Subject: VISnews 111212
Organization: VIS
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 217
ENGLISH
MONDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2011
SUMMARY: 10 - 12 DECEMBER
- The Market Must Never Neglect Solidarity
- Joy in Times of Difficulty Because God Is with Us
- Advent: Openness to the Encounter with Jesus
- Holy Father Receives President of Armenia
- Telegram for the Death of Cardinal Foley
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts
___________________________________________________________
THE MARKET MUST NEVER NEGLECT SOLIDARITY
VATICAN CITY, 10 DEC 2011 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI
received representatives from the Confederation of Italian Cooperatives, and
from the Italian Federation of Cooperative Credit Banks, who were
accompanied by their ecclesiastical assistant Msgr. Adriano Vincenzi.
In his remarks to them the Pope dwelt on the importance Catholic
cooperatives have had in Italy since their emergence in the wake of Leo
XIII's Encyclical "Rerum novarum". That document, the 120th anniversary of
which falls this year, "favoured the fruitful presence of Catholics in
Italian society through the promotion of cooperative and mutual societies,
the development of social enterprises and many other public works
characterised by various forms of participation and self-management. The
purpose of such activity has always been to provide material support for
people and constant attention to families, drawing inspiration from the
Magisterium of the Church", he said.
"The heart of cooperative efforts has always lain in the search for
harmony between the individual and community dimensions. This is a concrete
expression of the complementarity and subsidiarity which Church social
doctrine has always sought to promote between citizens and the State, a
balance between safeguarding the rights of the individual and promoting the
common good, in order to develop a local economy capable of responding to
community needs. Cooperative activities are likewise characterised by their
great concern for solidarity, while still respecting the due autonomy of the
individual".
"In a period of great change, of persistent economic uncertainty, and of
difficulties in the world of work, the Church feels the need to announce
Christ's message with renewed vigour. ... And you, dear friends, must be
aware that Catholic cooperatives have an important role to play in this
field", the Holy Father told his audience.
Benedict XVI invited members of cooperatives to make their specific
contribution "to ensure that the economy and the market never neglect
solidarity", in order "to promote a culture of life and the family, and to
favour the creation of new families with access to dignified work which
respects the creation that God has entrusted to our responsibility and
care". He also invited them "to value man in his entirety, irrespective of
any difference in race, language or religion".
Finally, the Pope recalled how Catholic cooperatives are characterised by
their "Christian inspiration, which must constantly guide them", because
"for Christians loving others is not mere philanthropy but an expression of
the love of God. ... Never forget the importance of developing this
spiritual dimension as you seek to respond to contemporary challenges and
social emergencies, in order to continue to work in the logic of
gratuitousness and responsibility, promoting wise and sober consumption".
AC/ VIS
20111212 (450)
JOY IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY BECAUSE GOD IS WITH US
VATICAN CITY, 11 DEC 2011 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. today, Benedict XVI travelled to
the parish of "Santa Maria delle Grazie" at Casal Boccone, in the northern
sector of the diocese of Rome. There, in the courtyard of the parish complex
which were inaugurated last year, he was greeted with dances and songs by
children from the local primary school. The Holy Father expressed his thanks
for the welcome and pronounced some off-the-cuff remarks.
"I wish everyone a happy Sunday. We know that Christmas is approaching so
let us prepare ourselves, not just with gifts but with our hearts. Let us
think that Christ the Lord is close to us, that He enters our lives and
brings us light and joy. 'Pray incessantly' says St. Paul today in his
Letter to the Thessalonians. ... What this means is that we must not lose
contact with God in our hearts. If such contact exists then we have a reason
to be joyful. To all of you I wish the joy of Christmas, the presence of the
Baby Jesus Who is the God of our hearts".
Mass began at 9.30 a.m. with a greeting delivered by the parish priest,
Fr. Domenico Monteforte. Excerpts from Benedict XVI's homily are given
below:
"Advent is a time of waiting, hope and preparation for the visit of the
Lord. As we heard in the Gospel reading, the person and preaching of John
the Baptist invite us to take up this commitment". John the Baptist "is the
precursor, a mere witness, entirely subject to the One Whom he announces. He
is voice in the desert, just as today, in the desert of the great cities of
this world, in the great absence of God, we need voices which tell us simply
that God exists, that He is always close even when He seems distant".
John the Baptist "is a witness of the light. This fact touches our hearts,
because in a world so full of shadows and darkness, we are all called to be
witnesses of the light. This is the mission of Advent: being witness of the
light, and we can do this only if we carry the light within us. ... In the
Church, in the Word of God, in the celebration of the Sacraments, in the
Sacrament of Confession and the forgiveness we receive, in the Eucharist
where the Lord gives Himself into our hands and hearts, in of all this we
touch the light and receive our mission: the mission of bearing witness to
the fact that the light exists, of bringing that light into our world".
"This 'Gaudete' Sunday is the Sunday of joy. It tells us that, even amidst
our doubts and difficulties, joy exists because God exists and He is with
us".
"Looking at this church and the parish buildings, I see the fruits of
patience, dedication and love. At the same time, by my presence here, I wish
to encourage you also to raise that Church of living stones, which you
yourselves represent. Each of you should feel yourselves to be an element of
this living structure. A community is constructed with the contribution each
person makes, with the commitment of everyone. I am thinking in particular
of the field of catechesis, the liturgy and charity, the columns which
support Christian life".
"I also wish to draw your attention to the importance and the central role
of the Eucharist. May the Mass be the focus of your Sunday, which must be
rediscovered and lived as the day of the Lord and of the community, a day on
which to praise and celebrate the One Who was born for us, Who died and rose
again for our salvation, and Who asks us to live together joyfully, to be a
community open and ready to welcome anyone who is alone and in difficulty.
Do not lose your understanding of the significance of Sundays, and remain
faithful to your appointment with the Eucharist. Early Christians were ready
to give their lives for this".
"Another point I would like to raise is that of the witness of charity,
which must characterise your life as a community. Over recent years you have
seen a rapid growth in numbers, but you have also witnessed the arrival of
many people in situations of difficulty and want. These people need you,
they need your material aid but also and above all of your witness as
believers. Ensure that your community always remains a concrete expression
of the love of God Who is rich in mercy, and that it invites people to
approach Him with trust".
Following the Mass, the Pope held a brief meeting with the members of the
parish council. Before returning to the Vatican for the Angelus prayer, he
addressed some remarks to faithful waiting outside the church to bid him
farewell.
"Thank you for your presence and the warmth of your welcome", he said.
"Your beautiful, open and heartfelt cordiality reminded me of my visit to
Africa. It is a great joy to me to see how, ... in this new parish, people
actively participate in the Eucharist and prepare for Christmas.
"Today, preparing for Christmas is very difficult", the Holy Father added.
"I know that people have many commitments, but getting ready for Christmas
does not only mean shopping and making preparations, it means being in
contact with the Lord, going out to meet Him. I feel it is important not to
forget this dimension. ... This is not an additional burden, but the power
that enables us to do all we need to do. I hope you maintain permanent
contact with Jesus, that His joy and strength might help you to live in this
world".
.../ VIS
20111212 (970)
ADVENT: OPENNESS TO THE ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS
VATICAN CITY, 11 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Having returned to the Vatican following
his pastoral visit to the Roman parish of "Santa Maria delle Grazie" at
Casal Boccone, at midday today Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his
study to pray the Angelus with faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Following a Roman tradition of this third Sunday of Advent, the Pope
blessed statuettes of the Baby Jesus which were brought to the square by
children from local oratories and which are destined to be placed in
nativity scenes in homes, schools and parishes.
"The liturgical texts of Advent" said the Holy Father, "invite us to live
in expectation of Jesus, always to await His coming and to remain open and
ready to meet Him. The vigilance Christians are called to show every day of
their lives is particularly characteristic of this period in which we ready
ourselves for the joy of the Christmas mystery. The external environment
presents its usual commercial messages, though perhaps somewhat subdued due
to the economic crisis, but Christians are called to experience Advent
without allowing themselves to be distracted by the lights, giving things
their correct value and fixing their inner gaze on Christ".
"The liturgy today, 'Gaudete' Sunday, invites us to happiness, to await
not sadly but joyfully", the Pope explained. "True joy is not the result of
diversion, of avoiding life's responsibilities. True joy is linked to
something more profound. Of course, in an often frenetic daily life it is
important to find time for rest and relaxation, but true joy is linked to
the relationship with God. People who have encountered Christ in their
lives, experience a calmness of heart and a joy which no worldly situation
can take from them. ... In this time of Advent, let us reinforce our
certainty that the Lord came among us, and that He continually renews His
presence of consolation, love and joy".
Following the Angelus, Benedict XVI greeted the children of Rome asking
them, when they prayed before their nativity scenes, to remember the Pope,
just as the Pope remembered them.
He also welcomed members of the Movement for Life who have come to Rome
from all over Europe for the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Prize, awarded in
memory of Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolari Movement. "On this
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights", he said, "let us
remember that the first of all rights is the right to life".
Finally he addressed Croatian pilgrims who are participating in a
symposium on Fr. Ruder Josip Boskovic. "That Jesuit scientist and diplomat",
the Pope said, "personified and bore witness to the bond between faith and
science".
ANG/ VIS
20111212 (460)
HOLY FATHER RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA
VATICAN CITY, 12 DEC 2011 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI
received in audience Serzh Sargsyan, president of the Republic of Armenia.
The president, accompanied by Edward Nalbadian, foreign minister, then went
on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was
accompanied by Msgr. Ettore Balestrero, under secretary for Relations with
States.
"In the course of the cordial discussions, and having expressed great
pleasure at the good relations that exist between the Holy See and the
Republic of Armenia, the parties exchanged views on the role that the
Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church play in society, and the
contribution they both make to the common good. Attention also turned to the
importance of the country's Christian heritage, and of the commitment to
educating the new generations in fundamental values".
OP/ VIS
20111212 (150)
TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL FOLEY
VATICAN CITY, 12 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a telegram sent
by the Holy Father to Archbishop Charles J. Chaput O.F.M. Cap. of
Philadelphia, U.S.A., for the death of Cardinal John Patrick Foley, grand
master emeritus of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre
of Jerusalem and president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Social
Communications. Cardinal Foley yesterday died in Darby, U.S.A., at the age
of 76.
"Having learned with sadness of the death of Cardinal John Patrick Foley,
grand master emeritus of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of
Jerusalem, I offer you my heartfelt condolences. As I recall with gratitude
the late cardinal's years of priestly ministry in his beloved archdiocese of
Philadelphia, his distinguished service to the Holy See as president of the
Pontifical Council for Social Communications, and most recently his labours
on behalf of the Christian communities of the Holy Land, I willingly join
you in commending his noble soul to God, the Father of all mercies. I also
pray that his lifelong commitment to the Church's presence in the media will
inspire others to take up this apostolate so essential to the proclamation
of the Gospel and the progress of the new evangelisation. To all who mourn
Cardinal Foley in the hope of the resurrection, I cordially impart my
apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in our Lord Jesus
Christ".
TGR/ VIS
20111212 (250)
AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, 12 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in
audience:
- Seven prelates of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, on their
"ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop John Atcherley Dew of Wellington.
- Bishop Patrick James Dunn of Auckland.
- Bishop Barry Philip Jones of Christchurch.
- Bishop Colin David Campbell of Dunedin.
- Bishop Denis George Browne of Hamilton in New Zealand.
- Bishop Peter James Cullinane of Palmerston North, accompanied by
Coadjutor Bishop Charles Edward Drennan.
- Lord Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of
the Commonwealth.
On Saturday 10 December he received in audience:
- Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith.
- Archbishop Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the
Evangelisation of Peoples.
AL:AP/ VIS 20111212
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 12 DEC 2011, VIS - The Holy Father:
- Appointed Fr. Gaetan Proulx O.S.M. pastor of the parish of
Notre-Dame-de-Foy in the archdiocese of Quebec, Canada, and Fr. Denis
Grondin Jr. of the clergy of Quebec, pastor in the region of Charlevoix, as
auxiliaries of the archdiocese of Quebec (area 35,180, population 1,195,261,
Catholics 1,040,690, priests 701, permanent deacons 95, religious 3458).
Bishop-elect Proulx was born in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1976. For many
years he was responsible for forming candidates to religious and priestly
life in the Servite Province of Canada and, from 2000 to 2006, was prior
provincial for Canada, France and Belgium. Bishop-elect Grondin was born in
Rimouski, Canada in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1989. He has been active
as vice pastor and administrator in a number of parishes and has worked in
pastoral animation in schools and health centres.
- Appointed Fr. Jose Luis del Palacio Perez-Medel of the clergy of Madrid,
Spain, head of the Neo-Catechumenal Way in Peru, as bishop of El Callao
(area 147,850, population 1,015,000, Catholics 912,000, priests 102,
permanent deacons 8, religious 247), Peru. The bishop-elect was born in
Madrid in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1985. Prior to his ordination he
worked on the itinerant teams of the Neo-Catechumenal Way in Spain and Peru.
He is currently a professor at the "Redemptoris Mater" Faculty of Theology
in El Callao. He succeeds Miguel Irizar Campos C.P., whose resignation from
the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having
reached the age limit.
Saturday 10 December it was made public that he appointed:
- As members of the Pontifical Council for Culture: Cardinal Laurent
Monsengwo Pasinya, archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo;
Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, U.S.A.; Archbishop
Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New
Evangelisation; Archbishop Giuseppe Betori of Florence, Italy; Bishop Joseph
Vianney Fernando of Kandy, Sri Lanka; Fr. Francois Bousquet, professor at
the Faculty of Theology and Religious Sciences of the "Institut Catholique
de Paris", France; Jean-Luc Marion, philosopher and professor of metaphysics
at the Universities of Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV) and of Chicago, and Arvo
Part, musician and composer from Estonia.
- As consultors of the Pontifical Council for Culture: Fr. Jose Tolentino
de Mendonca, professor of the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University
of Lisbon, Portugal; Fr. Edouard Ade, professor at the Catholic University
of West Africa, Benin; Fr. Antonino Spadaro S.J., editor in chief of the
magazine "Civilta Cattolica" and professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences
of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome; Fidel Gonzalez Fernandez
M.C.C.J., professor at the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Urban
University in Rome and at the Faculty of Ecclesiastical History of the
Pontifical Gregorian University; Santiago Calatrava, Spanish architect and
engineer; Francesc Torralba Rosello, professor of philosophy at the "Ramon
Llull" University in Barcelona, Spain; Piero Benvenuti, professor of
astrophysics and director of the "G. Colombo" Interdepartmental Space Centre
at the University of Padua, Italy; Wolf Joachim Singer, professor of
neurology and director of the "Max Planck Institute Fur
Hirnforschung-Frankfurt A. M.", Germany; Bruno Coppi, professor of physics
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-MIT "Plasma Science & Fusion
Center" in Cambridge, U.S.A.; Micol Forti, curator of the modern art
collection of the Vatican Museums, and; Marguerite A. Peeters, journalist,
and director general of the "Brussels-Based Institute for Intercultural
Dialogue Dynamics", Belgium.
- Fr. Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet S.D.B., Salesian inspector for
Uruguay and president of the Conference of Religious of Uruguay, as
auxiliary of Montevideo (area 540, population 1,394,000, Catholics 883,000,
priests 252, permanent deacons 35, religious 721), Uruguay. The bishop-elect
was born in Montevideo in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1987. Among other
duties, he has worked as vicar for the Salesian novitiate and post
novitiate, master of novices and professor of Church history.
- Msgr. Edward Robinson Wijesinghe of the clergy of the archdiocese of
Colombo, Sri Lanka, official of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care
of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, as bureau chief of the same pontifical
council.
NEA:NER:NA/ VIS 20111212
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