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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
ANNO XXII - N° 35
DATA 16-02-2012
Summary:
- POPE WARNS AGAINST THE POWER OF FINANCE AND OF THE MEDIA
- PASTORAL COMMUNION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN AFRICA AND EUROPE
- THE FINANCIAL CRISIS ALSO AFFECTS THE HOLY SEE, WHICH DEPENDS CHIEFLY ON
DONATIONS
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
___________________________________________________________
POPE WARNS AGAINST THE POWER OF FINANCE AND OF THE MEDIA
Vatican City, 16 February 2012 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father
visited the Major Seminary of Rome for the occasion of the feast of its
patroness, Our Lady of Trust, which falls on Saturday. The Holy Father visited
the chapel before going on
to meet with auxiliary bishops of Rome, superiors of diocesan seminaries and
190 seminarians.
Following the reading of the Gospel, Benedict XVI pronounced a "lectio divina"
on the passage from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans in which the Apostle
invites the faithful not to conform to this world but to transform themselves
and renew their
minds in order to discern the will of God, "the good and acceptable and
perfect".
"We can reflect upon the Church today", he said in his off-the-cuff remarks.
"There is much talk about the Church of Rome, many things are said. Let us
hope that people also talk about our faith. Let us pray to God that it may be
so".
The Pope then went on to refer to the force of evil which, in today's world,
also emerges "in two great powers which are good and useful in themselves but
easily open to abuse: the power of finance and the power of the media. Both
are necessary, both
are useful, but so subject to misuse that they often go against their true
goals".
Today "we see how the world of finance can dominate mankind. Possession and
appearance dominate and enslave the world. ... Finance is no longer a tool to
promote well being and to support the life of man, but a force that oppresses
him, one which almost
has to be worshipped". The Pontiff called on his audience not to conform to
this power. "Be non conformists. What counts is not possession but existence",
he said. Christians must not bow to this power, but use it as "as a means,
with the freedom of the
children of God".
Turning then to consider the question of public opinion, Benedict XVI
highlighted how "we have a great need of information, knowledge about the
truth of the world; but there is a power of appearance which in the end counts
even more than reality
itself". Appearance "overlies the truth and becomes more important. Man no
longer pursues the truth but wants above all to appear". Here too "there is a
Christian non conformism. ... We want not appearance but truth, and this will
give us true freedom".
"Christian non conformism redeems us and restores us to truth. Let us pray to
the Lord that He may help us to be free in this non conformism, which is not
against the world but is authentic love for the world".
___________________________________________________________
PASTORAL COMMUNION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN AFRICA AND EUROPE
Vatican City, 16 February 2012 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican Benedict XVI
received participants in the Second Symposium of European and African Bishops,
which began on 13 February and is examining the theme of "Evangelisation
today: pastoral communion
and cooperation between Africa and Europe". The event will come to an end
tomorrow with a pilgrimage to the Italian shrine of the Holy Face in
Manoppello.
"For the Church in Europe", the Pope said, "the encounter with the Church in
Africa is always a moment of grace, because of the hope and joy with which
ecclesial communities in Africa live and communicate their faith. ...
Moreover, it is a pleasure to
see how the Church in Africa, though experiencing so many difficulties and
having such need of peace and reconciliation, is open to sharing her faith".
In the relationship between the two Churches, bishops must "take account of
the fundamental bond between faith and charity, because these two aspects
illuminate one another in their truth. Charity favours openness towards modern
men and women in their
concrete reality, in order to bring them to Christ and His love for each
individual and each family, especially those who are poor and alone".
The Holy Father also turned his attention to the difficulties facing the
prelates, including religious indifference "which causes many people to live
as if God did not exist, or to make do with a vague religiosity incapable of
measuring up against the
question of truth or the requirement to be coherent". In the same context he
also mentioned "the influence of a secularised environment often hostile to
Christian faith" and "hedonism which has helped to make the crisis of values
penetrate into daily
life". Another symptom of "serious social malaise is the spread of pornography
and prostitution". However, "these things must not discourage you", he told
the bishops. "Rather, they should be a reason for renewed commitment and hope;
the hope that
arises from the awareness that ... the risen Christ is always with us".
Benedict XVI reiterated the central role the family plays in pastoral care,
because it is "the firmest guarantee for the renewal of society. The family
conserves usages, traditions, customs and rites impregnated with faith, and is
fertile terrain in
which vocations can flower". In this context he invited the participants in
the symposium "to pay particular attention to the promotion of vocations to
the priesthood and consecrated life.
"The family is also the forge of youth", the Pope added. "Europe and Africa
have need of young people who are generous, who can take responsibility for
their own future. At the same time, all the institutions must be aware that
young people are the keys
to the future and that everything must be done to ensure their journey is not
hindered by uncertainty and darkness".
"The cultural dimension is also important in the formation of young people",
the Holy Father went on. "The Church respects all discoveries of truth,
because all truth comes from God, but she knows that the gaze of faith fixed
upon Christ opens man's
mind and heart to the First Truth, which is God. Thus culture nourished by
faith leads to authentic humanisation, while false cultures end up by leading
to dehumanisation: we have seen sad examples of this in Europe and in Africa".
Pope Benedict concluded his remarks: "Your symposium has given you the chance
to reflect upon the problems of the Church on the two continents. Certainly
there is no lack of difficulties, and some of them are great; yet they are
also proof that the
Church is alive, that she is growing and is unafraid to carry out her
evangelising mission. To do this, she needs the prayer and commitment of all
the faithful. ... As pastors, however, you have a particular responsibility.
... The moral authority and
the prestige that uphold the exercise of your juridical power can only come
from the holiness of your life".
___________________________________________________________
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS ALSO AFFECTS THE HOLY SEE, WHICH DEPENDS CHIEFLY ON
DONATIONS
Vatican City, 16 February 2012 (VIS) - The Council of Cardinals for the Study
of the Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See met in the Vatican
on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 February under the presidency of Cardinal
Secretary of State
Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Prefecture for the
Economic Affairs of the Holy See, the Governorate of Vatican City State, the
Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and Vatican Radio.
Reports were read out
concerning the consolidated budget of the Holy See and of the Governorate of
Vatican City State, and the gathering was addressed by Archbishop Giuseppe
Versaldi, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.
According to a communique released this morning, the cardinals present
intervened, "expressing their pleasure at the forecast results but not failing
to make known their concern at the prevailing general crises, which has not
spared even the general
economic system of the Vatican. This is evident above all as regards the Holy
See, which receives indispensable subsidisation from the free offerings of the
faithful. The members of the Council expressed their profound gratitude for
the support the
faithful give, often anonymously, to the universal ministry of the Holy
Father, and exhorted them to continue this good work. Moreover, it was
recognised that there is an ongoing commitment to improve the administration
of the goods and resources of the
Holy See".
___________________________________________________________
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 16 February 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in
audience:
- Budiarman Barar, the new ambassador of Indonesia to the Holy See, for the
presentation of his Letters of Credence.
- Daniel Edgardo Ramada Piendibene, the new ambassador of Uruguay to the Holy
See, for the presentation of his Letters of Credence.
- Archbishop Emil Paul Tscherrig, apostolic nuncio to Argentina.
- Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst of Limburg, Germany.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 16 February 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Archbishop
Luciano Russo as apostolic nuncio to Rwanda.
___________________________________________________________
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_rAdJnO0Pie4fk9TdHTzV2w)
Content-type: text/html; CHARSETUS-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
VISnews120216
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE ANNO XXII - N° 35DATA 16-02-2012
Summary: - POPE WARNS AGAINST THE POWER OF
FINANCE AND OF THE MEDIA
- PASTORAL COMMUNION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN AFRICA AND EUROPE - THE
FINANCIAL CRISIS ALSO AFFECTS THE HOLY SEE, WHICH DEPENDS CHIEFLY ON
DONATIONS - AUDIENCES - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS ___________________________________________________________
POPE WARNS AGAINST THE POWER OF FINANCE AND OF THE MEDIA
Vatican City, 16 February 2012 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father
visited the Major Seminary of Rome for the occasion of the feast of its
patroness, Our Lady of Trust, which falls on Saturday. The Holy Father visited
the chapel before going
on to meet with auxiliary bishops of Rome, superiors of diocesan seminaries
and 190 seminarians.
Following the reading of the Gospel, Benedict XVI pronounced a "lectio
divina" on the passage from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans in which the
Apostle invites the faithful not to conform to this world but to transform
themselves and renew their
minds in order to discern the will of God, "the good and acceptable and
perfect".
"We can reflect upon the Church today", he said in his off-the-cuff
remarks. "There is much talk about the Church of Rome, many things are said.
Let us hope that people also talk about our faith. Let us pray to God that it
may be so".
The Pope then went on to refer to the force of evil which, in today's
world, also emerges "in two great powers which are good and useful in
themselves but easily open to abuse: the power of finance and the power of the
media. Both are necessary, both
are useful, but so subject to misuse that they often go against their true
goals".
Today "we see how the world of finance can dominate mankind. Possession and
appearance dominate and enslave the world. ... Finance is no longer a tool to
promote well being and to support the life of man, but a force that oppresses
him, one which
almost has to be worshipped". The Pontiff called on his audience not to
conform to this power. "Be non conformists. What counts is not possession but
existence", he said. Christians must not bow to this power, but use it as "as
a means, with the freedom
of the children of God".
Turning then to consider the question of public opinion, Benedict XVI
highlighted how "we have a great need of information, knowledge about the
truth of the world; but there is a power of appearance which in the end counts
even more than reality
itself". Appearance "overlies the truth and becomes more important. Man no
longer pursues the truth but wants above all to appear". Here too "there is a
Christian non conformism. ... We want not appearance but truth, and this will
give us true
freedom".
"Christian non conformism redeems us and restores us to truth. Let us pray
to the Lord that He may help us to be free in this non conformism, which is
not against the world but is authentic love for the world".
PASTORAL COMMUNION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN AFRICA AND EUROPE
Vatican City, 16 February 2012 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican Benedict XVI
received participants in the Second Symposium of European and African Bishops,
which began on 13 February and is examining the theme of "Evangelisation
today: pastoral communion
and cooperation between Africa and Europe". The event will come to an end
tomorrow with a pilgrimage to the Italian shrine of the Holy Face in
Manoppello.
"For the Church in Europe", the Pope said, "the encounter with the Church
in Africa is always a moment of grace, because of the hope and joy with which
ecclesial communities in Africa live and communicate their faith. ...
Moreover, it is a pleasure
to see how the Church in Africa, though experiencing so many difficulties and
having such need of peace and reconciliation, is open to sharing her
faith".
In the relationship between the two Churches, bishops must "take account of
the fundamental bond between faith and charity, because these two aspects
illuminate one another in their truth. Charity favours openness towards modern
men and women in
their concrete reality, in order to bring them to Christ and His love for each
individual and each family, especially those who are poor and alone".
The Holy Father also turned his attention to the difficulties facing the
prelates, including religious indifference "which causes many people to live
as if God did not exist, or to make do with a vague religiosity incapable of
measuring up against
the question of truth or the requirement to be coherent". In the same context
he also mentioned "the influence of a secularised environment often hostile to
Christian faith" and "hedonism which has helped to make the crisis of values
penetrate into
daily life". Another symptom of "serious social malaise is the spread of
pornography and prostitution". However, "these things must not discourage
you", he told the bishops. "Rather, they should be a reason for renewed
commitment and hope; the hope that
arises from the awareness that ... the risen Christ is always with us".
Benedict XVI reiterated the central role the family plays in pastoral care,
because it is "the firmest guarantee for the renewal of society. The family
conserves usages, traditions, customs and rites impregnated with faith, and is
fertile terrain in
which vocations can flower". In this context he invited the participants in
the symposium "to pay particular attention to the promotion of vocations to
the priesthood and consecrated life.
"The family is also the forge of youth", the Pope added. "Europe and Africa
have need of young people who are generous, who can take responsibility for
their own future. At the same time, all the institutions must be aware that
young people are the
keys to the future and that everything must be done to ensure their journey is
not hindered by uncertainty and darkness".
"The cultural dimension is also important in the formation of young
people", the Holy Father went on. "The Church respects all discoveries of
truth, because all truth comes from God, but she knows that the gaze of faith
fixed upon Christ opens man's
mind and heart to the First Truth, which is God. Thus culture nourished by
faith leads to authentic humanisation, while false cultures end up by leading
to dehumanisation: we have seen sad examples of this in Europe and in
Africa".
Pope Benedict concluded his remarks: "Your symposium has given you the
chance to reflect upon the problems of the Church on the two continents.
Certainly there is no lack of difficulties, and some of them are great; yet
they are also proof that the
Church is alive, that she is growing and is unafraid to carry out her
evangelising mission. To do this, she needs the prayer and commitment of all
the faithful. ... As pastors, however, you have a particular responsibility.
... The moral authority and
the prestige that uphold the exercise of your juridical power can only come
from the holiness of your life".
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS ALSO AFFECTS THE HOLY SEE, WHICH DEPENDS CHIEFLY ON
DONATIONS
Vatican City, 16 February 2012 (VIS) - The Council of Cardinals for the
Study of the Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See met in the
Vatican on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 February under the presidency of
Cardinal Secretary of State
Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Prefecture for the
Economic Affairs of the Holy See, the Governorate of Vatican City State, the
Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and Vatican Radio.
Reports were read out
concerning the consolidated budget of the Holy See and of the Governorate of
Vatican City State, and the gathering was addressed by Archbishop Giuseppe
Versaldi, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy
See.
According to a communique released this morning, the cardinals present
intervened, "expressing their pleasure at the forecast results but not failing
to make known their concern at the prevailing general crises, which has not
spared even the general
economic system of the Vatican. This is evident above all as regards the Holy
See, which receives indispensable subsidisation from the free offerings of the
faithful. The members of the Council expressed their profound gratitude for
the support the
faithful give, often anonymously, to the universal ministry of the Holy
Father, and exhorted them to continue this good work. Moreover, it was
recognised that there is an ongoing commitment to improve the administration
of the goods and resources of the
Holy See".
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_rAdJnO0Pie4fk9TdHTzV2w)--
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