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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXIII - N° 93
DATE 22-04-2013
Summary:
- POPE RECALLS SERMON ON MOUNT TO AFFIRM THAT JESUS IS DOOR TO ENTER INTO
KINGDOM OF GOD
- MESSAGE TO EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS OF COSTA RICA
- POPE TO ADMINISTER SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
- CARDINAL SALAZAR TAKES POSSESSION OF HIS TITULAR CHURCH
- BE PASTORS NOT FUNCTIONARIES, POPE SAYS TO NEW PRIESTS
- REGINA COELI: RECOGNIZING JESUS' VOICE AND FOLLOWING IT
- PATHS OF JUSTICE AND PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS FOR VENEZUELA
- POPE WRITES PRESIDENT OF ITALIAN REPUBLIC
- TELEGRAM FOR EXPLOSION IN WEST, TEXAS, USA
- NEW LIFE IN HISTORIC RUSSIAN CONVENT OF DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD IN
ROME
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
___________________________________________________________
POPE RECALLS SERMON ON MOUNT TO AFFIRM THAT JESUS IS DOOR TO ENTER INTO
KINGDOM OF GOD
Vatican City, 22 April 2013 (VIS) – The reflection on Jesus as the
“door” to enter into the Kingdom of God was the central theme of
this morning's Mass celebrated by the Pope in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, at
which the personnel of the
Press Office of the Holy See and various technicians of Vatican Radio were
in
attendance.
The Holy Father recalled that in today's Gospel, which narrated the story of
the Good Shepherd, Jesus asserted that: “whoever doesn't enter the
sheepfold by the gate is not the shepherd. … He is a thief or a
robber,” the Pope said,
“someone seeking his own profit. ...There are also such people in the
Christian community, who seek their own profit and, consciously or
unconsciously, pretend to enter at the door. But they are thieves …
because the steal Jesus' glory and
seek their own. … They have not entered by the true door. …
The
true door is Jesus and whoever does not enter by this door errs.”
“How do we know that the true door is Jesus?” the pontiff asked.
“Reading what the Beatitudes say, as they are told in St. Matthew: 'Be
humble, be poor, be meek, be just' … When they give you another
suggestion, don't listen to
it. The door is always Jesus and whoever enters by that door is not
mistaken.
Jesus isn't only the door; He is the way, the path. There are many paths:
some
seems more advantageous for arriving but they are misleading. They are
false.”
“Let us ask today for the grace to always knock at that door. …
Sometimes we have problems doing so. But we don't have to go looking for
other, easier doors. The door is Jesus, who doesn't disappoint, who doesn't
deceive. He has given his
life for us. And each of us has to say: 'You have given your life for me,
open, please, that I might enter. Open, Lord, because I want to enter by
'this' door, not by that other,” Pope Francis concluded.
___________________________________________________________
MESSAGE TO EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS OF COSTA RICA
Vatican City, 22 April 2013 (VIS) – Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B.,
secretary of State, sent a short message on behalf of the Holy Father to the
organizers and participants in the National Eucharistic Congress that is
being
held in Costa Rica
with the theme of “Eucharist: Bread of Life for Our People”.
The Pope invites all to “intensify their prayer lives, making the
Eucharist the true centre of Christian communities, where praise and
thanksgiving are the impetus to a renewed commitment to evangelization and
ecclesial communion. May the Blessed
Sacrament at the altar give all the Baptised plentiful spiritual energy to
build a world that is ever more just and harmonious, according to the
message
of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
With these regards,” the text concludes, “the Supreme Pontiff
entrusts to the loving protection of Our Lady of the Angels, the pastors and
faithful who have made the pilgrimage to the House of the Father in Costa
Rica. As a sign of abundant
heavenly gifts, he affectionately imparts to them the besought Apostolic
Blessing.”
___________________________________________________________
POPE TO ADMINISTER SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
Vatican City, 22 April 2013 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff today announced that next Sunday, 28 April, the Fifth
Sunday of Easter at 10:00am in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father Francis
will celebrate Mass for
confirmands who have come in pilgrimage to Rome from around the world for
the
Year of Faith. He will administer the sacrament of Confirmation to some of
them.
___________________________________________________________
CARDINAL SALAZAR TAKES POSSESSION OF HIS TITULAR CHURCH
Vatican City, 22 April 2013 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff today announced that next Sunday, 28 April, at 11:00am,
Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, archbishop of Bogota, Colombia, will take
possession of the title of
St. Gerardo Maiella on Via Romolo Balzani, 74.
___________________________________________________________
BE PASTORS NOT FUNCTIONARIES, POPE SAYS TO NEW PRIESTS
Vatican City, 21 April 2013 (VIS) – This morning in St. Peter's
Basilica, Pope Francis conferred priestly ordination upon ten deacons from
several Roman diocesan seminaries: the Major Seminary, the Seminary of the
Oblates, the sanctuary of the
Virgin of Divine Love, and the Redemptoris Mater Seminary. Concelebrating
with
the Holy Father were Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general of His
Holiness
for Rome, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, O. Carm., vice gerent of the diocese
of
Rome, auxiliary
bishops, and the superiors of the seminaries from which the new priests
came.
The homily delivered by the Bishop of Rome was based on the one that appears
in the Pontificale Romanum for the ordination of priests, with one or two
personal additions, mainly emphasizing the mercy that must characterize the
new priests. Following are
ample extracts from his homily.
“It is true that God has made his entire holy people a royal
priesthood
in Christ. Nevertheless, our great Priest himself, Jesus Christ, chose
certain
disciples to carry out publicly in his name, and on behalf of mankind, a
priestly office in the
Church. For Christ was sent by the Father and he in turn sent the Apostles
into the world, so that through them and their successors, the Bishops, he
might continue to exercise his office of Teacher, Priest, and Shepherd.
Indeed, priests are established
co-workers of the Order of Bishops, with whom they are joined in the
priestly
office and with whom they are called to the service of the people of
God.”
“Now ... you are to be raised to the Order of the Priesthood. For your
part you will exercise the sacred duty of teaching in the name of Christ the
Teacher. Impart to everyone the Word of God which you have received with
joy.
Remember your
mothers, your grandmothers, your catechists, who gave you the Word of God,
the
faith ... the gift of faith! ... Meditating on the law of the Lord, see that
you believe what you read, that you teach what you believe, and that you
practise what you teach.
Remember too that the Word of God is not your property: it is the Word of
God.
And the Church is the custodian of the Word of God.”
“You will exercise in Christ the office of sanctifying. … You
will gather others into the people of God through Baptism, and you will
forgive sins in the name of Christ and the Church in the sacrament of
Penance.
Today I ask you in the name
of Christ and the Church, never tire of being merciful. You will comfort the
sick and the elderly with holy oil: do not hesitate to show tenderness
towards
the elderly.”
“Remember then that you are taken from among men and appointed on
their
behalf for those things that pertain to God. Therefore, carry out the
ministry
of Christ the Priest with constant joy and genuine love, attending not to
your
own concerns but
to those of Jesus Christ. You are pastors, not functionaries. Be mediators,
not intermediaries.”
“Finally, dear sons, exercising for your part the office of Christ,
Head
and Shepherd, while united with the Bishop and subject to him, strive to
bring
the faithful together into one family, so that you may lead them to God the
Father through
Christ in the Holy Spirit. Keep always before your eyes the example of the
Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve, and who came to seek
out
and save what was lost.”
___________________________________________________________
REGINA COELI: RECOGNIZING JESUS' VOICE AND FOLLOWING IT
Vatican City, 21 April 2013 (VIS) – At the end of the Mass celebrated
in
the Vatican Basilica for the ordination of ten deacons, the Holy Father
appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray
the Regina Coeli with the
faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
The Pope explained that the fourth Sunday of Easter is characterized by the
Gospel of the Good Shepherd, citing the four verses that contain
“Jesus'
entire message”. “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they
follow me. I give them
eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my
hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one
can
take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one”
(Jn
10:27-30).
“Jesus wants to establish a relationship with his friends that
reflects
the one he has with the Father: a relationship of mutual belonging in
complete
confidence, in intimate communion.” To express this it is necessary to
use the image of
the sheep who recognize the voice of the shepherd and follow him. “The
mystery of the voice is suggestive. Already at our mother's breast we learn
to
recognize her voice, and that of our father. By someone's tone of voice we
can
perceive love or
contempt, affection or coldness. Jesus' voice is unique! If we learn to
distinguish it, He guides us on the path of life, a path that even overcomes
the abyss of death.”
However, referring to his sheep, Jesus also says: “My Father, who has
given them to me. This is very important. It is a profound mystery that is
not
easy to understand. If I feel attracted to Jesus, if his voice warms my
heart,
it is thanks to God
the Father who has put this desire for love, for truth, for life, for beauty
within me. And Jesus is all this completely. This helps us to understand the
mystery of vocation, especially of the call to a special consecration.
”
“Today there are many young persons in the piazza,” the pontiff
observed. “I want to ask you, has there been a time when you have
heard
the Lord's voice, who through a desire, a restlessness, has invited you to
follow him more closely?
… Youth needs to put its high ideals into action. Have you thought of
this? … Ask Jesus what He wants of you and be courageous! …
Behind and before each vocation to the priesthood or the consecrated life
there is always someone's
strong and intense prayer: a grandmother, a grandfather,a mother, a father,
a
community. This is why Jesus said 'ask the master of the harvest—that
is, God the Father—to send out labourers for his harvest'. Vocations
are
born in prayer and
from prayer. Only in prayer can they persevere and bear fruit. I would like
to
emphasize that today is the 'World Day of Prayer for Vocations'. Let us pray
in particular for the new priests of the Diocese of Rome who I had the joy
or
ordaining this morning. … And let us call upon the intercession of
Mary, who is the Woman of the 'Yes'. She said 'Yes' her entire life. She
learned to recognize Jesus' voice from when she carried him in her womb. May
Mary, our Mother, help us to
always know better Jesus' voice and to follow it, to walk in the path of
life.”
___________________________________________________________
PATHS OF JUSTICE AND PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS FOR VENEZUELA
Vatican City, 21 April 2013 (VIS) – After the Regina Coeli, the Pope
asked for prayers for those suffering from the political violence in
Venezuela
and from the earthquake in China.
“I am following attentively the events that are happening in
Venezuela,” the Pontiff said. “I accompany them with deep
concern,
with intense prayer, and with the hope that you will seek and find ways to
overcome, with justice and
peace, this moment of serious difficulty that the country is undergoing. I
call upon the beloved Venezuelan people, especially institutional and
political decision makers, to firmly reject any type of violence and to
establish a dialogue based in truth,
mutual recognition, in the search for the common good, and in love for the
Nation. I ask believers to pray and work for reconciliation and peace. Let
us
join together in a prayer full of hope for Venezuela, placing it in the
hands
of Our Lady of
Coromoto.”
“My thoughts are also with, the pontiff continued, “those who
have
been affected by the earthquake that struck the south-west of mainland
China.
We pray for the victims and those who are suffering because of the violent
earthquake.”
The Pope also noted that, this afternoon in Sondrio, Italy, Fr. Nicolo
Rusca,
who lived between the 16th and 17th centuries, will be beatified.
“For a
long time he was an exemplary pastor in Sondrio and he fell victim to the
political-religious
conflicts that were afflicting Europe at that time. Let us give thanks to
God
for his witness.”
Finally, he spoke of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which was
“born 50 years ago thanks to the happy intuition of Pope Paul VI. I
invite everyone to pray that the Lord send many workers to his vineyard. St.
Annibale Maria di Francia,
apostle of prayer for vocations, remind us of this very important task.
”
___________________________________________________________
POPE WRITES PRESIDENT OF ITALIAN REPUBLIC
Vatican City, 20 April 2013 (VIS) – Pope Francis has written a
telegram
to the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, on the
occasion
of his re-election.
“At this moment in which you, with ready willingness and a spirit of
sacrifice, have again accepted the supreme magistrature of the Italian State
as President of the Republic, I wish to express my most sincere and
heartfelt
best wishes. Wishing
that you may continue your enlightened and wise activity, supported by the
responsible cooperation of all, I invoke upon your person and your exalted
service to the Nation, constant divine assistance. I wholeheartedly impart
to
you and to the beloved
Italian Nation, the Apostolic Blessing, as encouragement to building a
future
of harmony, solidarity, and hope.”
___________________________________________________________
TELEGRAM FOR EXPLOSION IN WEST, TEXAS, USA
Vatican City, 20 April 2013 (VIS) – Following is the text of the
telegram sent, on behalf of the Holy Father, by Secretary of State Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone to Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, Texas, USA for the
explosion Wednesday night of a
fertilizer plant in West, Texas, USA which has caused 14 deaths and hundreds
of wounded to date.
“Saddened by news of the destruction caused by the explosion in West,
the Holy Father asks you kindly to convey his heartfelt condolences to the
civil authorities and the afflicted families. He prays for the eternal rest
of
the victims and
implores God’s blessings of consolation and peace upon those who mourn
and all who generously aid in the continuing work of relief.”
___________________________________________________________
NEW LIFE IN HISTORIC RUSSIAN CONVENT OF DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD IN
ROME
Vatican City, 20 April 2013 (VIS) - Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the
Congregation for the Oriental Churches, accompanied by Msgr. Maurizio
Malvestiti, under secretary of the same dicastery, visited the Russian
Monastery of the Dormition in Rome
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