VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 177
DATE 12-10-2015

Summary:
- To the Missionary Groups of Argentina: continue to build an outgoing Church
- The Pope encourages the participants in the World Peoples' Conference on
Climate Change and the Defence of Life
- Angelus: faith and attachment to wealth cannot coexist
- The Pope's profound sadness for the attack in Turkey
- The archbishop of Corfu, Zante and Cefalonia reflects with the Synod Fathers
on external worship and inner adhesion to the Word of God
- Respecting the freedom of faith, the outcome of an interreligious marriage
- Telegram for the attack in Turkey
- Plenary Session of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
- New dormitory for the homeless near the Vatican
- Cardinals to take possession of their titular churches
- Cardinal Cordes, Pope's special envoy to the First National Eucharistic
Congress of the Czech Republic
- Audiences

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 To the Missionary Groups of Argentina: continue to build an outgoing Church
 Vatican City, 12 October 2015 (VIS) - Pope Francis has sent a message to the
participants in the Fourth National Meeting of Missionary Groups, which took
place in Santiago del Estero, Argentina from 10 to 12 October, examining the
theme "Mission, a way of life".
 The Holy Father, who spiritually joins with the missionaries, writes: "Let us
always remember that we cannot show to others what we ourselves have not seen
or
heard. Therefore, to be a missionary, before announcing and communicating, it
is
necessary to see. To see that Jesus, who made Himself small to experience our
weakness, who assumed our mortal flesh, to clothe it in His immortality and Who
comes forward to meet us every day, to walk with us and to offer us His hand of
friendship when we are in difficulty".
 "Never forget the call, your first encounter with Jesus, the joy with which
you
heard that first proclamation, perhaps from your parents, your grandparents,
your catechists or teachers", said the Holy Father. "And do not neglect to
pray,
to pray for each other, to support each other with prayer, so that Jesus,
through you, and in spite of your weakness, may work wonders before all
peoples".
 "Neither must you forget that the mission, as well as being a passion for
Jesus, is a passion for His people. Let us look to Jesus, but let us also learn
how to look as Jesus does. A look of tenderness, understanding and mercy that
leads us to touch the wounds of the Lord in the flesh of our brothers in need.
To see Jesus in others purifies the heart, freeing it from selfishness, from
any
underhand intention, any worldly desire".
 "I hope that these brief reflections will encourage you to continue building
an
outgoing Church, a fraternal group that works to communicate this joy that the
Lord has placed in our hearts", concluded the bishop of Rome.

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 The Pope encourages the participants in the World Peoples' Conference on
Climate Change and the Defence of Life
 Vatican City, 12 October 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin has sent a message on behalf of the Holy Father to the Second World
Peoples' Conference on Climate Change and the Defence of Life, held in
Tiquipaya, Cochabamba, Bolivia from 9 to 12 October. In the text, the Pope
greets the participants and encourages them always to be guided in their
reflections and work by the principles of a just and integral ecology, that
takes into account the true good of the human person.

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 Angelus: faith and attachment to wealth cannot coexist
 Vatican City, 12 October 2015 (VIS) - At midday today the Holy Father appeared
at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in
St.
Peter's Square. Francis reflected on the day's reading, from Chapter 10 of the
Gospel of St. Mark, which is divided into three scenes corresponding to three
gazes of Jesus. The first scene presents the encounter between the Teacher and
the young man who asks, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?". "Eternal
life
is not only the life of the hereafter, but it is also full life, complete and
limitless", said the Pope. "Jesus' response translates into an intense gaze
full
of tenderness and affection". He understands the youth's weakness and answers
that he must "give everything he has to the poor and follow Him. But the
youth's
heart is divided between two masters: God and money, and he goes away sad. This
shows us that faith and attachment to riches cannot coexist. Thus, in the end,
the initial impulse felt by the youth vanishes in the unhappiness of an
invitation to follow that fails".
 In the second scene, Jesus gaze is pensive, and warning. Looking around Him,
He
says to His disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of
God!". Seeing the wonder of his disciples, who ask, "Then who can be saved?",
Jesus responds with a gaze of encouragement - this is the third gaze - and
says,
salvation, yes, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. If we
trust
in the Lord, we can overcome all the obstacles that prevent us from following
Him on the path of faith. To entrust oneself to the Lord. He will give us
strength; He will give us salvation; He will accompany us along the journey".
 Finally, the third scene is that of Jesus' solemn declaration. "I assure you
that he who leaves everything to follow me will have eternal life in the age to
come and a hundred times more now in this present age". The Pope explained,
"This 'hundred times more' is made up of the things that are first possessed
and
then left, but which are found infinitely multiplied. We deprive ourselves of
goods and receive in exchange the joy of the true good; we free ourselves from
slavery to things and we win the liberty of service out of love; we renounce
possession and attain the happiness of giving. As Jesus said, 'There is more
joy
in giving than receiving'".
 "Only in welcoming with humble gratitude the Lord's love do we free ourselves
from the seduction of idols and the blindness of our illusions. Money, pleasure
and success dazzle us, only to disappoint us later. They promise life but bring
death. The Lord asks us to detach ourselves from these false riches to enter
into true life, a full life, that is authentic and luminous". Before imparting
his blessing, the Pope asked those present if they had felt Jesus' gaze upon
them, and how they would want to respond. "Do you prefer to leave this square
with the joy that Jesus gives us, or with the sadness in your heart that
worldliness offers us?", he said, asking Our Lady to help open our heart to
Jesus' love.

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 The Pope's profound sadness for the attack in Turkey
 Vatican City, 11 October 2015 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus today, the
Pope
expressed his profound sadness for the attack against a demonstration for peace
in Ankara, Turkey, causing more than 100 deaths and numerous injuries. Francis
described the attack as a "terrible massacre" and sadness that the attack was
aimed at defenceless people demonstrating together for peace. "I pray for this
dear country and ask the Lord to receive the souls of the deceased and to
console the suffering and their families. Let us pray in silence together", he
added.
 The Holy Father then mentioned that Tuesday 13 October is International Day
for
the Reduction of Natural Disasters. "Unfortunately it must be recognised that
the effects of such calamities are often aggravated by a lack of care for the
environment by man. I unite with all those who, in a far-sighted way, are
committed to the care of our common home, to promote a global and local culture
for the reduction of disasters and greater resilience when they occur,
harmonising new and traditional knowledge, and paying particular attention to
the most vulnerable populations".

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 The archbishop of Corfu, Zante and Cefalonia reflects with the Synod Fathers
on
external worship and inner adhesion to the Word of God
 Vatican City, 10 October 2015 (VIS) - During this morning's Terce prayer with
the Synod Fathers, Archbishop Ioannis Spiteris O.F.M. Cap. of Corfu, Zante and
Cefalonia reflected on the biblical reading from the Book of Samuel. In the
text
the prophet accuses the king Saul of not having rigorously observed the law
that
demanded he sacrifice all his loot to God. The king not only kept it for
himself
but also passed the blame to his soldiers. But in the text, as Archbishop
Spiteris observed, Samuel also reproaches Saul who wishes to compensate for the
lack of faith and obedience to God through sacrifices, an external sign of his
devotion.
 "The Author, by placing two attitudes before the man who wishes to please God,
does not invite him to choose between sacrifice and mercy (being docile), but
rather makes him understand that God appreciates one more than the other; that
His eyes do not rest on appearances but instead look to the heart. ... And
Samuel
shows Saul that sacrifice and listening to God's voice do not have the same
value: 'To obey is better than sacrifice'".
 "Throughout the history of the Church, on paths beaten by saints, this
affirmation has and continues to illuminate. No, holiness (that is, the
communion with God as Love that is expressed in the commitment to living well
with love one's human and Christian commitments) does not consist in the
primacy
of sacrifice, of external and soulless worship, but rather in loving obedience
to God, in putting into practice His quintessential commandment, reciprocal
love. It may indeed be a fatal deception, this imposition of exorbitant
sacrifices, not so much for making life better and more serene for oneself and
for others, but rather for appearing better and holier than others, like the
Pharisee in the parable who boasts of his own merits and scorns the other,
considered a publican and a sinner. The Phariseeism which prevailed in Jesus'
time is always ready to resurface where insufficient attention is paid to the
Word to be welcomed with joy and put into practice".
 "May we all, sacrificing the wish to listen to the many inner voices that urge
us to seek the salvation of our own good works, silencing the voice of the Lord
Who invites us to loving communion with Him, be able to entrust ourselves to He
Who is able to do all and Whose arms are continually open to welcome us",

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)