VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 119
DATE 26-06-2014

Summary:
- YOUNG ASTRONOMERS, PROMOTERS OF PEACE AND JUSTICE
- MAY THE ORIENTAL CHURCH MAINTAIN THE CERTAINTY THAT THE FIRE OF THE
PENTECOST PREVAILS OVER HATRED
- PRESENTATION OF THE INSTRUMENTUM LABORIS FOR THE NEXT SYNOD ASSEMBLY IN
OCTOBER
- DELEGATION FROM ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE TO VISIT ROME
- AUDIENCES

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 YOUNG ASTRONOMERS, PROMOTERS OF PEACE AND JUSTICE
 Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) - "Seeing all of you here today is like
looking at a marvellous mosaic made up of people from throughout the world. It
is only right that men and women everywhere should have access to research and
scientific training", said the Pope to young astronomers from 23 different
countries who are currently participating in a course organised by the Vatican
Observatory School in Astrophysics on the theme "Galaxies: Near and Far, Young
and Old", whom he received in audience this morning. "The hope that one day
all peoples will be able to enjoy the benefits of science is one which spurs
all of us on, scientists in particular".
 He commented that the Vatican Observatory School in Astrophysics is "a place
where young people the world over can engage in dialogue and collaboration,
helping one another in the search for truth, which in this case is concretised
in the study of galaxies. This simple and practical initiative shows how the
sciences can be a fitting and effective means for promoting peace and justice.
Here too we see a further reason for the Church's commitment to dialogue with
the sciences on the basis of the light provided by faith: it is her conviction
that faith is capable of both expanding and enriching the horizons of reason.
In this dialogue, the Church rejoices in the marvellous progress of science,
seeing it as a sign of the enormous God-given potential of the human mind,
even as a mother rejoices and is rightly proud as her children grow in wisdom,
and age and grace".
 The Holy Father encouraged those present to share the knowledge they have
acquired about the universe with people in their own countries. "Only a
fraction of the global population has access to such knowledge, which opens
the heart and the mind to the great questions which human beings have always
asked: Where do we come from? Where are we going?" he concluded. "The search
for an answer to these questions can lead us to an encounter with the Creator,
the loving Father, for 'in him we live and move and have our being'".

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 MAY THE ORIENTAL CHURCH MAINTAIN THE CERTAINTY THAT THE FIRE OF THE PENTECOST
PREVAILS OVER HATRED
 Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) - The Pope embraces all the Churches of the
East and is close to their faithful, whose tears, fears and hopes are also
ours, a sentiment he manifested this morning, receiving in audience the
participants in the assembly of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental
Churches, also recalling the comfort, encouragement, and at the same time, the
responsibility he encountered during his recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
 "The olive tree which I planted in the Vatican Gardens together with the
Patriarch of Constantinople and the Presidents of Israel and Palestine, is a
symbol of that peace which is secure and enduring only because it is
cultivated by many hands. Those who would cultivate the plant of peace must
never forget that God alone gives the growth. True peace, the peace which the
world cannot give, is a gift to us from Jesus Christ. For all the grievous
attacks it endures today, peace can always flourish again. I am grateful that
you continue to 'make peace grow' through charity, which is the ultimate aim
of all your organizations. With unity and charity Christ's disciples strive to
be peacemakers everywhere, in all peoples and communities, and to overcome
persistent forms of discrimination, starting with those based on religion".
 "First among those called to be peacemakers are our brothers and sisters of
the Oriental Churches, together with their pastors. Hoping at times against
all hope, remaining in the place of their birth where the Gospel of the
incarnate Son of God was first proclaimed, may they experience the blessedness
reserved to those who are peacemakers: 'they will be called children of God'.
And may they always feel the support of the universal Church and never falter
in their conviction that the fire of Pentecost, the power of Love, can halt
the fire of arms, hatred and vengeance", he exclaimed. "Their tears and their
anguish are ours, as well as their hope! We can express this through our
solidarity, if it is one which is concrete and effective, capable of ensuring
that the international community upholds the rights of individuals and
peoples".
 Francis expressed the closeness of the Catholic Church to the brothers and
sisters in Syria and Iraq, along with their bishops and priests. "The Church
is likewise close to our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land and the Middle
East, but also to the beloved people of Ukraine in the critical situation in
which they find themselves, and to the people of Romania. This closeness and
concern is expressed in the works which your agencies carry out. I urge you to
continue your generous efforts to help them. Your works of relief and
assistance in nations most affected by these crises respond to basic needs,
particularly of those who are powerless and most vulnerable, as well as the
many young people tempted to leave their homeland. And since communities of
Eastern Christians are present worldwide, you are working everywhere to bring
relief to the displaced and to refugees, restoring their dignity and their
security in full respect for their identity and religious freedom".
 Finally, Pope Francis encouraged the participants in the assembly to pursue
the goals set in their last Plenary Session, especially those regarding the
training of young people and teachers, and uniting them with their interest
for the family, especially in view of the upcoming Synod on this theme. He
concluded, "the Holy Family of Nazareth, 'which knew anxiety ... as well as
the pain of persecution, emigration and hard daily labour' teaches us 'to
trust the Father, to imitate Christ and to let ourselves be guided by the Holy
Spirit'".

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 PRESENTATION OF THE INSTRUMENTUM LABORIS FOR THE NEXT SYNOD ASSEMBLY IN
OCTOBER
 Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) - A press conference was held in the Holy
See Press Office this morning to present the Instrumentum Laboris of the 3rd
Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (5-19 October 2014)
which will focus on "pastoral challenges to the family in the context of
evangelisation". The speakers were Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary
general of the Synod of Bishops; Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of
Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, and relator general of the 3rd Extraordinary
General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops; Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois,
archbishop of Paris, France and delegate president; Archbishop Bruno Forte of
Chieti-Vasto, Italy, and special secretary, and Professors Francesco Miano and
Pina De Simone.

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 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)