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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXIII - N° 132
DATE 20-06-2013
Summary:
- FRANCIS: HUNGER WILL NOT BE ERADICATED WITH UNKEPT PROMISES
- POPE'S MOST RECENT APPEAL: AN END TO THE INTERMINABLE VIOLENCE AND
INSECURITY IN MIDDLE EAST
- STATISTICS FOR CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BRAZIL
- PONTIFICAL REPRESENTATIVES' DAYS
- PREFECTURE FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: MEETING OF VATICAN'S ADMINISTRATIVE
DIRECTORS
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
___________________________________________________________
FRANCIS: HUNGER WILL NOT BE ERADICATED WITH UNKEPT PROMISES
Vatican City, 20 June 2013 (VIS) – At 11:00 this morning, in the
Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic palace, the Holy Father Francis
received the participants in the 38th Session of the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The Pope began by speaking of the particular difficulty of the current
worldwide situation caused not only by the economic crisis “but also due
to problems associated with security, the great number of continuing
conflicts, climate change and the
preservation of biological diversity. All these situations demand of FAO a
renewed commitment to tackling the many problems of the agricultural sector
and of all those living and working in rural areas.”
The Pope noted that there are many possible initiatives and solutions and that
they don't only have to do with increasing production seeing that current
levels of production are sufficient, in spite of which “millions of
people are still suffering
and dying of starvation. This is truly scandalous. A way has to be found to
enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth ... to satisfy the
demands of justice, fairness, and respect for every human being.”
Francis repeated that the goal of meeting with the participants in the FAO
conference was “to share the idea that something more can and must be
done in order to provide a new stimulus to international activity on behalf of
the poor, inspired by
something more than mere goodwill or, worse, promises which all too often have
not been kept.” If current situations and living conditions aren't
examined in terms of the human person and human dignity, the Pope said, then
they run the risk of
“risk turning into vague abstractions in the face of issues like the use
of force, war, malnutrition, marginalization, the violation of basic
liberties, and financial speculation, which presently affects the price of
food, treating it like any
other merchandise and overlooking its primary function.”
The Holy Father declared that the present situation, “while directly
linked to financial and economic factors, is also a consequence of a crisis of
convictions and values, including those which are the basis of international
life.” He,
therefore, asked the FAO, its member States, and the entire international
community to open their hearts. “There is a need to move beyond
indifference and a tendency to look the other way, and urgently to attend to
immediate needs … leaving
behind the temptations of power, wealth, or self-interest and instead serving
the human family, especially the needy and those suffering from hunger and
malnutrition.”
Likewise, the Pope mentioned that dedicating the coming year to the rural
family was a very expressive decision that, beyond a mere commemoration, will
be an occasion to “reaffirm the conviction that every family is the
principal setting for the
growth of each individual, since it is through the family that human beings
become open to life and the natural need for relationships with others.”
Pope Francis noted that “the Catholic Church, with all her structures
and institutions, is at your side in this effort, which is aimed at building
concrete solidarity, and the Holy See follows with interest and encourages the
initiatives and
activities undertaken by the FAO.”
___________________________________________________________
POPE'S MOST RECENT APPEAL: AN END TO THE INTERMINABLE VIOLENCE AND INSECURITY
IN MIDDLE EAST
Vatican City, 20 June 2013 (VIS) – At 11:30 this morning in the
Consistory Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis
received participants in the 86th Plenary Assembly of the Reunion of
Organisations for Aid to the Oriental
Churches (ROACO). This organisation, under the sponsorship of the Congregation
for the Oriental Churches, is formed from various organizations around the
world including: the Catholic Near East Welfare Association; Aid to the Church
in Need; Renovabis;
and Oeuvre d'Orient, which financially and spiritually assist members of the
Church in the East.
Francis gave thanks to God for the “fidelity to Christ, the Gospel, and
the Church that the Eastern Catholics have given proof of throughout the
centuries, facing every struggle for the Christian name and 'keeping the
faith'. … Like my
predecessors, I wish to encourage and support you in your exercise of charity,
which is the only reason for Jesus' disciples to brag. This charity springs
from God's love in Christ. The Cross is its vertex, the luminous sign of God's
mercy and love for
all, which has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. … I ask
you to accompany me in the task of uniting faith and charity, which is
inherent to the Petrine ministry.”
The Pope encouraged the members of ROACO to continue their labour of carrying
out projects that give priority to formation, above all of the youth, without
forgetting that such projects “should be a sign of God's profession of
love that
constitutes the Christian identity.”
“The presence of the patriarchs of Alexandria of the Copts and of
Babylon of the Chaldeans as well as of the papal representatives in the Holy
Land and in Syria, the auxiliary bishop of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the
Custos of the Holy Land
carries me to the holy places of our Redemption but also revives in me a deep
ecclesial concern for the plight of our many brothers and sisters who are
living a seemingly endless situation of insecurity and violence, which doesn't
spare the innocent or
the weakest.”
“We believers are asked to constantly and confidently pray that the Lord
may grant the longed-for peace, together with a concrete solidarity and
sharing. I would like to once again, from the bottom of my heart, appeal to
the leaders of nations and
international organisations, to believers of every religion, and to all men
and women of good will to put an end to all the pain, all the violence, and
all religious, cultural, and social discrimination. May the conflict that sows
death leave space for
the encounter and the reconciliation that bring life.”
“To all those who are suffering I strongly say: 'Never lose hope! The
Church is with you, accompanies you, and supports you!' I ask you to do
everything possible to alleviate the serious needs of the affected
populations, especially in Syria, the
people of beloved Syria, and the ever more numerous refugees and displaced
persons. ... I repeat to you: remember in your prayers the Church of Syria
… Jesus Christ will watch over it and your charity. I entrust the
countless victims to the Lord
of Life and implore the Most Holy Mother of God to console all of those in the
'time of great distress'. It is true; what's happening in Syria is a great
distress!”
___________________________________________________________
STATISTICS FOR CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BRAZIL
Vatican City, 20 June 2013 (VIS) – For the occasion of Francis' upcoming
apostolic trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to preside at the 38th World Youth
Day, statistics have been published concerning the Catholic Church in that
country. The
information, updated to 31 December 2011, comes from the Central Statistical
Office of the Church. The Pope's journey is scheduled from 22 to 29 July.
Brazil covers a surface area of 8,514,215 square kilometres and has population
of 195,041,000 of whom 164,780,000 (84.48%) are Catholic. There are 274
ecclesiastical circumscriptions, 10,802 parishes, and 37,827 pastoral centres.
Currently there are 453
bishops, 20,701 priests, 33,230 religious, and 2,903 permanent deacons. There
are also 1,985 lay members of secular Institutes, 144,910 lay missionaries,
and 483,104 catechists. Minor seminarians number 2,671 and major seminarians
8,956.
A total of 1,940,299 students attend 6,882 centres of Catholic education
ranging from kindergartens to universities. There are also 3,257 centres for
special education. There are 5,340 institutions belonging to the Church or run
by priests or religious
in Brazil including: 369 hospitals, 884 clinics, 22 leper colonies, 718 homes
for the elderly or disabled, 1,636 orphanages and nurseries, and 1,711 family
counselling and other pro-life centres.
___________________________________________________________
PONTIFICAL REPRESENTATIVES' DAYS
Vatican City, 20 June 2013 (VIS) – As part of the Year of Faith, the
pontifical representatives, the apostolic nuncios, will meet with the Holy
Father this Friday and Saturday, 21-22 June.
Tomorrow, Friday at 10:30am, the Pope will receive the nuncios in the
Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace. In the afternoon, from 4:30
to 5:45pm in the pontifical basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls,
Eucharistic adoration will be held
and vespers will be celebrated, presided by Cardinal James Michael Harvey,
archpriest of the Basilica. Finally, a meditation will be led by Cardinal
Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture. At the
conclusion of the ceremonies,
participants will visit the Basilica's scavi. In the evening, at 8:30pm, they
will have dinner with the Holy Father in the Oval Patio of the Casina of Pius
IV.
On Saturday, 22 June, in the Chapel of the St. Peter's Basilica Choir, Mass
will be concelebrated at 9:00am, presided by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone,
S.D.B., secretary of State. At 10:45am, Terce will be prayed in the New Synod
Hall and the pontifical
representatives will have a working meeting with the superiors of the
Secretariat of State. After the meeting finishes they will have lunch at the
Domus Sanctae Marthae (without the Pope). The Days will conclude with a
concert at 5:30pm in the Paul VI
Audience Hall.
___________________________________________________________
PREFECTURE FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: MEETING OF VATICAN'S ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTORS
Vatican City, 20 June 2013 (VIS) – Yesterday morning, the old Synod Hall
was the site of a meeting—organized by the Prefecture for the Economic
Affairs of the Holy See—of the administrative heads of the various
dicasteries and
dependent agencies of the Vatican, according to a note issued by the director
of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J.
The meeting, attended by all the personnel of the Prefecture along with
international auditors, is the second of its kind, the first having been held
in December of last year for the presentation of the Prefecture's new rules.
It will be followed,
probably each six months, by other similar reunions.
After reading a short greeting from the Holy Father, signed by Cardinal
Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., and an introduction by Cardinal
Giuseppe Versaldi, president of the Prefecture, an interesting agreement was
presented, by virtue of
which Banco Santander offered its availability to place its contacts and
formative resources, drawing upon the wide network of the Bank's relationships
with the international academic world, at the Prefecture's disposition.
Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, substitute of the Secretariat of State,
also spoke, giving his greetings and encouragement. The Prefecture's
secretary, Msgr. Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda, and Accountant General, Dr.
Stefano Fralleoni spoke, in turn, to
explain the historical development of the Prefecture's preparation of the
consolidated financial statements and the importance of properly preparing
budgets in the governance of the economical administration.
In particular, information was given on the progress made in preparing a
consolidated financial statement that isn't limited to the two specific areas
of the Curia and the Vatican City Sate, but which also extends to the areas of
the pastoral outreach
and charitable activities that are overseen by the Holy See.
The financial statements in question will be presented in documented and
detailed form at the next meeting of the Council of Cardinals—the
so-called “Council of Fifteen”, which will meet, as usual, in the
first days of July—to
study the Holy See's organizational and economic problems. The meeting was
followed by a series of addresses and questions on the part of the
participants, among which are to be noted the speeches by the international
auditors, whose presence and
participation were highly appreciated by all present.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 20 June 2013 (VIS) – Today the Holy Father appointed Dr.
Venerando Marano, previously adjunct judge of the Tribunal of Vatican City
State, as a permanent judge of that tribunal.
___________________________________________________________
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VISnews130620
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXIII - N° 132 DATE 20-06-2013
Summary: - FRANCIS: HUNGER WILL NOT BE
ERADICATED WITH UNKEPT
PROMISES - POPE'S MOST RECENT APPEAL: AN END TO THE INTERMINABLE
VIOLENCE AND INSECURITY IN MIDDLE EAST - STATISTICS FOR CATHOLIC CHURCH
IN BRAZIL - PONTIFICAL REPRESENTATIVES' DAYS - PREFECTURE FOR
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: MEETING OF
VATICAN'S ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTORS - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
FRANCIS: HUNGER WILL NOT BE ERADICATED WITH UNKEPT PROMISES
Vatican City, 20 June 2013 (VIS) – At 11:00 this morning, in the
Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic palace, the Holy Father Francis
received the participants in the 38th Session of the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization
(FAO). The Pope began by speaking of the particular difficulty of the current
worldwide situation caused not only by the economic crisis “but also due
to problems associated with security, the great number of continuing
conflicts, climate change
and the preservation of biological diversity. All these situations demand of
FAO a renewed commitment to tackling the many problems of the agricultural
sector and of all those living and working in rural areas.”
The Pope noted that there are many possible initiatives and solutions and
that they don't only have to do with increasing production seeing that current
levels of production are sufficient, in spite of which “millions of
people are still
suffering and dying of starvation. This is truly scandalous. A way has to be
found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth ... to
satisfy the demands of justice, fairness, and respect for every human
being.”
Francis repeated that the goal of meeting with the participants in the FAO
conference was “to share the idea that something more can and must be
done in order to provide a new stimulus to international activity on behalf of
the poor, inspired
by something more than mere goodwill or, worse, promises which all too often
have not been kept.” If current situations and living conditions aren't
examined in terms of the human person and human dignity, the Pope said, then
they run the risk of
“risk turning into vague abstractions in the face of issues like the use
of force, war, malnutrition, marginalization, the violation of basic
liberties, and financial speculation, which presently affects the price of
food, treating it like any
other merchandise and overlooking its primary function.”
The Holy Father declared that the present situation, “while directly
linked to financial and economic factors, is also a consequence of a crisis of
convictions and values, including those which are the basis of international
life.” He,
therefore, asked the FAO, its member States, and the entire international
community to open their hearts. “There is a need to move beyond
indifference and a tendency to look the other way, and urgently to attend to
immediate needs … leaving
behind the temptations of power, wealth, or self-interest and instead serving
the human family, especially the needy and those suffering from hunger and
malnutrition.”
Likewise, the Pope mentioned that dedicating the coming year to the rural
family was a very expressive decision that, beyond a mere commemoration, will
be an occasion to “reaffirm the conviction that every family is the
principal setting for
the growth of each individual, since it is through the family that human
beings become open to life and the natural need for relationships with
others.”
Pope Francis noted that “the Catholic Church, with all her structures
and institutions, is at your side in this effort, which is aimed at building
concrete solidarity, and the Holy See follows with interest and encourages the
initiatives and
activities undertaken by the FAO.”
POPE'S MOST RECENT APPEAL: AN END TO THE INTERMINABLE VIOLENCE AND
INSECURITY IN MIDDLE EAST
Vatican City, 20 June 2013 (VIS) – At 11:30 this morning in the
Consistory Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis
received participants in the 86th Plenary Assembly of the Reunion of
Organisations for Aid to the Oriental
Churches (ROACO). This organisation, under the sponsorship of the Congregation
for the Oriental Churches, is formed from various organizations around the
world including: the Catholic Near East Welfare Association; Aid to the Church
in Need; Renovabis;
and Oeuvre d'Orient, which financially and spiritually assist members of the
Church in the East.
Francis gave thanks to God for the “fidelity to Christ, the Gospel,
and the Church that the Eastern Catholics have given proof of throughout the
centuries, facing every struggle for the Christian name and 'keeping the
faith'. … Like my
predecessors, I wish to encourage and support you in your exercise of charity,
which is the only reason for Jesus' disciples to brag. This charity springs
from God's love in Christ. The Cross is its vertex, the luminous sign of God's
mercy and love for
all, which has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. … I ask
you to accompany me in the task of uniting faith and charity, which is
inherent to the Petrine ministry.”
The Pope encouraged the members of ROACO to continue their labour of
carrying out projects that give priority to formation, above all of the youth,
without forgetting that such projects “should be a sign of God's
profession of love that
constitutes the Christian identity.”
“The presence of the patriarchs of Alexandria of the Copts and of
Babylon of the Chaldeans as well as of the papal representatives in the Holy
Land and in Syria, the auxiliary bishop of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the
Custos of the Holy
Land carries me to the holy places of our Redemption but also revives in me a
deep ecclesial concern for the plight of our many brothers and sisters who are
living a seemingly endless situation of insecurity and violence, which doesn't
spare the
innocent or the weakest.”
“We believers are asked to constantly and confidently pray that the
Lord may grant the longed-for peace, together with a concrete solidarity and
sharing. I would like to once again, from the bottom of my heart, appeal to
the leaders of nations
and international organisations, to believers of every religion, and to all
men and women of good will to put an end to all the pain, all the violence,
and all religious, cultural, and social discrimination. May the conflict that
sows death leave space
for the encounter and the reconciliation that bring life.”
“To all those who are suffering I strongly say: 'Never lose hope! The
Church is with you, accompanies you, and supports you!' I ask you to do
everything possible to alleviate the serious needs of the affected
populations, especially in Syria,
the people of beloved Syria, and the ever more numerous refugees and displaced
persons. ... I repeat to you: remember in your prayers the Church of Syria
… Jesus Christ will watch over it and your charity. I entrust the
countless victims to the
Lord of Life and implore the Most Holy Mother of God to console all of those
in the 'time of great distress'. It is true; what's happening in Syria is a
great distress!”
Vatican City, 20 June 2013 (VIS) – For the occasion of Francis'
upcoming apostolic trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to preside at the 38th
World Youth Day, statistics have been published concerning the Catholic Church
in that country. The
information, updated to 31 December 2011, comes from the Central Statistical
Office of the Church. The Pope's journey is scheduled from 22 to 29 July.
Brazil covers a surface area of 8,514,215 square kilometres and has
population of 195,041,000 of whom 164,780,000 (84.48%) are Catholic. There are
274 ecclesiastical circumscriptions, 10,802 parishes, and 37,827 pastoral
centres. Currently there are
453 bishops, 20,701 priests, 33,230 religious, and 2,903 permanent deacons.
There are also 1,985 lay members of secular Institutes, 144,910 lay
missionaries, and 483,104 catechists. Minor seminarians number 2,671 and major
seminarians 8,956.
A total of 1,940,299 students attend 6,882 centres of Catholic education
ranging from kindergartens to universities. There are also 3,257 centres for
special education. There are 5,340 institutions belonging to the Church or run
by priests or
religious in Brazil including: 369 hospitals, 884 clinics, 22 leper colonies,
718 homes for the elderly or disabled, 1,636 orphanages and nurseries, and
1,711 family counselling and other pro-life centres.
