Subject: VISnews 120126
Organization: VIS
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY SECOND YEAR - N. 19
ENGLISH
THURSDAY, 26 JANUARY 2012
SUMMARY:
- Positive Signs of Fraternity on Ecumenical Journey
- Priests Should Promote Sanctity with Their Own Lives
- Holy See Signs UN Conventions against International Crime
- Press Note on Italian Television Programme
- Celebrations to Be Presided by the Pope: February-April
- Audiences
___________________________________________________________
POSITIVE SIGNS OF FRATERNITY ON ECUMENICAL JOURNEY
VATICAN CITY, 26 JAN 2012 (VIS) - Yesterday evening in the Roman basilica of
St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, the Holy Father presided at the celebration of
second Vespers for the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. The celebration,
which marked the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, was attended
by representatives from other Churches including the Orthodox Church of
Greece, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Anglican Communion and the
Patriarchates of Moscow and Romania.
In his homily Benedict XVI recalled how the theme of this year's Week of
Prayer - "We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ" -
was taken from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. "The
significance of this mysterious transformation", the Pope explained, "is
admirably expressed in Paul's personal history. Following the extraordinary
event which befell him on the road to Damascus, Saul, who had stood out for
the zeal with which he persecuted the nascent Church, was transformed into a
tireless apostle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ... This transformation was
not the fruit of long inner reflection nor of individual effort. It was,
first and foremost, the grace of God working in its mysterious ways".
The Holy Father pointed our that St. Paul's transformation was not limited
to the field of ethics or the intellect. "It was a radical renewal of his
being, similar in many ways to a rebirth. Such a transformation had its
roots in his participation in the mystery of the death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ, and took shape as a gradual conformation to Him. Aware of
this, St. Paul would say: ... 'It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ
who lives in me'".
In his First Letter to the Corinthians the Apostle describes the Final
Judgement, when the destiny of humankind will be fulfilled. "On that day all
believers will be made like unto Christ and all perishable things will be
transformed by His glory. ... Christ's triumph will then finally be
complete, because ... death will have been definitively vanquished and,
therewith, the sin which brought death into the world. ... St. Paul tells us
then that, through Baptism in the death and resurrection of Christ, each man
and woman shares in the victory of the One Who first vanquished death, and
starts down a path of transformation which begins even now in new life, and
which will reach fulfilment at the end of time".
"As we say our prayers we trust that we too will be transformed, conformed
to the image of Christ", the Pope said. "This holds particularly true for
our prayers for Christian unity, ... by means of which we participate in
God's plan for the Church. Everyone has the duty and responsibility to
dedicate themselves to re-establishing unity. ... United in Christ, we are
called to share His mission, which is to bring hope where injustice, hatred
and desperation dominate. Our divisions obscure our witness to Christ. The
goal of full unity, which we await with diligent hope and for which we
trustingly pray, ... is an important victory for the good of the human
family".
In contrast to the prevalent idea of victory as immediate success,
Benedict XVI explained the Christian view of victory as a long "process of
transformation and development in goodness. It comes about in God's times,
not ours, and requires profound faith and patient perseverance on our part.
... As we await the visible unity of the Church, we must be patient and
trusting". This does not mean passivity and resignation, but "a ready and
immediate response to every opening of communion and brotherhood which the
Lord gives us".
The Pope concluded by exhorting those present to continue the ecumenical
journey. "Although at times we may have the impression that the road to full
communion is still long and full of obstacles", he said, "I call upon
everyone to renew their determination to follow, with courage and
generosity, the unity which God wills, following the example of St. Paul
who, faced with difficulties of all kinds, always maintained his faith in
God. ... The journey, moreover, does not lack signs of renewed fraternity or
of shared responsibility before the great problems affecting our world. All
this is a reason for hope and must encourage us to continue our commitment
to reach the final goal together, knowing that our efforts are not vain in
the Lord".
HML/ VIS
20120126 (750)
PRIESTS SHOULD PROMOTE SANCTITY WITH THEIR OWN LIVES
VATICAN CITY, 26 JAN 2012 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican the Holy
Father received superiors and seminarians from three Italian regional
pontifical seminaries in Assisi, Catanzaro and Naples. All of these
institutions, as the Pope remarked in his address to the group, are
currently celebrating their first centenary having been founded as part of
efforts towards the reformation of priestly education carried out under
Popes Leo XIII and St. Pius X. "Bringing diocesan seminaries together into
regional seminaries, and the reform of theological studies, produced a
notable improvement in quality", Pope Benedict noted. "In this, an important
role was played by the Society of Jesus", the Jesuits, to whom the new
regional seminaries were entrusted.
Even today regional seminaries remain important as they allow access to
higher education and contribute to the communion of dioceses, "favouring
knowledge, capacity for collaboration and the enrichment of ecclesial
experience among future priests. The regional dimension is also an
appropriate middle way between the needs of the universal Church and the
requirements of local areas".
Referring to the seminarians' formation, Benedict XVI highlighted how
today's cultural context calls for "solid education in philosophy and
theology". Future priests must, he said, "understand and appreciate the
internal structure of the faith as a whole, so that it can become a response
to people's questions. ... And the study of theology must always have an
intense bond to the life of prayer. ... It is, in fact, vital that the
multiple activities of a priest's ministry be harmoniously integrated with
his spiritual life.
"It is important", the Holy Father added, "for the priest, who is called
to accompany others through the journey of life up to the threshold of
death, to have the right balance of heart and mind, reason and feeling, body
and soul, and to be humanly integrated". For this reason, the Pope said,
great attention must be given to "the human dimension when forming
candidates to the priesthood. It is, in fact, in our humanity that we
present ourselves before God, in order to appear before our fellows as
authentic men of God. Anyone who wishes to become a priest must be first and
foremost a 'man of God'. ... It follows that the most important thing in our
path towards priesthood and during the whole of our priestly lives is our
personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ".
In conclusion, the Holy Father quoted a phrase of John XXII: "Even more
than cultured, eloquent, up-to-date priests, what we need are saintly and
sanctifying priests". These words, Benedict XVI explained, "are still valid
today because the entire Church, and the regions from which you come, have
more need than ever of workers of the Gospel, people who give credible
witness and promote sanctity with their own lives".
AC/ VIS
20120126 (480)
HOLY SEE SIGNS UN CONVENTIONS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL CRIME
VATICAN CITY, 26 JAN 2012 (VIS) - Yesterday 25 January the Holy See, acting
also in the name and on behalf of Vatican City State, adhered to the
International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism
(New York, 1999) and to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational
Organised Crime (Palermo, 2000). On the same date the Holy See ratified,
likewise in the name and on behalf of Vatican City State, the United Nations
Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances (Vienna, 1988), which it had already signed in the year in which
it was adopted. The instruments of ratification and adherence were
accompanied by a number of reservations and interpretative declarations.
In a note concerning yesterday's move Archbishop Dominique Mamberti,
secretary for Relations with States, explains that "this step represents a
further recognition by the Holy See of the efforts of the community of
States to prevent and combat the most serious forms of transnational
criminal activity, of dramatic actuality, through appropriate instruments of
international cooperation".
"The Holy Father reminds us that terrorism and organised crime threaten
the dignity of human beings and the common good in every country in the
world". Therfore, juridical instruments which counter these forms of illicit
activity also contribute to peace and security. With its adhesion to and
ratification of the three treaties in question, "the Holy See confirms its
intention as well as its effective and practical commitment to collaborate
with the international community in a manner consistent with its nature and
mission, with a view to guaranteeing international peace and justice".
The adoption of these instruments constitutes a further refinement of the
legal structure of Vatican City State, which had already developed in this
direction through the adoption of various laws concerning the prevention and
combating of the laundering of money derived from criminal activity and the
financing of terrorism. The new legal instruments offered by the three
treaties also aim to raise the level of collaboration between the tribunals
of Vatican City State and those of other States.
The secretary for Relations with States also explains that "these
international commitments do not prejudice the sovereign right of each State
to abstain from collaborating with respect to pending legal proceedings in
other contexts when those proceedings could give rise to forms of
persecution of an individual for political, religious, ethnic or similar
reasons". Finally, Archbishop Mamberti makes it clear that yesterday's steps
"facilitate further the coming together of justice and peace", and confirm
the truth of the Holy See's "commitment to the respect of human dignity and
concord between persons and peoples".
SS/ VIS
20120126 (450)
PRESS NOTE ON ITALIAN TELEVISION PROGRAMME
VATICAN CITY, 26 JAN 2012 (VIS) - At midday today the Holy See Press Office
published a note written by its director, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J.,
concerning a television programme, "Gli intoccabili", transmitted yesterday
evening by Italy's "La7" television network. Fr. Lombardi highlights the
"questionable journalistic methods" with which the programme was made, and
his "disappointment at the revelation of reserved documents", noting that
such things often form part of the "biased coverage of the Vatican and the
Catholic Church".
The Holy See Press Office director then turns to focus on two
considerations "which were not given space in the course of the debate".
Firstly "the activities of Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano as secretary
general of the Governorate of Vatican City State certainly had many positive
aspects, as he contributed to the efforts being made to ensure
administrative rigour, economisation and the improvement of what was a
difficult overall economic situation. ... However, a fairer evaluation would
have taken account of the trends of the market, the investment criteria
adopted over recent years, and other important circumstances. ... Certain
accusations - some very serious - made during the course of the programme,
especially those concerning the members of the Finance and Management
Committee of the Governorate and the Secretariat of State, will lead both
the Secretariat of State and the Governorate to adopt all measures
(including if necessary legal measures) to protect the honour of morally
upright and highly professional people who serve the Church, the Pope and
the common good. In any case, the positive criteria of correct and
transparent management which inspired Archbishop Vigano certainly continue
to guide the current directors of the Governorate. ... This is in keeping
with the policy to which the Holy See is committed of increasing
transparency and attentively monitoring of economic activities".
Secondly "the difficult process of discerning the various aspects involved
in managing a complex institution such as the Governorate - which are not
limited to administrative rigour - was presented in a superficial and biased
manner, highlighting the evidently negative aspects with the simplistic
result of presenting the structures of government in the Church as being,
not so much affected by human frailty (which would be easily
understandable), as profoundly characterised by arguments, divisions and
power struggles. ... Yet, all this disinformation will certainly not obscure
the daily and serene efforts towards increasing transparency in all Vatican
institutions. ... In this context, it must be decisively affirmed that
entrusting Archbishop Vigano with the role of apostolic nuncio to the United
States - one of the most important roles in Vatican diplomacy given the
importance of the country and of the Catholic Church there - is proof of
unquestionable respect and trust".
OP/ VIS
20120126 (460)
CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE: FEBRUARY-APRIL
VATICAN CITY, 26 JAN 2012 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff today published the calendar of celebrations due to be
presided by the Holy Father between February and April.
FEBRUARY
Thursday 2: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the World Day of
Consecrated Life. At 5.30 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Vespers with members
of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life.
Saturday 18: At 10.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, ordinary public
consistory for the creation of new cardinals and for the vote on a number of
causes of canonisation.
Sunday 19: Solemnity of the Cathedra of St. Peter. At 9.30 a.m. in the
Vatican Basilica, Mass with new cardinals.
Wednesday 22: Ash Wednesday. At 4.30 p.m. in the basilica of Sant'Anselmo,
"statio" and penitential procession. At 5 p.m. in the basilica of Santa
Sabina, blessing and imposition of the ashes.
Sunday 26: First Sunday of Lent. At 6 p.m. in the "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel
of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, beginning of the spiritual exercises of the
Roman Curia.
MARCH
Saturday 3: At 9 a.m. in the "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, conclusion of the
spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia.
Sunday 4: Second Sunday of Lent. At 9.30 a.m., Mass in the Roman parish of
"San Giovanni Battista de La Salle al Torrino".
Saturday 10: At 5.30 p.m., Vespers in the basilica of San Gregorio al Celio
for the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Friday 23 to Thursday 29: Apostolic trip to Mexico and Cuba.
APRIL
Sunday 1. Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Lord. At 9.30 a.m. in St.
Peter's Square, blessing of palms, procession and Mass.
Thursday 5. Holy Thursday. At 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Chrism
Mass. At 5.30 p.m. in the basilica of St. John Lateran, beginning of the
Easter Triduum with the Mass of the Last Supper.
Friday 6. Good Friday. At 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, celebration of the
Lord's Passion. At 9.15 p.m. at the Colosseum, Way of the Cross.
Saturday 7. Holy Saturday. At 9 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Easter vigil.
Sunday 8. Easter Sunday. Mass in St. Peter's Square at 10.15 a.m. At midday,
from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.
OCL/ VIS
20120126 (390)
AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, 26 JAN 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience
sixteen prelates of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on
their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Thomas John Rodi of Mobile.
- Bishop Roger Paul Morin of Biloxi.
- Bishop Robert Joseph Baker of Birmingham, accompanied by Bishop emeritus
David Edward Foley.
- Bishop Joseph N. Latino of Jackson, accompanied by Bishop emeritus
William Russel Huock.
- Bishop David R. Choby of Nashville.
- Archbishop Gregory Michael Aymond of New Orleans, accompanied by
Auxiliary Bishop Shelton Joseph Fabre and by Archbishop emeritus Alfred
Clifton Hughes.
- Bishop Ronald Paul Herzog of Alexandria.
- Bishop Robert William Muench of Baton Rouge.
- Bishop Sam Gallip Jacobs of Houma-Thibodaux.
- Bishop Charles Michael Jarrell of Lafayette.
- Bishop Glen John Provst of Lake Charles.
- Bishop Michael Gerard Duca of Shreveport.
AL/ VIS
20120126 (150)
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