each subject, both legal and physical, entity and institution =   
   of   
   whatever nature, of Vatican City State, of the Dicasteries of the Roman   
   Curia and of all the other institutions and entities dependent on the =   
   Holy   
   See;   
    - the competent judicial authorities of Vatican City State are =   
   henceforth   
   delegated to exercise penal jurisdiction in regard to the =   
   above-mentioned   
   institutions, in the case of crimes related to money-laundering and the   
   financing of terrorism.   
      
     The Apostolic Letter is published on the Holy See's website, at   
   www.vatican.va   
      
     (6) The AIF, whose President and members of the Governing Council are   
   appointed by the Pope, is charged with the task of adopting the complex =   
   and   
   delicate norms of implementation which are indispensable in ensuring =   
   that   
   the subjects of the Holy See and of Vatican City State - from 1 April =   
   2011 -   
   will respect these new and important obligations aimed at countering the   
   laundering of money and the financing of terrorism. On 1 April 2011, the   
   "Law concerning the prevention and countering of the laundering of =   
   proceeds   
   from criminal activities and of the financing of terrorism" wil   
   l enter =   
   into   
   force.   
      
     (7) Experience will help to refine and integrate the new norms =   
   concerning   
   the prevention and countering of money-laundering and the financing of   
   terrorism in accordance with the principles and the standards in force =   
   in   
   the international community; such need might derive from the Holy See's =   
   and   
   Vatican City State's openness to deal with competent international =   
   instances   
   in countering both money-laundering and the financing of terrorism.   
      
     (8) These new Laws are part of the Apostolic See's efforts to build a =   
   just   
   and honest social order. At no time may the great principles of social   
   ethics like transparency, honesty and responsibility be neglected or   
   weakened (cf. Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, 36).   
   SS/                                                                     VIS   
   20101230 (1150)   
      
   FR. LOMBARDI'S NOTE CONCERNING THE MOTU PROPRIO   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 30 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a note =   
   written   
   by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. on the =   
   Pope's   
   Apostolic Letter "Motu Proprio data" on the prevention and countering of   
   illegal activities in the financial and monetary sectors. Fr. Lombardi's   
   note is entitled "Transparency , honesty and responsibility".   
      
     Today's publication of new laws for Vatican City State, for the   
   dicasteries of the Roman Curia and for the Institutions and Entities   
   dependent on the Holy See, is an important normative development, but =   
   also   
   has far-reaching moral and pastoral significance.   
      
     As of today, all organisations associated with the government of the   
   Catholic Church - and with the Church's "support": Vatican City State -   
   have, in a spirit of sincere collaboration, become part of that system =   
   of   
   juridical principles and instruments which the international community =   
   is   
   creating with the aim of guaranteeing just and honest coexistence in an   
   increasingly globalised world; a world in which, unfortunately, economy =   
   and   
   finance is not infrequently a field for illegal activities, such as the   
   recycling of the profits of crime and the financing of terrorism, true   
   threats to justice and peace in the world.   
      
     Speaking plainly, the Pope affirms that the "Holy See approves such a   
   commitment" on the part of the international community, "and intends to   
   adopt the rules" the community uses "to prevent and combat" these =   
   terrible   
   phenomena.   
      
     Illegal activities have always shown an extraordinary ability to   
   infiltrate and contaminate the world of economy and finance, but their   
   growth at the international level, and the use of new technology, have =   
   made   
   them increasingly insidious and capable of concealment. Thus, by way of   
   protection, it has become vital to create mutual control and information   
   networks among the authorities charged with contrasting such activities.   
      
     It would be ingenuous to imagine that the perverse intelligence of the   
   people who control illegal activities would not seek to exploit certain =   
   weak   
   spots which sometimes exist in the international systems that defend and   
   oversee legality, in order to penetrate and violate them. For this =   
   reason   
   international solidarity is of vital importance in order to safeguard =   
   those   
   systems, and it is right and understandable that national watchdogs and =   
   the   
   competent international organisations (the Council of Europe and, in   
   particular, FATF the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering) =   
   should   
   look favourably upon the States and organisations which offer the =   
   requested   
   guarantees, and impose greater limitations on those which fail to =   
   conform.   
      
     Naturally, this also holds true for Vatican City and for those   
   ecclesiastical organisations which undertake economic and financial   
   activities.   
      
     Thus the new norms respond both to the need to conserve the =   
   effectiveness   
   of the organisations that work in the economic and financial sector at =   
   the   
   service of the Catholic Church in the world and, - more importantly - to =   
   the   
   moral requirement of "transparency, honesty and responsibility", which =   
   must   
   always be observed in the social and economic field (Caritas    
   in =   
   Veritate,   
   36).   
      
     The implementation of the new norms will certainly require great   
   commitment. A new Financial Information Authority must be set up, new   
   obligations must be respected, new functions exercised. But this cannot =   
   but   
   be of benefit to the Church. Vatican organisations will be less =   
   vulnerable   
   in the face of the continuous risks that inevitably arise in the =   
   handling of   
   money. Those errors which so quickly become the cause of "scandal" for   
   public opinion and the faithful will be avoided. In the final analysis =   
   the   
   Church will be more "credible" before the members of the international   
   community, and this is of vital importance for her evangelical mission.   
   Today, 30 December 2010, the Pope has signed a document of a type a =   
   little   
   unusual for him, but one of great courage and of great moral and =   
   spiritual   
   significance. This is a good way to conclude the year: with a step =   
   towards   
   transparency and credibility!   
   OP/                                                                     VIS   
   20101230 (650)   
      
   BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY 2011   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 30 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer =   
   intention   
   for January 2011 is: "That young people may learn to use modern means of   
   social communication for their personal growth and to better prepare   
   themselves to serve society".   
      
     His mission intention is: "That every believer in Christ may be =   
   conscious   
   that unity among all Christians is a condition for more effective   
   proclamation of the Gospel".   
   BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/                                 VIS 20101230 (80)   
      
   PAPAL, HOLY SEE HIGHLIGHTS SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2010   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 30 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Following are highlights of the =   
   activities   
   of Pope Benedict XVI and the Holy See for the months of September to   
   December 2010.   
      
   SEPTEMBER   
      
   2: Holy Father receives in audience Shimon Peres, president of Israel.   
      
   3: Publication of the Holy Father's Message for the twenty-sixth World =   
   Youth   
   Day, entitled: "Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the =   
   faith".   
   World Youth Day is due to be celebrated in the Spanish capital Madrid =   
   during   
   the month of August 2011.   
      
   5: Pastoral visit of the Holy Father to the Italian town of Carpineto =   
   Romano   
   to mark the two hundredth anniversary of the birth there of Pope Leo =   
   XIII   
   (Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci).   
      
   8: At the end of his general audience, the Holy Father Benedict XVI =   
   greets   
   Jose Maria Pereira Neves, prime minister of Cape Verde.   
      
   10: Holy Father receives in audience Pal Schmitt, president of the =   
   Republic   
   of Hungary.   
      
   10: Benedict XVI receives a group of prelates from the National =   
   Conference   
   of Bishops of Brazil (Northeast region 3) at the end of their "ad =   
   limina"   
   visit.   
      
   13: Beatification in Granada, Spain, of Servant of God Leopoldo Sanchez   
   Marquez de Alpandeire (ne Francesco), Spanish professed layman of the =   
   Order   
   of Friars Minor Capuchins.   
      
   13: Holy Father receives Letters of Credence of Walter Jurgen Schmid, =   
   the   
   new ambassador of Germany to the Holy See.   
      
   16-19: Apostolic trip to the United Kingdom for the Beatification of   
   Cardinal John Henry Newman.   
      
   20: Vatican Apostolic Library reopens following three years of =   
   restoration   
   work.   
      
   24: Presentation of Benedict XVI's Letter for the Seventh World Meeting =   
   of   
   Families, due to be held in the Italian city of Milan from 30 May to 2 =   
   June   
   2012 on the theme: "The Family: Work and Rest".   
      
   29: Publication of the theme chosen by the Pope for the forty-fifth =   
   World   
   Day of Social Communications: "Truth, proclamation and authenticity of =   
   life   
   in the digital age". His Message for the Day will be published on 24 =   
   January   
   2011, feast of St. Francis of Sales, patron of journalists.   
      
   OCTOBER   
      
   3: Pastoral visit of the Holy Father to Palermo, Italy, for a regional   
   ecclesial meeting of families and young people.   
      
   4: Benedict XVI receives a group of prelates from the National =   
   Conference of   
   Bishops of Brazil (North region 1 and Northeast region) at the end of =   
   their   
   "ad limina" visit.   
      
   7: Holy Father receives Letters of Credence of Fernando Zegers Santa =   
   Cruz,   
   the new ambassador    
   of Chile to the Holy See.   
      
   8: Holy Father receives in audience Nicolas Sarkozy, president of =   
   France.   
      
   8-9: Congress in the Vatican to mark the twentieth anniversary of the   
   publication of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.   
      
   9: Holy Father receives in audience Ivo Josipovic, president of the =   
   Republic   
   of Croatia.   
      
   10: The Holy Father Benedict XVI presides at a concelebration of the   
   Eucharist with Synod Fathers for the solemn opening of the Special =   
   Assembly   
   of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, on the theme: "The Catholic   
   Church in the Middle East. Communion and Witness. Now the company of =   
   those   
   who believed were of one heart and soul".   
      
   15: Benedict XVI sends a Message to Jacques Diouf, director general of =   
   the   
   United Nation's Rome-based Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), for =   
   the   
   occasion of World Food Day.   
      
   16: Holy Father receives in audience Bronislaw Komorowski, president of =   
   the   
   Republic of Poland.   
      
   17: In St. Peter's Square, Holy Father canonises Stanislao Soltys, =   
   called   
   Kazimierczyk (1433-1489); Andre Bessette (ne Alfred) (1845-1937); =   
   Candida   
   Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola (nee Juana Josefa) (1845-1912); Mary =   
   of   
   the Cross MacKillop (nee Mary Helen) (1842-1909); Giulia Salzano   
   (1846-1929), and Battista da Varano (nee Camilla), (1458-1524).   
      
   18: Holy Father receives Letters of Credence of Cesar Mauricio Velasquez   
   Ossa, the new ambassador of Colombia to the Holy See, and of Manuel =   
   Roberto   
   Lopez Becerra, the new ambassador of El Salvador to the Holy See.   
      
   18: Publication of the "Letter to Seminarians", written by the Pope to =   
   mark   
   the end of the Year for Priests.   
      
   21: Holy Father receives Letters of Credence of Han Hong-soon, the new   
   ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Holy See, and of Bogadan   
   Tataru-Cazaban, the new ambassador of Romania to the Holy See.   
      
   22: Benedict XVI receives Letters of Credence of Luis Dositeo Latorre =   
   Tapia,   
   the new ambassador of Ecuador to the Holy See; of Maja Marija Lovrencic   
   Svetek, the new ambassador of Slovenia to the Holy See, and of Manuel =   
   Tomas   
   Fernandes Pereira, the new ambassador of Portugal to the Holy See.   
      
   25: Holy Father receives in audience James Alix Michel, president of the   
   Republic of the Seychelles.   
      
   26: Presentation of the Pope's Message for the ninety-seventh World Day =   
   of   
   Migrants and Refugees which is due to be celebrated on 16 January 2011.   
      
   28: Benedict XVI receives a group of prelates from the National =   
   Conference   
   of Bishops of Brazil (Northeast region 5) at the end of their "ad =   
   limina"   
   visit.   
      
   NOVEMBER   
      
   6-7: Apostolic trip to the Spanish cities of Santiago de Compostela and   
   Barcelona.   
      
   9: Message from the Pope to Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the   
   Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), for that institution's sixty-second   
   general assembly, being held in Assisi, Italy.   
      
   11: Presentation of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Verbum =   
   Domini"   
   of Benedict XVI, on the Word of God in the life and mission of the =   
   Church.   
      
   16: Press conference to present the Vatican Television Centre's new   
   high-definition outside-broadcasting equipment.   
      
   20: Third ordinary public consistory of Benedict XVI's pontificate, =   
   during   
   which he creates twenty-four new cardinals.   
      
   22: Message from the Pope to Fr. Hermann Geissler F.S.O., director of =   
   the   
   International Centre of Newman Friends, for a symposium organised by the   
   group on the theme: "The Primacy of God in the Life and Writings of =   
   Blessed   
   John Henry Newman".   
      
   22: Death at the age of 90 of Cardinal Urbano Navarrete S.J., dean of =   
   St.   
   Pontian.   
      
   23: Press conference to present a new book entitled: "Light of the =   
   World.   
   The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times. A conversation of =   
   Benedict   
   XVI with Peter Seewald", published by the Vatican Publishing House.   
      
   26: Press conference to present the new "Vatican Foundation: Joseph   
   Ratzinger - Benedict XVI".   
      
   ___   
    - Origin: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede (1:396/3)    
   --- timEd/2 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS-Meridian, MS-bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)