minors are still forced to fight in militias as child soldiers! How many people
are victims of organ trafficking, forced begging and sexual exploitation!
Today's refugees are fleeing from these aberrant crimes, and they appeal to the
Church and the human community to ensure that, in the outstretched hand of
those
who receive them, they can see the face of the Lord, 'the Father of mercies and
God of all consolation'.
 Dear brothers and sisters, migrants and refugees! At the heart of the Gospel
of
mercy the encounter and acceptance by others are intertwined with the encounter
and acceptance of God Himself. Welcoming others means welcoming God in person!
Do not let yourselves be robbed of the hope and joy of life born of your
experience of God's mercy, as manifested in the people you meet on your
journey!
I entrust you to the Virgin Mary, Mother of migrants and refugees, and to St.
Joseph, who experienced the bitterness of emigration to Egypt. To their
intercession I also commend those who invest so much energy, time and resources
to the pastoral and social care of migrants. To all I cordially impart my
Apostolic Blessing".

___________________________________________________________

 Presentation of the Pope's message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees:
"Emigration is not the juxtaposition of cultures, but rather an encounter of
peoples"
 Vatican City, 1 October 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office
Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the
Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, and Archbishop Joseph
Kalathiparambil, secretary of the same dicastery, presented the Holy Father's
Message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, published today.
 Cardinal Veglio explained that not only does the Day fit naturally into the
context of the Year of Mercy, the point of reference for the Church during the
coming months, but also in view of the current situation in which migration is
assuming immense proportions and leading to tragedies throughout the world, it
must be recognised that this phenomenon in all its forms challenges us to
respond.
 It is hoped that this year the Day, celebrated in all the Church and at both
national and diocesan levels as the Jubilee Day of Migrants and Refugees, will
therefore provide a concrete opportunity for all the Christian community to
reflect, pray and act. "Migration especially affects the local Churches, as
they
are closest to migrants and refugees. There we meet these people face to face
and it is at that level that our encounter can truly assume a dimension
nature".
 "We cannot remain indifferent or in silence when faced with so many tragedies.
We cannot fail to express our heartfelt pain before so many situations of
suffering - they are men and women, often poor, hungry, persecuted, spiritually
or physically wounded, exploited or victims of war - who seek a better life.
...
This is the basis of the theme chosen for the Holy Father for the next Day",
added Cardinal Veglio, who went on to outline the issues in the Pope's document
that challenge both individuals and the community as a whole.
 Firstly, the text refers to the humanitarian crisis in the context of
migration
that affects not only Europe, but the entire world. This fact, as the Holy
Father writes, "necessitates deeper study of the situation to enable us to
better understand the causes of migrations, along with the consequences both in
the destinations and from a global perspective, and therefore to face the
phenomenon in the correct way ensuring the protection of human dignity".
 Secondly, the Message highlights the question of identity. "The arrival of
immigrants in a new social context requires a process of mutual adaptation to
the new situation", the Cardinal observed. "Integration in the new society also
requires inner strength demanding changes in elements of one's identity to
adapt
to the new social and cultural context". Similarly, the arrival of migrants
"seriously challenges the various societies who receive them, so that the
process of insertion and integration respects values that make us ever more
humane and help us to live a balanced relationship with God, others and
creation
, but at the same time allow migrants to contribute to the growth of the
society
that receive them. The Holy Father invites us to find a delicate balance
between
the two extremes, avoiding the creation of a cultural ghetto on the one hand,
and any trace of extreme nationalism or xenophobia on the other".
 The Message also highlights the theme of welcome, emphasising that the Church
has a prophetic word in encouraging welcome, that resonates in the various acts
and works that the Christian communities carry out.
 Faced with these problems and questions, the Pope affirms that "the response
of
the Gospel is mercy". Mercy leads to solidarity with others and to cultivating
a
culture of encounter; "it challenges all of us so that everyone is willing not
only to give but also to receive from others, and tends to build communion and
unity".
 "The complexity of migration makes it difficult to separate the different
political legislative, humanitarian and security aspects", emphasised the
prelate. "The perspective of the culture of encounter implies looking at the
migrant as a whole, with all of his or her aspects. ... In this way the
presence
of migrants becomes not a mere juxtaposition of different cultures in the same
territory, but rather an encounter of peoples, where the proclamation of the
Gospel inspires and encourages routes towards the renewal and transformation of
all humanity".
 The third issue considered by the Holy Father in his Message is the defence of
every person's right to live with dignity, remaining in his or her homeland.
...
Every person has the right to emigrate - it is one of the fundamental rights
ascribed to every human being. But beyond and before this, the right not to
have
to emigrate should be reaffirmed - that is, to be in the condition of being
able
to remain in one's homeland. First of all this implies the need to help those
countries migrants and refugees leave behind. ... The need for a response is
not
limited only to the war against smugglers or the tightening of immigration
legislation, but must also consider that those who enjoy prosperity should
ensure that the poor and needy (both individuals and nations) have the means
with which to respond to their needs and to undertake a path of development
through an equitable distribution of the planet's resources".
 Finally, the Pope mentions the responsibility of the media and the importance
of those who contribute to "unmasking false prejudices regarding migration,
presenting it as truthfully as possible".

___________________________________________________________

 Decrees for the Causes of Saints
 Vatican City, 1 October 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday, 30 September, 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:
 MARTYRDOM
 - Servant of God Valentin Palencia Marquina, Spanish diocesan priest, killed
in
hatred of the faith in Suances, Spain in 1937;
 HEROIC VIRTUES
 - Servant of God Giovanni Folci, Italian diocesan priest and founder of the
Opera Divin Prigioniero (1890-1963);
 - Servant of God Franciszek Blachnicki, Polish diocesan priest (1921-1987);
 - Servant of God Jose Rivera Ramirez, Spanish diocesan priest (1925-1991);
 - Servant of God Juan Manuel Martín del Campo, Mexican diocesan priest
(1917-1996);
 - Servant of God Antonio Filomeno Maria Losito, Italian professed priest of
the
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (1838-1917);
 - Servant of God Maria Benedetta Giuseppa Frey (nee Ersilia Penelope), Italian
professed nun of the Cistercian Order (1836-1913);
 - Servant of God Hanna Chrzanowska, Polish layperson, Oblate of the Ursulines
of St. Benedict (1902-1973).

___________________________________________________________

 Audiences
 Vatican City, 1 October 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in
audience:
 - Francisco Jose Ottonelli, ambassador of Uruguay, presenting his Credential
Letters;
 - Cardinal Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino, archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela,
honorary president of the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela, with: - Archbishop
Diego Rafael Padron Sanchez of Cumana, president of the Episcopal Conference of
Venezuela;
 - Bishop Jose Luis Azuaje Ayala of Barinas, first deputy president;
 - Bishop Mario del Valle Moronta Rodriguez of San Cristobal de Venezuela,
second deputy president;
 - Rev. Victor Hugo Basabe, secretary general.
 - Filip Vucak, ambassador of Croatia, on his farewell visit.

___________________________________________________________

 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 1 October 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:
 - appointed Msgr. Luigi Renna as bishop of Cerignola-Ascoli Satriano (area
1,327, population 110,889, Catholics 101,672, priests 58, permanent deacons 14,
religious 87), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in 1966 in Corato, Italy, and
was ordained a priest in 1991. He holds a licentiate in moral theology from the
Pontifical Gregorian University, and a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran
University. He has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles in the
diocese of Andria, Italy, including vice rector of the episcopal seminary;
director of the diocesan "Msgr. Di Donna" school of formation; rector of the
diocesan minor seminary, and lecturer in moral theology at the Pugliese
Theological Faculty in Molfetta. He is currently canon of the cathedral chapter
of Andria; director of the diocesan "San Tommaso d'Aquino" library; member of
the college of consultors; director of the "San Luca Evangelista" diocesan
archive; director of the school for training pastoral workers and rector of the
Pius XI Pontifical regional seminary of Molfetta. He was named Chaplain of His
Holiness in 2009.
 - appointed Fr. Giovanni Roncari, O.F.M. Cap., as bishop of Pitigliano -
Sovana
- Orbetello (area 2,177, population 72,100, Catholics 70,000, priests 65,
permanent deacons 9, religious 68), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in 1949 in
Verona, Italy, gave his religious vows in 1972 and was ordained a priest in
1975. He holds a licentiate in Church history and has served in a number of
roles in his order and as parish priest and delegate for the archdiocese of
Florence for the lay apostolate. He is currently a parish priest, member of the
college of consultors, episcopal vicar for the Florentine clergy and professor
of theology in the Central Italy Faculty of Theology.
 - confirmed the election of Rev. Sarkis Davidian as Armenian bishop of Ispahan
(Catholics 2,000, priests 1, religious 12), Iran. The bishop-elect was born in
1943 in Aleppo, Syria and was ordained a priest in 1970. He has served as
parish
priest in France and Lebanon, and currently exercises his ministry as pastor in
Armenia.
 - accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of
Cebu,
Philippines, presented by Bishop Emilio L. Bataclan, upon reaching the age
limit.

___________________________________________________________

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