VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 152
DATE 09-09-2015

Summary:
- General audience: it is essential to revive the alliance between the family
and the Christian community
- Archbishop Gallagher at the UN Conference on the protection of victims of
ethnic and religious violence in the Middle East
- Audiences

___________________________________________________________

 General audience: it is essential to revive the alliance between the family
and
the Christian community
 Vatican City, 9 September 2015 (VIS) - The relationship between the family and
the Christian community, "a 'natural' bond, since the Church is a spiritual
family and the family is a small Church", was the theme chosen by the Pope for
the catechesis of today's Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square.
 The Christian community is the home of those who believe in Jesus as the
source
of fraternity between all humanity. The Church journeys among peoples, in the
history of men and women, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. "This is the
history that matters to the Lord", explained the Pope. "The great events of
world powers are written in history books, and stay there. But the history of
human affections is inscribed directly on God's heart, and it is the history
that remains for eternity. It is the place of life and faith. The family is the
locus of our initiation - irreplaceable, indelible - into this history of full
life that culminates in the contemplation of God for all eternity in heaven,
but
begins in the family".
 "The son of God also learned human history in this way, and experienced it to
its end. ... Then, when he left Nazareth and began his public life, Jesus
formed a
community around him, an 'assembly', a convocation of people. This is the
meaning of the word 'church'".
 In the Gospels, Jesus' assembly has the form of "a hospitable family, not an
exclusive closed sect". Pope Francis observed, "we find Peter and with John,
but
also the hungry and the thirsty, the outsider and the persecuted, the sinner
and
the publican, the Pharisees and the masses. And Jesus never ceases to welcome
them all and to speak with them, including those who did not expect to
encounter
God in their lives. It is a powerful lesson for the Church! The same disciples
were chosen to take care of this assembly, of this family invited by God".
 In order to continue to experience the reality of Jesus' assembly, "it is
essential to revive the alliance between the family and the Christian
community", he affirmed. "We could say that the family and the parish are the
two places in which the communion of love that finds its ultimate source in God
Himself is realised. A true Church according to the Gospel cannot but have the
form of a welcoming home, with open doors, always. Churches, parishes and
institutions with closed doors cannot call themselves churches - they should
call themselves museums".
 "Today this alliance is crucial. Against the centres of power - ideological,
financial and political, we posit our experiences in these centres of love:
evangelising, full of human warmth, based on solidarity and participation, and
also mutual forgiveness. Certainly, it requires a generous faith to find the
intelligence and the courage to renew this alliance. Families at times pull
back, saying that they are not up to the challenge. ... But no-one is! ...
Without
God's grace, we cannot do anything. And the Lord never arrives in a new family
without some kind of miracle. Let us remember what He did at the wedding in
Cana. Yes, the Lord, if we place ourselves in His hands, makes us perform
miracles: these everyday miracles, when the Lord is there, in the family".
 "Naturally the Christian community must play its part. For instance ...
favouring
interpersonal dialogue, and mutual understanding and respect. May families take
the initiative and be conscious of their responsibility to bring their precious
gifts to the community!" exclaimed the Pope. "We must all be aware that
Christian faith plays on the open field of life shared with all, and the family
and parish must perform the miracle of achieving a more community-based life
for
the whole of society".
 After the catechesis, in his greetings to various groups of faithful, the Pope
remarked that today the Church celebrates the liturgical memory of the Jesuit
St. Peter Claver, patron of the missions in Africa, and expressed his hope that
the saint's example, with his tireless service to the weakest, impel the young
to choose solidarity with the needy. "May his spiritual vigour help the sick to
carry the cross with courage, and his love for Christ be a model for newly-weds
of the love that should occupy the centre of the family", added the Holy
Father.

___________________________________________________________

 Archbishop Gallagher at the UN Conference on the protection of victims of
ethnic and religious violence in the Middle East
 Vatican City, 9 September 2015 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher,
secretary for Relations with States, spoke at the United Nations International
Conference on the Protection of Victims of Ethnic and Religious Violence in the
Middle East, held yesterday in Paris, France. The prelate remarked that during
this past year we have witnessed "unspeakable atrocities committed in the
Middle
East, which have forced thousands of Christians and members of other religious
and ethnic minorities to abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere in
precarious conditions, involving great physical and moral suffering".
 "Fundamental principles such as the value of life, human dignity, religious
freedom and the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of individuals and peoples
are at stake. The phenomenon continues, with the violation of human rights and
international humanitarian law by the so-called Islamic State, as well as those
perpetrated by other parties to the conflict. The drama of migration during
recent weeks, which has compelled Europe to pay greater attention to the
situation, is irrefutable proof of this tragedy".
 He went on to indicate three key aspects for improving the future of ethnic
and
religious minorities in the Middle East, beginning with raising awareness in
the
international community to face the humanitarian emergency and to guarantee
minimum conditions of safety for minorities and Christian communities.
 "Currently the situation compels us to deal with the humanitarian crisis",
but,
"in the long term, other suitable measures will have to be taken to ensure
their
presence in their homelands. Among the challenges to be faced, I would
underline
those regarding first and foremost the respect for human rights, especially
those freedom of religion and conscience. It is important to insist on
religious
freedom, which obviously includes the freedom to change religion. Indeed, in
many countries in the Middle East, freedom of worship exists, although the
space
for religious freedom is at times extremely limited. Increasing this space for
freedom is necessary to guarantee to all those who belong to the various
religious communities the true freedom to live and profess their faith. It
would
appear appropriate for the States in the region to be directly involved, along
with the rest of the international community, in protecting the fundamental
rights of Christians and members of other religious minorities. It is not a
question of protecting one religious community or another, or one ethnic group
or another, but of protecting people who belong to the single human family and
whose fundamental rights are systematically violated".
 The second issue is that of guaranteeing the right of refugees to return to
live with dignity and in safety in their country of origin; a right that "must
be defended and guaranteed both by the international community and by States,
whose citizens are refugees or displaced. It must be emphasised that Christians
and other religious minorities do not wish simply to be tolerated but to be
considered as citizens to full effect. It is important that this concept of
citizenship opens up an ever broader space, as a point of reference for social
life, guaranteeing the rights of all, including members of minority groups,
through the implementation of adequate legal measures".
 Finally, it is important to face the phenomenon of terrorism and to promote
interreligious dialogue. "The mechanisms must be found to encourage all,
including in particular countries with a Muslim majority, to deal with
terrorism
in a serious way, with particular attention to the issue of education",
observed
the prelate. "In this respect, it is important that teaching in schools,
internet use and the preaching of religious leaders do not provide an
opportunity for the development of intransigent and extremist attitudes, or
radicalisation, but instead promote dialogue and reconciliation. Furthermore,
it
should not be forgotten that care must be taken regarding the use of certain
expressions and manifestations, considered sacred by some religions, as occurs
from time to time in the West, to avoid acts causing offence to those to whom
they are meaningful".
 It is also essential to promote interreligious dialogue, which is "an antidote
to fundamentalism, which afflicts religious communities. Jewish, Christian and
Muslim religious leaders can and must play a fundamental role in favouring both
interreligious and intercultural dialogue and education in mutual
understanding.
Furthermore, they must clearly condemn the abuse of religion to justify
violence". Archbishop Gallagher concluded by adding "a positive and respectful
separation of religion and State should also be promoted. In this sense, it is
necessary to contribute to develop the idea of the need to distinguish between
the two spheres, in favour of autonomy and mutual independence, without
concealing the indispensable collaboration between them, so that they may
coexist without contradicting one another, thanks to dialogue between religious
and political authorities and with respect for their respective competences".

___________________________________________________________

 Audiences
 Vatican City, 9 September 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, Tuesday 8
September, the Holy Father received in audience Archbishop Emil Paul Tscherrig,
apostolic nuncio in Argentina.

___________________________________________________________

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)