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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
ANNO XXI - N° 33
DATA 14-02-2012
Summary:
- NOTE FROM HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR ON LEAKED VATICAN DOCUMENTS
- OFFICIAL VISIT OF A UNITED KINGDOM MINISTERIAL DELEGATION
- POPE CONTRIBUTES TO RESTORATION OF THE BASILICA OF ST. AUGUSTINE IN ANNABA,
ALGERIA
___________________________________________________________
NOTE FROM HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR ON LEAKED VATICAN DOCUMENTS
Vatican City, 14 February 2012 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a note
written by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Frederico Lombardi S.J. and
released late yesterday afternoon by Vatican Radio, concerning the recent
leaking of a series of Vatican
documents.
"Nowadays we must all have strong nerves, because no one can be surprised at
anything. The American administration was affected by Wikileaks, now the
Vatican too has its disclosures, its leaked documents, which tend to create
confusion and bewilderment,
and to throw a bad light on the Vatican, the governance of the Church and,
more broadly, on the Church herself.
"We must, then, remain calm and keep our nerve, make use of reason, something
which not all media outlets tend to do. The documents in question are of
different kinds and importance, drawn up at various times and for differing
situations. One thing is
the discussion of the improved economic management of an institution such as
the Governorate, which has many different activities; another are notes on
current juridical and legislative questions, about which it is quite normal
that there should be
contrasting opinions; quite another are delirious and incomprehensible reports
about plots against the Pope's life. Yet, putting them all together helps to
create confusion. Serious reporting should be capable of distinguishing the
issues and
understanding their differing importance. It is obvious that the economic
activities of the Governorate have to be managed wisely and rigorously. It is
clear that the IOR and financial activities must be correctly integrated into
international
anti-recycling norms. These are of course the Pope's instructions. At the same
time, it is evident that the story about a plot against the Pope, as I said
immediately at the time, is nonsense, madness, and does not deserve to be
taken seriously.
"There is something very sad in the fact that documents are dishonestly passed
from the inside to the outside in order to create confusion. Both sides bear
responsibility: firstly the suppliers of documents of this kind, but also
those who undertake to
use them for purposes that certainly have nothing to do with pure love of
truth. We must, therefore, stand firm, not allowing ourselves to be swallowed
up by the vortex of confusion, which is what ill-intentioned people want, and
remaining capable of
using our reason.
"In a certain sense - according to an ancient expression of human and
spiritual wisdom - the emergence of more powerful attacks is a sign that
something important is at stake. The series of attacks against the Church on
the issue of sexual abuse has
been justly met with serious and profound commitment to far-sighted renewal;
not a myopic response but purification and rehabilitation. We have now taken
control of the situation and are developing a powerful strategy of healing,
renewal and prevention,
for the good of society as a whole. At the same time, there is a serious
commitment to ensure authentic transparency in the working of Vatican
institutions, also from an economic perspective. New norms have been issued
and channels have been opened for
international monitoring. And yet a lot of the recently leaked documents tend
to discredit precisely those efforts. This, paradoxically, constitutes another
reason to continue them with determination, not allowing ourselves to be cow
ed. If
many people insist on attacking us, the issue is obviously important. Whoever
thinks he is discouraging the Pope and his collaborators in their commitment
is mistaken.
"As for the issue of the supposed power struggles in view of the next
conclave, I would invite everyone to note that all the Pontiffs elected during
the last hundred years have been people of exalted and unquestioned spiritual
merit. Cardinals have
naturally sought, and still seek, to elect someone who deserves the respect of
the people of God, someone who can serve humankind in our time with great
moral and spiritual authority. Reading these events as an internal power
struggle depends to a large
extent on the moral coarseness of those who provoke them and those who see
them as such, people often incapable of seeing anything else. Fortunately,
those who believe in Jesus Christ know that - whatever may be written in
today's newspapers - the true
concerns of those with positions of responsibility in the Church are the
serious problems facing the men and women of today and tomorrow. Not for
nothing do we also believe in, and speak of, the assistance of the Holy
Spirit".
___________________________________________________________
OFFICIAL VISIT OF A UNITED KINGDOM MINISTERIAL DELEGATION
Vatican City, 14 February 2012 (VIS) - A delegation of ministers from the
United Kingdom is today beginning an official visit to the Vatican to mark the
thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations with
the Holy See. The
delegation is led by Baroness Sayeeda Hussain Warsi representing the prime
minister, and includes Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster. Their
discussions with Holy See officials will focus on inter-religious dialogue,
human rights, the environment,
international development and climate change.
This afternoon Baroness Warsi will deliver an address on the place of religion
in modern political discourse to staff and students of the Pontifical
Ecclesiastical Academy, and to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy
See. The delegation will be
received in audience by the Holy Father tomorrow.
___________________________________________________________
POPE CONTRIBUTES TO RESTORATION OF THE BASILICA OF ST. AUGUSTINE IN ANNABA,
ALGERIA
Vatican City, 14 February 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI is among those
contributing to the restoration of the Basilica of St. Augustine in the
Algerian town of Annaba, work on which began last year. The church stands on a
hill overlooking the ruins of
Hippo, the episcopal see of that Father of the Church, and was built early
last century, half in the Arab-Moorish style and half in the Rom
nesque-Byzantine style as a symbol of the universal appeal of the author of
the "Confessions".
Speaking on Vatican Radio, Bishop Paul Desfarges S.J. of Constantine-Hippo
explained that the Holy Father is making a personal contribution to the
restoration work, which is being financed by the authorities in Algeria and
France, as well as by a number
of institutions, religious orders and benefactors. "The Papal Foundation has
contributed, but the Pope has also sent a personal donation", Bishop Desfarges
said. "We all know his great respect for St. Augustine. ... The restoration of
the basilica means
the restoration of a symbol of coexistence and fraternity between the two
shores of the Mediterranean, between Christians and Muslims, between the West
and Islam, between people who seek the truth".
___________________________________________________________
Per ulteriori informazioni e per la ricerca di documenti consultare il
sito: www.wisnews.org e www.vatican.va
Il servizio del VIS viene inviato soltanto agli indirizzi di posta
elettronica che ne hanno fatto richiesta. Se per qualunque motivo
non si desidera continuare a riceverlo, si prega di visitare nostra pagina
dinizio:
http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/italinde.php
Copyright (VIS): Le notizie contenute nei servizi del Vatican
Information Service possono essere riprodotte parzialmente o totalmente
citando la fonte: V.I.S. - Vatican Information Service.
--Boundary_(ID_9wVSNxRtAJhpZEF9LqEPfg)
Content-type: text/html; CHARSETUS-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
VISnews120214
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE ANNO XXI - N° 33DATA 14-02-2012
Summary: - NOTE FROM HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE
DIRECTOR ON LEAKED VATICAN
DOCUMENTS - OFFICIAL VISIT OF A UNITED KINGDOM MINISTERIAL DELEGATION - POPE CONTRIBUTES TO RESTORATION OF THE BASILICA OF ST. AUGUSTINE IN
ANNABA, ALGERIA
NOTE FROM HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR ON LEAKED VATICAN DOCUMENTS
Vatican City, 14 February 2012 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a note
written by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Frederico Lombardi S.J. and
released late yesterday afternoon by Vatican Radio, concerning the recent
leaking of a series of
Vatican documents.
"Nowadays we must all have strong nerves, because no one can be surprised
at anything. The American administration was affected by Wikileaks, now the
Vatican too has its disclosures, its leaked documents, which tend to create
confusion and
bewilderment, and to throw a bad light on the Vatican, the governance of the
Church and, more broadly, on the Church herself.
"We must, then, remain calm and keep our nerve, make use of reason,
something which not all media outlets tend to do. The documents in question
are of different kinds and importance, drawn up at various times and for
differing situations. One thing
is the discussion of the improved economic management of an institution such
as the Governorate, which has many different activities; another are notes on
current juridical and legislative questions, about which it is quite normal
that there should be
contrasting opinions; quite another are delirious and incomprehensible reports
about plots against the Pope's life. Yet, putting them all together helps to
create confusion. Serious reporting should be capable of distinguishing the
issues and
understanding their differing importance. It is obvious that the economic
activities of the Governorate have to be managed wisely and rigorously. It is
clear that the IOR and financial activities must be correctly integrated into
international anti-recycling norms. These are of course the Pope's
instructions. At the same time, it is evident that the story about a plot
against the Pope, as I said immediately at the time, is nonsense, madness, and
does not deserve to be taken
seriously.
"There is something very sad in the fact that documents are dishonestly
passed from the inside to the outside in order to create confusion. Both sides
bear responsibility: firstly the suppliers of documents of this kind, but also
those who undertake
to use them for purposes that certainly have nothing to do with pure love of
truth. We must, therefore, stand firm, not allowing ourselves to be swallowed
up by the vortex of confusion, which is what ill-intentioned people want, and
remaining capable of
using our reason.
"In a certain sense - according to an ancient expression of human and
spiritual wisdom - the emergence of more powerful attacks is a sign that
something important is at stake. The series of attacks against the Church on
the issue of sexual abuse has
been justly met with serious and profound commitment to far-sighted renewal;
not a myopic response but purification and rehabilitation. We have now taken
control of the situation and are developing a powerful strategy of healing,
renewal and prevention,
for the good of society as a whole. At the same time, there is a serious
commitment to ensure authentic transparency in the working of Vatican
institutions, also from an economic perspective. New norms have been issued
and channels have been opened for
international monitoring. And yet a lot of the recently leaked documents tend
to discredit precisely those efforts. This, paradoxically, constitutes another
reason to continue them with determination, not allowing ourselves
to be cowed. If many people insist on attacking us, the issue is obviously
important. Whoever thinks he is discouraging the Pope and his collaborators in
their commitment is mistaken.
"As for the issue of the supposed power struggles in view of the next
conclave, I would invite everyone to note that all the Pontiffs elected during
the last hundred years have been people of exalted and unquestioned spiritual
merit. Cardinals have
naturally sought, and still seek, to elect someone who deserves the respect of
the people of God, someone who can serve humankind in our time with great
moral and spiritual authority. Reading these events as an internal power
struggle depends to a large
extent on the moral coarseness of those who provoke them and those who see
them as such, people often incapable of seeing anything else. Fortunately,
those who believe in Jesus Christ know that - whatever may be written in
today's newspapers - the true
concerns of those with positions of responsibility in the Church are the
serious problems facing the men and women of today and tomorrow. Not for
nothing do we also believe in, and speak of, the assistance of the Holy
Spirit".
OFFICIAL VISIT OF A UNITED KINGDOM MINISTERIAL DELEGATION
Vatican City, 14 February 2012 (VIS) - A delegation of ministers from the
United Kingdom is today beginning an official visit to the Vatican to mark the
thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations with
the Holy See. The
delegation is led by Baroness Sayeeda Hussain Warsi representing the prime
minister, and includes Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster. Their
discussions with Holy See officials will focus on inter-religious dialogue,
human rights, the environment,
international development and climate change.
This afternoon Baroness Warsi will deliver an address on the place of
religion in modern political discourse to staff and students of the Pontifical
Ecclesiastical Academy, and to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy
See. The delegation will
be received in audience by the Holy Father tomorrow.
POPE CONTRIBUTES TO RESTORATION OF THE BASILICA OF ST. AUGUSTINE IN ANNABA,
ALGERIA
Vatican City, 14 February 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI is among those
contributing to the restoration of the Basilica of St. Augustine in the
Algerian town of Annaba, work on which began last year. The church stands on a
hill overlooking the ruins of
Hippo, the episcopal see of that Father of the Church, and was built early
last century, half in the Arab-Moorish style and half in the Rom
nesque-Byzantine style as a symbol of the universal appeal of the author of
the "Confessions".
Speaking on Vatican Radio, Bishop Paul Desfarges S.J. of Constantine-Hippo
explained that the Holy Father is making a personal contribution to the
restoration work, which is being financed by the authorities in Algeria and
France, as well as by a
number of institutions, religious orders and benefactors. "The Papal
Foundation has contributed, but the Pope has also sent a personal donation",
Bishop Desfarges said. "We all know his great respect for St. Augustine. ...
The restoration of the
basilica means the restoration of a symbol of coexistence and fraternity
between the two shores of the Mediterranean, between Christians and Muslims,
between the West and Islam, between people who seek the truth".
Per ulteriori informazioni e per la ricerca di documenti consultare il
sito: www.wisnews.org e www.vatican.va Il servizio del
VIS viene inviato soltanto agli indirizzi di posta elettronica che ne
hanno
fatto richiesta. Se per qualunque motivo non si desidera continuare a
riceverlo, si prega di visitare nostra pagina dinizio: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vi
/italinde.php
Copyright (VIS): Le notizie contenute nei servizi del Vatican
Information Service possono essere riprodotte parzialmente o totalmente
citando la fonte: V.I.S. - Vatican Information Service.
--Boundary_(ID_9wVSNxRtAJhpZEF9LqEPfg)--
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