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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 164
DATE 16-09-2012
Summary:
- MAY GOD BLESS THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY, SO SORELY TRIED DOWN THE AGES
- ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY CAN LIVE TOGETHER WITHOUT HATRED
- SERVING JUSTICE AND PEACE IS AN IMPERATIVE TASK OF THE CHURCH
- MAY THE GOSPEL CONTINUE TO RESONATE IN THE REGION WHICH SAW JESUS' ACTIONS
AND HEARD HIS WORDS
- ANGELUS: WHY SO MUCH HORROR? WHY SO MANY DEAD?
___________________________________________________________
MAY GOD BLESS THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY, SO SORELY TRIED DOWN THE AGES
Vatican City, 16 September 2012 (VIS) - At midday yesterday, before having
lunch with patriarchs and bishops of Lebanon, and the members of the Special
Council for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, in the headquarters of
the Armenian Catholic
Patriarchate at Bzommar, the Pope expressed his thanks for the invitation to
His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, patriarch of Cilicia of the
Armenians, and to the superior of the Institute of the Patriarchal Clergy.
"Divine Providence has allowed our meeting to take place here in this convent
of Bzommar, which is so emblematic for the Armenian Catholic Church. Its
founder, the monk Hagop, more commonly known as Meghabarde - the sinner - is
an example for us of
prayer, of detachment from material things and of faithfulness to Christ the
Redeemer. Five hundred years ago, he promoted the printing of the Friday Book,
thus establishing a bridge between Christians of East and West. From his
example, we can learn
the meaning of mission, the courage of truth and the value of fraternity in
unity. As we prepare to replenish our strength with this meal which has been
lovingly prepared and generously offered, the monk Hagop also reminds us that
the spiritual thirst
and the quest for higher things must remain always alive in our hearts, for
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from
the mouth of God'".
"Dear friends", the Pope added, "through the intercession of the Apostles
Bartholomew and Thaddeus, and of St. Gregory the Illuminator, let us ask the
Lord to bless the Armenian community, so sorely tried down through the ages,
and to send to its
harvest numerous saintly workers who, because of Christ, are enabled to change
the face of our societies, to heal hearts that are broken and to offer
courage, strength and hope to those who despair. Thank you!"
___________________________________________________________
ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY CAN LIVE TOGETHER WITHOUT HATRED
Vatican City, 16 September 2012 (VIS) - Yesterday evening the Holy Father paid
a visit to the Maronite Patriarchate at Bkerke. Since 1832, Bkerke has been
the winter residence of the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East,
while his summer
residence is located at Dimane in northern Lebanon, The current Patriarch is
His Beatitude Bechara Boutros Rai, O.M.M.
At Bkerke, which stands on the hillside of Harissa and is dominated by the
Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, the Holy Father met with young people of the
Middle East.
"You are living today in this part of the world which witnessed the birth of
Jesus and the growth of Christianity", the Holy Father told his youthful
audience. "It is a great honour! It is also a summons to fidelity, to love of
this region and, above
all, to your calling to be witnesses and messengers of the joy of Christ. ...
Many of the Apostles and saints lived in troubled times and their faith was
the source of their courage and their witness. Find in their example and
intercession the
inspiration and support that you need!
"I am aware of the difficulties which you face daily on account of instability
and lack of security, your difficulties in finding employment and your sense
of being alone and on the margins. In a constantly changing world you are
faced with many serious
challenges. But not even unemployment and uncertainty should lead you to taste
the bitter sweetness of emigration, which involves an uprooting and a
separation for the sake of an uncertain future. You are meant to be
protagonists of your country’s
future and to take your place in society and in the Church.
"You have a special place in my heart and in the whole Church, because the
Church is always young! The Church trusts you, ... (she) needs your enthusiasm
and your creativity! Youth is the time when we aspire to great ideals, when we
study and train for
our future work. ... Seek beauty and strive for goodness! ... Open the doors
of your minds and hearts to Christ! ... Christ says to you: My peace I give to
you! This is the true revolution brought by Christ: that of love.
"The frustrations of the present moment must not lead you to take refuge in
parallel worlds like those, for example, of the various narcotics or the bleak
world of pornography. As for social networks, they are interesting but they
can quite easily lead
to addiction and confusion between the real and the virtual. Look for
relationships of genuine, uplifting friendship. Find ways to give meaning and
depth to your lives; fight superficiality and mindless consumption! ... Seek
out good teachers, spiritual
masters, who will be able to guide you along the path to maturity, leaving
behind all that is illusory, garish and deceptive".
"Meditate on God’s word! Discover how relevant and real the Gospel can
be. Pray! Prayer and the Sacraments are the sure and effective means to be a
Christian and to live rooted and built up in Christ. ... In Him, all men and
women are our brothers
and sisters. The universal brotherhood which He inaugurated on the cross
lights up in a resplendent and challenging way the revolution of love.
“Love one another as I have loved you”. This is the legacy of
Jesus and the sign of the
Christian".
"Christ asks you, then, to do as He did: to be completely open to others, even
if they belong to a different cultural, religious or national group. Making
space for them, respecting them, being good to them, making them ever more
rich in humanity and
firm in the peace of the Lord. ... Experiencing together moments of friendship
and joy enables us to resist the onset of division, which must always be
rejected! ... Be heralds of the Gospel of life and life’s authentic
values. Courageously resist
everything opposed to life: abortion, violence, rejection of and contempt for
others, injustice and war. In this way you will spread peace all around you.
Are not “peacemakers” those whom in the end we admire the most? Is
it not a world of
peace that, deep down, we want for ourselves and for others? ... Truly
discovering God’s forgiveness and mercy always enables us to begin a new
life. It is not easy to forgive. But God’s forgiveness grants the power
of
conversion, and the joy of being able to forgive in turn. Forgiveness and
reconciliation are the paths of peace; they open up a future".
"Young people of Lebanon, you are the hope and the future of your country. You
are Lebanon, a land of welcome, of openness, with a remarkable power of
adaptation. At this moment, we cannot forget those millions of individuals who
make up the Lebanese
diaspora and maintain solid bonds with their land of origin. Young people of
Lebanon, be welcoming and open, as Christ asks you and as your country teaches
you.
"I should like now to greet the young Muslims who are with us this evening. I
thank you for your presence, which is so important. Together with the young
Christians, you are the future of this fine country and of the Middle East in
general. Seek to
build it up together! And when you are older, continue to live in unity and
harmony with Christians. For the beauty of Lebanon is found in this fine
symbiosis.
It is vital that the Middle East in general, looking at you, should understand
that Muslims and Christians, Islam and Christianity, can live side by side
without hatred, with respect for the beliefs of each person, so as to build
together a free and
humane society.
"I understand, too, that present among us there are some young people from
Syria. I want to say how much I admire your courage. Tell your families and
friends back home that the Pope has not forgotten you. Tell those around you
that the Pope is saddened
by your sufferings and your griefs. He does not forget Syria in his prayers
and concerns, he does not forget those in the Middle East who are suffering.
It is time for Muslims and Christians to come together so as to put an end to
violence and war".
At the conclusion of his meeting with the young people, the Pope greeted
Catholic patriarchs of Lebanon in chapel of the Assumption inside the
Patriarchal Palace.
___________________________________________________________
SERVING JUSTICE AND PEACE IS AN IMPERATIVE TASK OF THE CHURCH
Vatican City, 16 September 2012 (VIS) - This morning in Beirut, Lebanon,
Benedict XVI celebrated Mass at the City Centre Waterfront, a coastal area
reclaimed from the sea using the debris of buildings in the old centre of
Beirut, which were demolished
at the end of the Civil War prior to the reconstruction.
The Holy Father travelled by car from the apostolic nunciature in Harissa,
then covered the final stretch along the seafront from Jounieh in popemobile.
He was greeted on arrival by the mayor of Beirut who presented him with the
keys to the city. The
Mass was attended by many thousands of faithful, the Lebanese authorities and
300 bishops from all over the Middle East. The liturgy was celebrated in
Arabic, French and Latin.
In his homily the Pope commented on today's reading from the Gospel of St.
Mark in which the true identity of Jesus is revealed. In Mark's narrative,
Jesus is walking with His disciples along the road leading to the villages in
the region of Caesarea
Philippi when He asks them: "Who do people say that I am?"
"The moment He chose to ask this question is not insignificant", the Holy
Father explained. "Jesus was facing a decisive turning-point in His life. He
was going up to Jerusalem, to the place where the central events of our
salvation would take place:
His crucifixion and resurrection. In Jerusalem too, following these events,
the Church would be born".
In the episode, after Peter has proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, Christ tells
the disciples that He must suffer and be put to death before rising again. "He
realises that people could use this answer to advance agendas which are not
His, to raise false
temporal hopes in His regard. He does not let Himself be confined to the
attributes of the human saviour which many were expecting", the Pope said.
"Jesus wants to make them understand His true identity. He is a Messiah Who
suffers, a Messiah Who serves, and not some triumphant political saviour. He
is the Servant Who obeys His Father’s will, even to giving up His life.
... Jesus thus
contradicts the expectations of many. What He says is shocking and disturbing.
We can understand the reaction of Peter who rebukes Him, refusing to accept
that his Master should suffer and die! Jesus is stern with Peter; He makes him
realise that anyone
who would be His disciple must become a servant, just as He became Servant".
Therefore, the Pope went on, "following Jesus means taking up one’s
cross and walking in His footsteps, along a difficult path which leads not to
earthly power or glory but, if necessary, to self-abandonment, to losing
one’s life for Christ
and the Gospel in order to save it. We are assured that this is the way to the
resurrection, to true and definitive life with God". In this context, Benedict
pointed out that the Year of Faith, due to begin on 11 October is an
invitation to "each member
of the faithful to renew his or her commitment to undertaking this path of
sincere conversion. Throughout this Year, then, I strongly encourage you to
reflect more deeply on the faith, to appropriate it ever more consciously and
to grow in fidelity to
Christ Jesus and His Gospel.
"Brothers and sisters, the path on which Jesus wishes to guide us is a path of
hope for all. Jesus’ glory was revealed at the very time when, in His
humanity, He seemed weakest, particularly through the incarnation and on the
cross. This is how
God shows His love; He becomes our servant and gives Himself to us".
Benedict XVI then turned his attention to the second reading, in which St.
James states that, if our adherence to Jesus is to be authentic, it requires
"concrete actions. ... It is an imperative task of the Church to serve and of
Christians to be true
servants in the image of Jesus", he said. "Consequently, in a world where
violence constantly leaves behind its grim trail of death and destruction, to
serve justice and peace is urgently necessary for building a fraternal
society, for building
fellowship! ... I pray in particular that the Lord will grant to this region
of the Middle East servants of peace and reconciliation, so that all people
can live in peace and with dignity. This is an essential testimony which
Christians must render
here, in cooperation with all people of good will. I appeal to all of you to
be peacemakers, wherever you find yourselves".
Likewise, the Pope went on, "service must also be at the heart of the life of
the Christian community itself. Every ministry, every position of
responsibility in the Church, is first and foremost a service to God and to
our brothers and sisters. This is
the spirit which should guide the baptised among themselves, and find
particular expression in an effective commitment to serving the poor, the
outcast and the suffering, so that the inalienable dignity of each person may
be safeguarded.
"Dear brothers and sisters who are suffering physically or spiritually", the
Holy Father added concluding his homily, "your sufferings are not in vain!
Christ the Servant wished to be close to the suffering. ... Along your own
path, may you always find
brothers and sisters who are concrete signs of His loving presence which will
never forsake you! Remain ever hopeful because of Christ!".
"May God bless Lebanon; may He bless all the peoples of this beloved region of
the Middle East, and may He grant them the gift of His peace".
___________________________________________________________
MAY THE GOSPEL CONTINUE TO RESONATE IN THE REGION WHICH SAW JESUS' ACTIONS AND
HEARD HIS WORDS
Vatican City, 16 September 2012 (VIS) - At the end of today's Eucharistic
celebration, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of
Bishops, arose and invited the Holy Father to consign the Post-Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia
in Medio Oriente" to Catholic patriarchs of the Middle East, presidents of the
episcopal conferences of Turkey and Iran, and a number of lay faithful. The
Exhortation is the final document of the Special Assembly for the Middle East
of the Synod of
Bishops, which was held in October 2010 on the theme: "The Catholic Church in
the Middle East: Communion and witness. 'The company of those who believed
were of one heart and soul'".
Benedict XVI expressed his hope that the Exhortation would be "be a guide to
follow the various and complex paths where Christ goes before you. May
communion in faith, hope and charity be strengthened in your countries and in
every community so as to
make credible your witness to the Triune God, Who has drawn close to each one
of us", he said.
"Dear Church in the Middle East, draw from the source of salvation which
became a reality in this unique and beloved land! Follow in the footsteps of
your fathers in faith, who by tenacity and fidelity opened up the way for
humanity to respond to the
revelation of God! Among the wonderful diversity of saints who flourished in
your land, look for examples and intercessors who will inspire your response
to the Lord's call to walk towards the heavenly Jerusalem, where God will wipe
away every one of
our tears! May fraternal communion be a support for you in your daily life and
the sign of the universal brotherhood which Jesus, the first born of many,
came to bring! Thus, in this region which saw His actions and heard His words,
may the Gospel
continue to resonate as it did 2000 years ago, and may it be lived today and
forever!"
___________________________________________________________
ANGELUS: WHY SO MUCH HORROR? WHY SO MANY DEAD?
Vatican City, 16 September 2012 (VIS) - Having consigned the Post-Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation, and before praying the Angelus, the Holy Father
pronounced some words in which he called on "Mary, Our Lady of Lebanon, around
whom both Christians and
Muslims gather", to intercede "for the people of Syria and the neighbouring
countries, imploring the gift of peace".
Benedict XVI went on: "You know all too well the tragedy of the conflicts and
the violence which generates so much suffering. Sadly, the din of weapons
continues to make itself heard, along with the cry of the widow and the
orphan. Violence and hatred
invade people’s lives, and the first victims are women and children. Why
so much horror? Why so many dead? I appeal to the international community! I
appeal to the Arab countries that, as brothers, they might propose workable
solutions respecting
the dignity, the rights and the religion of every human person! Those who wish
to build peace must cease to see in the other an evil to be eliminated. It is
not easy to see in the other a person to be respected and loved, and yet this
is necessary if
peace is to be built, if fraternity is desired.
"May God grant to your country, to Syria and to the Middle East the gift of
peaceful hearts, the silencing of weapons and the cessation of all violence!
May men understand that they are all brothers! Mary, our Mother, understands
our concern and our
needs. Together with the patriarchs and bishops present, I place the Middle
East under her maternal protection. May we, with God’s help, be
converted so as to work ardently to establish the peace that is necessary for
harmonious coexistence among
brothers, whatever their origins and religious convictions".
___________________________________________________________
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VISnews120916
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXII - N° 164DATE 16-09-2012
Summary: - MAY GOD BLESS THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY, SO SORELY TRIED DOWN
THE AGES - ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY CAN LIVE TOGETHER WITHOUT HATRED
- SERVING JUSTICE AND PEACE IS AN IMPERATIVE TASK OF THE CHURCH - MAY
THE GOSPEL CONTINUE TO RESONATE IN THE REGION WHICH SAW JESUS' ACTIONS AND
HEARD HIS WORDS -
ANGELUS: WHY SO MUCH HORROR? WHY SO MANY DEAD?
MAY GOD BLESS THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY, SO SORELY TRIED DOWN THE AGES
Vatican City, 16 September 2012 (VIS) - At midday yesterday, before having
lunch with patriarchs and bishops of Lebanon, and the members of the Special
Council for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, in the headquarters of
the Armenian Catholic
Patriarchate at Bzommar, the Pope expressed his thanks for the invitation to
His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, patriarch of Cilicia of the
Armenians, and to the superior of the Institute of the Patriarchal Clergy.
"Divine Providence has allowed our meeting to take place here in this
convent of Bzommar, which is so emblematic for the Armenian Catholic Church.
Its founder, the monk Hagop, more commonly known as Meghabarde - the sinner -
is an example for us of
prayer, of detachment from material things and of faithfulness to Christ the
Redeemer. Five hundred years ago, he promoted the printing of the Friday Book,
thus establishing a bridge between Christians of East and West. From his
example, we can learn
the meaning of mission, the courage of truth and the value of fraternity in
unity. As we prepare to replenish our strength with this meal which has been
lovingly prepared and generously offered, the monk Hagop also reminds us that
the spiritual thirst
and the quest for higher things must remain always alive in our hearts, for
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from
the mouth of God'".
"Dear friends", the Pope added, "through the intercession of the Apostles
Bartholomew and Thaddeus, and of St. Gregory the Illuminator, let us ask the
Lord to bless the Armenian community, so sorely tried down through the ages,
and to send to its
harvest numerous saintly workers who, because of Christ, are enabled to change
the face of our societies, to heal hearts that are broken and to offer
courage, strength and hope to those who despair. Thank you!"
ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY CAN LIVE TOGETHER WITHOUT HATRED
Vatican City, 16 September 2012 (VIS) - Yesterday evening the Holy Father
paid a visit to the Maronite Patriarchate at Bkerke. Since 1832, Bkerke has
been the winter residence of the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the
East, while his summer
residence is located at Dimane in northern Lebanon, The current Patriarch is
His Beatitude Bechara Boutros Rai, O.M.M.
At Bkerke, which stands on the hillside of Harissa and is dominated by the
Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, the Holy Father met with young people of the
Middle East.
"You are living today in this part of the world which witnessed the birth
of Jesus and the growth of Christianity", the Holy Father told his youthful
audience. "It is a great honour! It is also a summons to fidelity, to love of
this region and, above
all, to your calling to be witnesses and messengers of the joy of Christ. ...
Many of the Apostles and saints lived in troubled times and their faith was
the source of their courage and their witness. Find in their example and
intercession the
inspiration and support that you need!
"I am aware of the difficulties which you face daily on account of
instability and lack of security, your difficulties in finding employment and
your sense of being alone and on the margins. In a constantly changing world
you are faced with many
serious challenges. But not even unemployment and uncertainty should lead you
to taste the bitter sweetness of emigration, which involves an uprooting and a
separation for the sake of an uncertain future. You are meant to be
protagonists of your
country’s future and to take your place in society and in the Church.
"You have a special place in my heart and in the whole Church, because the
Church is always young! The Church trusts you, ... (she) needs your enthusiasm
and your creativity! Youth is the time when we aspire to great ideals, when we
study and train
--- NetMgr/2 1.0y+
* Origin: NetMgr+ @ Sursum Corda! BBS Meridian MS USA (1:396/45)
