think of the unfortunate and all who suffer, and to rededicate ourselves to
bringing them comfort and happiness through acts of love and compassion".
 This year's text is inspired by Pope Francis's "Message for the 2015 World Day
of Peace", entitled No Longer Slaves, but Brothers and Sisters, in which the
Holy Father observes that, historically, the institution of slavery was once
generally accepted and resulted in the "rejection of others, their
mistreatment,
violations of their dignity and fundamental rights, and institutionalised
inequality". Accordingly, "a slave could be bought and sold, given away or
acquired, as if he or she were a commercial product" and although slavery has
been formally abolished throughout the world, there are still "millions of
people today - children, women and men of all ages - deprived of freedom and
forced to live in conditions akin to slavery".
 Pope Francis gives examples of modern day slavery: men, women and child
labourers; migrants who undergo physical, emotional and sexual abuse while
working in shameful working conditions; persons forced into prostitution, many
of whom are minors, as well as male and female sex slaves; those kidnapped by
terrorists and forced to be combatants, and those who are tortured, mutilated
or
killed. Human hearts deformed by corruption and ignorance are, according to the
Holy Father, the cause of these terrible evils against humanity. When hearts
are
corrupted, human beings no longer see others as "beings of equal dignity, as
brothers or sisters sharing a common humanity, but rather as objects".
 "Dear friends, we share the conviction that modern slavery and human
trafficking are grave crimes, open wounds on the body of contemporary society",
states the message for Vesakh. In one section of the "Eightfold Path" - namely
"Right Livelihood" - the Buddha declares that trading in live beings, including
slaves and prostitutes, is one of five occupations that are not to be engaged
in. He instructs that possessions are to be acquired peacefully, honestly and
by
legal means, without coercion, violence or deceit, and by means that do not
cause harm or suffering. In this way, Buddhism promotes respect for the life
and
freedom of each person".
 "As Buddhists and Christians committed to respect for human life, we must
cooperate together to end this social plague. Pope Francis invites us to
overcome indifference and ignorance by offering assistance to victims, in
working for their psychological and educational rehabilitation, and in efforts
to reintegrate them into society where they live or from which they come".
 The text concludes, "We pray that your celebration of Vesakh, which includes
making special efforts to bring happiness to those less fortunate in our midst,
may be a time of deepened consideration of the various ways in which we can
work
together so that there will no longer be slaves, but brothers and sisters
living
in fraternity, loving kindness and compassion for all".

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 Regina Coeli: the content of Christian witness is not an ideology
 Vatican City, 19 April 2015 (VIS) - At midday today the Pope appeared at the
window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Regina Coeli
with the faithful present in the square. Before the Marian prayer, Francis
spoke
about the meaning of witness in the life of Christians. "A witness is one who
has seen, who recalls, and recounts", he said. "To see, to remember and to tell
are the three verbs that describe identity and mission. The witness is one who
has seen, but not with indifferent eyes; he has seen and allowed himself to be
involved in the event. Therefore, he also remembers, not only because he is
able
to precisely reconstruct the facts, but because these facts have spoken to him
and he has grasped their deep meaning. And so the witness recounts, not in a
cold or detached way, but as one who has allowed himself to be questioned, and
has from that day forth changed his life".
 "The content of Christian witness is not a theory, and ideology, or a complex
system of precepts and prohibitions", he added, "but rather a message of
salvation, a concrete event, or rather a Person: it is the risen Christ, the
sole and living Saviour of all".
 The Pontiff went on to emphasise that the Christian may be a witness of the
risen Christ "by way of a path that has its foundation in Baptism and its
nourishment in the Eucharist, its seal in Confirmation and its continual
conversion in Penance. ... If, however, a Christian allows himself to be rapt
by
comforts and vanity, if he becomes deaf and blind to the question of
'resurrection' of so many of his brothers, how will he be able to communicate
the living Jesus, with his liberating power and infinite tenderness?".

___________________________________________________________

 Men and women like us, seeking a better life
 Vatican City, 19 April 2015 (VIS) - Following the Marian prayer, the Pope
launched an appeal to the international community to react as soon as possible
to tragedies like Saturday's shipwreck in Sicilian waters, causing the deaths
of
hundreds of immigrants travelling towards the Italian coast.
 "They are men and women like us", he said. "Our brothers who seek a better
life; hungry, persecuted, wounded, exploited, victims of wars, seeking a better
life. They were looking for happiness. I invite you to pray for them".

___________________________________________________________

 State Visit of the President of the Italian Republic
 Vatican City, 18 April 2015 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received a
State visit from the president of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella. The
visit takes place just two months after his election, and as the Pontiff
remarked, "shows the excellent relations between the Holy See and Italy". There
is a long-standing tradition of regular meetings between the Italian
authorities
and the Universal Church, reinforced following Vatican Council II.
 In his address to the president, the Pope referred first to the Lateran Pacts,
incorporated into the Republican Constitution, which constitute "a solid
framework for reference, within which the relations between Italy and the Holy
See have been peacefully developed and strengthened, guaranteeing mutual
sovereignty and independence and at the same time ensuring mutual orientation
towards active collaboration, on the basis of shared values and in view of the
common good". For this, it is fundamental for collaboration to be constantly
renewed, "distinguishing roles and competences and with full respect for
reciprocal functions", with the aim of "uniting forces for the good of all
citizens, who have the right to such harmony, from which they derive
innumerable
benefits. ... Reciprocal autonomy does not diminish, but indeed enhances common
responsibility for human beings and for the spiritual and material needs of the
community, which we all have the task of serving with humility and dedication".
 "A healthy pluralism does not reject the specific contribution offered by the
various ideal and religious members that make up our society, provided that, of
course, they accept the fundamental principals that guide civil life, and do
not
exploit or distort their beliefs to violent and abusive ends. In other words,
the orderly development of a pluralistic civil society presupposes that it does
not claim to confine the true religious spirit solely to the intimacy of the
conscience, but that it also recognises its significant role in the building of
society, legitimating the the valuable contribute that it may offer". In this
respect, the history of Italy clearly demonstrates both the great contribution
of Christianity to her culture and the character of her population, and the
extent to which Christian faith has permeated the art, architecture and customs
of the country".
 The Pope did not fail to mention, among the fundamental goods for the
development of each community, the importance of work, "distinguished by its
bond with the very dignity of the person, with the possibility of building a
dignified and free existence", and he emphasised that "the lack of work for the
young becomes a cry of pain that must impel those in public office,
intermediary
organisations, private businesspeople and the ecclesial community to make every
effort to remedy the situation, according the suitable priority to the problem.
Indeed, the possibility of dignity and of the future resides in the
availability
of work".
 Another theme of the Pope's address was the protection of the environment, and
in this regard he spoke about the Milan Universal Exposition, the theme of
which
is "Feeding the planet: energy for life". "The event of the Expo will be an
important occasion in which the most modern technologies necessary for
guaranteeing healthy, safe and sufficient food for all peoples, respecting the
environment, will be presented", he said. "This may also contribute to deeper
study of the causes of environmental degradation, in order to provide the
competent authorities with a framework of knowledge and experience
indispensable
for making effective decisions and for preserving the health of the planet that
God has entrusted to the care of humankind".
 Finally, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude for Italy's efforts in
receiving the many immigrants who, risking their lives, seek acceptance. "It is
clear that the proportions of the phenomenon require a much broader
involvement.
We must never tire of soliciting more extensive efforts at European and
international levels".
 Francis concluded by expressing his hope that Italy, "treasuring her noble
traditions and culture, largely inspired by Christian faith, may progress and
prosper in harmony, offering her valuable contribution to peace and justice in
the world".

___________________________________________________________

 Italy and the Holy See: promoting and protecting religious freedom and human
dignity at bilateral and international levels
 Vatican City, 18 April 2015 (VIS) - This morning the president of the Italian
Republic, Sergio Mattarella, paid a visit to the Holy Father Francis. The Head
of the Italian State, accompanied by Paolo Gentiloni, minister for foreign
affairs and international cooperation, subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary
of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher,
secretary for Relations with States.
 During the cordial discussions, satisfaction was expressed for the good
relations between the Holy See and Italy, further consolidated by the recent
signing of the Convention on fiscal matters. Themes relevant to the Italian
social situation were then considered, with particular reference to the family,
education, work and migration. Appreciation was affirmed for the cooperation of

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