Subject: VISnews 110414
Organization: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 72
ENGLISH
THURSDAY, 14 APRIL 2011
SUMMARY:
- Benedict XVI Receives President of Latvia
- Pope Receives New Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites
- Holy Week Celebrations to be Presided by the Pope
- Communique on Meeting on Catholic Church in China
- Plenary Meeting of the Pontifical Biblical Commission
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts
___________________________________________________________
BENEDICT XVI RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF LATVIA
VATICAN CITY, 14 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today published
the following communique:
"Today in the Apostolic Palace Benedict XVI received in audience the
president of the Republic of Latvia, Valdis Zatlers, who subsequently met
with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, accompanied by
Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
"During the cordial discussions mention was made of the good relations
between Latvia and the Holy See, also emphasised by the 2000 Agreement, and
the high esteem in which the Church is held in the country.
"Considering the current international economic climate, which has had
heavy repercussions also in Latvia, appreciation was expressed for the
significant and valid contribution the Church offers to Latvian society, not
only through its initiatives in the educational and social fields, but also
through the presentation of its social doctrine.
"Throughout the discussions, emphasis was placed on the importance of
safeguarding traditional values and peaceful coexistence. At the
international level, mention was made of the contribution of Latvia in the
promotion of peace and in areas of collaboration with the Holy See".
OP/ VIS 20110414
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POPE RECEIVES NEW PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH OF THE MARONITES
VATICAN CITY, 14 APR 2011 (VIS) - At midday today Benedict XVI received in
audience the bishops and faithful of the Maronite Church, on the occasion of
the ecclesiastical communion of their new patriarch, Bechara Boutros Rai on
24 March.
The Pope emphasised at the beginning of his address that this was the
first visit to the Successor of Peter by the patriarch Rai since his
election to the patriarchal see of Antioch of the Maronites.
Referring to the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East (October 2010), the
Pope underlined that on that occasion it was necessary "to reiterate many
times the urgency of proposing the Gospel to those who do not know it well
or have moved away from the Church. With all the vital force present in
Lebanon and the Middle East, I know you will make efforts to announce, to
bear witness to and to live in communion this Word of life in order to
rediscover the enthusiasm of the first Christians".
"This region of the world which the patriarchs, prophets, apostles and
Christ Himself blessed with their presence and their teaching, aspires to
the lasting peace that the Word of Truth, welcomed and shared, is able to
establish".
The Holy Father went on to speak about the education of young people,
expressing his wish that the patriarch's "role in their formation be better
recognised by society, in order that fundamental values be transmitted
without discrimination, and to ensure that the youth of today become
responsible men and women within their families and society at large, to
build greater solidarity and fraternity between the members of the nation.
Transmit to the young all my esteem and affection, reminding them that the
Church and society need their enthusiasm and hope".
"Therefore", he concluded, "I invite you to intensify your efforts in the
formation of priests and the many young people called to the Lord within
your eparchies and in your religious congregations. By their teaching and
their existence, may they be authentic witnesses to the Word of God, to help
the faithful anchor their lives and their mission in Christ!"
AC/ VIS 20110414
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HOLY WEEK CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE
VATICAN CITY, 14 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff today published the calendar of ceremonies to be
presided by Benedict XVI during Holy Week.
- Sunday 17 April: Palm Sunday and Our Lord's Passion; 26th World Youth Day
on the theme: "Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith" (Col
2.7). At 9.30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, blessing of palms, procession and
Mass.
- Thursday 21 April: Holy Thursday. At 9.30 a.m. in St. Peter's Basilica,
Chrism Mass. At 5.30 p.m. in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, beginning of
Easter Triduum of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection with the Mass of Our
Lord's Last Supper. Collection to be donated to the victims of the
earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
- Friday 22 April: Good Friday. At 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica,
celebration of the Passion of Our Lord. Way of the Cross at the Colosseum at
9.15 p.m.
- Saturday 23 April: Easter Saturday. At 9 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica,
beginning of Easter Vigil.
- Sunday 24 April: Easter Sunday. At 10.15 a.m., Mass in St. Peter's
Square. At midday, "Urbi et Orbi" blessing from the central loggia of the
Vatican Basilica.
OCL/ VIS
20110414 (220)
COMMUNIQUE ON MEETING ON CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHINA
VATICAN CITY, 14 APR 2011 (VIS) - At midday today the Holy See Press Office
published the following English-language communique on the IVth Plenary
Meeting, held in the Vatican from 11 to 13 April, of the Commission
instituted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 to study questions of major
importance concerning the life of the Church in China.
At the end of the meeting, the participants addressed a message to Chinese
Catholics:
"1. Moved by love for the Church in China, by sorrow for the trials you
are undergoing and by the desire to encourage you, we deepened our knowledge
of the ecclesial situation by means of a panoramic vision of the
organization and life of the ecclesiastical circumscriptions in your
country. We noted the general climate of disorientation and anxiety about
the future, the sufferings of some circumscriptions deprived of Pastors, the
internal divisions of others, the preoccupation of still others who do not
have sufficient personnel and means to tackle the phenomena of growing
urbanization and depopulation of rural areas.
"From an examination of the information, there also emerged a living faith
and an experience of the Church, capable of dialoguing in a fruitful way
with the social realities of each territory.
"2. We encourage the Bishops, together with their priests, to conform
themselves ever more closely to Christ the Good Shepherd, to ensure that
their faithful do not lack education in the faith, to stimulate a just
industriousness and to strive to build, wherever they are lacking and are
necessary, new places of worship and education in the faith and, especially,
to form mature Christian communities. We also invite Pastors to take care of
the life of the faithful with renewed commitment and enthusiasm, especially
in its essential elements of catechesis and liturgy. We exhort the same
Pastors to teach priests, by their own example, to love, forgive and remain
faithful. We also invite ecclesial communities to continue to proclaim the
Gospel with ever more intense fervour, while we unite ourselves to their
gratitude to God for the baptism of adults, which will be celebrated during
the upcoming days of Easter.
"3. We dwelt in particular on some difficulties which have recently
emerged in your communities.
"As far as the sad episode of the episcopal ordination in Chengde is
concerned, the Holy See, on the basis of the information and testimonies it
has so far received, while having no reason to consider it invalid, does
regard it as gravely illegitimate, since it was conferred without the Papal
mandate, and this also renders illegitimate the exercise of the ministry. We
are also saddened because this took place after a series of consensual
episcopal ordinations and because the consecrating Bishops were subjected to
various constrictions. As the Holy Father wrote in his Letter of 2007: 'the
Holy See follows the appointment of Bishops with special care since this
touches the very heart of the life of the Church, inasmuch as the
appointment of Bishops by the Pope is the guarantee of the unity of the
Church and of hierarchical communion. For this reason the Code of Canon Law
(cf. c. 1382) lays down grave sanctions both for the Bishop who freely
confers episcopal ordination without an apostolic mandate and for the one
who receives it: such an ordination in fact inflicts a painful wound upon
ecclesial communion and constitutes a grave violation of canonical
discipline. The Pope, when he issues the apostolic mandate for the
ordination of a Bishop, exercises his supreme spiritual authority: this
authority and this intervention remain within the strictly religious sphere.
It is not, therefore, a question of a political authority, unduly asserting
itself in the internal affairs of a State and offending against its
sovereignty' (No. 9).
"The external pressures and constrictions could mean that excommunication
is not automatically incurred. However, there remains a grave wound,
perpetrated on the ecclesial body. Every Bishop involved is therefore
obliged to refer to the Holy See and find the means of explaining his
position to the priests and faithful, renewing his profession of fidelity to
the Supreme Pontiff, to help them to overcome their interior suffering and
repair the external scandal caused.
"We are close to you in these difficult times. We invite priests,
consecrated persons and lay faithful to understand the difficulties of their
Bishops, to encourage them, to support them by their solidarity and prayer.
"4. With regard to the 8th National Assembly of Catholic Representatives,
the words of the Holy Father, once again, are inspiring: 'Considering
"Jesus' original plan", it is clear that the claim of some entities, desired
by the State and extraneous to the structure of the Church, to place
themselves above the Bishops and to guide the life of the ecclesial
community, does not correspond to Catholic doctrine, according to which the
Church is "apostolic", as the II Vatican Council underlined. (...) Likewise,
the declared purpose of the aforementioned entities to implement "the
principles of independence and autonomy, self-management and democratic
administration of the Church" is incompatible with Catholic doctrine' (No.
7).
"5. The choice of Pastors for the governance of the numerous vacant
dioceses is an urgent necessity, and, at the same time, a source of deep
concern. The Commission strongly hopes that there will not be new wounds to
ecclesial communion, and asks the Lord for strength and courage for all of
the persons involved. Concerning this, one should also bear in mind what
Pope Benedict XVI has written: 'The Holy See would desire to be completely
free to appoint Bishops; therefore, considering the recent particular
developments of the Church in China, I trust that an accord can be reached
with the Government so as to resolve certain questions regarding the choice
of candidates for the episcopate, the publication of the appointment of
Bishops, and the recognition - concerning civil effects where necessary - of
the new Bishops on the part of the civil authorities' (No. 9). We make these
desires ours and we look with trepidation and fear to the future: we know
that it is not entirely in our hands and we launch an appeal so that the
problems do not grow and that the divisions are not deepened, at the expense
of harmony and peace.
"6. In examining the situation of the ecclesiastical circumscriptions,
various difficulties regarding their boundaries have emerged. Concerning
this, the necessity of taking note of the changed circumstances was
recognised as well as the need of respecting the ecclesiastical norms and
always keeping in mind what is written in the Papal Letter to the Catholics
in China: 'I wish to confirm that the Holy See is prepared to address the
entire question of the circumscriptions and ecclesiastical provinces in an
open and constructive dialogue with the Chinese Episcopate and - where
opportune and helpful - with governmental authorities' (No. 11).
"7. Finally, we dwelt on the theme of formation of seminarians and female
religious, inside and outside of China ... We have noted with pleasure that
the Catholic communities in China organise within themselves initiatives for
the purpose of formation.
"8. We hope that the sincere and respectful dialogue with the civil
authorities may help to overcome the difficulties of the present moment, so
that the relations with the Catholic Church may also contribute to harmony
in society.
"9. We have learnt with joy the news that the diocese of Shanghai can
start the beatification cause of Paul Xu Guangqi, which will be added to
that of Fr. Matteo Ricci, S.J.
"10. To overcome the difficult situations of each community, prayer will
be of great help. Various initiatives can be organised, which will help to
renew your communication of faith in Our Lord Jesus and of fidelity to the
Pope, so that the unity among you may be ever more deepened and visible.
"11. In the gathering that took place at the end of the Plenary Meeting,
His Holiness recognised the desire for unity with the See of Peter and with
the Universal Church which the Chinese faithful never cease to manifest,
notwithstanding being in the midst of many difficulties and afflictions. The
faith of the Church, set forth in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and
to be defended even at the price of sacrifice, is the foundation on which
the Catholic communities in China should grow in unity and communion".
OP/ VIS 20110414
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PLENARY MEETING OF THE PONTIFICAL BIBLICAL COMMISSION
VATICAN CITY, 14 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Pontifical Biblical Commission will
hold its annual plenary session from 2 to 6 May in the Domus Sanctae Marthae
(Vatican City), under the presidency of Cardinal William Joseph Levada. Fr.
Klemens Stock, S.J., secretary general, shall direct the work of the
assembly.
According to a communique issued today, "during the meeting the members
will continue their reflections on the theme 'Inspiration and truth in the
Bible'. In the first phase of study the Commission will attempt to examine
how the themes of inspiration and truth appear in the Sacred Scriptures.
Subsequently, on the basis of their individual competences, each Member
shall present a report which shall then be discussed collectively in the
Assembly".
OP/ VIS 20110414
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AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, 14 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received Francisco
Vasquez y Vasquez, ambassador of Spain to the Holy See, accompanied by his
wife, on his farewell visit.
AP/ VIS 20110414
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 14 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed as advisors of
the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts:
Krzysztof Nitkiewicz, bishop of Sandomierz, Poland; Bernard Anthony Hebda,
bishop of Gaylord, USA; Msgr. Giacomo Incitti, Extraordinary Professor of
Canon Law at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Italy; Msgr.
Joaquin Llobell, ordinary professor of Canon Law at the Pontifical
University of the Holy Cross and Judge of the Vatican City State Court of
Appeal; Msgr. Mauro Rivella, under-secretary of the Italian Episcopal
Conference; Jorge Miras Pouso, dean of the School of Canon Law, University
of Navarra, Spain; Marcel Ndjondjo Ndjula K'Asha, dean of the Faculty of Law
and Political Science, Catholic University of the Congo; Jean-Pierre
Schouppe, promoter of justice and defender of the bond at the Interdiocesan
Tribunale of First Instance of the Francophone dioceses of Belgium; Markus
Graulich, S.D.B., substitute promoter of justice at the Supreme Court of the
Apostolic Signatura; Fr. Manuel Jesus Arroba Conde, C.M.F., president of the
"Utriusque Iuris" Institute of the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome; Fr.
Damian Guillermo Astigueta, S.J., ordinary professor at the School of Canon
Law, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; Priamo Etzi, O.F.M., dean of the
School of Canon Law, Pontifical University "Antonianum", Rome; Fr. Philippe
Toxe, O.P., ordinary professor of Canon Law at the Institut Catholique,
Paris, France; Carlo Cardia, ordinary professor of Ecclesiastical Law and
professor of Philosophy of Law at the Faculty of Law, University "Roma Tre",
Rome; Ludger Muller, president of the Institute of Canon Law in the Faculty
of Catholic Theology, University of Vienna, Austria; Helmuth Pree, ordinary
professor of Canon Law, University of Munich, Germany; Carlos Rene Salinas
Araneda, ordinary professor of Canon Law and Jurisprudence, Faculty of Law,
Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso, Chile; Geraldina Boni,
ordinary professor of Law at the University of Bologna, Italy; Maria Jose
Roca Fernandez, ordinary professor at the Faculty of Law, Complutense
University of Madrid, Spain.
NA/ VIS 20110414
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