Subject: VISnews 111223   
   Organization: VIS   
   From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt    
      
   VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
      
   TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 226   
   ENGLISH   
   FRIDAY, 23 DECEMBER 2011   
      
   SUMMARY:   
      
   - Telegram for the Death of President Vaclav Havel   
   - Audiences   
   - Notice   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT VACLAV HAVEL   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 22 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Benedict XVI sent a telegram of condolence   
   to the President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, on the death this past   
   Sunday of former president Vaclav Havel, whose funeral was celebrated this   
   morning in the Cathedral of St. Vitus at the Prague Castle. President Havel   
   was 75 years old.   
      
     In the text, the Pope expressed his nearness to those attending the   
   funeral, joining them in "commending the soul of the deceased to the   
   infinite mercy of our heavenly Father" and recalling Vaclav Havel's courage   
   in the defence of "human rights at a time when these were systematically   
   denied to the people of your country". He paid tribute to his "visionary   
   leadership in forging a new democratic policy after the fall of the previous   
   regime" and gave thanks to God "for the freedom that the people of the Czech   
   Republic now enjoy".   
      
     The Holy Father concluded by imparting the Apostolic Blessing as "a pledge   
   of spiritual strength and comfort" to all those mourning the deceased, "in   
   hope of resurrection to new life".   
   TGR/                                                    VIS 20111223 (170)   
      
   AUDIENCES   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 23 DEC 2011 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received in   
   separate audiences:   
      
     - Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals,   
      
     - Archbishop Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the   
   Evangelization of Peoples, and   
      
     - Mr. Timothy Andrew Fischer, ambassador of Australia, accompanied by his   
   wife, on his farewell visit.   
   AP/                                                     VIS 20111223 (50)   
      
   NOTICE   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 23 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Vatican Information Service wishes its   
   readers a very happy and holy Christmas. During the Christmas holiday there   
   will be no VIS bulletin from Saturday 24 December through Tuesday 27   
   December. The next bulletin will be transmitted on Wednesday 28 December.   
   .../                                                                    VIS   
   20111223 (50)   
   _____________________________________________   
      
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