VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXV - # 85
DATE 07-05-2015

Summary:
- European Churches and Ecclesiastic Communities: Collaborating in Solidarity
to
Welcome Immigrants
- Pope thanks Bishops of Mali for Safeguarding Interreligious Dialogue
- Pope Francis receives Sporting Association of Lazio, Italy: True Sports help
overcome Situations of Injustice
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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 European Churches and Ecclesiastic Communities: Collaborating in Solidarity to
Welcome Immigrants
Vatican City,7 May 2015 (VIS) ? This morning Pope Francis received members of
the joint committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), whose
objective is facilitating ecumenism throughout the continent, where many of the
divisions and wars between Christians began. The current situation is very
different. Thanks to ecumenical dialogue, ecclesiastic communities have taken
great steps on the path to reconciliation and peace, as demonstrated by the
recent European Ecumenical Assemblies and the Ecumenical Charter written in
Strasbourg, France in 2001. These are landmarks in the collaboration between
the
CEC and the Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe (CCEE) that give rise
to the hope of achieving full and visible union between believers in Christ.
The Holy Father, who noted that the ecumenical journey, even with all
itsdifficulties, is already an integral part of the process of reconciliation
and communion, recalled that the conciliar decree Unitatis Redintegratio
affirms
that the division between Christians ?damages the holy cause of preaching the
Gospel to every creature?. ?This is evident,? he stated, ?when, for example,
the
European Churches and ecclesiastic communities have different points of view on
important anthropological or ethical questions. Nevertheless, I hope that
opportunities for common reflection in light of Sacred Scripture and shared
tradition will not be lacking and that they will be fruitful ? and that we
might
find common answers to the questions that contemporary society asks of
Christians. The closer we are to Christ, the closer we are united among
ourselves.?
?Today the European Churches and ecclesiastic communities face new and decisive
challenges, that can only be effectively answered by speaking with one voice,?
the Pope affirmed.?I am thinking, for example, of the challenges of legislation
that, in the name of a misunderstood principle of tolerance wind up blocking
citizens from freely expressing and practicing their religious convictions
peacefully and legitimately. Moreover, faced with the attitude that Europe
seems
to have toward the dramatic and often tragic emigration of thousands of persons
fleeing war, persecution, and misery, the European Churches and ecclesiastic
communities have the duty to promote solidarity and hospitality. European
Christians are called upon to intercede with prayer and by actively working to
bring dialogue and peace to current conflicts.?

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 Pope thanks Bishops of Mali for Safeguarding Interreligious Dialogue
Vatican City, 7 May 2015 (VIS) ? The peaceful coexistence among believers of
different religions, the safeguarding of interreligious dialogue, the common
commitment of Christians and Muslims in defense of cultural heritage, promotion
of women, and the consolidation of the family were some of the topics that Pope
Francis addressed in the speech he delivered this morning to the bishops of the
Episcopal Conference of Mali, at the end of their ?ad Limina? visit. Following
are extensive excerpts from the address.
?I would like to direct your attention toward the person of Christ in the
delicate situation that your country has faced in recent years, including
security challenges. At times, this situation has undermined the coexistence
between the various sectors of society as well as the harmony between men and
women of different religions present in the land of Mali,which is rich with a
glorious past, synonymous with admirable traditions among which are tolerance
and cohesion. I thank your Episcopal Conference for knowing how to preserve the
spirit of interreligious dialogue in this delicate context. The common
commitment of Christians and Muslims to safeguard the Mali's cultural
treasures,
especially the large libraries of Timbuktu, patrimony of humanity, is an
eloquent example. When you return, I want you to express my nearness, not only
to your faithful, but also to your fellow citizens of all social classes and
religions, men and women of good will involved in the fight against intolerance
and exclusion.?
?In this situation, the Christian communities and their pastors are called to
give an even greater witness to their faith based on the unconditional
acceptance of the Gospel values. You are already following this path in
translating the Bible into local languages because, in order to live the Word
of
God and towitness to it faithfully, we must first know it, diligently study it,
and assimilate it. In this sense, the efforts made in your dioceses to develop
new Catechesis manuals are to be welcomed. Thanks to a solid formation, the
lives of the faithful will be even more rooted in faith and strengthened to
withstand all threats.?
?Despite the serious problems facing it, the Church in Mali shows a beautiful
dynamic in its work of evangelization, preserving a profound respect of
conscience. Christ's followers grow in number and fervor. But the Christian
witness of the family still needs greater coherence. In your cultural context,
also marked by divorce and polygamy, Catholics are called upon to concretely
proclaim, through their witness, to the Gospel, life, and the family. I also
encourage you to continue your pastoral work, paying particular attention to
the
situation of women: promoting the role of women in society and fighting against
abuse and violencetoward women is also a way of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, who chose to be born of a woman, the Virgin Mary.?
?If in any particular church the synergy inspired by charity is needed to
ensure
its credibility, then your context of the charity and unity lived in the Church
are among the most important signs of fruitful dialogue with other religions,
an
expression of authentic Christian witness... It is to be hoped that even
nowadays these witnesses of members of other religions toward our Christian
communities multiply.?
?Likewise, the Gospel lived in its authentic dimension of charity should
inspire
social ministry. The Church is present in Mali in the areas of education for
peace and your Christian communities actively contribute to promoting genuine
national reconciliation. In congratulating you for your pastoral sensitivity in
the field of promoting the human person without consideration limited to ethnic
or religiousaffiliation, I would like to pay tribute to the many Christians who
spread the culture of solidarity and hospitality, especially in facing the
violence of the last years.?
?Dear Brothers in the Episcopate, strengthened by the Lord's promise to be with
his family until the end of time, I am convinced that despite the difficulties
on their path, the Church in Mali will continue to be a testament to hope and
peace.?

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 Pope Francis receives Sporting Association of Lazio, Italy: True Sports help
overcome Situations of Injustice
Vatican City, 7 May 2015 (VIS) ? Seven thousand players, managers, members, and
supporters of the Sporting Association of Lazio (Societa Sportiva Lazio), one
of
the Italian capital city's two football teams, were welcomed this afternoon in
the Paul VI Audience Hall to meet with the Pope. The Association was created 15
years ago when a group of youths decided to create a club open to the youth of
the city that would perpetuate the moral and ethical values of the sport. ?At
that time,? Pope Francis said, ?organized sports were a privilege of the rich.
The intention of the founding group was to make it accessible at all levels and
in all social categories. I encourage you, therefore, to continue being
welcoming, to continue to value various talents. May your sporting association
always be an open house where fraternity and harmonywithout discrimination can
be found.?
The club's motto is a phrase from the Roman historian and politician Sallust:
?Concordia parvae res crescunt, discordia maximae dilabuntur? (small things
thrive with harmony; discord brings the greatest things to ruin). The Pope
asserted that the sporting association's long history has confirmed that truth,
enriched by different associated activities, structured in various sporting
sections, and united by the Olympic spirit and mutual solidarity. ?One of
[your]
merits is that of having worked to bring equal status to all sports. In Italy,
as in my country, Argentina, too, there is the risk of speaking always about
football and neglecting other sports. Instead, every sports discipline has its
value, not only physical or social, but also moral since it offers the
possibility to people, especially to children and the young, to develop
balance,
self-control, sacrifice, and loyalty towards others. I want toemphasize this
last one: loyalty. Loyalty towards others because betrayal is increasing a bit
everywhere...Loyalty! Sports allows it to grow.?
?The Bible teaches us,? the Pope concluded, ?that the human person is a unity:
spirit and body. I therefore encourage you to always cultivate, together with
sporting activities ? the religious and spiritual dimension. ? We must not
neglect studies, friendship, or the service of the poor either. We can't
overlook these things to do just one thing. ...Thanks be to God we have
wonderful examples of men and women athletes, even great champions, who never
stopped living faithfully and serving others. In fact, true sports allows us to
build a more fraternal and supportive world, helping overcome situations of
injustice and of human and social discomfort.?

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 Audiences
Vatican City, 7 May 2015 (VIS) ? Today, the Holy Father received in audience
five prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Mali, on their ?ad Limina? visit:
- Archbishop Jean Zerbo of Bamako,
-Bishop Jonas Dembele of Kayes,
- Bishop Jean-Gabriel Diarra of San,
- Bishop Augustin Traore of Segou, and
- Bishop Jean-Baptiste Tiamaof Sikasso.
Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father Francis received in audience Archbishop
Luis
Hector Villalba of Tucuman, Argentina.

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 Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 7 May 2015 (VIS) ? Today, the Holy Father:
- appointed Msgr. Lucio Bonora, of the clergy of the Diocese of Treviso, Italy,
as a judge of the Ecclesiastic Tribunal of Vatican City State. The Holy Father
has also appointed Fr. Paolo Scevola, of the clergy of the Diocese of Vigevano,
Italy, as an actuary notary of the same tribunal. Both will continue in their
roles as officials of the Secretary of State in the General Affairs section.
- appointed Bishop Esteban Escudero Torres as auxiliary of Valencia (area
13,090, population 3,225,000, Catholics 3,041,000, priests 1,541, permanent
deacons 16, religious 4,785), Spain, assigning him the Titular See of Diano.
Bishop Escudero Torres was previously bishop of Palencia, Spain.

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