VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 111
DATE 15-06-2015

Summary:
- Audience with the president of Colombia: special attention to the
reconciliation process and prospects for a peace agreement
- Francis to the ROACO: continue your service of Christian charity, condemning
all that tramples human dignity
- Francis commemorates the reformer Jan Hus on the 600th anniversary of his
death
- The Pope inaugurates the ecclesial Congress of the diocese of Rome: we
parents, witnesses to the beauty of life
- Angelus: God entrusted his Word to the fruitfulness of "our earth"
- Pope Francis announces the publication of his encyclical
- Francis praises the goodness and wisdom of the Scouts and Guides movement
- The Pope to Italian magistrates: justice is not an abstract concept, it is
centred on the person
- God's tenderness: theme of the Pope's homily at the Third Worldwide Priests'
Retreat
- Former nuncio Jozef Wesolowski committed to trial
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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 Audience with the president of Colombia: special attention to the
reconciliation process and prospects for a peace agreement
 Vatican City, 15 June 2015 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the
Holy Father received in audience the president of the Republic of Colombia,
Juan
Manuel Santos Calderon, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State
Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations
with States.
 During the cordial discussions the good relations between the Holy See and the
Republic of Colombia were evoked, underlining the contribution the Catholic
Church has given and continues to guarantee in favour of the human, social and
cultural progress of the population. Among the issues considered, special
attention was given to the state of the reconciliation process in the country,
the complexity of the negotiations that this entails, and the prospects that
could open the way to achieving a peace agreement.
 Finally, there was an exchange of views on the regional political and social
situation, with attention to the efforts made towards promoting stability in
the
countries of the area, their harmonious and equitable development, and a
culture
of legality.

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 Francis to the ROACO: continue your service of Christian charity, condemning
all that tramples human dignity
 Vatican City, 15 June 2015 (VIS) - The lands of the Middle East, marred by
years of conflict, are also "marked by the footprints of those who seek refuge
and soaked with the blood of many men and women, including numerous Christians
persecuted for their faith", said the Holy Father as he received in audience
the
members of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (ROACO), a
year
after their pilgrimage and Francis' plea for peace in the region, when all
hoped
that "the seed of reconciliation would have borne greater fruits".
 Recalling the recent trip to Iraq by a delegation of the ROACO, during which
they met with displaced persons from the Nineveh Plain and with small groups
from Syria, the Pope affirmed, "in those eyes that asked for help and pleaded
for peace and to return home there was Jesus Himself Who looked at you, asking
for that charity that makes us Christians. Every form of assistance, so as not
to fall into the trap of uncompromising efficiency or mere aid that does not
promote persons or peoples, must always be reborn from this blessing of the
Lord
Who reaches us when we have the courage to look at the situations and the
brothers before us".
 Nevertheless, "the world seems to have become aware of the tragedy of recent
months, and has opened its eyes, taking account of the millennial presence of
Christians in the Middle East. Initiatives for raising awareness and offering
aid to them to to others unjustly affected by violence have flourished.
However,
further efforts must be made to eliminate what would appear to be tacit
agreements by which the lives of thousands and thousands of families - women,
men, children, elderly - in the balance of interests appear to weigh less than
petroleum and weapons, and while peace and justice is proclaimed, it is
accepted
that the traffickers of death act in those lands. I therefore encourage you, as
you carry out your service of Christian charity, to condemn all that tramples
human dignity".
 The Holy Father mentioned that in these days ROACO is dedicating special
attention to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Armenia. "The first two, from this year,
canonically constitute two separate realities, inasmuch as they are
metropolitan
sui generis Churches, but they remain profoundly linked by their common
Alexandrian-Gheez tradition". He urged the ROACO "to help these ancient
Christian communities to feel that they are members in the evangelical mission
and to offer, especially to the young, prospects of hope and growth. Without
this, it will not be possible to stop the migratory flow in which so many sons
and daughters of the region set out to reach the Mediterranean coasts, risking
their lives". Armenia, "cradle of the first nation to receive baptism, also has
a great history rich in culture, faith and martyrdom. Support for the Church in
that land contributes to the path towards the visible unity of all believers in
Christ".
 The Pope concluded by dedicating to the Oriental Catholic Churches some words
from St. Ephrem's Hymn of Resurrection: "Accept, our King, our offering, and
give us in return our salvation. Pacify devastated lands and rebuild the
burned-down churches so that, when there will be great peace, we may weave a
great crown from flowers from all places, so that the Lord of peace may be
crowned".

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 Francis commemorates the reformer Jan Hus on the 600th anniversary of his
death
 Vatican City, 15 June 2015 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis received in
audience the representatives of the Czech Hussite Church and the Evangelical
Church of Czech Brethren, in Rome to celebrate a liturgy of reconciliation on
the occasion of the 600 th anniversary of the reformer Jan Hus, distinguished
preacher and rector of the University of Prague, whose execution was lamented
by
St. John Paul II in 1999, who included him among the reformers of the Church.
 "In the light of this consideration", said Francis, "it is necessary to
continue our studies of the figure and work of Jan Hus, which has long been a
matter of controversy between Christians, but which has today become a reason
for dialogue. This research, conducted without any form of ideological
conditioning, will be an important service to historical truth, to all
Christians and to society as a whole, even beyond your national borders".
 "Today's meeting gives us the opportunity to renew and deepen the relations
between our communities", he added. "Many disputes of the past ask to be
revisited in the light of the new context in which we live, and agreements and
convergences will be reached if we face the traditional conflictual questions
with a new outlook. Above all, we cannot forget that the shared profession of
faith in God the Father, in the Son and in the Holy Spirit, in which we have
been baptised, already unites us in bonds of authentic fraternity".
 "Vatican Council II affirmed that 'every renewal of the Church is essentially
grounded in an increase of fidelity to her own calling. Undoubtedly this is the
basis of the movement toward unity. ... Church renewal has therefore notable
ecumenical importance'. Nowadays, in particular, the need for a new
evangelisation of many men and women who seem indifferent to the joyful news of
the Gospel makes it urgent to renovate every ecclesial structure so as to
promote a positive response from all those to whom Jesus offers His friendship.
And visible communion between Christians will certainly make this announcement
more credible".
 "Responding to the call of Christ to continual conversion, of which we are all
in need, we can progress together on the path of reconciliation and peace.
Along
this road let us learn, by God's grace, to recognise each other as friends and
to consider the motivations of others in the best light possible. In this sense
I hope that bonds of friendship may develop also at the level of local and
parish communities. With these sentiments, I join spiritually in the
penitential
liturgy you will celebrate here in Rome", concluded the Holy Father. "May God,
rich in mercy, grant us the grace to recognise ourselves all as sinners and to
know how to forgive each other".

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 The Pope inaugurates the ecclesial Congress of the diocese of Rome: we
parents,
witnesses to the beauty of life
 Vatican City, 15 June 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon in St. Peter's Square
Pope Francis inaugurated the ecclesial Congress of the diocese of Rome, whose
theme this year is: "For what I received I passed on to you - we parents,
witnesses to the beauty of life". The meeting began with greetings from
Cardinal
Agostino Vallini, vicar of His Holiness for the diocese of Rome, and a prayer
invoking the Holy Spirit. The Holy Father went on to address some off-the-cuff
remarks to the families, catechists, priests and pastoral workers present,
extensive extracts of which are given below.
 "Our city must be reborn, morally and spiritually, as it seems as if
everything
is the same, that everything is relative; that the Gospel is a beautiful story
about good things, pleasant to read, but which remains simply an idea. It does

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