VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXIV - # 89
DATE 15-05-2014

Summary:
- THE POPE TO NEW AMBASSADORS: ARMS TRADE AND FORCED MIGRATION CHALLENGE PEACE
- FRANCIS RECEIVES THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND
- TELEGRAM FOR THE ASIAN CONFERENCE ON THE FAMILY
- POPE'S VISIT TO THE "DIVINO AMORE" SANCTUARY POSTPONED
- JOINT APPEAL IN AMMAN FOR WORLD SOLIDARITY
- FIFTY YEARS OF PROMOTING INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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 THE POPE TO NEW AMBASSADORS: ARMS TRADE AND FORCED MIGRATION CHALLENGE PEACE
 Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis received the
credential letters of seven new ambassadors to the Holy See: Pierre Yves Fux,
Switzerland; Rudolf P. von Balimoos, Liberia; Nega Tsegaye Tessema, Ethiopia;
Nasreldin Ahmed Wali Abdeltif, Sudan; Margaret Ann Louise Jobson, Jamaica;
Claudinah Ntini Ramosepele, South Africa; and Mysore Kapanalah Lokesh, India.
 The Holy Father focused his address to the diplomats on the challenges posed
to peace by the arms trade and forced migration.
 "Peace: this word summarises all the assets to which every person and all
human societies aspire", he said. "Also the effort with which we seek to
promote diplomatic relations has, in the final analysis, the sole aim of
allowing peace to grow in the human family, in development and justice. It is
a target that is never fully reached, and that must be continually sought
after by every generation, facing the challenges presented in every age".
 "Everyone talks about peace", he observed; "everyone claims to want it, but
unfortunately the proliferation of weapons of every type leads in the opposite
direction. The arms trade has the effect of complicating and distancing us
from a solution to conflicts, all the more so since it takes place to a great
extent outside the boundaries of the law. Therefore I consider that, while we
are gathered in this Apostolic See, which by nature is invested in a special
service to the cause of peace, we can unite our voices in expressing hope that
the international community may make new, concerted and courageous efforts
against the proliferation of weapons and to promote their reduction".
 The Holy Father mentioned that another challenge to peace, which
"unfortunately takes on, in certain regions and in certain moments, the nature
of a full-blown human tragedy", is that of forced migration. He commented that
it is a very complex phenomenon, and recognised that important efforts are
being made by international organisations, States, and social bodies, as well
as religious communities and volunteer groups, to respond "in a civil and
organised way to the most critical aspects, emergencies, and situations of
greatest need". However, also in this case, "we are aware that we cannot limit
ourselves to reacting to emergencies. This phenomenon has fully manifested its
epochal character. The moment has arrived to face it with a serious and
responsible political outlook, involving all levels: global, continental,
macro-regional, in relations between nations, and finally at national and
local levels".
 In relation to this problem we see examples of a contrary nature: on the one
hand, "marvellous cases of humanity, of welcome, of encounter: people and
families who have succeeded in leaving behind these inhuman situations and
have rediscovered dignity, freedom and security. Unfortunately, on the other
hand there are stories that make us weep for shame: human beings, our brothers
and sisters, children of God who, inspired by the wish to live and work in
peace, face harrowing journeys and are subjected to blackmail, torture and
harassment of every kind, and at times end up dying in the desert or at the
bottom of the sea".
 The phenomenon of forced migration is "closely linked to conflicts and wars,
and therefore also to the problem of the proliferation of weapons. ... They
are the wounds of a world that is our world, in which God has placed us to
live today, and He calls us to be responsible for our brothers and sisters, so
that the violation of no human being be violated. It would be an absurd
contradiction to speak about peace, to negotiate peace, and at the same time
promote and permit the arms trade. We could also consider it to be in a
certain sense cynical to proclaim human rights and at the same time ignore or
fail to take account of the men and women who, forced to leave their homeland,
die in the attempt or are not welcomed by international solidarity".
 The Pope concluded, "The Holy See today declares to you and to the
governments of your respective countries its firm resolve to continue to
collaborate to take steps forward in these areas and along all the roads that
lead to justice and peace, on the basis of universally recognised human
rights".

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 FRANCIS RECEIVES THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND
 Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father Francis received in
audience the governor general of New Zealand, Sir Jerry Mateparae, who
subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin,
accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with
States.
 During the cordial discussions the Parties focused on a number of aspects of
the social and economic life of the country, as well as the valuable
contribution of the Catholic Church in various sectors of New Zealand society.
There was also an exchange of opinions on the international situation, with
particular reference to regional cooperation in various development programmes
and participation in peace missions in different parts of the world.

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 TELEGRAM FOR THE ASIAN CONFERENCE ON THE FAMILY
 Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin
has sent a telegram to the archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Socrates P.
Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, on
the occasion of the "Asian Conference on the Family", which is being held from
13 to 16 May on the theme "Families of Asia: Lights of Hope".
 "Recalling that the 'family is the fundamental cell of society where we learn
to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one other'", he
continues, "His Holiness calls upon all the lay faithful gathered to deepen
their experience of faith and communion, under the guidance of the Successor
of Peter and the Bishops, so as to be a leaven of Christ's love in the midst
of humanity".

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 POPE'S VISIT TO THE "DIVINO AMORE" SANCTUARY POSTPONED
 Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - Pope Francis' visit to the Sanctuary and
Roman parish of "Divino Amore", planned for Sunday 18 May, has been cancelled
to lighten the burden of the Pope's activities in view of preparations for his
imminent apostolic journey in the Holy Land. The visit to the sanctuary will
be rescheduled at a later date.

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 JOINT APPEAL IN AMMAN FOR WORLD SOLIDARITY

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