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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 57
DATE 26-03-2014
Summary:
- FRANCIS TO THE FAITHFUL: HELP YOUR PASTORS NOT TO BE MEDIOCRE
- TELEGRAM FROM THE POPE FOR THE DEATH OF ADOLFO SUAREZ
- COMMUNIQUE ON THE DIOCESE OF LIMBURG, GERMANY
- THE POPE ENTRUSTS TO MARY ALL THE CITIZENS OF LEBANON
- THE VIRGIN MARY IN ISLAMIC-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
___________________________________________________________
FRANCIS TO THE FAITHFUL: HELP YOUR PASTORS NOT TO BE MEDIOCRE
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – “The Sacraments of the Holy
Orders and Matrimony, two specific vocations and two great paths to the
Lord” were the theme of the Holy Father's catechesis during today's
general audience in St. Peter's Square. “The ministers who are chosen
and consecrated for this service prolong Jesus' presence over time, and they
do so with the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of God, and with
love”.
“Those who are ordained are placed at the head of the community. Yes,
they are at the 'head', but for Jesus this means placing their authority at
the service of the community. … 'whoever wants to become great among
you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be your slave'.
… A bishop who does not serve his community does not do good; a priest
or a curate who does not place himself at the service of his community does
not do good, he is mistaken”.
Pope Francis emphasised that “impassioned love for the Church” is
a characteristic that always derives from this sacramental union with Christ.
“The bishop, the priest, love the Church in their own community, they
love the Church greatly. How? How Christ loves His Church. … The spouse
loves his wife as Christ loves His Church. ... The priesthood and matrimony
are two Sacraments that represent the path by which people habitually reach
the Lord”.
Finally, the Pope cited the words of St. Paul to Timothy when he advised him
not to neglect, but rather always to revive the gift given to him. “When
the ministry is not nurtured by prayer, by listening to the Word of God, with
the daily celebration of the Eucharist, and also with regular confession, the
authentic sense of one's own service is inevitably lost from view, along with
the joy that comes from profound communion with Jesus. … The priest who
does not do these things loses, over time, his union with Jesus and becomes
mediocre, which is not good for the Church. Therefore, we must help bishops
and priests to pray, to listen to the Word of God that is our daily bread, to
celebrate the Eucharist every day and to confess regularly”.
“Access to the priesthood cannot be sold. This is an initiative the Lord
takes. The Lord calls”, he added, and concluded by encouraging the young
who hear this call to “cherish this invitation and pray so that it might
grow and bear fruit in all the Church”.
___________________________________________________________
TELEGRAM FROM THE POPE FOR THE DEATH OF ADOLFO SUAREZ
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – We publish below the full text of
the telegram sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on behalf of
the Holy Father, to Bishop Jesus Garcia Burillo of Avila, Spain, on the
occasion of the funeral of Adolfo Suarez, prime minister of Spain from 1976 to
1981, who died on 23 March at the age of 81. The funeral was held in the
Cathedral of Avila.
“Profoundly saddened by the news of the death of Mr. Adolfo Suarez
Gonzalez, ex-president of the government of Spain, His Holiness conveys his
most heartfelt condolences, and raises prayers to the Lord for the eternal
repose of this distinguished figure in recent Spanish history. He imparts to
the family and loved ones of the departed the comfort of his apostolic
blessing, as a sign of Christian hope in the Risen Lord”.
___________________________________________________________
COMMUNIQUE ON THE DIOCESE OF LIMBURG, GERMANY
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – The Holy See Press Office today
issued the following communique:
“With reference to the administration of the diocese of Limburg in
Germany, the Congregation for Bishops has carefully studied the report of the
Commission instituted by the bishop and by the Cathedral Chapter to undertake
further investigations in relation to the responsibility for the construction
of the 'St. Nikolaus' diocesan centre.
Awaiting the diocese of Limburg to ascertain a situation that impedes the
fruitful exercise of his ministry on the part of Msgr. Franz-Peter Tebartz-van
Elst, the Holy See has accepted the resignation presented by the prelate on 20
October 2013 and has appointed Msgr. Manfred Grothe as apostolic administrator
“sede vacante”.
The former Bishop Tebartz-van Elst will in due course be assigned a different
role.
The Holy Father entreatas the clergy and faithful of Limburg to accept the
decisions of the Holy See with docility and willingness to rediscover a
climate of charity and reconciliation”.
___________________________________________________________
THE POPE ENTRUSTS TO MARY ALL THE CITIZENS OF LEBANON
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon Cardinal
Secretary of State Pietro Parolin sent a message, on behalf of the Holy Father
Francis, to the participants in the eighth Islamic-Christian Prayer Meeting,
“Together around Mary, Our Lady”. The meeting, which took place in
Beirut, Lebanon, to celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, was organised
by the St. Joseph University Alumni Assocation and the College of Our Lady of
Jamhour.
The Holy Father shows his joy at seeing “Christians and Muslims united
in their devotion to the Virgin Mary”, and comments that “the
shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa is a blessed place where everyone can
go to invoke her”. He also encourages Christians and Muslims to
“work together for peace and for the common good, thus contributing to
the full development of the person and the edification of society”, and
entrusts the participants in the meeting “and all the inhabitants of
Lebanon to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace and
Protectress of Lebanon”.
___________________________________________________________
THE VIRGIN MARY IN ISLAMIC-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – “The Virgin Mary and
Islamic-Christian dialogue” was the theme of the address given by Fr.
Miguel Angel Ayuso, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious
Dialogue, during the eighth meeting of the Islamic-Christian Prayer Meeting
which took place yesterday in Beirut, Lebanon, on 25 March, Solemnity of the
Annunciation, which is celebrated by both Christians and Muslims. It is an
important occasion and was declared a national holiday by the Lebanese
government in 2010. In his address, which focused both on the figure of Mary
and on the mission of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Fr.
Ayuso emphasised that the feast of 25 March was “a true example of the
co-existence between Muslims and Christians that characterises Lebanese
history, in the midst of so many difficulties, and which also constitutes an
important example for many other nations”.
“Since Vatican Council II, the Catholic Church recognises that Muslims
honour the Virgin mother of Jesus, Mary, and invoke her with piety. …
Mary is mentioned various times in the Koran. Respect for her is so evident
that when she is mentioned in Islam, it is usual to add 'Alayha l-salam'
('Peace be upon her'). Christians also willingly join in this invocation. I
must also mention those shrines dedicated to Mary which welcome both Muslims
and Christians. In particular, here in Lebanon, how can we forget the shrine
of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa?”
“Devotion creates sentiments of friendship: it is a phenomenon open to
everyone. The cultural experiences that our communities can share encourage
collaboration, solidarity and mutual recognition as sons and daughters of a
single God, members of the same human family. Therefore, the Church addresses
the followers of Islam with esteem. During the last fifty years, a dialogue of
friendship and mutual respect has been constructed”.
With reference to the dialogue between Muslims and Christians, he went on to
explain that the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue “seeks
to establish regular relationships with Muslim institutions and organisations,
with the aim of promoting mutual understanding and trust, friendship and,
where possible, collaboration. In fact, there exist agreements with various
Muslim institutions enabling the possibility of holding periodical meetings,
in accordance with the programmes and procedures approved by both parties.
With regard to the methods of interreligious dialogue and, therefore, the
dialogue between Christians and Muslims, we must recall that dialogue is a
two-way form of communication. … It is based on witness of one's own
faith and, at the same time, openness to the religion of the other. It is not
a betrayal of the mission of the Church, and much less a new method of
conversion to Christianity. The document 'Dialogue and Proclamation',
published j
ointly
by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and the Council for
Interreligious Dialogue in 1991, identifies four different forms of
interreligious dialogue: the dialogue of life, the dialogue of works, the
dialogue of theological exchange and the dialogue of religious experience.
These four forms demonstrate that it is not an experience confined to
specialists”.
Fr. Ayuso concluded by analysing the role of Mary, in the light of the motto
of the national holiday in Lebanon, “Together around Mary, Our
Lady”. “In the Apostolic Exhortation 'Marialis Cultus',
promulgated in 1974 by Pope Paul VI, Mary is presented as 'the Virgin who
listens', 'the Virgin who prays', 'the Virgin in dialogue with God'. …
But there is also the image of a model of dialogue of seeking when, addressing
the Archangel Gabriel, she asks, 'How is it possible?'. Mary, a model for
Muslims and Christians, is also a model of dialogue, teaching us to believe,
not to close ourselves up in certainties, but rather to remain open and
available to others”.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has:
- appointed Bishop Manoel Joao Francisco of Chapeco, Brazil, as bishop of
Cornelio Procopio (area 6,715, population 216,000, Catholics 183,000, priests
38, religious 40), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Getulio Teixeira Guimaraes,
S.V.D., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, upon
reaching the age limit, was accepted by the Holy Father.
- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Limburg,
Germany, presented by Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, in accordance with
canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
Yesterday, Tuesday 25 March, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Nunzio Galantino
of Cassano all'Jonio as secretary general of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
___________________________________________________________
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VISnews140326
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXII - N° 57 DATE 26-03-2014
Summary: - FRANCIS TO THE FAITHFUL: HELP
YOUR PASTORS NOT TO BE MEDIOCRE - TELEGRAM FROM THE POPE FOR THE DEATH
OF ADOLFO SUAREZ - COMMUNIQUE ON THE DIOCESE OF LIMBURG, GERMANY -
THE POPE ENTRUSTS TO MARY ALL THE CITIZENS OF LEBANON - THE VIRGIN MARY
IN ISLAMIC-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
FRANCIS TO THE FAITHFUL: HELP YOUR PASTORS NOT TO BE MEDIOCRE
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – “The Sacraments of the Holy
Orders and Matrimony, two specific vocations and two great paths to the
Lord” were the theme of the Holy Father's catechesis during today's
general audience in St. Peter's Square. “The ministers who are chosen
and consecrated for this service prolong Jesus' presence over time, and they
do so with the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of God, and with
love”.
“Those who are ordained are placed at the head of the community. Yes,
they are at the 'head', but for Jesus this means placing their authority at
the service of the community. … 'whoever wants to become great among
you must be your servant and
whoever wants to be first must be your slave'. … A bishop who does not
serve his community does not do good; a priest or a curate who does not place
himself at the service of his community does not do good, he is
istaken”.
Pope Francis emphasised that “impassioned love for the Church”
is a characteristic that always derives from this sacramental union with
Christ. “The bishop, the priest, love the Church in their own community,
they love the Church greatly. How? How Christ loves His Church. … The
spouse loves his wife as Christ loves His Church. ... The priesthood and
matrimony are two Sacraments that represent the path by which people
habitually reach the Lord”.
Finally, the Pope cited the words of St. Paul to Timothy when he advised
him not to neglect, but rather always to revive the gift given to him.
“When the ministry is not nurtured by prayer, by listening to the Word
of God, with the daily celebration of the Eucharist, and also with regular
confession, the authentic sense of one's own service is inevitably lost from
view, along with the joy that comes from profound communion with Jesus.
… The priest who does not do these things loses, over time, his union
with Jesus and becomes mediocre, which is not good for the Church. Therefore,
we must help bishops and priests to pray, to listen to the Word of God that is
our daily bread, to celebrate the Eucharist every day and to confess
regularly”.
“Access to the priesthood cannot be sold. This is an initiative the
Lord takes. The Lord calls”, he added, and concluded by encouraging the
young who hear this call to “cherish this invitation and pray so that it
might grow and bear fruit in all the Church”.
TELEGRAM FROM THE POPE FOR THE DEATH OF ADOLFO SUAREZ
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – We publish below the full text of
the telegram sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on behalf of
the Holy Father, to Bishop Jesus Garcia Burillo of Avila, Spain, on the
occasion of the funeral of Adolfo Suarez, prime minister of Spain from 1976 to
1981, who died on 23 March at the age of 81. The funeral was held in the
Cathedral of Avila.
“Profoundly saddened by the news of the death of Mr. Adolfo Suarez
Gonzalez, ex-president of the government of Spain, His Holiness conveys his
most heartfelt condolences, and raises prayers to the Lord for the eternal
repose of this distinguished figure in recent Spanish history. He imparts to
the family and loved ones of the departed the comfort of his apostolic
blessing, as a sign of Christian hope in the Risen Lord”.
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – The Holy See Press Office today
issued the following communique:
“With reference to the administration of the diocese of Limburg in
Germany, the Congregation for Bishops has carefully studied the report of the
Commission instituted by the bishop and by the Cathedral Chapter to undertake
further investigations in relation to the responsibility for the construction
of the 'St. Nikolaus' diocesan centre.
Awaiting the diocese of Limburg to ascertain a situation that impedes the
fruitful exercise of his ministry on the part of Msgr. Franz-Peter Tebartz-van
Elst, the Holy See has accepted the resignation presented by the prelate on 20
October 2013 and has appointed Msgr. Manfred Grothe as apostolic administrator
“sede vacante”.
The former Bishop Tebartz-van Elst will in due course be assigned a
different role.
The Holy Father entreatas the clergy and faithful of Limburg to accept the
decisions of the Holy See with docility and willingness to rediscover a
climate of charity and reconciliation”.
THE POPE ENTRUSTS TO MARY ALL THE CITIZENS OF LEBANON
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon Cardinal
Secretary of State Pietro Parolin sent a message, on behalf of the Holy Father
Francis, to the participants in the eighth Islamic-Christian Prayer Meeting,
“Together around Mary, Our Lady”. The meeting, which took place in
Beirut, Lebanon, to celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, was organised
by the St. Joseph University Alumni Assocation and the College of Our Lady of
Jamhour.
The Holy Father shows his joy at seeing “Christians and Muslims
united in their devotion to the Virgin Mary”, and comments that
“the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa is a blessed place where
everyone can go to invoke her”. He also encourages Christians and
Muslims to “work together for peace and for the common good, thus
contributing to the full development of the person and the edification of
society”, and entrusts the participants in the meeting “and all
the inhabitants of Lebanon to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary,
Queen of Peace and Protectress of Lebanon”.
Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – “The Virgin Mary and
Islamic-Christian dialogue” was the theme of the address given by Fr.
Miguel Angel Ayuso, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious
Dialogue, during the eighth meeting of the Islamic-Christian Prayer Meeting
which took place yesterday in Beirut, Lebanon, on 25 March, Solemnity of the
Annunciation, which is celebrated by both Christians and Muslims. It is an
important occasion and was declared a national holiday by the Lebanese
government in 2010. In his address, which focused both on the figure of Mary
and on the mission of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Fr.
Ayuso emphasised that the feast of 25 March was “a true example of the
co-existence between Muslims and Christians that characterises Lebanese
history, in the midst of so many difficulties, and which also constitutes an
important example for many other nations”.
“Since Vatican Council II, the Catholic Church recognises that
Muslims honour the Virgin mother of Jesus, Mary, and invoke her with piety.
… Mary is mentioned various times in the Koran. Respect for her is so
evident that when she is mentioned in Islam, it is usual to add 'Alayha
l-salam' ('Peace be upon her'). Christians also willingly join in this
invocation. I must also mention those shrines dedicated to Mary which welcome
both Muslims and Christians. In particular, here in Lebanon, how can we forget
the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa?”
“Devotion creates sentiments of friendship: it is a phenomenon open
to everyone. The cultural experiences that our communities can share encourage
collaboration, solidarity and mutual recognition as sons and daughters of a
single God, members of the same human family. Therefore, the Church addresses
the followers of Islam with esteem. During the last fifty years, a dialogue of
friendship and mutual respect has been constructed”.
With reference to the dialogue between Muslims and Christians, he went on
to explain that the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
“seeks to establish regular relationships with Muslim institutions and
organisations, with the aim of promoting mutual understanding and trust,
friendship and, where possible, collaboration. In fact, there exist agreements
with various Muslim institutions enabling the possibility of holding
periodical meetings, in accordance with the programmes and procedures approved
by both parties. With regard to the methods of interreligious dialogue and,
therefore, the dialogue between Christians and Muslims, we must recall that
dialogue is a two-way form of communication. … It is based on witness
of one's own faith and, at the same time, openness to the religion of the
other. It is not a betrayal of the mission of the Church, and much less a new
method of conversion to Christianity. The document 'Dialogue and
Proclamation', published jointly by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of
Peoples and the Council for Interreligious Dialogue in 1991, identifies four
different forms of interreligious dialogue: the dialogue of life, the dialogue
of works, the dialogue of theological exchange and the dialogue of religious
experience. These four forms demonstrate that it is not an experience confined
to specialists”.
Fr. Ayuso concluded by analysing the role of Mary, in the light of the
motto of the national holiday in Lebanon, “Together around Mary, Our
Lady”. “In the Apostolic Exhortation 'Marialis Cultus',
promulgated in 1974 by Pope Paul VI, Mary is presented as 'the Virgin who
listens', 'the Virgin who prays', 'the Virgin in dialogue with God'. …
But there is also the image of a model of dialogue of seeking when, addressing
the Archangel Gabriel, she asks, 'How is it possible?'. Mary, a model for
Muslims and Christians, is also a model of dialogue, teaching us to believe,
not to close ourselves up in certainties, but rather to remain open and
available to others”.
