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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 75
DATE 16-04-2012
Summary:
- BENEDICT XVI RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS FROM CARDINALS AND BISHOPS
- THE PEACE OF CHRIST IS THE RESULT OF HIS VICTORY OVER EVIL
- THE HOLY ROBE, SYMBOL OF THE CHURCH'S INDIVISIBLE UNITY
- HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR SPEAKS ABOUT THE ORLANDI CASE
- FIVE CARDINALS TO TAKE POSSESSION OF TITLES, DIACONATES
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
___________________________________________________________
BENEDICT XVI RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS FROM CARDINALS AND BISHOPS
Vatican City, 16 April 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today celebrates his
eighty-fifth birthday. He was born in the German village of Marktl am Inn on
16 April 1927. Later this week, on Thursday 19 April, he will also celebrate
the seventh anniversary of
his election to the Papacy. For these two occasions, a Mass of thanksgiving
was celebrated this morning in the Pauline Chapel of the Vatican Apostolic
Palace, in the presence of members of the College of Cardinals and a group of
bishops from the Pope's
native region of Bavaria.
Before the Eucharistic celebration, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the
College of Cardinals, addressed some words to the Holy Father.
"Seven years ago", he said, "the Lord called you to a great gesture of love,
asking you, as one day He did Peter: 'If you love me, feed my lambs, tend my
sheep'. With the generosity you have always shown, you pronounced your 'yes'
and thus began your
Petrine ministry. Today, on the occasion of your birthday, we wish to thank
you for the solicitude with which you carry out this service of love. It is no
coincidence that your first Encyclical was a hymn to the Love that is God, the
love which must
always animate pastors, who are called to bring the light of God, the warmth
of His love, into the world.
"Holy Father, may the Lord continue to remain at your side, accomplishing the
promise announced by God to the just man in Psalm 90: 'With long life I will
satisfy them, and show them my salvation'".
After presiding at the Eucharist, Benedict XVI greeted the Bavarian bishops
and received a delegation from the civil authorities of that region.
___________________________________________________________
THE PEACE OF CHRIST IS THE RESULT OF HIS VICTORY OVER EVIL
Vatican City, 15 April 2012 (VIS) - Before praying the Regina Coeli this
morning, Benedict XVI reminded the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square
that today, the second Sunday of Easter, is known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
In His two apparitions to the disciples gathered in the Upper Room, Jesus
often repeated the greeting "peace be with you". Following the resurrection,
the Pope explained, this traditional salute became "the gift of that peace
which only Jesus can give,
because it is the fruit of His victory over evil. The 'peace' which Jesus
offered His friends is the fruit of the love of God, which led Him to die on
the cross and to spill His blood as a mild and humble Lamb 'full of grace and
truth'. This is why
Blessed John Paul II chose to dedicate the Sunday after Easter to Divine
Mercy".
From the risen and living Christ "come the Paschal Sacraments of Baptism and
the Eucharist. Those who receive these Sacraments receive the gift of eternal
life", said the Holy Father. He also noted how Christian worship is
essentially "a meeting with
the risen Lord, Who lives in the dimension of God, beyond time and space, yet
at the same time is truly present in the community. He speaks to us of Sacred
Scripture and breaks with us the Bread of eternal life. Through these signs we
have the same
experience as the disciples: to see Jesus and at the same time not to
recognise Him".
In conclusion the Pope invited believers to welcome the gift offered by the
risen Christ. "Let us allow our hearts to be filled by His Mercy", he said.
"In this way, with the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit which caused Jesus
to arise from the
dead, we too can take these Paschal gifts to others".
Following the Marian prayer, the Pope told the faithful: "On Thursday, the
seventh anniversary of my election to the Chair of Peter, I ask you to pray
for me, that the Lord may give me the strength to carry out the mission with
which He has entrusted
me".
___________________________________________________________
THE HOLY ROBE, SYMBOL OF THE CHURCH'S INDIVISIBLE UNITY
Vatican City, 14 April 2012 (VIS) - Thousands of pilgrims are currently
converging on the cathedral of Trier, Germany, for the fifth centenary of the
first public display of the "Heiliger Rock", said to be the Holy Robe which
Jesus wore before His
crucifixion and for which, according to the Gospel of St. John, the Roman
soldiers cast lots.
According to tradition, part of this robe was found by Helena, mother of
Constantine the Great, who gave it to St. Agricius, archbishop of Trier. The
faithful were able to see it for the first time in 1512 when the emperor
Maximilian I asked Archbishop
Richard von Greiffenklau of Trier to put it on public display.
For the inauguration of the pilgrimage, which will last until 13 May, Benedict
XVI has sent a message to Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier. The document
bears the date of 6 April, Good Friday.
The Holy Father recalls how St. John says that the tunic was a single seamless
piece of cloth, for which reason the soldiers decided not to tear it but to
cast lots. "The Church Fathers saw in this the unity of the Church, founded as
one indivisible
community by the love of Christ", the Pope says. "The Saviour's love brings
together that which has been divided. ... Moreover, the Robe of Christ is
'woven in one piece from the top'. This too is an image of the Church, which
lives not thanks to her
own efforts but because of the action of God. As one indivisible community she
is a work of God, not the result of man's abilities. At the same time, the
Holy Robe is a monition to the Church to remain faithful to her origins, in
the awareness that her
unity, consensus, effectiveness and witness ... can only be a gift of God".
Finally, the Holy Father writes, "the Holy Robe is not a toga, an elegant
garment expressing a social function; it is a modest habiliment which serves
to cover and protect the person wearing it, to protect his propriety. It is
the undivided gift of the
Crucified Christ to the Church which He sanctified with His blood. For this
reason the Holy Robe reminds the Church of her own dignity. ... We must be
constantly open to conversion and humility, in order to be disciples of the
Lord in love and truth. At
the same time, the special dignity and integrity of the Church cannot be sold
short and abandoned to the clamour and the summary judgement of public
opinion".
Concluding his message the Pope notes that "the jubilee pilgrimage has taken
as its motto an invocation of the Lord: 'Lead to unity that which is divided'.
We do not want to be isolated. We want to ask the Lord to guide us on the
shared path of faith,
to make it live again for us. In this way - growing together as Christians in
faith, prayer and witness, and amidst of the trials of our time - we will be
able to proclaim His magnificence and His goodness".
___________________________________________________________
HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR SPEAKS ABOUT THE ORLANDI CASE
Vatican City, 14 April 2012 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr.
Federico Lombardi S.J. today issued a note concerning news which has appeared
recently in Italian media outlets about the Vatican and the Emanuela Orlandi
case. Emanuela Orlandi, the
daughter of an employee of Vatican City State and herself a Vatican citizen,
disappeared on 22 June 1983 at the age of 15. Her disappearance has given rise
to much speculation over the last thirty years. Among other theories, it has
been conjectured
that the case was related to the assassination attempt against John Paul II in
1981, and that it involved secret services or groups active in the Roman
underworld of the time. In 2008 an Italian television programme transmitted
information suggesting
that Emanuela Orlandi's remains may be buried in the same grave as the leader
of one of those criminal gangs.
Extracts from Fr. Lombardi's note are given below.
"It should be recalled that Pope John Paul II demonstrated particular personal
interest in this tragic abduction, intervening publicly on various occasions
(no fewer than eight in less than a year) with appeals for the liberation of
Emanuela. He also
went in person to visit the family. ... This personal commitment of the Pope
was naturally backed up by the commitment of his collaborators. Cardinal
Agostino Casaroli, secretary of State and therefore the Pope's main
collaborator, followed events
personally, and made a special telephone available line for contact with the
kidnappers.
"As has been stated in the past, and is still maintained by Cardinal Giovanni
Battista Re - then assessor of the Secretariat of State and today the main and
most authoritative witness from that time - both the Secretariat of State and
the Governorate
did everything possible to deal with the painful situation by collaborating
with the Italian authorities, who obviously had responsibility for the
investigations as the abduction took place in Italy. The complete readiness to
collaborate on the part of
people holding positions of responsibility within the Vatican at the time is
proven by the facts and the circumstances. ... All the letters and information
which reached the Vatican were immediately passed on to Inspector Sica at the
General
Inspectorate for Public Security in the Vatican, and are presumably still held
in the competent Italian judicial offices.
"Likewise in the second phase of the investigation, years later, the three
rogatory letters send to the Vatican authorities by Italian investigators ...
all received a response". At the request of the Italian judges numerous people
were interrogated in
the Vatican and their declarations sent to the authorities concerned. "The
relevant files still exist and remain at the disposal of investigators. It
should also be pointed out that at the time of Emanuela's abduction, the
Vatican authorities granted
Italian investigators of SISDE (the Italian secret service) authorisation to
place the telephone line of the Orlandi family under surveillance, and gave
them free access to the Vatican allowing them to go to the Orlandi home
without mediation by Vatican
functionaries. It is not, then, correct to accuse the Vatican of having
refused to collaborate with the Italian investigative authorities".
"The main issue is that, unfortunately, no information useful for the solution
of the case ... was found in the Vatican. At that time the Vatican
authorities, on the basis of messages they received referring to Ali Agca - a
period which effectively
coincided with the investigation on the attack against the Pope - shared the
prevailing opinion that the kidnapping was used by an obscure criminal
organisation to send a message or to apply pressure in relation to the
incarceration and interrogation of
the Pope's attacker.
"There was no reason to imagine other possible motives for the kidnapping.
Attributing knowledge of secrets related to the abduction, allegedly possessed
by people belonging to Vatican institutions, but without giving any names, is
neither a reliable
nor well-founded way to proceed. At times it almost seems to be a pretext
against the anguish and frustration of not being able to discover the truth.
"In conclusion, ... it has not emerged that there is anything hidden, nor that
there are 'secrets' to be revealed in the Vatican. Continuing to affirm the
contrary is completely unjustified".
"Finally, since the location of the grave of Enrico De Pedis in the basilica
of Sant'Apollinare in Rome has given, and continues to give rise to questions
and discussion, over and above any links he may have had with the Orlandi
case, we reiterate that
the Church has no objection to the opening of the tomb and the burial of the
body elsewhere, in order to restore the serenity that is right and just for a
holy place.
"To conclude, we would like to draw inspiration from John Paul II's own
intense personal participation in this tragic event, and in the suffering of
the family, ... a suffering unfortunately rekindled every time a new
explanation of the case emerges.
... Alas, many people disappear in Italy every year, and are never heard from
again despite searches and enquiries; yet the affair of this young and
innocent Vatican citizen continues to come under the spotlight. This should
not be a reason to attribute
the Vatican with a guilt it does not have, but rather an occasion to gain
greater awareness of terrible and often forgotten disappearances (especially
of young people), and to make every effort to oppose all criminal activity
from whatever source".
___________________________________________________________
FIVE CARDINALS TO TAKE POSSESSION OF TITLES, DIACONATES
Vatican City, 16 April 2012 (VIS) - A note released today by the Office of
Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff provides details concerning the
taking of possession of the following titles and diaconates:
Cardinal Prosper Grech O.S.A., will take possession of the diaconate of Santa
Maria Goretti in Via di Santa Maria Goretti 29, Rome, at 6 p.m. on Saturday 21
April.
Cardinal Karl Josef Becker S.J., will take possession of the diaconate of San
Giuliano Martire in Via Cassia 1036, Rome, at 11 a.m. on Sunday 22 April.
Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro, penitentiary major, will take possession
of the diaconate of San Domenico di Guzman in Via Vincenzo Marmorale 25, Rome,
at 11.15 a.m. on Sunday 22 April.
Cardinal John Tong Hon, bishop of Hong Kong, China, will take possession of
the title of title of Regina Apostolorum in Via Antonino Pio 75, Rome, at
11.30 a.m. on Sunday 22 April.
Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for
Legislative Texts, will take possession of the diaconate of San Giuseppe dei
Falegnami in Clivo Argentario 1, Rome, at 5 p.m. on Thursday 26 April.
___________________________________________________________
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 16 April 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience
Horst Seehofer, minister-president of Bavaria, Germany.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 14 April 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:
- Archbishop Marek Solczynski, apostolic nuncio to Georgia and Armenia, also
as apostolic nuncio to Azerbaijan.
- As consultors of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints: Msgr. Luis
Manuel Cuna Ramos, Fr. Filippo Urso, Fr. Wojciech Giertych O.P., Fr. Antonio
Escudero Cabello S.D.B., Fr. Marek Rostkowsi O.M.I., Fr. Alfonso Amarante
C.SS.R., Sr. Albarosa Ines
Bassani S.V.D.I., and Sr. Grazia Loparco F.M.A.
___________________________________________________________
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VISnews120416
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXII - N° 75DATE 16-04-2012
Summary: - BENEDICT XVI RECEIVES
CONGRATULATIONS FROM CARDINALS AND
BISHOPS - THE PEACE OF CHRIST IS THE RESULT OF HIS VICTORY OVER EVIL - THE HOLY ROBE, SYMBOL OF THE CHURCH'S INDIVISIBLE UNITY - HOLY SEE
PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR SPEAKS ABOUT THE ORLANDI CASE - FIVE CARDINALS TO
TAKE POSSESSION OF
TITLES, DIACONATES - AUDIENCES - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS ___________________________________________________________
BENEDICT XVI RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS FROM CARDINALS AND BISHOPS
Vatican City, 16 April 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today celebrates his
eighty-fifth birthday. He was born in the German village of Marktl am Inn on
16 April 1927. Later this week, on Thursday 19 April, he will also celebrate
the seventh anniversary of
his election to the Papacy. For these two occasions, a Mass of thanksgiving
was celebrated this morning in the Pauline Chapel of the Vatican Apostolic
Palace, in the presence of members of the College of Cardinals and a group of
bishops from the Pope's
native region of Bavaria.
Before the Eucharistic celebration, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the
College of Cardinals, addressed some words to the Holy Father.
"Seven years ago", he said, "the Lord called you to a great gesture of
love, asking you, as one day He did Peter: 'If you love me, feed my lambs,
tend my sheep'. With the generosity you have always shown, you pronounced your
'yes' and thus began your
Petrine ministry. Today, on the occasion of your birthday, we wish to thank
you for the solicitude with which you carry out this service of love. It is no
coincidence that your first Encyclical was a hymn to the Love that is God, the
love which must
always animate pastors, who are called to bring the light of God, the warmth
of His love, into the world.
"Holy Father, may the Lord continue to remain at your side, accomplishing
the promise announced by God to the just man in Psalm 90: 'With long life I
will satisfy them, and show them my salvation'".
After presiding at the Eucharist, Benedict XVI greeted the Bavarian bishops
and received a delegation from the civil authorities of that region.
THE PEACE OF CHRIST IS THE RESULT OF HIS VICTORY OVER EVIL
Vatican City, 15 April 2012 (VIS) - Before praying the Regina Coeli this
morning, Benedict XVI reminded the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square
that today, the second Sunday of Easter, is known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
In His two apparitions to the disciples gathered in the Upper Room, Jesus
often repeated the greeting "peace be with you". Following the resurrection,
the Pope explained, this traditional salute became "the gift of that peace
which only Jesus can
give, because it is the fruit of His victory over evil. The 'peace' which
Jesus offered His friends is the fruit of the love of God, which led Him to
die on the cross and to spill His blood as a mild and humble Lamb 'full of
grace and truth'. This is
why Blessed John Paul II chose to dedicate the Sunday after Easter to Divine
Mercy".
From the risen and living Christ "come the Paschal Sacraments of Baptism
and the Eucharist. Those who receive these Sacraments receive the gift of
eternal life", said the Holy Father. He also noted how Christian worship is
essentially "a meeting with
the risen Lord, Who lives in the dimension of God, beyond time and space, yet
at the same time is truly present in the community. He speaks to us of Sacred
Scripture and breaks with us the Bread of eternal life. Through these signs we
have the same
experience as the disciples: to see Jesus and at the same time not to
recognise Him".
In conclusion the Pope invited believers to welcome the gift offered by the
risen Christ. "Let us allow our hearts to be filled by His Mercy", he said.
"In this way, with the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit which caused Jesus
to arise from the
dead, we too can take these Paschal gifts to others".
Following the Marian prayer, the Pope told the faithful: "On Thursday, the
seventh anniversary of my election to the Chair of Peter, I ask you to pray
for me, that the Lord may give me the strength to carry out the mission with
which He has entrusted
me".
THE HOLY ROBE, SYMBOL OF THE CHURCH'S INDIVISIBLE UNITY
Vatican City, 14 April 2012 (VIS) - Thousands of pilgrims are currently
converging on the cathedral of Trier, Germany, for the fifth centenary of the
first public display of the "Heiliger Rock", said to be the Holy Robe which
Jesus wore before His
crucifixion and for which, according to the Gospel of St. John, the Roman
soldiers cast lots.
According to tradition, part of this robe was found by Helena, mother of
Constantine the Great, who gave it to St. Agricius, archbishop of Trier. The
faithful were able to see it for the first time in 1512 when the emperor
Maximilian I asked
Archbishop Richard von Greiffenklau of Trier to put it on public display.
For the inauguration of the pilgrimage, which will last until 13 May,
Benedict XVI has sent a message to Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier. The
document bears the date of 6 April, Good Friday.
The Holy Father recalls how St. John says that the tunic was a single
seamless piece of cloth, for which reason the soldiers decided not to tear it
but to cast lots. "The Church Fathers saw in this the unity of the Church,
founded as one indivisible
community by the love of Christ", the Pope says. "The Saviour's love brings
together that which has been divided. ... Moreover, the Robe of Christ is
'woven in one piece from the top'. This too is an image of the Church, which
lives not thanks to her
own efforts but because of the action of God. As one indivisible community she
is a work of God, not the result of man's abilities. At the same time, the
Holy Robe is a monition to the Church to remain faithful to her origins, in
the awareness that her
unity, consensus, effectiveness and witness ... can only be a gift of God".
Finally, the Holy Father writes, "the Holy Robe is not a toga, an elegant
garment expressing a social function; it is a modest habiliment which serves
to cover and protect the person wearing it, to protect his propriety. It is
the undivided gift of
the Crucified Christ to the Church which He sanctified with His blood. For
this reason the Holy Robe reminds the Church of her own dignity. ... We must
be constantly open to conversion and humility, in order to be disciples of the
Lord in love and
truth. At the same time, the special dignity and integrity of the Church
cannot be sold short and abandoned to the clamour and the summary judgement of
public opinion".
Concluding his message the Pope notes that "the jubilee pilgrimage has
taken as its motto an invocation of the Lord: 'Lead to unity that which is
divided'. We do not want to be isolated. We want to ask the Lord to guide us
on the shared path of
faith, to make it live again for us. In this way - growing together as
Christians in faith, prayer and witness, and amidst of the trials of our time
- we will be able to proclaim His magnificence and His goodness".
