Today, when we remember our dear departed, many people visit the cemetery
which, as its name itself implies, is a "place of rest", where we await the
final awakening. "Jesus himself revealed that the death of the body is like a
sleep from which he awakens us", explained the Holy Father. "With this faith
we stop - also spiritually - at the graves of our loved ones. ... But today we
are called to remember everyone, even those who no one remembers. We remember
the victims of war and violence; the many 'little ones' of the world,
oppressed by hunger and poverty. We remember the nameless who rest in common
graves. We remember our brothers and sisters killed because they are
Christians; and those who sacrificed their lives to serve others".
 "Church tradition has always urged prayer for the dead, in particular by
offering the celebration of the Eucharist for them: it is the best spiritual
help that we can give to their souls, particularly to the most abandoned ones.
The foundation of prayers of remembrance is found in the communion of the
Mystical Body. Remembering the dead, caring for their tombs and prayers of
suffrage are testimony to confident hope, rooted in the certainty that death
does not have the last word on human destiny, as humanity is destined for a
life without end, that has its root and its fulfilment in God", said Francis,
who concluded the Angelus with a prayer for the departed by the Passionist
Antonio Rungi:
 "God of infinite mercy, we entrust to Your immense goodness all those who
have left this world for eternity, where you await all humanity, redeemed by
the precious blood of Christ Your Son, who died to save us from our sins. Look
not Lord, at our poverty, misery and human weaknesses when we present
ourselves before You to be judged in happiness or condemned. Gaze upon us with
pity, born of Your tender heart and help us to walk the path of purification.
May none of your children be lost to the eternal fires of hell, where
repentance is no more. We entrust to You Lord, the souls of our beloved
departed, of those who died without the comfort of the Sacraments or who did
not have the opportunity to repent, not even at the end of their life. May no
one fear the encounter with You at the end of their earthly pilgrimage, in the
hope of being welcomed within the embrace of your infinite mercy. May sister
death find us in prayerful vigilance, and full of all the good we have done
during our existence, be it long or short. Lord, may nothing distance us from
you on this earth, may everything and everyone support us in our ardent hope
to serenely and eternally rest in You. Amen".

___________________________________________________________

 The Pope celebrates Mass for the cardinals and bishops departed during the
last year
 Vatican City, 3 November 2014 (VIS) - Following tradition, this morning the
Holy Fther celebrated Mass in the Vatican Basilica in memory of all the
cardinals and bishops deceased during the last twelve months, whom he
remembered with gratitude, and recalling their service to the Church. "This
celebration, thanks to the Word of God, is completely illuminated by faith in
the Resurrection", he affirmed.
 "All divine revelation is the fruit of the dialogue between God and His
peole, and also faith in the Resurrection is linked to this dialogue, which
accompanies the people of God in history. It is not surprising that such a
mystery as great, decisive and superhuman as the Resurrection had to come all
the way up to Jesus Christ. He was able to say "I am the resurrection and the
life", as in Him this mystery is not only fully revealed, but also put into
effect, becoming reality for the first time and definitively. ... Every one of
us is invited to enter into this event. We are called first to stay before
Jesus' cross, to hear the cry of Jesus, his last breath, and finally that
silence that lasts the whole of Holy Saturday. And then we are called to His
tomb, to see that the great stone has been set aside, to hear the
announcement: 'He has risen! He is not here'. And herein lies the answer. Here
there is the foundation, the rock. Not in 'persuasive and knowing discourse,
but in the living word of the Cross and of Jesus' resurrection.
 "This is what the apostle Paul preached: Jesus Christ, crucified and
resurrected. If He had not risen again, our faith would be empty and
inconsistent. But since He rose again, or rather, He is the Resurrection, our
faith is full of truth and eternal life".

___________________________________________________________

 The Holy See at the United Nations advocates a peaceful use of space
 Vatican City, 3 November 2014 (VIS) - "For a peaceful use of space" was the
theme of the intervention by Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Holy See Permanent
Observer at the United Nations, during the session of the Special Political
and Decolonisation Committee which took place on 17 October and focused on
"International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space".
 "Since the earliest days of human history, humanity has looked to the sky
with wonder, longing to understand celestial realities and their meaning in
relation to humanity itself", observed the nuncio. "Because of the fundamental
questions it has always raised, the exploration of the universe has also
deepened the understanding of faith and its rapport with science. The Holy See
believes that faith is capable of both expanding and enriching the horizons of
reason; thus, it rejoices in the marvellous progress of science, seeing it
both as a product of the enormous God-given potential of the human mind and as
manifestation of the vastness and richness of creation".
 "Our responsibility is to ensure that the fruits of these advances also
benefit the poor around the world", he continued. "My delegation is fully
aware of the constraints to a universal access to the beneficial uses of outer
space, considering the huge investments put into explorations and questions
related to intellectual property, patents, etc. However, in a time when outer
space has become a huge economic asset and hosts information and
communications technologies, States must work together to ensure that these
benefits do not become yet another cause of increasing economic and social
inequalities, but rather a shared resource for the common good of the entire
global community. Vital to promoting this common good is ensuring the peaceful
use of outer space. To this end, the ongoing discussion on the development of
an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities represents a
positive step toward furthering a fairer and safer use of outer space. It
would undoubtedly help toward preventing an arms race in outer space and,
consequently, toward averting a new, grave threat to international peace and
security".
 The archbishop went on to emphasise the importance of using outer space for
an ever greater understanding of our planet. "Satellites monitor the health of
oceans and forests. They provide data on water cycles, climate patterns and
other atmospheric phenomena. We trust that this knowledge can convince us to
change lifestyles and practices detrimental to our environment. If we do not
work together, there will be no winners, only losers".
 "The Holy See wishes to highlight the use of satellites in the diffusion of
knowledge and the elimination of illiteracy", he concluded. "Indeed,
satellites can reach not only those places where illiteracy is a thing of the
past, but also those where many still cannot read or write, especially in
far-flung areas. However, care must be taken that this outer space technology
does not become an instrument of dominion and a vehicle to impose certain
cultures and values on others".

___________________________________________________________

 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 3 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has accepted the
resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, presented
by Bishop Jesus Moline Labarta upon reaching the age limit. He has appointed
Rev. Fr. Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., as apostolic administrator of the
same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. in 1955,
gave his solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained a priest in 1982. He holds a
degree in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas
(Angelicum), Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral roles, including
chancellor of the diocese of Chulucanas, Peru; promoter of vocational pastoral
care and director of missions of his Order in the Province of Chicago, U.S.A.;
director of the seminary of his Order in Trujillo, Peru, and prior general of
the Augustinian Province of Chicago. He is currently director of formation in
the Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago and provincial vicar of the Province
Our Lady of Good Counsel.

___________________________________________________________

For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:
www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)