and its fundamental nature as a game and social activity, ensuring that it does
not become distorted under the pressure of many interests, especially those of
an economic nature, which are increasingly evident nowadays".

___________________________________________________________

 Canonisation of Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas and Maryam Baouardy: a sign of
hope for the men and women of the Middle East
 Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office
Fr.
Rifat Bader, director of the Catholic Centre for Studies and Media in Amman,
Jordan, presented the figure of the Palestinian blesseds Sister 
arie-Alphonsine
Danil Ghattas, founder of the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem, and
the descalzed Carmelite Maryam Baouardy (Mary of Jesus Crucified). Along with
another two women religious, the French Jeanne-Emilie de Villeneuve and the
Italian Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception Brando, they will be
canonised by Pope Francis this coming Sunday in St. Peter's Square.
 The solemn celebration will be attended by cardinals and bishops resident in
Rome and from various parts of the world, including a delegation of 2124 people
from the Palestine territories and Jordan headed by the Latin Patriarch of
Jerusalem, Fouad Twal. The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will also be
present, along with numerous prelates from Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia,
Egypt, Libya and Cyprus.
 "Patriarch Fouad Twal affirmed that 'the declaration of the sainthood of the
two nuns from Palestine is a spiritual event of prime importance for the
citizens of the Holy Land, amid the difficulties we are experiencing, as the
two
saints enlighten our path'", said Fr. Badir. "As the Holy Land, wrecked by
violence and dissent, has for some time had a tarnished image, our two saints
emerge to restore its sanctity, reminding us that sanctity is possible even in
the most difficult circumstances. The canonisation of the two girls from the
East during these dark times is an invitation from His Holiness Pope Francis to
pray, knowing that only prayer can miraculously help save our faith in the
midst
of these times of trial. Now we have two new saints who represent a model of
perfection for Christians, as well as for Muslims and Jews alike. They are both
named Mary, and this name is widespread and commonly used among all three
traditions. It is a sign of our modern time which suggests that we can talk
about the three religions without any discrimination".
 "This grand event", added Fr. Badir, "is a message of solidarity and
encouragement to the Christians of the Holy Land, especially for those in all
other Middle East countries, to those who have been forcibly displaced and
deported from their home countries, and to all those who suffer persecution,
and
whose persecutors sometimes think that by killing they are offering a sacrifice
to God, as Jesus Himself warned".
 The new saint Mary of Jesus Crucified was "subjected to acts of extremism and
an attempt on her life, seeking to force her to change her religion. She now
intercedes for those who are being killed because of their religion and their
religious affiliation. Her life and intercession are a cry urging respect for
religious and ethnic differences as well as acknowledging human beings as
creatures who are made in the image and likeness of God". St. Marie-Alphonsine
"succeeded in gaining the support of the religious authorities to set up the
first Arab religious congregation, and placing the Arab world on the map in the
fields of education and religious teaching".
 "Furthermore, the rosary schools associated with this Arab religious
congregation have a prominent and influential presence in Jordan, Palestine,
Lebanon, the Gulf states and Rome. We realise that during the late 19th and
early 20th century this religious congregation contributed to increasing the
Arab role in culture, social awareness, spiritual guidance and education of
generations of men and women. Illiteracy has been eliminated in many parts of
the Middle East as a direct result of the active contribution of nuns and
religious congregations to literacy education".
 He concluded, "The two saintly nuns, whose canonisation coincides with the
Church celebrations of the year of consecrated life and the blessed Marian
Month
of May, pray that the Lord would bring peace and calmness to our hearts and
minds, and that we will return to worshipping the Almighty. ... We view the
consecration of the founder of the Rosary Sisters as an invitation to intensify
the daily Rosary prayers in Churches, houses, and parish groups to bring peace,
love and mutual respect among all the peoples of the Middle East".

___________________________________________________________

 Audiences
 Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience:
 - Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith;
 - Daniel Ramada Piendibene, ambassador of Uruguay to the Holy See, on his
farewell visit;
 - nine prelates of the Episcopal Conference of the Central African Republic on
their "ad Limina" visit:
 - Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., of Bangui;
 - Bishop Peter Marzinkowski, C.S.Sp., of Alindao, with his coadjutor, Bishop
Cyr-Nestor Yapaupa;
 - Bishop Edouard Mathos of Bambari;
 - Bishop Dennis Kofi Agbenyadzi, S.M.A., of Berberati;
 - Bishop Nestor-Desire Nongo-aziagbia, S.M.A., of Bossangoa;
 - Bishop Armando Umberto Gianni, O.F.M. Cap., of Bouar;
 - Bishop Albert Vanbuel, S.D.B., of Kaga-Bandoro; and
 - Bishop Guerrino Perin, M.C.C.I., of Mbaiki.

___________________________________________________________

 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 15 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
 - Bishop Francescantonio Nole, O.F.M. Conv., of Tursi-Lagonegro, Italy, as
metropolitan archbishop of Cosenza-Bisignano (area 2,537, population 384,000,
Catholics 382,000, priests 230, permanent deacons 40, religious 377), Italy. He
succeeds Archbishop Salvatore Nunnari, whose resignation from the pastoral care
of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy
Father.
 - Msgr. Domenico Pompili as bishop of Rieti (area 1,818, population 99,046,
Catholics 93,003, priests 96, deacons 15, religious 227), Italy. The
bishop-elect was born in Rome, Italy in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1988.
He holds a licentiate and doctorate in moral theology from the Pontifical
Gregorian University, Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral and
administrative roles in the diocese of Anagni-Alatri, including parish priest,
special secretary to the bishop, director of the diocesan office for social
communications and episcopal vicar for pastoral ministry. He is currently
director of the national office for social communications of the Italian
Episcopal Conference, under-secretary of the Italian Episcopal Conference,
secretary of the Communication and Culture Foundation, and lecturer in moral
theology at the Pontifical Theological Leonian Institute of Anagni.
 Yesterday, Thursday 14 May, the Holy Father appointed Msgr. Patrick McKinney
as
bishop of Nottingham (area 13,000, population 4,535,000, Catholics 155,000,
priests 163, permanent deacons 39, religious 92), England. The bishop-elect was
born in Birmingham, England in 1954 and was ordained a priest in 1978. He holds
a licentiate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and
has served in a number of pastoral roles in the archdiocese of Birmingham,
including parish assistant, teacher of fundamental theology and subsequently
rector of the Seminary of St. Mary's, parish priest, episcopal vicar for the
northern sector of Birmingham, and vicar forane of the deanery of Dudley. He
was
named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness in 1990.

___________________________________________________________

For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:
www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)