Subject: VISnews 110407
Organization: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 67
ENGLISH
THURSDAY, 7 APRIL 2011
SUMMARY:
- The Pope Receives Syro-Malabar Bishops
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts
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THE POPE RECEIVES SYRO-MALABAR BISHOPS
VATICAN CITY, 7 APR 2011 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received in
audience a group of bishops of the Syro-Malabar rite, on their "ad limina"
visit.
At the beginning of his discourse, the Pope remembered cardinal Varkey
Vithayathil, C.SS.R., major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the
Syro-Malabars, who died last Friday 1 April at the age of 83.
Benedict XVI, addressing the prelates in English, said that their visit to
Rome was "a precious opportunity to give thanks to God for the gift of
communion in the apostolic faith and in the life of the Spirit which unites
you among yourselves and with your people".
"Each Bishop, for his part", he continued, "is called to be a minister of
unity in his particular church and within the universal Church. This
responsibility is of special importance in a country like India where the
unity of the Church is reflected in the rich diversity of her rites and
traditions. I encourage you to do all you can to continue to foster the
communion between yourselves and all Catholic Bishops throughout the world,
and to be the living expression of that fellowship among your priests and
faithful".
Recalling St. Paul's "gentle command" for brotherly love, the Pope
emphasised that "within this mystery of loving communion, a privileged
expression of sharing in the divine life is through sacramental marriage and
family life. The rapid and dramatic changes which are a part of contemporary
society throughout the world bring with them not only serious challenges,
but new possibilities to proclaim the liberating truth of the Gospel message
to transform and elevate all human relationships".
The Holy Father affirmed that the support of the bishops, priests and
communities "for the sound and integral education of young people in the
ways of chastity and responsibility will not only enable them to embrace the
true nature of marriage, but will also benefit Indian culture as a whole".
He emphasised that "the Church can no longer count on the support of society
at large to promote the Christian understanding of marriage as a permanent
and indissoluble union ordered to procreation and the sanctification of the
spouses", and added, "Let your preaching and catechesis in this field be
patient and constant".
Referring to "the various communities of men and women religious who
devote themselves to the service of God and their neighbour", the Pope
underlined that "the vocation to religious life and the pursuit of perfect
charity is attractive in every age, but it should be nourished by a constant
spiritual renewal which is to be fostered by superiors who devote great care
to the human, intellectual and spiritual formation of their fellow
religious".
"Furthermore, by its nature, formation is never completed, but is ongoing
and must be an integral part of the daily life of each individual and
community. Much needs to be done in this area, utilising the many resources
available in your Church, above all through deeper training in the practice
of prayer, the particular spiritual and liturgical traditions of the
Syro-Malabar rite, and the intellectual demands of a solid pastoral
practice".
Benedict XVI concluded by encouraging the bishops to "plan effectively for
such a solid ongoing formation, so that religious men and women continue to
be powerful witnesses to the presence of God in the world and to our eternal
destiny, so that the complete gift of self to God through religious life may
shine with all its beauty and purity before men".
AL/ VIS
20110407 (580)
AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, 7 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate
audiences:
- Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, archbishop of Lima, Peru.
- Bishop Anthony Chirayath of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars, India, on his "ad
limina" visit.
- Bishop Mathew Vanializhakkel, C.V., of Satna of the Syro-Malabars, India,
on his "ad limina" visit.
- Bishop Sebastian Vadakel of Ujjain of the Syro-Malabars, India, on his
"ad limina" visit.
- Bishop Thomas Elavanal, M.C.B.S., of Kalyan of the Syro-Malabars, India,
on is "ad limina" visit.
- Bishop Jose Chittooparambil, C.M.I., of Rajkot of the Syro-Malabars,
India, on his "ad limina" visit, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Gregory
Karotemprel, C.M.I.
AP:AL/ VIS 20110407
(110)
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 7 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation
from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Lahore, Pakistan, presented by
Msgr. Lawrence John Saldanha, upon having reached the age limit.
RE/ VIS
20110407 (40)
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