The Pope remarked that the good relations between generations can be learned
from the Heavenly Father Who "does not take steps backwards in His love for us
- never! He always moves forward, and if He cannot go ahead He waits for us,
but He never goes backwards; He wants all his children to be courageous and
take their steps ahead. Sons and daughters, on their part, must not be afraid
of the commitment to building a new world: it is right for them to want it to
be better than the one they have received! But this must be done without
arrogance, without presumption".
 He mentioned the fourth commandment, to honour one's father and mother, and
explained that "a society of children who do not honour their parents is a
society without honour. It is a society destined to become full of barren and
greedy young people". He added that a society in which the adult generations
"do not love to be surrounded by children, considering them above all as a
worry, a burden, a risk, is a depressed society" and that while the conception
of children must be responsible, having many children should not automatically
be considered an irresponsible decision, and choosing not to have children is
"a selfish decision". "Life is rejuvenated and acquires energy by multiplying;
it is enriched, not impoverished. ... In the multiplication of generation
there is the mystery of the enrichment of the life of all, that comes from God
Himself. We must rediscover this, challenging prejudice; and live it, in faith
and in perfect joy". He concluded by addressing the mothers and fathers who
raise their children to be blessed as he passes through the square: "it is a
gesture that is almost divine. Thank you for doing it!".

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 Francis prays for the victims of the Lampedusa tragedy
 Vatican City, 11 February 2015 (VIS) - "I follow with concern the news from
Lampedusa, where there have been deaths among immigrants due to the cold
during the Mediterranean crossing. I offer the assurance of my prayers for the
victims and again encourage solidarity so that those affected do not lack the
necessary aid", said the Holy Father following the catechesis of today's
general audience.
 The Pope also invited prayer for the upcoming Consistory, so that "the Holy
Spirit might assist in the work of the College of Cardinals and enlighten the
new Cardinals and their service to the Church".

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 Eighth session of the Council of Cardinals
 Vatican City, 11 February 2015 (VIS) - The Eighth Session of the Council of
Cardinals took place from 9 to 11 February, with meetings both in the morning
and the afternoon.
 All members of the Council were present, and the Pope participated in all the
meetings apart from on Wednesday morning, as usual, due to the General
Audience.
 The first meeting on Monday morning was dedicated to the preparation of the
Report on the work carried out by the Council and on the theme of reform of
the Curia, which will be presented on Thursday 12 at the Consistory of the
College of Cardinals. The Secretary of the Council, Bishop Semeraro, gave a
presentation.
 The Monday afternoon meeting was dedicated to a meeting with Cardinal Ravasi
regarding the Pontifical Council for Culture within the framework of reform of
the Curia.
 The Tuesday morning meeting was instead dedicated mostly to a presentation by
Msgr. Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social
Communications and the Commission for Vatican Media, of the Commission's
Interim Report, with the main results and proposals for the reorganisation of
Vatican media. The Council expressed its appreciation for the work carried out
by the Commission and confirmed its principle orientations.
 In the afternoon, questions regarding the Secretariat and Council for the
Economy were again taken into consideration, in view of the finalisation of
the Statutes of these new entities.
 The first part of the meeting on Wednesday morning was again devoted to the
preparation of the following day's Consistory, especially the contribution to
be offered by the Coordinator of the Council, Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga,
while during the second part an update was offered on the organisation and
activities of the Secretariat for the Economy.
 In the final meeting, on Wednesday morning, the topics covered in the morning
will be examined again with the Holy Father, and it is expected that a report
will be given by Cardinal O'Malley on the recent plenary session of the new
Commission for the Protection of Minors.

___________________________________________________________

 Audiences
 Vatican City, 12 February 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in
audience Shahindokht Molaverdi, deputy president of the Islamic Republic of
Iran.

___________________________________________________________

 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 12 February 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
 - Fr. Luc Crey, C.J.M., as bishop of Puy-en-Velay (area 5,000, population
231,877, Catholics 181,700, priests 147, permanent deacons 10, religious 459),
France. The bishop-elect was born in Lille, France in 1958, gave his perpetual
vows in 1988 and was ordained a priest in 1989. He holds a doctorate in
biology and a licentiate in theology, and has served in a number of roles in
the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists), as rector of the interdiocesan
seminary of Orleans, president of the Conference of Major Superiors in France,
and pontifical commissioner for the province of France and Switzerland of the
Societe des Filles du Coeur de Marie. He is currently procurator general of
the Congregation of Eudists in Rome.
 - Fr. Francois Gnonhossou, S.M.A., as bishop of Dassa-Zoume (area 13,931,
population 717,772, Catholics 217,401, priests 85, religious 65), Benin. The
bishop-elect was born in Dassa-Zoume, Benin in 1961, gave his religious vows
in 1996, and was ordained a priest in 1997. He holds a licentiate in civil law
and a bachelor's degree in theology, he has served in a number of pastoral
roles, including parish priest in Guffanti, Nigeria; chaplain of the Apprentis
d'Auteil in Paris; vice-superior and subsequently superior of the S.M.A.
district in formation Africa, assistant in various parishes in the diocese of
Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, Canada; parish vicar of St. Sylvain, Montreal,
Canada, and bursar of the local community. He is currently general counsel of
the Society of African Missions in Rome.
 - Msgr. Fernando Chica Arellano, nunciature counsellor, as Holy See permanent
observer at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (F.A.O.),
International Fund for Agricultural Development (I.F.A.D.), and World Food
Programme (W.F.P.).
 On Wednesday, 11 February, the Holy Father appointed:
 - Bishop Juan Nsue Edjang Maye of Ebebiyin, Equatorial Guinea, as archbishop
of Malabo (area 2,034, population 312,000, Catholics 283,000, priests 37,
religious 106), Equatorial Guinea. He succeeds Archbishop Ildefonso Obama
Obono whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, upon
reaching the age limit, was accepted by the Holy Father.
 - Fr. Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, C.I.C.M., as bishop of Lisala (area 67,674,
population 1,683,000, Catholics 897,000, priests 66, religious 124),
Democratic Republic of Congo. The bishop-elect was born in Kanya Mbonda,
Democratic Republic of Congo in 1964, gave his perpetual vows in 1987, and was
ordained a priest in 1996. He studied philosophy and theology in Yaounde,
Cameroon, and theology at the Catholic Theological Union (C.T.S.), U.S.A. He
has served as a missionary and parish priest in Dakar, Senegal; superior of
the autonomous C.I.C.M. district of Senegal for three consecutive mandates;
rector of the theological seminary of Cameroon and coordinator of the C.I.C.M.
for the Region Africa. He is currently vicar general of his Congregation in
Rome.

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