VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 016
DATE 22-01-2015

Summary:
- Catholics and Lutherans together can bear witness to God's mercy in our
societies
- The Pope praises the service of the Public Security Inspectorate in the
Vatican
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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 Catholics and Lutherans together can bear witness to God's mercy in our
societies
 Vatican City, 22 January 2015 (VIS) - "The fact that you come here together
is itself a witness to the importance of efforts for unity. The fact that you
pray together is a witness to our belief that only through the grace of God
can that unity be achieved. The fact that you recite the Creed together is a
witness to the one common faith of the whole of Christianity". St. John Paul
II addressed these words to the first Finnish ecumenical delegation of the
Lutheran Church to come to Rome thirty years ago, and this morning, Pope
Francis repeated them to the delegation present today on their annual
ecumenical pilgrimage to celebrate the feast of St. Henry of Uppsala, the
patron of Finland. The Pope mentioned that this year the visit coincides with
the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, to reflect this year on Jesus' words
to the Samaritan woman at the well: "Give me to drink".
 "We are reminded that the source of all grace is the Lord himself, and that
His gifts transform those who receive them, making them witnesses to the true
life that is in Him alone", said the Holy Father. "As the Gospel tells us,
many Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman's testimony. As you,
Bishop Vikstrom, have said, there is so much that Catholics and Lutherans can
do together to bear witness to God's mercy in our societies. A shared
Christian witness is very much needed in the face of the mistrust, insecurity,
persecution, pain and suffering experienced so widely in today's world".
 He continued, "This common witness can be sustained and encouraged by
progress in theological dialogue between the Churches. The Joint Declaration
on the Doctrine on Justification, which was solemnly signed some fifteen years
ago between the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church, can produce
further fruits of reconciliation and cooperation between us. The Nordic
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue in Finland and Sweden, under the related theme
Justification in the Life of the Church, has been reflecting on important
questions deriving from the Joint Declaration. Let us hope that further
convergence will emerge from that dialogue on the concept of the Church, the
sign and instrument of the salvation brought to us in Jesus Christ".

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 The Pope praises the service of the Public Security Inspectorate in the
Vatican
 Vatican City, 22 January 2015 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis received in
audience a group of agents from the General Inspectorate for Public Security
in the Vatican, accompanied by their families. This institution will celebrate
the seventieth anniversary of the presence of the Italian forces of order in
the Vatican. The Pope thanked them for the work they carry out on a daily
basis "with professionalism and dedication". He continued, "We began a new
year a short while ago, and we have many hopes and expectations. We also see
on the horizon the shadows and dangers that trouble humanity. As Christians we
are called upon not to lose heart or to be discouraged. Our hope rests upon an
immovable rock: God's love, revealed and given in Christ Jesus, our Lord".
 In his address, the Holy Father recalled the comforting words of the apostle
Paul: "'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... Yet
in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us'. ...
In the light of this firm hope, your work assumes a different meaning, that
brings human and Christian values into play. Indeed, you have the task of
protecting and supervising places of the utmost importance for the faith, and
of guaranteeing the security of millions of pilgrims. Many people who come to
visit the heart of Christian Rome frequently turn to you".
 He added, "May every person feel helped and protected by your presence and
your care. ... We are all called to be our neighbour's guardians. The Lord
will call us to account for the responsibilities entrusted to us, for the good
and the bad we have brought upon our neighbours".

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 Audiences
 Vatican City, 22 January 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in
audience:
 - Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting New Evangelisation;
 - Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata; apostolic nuncio, former vice-camerlengo of
the Apostolic Camera;
 - Ignazio Marino, mayor of Rome.

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 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 22 January 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has accepted the
resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Quimper, France,
presented by Bishop Jean-Marie Le Vert, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2
of the Code of Canon Law.

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