VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 66
DATE 08-04-2014

Summary:
- POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE KING ABDULLAH II OF JORDAN
- THE POPE EMPHASISES THE AFFECTIVE AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNION OF THE SYNOD OF
BISHOPS
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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 POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE KING ABDULLAH II OF JORDAN
Vatican City, 8 April 2014 (VIS) ? His Majesty the King Abdullah II bin
Hussein of Jordan arrived in Vatican City shortly before 4 p.m. yesterday.
Upon arrival at the Domus Sanctae Marthae he was received by the prefect of
the Pontifical Household, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, and the head of
Protocol, Msgr. Jose Avelino Bettencourt, and in the entry hall he was greeted
by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Dominique
Mamberti.
The Holy Father received His Majesty the King, accompanied by Prince Ghazi bin
Muhammed, his advisor on religious affairs, at the entrance of the ground
floor drawing room, where the meeting took place, attended also by a Vatican
English-language interpreter. The conversation lasted for a total of just over
forty minutes, and the atmosphere was cordial and informal.
The visit took place in the period precedingPope Francis' trip to the Holy
Land, where he will visit Jordan, and His Majesty reaffirmed the sentiments
with which the people of Jordan are preparing to welcome the Pope and their
open willingness to collaborate in the commitment for peace and interreligious
dialogue.
Finally, the Holy Father also greeted the other members of the retinue, and
the guests left the Vatican at around 4.45 p.m.

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 THE POPE EMPHASISES THE AFFECTIVE AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNION OF THE SYNOD OF
BISHOPS
Vatican City, 8 April 2014 (VIS) ? The Holy Father has written a message to
Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, on the
occasion of the elevation to the episcopal order of Msgr. Fabio Fabene,
under-secretary of the Synod.
?Almost fifty years have passed since the institution of the Synod of
Bishops?, the Pope writes, ?and aware that, for the exercise of the Petrine
Ministry it is necessary, as never before, to further revive the close bond
with all Pastors of the Church, I wish to enhance the value of this valuable
conciliar legacy. In this regard, there is no doubt that the Bishop of Rome
needs the presence of his brother Bishops, their counsel, their prudence and
their experience. ? Therefore, I am most grateful to those who, with generous,
diligent and competent work throughout these years, have ensured thatthe Synod
contributes to the indispensable dialogue between Peter and his brethren. ?
Now, in order to underline the valuable service that this Organ carries out in
promoting episcopal collegiality with the Bishop of Rome, I have decided to
confer the dignity of episcopal rank to the under-secretary.
?Thereby the under-secretary, who already collaborates with Your Eminence with
regard to the development of synodal activity, by virtue of the episcopal
Order will reflect the affective and effective that is the main objective of
the Synod of Bishops. Also in coordinating work within the secretariat
general, the under-secretary will be required to express the fertile and
fruitful consequences of participation in the episcopal 'munus', a source of
sanctification for those who surround it and the foundation of the
hierarchical communion with the Bishop of Rome, and with the head and members
of the Episcopal College?.

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 OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 8 April 2014 (VIS) ? The Holy Father has:
- appointed Bishop William Terrence McGrattan, auxiliary of Toronto, Canada,
as bishop of Peterborough (area 25,900, population 437,300, priests 83,
permanent deacons 8, religious 104), Canada. He succeeds Bishop Nicola De
Angelis, C.F.I.C., whose resignation upon reaching the age limit was accepted
by the Holy Father.
- elevated Msgr. Fabio Febene, under secretary of the Synod of Bishops, to the
dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Rome, Italy in 1959, and was
ordained a priest in 1984. He holds a doctorate in canon law from the Lateran
Pontifical University. He has served in a number of pastoral, administrative
roles, including priest of the parish of Santa Maria del Giglio in
Montefiascone and episcopal chancellor; office head of the Congregation for
Bishops; and external judge of the Tribunal of First Instance for causes
ofnullity of marriage for the Latium region, at the Ordinary Tribunal of the
diocese of Rome. He was named Prelate of His Holiness in 2012, and was
appointed as under-secretary of the Synod of Bishops in 2014.

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