VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 093
DATE 20-05-2015

Summary:
- Education, the natural vocation of the family
- The Pope joins the Catholics of China in prayer and recalls Christians
persecuted for their faith
- Cardinal Parolin: when the future of the planet is at stake, there are no
political frontiers, barriers and walls that can protect us from environmental
and social degradation
- The Holy See at the 68th Assembly of the World Health Organisation
- Other Pontifical Acts

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 Education, the natural vocation of the family
 Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - The education of children as the natural
vocation of the family was the theme of Pope Francis' catechesis during this
Wednesday's general audience in St. Peter's Square.
 The Holy Father, first citing the words of St. Paul to the Colossians:
"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers,
do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged", emphasised the
duty
of parents to accompany their children step by step, without demanding the
impossible, so as not to overwhelm them. He then went on to speak of the
difficulties faced by mothers and fathers who often only have the opportunity
to
see their children in the evening when they return home tired after work -
"those who are lucky enough to have work", he added - and also referred to the
even more critical situation faced by separated parents, inviting them to
ensure
that the conflicts between the couple do not have an impact on the children.
 Francis also mentioned that the family has been accused of other things,
including authoritarianism, favouritism, conformism, and emotional repression
that generates conflicts. "In fact, a fracture has opened up between family and
society, undermining mutual trust, and in this way, the alliance between family
and society in the education of children has entered into a crisis".
 "There are many symptoms", he continued. "For example, in schools this has
affected relationships between parents and teachers. ... On the other hand,
there
has been a proliferation of so-called 'experts' who occupy the role of parents
even in the most intimate aspects of education ... and parents are expected
only
to listen, to learn and to adapt. Deprived of their role, they often become
excessively apprehensive and possessive with regard to their children, to the
point of never correcting them. They tend to increasingly entrust them to
'experts', even in relation to the most delicate and personal aspects of their
life, placing themselves in the corner. In this way, parents run the risk of
excluding themselves from the life of their children". "How have we arrived at
this point? Without doubt in the past parents, or rather, certain educational
models, had certain limits. But it is also true that there are mistakes that
only parents are authorised to make, as they are able to compensate for them in
a way that is impossible for any other person. On the other hand, as we well
know, life now spares us little time for speaking, reflection and exchange.
Many
parents are 'kidnapped' by their work and other worries, and they find
themselves paralysed by the fear of making mistakes. The problem, however, is
not only about talking. ... Let us ask ourselves instead: do we seek to
understand
'where' our children truly are on their path? Where is their soul? ... And
above
all, do we want to know?".
 Francis underlined that the Christian communities are called upon to offer
support to the educational mission of the family. "At the base of everything
there is love, that which God gives to us, that "is not arrogant or rude. It
does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not
rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things". Even in the best of
families, there is much to be endured, and it takes a lot of patience. Jesus
Himself experienced education in the family". "Even in this case, the grace of
Christ's love fulfils what is inscribed in human nature. How many excellent
examples we have of Christian parents full of human wisdom! They show that good
family education is the backbone of humanism. Its spread through society is the
resource that allows us to compensate for the shortcomings, the wounds, the
lack
of paternity and maternity that affect the least fortunate children, and works
true miracles".
 "I hope that the Lord may give Christian families the faith, freedom and
courage necessary for their missions. If family education rediscovers the pride
of its central role, many things will change for the better, for uncertain
parents and disappointed children. It is time for fathers and mothers to return
from their exile, and to fully resume their role as educators", concluded
Francis.

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 The Pope joins the Catholics of China in prayer and recalls Christians
persecuted for their faith
 Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - Following today's catechesis, the Pope
remarked that on 24 May Catholics in China pray with devotion to Our Lady Help
of Christians, venerated in the Sheshan shrine in Shanghai. "In the statue
above
the Shrine, Mary holds her Son aloft, presenting Him to the world with His arms
open in a gesture of love and mercy. We too ask Mary to help Catholics in China
always to be credible witnesses of this merciful love among their people and to
live spiritually united with the rock of Peter upon which the Church is built".
 The Holy Father also mentioned the initiative of the Italian Episcopal
Conference, which has proposed that the dioceses, on the occasion of the Eve of
Pentecost, remember the many brothers and sisters exiled or killed for the mere
fact of being Christians. "They are martyrs. I hope that this moment of prayer
may help spread the knowledge that religious freedom is an inalienable human
right and raise awareness of the tragedy of Christians persecuted in our time,
and bring an end to this unacceptable crime".

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 Cardinal Parolin: when the future of the planet is at stake, there are no
political frontiers, barriers and walls that can protect us from environmental
and social degradation
 Vatican City, 20 May 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin
has sent a message to the participants in the conference "The New Climate
Economy: how economic growth and sustainability can go hand in hand", held
today
in the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, in collaboration with
the Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace" the World Resource Institute, the
New
Climate Economy and the embassy of the Netherlands to the Holy See.
 The conference takes place in the context of two key steps in the preparatory
process adopted by the United Nations: the UN Summit to adopt the post-2015
development agenda and the 21st conference on the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change to be held in Paris next December, to adopt a new
agreement to face the adverse effects of climate change. "Both of them
represent
the serious ethical and moral responsibility that each of us has towards the
whole human family, especially the poor and future generations", observed the
cardinal.
 "When the future of the planet is at stake, there are no political frontiers,

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