* Original message posted in: VATICAN.   
   * Crossposted in: IN_CATHOLIC.   
   VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
      
   TWENTIETH YEAR - N. 173   
   ENGLISH   
   TUESDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2010   
      
   SUMMARY:   
      
   - Presentation of World Youth Day 2011   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
   - In Memoriam   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   PRESENTATION OF WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 5 OCT 2010 (VIS) - A press conference was held this morning in   
   the Holy See Press Office to present the next World Youth Day, which is due   
   to be held in the Spanish capital city of Madrid in August 2011.   
      
     Participating in today's presentation were Cardinal Stansilaw Rylko,   
   president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity; Cardinal Antonio Maria   
   Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid and president of the Spanish Episcopal   
   Conference; Bishop Josef Clemens, secretary of the Pontifical Council for   
   the Laity; Bishop Cesar Franco Martinez, auxiliary of Madrid and   
   co-ordinator general for WYD 2011, and Maria de Jaureguizar, vice director   
   of the WYD communications department.   
      
     Cardinal Rylko highlighted how "the Pope lays much emphasis on the fact   
   that WYD should not be reduced merely to a moment of festivity. Preparation   
   for this great event and the attention that must be given to ordinary   
   pastoral care are an integral and decisive part thereof. The festivities and   
   the event itself act as a kind of catalyst to facilitate an ongoing   
   educational process. In this sense, Benedict XVI sees in WYD a prophetic   
   response to the educational emergency of the post-modern world".   
      
     In his remarks, Cardinal Rouco Varela explained that "World Youth Day is a   
   clear invitation addressed to all Spanish society to draw near to Christ and   
   His Church. ... If we mange to reveal the beauty of the faith, many young   
   and not-so-young people will proudly discover or rediscover the unearned   
   privilege of being Catholic, and the responsibility we have to transform   
   this world of ours into a better place for everyone".   
      
     WYD, he went on, "will be possible thanks to many people's help", first   
   among them "dozens of permanent helpers and - when the crucial week of 16-21   
   August draws near - up to 20,000 Spanish and international volunteers". Many   
   families of Madrid will also welcome pilgrims into their homes. From an   
   economic point of view, "WYD is supported by a vast civic platform, made up   
   of many small donations as well as of contributions from firms and   
   institutions, in money and in kind, who have agreed to become patrons and to   
   share the responsibility of organising WYD, for the benefit of the youth of   
   the world".   
      
     "I must not fail to mention", Cardinal Rouco continued, "the positive   
   climate of collaboration which has existed since the start with the Spanish   
   public authorities. The welcome given to WYD by the national government, the   
   Autonomous Community of Madrid and the city authorities, was favourable and   
   effective from the first moment".   
      
     Bishop Clemens analysed the Pope's Message for WYD, noting the   
   autobiographical references Benedict XVI includes in the text. "The Pope   
   mentions his personal experiences on three occasions", said Bishop Clemens.   
   "In doing so he shows - as he has during meetings with children and young   
   people in the past - great closeness and sensibility towards the specific   
   challenges and difficulties youth must face. His words and gestures   
   demonstrate a sincere desire to share with young people, revealing great   
   tact and an attentive and realistic language".   
      
     "The Holy Father's first autobiographical reference begins with the   
   experience of his own youth as a period of 'great seeking', but also of   
   'seeking what is great'", said Bishop Clemens. Benedict XVI speaks of the   
   Nazi period, but his experiences are in some way "transferable to the   
   situation of young people today who, though in a different way, also   
   experience being 'closed' in a world where consumerism and personal   
   relations based on interest often prevail".   
      
     The second reference is to youth as a time of great decisions, and the   
   Holy Father recalls his own decision to become a priest. "The Pope's words",   
   the bishop said, "reflect the experience of many young people who well   
    know   
   that great decisions, often difficult decisions, must subsequently be   
   re-conquered and defended. We all know the widespread difficulty of our time   
   of taking and remaining faithful to great decisions, of committing oneself   
   for a lifetime. It is in this context that the Pope points out the virtues   
   ... of faithfulness and coherence, of willingness and service, as   
   indispensable premises for an 'authentic' life".   
      
     Thirdly, in his Message Benedict XVI identifies the response that will   
   guide us throughout our lives. "A response that comes from the depths of his   
   heart and from the experience of his long life", said Bishop Clemens. "This   
   response is God, it is faith in Him, it is the meeting with Jesus Christ;   
   ... the real Jesus, not the Jesus of a hypothesis or a scientific theory. As   
   an 'existential foundation' he offers the experience of his own 'personal   
   search for the face of the Lord', which he achieved and developed over long   
   years of study, prayer and meditation".   
      
     For his part, Bishop Cesar Franco Martinez focused his remarks on the   
   programme and the organisational aspects of WYD. According to information   
   collected from various episcopal conferences, he said, WYD 2011 promises to   
   be one of the best-attended of those organised in Europe although, because   
   of the economic crisis afflicting Spain, it will be marked by a certain   
   sobriety. It will also be a "very Spanish" WYD because the Pontifical   
   Council for the Laity, indicating that each WYD must be firmly rooted in its   
   host country, has asked that there be "a special presentation of Spanish   
   history and culture".   
      
     The principal aim of WYD in Madrid is to relaunch pastoral activity among   
   young people. "Society is witnessing a fall in religious practice among   
   youth", the bishop explained. "The latest official information shows that   
   among under-twenty-fives the level of religious practice is less than ten   
   percent, while 48.1 percent of young people declare themselves as   
   non-practicing. It is precisely them we wish to reach".   
      
     On the subject of economic support, the bishop gave the names of various   
   organisations that are supporting the event. He also explained that anyone   
   wishing to make a contribution can visit the portal www.muchasgracias.info   
   where they will be able to decide the quantity and purpose of their   
   donation.   
   OP/                                                                     VIS   
   20101005 (1010)   
      
   OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 5 OCT 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed the following   
   persons as participants in the forthcoming Special Assembly for the Middle   
   East of the Synod of Bishops, due to be held in the Vatican from 10 to 24   
   October on the theme: "The Catholic Church in the Middle East. Communion and   
   Witness. Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul":   
      
   MEMBERS   
      
   - Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals.   
   - Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, major archbishop of Kyiv-Halyc, Ukraine.   
   - Cardinal Walter Kasper, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for   
   Promoting Christian Unity.   
   - Cardinal John Patrick Foley, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the   
   Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.   
   - His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, patriarch emeritus of Jerusalem of the   
   Latins.   
   - His Beatitude Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, major archbishop of Trivandrum   
   of the Syro-Malankars, India   
   - Archbishop Edmond Farhat, apostolic nuncio.   
   - Archbishop Riccardo Fontana, of Arezzo-Cortona-San Sepolcro, Italy.   
   - Archbishop Mounged El-Hachem, apostolic nuncio.   
   - Archbishop Cyril Vasil, S.J., secretary of the Congregation for the   
   Oriental Churches.   
   - Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, C.SS.R., auxiliary of Kyiv-Halyc, Ukraine.   
   - Bishop Dimitrios Salachas, apostolic exarch for Greek Catholics of   
   Byzantine Rite resident in Greece.   
   - Bishop Bosco Puthur, curial bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the   
   Syro-Malabars, India.   
   - Msgr. Archimandrite Robert L. Stern, secretary general of the Catholic   
   Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA).   
   - Msgr. Mikael Antoine Mouradian, patriarchal vicar of the Institute for the   
   Patriarchal Clergy of Bzommar, Leb   
   anon.   
   - Fr. David Neuhaus, S.J., head of pastoral care for Hebrew-speaking   
   Catholics in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem of the Latins.   
      
   EXPERTS   
      
   - Fr. Nicolas Antiba, archimandrite of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church in   
   Paris, France.   
   - Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J., president of the Pontifical   
   Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies in Rome.   
   - Fr. Jean Azzam, secretary of the episcopal theological and biblical   
   commission of the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon   
   (APECL).   
   - Fr. Hani Nasif Wasif Bakhoum Kiroulos, secretary to the Coptic Catholic   
   Patriarch, Egypt.   
   - Fr. Claudio Giovanni Bottini, O.F.M., dean of the Faculty of Biblical   
   Studies and Archaeology in Jerusalem of the Pontifical "Antonianum"   
   University.   
   - Fr. Frans Bouwen, M. Afr., editor of the magazine "Proche Orient   
   Chretien".   
   - Msgr. Claude Bressolette, vicar general of the Ordinariate for faithful of   
   oriental rite resident in France and without their own ordinary.   
   - Fr. Nicola Bux, professor at the Theological Faculty of Puglia, Bari,   
   Italy.   
   - Fr. Jalil Canli Hadaya, O.F.M. Conv., judicial vicar of the apostolic   
   vicariate of the Latins in Lebanon.   
   - Fr. Elias Daw, president of the ecclesiastical court of appeal of the   
   Greek-Melkite Catholic Church, Israel.   
   - Martino Diez, director of research at the International Oasis Foundation,   
   Italy.   
   - Fr. Peter du Brul, S.J., founder of the department for religious studies   
   at the University of Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories.   
   - Fr. Pier Giorgio Gianazza, S.D.B., professor of theology at the Salesian   
   Theological Institute of Jerusalem.   
   - Fr. Rafic Edward Greiche, head of the press office of the Catholic Church   
   in Egypt.   
   - Fr. Gaby Hachem, C.S.P., associate professor of ecclesiology at the   
   Faculty of Theology of "Saint-Esprit" University at Kaslik, Lebanon.   
   - Fr. Damian Howard, S.J., professor of theology at Heythrop College of the   
   University of London, England.   
   - Sr. Eudoxie Kechichian, S.A.I.C., superior general of the Armenian Sisters   
   of the Immaculate Conception, Lebanon.   
   - Fr. Antoine Louis Mouawad Khalife, O.L.M., director general of "C.H.U.   
   Notre Dame De Secours" at Jbeil Byblos, Lebanon.   
   - Msgr. Rafiq Khoury, pastor of "Bir Zeit", patriarchate of Jerusalem of the   
   Latins.   
   - Fr. Hanna Kildani, professor of the modern history of Christianity in the   
   Holy Land, Jordan.   
   - Annie Laurent, member of the Association of Catholic Notaries and of the   
   International Union of the Francophone Press.   
   - Fr. Philippe Luisier, S.J., professor of Coptic language and literature at   
   the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome.   
   - Fr. Peter H. Madrous, doctor of biblical theology and biblical studies in   
   the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.   
   - Msgr. Ermenegildo Manicardi, rector of Rome's Almo Collegio Capranica.   
   - Fr. Frederic Manns, O.F.M., ordinary professor of the Faculty of Biblical   
   Studies and Archaeology of the "Studium Biblicum Franciscanum" in Jerusalem.   
   - Fr. Sameer Shaba Maroki, O.P., professor of oriental spiritual theology at   
   Babel College, Iraq.   
   - Fr. Paolo Martinelli, O.F.M. Cap., president of the Franciscan Institute   
   of Spirituality at the "Antonianum" Pontifical Athenaeum in Rome.   
   - Graziano Motta, journalist of Vatican Radio.   
   - Sr. Telesphora Pavlou, teacher of dogmatic theology at the "Studio   
   Teologico San Salvatore" in Jerusalem.   
   - Fr. Paul Rouhana, O.L.M., rector of the Faculty of Theology of   
   "Saint-Esprit" University at Kaslik, Lebanon.   
   - Fr. Samir Khalil Samir, S.J., professor of the history of Arab culture and   
   Islamic studies at St. Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon.   
   - Fr. Selim Sfeir, judicial vicar of the eparchy of Cyprus of the Maronites.   
   - Fr. Mark Sheridan, O.S.B., member of the International Association for   
   Coptic Studies.   
   - Msgr. Salim Soussan, vicar general of the archieparchy of Haifa and the   
   Holy Land.   
   - Fr. Guy Tardivy, O.P., prior of the Dominican convent of Saint-Etienne,   
   the French biblical and archaeological school of Jerusalem.   
   - Dietmar Werner Winkler, director of the department of biblical studies and   
   ecclesiastical history at the University of Salzburg, Austria.   
      
   AUDI   
   TORS   
      
   - Fr. Faez Alfrejatt, O.B.S., monk of the convent of the Holy Saviour, Joun,   
   Lebanon.   
   - Hanna Almasso, member of the national team of leaders of J.O.C. Dubai,   
   United Arab Emirates.   
   - Msgr. Michel Aoun, episcopal vicar of the eparchy of Beirut of the   
   Maronites, Lebanon.   
   - Anton R. Asfar, council member of the patriarchal exarchate of   
   Syro-Catholics of Jerusalem.   
   - Said A. Azer, member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.   
   - Agostino Borromeo, governor general of the Equestrian Order of the Knights   
   of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.   
   - Msgr. Philippe Brizard, director general emeritus of "L'Oeuvre d'Orient".   
   - Tanios Chahwan, president of the National Council of the Laity in Lebanon.   
   - Hares Chehab, secretary general of the National Committee for   
   Islamic-Christian Dialogue, Lebanon.   
   - Jacques F. El Kallassi, director general of "Tele Lumiere" and president   
   of the managing board of "Noursat", Lebanon.   
   - Amin Fahim, co-founder of the Christian Association of Upper Egypt.   
   - Joseph Boutros Farah, president of Caritas International for the Middle   
   East and North Africa.   
   - Daniella Harrouk, SS.CC., superior general of the Congregation of the   
   Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.   
   - Marco Impagliazzo, president of the Sant'Egidio Community.   
   - Jocelyne Khoueiry, president of the lay movement "La Libanaise Femme du 31   
   May".   
   - Naguib Khouzam, director general of the SETI Centre   Caritas Egypt.   
   - Pilar Lara Alen, president of the Foundation for the Social Promotion of   
   Culture.   
   - Anan J. Lewis, professor of English poetry (Victorian and modern), at the   
   department of English of the University of Baghdad, Iraq.   
   - Regina Lynch, project director of Aid to the Church In Need.   
    - Sobhy Makhoul, secretary general of the Maronite Catholic exarchate of   
   Jerusalem, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan.   
   - Rita Moussallem, member of the Focolari Movement.   
   - Huda Musher, director of Caritas Jordan.   
   - Sr. Clauda Achaya Naddaf, R.B.P. superior of the convent of Sisters of Our   
   Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, Damascus, Syria.   
   - Fr. Georges Dankaye (Kevork Noradounguian), rector of the Pontifical   
   Armenian College in Rome.   
   - Fr. Raymond Leslie O'Toole, S.F.M., assistant to the secretary general of   
   the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).   
   - Fr. Rino Rossi, director of the "Domus Galilaeae", Israel.   
   - Sr. Marie-Antoinette Saade, of the Congregation of Maronite Sisters of the   
   Holy Family.   
   - Epiphan Bernard Z. Sabella, associate professor of sociology at the   
   University of Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories.   
   - Paul Saghbini, hospitaller of the Lebanese Association of the Knights of   
   Malta.   
   - Rudolf Wilhelm Maria Solzbacher, member of the presidency of the "Deutsche   
   Verein Vom Heiligen Lande".   
   - Harald Suermann, head of the Middle Eastern section of "Missio".   
   - Sr. Karima Tamer Hendy Awad, R.B.P., provincial superior of the Sisters of   
   Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, Egypt.   
   - Christa Von Siemens, director of the commission for the Holy Land of the   
   Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.   
   - Husam J. Wahhab, president of Catholic Action of Bethlehem, Palestinian   
   Territories. NA/                                        VIS 20101005 (1380)   
      
   IN MEMORIAM   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 5 OCT 2010 (VIS) - The following prelates died recently:   
      
    - Bishop Victor Adibe Chikwe of Ahiara, Nigeria, on 16 September at the age   
   of 72.   
      
    - Bishop Armindo Lopes Coelho, emeritus of Porto, Portugal, on 29 September   
   at the age of 79.   
      
    - Bishop Bernard Genoud of Lausanne, Geneve et Fribourg, Switzerland, on 21   
   September at the age of 68.   
      
    - Bishop Jakob Mayr, former auxiliary of Salzburg, Austria, on 19 September   
   at the age of 86.   
      
    - Bishop Joseph Merhi, emeritus of Le Caire of the Maronites, Egypt, on 30   
   March 2006 at the age of 94.   
      
    - Bishop James Edward Michaels S.S.C.M.E., former auxiliary of   
   Wheeling-Charleston, U.S.A., on 21 September at the age of 84.   
      
    - Archbishop-bishop Francis Mansour Zayek, emeritus of Saint Maron of   
   Brooklyn, U.S.A., on 22 September at the age of 89.   
   .../                                                    VIS   
    20101005 (150)   
      
    - Origin: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede (1:396/3)    
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS-Meridian, MS-bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)