* Original message posted in: VATICAN.   
   * Crossposted in: IN_CATHOLIC.   
      
   VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
      
   TWENTY-FIRST YEAR - N. 5   
   ENGLISH   
   MONDAY, 10 JANUARY 2011   
      
   SUMMARY: 8 - 10 JANUARY   
      
   - Mass to Mark the First Anniversary of Haitian Earthquake   
   - Audiences   
   - Collaboration between Christian Community and Family   
   - Rediscovering the Beauty of Baptism   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
   - Holy Father's Annual Address to the Diplomatic Corps   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   MASS TO MARK THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 8 JAN 2011 (VIS) - At 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday 12 January in the   
   papal basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, Cardinal Secretary of State   
   Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. will preside at a Eucharistic celebration to   
   commemorate the first anniversary of the Haitian earthquake.   
      
     According to a communique "the initiative to hold a commemorative Mass for   
   the victims of the terrible earthquake was promoted by the Haitian   
   ambassador to the Holy See. Members of the diplomatic corps accredited to   
   the Holy See and other diplomats present in Rome have been invited to   
   attend".   
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   AUDIENCES   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 8 JAN 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate   
   audiences:   
      
    - Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the   
   Doctrine of the Faith.   
      
    - Cardinal Mare Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.   
      
    - Cardinal Claudio Hummes O.F.M., prefect emeritus of the Congregation for   
   the Clergy.   
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   COLLABORATION BETWEEN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND FAMILY   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 9 JAN 2011 (VIS) - As is customary on today's Feast of the   
   Baptism of the Lord, this morning in the Sistine Chapel the Pope presided at   
   the celebration of the Eucharist during which he baptised twenty-one newborn   
   boys and girls, children of employees of the Vatican and the Holy See.   
      
     In his homily the Pope explained how Baptism makes its recipients part of   
   "the reciprocal exchange of love that exists in God between Father, Son and   
   Holy Spirit. By the gesture that I am about to perform", he said, "the love   
   of God flows over them inundating them with His gifts. Through the washing   
   of the water your children are made part of the life of Jesus, Who died on   
   the cross to free us from sin and, rising again, defeated death".   
      
     "By giving us the faith, the Lord gave us the most precious thing in life:   
   the most authentic and most beautiful reason to live. ... The faith is a   
   great gift with which He also gives us eternal life, which is true life. ...   
   By receiving Baptism, these children are given an indelible spiritual seal,   
   the 'character' which will exist forever as an interior mark of the fact   
   that they belong to the Lord, and which makes them living members of His   
   mystical body which is the Church. In becoming part of the People of God, a   
   journey begins for these children today, which should be a journey of   
   sanctity and conformity to Jesus. He is placed within them like the seed of   
   a magnificent tree which must be allowed to grow".   
      
     "Of course", the Pope went on, "a free and informed adherence to this life   
   of faith and love will later become necessary, and this is why, following   
   Baptism, children must be educated in the faith, instructed in accordance   
   with the wisdom of Holy Scripture and the teachings of the Church so that   
   the seed of faith they receive today may grow within them and they may   
   achieve full Christian maturity.   
      
     "The Church", he added, "which today welcomes them among her children   
   must, with the parents and godparents, take on the responsibility of   
   accompanying them on this journey of development. Collaboration between the   
   Christian community and the family is more necessary than ever in the   
   current social context in which the institution of the family is threatened   
   on many sides and finds itself having to face no small number of   
   difficulties in its mission to educate in the faith. The collapse of stable   
   points of cultural reference and the rapid and continual tran   
   sformation of   
   society make the task of education truly difficult. Hence it is necessary   
   that parishes make every effort to support families, small domestic   
   Churches, in their duty to transmit the faith", the Holy Father concluded.   
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   REDISCOVERING THE BEAUTY OF BAPTISM   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 9 JAN 2011 (VIS) - At midday today, following this morning's   
   celebration in the Sistine Chapel during which he baptised a number of   
   newborn infants, the Pope appeared at the window of his study to pray the   
   Angelus with several thousand pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square below.   
      
     The Holy Father explained how today's Feast of the Baptism of the Lord   
   ends the liturgical period of Christmas. "This mystery of Christ's life", he   
   said, "is a visible sign that His assuming the flesh was the sublime act of   
   love of the three divine Persons. We can say that after this solemn event   
   the creative, redemptory and sanctifying action of the Most Holy Trinity   
   became increasingly manifest in the public mission of Jesus, in His teaching   
   and miracles, in His passion, death and resurrection".   
      
     "It is truly the Messiah, Son of the Most High God, Who, emerging from the   
   waters of the River Jordan, establishes regeneration in the Spirit and   
   opens, for those who wish, the possibility of becoming children of God. It   
   is, indeed, no coincidence that each baptised person acquires the status of   
   child on the basis of a Christian name, an unmistakeable sign that the Holy   
   Spirit causes man to be 'born again' in the bosom of the Church".   
      
     Benedict XVI highlighted how "Baptism is the beginning of spiritual life,   
   which reaches fullness through the Church. At the moment of the Sacrament,   
   while the ecclesial community prays and commends a new child to God, the   
   parents and godparents undertake to welcome the neo-baptised and to support   
   it in its formation and Christian education. This is a great responsibility,   
   which derives from a great gift! Therefore, I wish to encourage all the   
   faithful to rediscover the beauty of being baptised and thus of belonging to   
   the great family of God, and to bear joyful witness to their faith that it   
   may generate fruits of goodness and harmony".   
      
     Following the Marian prayer, the Pope mentioned "the people of Haiti a   
   year after the great earthquake which was, alas, followed by a serious   
   cholera epidemic. Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council   
   'Cor Unum' will travel to the Caribbean island today to express my constant   
   proximity, and that of the entire Church".   
      
     The Holy Father then turned to address a group of Italian parliamentarians   
   whom he thanked "for their commitment, and that of their colleagues, in   
   support of religious freedom. With them I also greet the Coptic faithful,   
   who are present here today and to whom I renew expressions of my closeness",   
   he concluded.   
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   OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 9 JAN 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Gervas John   
   Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga of the clergy of the diocese of Mbeya, Tanzania,   
   assistant professor at St. Augustine's university of Tanzania, as bishop of   
   Dodoma (area 41,311, population 1,951,000, Catholics 407,000, priests 106,   
   religious 605), Tanzania. The bishop-elect was born in Bunda, Tanzania in   
   1966 and ordained a priest in 1996.   
      
     On Saturday 8 January it was made public that he appointed:   
      
    - Msgr. Antonio Guido Filipazzi, nunciature counsellor, as apostolic   
   nuncio, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The   
   archbishop-elect was born in Melzo, Italy in 1963 and ordained a priest in   
   1987.   
      
    - Msgr. Edgar Pena Parra, nunciature counsellor, as apostolic nuncio, at   
   the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The   
   archbishop-elect was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela in 1960 and ordained a   
   priest in 1985.   
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   HOLY FATHER'S ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS   
      
   VATICAN CIT   
   Y, 10 JAN 2011 (VIS) - This morning in the Sala Regia of the   
   Vatican Apostolic Palace, Pope Benedict pronounced his traditional annual   
   address to members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. He   
   also received the greetings of the ambassadors formulated in a speech   
   delivered by Alejandro Emilio Valladares Lanza of Honduras and dean of the   
   diplomatic corps.   
      
     The Holy See currently maintains full diplomatic relations with 178   
   States, to which must be added the European Union and the Sovereign Military   
   Order of Malta. It also has relations of a special nature with the Palestine   
   Liberation Organisation.   
      
     Furthermore, the Holy See has observer-State status at the United Nations,   
   as well as being a member of seven organisations and agencies of the UN   
   system, observer in eight others, and member or observer in five regional   
   organisations.   
      
     Ample extracts of the Holy Father's address are give below:   
      
     "Humanity throughout history, in its beliefs and rituals, demonstrates a   
   constant search for God and 'these forms of religious expression are so   
   universal that one may well call man a religious being'. The religious   
   dimension is an undeniable and irrepressible feature of man's being and   
   acting, the measure of the fulfilment of his destiny and of the building up   
   of the community to which he belongs. Consequently, when the individual   
   himself or those around him neglect or deny this fundamental dimension,   
   imbalances and conflicts arise at all levels, both personal and   
   interpersonal".   
      
     "The right to religious freedom, ... is indeed the first of human rights,   
   not only because it was historically the first to be recognised but also   
   because it touches the constitutive dimension of man, his relation with his   
   Creator. Yet is this fundamental human right not all too often called into   
   question or violated? It seems to me that society, its leaders and public   
   opinion are becoming more and more aware, even if not always in a clear way,   
   of this grave attack on the dignity and freedom of 'homo religiosus', which   
   I have sought on numerous occasions to draw to the attention of all".   
      
     "The Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, which   
   took place in the Vatican in October, was a moment of prayer and reflection   
   in which our thoughts turned insistently to the Christian communities in   
   that part of the world which suffer greatly because of their fidelity to   
   Christ and the Church.   
      
     "Looking to the East, the attacks which brought death, grief and dismay   
   among the Christians of Iraq, even to the point of inducing them to leave   
   the land where their families have lived for centuries, has troubled us   
   deeply. To the authorities of that country and to the Muslim religious   
   leaders I renew my heartfelt appeal that their Christian fellow-citizens be   
   able to live in security, continuing to contribute to the society in which   
   they are fully members. In Egypt too, in Alexandria, terrorism brutally   
   struck Christians as they prayed in church. This succession of attacks is   
   yet another sign of the urgent need for the governments of the region to   
   adopt, in spite of difficulties and dangers, effective measures for the   
   protection of religious minorities"   
      
     "I appreciate the concern for the rights of the most vulnerable and the   
   political farsightedness which some countries in Europe have demonstrated in   
   recent days by their call for a concerted response on the part of the   
   European Union for the defence of Christians in the Middle East.   
      
     "Finally, I would like to state once again that the right to religious   
   freedom is not fully respected when only freedom of worship is guaranteed,   
   and that with restrictions. Furthermore, I encourage the accompaniment of   
   the full safeguarding of religious freedom and other humans rights by   
   programmes which, beginning in primary school and within the context of   
   religious instruction, will educate everyone to respect their brothers and   
   sisters in humanity.   
      
     "Regarding the states of the Arabian Peninsula, where numerous Christian   
   immigrant workers live, I hope that the Catholic Church will be able   
    to   
   establish suitable pastoral structures.   
      
     "Among the norms prejudicing the right of persons to religious freedom,   
   particular mention must be made of the law against blasphemy in Pakistan: I   
   once more encourage the leaders of that country to take the necessary steps   
   to abrogate that law, all the more so because it is clear that it serves as   
   a pretext for acts of injustice and violence against religious minorities.   
   The tragic murder of the governor of Punjab shows the urgent need to make   
   progress in this direction: the worship of God furthers fraternity and love,   
   not hatred and division. Other troubling situations, at times accompanied by   
   acts of violence, can be mentioned in south and south-east Asia, in   
   countries which for that matter have a tradition of peaceful social   
   relations.   
      
     "The particular influence of a given religion in a nation ought never to   
   mean that citizens of another religion can be subject to discrimination in   
   social life or, even worse, that violence against them can be tolerated. In   
   this regard, it is important for inter-religious dialogue to favour a common   
   commitment to recognising and promoting the religious freedom of each person   
   and community. And, as I remarked earlier, violence against Christians does   
   not spare Africa. Attacks on places of worship in Nigeria during the very   
   celebrations marking the birth of Christ are another sad proof of this.   
      
     "In a number of countries, on the other hand, a constitutionally   
   recognised right to religious freedom exists, yet the life of religious   
   communities is in fact made difficult and at times even dangerous because   
   the legal or social order is inspired by philosophical and political systems   
   which call for strict control, if not a monopoly, of the State over society.   
   Such inconsistencies must end, so that believers will not find themselves   
   torn between fidelity to God and loyalty to their country. I ask in   
   particular that Catholic communities be everywhere guaranteed full autonomy   
   of organisation and the freedom to carry out their mission, in conformity   
   with international norms and standards in this sphere. My thoughts turn once   
   again to the Catholic community of mainland China and its pastors, who are   
   experiencing a time of difficulty and trial. I would also like to offer a   
   word of encouragement to the authorities of Cuba, a country which in 2010   
   celebrated seventy-five years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations with the   
   Holy See, that the dialogue happily begun with the Church may be reinforced   
   and expanded.   
      
     "Turning our gaze from East to West, we find ourselves faced with other   
   kinds of threats to the full exercise of religious freedom. I think in the   
   first place of countries which accord great importance to pluralism and   
   tolerance, but where religion is increasingly being marginalised. There is a   
   tendency to consider religion, all religion, as something insignificant,   
   alien or even destabilising to modern society, and to attempt by different   
   means to prevent it from having any influence on the life of society.   
   Christians are even required at times to act in the exercise of their   
   profession with no reference to their religious and moral convictions, and   
   even in opposition to them, as for example where laws are enforced limiting   
   the right to conscientious objection on the part of health care or legal   
   professionals.   
      
     "In this context, one can only be gratified by the adoption by the Council   
   of Europe last October of a resolution protecting the right to conscientious   
   objection on the part of medical personnel vis-a-vis certain acts which   
   gravely violate the right to life, such as abortion.   
      
     "Another sign of the marginalisation of religion, and of Christianity in   
   particular, is the banning of religious feasts and symbols from civic life   
   under the guise of respect for the members of other religions or those who   
   are not believers. By acting in this way, not only is the right of believers   
   to the public expression of their faith restricted, but an attack is made on   
   the cultural roots which nourish the profound identity and social cohesion   
   of many    
   nations. Last year, a number of European countries supported the   
   appeal lodged by the Italian government in the well-known case involving the   
   display of the crucifix in public places. I am grateful to the authorities   
   of those nations, as well as to all those who became involved in the issue,   
   episcopates, civil and religious organisations and associations,   
   particularly the Patriarchate of Moscow and the other representatives of the   
   Orthodox hierarchy, as well as to all those - believers and non-believers   
   alike - who wished to show their sympathy for this symbol, which bespeaks   
   universal values.   
      
     "Acknowledging religious freedom also means ensuring that religious   
   communities can operate freely in society through initiatives in the social,   
   charitable or educational sectors. Throughout the world, one can see the   
   fruitful work accomplished by the Catholic Church in these areas. It is   
   troubling that this service which religious communities render to society as   
   a whole, particularly through the education of young people, is compromised   
   or hampered by legislative proposals which risk creating a sort of State   
   monopoly in the schools; this can be seen, for example, in certain countries   
   in Latin America. Now that many of those countries are celebrating the   
   second centenary of their independence - a fitting time for remembering the   
   contribution made by the Catholic Church to the development of their   
   national identity - I exhort all governments to promote educational systems   
   respectful of the primordial right of families to make decisions about the   
   education of their children, systems inspired by the principle of   
   subsidiarity which is basic to the organisation of a just society.   
      
     "Continuing my reflection, I cannot remain silent about another attack on   
   the religious freedom of families in certain European countries which   
   mandate obligatory participation in courses of sexual or civic education   
   which allegedly convey a neutral conception of the person and of life, yet   
   in fact reflect an anthropology opposed to faith and to right reason".   
      
     "On this solemn occasion, allow me to state clearly several principles   
   which inspire the Holy See, together with the whole Catholic Church, in its   
   activity within the intergovernmental international organisations for the   
   promotion of full respect for the religious freedom of all. First, the   
   conviction that one cannot create a sort of scale of degrees of religious   
   intolerance. Unfortunately, such an attitude is frequently found, and it is   
   precisely acts of discrimination against Christians which are considered   
   less grave and less worthy of attention on the part of governments and   
   public opinion. At the same time, there is a need to reject the dangerous   
   notion of a conflict between the right to religious freedom and other human   
   rights, thus disregarding or denying the central role of respect for   
   religious freedom in the defence and protection of fundamental human   
   dignity. Even less justifiable are attempts to counter the right of   
   religious freedom with other alleged new rights which, while actively   
   promoted by certain sectors of society and inserted in national legislation   
   or in international directives, are nonetheless merely the expression of   
   selfish desires lacking a foundation in authentic human nature. Finally, it   
   seems unnecessary to point out that an abstract proclamation of religious   
   freedom is insufficient: this fundamental rule of social life must find   
   application and respect at every level and in all areas".   
      
     "Promoting the full religious freedom of Catholic communities is also the   
   aim of the Holy See in signing Concordats and other agreements. I am   
   gratified that States in different parts of the world, and of different   
   religious, cultural and juridical traditions, choose international   
   conventions as a means of organising relations between the political   
   community and the Catholic Church, thus establishing through dialogue a   
   framework of co-operation and respect for reciprocal areas of competence.   
   Last year witnessed the signing and implementation of an agreement for the   
   religious assi   
   stance of the Catholic faithful in the armed forces in Bosnia   
   and Herzegovina, and negotiations are presently under way with different   
   countries. We trust that they will have a positive outcome, ensuring   
   solutions respectful of the nature and freedom of the Church for the good of   
   society as a whole.   
      
     "The activity of the papal representatives accredited to States and   
   international organisations is likewise at the service of religious freedom.   
   I would like to point out with satisfaction that the Vietnamese authorities   
   have accepted my appointment of a representative who will express the   
   solicitude of the Successor of Peter by visiting the beloved Catholic   
   community of that country. I would also like to mention that in the past   
   year the diplomatic presence of the Holy See was expanded in Africa, since a   
   stable presence is now assured in three countries without a resident nuncio.   
   God willing, I will once more travel to that continent, to Benin next   
   November, in order to consign the Apostolic Exhortation which will gather   
   the fruits of the labours of the second Special Assembly for Africa of the   
   Synod of Bishops".   
      
     "I would like once more to state forcefully that religion does not   
   represent a problem for society, that it is not a source of discord or   
   conflict. I would repeat that the Church seeks no privileges, nor does she   
   seek to intervene in areas unrelated to her mission, but simply to exercise   
   the latter with freedom. I invite everyone to acknowledge the great lesson   
   of history: 'How can anyone deny the contribution of the world's great   
   religions to the development of civilisation? The sincere search for God has   
   led to greater respect for human dignity. Christian communities, with their   
   patrimony of values and principles, have contributed much to making   
   individuals and peoples aware of their identity and their dignity, the   
   establishment of democratic institutions and the recognition of human rights   
   and their corresponding duties. Today too, in an increasingly globalised   
   society, Christians are called, not only through their responsible   
   involvement in civic, economic and political life but also through the   
   witness of their charity and faith, to offer a valuable contribution to the   
   laborious and stimulating pursuit of justice, integral human development and   
   the right ordering of human affairs'.   
      
     A clear example of this was Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: the   
   centenary of her birth was celebrated at Tirana, Skopje and Pristina as well   
   as in India, and a moving homage was paid to her not only by the Church but   
   also by civil authorities and religious leaders, to say nothing of people of   
   all religions. People like her show the world the extent to which the   
   commitment born of faith is beneficial to society as a whole.   
      
     "May no human society willingly deprive itself of the essential   
   contribution of religious persons and communities! ... For this reason, as   
   we exchange good wishes for a new year rich in concord and genuine progress,   
   I exhort everyone, political and religious leaders and persons of every walk   
   of life, to set out with determination on the path leading to authentic and   
   lasting peace, a path which passes through respect for the right to   
   religious freedom in all its fullness".   
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS-Meridian, MS-bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)