Finally the Holy Father recalled that during the period of Easter it is
customary for the Church to administer First Communion to children. In this
context, he exhorted pastors, parents and catechists "to prepare this feast of
the faith well, with
great fervour but also with sobriety".
Following the Regina Coeli the Holy Father mentioned yesterday's
beatification in Mexico of Maria Ines Teresa of the Blessed Sacrament Arias
Espinosa, foundress of the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed
Sacrament. "Let us give thanks to God
for this exemplary figure of Mexico, a land I had the joy of visiting and
which is always in my heart", he said,
Finally the Pope turned his attention to the Day of the Sacred Heart
Catholic University, which is being celebrated this Sunday
Subject: VISnews120423
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
in Italy on the theme: "The Future of the Country in the Hearts of the Young".
He said: "It is important for young people
to be educated in values, over and above scientific and technical knowledge.
It was for this reason that Fr. Gemelli founded the Catholic University, which
I hope will remain abreast of the times but also faithful to its origins".
___________________________________________________________
HOLY FATHER DENOUNCES HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ORGAN
HARVESTING
Vatican City, 23 April 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father has written a message
for the seventh world congress on the pastoral care of tourism, which begins
today in the Mexican city of Cancun. The message is addressed to Cardinal
Antonio Maria Veglio,
president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and
Itinerant Peoples, and to Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cardenas L.C., prelate
of Cancun-Chetumanl.
"Tourism", the Pope writes in the English-language version of his message,
"like other human realities, is called to be enlightened and transformed by
the Word of God. ... Tourism, together with vacations and free time, is a
privileged occasion for
physical and spiritual renewal; it facilitates the coming together of people
from different cultural backgrounds and offers the opportunity of drawing
close to nature and hence opening the way to listening and contemplation,
tolerance and peace,
dialogue and harmony in the midst of diversity.
"Travelling reflects our being as 'homo viator'; at the same time it evokes
that other deeper and more meaningful journey that we are called to follow and
which leads to our encounter with God. Travelling, which offers us the
possibility of admiring
the beauty of peoples, cultures and nature, can lead to God and be the
occasion of an experience of faith, “for from the greatness and beauty
of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator”.
"On the other hand tourism, like every human reality, is not exempt from
dangers or negative dimensions. We refer to evils that must be dealt with
urgently since they trample upon the rights of millions of men and women,
especially among the poor,
minors and handicapped. Sexual tourism is one of the most abject of these
deviations that devastate morally, psychologically and physically the life of
so many persons and families, and sometimes whole communities. The trafficking
of human beings for
sexual exploitation or organ harvesting as well as the exploitation of minors,
abandoned into the hands of individuals without scruples and undergoing abuse
and torture, sadly happen often in the context of tourism. This should bring
all who are engaged
for pastoral reasons or who work in the field of tourism, and the whole
international community, to increase their vigilance and to foresee and oppose
such aberrations".
"I would like to highlight three areas which should receive full attention
from the pastoral care of tourism. Firstly, we need shed light on this reality
using the social teaching of the Church and promote a culture of ethical and
responsible
tourism, in such a way that it will respect the dignity of persons and of
peoples, be open to all, be just, sustainable and ecological. The enjoyment of
free time and regular vacations are an opportunity as well as a right. The
Church, within its own
sphere of competence, is committed to continue offering its cooperation, so
that this right will become a reality for all people, especially for less
fortunate communities.
"Secondly, our pastoral action should never loose sight of the 'via
pulchritudinis', “the way of beauty”. Many of the manifestations
of the historical and cultural religious patrimony are “authentic ways
to God, Supreme Beauty. ...
It is important to welcome tourists and offer them well-organised visits, with
due respect for sacred places and the liturgical action, for which many of
these works came into being and which continues to be their main purpose.
"Thirdly, pastoral activity in the area of tourism should care for
Christians as they enjoy their vacations and free time in such a way that
these will contribute to their human and spiritual growth. Truly this is
“an appropriate moment to let
the body relax ... in order to grow in personal relationship with
Christ”".
"The new evangelisation, to which all are called, requires us to keep in
mind and to make good use of the many occasions that tourism offers us to put
forward Christ as the supreme response to modern man’s fundamental
questions".
___________________________________________________________
POPE RECALLS HISTORIC ROLE OF WOMEN IN BUILDING THE CHURCH IN AMERICA
Vatican City, 21 April 2012 (VIS) - At midday today Benedict XVI received
members of the Papal Foundation on their annual visit to Rome. The agency is a
Catholic association founded in Philadelphia, U.S.A., in 1990 by the
now-deceased Cardinal John
Krol, which every year finances the needs of the Church around the world.
Speaking to the group in English, the Pope thanked them for their support
for "a wide variety of apostolates". He also noted that later this year he
will canonise two new saints from North America, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha and
Blessed Mother
Marianne Cope, "striking examples of sanctity and heroic charity" who "also
remind us of the historic role played by women in the building up of the
Church in America. By their example and intercession, may all of you be
confirmed in the pursuit of
holiness and in your efforts to contribute to the growth of God’s
Kingdom in the hearts of people today".
"In these days I ask your continued prayers for the needs of the universal
Church and in particular for the freedom of Christians to proclaim the Gospel
and bring its light to the urgent moral issues of our time", the Pope
concluded.
___________________________________________________________
MEETING ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHINA
Vatican City, 21 April 2012 (VIS) - The commission established by Benedict
XVI in 2007 to study questions of importance concerning the life of the
Catholic Church in China is meeting in the Vatican today. The commission
includes superiors of the
dicasteries of the Roman Curia with responsibility in this area, as well as
certain representatives of the Chinese episcopate and of religious
congregations.
A communique released by the Holy See Press Office notes that, while
previous meetings have examined the formation of seminarians, consecrated
persons and priests, this year the focus will be on the formation of the lay
faithful in the light of the
situation of the Catholic community in China, and in the context of the "Year
of Faith" which will be celebrated by the entire Church from 11 October 2012
to 23 November 2013. Attention will also be given to progress made in the
field of forming
priests, consecrated persons and seminarians, and to what remains to be done
to ensure they are adequately prepared for the service they are called to
offer, within the Church and for the good of society. The meeting of the
commission is due to end on
25 April.
___________________________________________________________
CONCERT BY THE GEWANDHAUS ORCHESTRA FOR THE POPE'S BIRTHDAY
Vatican City, 21 April 2012 (VIS) - Yesterday in the Paul VI Hall the
Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig, Germany, conducted by Riccardo Chailly,
performed Symphony No. 2 "Lobgesang" by Felix Mendelssohn as a tribute to
Benedict XVI for his eighty-fifth
birthday. The concert took place under the patronage of the Free State of
Saxony and the city of Leipzig.
Following the performance, and having first expressed his thanks to the
musicians and organisers, the Holy Father recalled how Mendelssohn had
composed the symphony to mark the fourth centenary of the invention of
printing, and that it was first
performed at the Thomaskirche of Leipzig (the church of Johann Sebastian Bach)
on 25 January 1840. The conductor on that occasion had been Mendelssohn
himself, the long-time director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra.
"Art as praise of God, supreme Beauty", the Pope said, "lies at the root of
the way that Mendelssohn composed, not just as regards liturgical or sacred
music, but his entire oeuvre. ... For him, sacred music was not at a higher
level than any other
kind; each in its own way had to serve and honour God".
The Holy Father concluded by quoting the words written by Robert Schumann
after having attended the first performance of the "Lobgesang": "Let us - as
the text so splendidly set to music by the maestro says - 'lay aside the works
of darkness and put
on the armour of light'".
___________________________________________________________
CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE HOLY FATHER BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE
Vatican City, 23 April 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 April and June.
APRIL
Sunday 29: Fourth Sunday of Easter. Priestly ordinations at 9 a.m. in the
Vatican Basilica.
MAY
Sunday 13: Sixth Sunday of Easter. Pastoral visit to the Italian towns of
Arezzo, La Verna and San Sepolcro.
Sunday 27: Solemnity of Pentecost. Mass at 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican
Basilica.
JUNE
Friday 1 to Sunday 3: Pastoral visit to Milan for the World Meeting of
Families.
Thursday 7: Solemnity of Corpus Christi. At 7 p.m., Mass in the basilica of
St. John Lateran, procession to the basilica of St. Mary Major and Eucharistic
blessing.
Friday 29: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Mass at 9 a.m. in
the Vatican Basilica. Blessing and imposition of the pallium on new
metropolitan archbishops.
___________________________________________________________
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 23 April 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in
audience:
- Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental
Churches.
- Nine prelates of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on
their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Roger Lawrence Schwietz O.M.I. of Anchorage.
- Bishop Donald J. Kettler of Fairbanks.
- Bishop Edward James Burns of Juneau.
- Archbishop James Peter Sartain of Seattle, accompanied by Auxiliary
Bishop Eusebio L. Elizondo M.Sp.S. and by Archbishop emeritus Alexander J,
Brunett.
- Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Spokane.
- Bishop Joseph Jude Tyson of Yakima, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Carlos
Arthur Sevilla S.J.
On Saturday 21 April he received in audience:
- Fourteen prelates of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on
their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop William Joseph Justice and Bishop Robert Walter McElroy,
auxiliaries of San Francisco, accompanied by Bishop Ignatius Chung Wang,
former auxiliary, and by Archbishop emeritus John Raphael Quinn.
- Bishop Clarence R. Silva of Honolulu.
- Bishop Joseph Anthony Pepe of Las Vegas.
- Bishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone of Oakland.
- Bishop Randolph Roque Calvo of Reno.
- Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, accompanied by Bishop emeritus William
Keith Weigand.
- John Charles Wester of Salt Lake City.
- Bishop Patrick Joseph McGrath of San Jose in California.
- Bishop Robert Francis Vasa of Santa Rosa, accompanied by Bishop emeritus
Daniel Francis Walsh.
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 21 April 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed the
following cardinals, created in the consistory of 18 February as members of
dicasteries and offices of the Roman Curia:
1. Cardinal George Alencherry of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars,
India; Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the
Evangelisation of Peoples, and Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of
the Pontifical Council for
Legislative Texts, as members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith.
2. Cardinal George Alencherry of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars,
India; Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, archbishop of New York, U.S.A.;
Cardinal Lucian Muresan, major archbishop of Fagaras and Alba Julia of the
Romanians, Romania; Cardinal
Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of
Peoples, and Cardinal Edwin Frederick O'Brien, grand master of the Equestrian
Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, as members of the
Congregation for the Oriental
Churches.
3. Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for
the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, as member of the
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
4. Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro, penitentiary major, and Cardinal
Santos Abril y Castello, archpriest of the papal basilica of St. Mary Major,
as members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
5. Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro, penitentiary major; Cardinal Santos
Abril y Castello, archpriest of the papal basilica of St. Mary Major; Cardinal
Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City
State and of the
Governorate of Vatican City State, and Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, president
of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, as members of the
Congregation for Bishops.
6. Cardinal John Tong Hon, bishop of Hong Kong, China; Cardinal Santos
Abril y Castello, archpriest of the papal basilica of St. Mary Major; Cardinal
Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City
State and of the
Governorate of Vatican City State, and Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, president
of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, as members of the
Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
7. Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht, Netherlands, and
Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of
Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as members of the
Congregation for the Clergy.
8. Cardinal Dominik Jaroslav Duka O.P., archbishop of Prague, Czech
Republic, and Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, president of the Prefecture for the
Economic Affairs of the Holy See, as members of the Congregation for
Institutes of Consecrated Life and
Societies of Apostolic Life.
9. Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins, archbishop of Toronto, Canada;
Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht, Netherlands; Cardinal
Giuseppe Betori, archbishop of Florence, Italy; Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki,
archbishop of Berlin,
Germany; Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the
Evangelisation of Peoples; Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic
Life, and Cardinal Edwin Frederick
O'Brien, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy
Sepulchre of Jerusalem, as members of the Congregation for Catholic
Education.
10. Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council
for Legislative Texts, and Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, president of the
Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, as members of the Supreme
Tribunal of the Apostolic
Signatura.
11. Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for
the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, as member of the
Pontifical Council for the Laity.
12. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, archbishop of Berlin, Germany, and
Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for
Legislative Texts, as members of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity.
13. Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for
the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, as member of the
Pontifical Council for the Family.
14. Cardinal Dominik Jaroslav Duka O.P., archbishop of Prague, Czech
Republic, and Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical
Commission for Vatican City State and of the Governorate of Vatican City
State, as members of the Pontifical
Council for Justice and Peace.
15. Cardinal Edwin Frederick O'Brien, grand master of the Equestrian Order
of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, as member of the Pontifical
Council "Cor Unum".
16. Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro, penitentiary major, as member of
the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant
Peoples.
17. Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, president of the Administration of the
Patrimony of the Apostolic See, as member of the Pontifical Council for Health
Pastoral Care.
18. Cardinal John Tong Hon, bishop of Hong Kong, China, as member of the
Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.
19. Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, archbishop of Florence, Italy, as member of
the Pontifical Council for Culture.
20. Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins, archbishop of Toronto, Canada, and
Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, archbishop of New York, U.S.A., as members of
the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.
21. Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, archbishop of New York, U.S.A., as
member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation.
22. Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes
of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as member of the
Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses.
On Saturday 21 April it was also made public that the Holy Father
appointed:
- As members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Cardinal
Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, Italy, and Cardinal Donald William Wuerl,
archbishop of Washington, U.S.A.
- Archbishop Lorenzo Balisseri, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops,
as a consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
- Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, president of the Administration of the
Patrimony of the Apostolic See, as member of the Pontifical Commission for
Vatican City State.
- Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for
Vatican City State and of the Governorate of Vatican City State, as his
special envoy to celebrations marking the millennium of the foundation of the
Holy Hermitage of
Camaldoli, Italy, due to take place on 19 June.
___________________________________________________________
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