“I wish to voice that the Catholic Church has sincere respect for
your noble religious tradition. Frequently we note a consonance with values
expressed also in your religious books: respect for life, contemplation,
silence, simplicity (cf.
'Verbum Domini', no. 119). Our genuine fraternal dialogue needs to foster what
we Buddhists and Christians have in common especially a shared profound
reverence for life.”
Subject: VISnews130502
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
“Dear Buddhist friends, your first precept teaches you to abstain
from destroying the life of any sentient being and it thus prohibits killing
oneself and others. The cornerstone of your ethics lies in loving kindness to
all beings. We
Christians believe that the core of Jesus’ moral teaching is twofold;
love of God and love of neighbour. Jesus says: 'As the Father has loved me, so
have I loved you; abide in my love'. And again: 'This is my commandment, that
you love one another
as I have loved you' ('Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1823).The fifth
Christian Commandment, 'You shall not kill' harmonizes so well with your first
precept. 'Nostra Aetate' teaches that: 'the Catholic Church rejects nothing of
what is true and
holy in these religions' (NA 2). I think, therefore, that it is urgent for
both Buddhists and Christians on the basis of the genuine patrimony of our
religious traditions to create a
climate of peace to love, defend, and promote human life.”
“As we all know, in spite of these noble teachings on the sanctity of
human life, evil in different forms contributes to the dehumanization of the
person by mitigating the sense of humanity in individuals and communities.
This tragic situation
calls upon us, Buddhists and Christians, to join hands to unmask the threats
to human life and to awaken the ethical consciousness of our respective
followers to generate a spiritual and moral rebirth of individuals and
societies in order to be true
peacemakers who love, defend and promote human life in all its d
mensions.”
“Dear Buddhist friends, let us continue to collaborate with a renewed
compassion and fraternity to alleviate the suffering of the human family by
fostering the sacredness of human life. It is in this spirit that I wish you
once again a peaceful
and joyful feast of Vesakh.”
___________________________________________________________
ARCHBISHOP BECCIU SPEAKS OF POPE FRANCIS' REFORM
Vatican City, 2 May 2013 (VIS) – On 13 April, the news that Pope
Francis had established a group of eight cardinals to advise him on the
government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the
Apostolic Constitution on the Roman
Curia, “Pastor Bonus” was made public. The decision generated
great interest and, at the same time, more than a few speculations. Yesterday,
1 May, Archbishop Angelo Becciu, substitute of the Secretariat of State, gave
an interview on this
topic to the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, from which ample
extracts are given below.
Osservatore Romano: Much speculation has been heard regarding the reform of
the Curia: the balance of power, economic “super-ministers”,
revolutions, etc...
Archbishop Becciu: "Actually, it is a little strange. The Pope has not yet
met with the group of advisers who have been chosen and already advice is
raining down. After having spoken with the Holy Father, I can say that, at
this moment, it is
absolutely premature to put forward any hypothesis about the future structure
of the Curia. Pope Francis is listening to everyone but, in the first place,
he will want to listen to those whom he has chosen as advisers. Following
that, a project of
reform of the 'Pastor Bonus' will be outlined, which will obviously have to
follow its own process."
OR: Likewise, much has been said about the IOR, the Institute for Religious
Works. Some have gone so far as to predict its elimination.
AB: "The Pope was surprised to see words attributed to him that he never
said and that misrepresent his thoughts. The only mention about it was during
a brief homily at the Santa Marta, made off the cuff, in which he passionately
recalled how the
essence of the Church consists in a story of love between God and human
beings, and how the various human structures, the IOR among them, should be
less important. His reference was a mention, motivated by the presence of some
of the employees of the
IOR at the Mass, in the context of a serious invitation to never lose sight of
the essential nature of the Church."
OR: Should we expect that a restructuring of the current organization of
dicasteries may not be imminent?
AB: "I don't know how to predict the timing. The Pope, in any case, has
asked us all, the heads of dicasteries, to continue in our service, without,
however, wanting to proceed for the moment in confirming any positions. The
same holds for the
members of the Congregations and the Pontifical Councils: the normal cycle of
confirmations or nominations, which occur at end of five-year mandates, is for
the moment suspended, and everyone continues in their assigned job 'until
otherwise provided
for' ('donec aliter provideatur'). This indicates the Holy Father's desire to
take the time needed for reflection—and for prayer, we must not
forget—in order to have the full picture of the situation."
OR: Regarding the group of advisers, some have argued that such a choice
might put the Pope's primacy in question...
AB: It is a consultative, not a decision-making, body and I truly do not
see how Pope Francis' choice might put the primacy in question. However, it is
true that it is a gesture of great importance, which means to send a clear
signal regarding the
way in which the Holy Father would like to exercise his ministry. We must not
forget the first task that has been assigned to the group of eight cardinals:
to assist the pontiff in the government of the universal Church. I would not
like for curiosity
regarding the arrangement and the structures of the Roman curia to overshadow
the profound meaning of Pope Francis' gesture.
OR: But isn't the expression “to advise” a little too vague?
AB: On the contrary, advising is an important task that is theologically
defined in the Church and that finds expression on many levels. Think, for
example, of the bodies participating in dioceses and parishes, or of councils
of superiors,
provincials, and generals in the Institutes of consecrated life. The function
of advising must be interpreted in theological terms: from a worldly
perspective we should say that a council without decision-making power is
irrelevant but that would mean
equating the Church to a business. Instead, theologically, advising has a
function of absolute importance: helping the superior in the task of
discernment, in understanding what the Spirit asks of the Church in a precise
historical moment. Without this
reference, for that matter, it wouldn't even be possible to understand the
true meaning of the action of government in the Church.
___________________________________________________________
POPE NOTES THAT WORK IS FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT IN DIGNITY OF PERSON
Vatican City, 1 May 2013 (VIS) – The importance of work and
contemplating Jesus, following Joseph and Mary's example, were the central
themes of the Pope's first catechesis in the month of May, which coincided
with the feast of St. Joseph the
Worker.
Before the more than 70,000 persons gathered in St. Peter's Square for the
general audience, the Pope explained that Jesus “enters into our
history, comes among us, born of Mary by an act of God, but with the presence
of St. Joseph, his legal
father who cares for him and also teaches him his work … the trade of
carpentry in his workshop in Nazareth, sharing with him the commitment, the
fatigue, the satisfaction, and also the difficulties of every day. This
reminds us of the dignity
and importance of labour. The Book of Genesis narrates that God created man
and woman, entrusting to them the task of filling and subduing the earth,
which did not mean exploiting it but cultivating and safeguarding it, caring
for it with their very
labour.”
“Labour is part of God's plan of love. We are called to cultivate and
safeguard all the goods of creation and, in this way, we participate in the
act of creation! Labour is a fundamental element for the dignity of a person.
… It makes us
like God, who laboured and labours, who always acts. He gives us the capacity
to maintain ourselves, our family, to contribute to the growth of our own
nations. Here,” the pontiff added, “I am thinking of the
difficulties that, in various
countries, the world of labour and business encounters today. I am think of
how many, and not just young persons, are unemployed,often because of an
economistic conception of society that seeks selfish profit, outside the
parameters of social
justice.”
“I would like to invite all to solidarity, and encourage those
responsible for public affairs to make every effort to give new impetus to
employment. This means having care for the dignity of the person. Mostly I
would like to say not to lose
hope. Even St. Joseph had difficult moments, but he never lost trust and he
knew how to overcome them with the certainty that God does not abandon us.
“
After that exhortation, the Bishop of Rome referenced another troubling
situation, “slave labour”, work that enslaves. “How many
persons around the world are victims of this type of slavery in which the
person is at the service of
labour while it should be labour that offers service to the person so that
they might have dignity. I ask our brothers and sisters in the faith and all
men and women of good will to make a decisive choice against the trafficking
of persons within which
'slave labour' figures.”
The Pope then touched upon the second theme of his catechesis, Jesus, who
was Joseph and Mary's shared centre of attention in the silence of their
everyday actions. The attitude of both is revealed in how the Virgin, as St.
Luke narrates in his
Gospel, “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”
“In order to listen to the Lord, we need to learn how to contemplate
him, to perceive his constant presence in our lives. We need to stop and
dialogue with him, give him
space with our prayer. … Let us remember the Lord more during our
days!”
During this month of May, I would like to recall the important and the
beauty of praying the Holy Rosary,” Francis continued, &ld
uo;contemplating the mysteries of Jesus, reflecting, that is, on the central
moments of his life, so that, as for
Mary and St. Joseph, He may be the centre of our thoughts, of our concerns,
and of our actions. It would be beautiful if, above all during this month of
May, we would recite together in our families, with our friends, and in our
parishes, the Holy
Rosary or some prayer to Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Praying together is a
precious moment for making our family life and our friendship more steadfast!
Let us learn to pray more in our families and as a family!”
“Let us ask St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary,” the Holy Father
concluded, “to teach us to be faithful to our everyday commitments, to
live our faith in our everyday actions, and to give more space to the Lord in
our lives, to stop and
contemplate his face.”
___________________________________________________________
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 2 May 2013 (VIS) – This morning, the Holy Father
received in separate audiences:
- His Excellency Mr. Aleksander Avdeev, the new ambassador of the
Russian Federation to the Holy See, presenting his credential letters,
- Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, titular of Cluentum and president of
the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, and
- His Excellency Mr. Jozef Dravecky, ambassador of the Slovak Republic,
on his farewell visit.
This afternoon he is scheduled to receive Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B.,
prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 2 May 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father:
- appointed Fr. Raymond Browne as bishop of Kerry (area 5,300,
population 149,514, Catholics 143,300, priests 113, religious 215), Ireland.
The bishop-elect was born in Athlone, Ireland in 1957 and was ordained a
priest in 1982.
Since ordination he has served in several pastoral and judicial roles, most
recently as pastor in Ballagh and the Diocese of Elphin's designated contact
for the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in
Ireland (NBSCCCI) as well
as for assistance for elderly and ill clergy. He succeeds Bishop William
Murphy, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy
Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
- gave his assent to the canonical election carried out by the Synod of
Bishops of the Greek-Melkite Church of Archimandrite Nicolas Antipa, B.A., as
metropolitan archbishop of Bosra e Hauran of the Greek-Melkites (Catholics
27,000,
priests 22, religious 10), Syria. The archbishop-elect was born in Aleppo,
Syria, in 1945 and ordained a priest in 1971. Since ordination he has served
in several pastoral and academic roles, most recently as professor of Sacred
Scripture at the Saint
Paul Theological Institute of Harissa, Lebanon and at the Institute of
Theological and Pastoral Studies of the archeparchy of Beirut of the
Greek-Melkites, Lebanon.
___________________________________________________________
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