"Attention to human life, especially when it is most in difficulty, in the
case of the sick, the elderly, and children, profoundly involves the mission
of the Church. She is also called upon to participate in the debate on human
life, presenting her outlook based on the Gospel. In many contexts, quality of
life is linked predominantly to economic conditions, 'well-being', beauty and
the pleasure of life in a physical sense, forgetting other deeper dimensions -
relational, spiritual and religious - of existence. In reality, in the light
of faith and good reason, human life is always sacred and always 'of quality'.
There does not exist a human life that is more sacred than another, just as
there is no human life qualitatively more significant than another, simply on
the basis of greater means, rights, and economic and social opportunities",
emphasised the Holy Father.
 Therefore, he continued, the work of Catholic doctors must offer witness "by
word and by deed that human life is always sacred, valid and inviolable, and
as such must be loved, defended and cared for". The profession of medicine,
"enriched with the spirit of faith, is a further reason to collaborate with
those - even of different religious beliefs or thought - who recognise the
dignity of human beings as a criterion for their activity. Indeed, while the
Hippocratic oath commits you to serving life, the Gospel leads you further -
to love it always and anyway, especially when in need of particular care and
attention".
 "Prevalent thought offers a 'false compassion': that which sees abortion as
being in favour of women, procuring euthanasia as an act of dignity, and the
'production' of a child - considered as a right instead of being welcomed as a
gift - as a scientific conquest, as well as using human lives as 'guinea
pigs', presumably to save others. Instead, compassion based on the Gospel is
that which accompanies in times of need, that of the Good Samaritan, who
'sees', who 'has compassion', who approaches and offers concrete help". The
Pontiff concluded, "Your mission as doctors puts you in daily contact with
many forms of suffering: I encourage you to take these on as 'good
Samaritans', taking special care of the elderly, the sick and the disabled.
Faithfulness to the Gospel of life and the response to it as a gift from God
will at times require courageous, counter-current decisions that, in
particular circumstances, may lead to conscientious objection, and to the many
social consequences that such fidelity leads to. We are living in a time of
experimentation with life. But it is a bad form of experimentation. ...
Playing with life ... is a sin against the Creator: against God the Creator,
Who created all things as they are".

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 The Holy See at the United Nations: defending the civil population from
remnants of war
 Vatican City, 15 November 2014 (VIS) - Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Holy See
Permanent Observer at the United Nations and Other International Organisations
in Geneva spoke on 10 November at the 8 th Conference of the States Party to
Protocol V of the Convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of
certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious
or to have indiscriminate effects (CCW). Protocol V stipulates the obligations
and the best practices to defend the civil population against the dangers of
explosive remnants of war and abandoned ordinances.
 "For the sake of credibility and to keep the door open for negotiating and
adopting other instruments in the future, it is incumbent upon all States
parties to take seriously the implementation of this instrument in its
preventative dimension as well as in its remedial dimension", said Archbishop
Tomasi in his English-language address. "The many conflicts in the Middle
East, Africa, North Africa and Europe remind us of our responsibilities
regarding explosive remnants of war and abandoned ordinances. Apart from the
safety of civilians, we are witnessing national and regional destabilisation
because of the lack of safety and security of stocks, that the international
community is unable or not sufficiently prepared to prevent. ... It is true
that the primary responsibility lies with the affected State. But
international cooperation is also an obligation. Almost all current conflicts
involve national, regional and international actors, state actors and
non-state actors. It must also be borne in mind that the majority of countries
in conflict are developing countries which do not always have sufficient means
to overcome the consequences of armed conflict on their soil".
 "The success of the partnership between States, international organisations
and non-governmental organisations in several areas of disarmament is well
established. CCW, including Protocol V, has always opened its door to the
participation of civil society and its organisations. We all profit from the
professionalism and expertise of these organisations. We believe they should
continue to have a place and a voice in this sphere, and a role to play in
international cooperation in the prevention and remedy of damages caused by
explosive remnants of war".
 "Wars and armed conflicts are always a failure of politics and of humanity",
he concluded. "International humanitarian law should keep this essential human
dimension to make coexistence possible nationally and internationally. When
the international community fails to preserve peace, it should not accept a
second failure. Protocol V is a modest attempt to prevent innocent people from
becoming victims once the conflict is over. Compliance is not only a legal
obligation. It is in the first place a moral duty towards the people and a
political duty to restore peace".

___________________________________________________________

 Cardinal Gracias, Pope's special envoy at the 500th anniversary of the
evangelisation of Myanmar
 Vatican City, 15 November 2014 (VIS) - In a letter made public today, written
in Latin and dated 16 October, the Holy Father nominated Cardinal Oswald
Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, as his special envoy at the celebration of the
fifth centenary of the evangelisation of Myanmar, scheduled to take place in
Yangon from 21-23 November 2014.
 The pontifical mission accompanying the cardinal will be composed of Rev. Fr.
Mariano Soe Naing, S.D.B., professor in the Theological Institute of the St.
Joseph Major Seminary, Yangon, and Rev. Fr. Peter Sein Hlaing, O.O., lecturer
at the same Institute.

___________________________________________________________

 Audiences
 Vatican City, 17 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has received in
audience:
 - Archbishop Ivan Jurkovie, apostolic nuncio in Russia and Uzbekistan;
 - Mehmet Pagaci, new ambassador of Turkey to the Holy See, presenting his
credential letters;
 - Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik of Daejeon, Korea;
 - Maestro Daniel Baremboim and entourage;
 - Eleven prelates of the Zambia Episcopal Conference, on their five-yearly
"ad Limina" visit:
 - Archbishop Ignatius Chama of Kasama, apostolic administrator "sede vacante
et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis"of Mpika;
 - Bishop Patrick Chisanga, O.F.M. Conv., of Mansa;
 - Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu of Lusaka;
 - Bishop George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu of Chipata, with his auxiliary, Bishop
Benjamin Phiri;
 - Bishop Clement Mulenga, S.D.B., of Kabwe;
 - Bishop Raymond Mpezele of Livingstone;
 - Bishop Evans Chinyama Chinyemba, O.M.I., of Mongu;
 - Bishop Moses Hamungole of Monse;
 - Bishop Alick Banda of Ndola;
 - Bishop Charles Joseph Sampa Kasonde of Solwezi.
 On Saturday, 15 November, the Holy Father received in audience:
 - Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
 - Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the
Evangelisation of Peoples;
 - Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher of Gatineau, Canada, president of the
Conference of Catholic Bishops of Canada, with the deputy president, Bishop
David Douglas Crosby of Hamilton, and the deputy secretary, Bede Hubbard.

___________________________________________________________

 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 17 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
 - appointed Rev. Fr. Cristobal Ascencio Garcia as bishop of Apatzingan (area
13,102, population 404,000, Catholics 373,000, priests 59, religious 126),
Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in El Josefino de Allende, Mexico in 1955
and ordained a priest in 1985. He holds a licentiate in canon law from the
Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral
roles in the diocese of San Juan de los Lagos, including parish priest of the
"Espiritu Santu" parish; prefect and subsequently rector of the major
seminary, and judge in the ecclesiastical tribunal and the Appeals Tribunal.
He is currently parish priest of the "San Francisco de Asis" parish in
Tepatitlan di Morelos. He succeeds Bishop Miguel Patino Velazquez, M.S.F.,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the
age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
 - appointed Rev. Fr. Juan Carlos Ares as auxiliary of the archdiocese of
Buenos Aires (area 203, population 2,944,000, Catholics 2,696,000, priests
782, permanent deacons 10, religious 1,951), Argentina. The bishop-elect was
born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1989. He has
served as parish priest of the "San Rafael" parish, chaplain of Scouts in
Argentina for the Episcopal Vicariate Devoto, deputy director of the Schools
Department of the archiepiscopate of Buenos Aires, and parish priest of "San
Ramon Nonato". He is currently parish priest of "Nuestra Senora de Balvanera".
 - appointed Rev. Martin Fassi as auxiliary of the diocese of San Isidro (area
1,379, population 1,178,000, Catholics 1,120,000, priests 138, permanent
deacons 38, religious 203), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in San
Isidro, Argentina in 1960 and was ordained a priest in 1984. He studied
philosophy and theology in the San Agustin major seminary, San Isidro, and has
served as formator of the regional seminary "Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion"
in Resistencia, missionary in the diocese of Olguin, Cuba, and parish priest
in the "Purisima Concepcion" parish of Pacheco. He is currently vicar general
of the diocese of San Isidro.
 - accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of
Guadalajara, Mexico, presented by Bishop Miguel Romano Gomez, in accordance
with canons 411 and 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
 On Saturday, 15 November, the Holy Father:
 - appointed Bishop Stephen Tjephe as bishop of the diocese of Loikaw (area
11,670, population 346,000, Catholics 74,868, priests 93, religious 235),
Myanmar. Msgr. Tjephe is currently auxiliary of Liokaw and apostolic
administrator "sede vacante ed ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same diocese.
 - appointed Rev. Fr. Francisco Javier Pistilli Scorzara, J. Sch., as bishop
of Encarnacion (area 16,525, population 611,000, Catholics 502,000, priests
52, permanent deacons 1, religious 110), Paraguay. The bishop-elect was born
in Asuncion, Paraguay in 1965, gave his religious vows in 1988 and was
ordained a priest in 1997. He completed his studies at the theologate of the
Capuchin Franciscan Fathers in Munster, Germany, and has served as parish
vicar in the Nuestra Senora del Rosario parish in Luque, Asuncion; and master
of novices in Tuparanda, San Lorenzo. He is currently regional superior of the
Secular Institute of Schonstatt Fathers for Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and
Nigeria. He succeeds Bishop Ignacio Gogorza Izaguirre, S.C.I. Of Beth, 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 office of auxiliary of the diocese of
Encarnacion, Paraguay, presented by Bishop Claudio Silvero Acosta, S.C.I.
Beth, upon reaching the age limit.
 - appointed Rev. Fr. Heinz Wilhem Steckling, O.M.I., as bishop of Ciudad del
Este (area 29,562, population 795,000, Catholics 783,200, priests 111,
permanent deacons 1, religious 198), Paraguay. The bishop-elect was born in
Werl, Germany in 1947 and was ordained a priest in 1974. He holds a diploma in
theology from the University of Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany. He has served in
as provincial of the vice provincia of Pilcomayo e Nord Argentina of the
Oblate Missionaries and superior general of his congregation and is currently
rector of the major seminary of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Asuncion,
Paraguay, and consultor for the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples
and of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
 - appointed Rev. Fr. Lorenzo Lorusso, O.P., as under secretary of the
Congregation for the Oriental Churches. Fr. Lorusso is currently consultor of
the same dicastery, rector of the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, and
lecturer in Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome.

___________________________________________________________

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