VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 059
DATE 24-03-2015

Summary:
- International vigil at St. Mary Major for the 20th anniversary of the
encyclical Evangelium Vitae
- Pope's Second lottery for charity
- The Holy See: equality of access to education for girls
- Other Pontifical Acts

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 International vigil at St. Mary Major for the 20th anniversary of the
encyclical Evangelium Vitae
 Vatican City, 24 March 2015 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for the Family has
organised an international vigil to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of
the
publication of St. John Paul II's encyclical "Evangelium Vitae". According to a
press release from the dicastery, the event is a form of thanksgiving for the
fruits of the pastoral care of life, and will also serve to spread the benefits
of prayer for life as well as to recall eternal life, the destiny of every
human
being.
 The vigil will be divided into three stages: it will begin at 5 p.m. in the
Roman basilica of St. Mary Major, with an explanation of various artistic
elements of the basilica relating to the theme of life. At 6 p.m. an original
rosary will be prayed, focusing on the contemplation of the Gospel passages
linked to the theme of life, interspersed with experiences related by the
faithful. This will be followed, at 7 p.m., by a Eucharistic celebration
presided by Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the
Family, who comments that "the anniversary of the Encyclical and this vigil
that
commemorates it, on the eve of the Annunciation, is particularly meaningful as
it makes manifest the intimate connection between the mystery of life and the
experience of the family, made up of affection and social relationships.
Defending life means participating in the alliance between God, man and woman".
 The international character of the vigil is accentuated by the participation
of
the shrines of Fatima, Lourdes and Guadalupe, where rosaries will be recited,
dedicated to life, as part of the initiative "A rosary embraces the world".
 The Italian television channel Telepace will transmit live the events of the
vigil from 5.15 p.m., while English-, French- and Italian-speaking viewers will
be able to take part in the Holy Rosaries of Lourdes, according to the
following
schedule: at 2.30 p.m. (local time) the Rosary will be broadcast by the main
American Catholic television channels; at 3.30 p.m. by the French Catholic
channel KTO, and at 6 p.m. in Italy, by the broadcaster TV2000.

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 Pope's Second lottery for charity
 Vatican City, 24 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has expressed his
gratitude
for the proceeds raised by the lottery in support of his works of charity,
which
took place in January. The entire sum has been consigned to Archbishop Konrad
Krajewski, almoner of His Holiness. In view of the widespread participation and
generosity of many people, Pope Francis has made more prizes available to
enable
the initiative to be repeated.
 The second lottery draw will take place on the solemnity of the Saints Peter
and Paul, patrons of Rome, and the lucky numbers draw (each ticket costs 10
euros) is scheduled for 30 July, in the presence of a commission to guarantee
the correct procedures. Prizes can be claimed during the following thirty days
in the Department of Events Coordination of the Governorate of Vatican City
State. Also on this occasion, like the first lottery, the proceeds will go
directly to the Pope.
 Tickets will be available from the Vatican Pharmacy, the Post Office, the
Vatican supermarket, the "Station" warehouse, the sales outlets of the
Philatelic and Numismatic Office, and the Vatican Museums bookshop.

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 The Holy See: equality of access to education for girls
 Vatican City, 24 March 2015 (VIS) - Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Holy See
Permanent Observer at the United Nations in New York, spoke on 13 March at the
59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which analysed the
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, with a view also to advancing
women's empowerment and equality in a post-2015 development agenda.
 "There has been considerable progress for the cause of women in many
countries,
especially in the areas of education, political representation, and economic
participation", said the nuncio. "In spite of the admirable efforts and
significant advances, however, still too many women continue to face
discrimination and many forms of violence just for being women".
 "The goal of eradicating poverty, in particular extreme poverty, is at the
heart of the Holy See's concerns. The Catholic Church has nearly unparalleled
experience of the needs of the poor through its bimillennial experience and
through hundreds of thousands of programs and institutions serving poor women
and men the world over", he continued. "The promotion of inclusive and
equitable
economies has a profound impact in advancing the status of women. Indeed, women
are experiencing unique economic distress linked to unfair employment policies,
unequal pay for equal work, the denial of access to credit and property, and
victimisation in situations of conflicts and migration. Notwithstanding the
fact
that women constitute the majority of the poor and are affected by the burden
of
poverty in very specific ways, they are nevertheless courageously at the
forefront in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty. From this perspective, the
fight for the advancement of women must also mean assuring them equal access to
resources, capital and technology".
 The archbishop underlined that "studies have demonstrated that fragile family
structures and the decline of marriage among the poor are very closely linked
to
poverty among women. Single mothers are left alone to raise children. Many
mothers in situations of distress fail to send their children to school, thus
entangling them in the vicious circle of poverty and marginalisation. ...
Numerous
reports by the Secretary-General have highlighted the centrality of the family
for poverty eradication and sustainable development".
 The Holy See takes note of the report by the UN Office of the High
Commissioner
for Human Rights on the problems and attacks girls continue to suffer in
accessing education. "My delegation is convinced that the fight for equal
access
to education for girls, especially quality education, is an indispensable
component in the fight for the advancement of women ... and reiterates Pope
Francis' readiness of to work with all those who are seeking each day to build
a
world that concretely treats women as equals, in the diversity of gifts and
strengths, toward the greater common good of all".

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 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 24 March 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Bishop
Bertram Victor Wick Enzler, auxiliary of Guayaquil, Ecuador, as bishop of Santo
Domingo en Ecuador (area 8,500, population 801,000, Catholics 685,000, priests
82, permanent deacons 2, religious 135), Ecuador.

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