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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 223
DATE 07-12-2012
Summary:
- THE POPE: MONOTHEISM DOES NOT GENERATE VIOLENCE
- LETTER OF CONDOLENCE ON THE DEATH OF PATRIARCH IGNATIUS HAZIM IV
- FIRST SERMON OF ADVENT
- THE RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE OSCE AREA
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
___________________________________________________________
THE POPE: MONOTHEISM DOES NOT GENERATE VIOLENCE
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received in audience
the members of the International Theological Commission following their
plenary session. The Pope expressed his appreciation for the message prepared
by the Commission
regarding the Year of Faith, which "illustrates well the specific way in which
theologians, in loyal service to the truth of faith, may share the Church's
evangelising impulse".
The message revisits the themes developed more fully in the document "Theology
today, Prospectives, Principles and Criteria", which embodies, in a sense,
"the genetic code of Catholic theology, or rather, the principles which define
her identity and as
a consequence, guarantee her unity in the diversity of her manifestations. ...
In a cultural context in which some have been tempted to deprive theology of
its academic status on account of its intrinsic links to faith, or to
disregard the confessional
aspect of theology, at the risk of confusing it with religious sciences, your
document provides a timely reminder that theology is in essence confessional
and rational, and its presence within university institutions guarantees a
broad and complete
vision of human reason".
The Pope mentioned that among the criteria of Catholic theology, the document
mentions the attention theologians should reserve for the 'sensus fidelium'.
"Vatican Council II, confirming the specific and irreplaceable role of the
Magisterium, emphasised
that the People of God as a whole participate in Christ's prophetic role. ...
This gift, the 'sensus fidei', constitutes in believers a sort of supernatural
instinct which shares a vital connaturality with the very object of faith. ...
It is a criterion
for ascertaining whether or not a certain truth belongs to the living
depository of the apostolic tradition. It also has a proactive value as the
Holy Spirit never ceases to speak of the Church and to guide her towards the
fullness of truth. Nowadays,
however, it is particularly important to specify the criteria which permit the
authentic 'sensus fidelium' to be distinguished from its imitations. This is
not in fact a form of ecclesial public opinion, and it would be unthinkabl
e to
refer to it to challenge the teachings of the Magisterium, since the 'sensus
fidei' cannot truly develop in a believer other than to the extent to which he
participates fully in the life of the Church, and it therefore necessitates
responsible adhesion
to her Magisterium".
"Nowadays, this supernatural sense of the faith of believers leads to a
vigorous reaction against the prejudice according to which religions, and in
particular monotheistic religions, are intrinsically predisposed to violence,
especially on the pretext
that they lay claim to a universal truth. Some maintain that only a
'polytheism of values' would guarantee tolerance and civil peace by conforming
to the spirit of a pluralistic democratic society. ... On the one hand, it is
important to remember that
faith in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, meets the rational demands
of metaphysical reflection, which is not weakened, but rather strengthened and
deepened by the Revelation of the mystery of the Triune God. On the other
hand, it is necessary
to emphasise the form that the definitive Revelation of the mystery of the
Triune God takes in the life and death of Jesus Christ, led unto the cross
like 'a lamb that is led to the slaughter'. The Lord offers a radical refusal
of a
ny
form of hate or violence in favour of the absolute primacy of agape. While
throughout history there have been or indeed there are forms of violence
carried out in the name of God, these cannot be attributed to monotheism, but
rather to historical
causes, and in particular to human error. It is, rather, an oblivion to God
that immerses human society in a form of relativism, which ineluctably
generates violence. Once the possibility of referring to a form of objective
truth is negated to all,
dialogue becomes impossible and violence, whether declared or concealed,
becomes the rule governing human relations. Without opening up to the
transcendent, which enables us to find answers to our questions on the meaning
of life and how to live in a
moral fashion, man becomes incapable of acting with justice or committing
himself to peace".
"If the rupture in man's relations with God brings with it a profound
imbalance in relations within mankind itself, reconciliation with God brought
about by Christ on the Cross, 'our peace', is the fundamental source of unity
and fraternity", continued
the Holy Father. "This also links to your discussion on the social doctrine of
the Church within the doctrine of the faith as a whole. It confirms that
social doctrine is not an extrinsic addition but, without neglecting the
contribution of a healthy
social philosophy, draws its basic principles from the same source as faith.
This doctrine renders effective, in the great variety of social situations,
the new commandment that the Lord Jesus gave to us: 'Just as I have loved you,
you also should love
one another'".
___________________________________________________________
LETTER OF CONDOLENCE ON THE DEATH OF PATRIARCH IGNATIUS HAZIM IV
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI has today sent a letter of
condolence to the Metropolitan Spyridon of Heliopolis for the death of His
Beatitude Archbishop Ignatius Hazim IV, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Antioch
and all the East, who
died on 5 December at the age of 92.
In the text, the Holy Father observes that "during his long life of service to
the Gospel, the deceased patriarch offered luminous testimony to faith and
charity, working with dedication for the spiritual elevation of the flock
entrusted to him and for
the noble cause of reconciliation and peace among men.
"I render thanks to God for the positive and effective contribution the late
Patriarch Ignatius made to the process of conciliation between our two
Churches. Let his memory invite us to continue on the path of dialogue and the
search for full communion
in Christ!" concluded the Pope.
___________________________________________________________
FIRST SERMON OF ADVENT
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - This morning in the "Redemptoris Mater"
Chapel of the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Pope attended the first sermon of
Advent delivered by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa O.F.M. Cap., preacher of the
Pontifical Household, on
the theme: "A year of the Lord's favour".
___________________________________________________________
THE RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE OSCE AREA
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary
for Relations with States, spoke at the twenty-ninth meeting of the Council of
Ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
which took place
in Dublin, Ireland on 6 and 7 December.
The archbishop mentioned that "among the fundamental freedoms, the right to
freedom of religion figures prominently for the Holy See. The OSCE has always
emphasised the positive contributions of religious communities to society. In
this sense, the
activity of the OSCE has ensured that public debate gives space to viewpoints
inspired by a religious vision in all its dimensions, including ritual,
worship, education, dissemination of information and the freedom to profess
and choose one’s
religion".
"In fact, the rights associated with religion are all the more in need of
protection if they are considered to clash with a prevailing secular ideology
or with majority religious positions of an exclusive nature", he continued.
"The full guarantee of
religious freedom cannot be limited only to the free exercise of worship, but
has to give due consideration to the public dimension of religion, and hence
to the possibility of believers playing their part in building the social
order".
"With the increase of religious intolerance throughout the world, it is well
documented that Christians are among those most discriminated against, even
within the OSCE region. In spite of the commitments undertaken by
participating States in the area
of religious freedom, in some countries intolerant and even discriminatory
laws, decisions and behaviour, either by action or omission ... deny this
freedom", he added.
___________________________________________________________
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in
audience:
- Georgios Papadopoulos, the new ambassador of Greece to the Holy See, for the
presentation of his Letters of Credence.
- Cesar Castillo Ramirez, ambassador of Peru, accompanied by his wife, on his
farewell visit.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:
- Msgr. Georg Glaswein as prefect of the Pontifical House, at the same time
elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in
Waldshutt, Germany in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1984. He has served in
the Congregation for
Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and in the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he held the role of personal secretary to
the prefect. He has served as personal secretary to Pope Benedict XVI since
his election to the
pontificate.
- Fr. Peter Ebere Okpaleke of the clergy of Awka, Nigeria, as bishop of Ahiara
(area 425, population 620,000, Catholics 478,000, priests 127, religious 113),
Nigeria. The bishop-elect was born in Amesi, Nigeria in 1963 and ordained a
priest in 1992. He
undertook higher studies in Canon Law at the Holy Cross Pontifical University
in Rome, and has held a number of pastoral roles. He is currently a judge at
the inter-diocesan tribunal of Onitsha.
- Fr. Adelio Dell'Oro, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Milan, Italy, as
apostolic administrator of Atyrau (area 727,600, population 2,181,000,
Catholics 2,000, priests 17, religious 14), Kazakhstan, at the same time
elevating him to the dignity of
bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Milan, Italy in 1948 and ordained a
priest in 1972. From 1997 to 2007 he was the spiritual director of the
interdiocesan seminary of Karaganda in Kazakhstan and director of Caritas
Kazakhstan. From 2007 to 2009 he
fulfilled a pastoral role in the archdiocese of Maria Santissima in Astana and
taught pastoral theology at the major seminary of Karaganda. He is currently
pro-rector of the Collegio Guastalla, Monza, and assistant to the Fraternity
of Communion and
Liberation for the Archdiocese of Milan.
- Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation
of Peoples, as his special envoy to celebrations marking the fiftieth
anniversary of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Health in Vailankanni, India,
and the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the institution of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India
(CCBI), due to take place from 9 to 11 February 2013.
- Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, president of the Pontifical Council for Health
Pastoral Care, as his special envoy to celebrations marking the twenty-first
World Day of the Sick, due to take place at the Marian sanctuary of Altotting,
Germany on 11
February 2013.
___________________________________________________________
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VISnews121207
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXII - N° 223DATE 07-12-2012
Summary: - THE POPE: MONOTHEISM DOES NOT
GENERATE VIOLENCE -
LETTER OF CONDOLENCE ON THE DEATH OF PATRIARCH IGNATIUS HAZIM IV - FIRST
SERMON OF ADVENT - THE RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE OSCE AREA
- AUDIENCES - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS ___________________________________________________________
THE POPE: MONOTHEISM DOES NOT GENERATE VIOLENCE
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received in
audience the members of the International Theological Commission following
their plenary session. The Pope expressed his appreciation for the message
prepared by the Commission
regarding the Year of Faith, which "illustrates well the specific way in which
theologians, in loyal service to the truth of faith, may share the Church's
evangelising impulse".
The message revisits the themes developed more fully in the document
"Theology today, Prospectives, Principles and Criteria", which embodies, in a
sense, "the genetic code of Catholic theology, or rather, the principles which
define her identity and
as a consequence, guarantee her unity in the diversity of her manifestations.
... In a cultural context in which some have been tempted to deprive theology
of its academic status on account of its intrinsic links to faith, or to
disregard the
confessional aspect of theology, at the risk of confusing it with religious
sciences, your document provides a timely reminder that theology is in essence
confessional and rational, and its presence within university institutions
guarantees a broad and
complete vision of human reason".
The Pope mentioned that among the criteria of Catholic theology, the
document mentions the attention theologians should reserve for the 'sensus
fidelium'. "Vatican Council II, confirming the specific and irreplaceable role
of the Magisterium,
emphasised that the People of God as a whole participate in Christ's prophetic
role. ... This gift, the 'sensus fidei', constitutes in believers a sort of
supernatural instinct which shares a vital connaturality with the very object
of faith. ... It is
a criterion for ascertaining whether or not a certain truth belongs to the
living depository of the apostolic tradition. It also has a proactive value as
the Holy Spirit never ceases to speak of the Church and to guide her towards
the fullness of truth.
Nowadays, however, it is particularly important to specify the criteria which
permit the authentic 'sensus fidelium' to be distinguished from its
imitations. This is not in fact a form of ecclesial
public opinion, and it would be unthinkable to refer to it to challenge the
teachings of the Magisterium, since the 'sensus fidei' cannot truly develop in
a believer other than to the extent to which he participates fully in the life
of the Church, and
it therefore necessitates responsible adhesion to her Magisterium".
"Nowadays, this supernatural sense of the faith of believers leads to a
vigorous reaction against the prejudice according to which religions, and in
particular monotheistic religions, are intrinsically predisposed to violence,
especially on the
pretext that they lay claim to a universal truth. Some maintain that only a
'polytheism of values' would guarantee tolerance and civil peace by conforming
to the spirit of a pluralistic democratic society. ... On the one hand, it is
important to
remember that faith in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, meets the
rational demands of metaphysical reflection, which is not weakened, but rather
strengthened and deepened by the Revelation of the mystery of the Triune God.
On the other hand, it
is necessary to emphasise the form that the definitive Revelation of the
mystery of the Triune God takes in the life and death of Jesus Christ, led
unto the cross like 'a lamb that is led to the slaughter'. The Lord
offers a radical refusal of any form of hate or violence in favour of the
absolute primacy of agape. While throughout history there have been or indeed
there are forms of violence carried out in the name of God, these cannot be
attributed to monotheism,
but rather to historical causes, and in particular to human error. It is,
rather, an oblivion to God that immerses human society in a form of
relativism, which ineluctably generates violence. Once the possibility of
referring to a form of objective
truth is negated to all, dialogue becomes impossible and violence, whether
declared or concealed, becomes the rule governing human relations. Without
opening up to the transcendent, which enables us to find answers to our
questions on the meaning of
life and how to live in a moral fashion, man becomes incapable of acting with
justice or committing himself to peace".
"If the rupture in man's relations with God brings with it a profound
imbalance in relations within mankind itself, reconciliation with God brought
about by Christ on the Cross, 'our peace', is the fundamental source of unity
and fraternity",
continued the Holy Father. "This also links to your discussion on the social
doctrine of the Church within the doctrine of the faith as a whole. It
confirms that social doctrine is not an extrinsic addition but, without
neglecting the contribution of a
healthy social philosophy, draws its basic principles from the same source as
faith. This doctrine renders effective, in the great variety of social
situations, the new commandment that the Lord Jesus gave to us: 'Just as I
have loved you, you also
should love one another'".
LETTER OF CONDOLENCE ON THE DEATH OF PATRIARCH IGNATIUS HAZIM IV
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI has today sent a letter
of condolence to the Metropolitan Spyridon of Heliopolis for the death of His
Beatitude Archbishop Ignatius Hazim IV, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Antioch
and all the East, who
died on 5 December at the age of 92.
In the text, the Holy Father observes that "during his long life of service
to the Gospel, the deceased patriarch offered luminous testimony to faith and
charity, working with dedication for the spiritual elevation of the flock
entrusted to him and
for the noble cause of reconciliation and peace among men.
"I render thanks to God for the positive and effective contribution the
late Patriarch Ignatius made to the process of conciliation between our two
Churches. Let his memory invite us to continue on the path of dialogue and the
search for full
communion in Christ!" concluded the Pope.
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - This morning in the "Redemptoris
Mater" Chapel of the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Pope attended the first
sermon of Advent delivered by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa O.F.M. Cap., preacher
of the Pontifical Household,
on the theme: "A year of the Lord's favour".
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - Archbishop Dominique Mamberti,
secretary for Relations with States, spoke at the twenty-ninth meeting of the
Council of Ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), which took
place in Dublin, Ireland on 6 and 7 December.
The archbishop mentioned that "among the fundamental freedoms, the right to
freedom of religion figures prominently for the Holy See. The OSCE has always
emphasised the positive contributions of religious communities to society. In
this sense, the
activity of the OSCE has ensured that public debate gives space to viewpoints
inspired by a religious vision in all its dimensions, including ritual,
worship, education, dissemination of information and the freedom to profess
and choose one’s
religion".
"In fact, the rights associated with religion are all the more in need of
protection if they are considered to clash with a prevailing secular ideology
or with majority religious positions of an exclusive nature", he continued.
"The full guarantee of
religious freedom cannot be limited only to the free exercise of worship, but
has to give due consideration to the public dimension of religion, and hence
to the possibility of believers playing their part in building the social
order".
"With the increase of religious intolerance throughout the world, it is
well documented that Christians are among those most discriminated against,
even within the OSCE region. In spite of the commitments undertaken by
participating States in the
area of religious freedom, in some countries intolerant and even
discriminatory laws, decisions and behaviour, either by action or omission ...
deny this freedom", he added.
Vatican City, 7 December 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:
- Msgr. Georg Glaswein as prefect of the Pontifical House, at the same time
elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in
Waldshutt, Germany in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1984. He has served in
the Congregation
for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and in the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he held the role of personal
secretary to the prefect. He has served as personal secretary to Pope Benedict
XVI since his election to
the pontificate.
- Fr. Peter Ebere Okpaleke of the clergy of Awka, Nigeria, as bishop of
Ahiara (area 425, population 620,000, Catholics 478,000, priests 127,
religious 113), Nigeria. The bishop-elect was born in Amesi, Nigeria in 1963
and ordained a priest in 1992.
He undertook higher studies in Canon Law at the Holy Cross Pontifical
University in Rome, and has held a number of pastoral roles. He is currently a
judge at the inter-diocesan tribunal of Onitsha.
--- NetMgr/2 1.0y+
* Origin: NetMgr+ @ Sursum Corda! BBS Meridian MS USA (1:396/45)
