that a just society recognises the primacy of the right to life from conception
to natural end. However, I would like us to go beyond this, and to think
carefully about the time that joins the beginning to the end. Therefore,
recognising the inestimable value of human life, we must also reflect on the
use
we make of it".
 Francis emphasised that the measure of the progress of a civilisation is "its
capacity to protect life, especially in its most fragile phases, rather than
the
spread of technological tools. When we speak about man, we must never forget
all
the assaults on the sacredness of human life. The scourge of abortion is an
assault on life. Leaving our brothers to die on boats in the Sicilian straits
is
an assault on life. Death at work due to a failure to respect the minimum
safety
requirements is an assault on life. Death due to hunger is an assault on life.
Terrorism, war, violence are all assaults on life, as is is euthanasia".
 "I encourage you to relaunch a culture of life, that knows how to establish
networks of trust and reciprocity, and how to offer prospects of peace, mercy
and communion", he concluded.

___________________________________________________________

 Francis receives the passengers of the "Children's Train"
 Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) - "Never stop dreaming ... You can fly with
your
dreams, and dreaming opens the doors to happiness"; said Pope Francis to the
six
hundred children on the "Children's Train", an initiative of the Courtyard of
the Gentiles in support of children who live in difficult situations. This year
it was dedicated to the children of detainees in the Italian penitentiaries of
Roma, Civitavecchia, Latina, Bari and Trani, on the theme "Flight".
 The train, on which two-hundred children travelled from Bari and Trani,
arrived
at the Vatican railway station, where they joined those already present from
the
other three provinces. Upon arrival they were welcomed by Cardinal Giuseppe
Bertello, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Cardinal
Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture and Michele
Mario Elia, director of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane SpA, the Italian rail
network infrastructure company.
 The Holy Father met with the passengers of the train in the Paul VI Hall, and
spoke with them on the theme of flight, inviting them to fly with their
imagination to be with their families and to fulfil their dreams.

___________________________________________________________

 The Pope receives a group of sick children: "You are life's heroes"
 Vatican City, 30 May 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, in the Chapel of the
Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Pope received in audience a group of twenty
seriously
ill children, accompanied by their parents, along with volunteers and leaders
from the UNITALSI association, which organises pilgrimages to Lourdes and
Loreto. The majority of the children were aged between seven and 14 years,
although there were also some as young as two and three.
 The Pope approached each child affectionately. One of the children then spoke
to the Holy Father about a similar previous meeting two years ago, recalling
all
those who had been present and some who have passed away in the meantime, and
assured him that they have all prayed a lot for the Pope, as he had asked them
too.
 The Holy Father went on to speak about the mystery of the suffering of
children. "It is a question I often ask myself, and which many of you, many
people, ask themselves: why do children suffer? And there are no explanations.
...
I simply look to God and ask, 'But why?'. And looking at the Cross: 'Why is
Your
Son there, why?' It is the mystery of the Cross. ... I also often think of the
Virgin when as they brought her the lifeless body of her Son. ... She did not
understand either. She would have recalled what the Angel had told her: 'He
will
be King, He will be great, He will be a prophet'. With that wounded body in her
arms, that had suffered so greatly before death, she would surely have wanted
to
say to the Angel: 'Liar! I have been deceived'. She had no answers either".
 "Do not be afraid of asking, indeed even challenging the Lord. 'Why?'", he
exclaimed. "Perhaps no explanation will come, but the gaze of the Father will
give you the strength to go on. ... The only explanation He will be able to
give
you is: 'My son suffered too'. This is the explanation. The most important is
his gaze. This is your strength, the loving gaze of the Father".
 "In a world in which it is so normal to experience a throwaway culture - if we
are not happy with something we discard it - you live this situation ... with
heroism. ... You are the little heroes of life. I thank you for your example",
affirmed the Pope, visibly moved. "I pray for you, for these mixed feelings of
joy and sadness. ... The Lord knows how to comfort you in your suffering in a
special way".
 Those present then prayed a Hail Mary and received the Pope's blessing. He
continued the meeting by talking with each child and their parents. The group
left the Domus Sanctae Marthae at 6 p.m.

___________________________________________________________

 Fr. Lombardi issues clarification on Cardinal George Pell
 Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) - In response to questions from journalists,
the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J.,
explained that the statement made by Mr. Peter Saunders (one of the 17 members
of the Commission for the Protection of Minors) during a television broadcast
was evidently given in an entirely personal way and not on behalf of the
Commission, which is not competent to investigate or to pronounce specific
judgements on individual cases.
 Moreover, Cardinal George Pell has always responded carefully and thoroughly
to
the accusations and questions posed by the competent Australian authorities,
and
his position has been made known again in recent days by a public declaration
on
his part, which must be considered reliable and worthy of respect and
attention.

___________________________________________________________

 Audiences
 Vatican City, 31 May 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience
Archbishop Paolo Gualtieri, apostolic nuncio in Madagascar.
 On Saturday 30 May, the Holy Father received in audience:
 - Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
 - Archbishop Hector Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte of Trujillo, Peru.

___________________________________________________________

 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
 - Bishop Gustavo Rodriguez Vega of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, as metropolitan
archbishop of Yucatan (area 39,612, population 2,064,151, Catholics 1,655,449,
priests 237, permanent deacons 37, religious 700), Mexico. He succeeds
Archbishop Emilio Carlos Berlie Belaunzaran, whose resignation upon reaching
the
age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
 On Saturday 30 May, the Holy Father appointed:
 - Bishop Orlando Roa Barbosa, auxiliary of Ibague, Colombia, as bishop of
Espinal (area 14,000, population 484,000, Catholics 437,000, priests 92,
religious 71), Colombia.
 - Rev. Fr. Eugene Joseph as bishop of Varanasi (area 21,296, population
21,165,000, Catholics 19,536, priests 154, religious 675), India. The
bishop-elect was born in Madurai, India in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1985.
He holds a bachelor's degree in education from the Gorakhpur University,
Varanasi; a master's degree in English from the Mahatma Gandhi K.V. University,
Varanasi, and a masters in business administration from the Townsend School of
Business, New York, U.S.A.

___________________________________________________________

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