disciples. It rested upon each of them and set the divine fire alight within
them, a fire of love with the power to transform. Their fear disappeared, in
their hearts they felt a new strength, their tongues were loosened and they
began to speak frankly
so that everyone could understand the announcement of Jesus Christ, Who died
and rose again. At Pentecost division and estrangement gave way to unity and
understanding".
In today's Gospel Jesus, "speaking of the Holy Spirit, tells us what the
Church is and how she must live in order to be ... a place of unity and
communion in the Truth. He tells us that acting as Christians means not
remaining closed in one's own
Subject: VISnews120528
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
self but being open to all things; it means welcoming the entire Church into
our own lives or, better still, allowing her to welcome us in our hearts. ...
Thus the Holt Spirit, the Spirit of unity and truth, can continue to resound
in the hearts and
minds of men, encouraging them to meet and accept one another".
The Holy Spirit leads us to understand the truth, which is Jesus,"but only
if we are able to listen and to share, only in the 'us' of the Church and with
an attitude of profound inner humility. ... When men wish to set themselves up
as God, they only
succeed in setting themselves against one other. On the other hand, when they
abide in the truth of the Lord, they open themselves to the action of His
spirit which sustains and unites them".
St. Paul tells us that the life of man is marked by an inner conflict
between the impulses of the flesh and those of the spirit. The former are "the
sins of selfishness and violence, such as enmity, discord, jealousy and
dissension. ... They can lead
us to lose our lives. However, the Holy Spirit guides us to the pinnacle of
God so that, already in this life, we may experience the seed of divine live
which is within us. St. Paul says, in fact, that 'the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy and
peace'".
In conclusion, the Pope exhorted the faithful to live "according to the
Spirit of unity and truth. To this end we must pray that the Spirit may
illuminate us, guiding us to overcome the lure of our own truths and to accept
the truth of Christ, as
transmitted by the Church".
___________________________________________________________
ST. JOHN OF AVILA AND ST. HILDEGARD OF BINGEN TO BE PROCLAIMED DOCTORS OF
THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH
Vatican City, 27 May 2012 (VIS) - After celebrating Mass this morning in
the Vatican Basilica for the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Holy Father appeared
at the window of his study to pray the Regina Coeli with pilgrims gathered in
St. Peter's
Square.
Before the Marian prayer the Pope announced that on 7 October, at the start
of the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, he will proclaim St. John of
Avila and St. Hildegard of Bingen as Doctors of the Universal Church. "These
two great
witnesses of the faith lived in very different historical periods and cultural
environments", he said. "Hildegard was a Benedictine nun during the height of
the German Middle Ages, a true master of theology and a great scholar of the
natural sciences
and of music. John was a young diocesan priest of the Spanish Renaissance, who
participated in the travails of the cultural and spiritual renewal of the
Church and society at the dawn of the Modern Age".
The sanctity of their lives and the profundity of their doctrine mean that
these two saints "retain all their importance. The grace of the Holy Spirit
enabled them to experience profound understanding of divine revelation and
intelligent dialogue
with the world, two factors which represent the perennial goal of the life and
activity of the Church".
St. John and St. Hildegard are particularly significant on the eve of the
forthcoming Year of Faith, and in light of the new evangelisation to which the
Synod of Bishops will be dedicating its attention. "Also in our own day, and
through their
teaching, the Spirit of the risen Lord continues to make His voice heard and
to illuminate the path which leads to the Truth, which is the only thing that
can make us free and give full meaning to our lives", the Pope said.
After praying the Regina Coeli he recalled that Mother Saint Louis (nee
Marie-Louise Elisabeth de Lamoignon, widow of Mole de Champlatreux), foundress
of the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis who lived between the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries,
was today proclaimed a blessed in France. She was "an exemplary witness of
love for God and for neighbour", the Holy Father said. He also recalled the
fact that he is due to travel to Milan on Friday to participate in the seventh
World Meeting of
Families, and he asked the faithful to pray for the success of that event.
___________________________________________________________
THE POPE: "WE MUST RENEW THE SOUL OF OUR INSTITUTIONS"
Vatican City, 26 May 2012 (VIS) - "We must form people's consciences in the
light of the Word of God, whence all plans of the Church and of men draw
meaning and strength, also as regards the construction of the earthly city. We
must renew the soul of
our institutions and make history fertile with the seeds of new life".
Benedict XVI pronounced these words this morning in St. Peter's Square where
he received thousands of members of the Renewal in the Holy Spirit
Association,which is celebrating the
fortieth anniversary of its foundation in Italy.
The Pope expressed the view that "in modern society we are experiencing a
situation which is in some ways precarious, characterised by insecurity and
the fragmentary nature of decisions. Often there is a lack of points of
reference from which to draw
inspiration for our lives. It is, then, increasingly important to construct
the edifice of life and social relationships on the stable rock of the Word of
God".
Today, the Holy Father said, believers are called to show a "convincing,
sincere and credible witness of faith, one closely united to charitable
commitment, It is, in fact, through charity, that people far removed from and
indifferent to the the
message of the Gospel are able to approach the truth and to become converted
to the merciful love of the heavenly Father".
Pope Benedict also dedicated his attention to the work of the Renewal in
the Holy Spirit Association over recent decades. "Your apostolic efforts have
contributed to the development of spiritual life in the Italian ecclesial and
social fabric through
paths of conversion which have helped many people to be profoundly healed by
the love of God, and many families to overcome moments of crisis", he said.
"Your groups have not been lacking in young people ready to respond generously
to the vocation of
special consecration to God in the priesthood and in the religious life". The
Holy Father also underlined the movement’s support for people in
situations of need and marginalisation, especially in the field of the
spiritual and material rebirth of
prisoners.
The Pope concluded by exhorting those present: "Never cease to look to
heaven; the world has need of prayer. We need men and women who feel the draw
of heaven in their lives, who make praising the Lord the basis of a new
lifestyle. Be joyous
Christians! I entrust you all to Mary Most Holy, who was present in the Upper
Room at the moment of Pentecost".
___________________________________________________________
POPE DONATES 100,000 EURO TO VICTIMS OF ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE
Vatican City, 26 May 2012 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" today
released a communique announcing that, "following the earthquake of recent
days, which wrought destruction particularly in the territory of the
ecclesiastical circumscriptions
of Carpi, Mantua, Modena-Nonantola and Ferrara-Comacchio, the Holy Father,
through the Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum', has decided to send a special
contribution of 100,000 euro, to be shared among the dioceses affected by the
calamity, to aid the
Catholic Church's assistance activities in favour of the victims. That sum is
intended to be a concrete expression of the Supreme Pontiff's sentiments of
spiritual closeness and paternal solicitude towards the people affected by the
earthquake".
___________________________________________________________
MESSAGE TO CATHOLICOS PATRIARCH OF THE ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST
Vatican City, 27 May 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a message to His
Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the
East, for the fiftieth anniversary of his consecration as bishop. In the
letter, written in
English, Benedict XVI recalls the patriarch’s visit to Rome in 1994 for
the signing of a Common Declaration on Christology, his presence at the
funeral of John Paul II, and his visit to Rome in 2007 during which the Pope
had expressed his hope
that they would continue their "common journey towards the re-establishment of
full communion".
"I thank the Lord for the many blessings he has bestowed on the Assyrian
Church of the East through your ministry, and I am grateful for your
commitment to promoting constructive dialogue, fruitful cooperation and
growing friendship between our
Churches".
"I wish also to reiterate my solidarity with the Christian communities in
Iraq and throughout the Middle East, praying that effective forms of common
witness to the Gospel and pastoral collaboration in the service of peace,
reconciliation and unity
may be deepened between the Catholic and Assyrian faithful".
The Holy Father concludes his letter by invoking the blessings of the
Blessed Trinity upon the Patriarch.
___________________________________________________________
SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS OF UKRAINE
Vatican City, 26 May 2012 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter, written
in Latin and dated 17 April, in which the Holy Father appoints Cardinal Angelo
Comastri, vicar general of His Holiness for Vatican City, as his special envoy
to the closing
celebrations of the National Eucharistic Congress of Ukraine, due to be held
in Lviv on 3 June, sixth centenary of the establishment of the archiepiscopal
and metropolitan see of Lviv of the Latins.
___________________________________________________________
INVESTIGATION INTO LEAKING OF RESERVED DOCUMENTS
Vatican City, 26 May 2012 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr.
Federico Lombardi S.J. today made the following declaration concerning
investigations taking place in the Vatican on the leaking of reserved
documents.
"I can confirm that the individual arrested on Wednesday evening for
illegal possession of reserved documents, which were found in his domicile
located within Vatican territory, is Mr. Paolo Gabriele, who is still being
held in detention.
"The first phase of the 'summary investigation' under the direction of
Nicola Picardi, promoter of justice, has come to an end and given way to the
phase of 'formal investigation', which is being conducted by Piero Antonio
Bonnet, investigating
magistrate.
"The accused has appointed two lawyers to represent him who are authorised
to act before the Vatican Tribunal, and he has had the opportunity to meet
with them. They will be able to help him in successive stages of the
proceedings. He benefits from
all the juridical guarantees laid down by the Criminal Code and the Code of
Criminal Procedure in force in Vatican City State.
"The investigatory phase will continue until an adequate picture of the
situation being investigated has emerged, after which the investigating
magistrate will either acquit the suspect or send him for trial".
___________________________________________________________
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 28 May 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in
audience:
- Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. of Malta, Malta, accompanied by Archbishop
emeritus Joseph Mercieca, on their "ad limina" visit.
- Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo, Malta, on his "ad limina" visit.
- Bishop Ralph Heskett C.SS.R. of Gibraltar, Gibraltar, on his "ad limina"
visit.
On Saturday 26 May he received in audience Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski,
prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 28 May 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:
- Fr. Leopold Ouedraogo, vicar general of the archdiocese of Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area 9,600, population
2,337,000, Catholics 810,310, priests 188, religious 905). The bishop-elect
was born in Ouagadougou
in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1979. He has worked as a pastor and as
professor then rector of the major seminary of "Saint Pierre et Paul".
- Fr. Elkin Fernando Alvarez Botero of the clergy of Sonson - Rionegro,
Colombia, director of the Department for Hierarchical Ministries of the
Colombian Episcopal Conference, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Medellin
(area 687, population
3,456,000, Catholics 3,004,000, priests 1,027, permanent deacons 50, religious
3,664), Colombia. The bishop-elect was born in El Retiro, Colombia in 1968 and
ordained a priest in 1993. He studied in Colombia and in Rome and has worked
in pastoral care,
education and as a local collaborator of the apostolic nunciature to
Colombia.
- Bishop Philippe Rukamba of Butare, Rwanda, as apostolic administrator
"sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the diocese of Gikongoro, Rwanda.
On Saturday 26 May it was made public that the Holy Father
- Appointed Fr. Dieudonne Espoir Atangana of the clergy of Obala, Cameroon,
former rector of the the major seminaries of "Notre Dame de l'Immaculee
Conception" of Yaounde and "Notre Dame de l'Esperance" of Bertoua, as bishop
of Nkongsamba (area
10,952, population 751,000, Catholics 350,000, priests 131, religious 74),
Cameroon. The bishop-elect was born in Ngongo, Cameroon in 1958 and ordained a
priest in 1986. He studied in Rome and has worked in the field of education in
a number of
seminaries. He is currently on a sabbatical year, during which he is serving
in various parishes in the diocese of Obala.
- Erected the new diocese of Bafang (area 7,229, population 252,284,
Catholics 131,475, priests 31, religious 11) Cameroon, with territory taken
from the diocese of Nkongsamba, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan
church of Douala. He appointed
Fr. Abraham Kome, apostolic administrator of Nkongsamba, as first bishop of
the new diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Loum-ville, Cameroon in 1969 and
ordained a priest in 1999. Among other roles, he has worked as vicar of the
diocesan cathedral,
master of ceremonies and pastor of the parish of St. Francis Xavier in
Kekem.
- Appointed Bishop Jurij Bizjak, auxiliary of Koper, Slovenia, as bishop of
the same diocese (area 4,306, population 267,300, Catholics 194,800, priests
161, religious 91). He succeeds Bishop Metod Pirih, whose resignation from the
pastoral care of
the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age
limit.
___________________________________________________________
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