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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 67
DATE 29-03-2012
Summary:
- BENEDICT XVI: "CUBA AND THE WORLD NEED CHANGE"
- MEETING BETWEEN THE POPE AND FORMER PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO
- CUBA, DRAW STRENGTH FROM THE FAITH TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE
- CANONICAL STATUS OF THE SO-CALLED BISHOPS OF PIDHIRCI
___________________________________________________________
BENEDICT XVI: "CUBA AND THE WORLD NEED CHANGE"
Vatican City, 28 March 2012 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. today the Holy Father presided
at Mass in Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion Jose Marti, in the presence of
thousands of faithful who had come from all over Cuba. Extracts from Benedict
XVI's homily are given
below:
"“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will
know the truth, and the truth will make you free”. In this text from
today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals Himself as the Son of God the Father, the
Saviour, the One Who
alone can show us the truth and give us genuine freedom. His teaching provokes
resistance and disquiet among His hearers. ... Even so, He exhorts them to
believe, to keep His word, so as to know the truth which redeems and justifies.
"The truth is a desire of the human person, the search for which always
supposes the exercise of authentic freedom. Many, without a doubt, would
prefer to take the easy way out, trying to avoid this task. Some, like Pontius
Pilate, ironically question
the possibility of even knowing what truth is, ... or deny that there exists a
truth valid for all. This attitude, as in the case of scepticism and
relativism, changes hearts, making them cold, wavering, distant from others
and closed. There are too
many who, like the Roman governor, wash their hands and let the water of
history drain away without taking a stand.
"On the other hand, there are those who wrongly interpret this search for the
truth, leading them to irrationality and fanaticism; they close themselves up
in “their truth”, and try to impose it on others. ... Anyone who
acts irrationally
cannot become a disciple of Jesus. Faith and reason are necessary and
complementary in the pursuit of truth. God created man with an innate vocation
to the truth and He gave him reason for this purpose. Certainly, it is not
irrationality but rather the
yearning for truth which the Christian faith promotes".
"Furthermore, the truth which stands above humanity is an unavoidable
condition for attaining freedom, since in it we discover the foundation of an
ethics on which all can converge and which contains clear and precise
indications concerning life and
death, duties and rights, marriage, family and society, in short, regarding
the inviolable dignity of the human person. This ethical patrimony can bring
together different cultures, peoples and religions, authorities and citizens,
citizens among
themselves, and believers in Christ and non-believers.
"Christianity, in highlighting those values which sustain ethics, does not
impose, but rather proposes Christ’s invitation to know the truth which
sets us free. ... In Christ we find the truth about God and about mankind. He
helps us to overcome
our selfishness, to rise above our vain struggles and to conquer all that
oppresses us. The one who does evil, who sins, becomes its slave and will
never attain freedom. Only by renouncing hatred and our hard and blind hearts
will we be free and a new
life will well up in us".
"The Church lives to make others sharers in the one thing she possesses, which
is none other than Christ, our hope of glory. To carry out this duty, she must
count on basic religious freedom, which consists in her being able to proclaim
and to celebrate
her faith also in public, bringing to others the message of love,
reconciliation and peace which Jesus brought to the world. It must be said
with joy that in Cuba steps have been taken to enable the Church to carry out
her essential mission of
expressing her faith openly and publicly. Nonetheless, this must continue
forwards, and I wish to encourage the country’s government authorities
to strengthen what has already been achieved and advance along this path of
genuine service to the
true good of Cuban society as a whole.
"The right to freedom of religion, both in its private and in its public
dimension, manifests the unity of the human person, who is at once a citizen
and a believer. It also legitimises the fact that believers have a
contribution to make to the building
up of society. Strengthening religious freedom consolidates social bonds,
nourishes the hope of a better world, creates favourable conditions for peace
and harmonious development. ... When the Church upholds this human right, she
is not claiming any
special privileges for herself. She wishes only to be faithful to the command
of her divine founder, conscious that, where Christ is present, we become more
human and our humanity becomes authentic. This is why the Church seeks to give
witness by her
preaching and teaching, both in catechesis and in the schools and
universities. It is greatly to be hoped that the moment will soon arrive when,
here too, the Church can bring to the fields of knowledge the benefits of the
mission whic
h the
Lord entrusted to her and which she can never neglect.
"A shining example of this commitment is found in the outstanding priest Felix
Varela, teacher and educator, an illustrious son of this city of Havana, who
has taken his place in Cuban history as the first one who taught his people
how to think. Father
Varela offers us a path to a true transformation of society: to form virtuous
men and women in order to forge a worthy and free nation, for this
transformation depends on the spiritual, in as much as “there is no
authentic fatherland without
virtue”. Cuba and the world need change, but this will occur only if
each one is in a position to seek the truth and chooses the way of love,
sowing reconciliation and fraternity".
___________________________________________________________
MEETING BETWEEN THE POPE AND FORMER PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO
Vatican City, 28 March 2012 (VIS) - After celebrating Mass this morning in
Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion Jose Marti, Benedict XVI held a meeting in the
apostolic nunciature with Fidel Castro, former president of Cuba.
"I took the decision to ask for some moments of your time, which I know is
full of commitments, when I learned that you would take pleasure in this
modest and simple encounter", said Fidel Castro to the Pope. During the
meeting, which according to
Vatican Radio lasted about half an hour, the former president spoke to the
Holy Father of his pleasure at the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta,
who had been a great benefactress of Cuba, and of John Paul II, "a man whose
contact with children
and ordinary citizens invariably aroused feelings of affection". For his part
Benedict XVI spoke of his own pleasure at being in Cuba and at the cordiality
of his welcome.
Fidel Castro asked the Pope a number of questions about changes in the liturgy
and the role of the Pontiff, and Benedict XVI replied by speaking about his
meeting with peoples and his service to the universal Church. The former
president also turned his
attention to the plight mankind is facing in the modern world, while the Pope
spoke of the absence and non recognition of God, and the fundamental
importance of the relationship between faith and reason. Finally, Castro asked
the Pope to send him a
number of books to enable him to study the issues raised in their talk, and
Benedict XVI said he would give thought to which texts to send. Finally, the
former president presented the Pope his wife and two of his children.
___________________________________________________________
CUBA, DRAW STRENGTH FROM THE FAITH TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE
Vatican City, 28 March 2012 (VIS) - As the Pope prepared to leave Cuba this
afternoon he recalled the profound impression that country had left on his
predecessor Blessed John Paul II, "when he came to these lands as a herald of
truth and hope".
Benedict XVI reiterated the fact that he had come to Cuba as a pilgrim of
love, to give thanks to the Virgin Mary "who has accompanied the journey of
the Church in this nation and given encouragement to all Cubans so that, from
the hand of Christ, they
might discover the true meaning of the desires and aspirations found in the
human heart and gain the strength needed to build a fraternal society in which
no one feels excluded".
At Jose Marti airport in Havana, where he arrived at 4.30 p.m. amid the
acclamation of tens of thousands of faithful who had thronged to see him, the
Pope thanked the president and other State authorities "for the interest and
generous cooperation which
they have shown in the the preparation of this journey". He also thanked
members of the episcopal conference and others who had spared no effort to
ensure the success of his visit. "I hold deep in my heart all the Cuban
people, each and every one. You
have surrounded me with prayer and affection, offered me cordial hospitality
and shared with me your profound and rightful aspirations.
"I came here as a witness to Jesus Christ, convinced that, wherever He is
present, discouragement yields to hope, goodness dispels uncertainties and a
powerful force opens up the horizon to beneficial and unexpected
possibilities", said the Holy Father.
He also expressed the hope that Christ's message of salvation would strengthen
the zeal and pastoral concern of Cuban bishops and all who cooperate the work
of evangelisation, particularly the lay faithful so that, "by intensifying
their commitment to
God in the midst of their homes and workplaces, they may never tire of
offering their responsible contribution for the good and the integral progress
of their homeland.
"The path which Christ points out to humanity, and to each particular
individual and people, is not a source of constraint, but rather the primary
and principal premise for their authentic development. The light of the Lord,
has shone brightly during
these days; may that light never fade in those who have welcomed it; may it
help all people to foster social harmony and to allow the blossoming of all
that is finest in the Cuban soul, its most noble values, which can be the
basis for building a
society of broad vision, renewed and reconciled. May no one feel excluded from
taking up this exciting search for his or her basic freedoms, or excused from
this this by indolence or lack of material resources, a situation which is
worsened when
restrictive economic measures, imposed from outside the country, unfairly
burden its people.
"I now conclude my pilgrimage, but I will continue praying fervently that you
will go forward and that Cuba will be the home of all and for all Cubans,
where justice and freedom coexist in a climate of serene fraternity. Respect
and promotion of freedom
which is present in the heart of each person are essential in order to respond
adequately to the fundamental demands of his or her dignity and, in this way,
to build up a society in which all are indispensable actors in the future of
their life, their
family and their country.
"The present hour urgently demands that in personal, national and
international coexistence we reject immovable positions and unilateral
viewpoints which tend to make understanding more difficult and efforts at
cooperation ineffective. Possible
discrepancies and difficulties will be resolved by tirelessly seeking what
unites everyone, with patient and sincere dialogue, and a willingness to
listen and accept goals which will bring new hope.
"Cuba, look again to the faith of your elders, draw from that faith the
strength to build a better future, trust in the Lord’s promises, and
open your heart to His Gospel so as to renew authentically your personal and
social life.
"As I bid you a heartfelt adios, I ask our Lady of Charity of El Cobre to
protect all Cubans under her mantle, to sustain them in the midst of their
trials and to obtain from Almighty God the grace that they most desire. Hasta
siempre, Cuba, a land made
beautiful by the maternal presence of Mary. May God bless your future".
Having concluded his farewell address, Benedict XVI boarded his plane for Rome
where, following a flight of ten and a half hours, he arrived at 10.15 a.m.
local time on 29 March.
___________________________________________________________
CANONICAL STATUS OF THE SO-CALLED BISHOPS OF PIDHIRCI
Vatican City, 29 March 2012 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a declaration
issued today by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith concerning the
canonical status of the "so-called Greek-Catholic bishops of Pidhirci": Fr.
Elias A. Dohnal
O.S.B.M., Fr. Markian V. Hitiuk O.S.B.M., Fr. Metodej R. Spirik O.S.B.M., and
Fr. Robert Oberhauser. The text is dated 22 February and bears the signatures
of Cardinal William Joseph Levada and Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer
S.J., respectively
prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
(1) The Holy See has followed with great concern the activities of Fr. Elias
A. Dohnal O.S.B.M., Fr. Markian V. Hitiuk O.S.B.M., Fr. Metodej R. Spirik
O.S.B.M., and Fr. Robert Oberhauser who, having been expelled from the
Basilian Order of St. Josaphat,
subsequently proclaimed themselves as bishops of the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian
Church. With their disobedience, these priests continue to challenge
ecclesiastical authority, causing moral and spiritual damage, not only to the
Basilian Order of St.
Josaphat and the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Church, but also to this Apostolic
See and the Catholic Church as a whole. All this provokes division and
bewilderment among the faithful. The aforementioned priests, having
established a group of "bishops" of
Pidhirci, have recently sought to have that group recognised and registered by
the competent State authorities as the "Ukrainian Orthodox Greek-Catholic
Church".
(2) Since the beginning of this painful episode, Church representatives of
various ranks have sought to dissuade them from continuing a conduct which,
among other things, could deceive the faithful, as has already happened in a
number of cases.
(3) The Holy See, concerned to protect the unity and peace of Christs flock,
had hoped in the repentance and subsequent return of the aforementioned
priests to full communion with the Catholic Church. Unfortunately the most
recent developments - such as
the unsuccessful attempt to acquire State registration for the "Pidhirci"
group under the name of the "Ukrainian Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church" -
demonstrates their continuing disobedience.
(4) Therefore, to safeguard the common good of the Church and the "salus
animarum", and given that the so-called "bishops" of Pidhirci show no sign of
repentance but continue to create confusion and disarray in the community of
faithful, in particular
by calumniating representatives of the Holy See and of the local Church, and
asserting that the supreme authority of the Church is in possession of
documentation testifying to the full validity of their episcopal ordination,
the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, accepting the request presented by the ecclesiastical
authorities of the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Church, and by other dicasteries
of the Holy See, has decided, by this declaration, to inform the faithful,
especially in the
countries of origin of the so-called "bishops", about their current canonical
status.
(5) This Congregation, disassociating itself entirely from the actions of the
so-called "bishops" aforementioned, and from their aforesaid declarations,
formally declares that it does not recognise the validity of their episcopal
ordinations, or of any
and all ordinations that have derived, or will derive therefrom. Moreover, the
canonical status of the four so-called "bishops" is that of excommunication,
pursuant to canon 1459 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches
(CCEO), in view of
the fact that an appeal sentence of the ordinary tribunal of the Major
Archiepiscopal Ukrainian Church, issued on 10 September 2008, recognised them
as guilty of offences under canons 1462, 1447 and 1452 of the CCEO; i.e., the
offences of illegitimate
usurpation of office, inciting sedition and hatred towards certain hierarchs,
provoking subjects to disobedience, and harming a third party's good name by
calumny.
(6) Furthermore, the use of the name "Catholic" by groups which are not
recognised by the competent ecclesiastical authority is to be considered as
illegitimate, pursuant to canon 19 of the CCEO.
(7) The faithful are, then, enjoined not to adhere to the aforementioned group
as, to all canonical effects, it is outside ecclesiastical communion. The
faithful are invited to pray for the members of the group, that they may
repent and return to full
communion with the Catholic Church.
___________________________________________________________
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VISnews120329
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXII - N° 67DATE 29-03-2012
Summary: - BENEDICT XVI: "CUBA AND THE
WORLD NEED CHANGE" - MEETING
BETWEEN THE POPE AND FORMER PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO - CUBA, DRAW STRENGTH
FROM THE FAITH TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE - CANONICAL STATUS OF THE
SO-CALLED BISHOPS OF PIDHIRCI
Vatican City, 28 March 2012 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. today the Holy Father
presided at Mass in Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion Jose Marti, in the
presence of thousands of faithful who had come from all over Cuba. Extracts
from Benedict XVI's homily are
given below:
"“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you
will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”. In this text
from today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals Himself as the Son of God the Father,
the Saviour, the One Who
alone can show us the truth and give us genuine freedom. His teaching provokes
resistance and disquiet among His hearers. ... Even so, He exhorts them to
believe, to keep His word, so as to know the truth which redeems and
justifies.
"The truth is a desire of the human person, the search for which always
supposes the exercise of authentic freedom. Many, without a doubt, would
prefer to take the easy way out, trying to avoid this task. Some, like Pontius
Pilate, ironically
question the possibility of even knowing what truth is, ... or deny that there
exists a truth valid for all. This attitude, as in the case of scepticism and
relativism, changes hearts, making them cold, wavering, distant from others
and closed. There
are too many who, like the Roman governor, wash their hands and let the water
of history drain away without taking a stand.
"On the other hand, there are those who wrongly interpret this search for
the truth, leading them to irrationality and fanaticism; they close themselves
up in “their truth”, and try to impose it on others. ... Anyone
who acts irrationally
cannot become a disciple of Jesus. Faith and reason are necessary and
complementary in the pursuit of truth. God created man with an innate vocation
to the truth and He gave him reason for this purpose. Certainly, it is not
irrationality but rather the
yearning for truth which the Christian faith promotes".
"Furthermore, the truth which stands above humanity is an unavoidable
condition for attaining freedom, since in it we discover the foundation of an
ethics on which all can converge and which contains clear and precise
indications concerning life and
death, duties and rights, marriage, family and society, in short, regarding
the inviolable dignity of the human person. This ethical patrimony can bring
together different cultures, peoples and religions, authorities and citizens,
citizens among
themselves, and believers in Christ and non-believers.
"Christianity, in highlighting those values which sustain ethics, does not
impose, but rather proposes Christ’s invitation to know the truth which
sets us free. ... In Christ we find the truth about God and about mankind. He
helps us to
overcome our selfishness, to rise above our vain struggles and to conquer all
that oppresses us. The one who does evil, who sins, becomes its slave and will
never attain freedom. Only by renouncing hatred and our hard and blind hearts
will we be free
and a new life will well up in us".
"The Church lives to make others sharers in the one thing she possesses,
which is none other than Christ, our hope of glory. To carry out this duty,
she must count on basic religious freedom, which consists in her being able to
proclaim and to
celebrate her faith also in public, bringing to others the message of love,
reconciliation and peace which Jesus brought to the world. It must be said
with joy that in Cuba steps have been taken to enable the Church to carry out
her essential mission of
expressing her faith openly and publicly. Nonetheless, this must continue
forwards, and I wish to encourage the country’s government authorities
to strengthen what has already been achieved and advance along this path of
genuine service to the
true good of Cuban society as a whole.
"The right to freedom of religion, both in its private and in its public
dimension, manifests the unity of the human person, who is at once a citizen
and a believer. It also legitimises the fact that believers have a
contribution to make to the
building up of society. Strengthening religious freedom consolidates social
bonds, nourishes the hope of a better world, creates favourable conditions for
peace and harmonious development. ... When the Church upholds this human
right, she is not
claiming any special privileges for herself. She wishes only to be faithful to
the command of her divine founder, conscious that, where Christ is present, we
become more human and our humanity becomes authentic. This is why the Church
seeks to give
witness by her preaching and teaching, both in catechesis and in the schools
and universities. It is greatly to be hoped that the moment will soon arrive
when, here too, the Church can bring to the fields of knowledge the benefits
of the
mission which the Lord entrusted to her and which she can never neglect.
"A shining example of this commitment is found in the outstanding priest
Felix Varela, teacher and educator, an illustrious son of this city of Havana,
who has taken his place in Cuban history as the first one who taught his
people how to think.
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