VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 135
DATE 17-07-2015

Summary:
- The Pope writes to participants in the meeting "United with God, we hear a
cry" on the effects of mining
- Justice and Peace speaks out for communities affected by mining
- Decrees for the Causes of Saints
- Audiences

___________________________________________________________

 The Pope writes to participants in the meeting "United with God, we hear a
cry"
on the effects of mining
 Vatican City, 17 July 2015 (VIS) - Pope Francis has sent a message to Cardinal
Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council "Justice and
Peace", to be communicated to the representatives of communities affected by
mining activities participating in the meeting "United with God, we hear a
cry",
organised by the same dicastery in collaboration with the Latin American
"Churches and Mining" network.
 "You come from difficult situations and in various ways you experience the
repercussions of mining activities, whether they be conducted by large
industrial companies, small enterprises or informal operators. You have chosen
to gather in Rome on this day of reflection that links to a passage from the
Apostolic Exhortation 'Evangelii gaudium', to echo the cry of the many people,
families and communities who suffer directly and indirectly as a result of the
consequences, too often negative, of mining activities. A cry for lost land; a
cry for the extraction of wealth from land that paradoxically does not produce
wealth for the local populations who remain poor; a cry of pain in reaction to
violence, threats and corruption; a cry of indignation and for help for the
violations of human rights, blatantly or discreetly trampled with regard to the
health of populations, working conditions, and at times the slavery and human
trafficking that feeds the tragic phenomenon of prostitution; a cry of sadness
and impotence for the contamination of the water, the air and the land; a cry
of
incomprehension for the absence for inclusive processes or support from the
civil, local and national authorities, which have the fundamental duty to
promote the common good.
 "Minerals and, in general the wealth of the earth, of the soil and
underground,
constitute a precious gift from God that humanity has used for thousands of
years. Indeed, minerals are fundamental to many sectors of human life and
activity. In the Encyclical 'Laudati si'' I wished to make an urgent appeal for
collaboration in the care of our common home, countering the dramatic
consequences of environmental degradation in the life of the poorest and the
excluded, advancing towards an integral, inclusive and sustainable development.
The entire mining sector is undoubtedly required to effect a radical paradigm
change to improve the situation in many countries. A contribution can be made
by
the governments of the countries of origin of multinational companies and those
in which they operate, businesses and investors, the local authorities who
supervise mining operations, workers and their representatives, the
international supply chains with their various intermediaries and those who
work
in the markets of these materials, and the consumers of goods for whose
production the minerals are required. All these people are called upon to adopt
behaviour inspired by the fact that we constitute a single human family, "that
everything is interconnected, and that genuine care for our own lives and our
relationships with nature is inseparable from fraternity, justice and
faithfulness to others.
 "I encourage the communities represented in this meeting to reflect on how
they
can interact constructively with all the other actors involved, in a sincere
and
respectful dialogue. I hope that this occasion may contribute to a greater
awareness and responsibility on these themes: and that, based on human dignity,
the culture necessary for facing the current crisis may be created. I pray to
the Lord that your work in these days be fruitful, and that these fruits can be
shared with all those in need. I ask you, please, to pray for me and with
affection I bless you, your communities and your families".

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 Justice and Peace speaks out for communities affected by mining
 Vatican City, 17 July 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office
Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council
"Justice and Peace", presented the dicastery's initiative "A day of Reflection:
united with God, we hear a cry", to be attended by various representatives of
communities affected by mining activity in Africa, Asia and America who will
gather in the Salesianum Congress Centre in Rome from 17 to 19 July.
 Cardinal Turkson explained that the aim of the meeting was to take stock of
the
situation of these communities, recalling that in 2013 Justice and Peace
organised a day of reflection entitled "Mining for the common good", upon
request of the directors of various mining companies, in order to evaluate the
human, economic and environmental implications of this activity. A report of
the
event was distributed to the Episcopal Conferences of the countries involved. A
second day of reflection will be held in September, entitled "Creating a new
future, Reimaging the future of mining" and so the current initiative, aimed at
giving a voice to the communities affected by the mining industry, is intended
as preparation for this second meeting.
 "There is no lack of reasons and motives for the decision of the Pontifical
dicastery", said the Cardinal. "With the Encyclical 'Laudato si'' the Holy
Father urges us to 'hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor'. We
cannot remain indifferent to this cry, as the need to her it is 'born of the
liberating action of grace within each of us, and thus it is not a mission
reserved only to a few: the Church, guided by the Gospel of mercy and by love
for mankind, hears the cry for justice and intends to respond to it with all
her
might'".
 "Many of us are aware of this harrowing cry from those areas where mineral
extraction is carried out", he continued. "To give just a few examples: the
'Africa Progress Report' by the former secretary general of the United Nations,
Kofi Annan, the OECD directives on the issue, the numerous reports on the
rights
of indigenous populations, the 'Publish what you pay' initiative, legislation
on
the traceability of minerals currently being developed by the European
Parliament, in cinema with films such as 'Blood Diamonds' or 'Avatar', and so
on".
 "The Church, on various occasions and for many years, has closely followed
mining activities. At national level, the documents of the Episcopal
Conferences
which denounce human rights violations, illegality, violence and the
exploitation of deposits causing pollution and problems for the safety of local
produce. ... At regional level, it is considered by the Continental Episcopal
Conferences, the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network, and so on, and at
transnational level, by Franciscan networks, the CIDSE and Caritas. All these
voices follow the same direction: faced with these situations, we cannot allow
indifference, cynicism and impunity to continue to prevail. A radical paradigm
change is needed in the interests of the common good, justice, sustainability
and human dignity".
 In these three days the representatives of the communities affected by mining
operations in different ways will act as spokespeople for those who are unable
to come to Rome and whose voice frequently goes unheard by experts and
commentators. "I must emphasise that some people who are attending the meeting
have experienced pressure and intimidation in recent days, for example after
having requested a passport. The Pontifical Council has heard testimonies of
threats, violence and murder; of retaliation, of compensation never received,
and of unkept promises".
 "Therefore", he continued, "there are individuals who work without a truly
human aim. There are denials of the primacy of the human being, insensitivity
to
the welfare of the social and natural environment and the full experience of
fragility, abandonment and rejection. Those responsible are investors,
businesspeople, politicians and governors of the countries where the deposits
are found, or rather the countries where the headquarters of the mining
multinationals reside".
 "On the other hand, exploited and poor countries are above all in need of
honest governments, educated people and investors with an acute sense of
justice
and the common good, as it is morally unacceptable, politically dangerous,
environmentally unsustainable and economically unjustifiable for developing
countries to 'continue to fuel the development of richer countries at the cost
of their own present and future'", he concluded.

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 Decrees for the Causes of Saints
 Vatican City, 17 July 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father Francis
received in a private audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints, during which he authorised the
Congregation to promulgate the following decrees regarding the heroic virtues
of:
 - Servant of God Andrey Sheptytsky, O.S.B.M., major archbishop of Leopolis of
the Ukrainians, metropolitan of Halyc (1865-1944);
 - Servant of God Giuseppe Carraro, Bishop of Verona, Italy (1899-1980);
 - Servant of God Agustin Ramirez Barba, Mexican diocesan priest and founder of
the Servants of the Lord of Mercy (1881-1967);
 - Servant of God Simpliciano della Nativita (ne Aniello Francesco Saverio
Maresca), Italian professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor, founder of the
Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts (1827-1898);
 - Servant of God Maria del Refugio Aguilar y Torres del Cancino, Mexican
founder of the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (1866-1937);
 - Servant of God Marie-Charlotte Dupouy Bordes (Marie-Teresa), French
professed
religious of the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and
Mary
(1873-1953);
 - Servant of God Elisa Miceli, Italian founder of the Rural Catechist Sisters
of the Sacred Heart (1904-1976);
 - Servant of God Isabel Mendez Herrero (Isabel of Mary Immaculate), Spanish
professed nun of the Servants of St. Joseph (1924-1953).

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 Audiences
 Vatican City, 17 July 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience
Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting New Evangelisation.

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