VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 193
DATE 03-11-2015

Summary:
- Francis celebrates Mass for the souls of cardinals and bishops
- The Pope's profound sorrow at the fire in a Bucharest discotheque
- Holy See Press Office Communique
- The Pope prays for the deceased in the Vatican Grottoes
- Mass in Verano cemetery: the Beatitudes are the way to happiness
- Angelus: love and compassion are stronger than death
- Francis to open the Holy Door of the cathedral of Bangui
- Pope's telegram of condolences for the victims of the Sinai air crash
- Audience with the president of Macedonia
- The Pope to business leaders: increase an entrepreneurial spirit of
subsidiarity
- Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Pope's special envoy to the 500th anniversary of
the arrival of the sacred image of the Madonna at Lask
- The Pope ordains the new auxiliary bishop of Rome in the Basilica of St. John
Lateran
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

 Francis celebrates Mass for the souls of cardinals and bishops
 Vatican City, 2 November 2015 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Basilica the
Holy Father presided at Mass for the souls of cardinals and bishops who died
during this last year. "In this earth they loved their bride the Church, and we
pray that in God they may enjoy full joy in the communion of saints", he said.
"As we ask for that they be rewarded as 'good and faithful servants', we are
called up to renew our decision to serve the Church. ... Those who serve and
give
may be seen to 'lose' in the eyes of the world, but in reality, losing life,
they rediscover it. A life given away in love, imitates Christ: it defeats
death
and gives life to the world. He who serves, saves. On the contrary, he who does
not live to serve, does not serve to live".
 "This is how the Son of God lowered Himself to us, stooping like a servant to
us to take on all that is ours, to the point of throwing open the doors to
life.
... This style of God, Who saves us by serving us and annihilating Himself, has
much to teach us. We imagine a triumphal divine victory; instead Jesus shows us
a very humble victory. Raised on the cross, He lets evil and death beset him,
while He continues to love. For us it is difficult to accept this. It is a
mystery, but the secret of this mystery, of this extraordinary humility,
consists entirely in the strength of love. ... In this way Jesus not only takes
away evil, but also transforms it into good. He does not change things with
words, but with actions; not in appearance, but in substance; not on the
surface, but at the root. He transforms the cross into a bridge to life. We too
can be victorious with Him, it we choose dutiful and humble love, that remains
victorious for eternity. It is a love that does not shout and does not impose
itself, but rather knows how to wait with trust and patience since, as the Book
of Lamentations reminds us, "it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of
the
Lord".
 "As we offer this Mass for the our dear brother cardinals and bishops, let us
ask for ourselves what the apostle Paul exhorts us to do: 'Set your minds on
things above, not on earthly things'. May the resurrection of the Lord be
enough
to let us be free of the worries of ephemeral things, that pass and vanish into
nothing. May He be enough for us, He in whom there is life, salvation,
resurrection and joy. Then we will be servants according to His heart, not
functionaries who offer their services, but rather beloved children who give
their life for the world".

___________________________________________________________

 The Pope's profound sorrow at the fire in a Bucharest discotheque
 Vatican City, 3 November 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin has sent a telegram of condolences on behalf of Pope Francis to the
president of Romania, Klaus Werner Iohannis, following a fire in a discotheque
in Bucharest last weekend in which 27 people died and over 180 were injured.
 The Holy Father expresses his profound sadness for the tragic accident in
which
so many young people lost their lives, and assures his spiritual closeness to
the families of the victims, the government authorities and the entire nation,
entrusting the deceased to the mercy of the Lord.

___________________________________________________________

 Holy See Press Office Communique
 Vatican City, 3 November 2015 (VIS) - Early yesterday afternoon, 2 November,
the Holy See Press Office issued the following communique:
 "As part of criminal investigations by the Vatican Gendarmerie that have been
underway for several months, involving the removal and dissemination of news
and
confidential documents, last Saturday and Sunday two individuals were called in
for questioning on the basis of the evidence gathered.
 The individuals are an ecclesiastic, Msgr. Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda and
Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui, who in the past were respectively secretary and
member of COSEA (Commission charged to study and address the organisation of
Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See, established by the Pope in
July 2013 and subsequently dissolved after the completion of its mandate).
 Following the results of the interrogation the two people were held in
detention in view of the continuing investigation. Today the Office of the
Promoter of Justice, Professor Advocate Gian Piero Milano, Promoter of Justice,
and Professor Roberto Zannotti, Assistant Promoter of Justice, has validated
the
arrest of the above individuals, but they released Dr. Chaouqui, against whom
there were no precautionary requirements and also due to the fact that she
cooperated with the investigation.
 The position of Monsignor Vallejo Balda remains under consideration by the
Office of the Promoter of Justice.
 It should be remembered that disclosure of information and confidential
documents is an offence under Law no. IX of the Vatican City State (13 July
2013) Article 10 (art. 116 bis C.P. ).
 As for the books announced for publication in the the next few days, let it be
clearly stated at this time, as in the past, that such actions are a serious
betrayal of trust granted by the Pope and with regard to the authors, an
operation intended to take advantage of a grave offence, the unlawful delivery
of confidential documents. The legal implications and possible penalties
currently being studied by the Office of the Promoter of Justice with a view to
possible further measures involving international cooperation. if necessary.
Publications of this kind do not contribute in any way to establish clarity and
truth, but rather to create confusion and partial and tendentious
interpretations. We must certainly avoid the mistake of thinking that this is a
way to help the mission of the Pope".

___________________________________________________________

 The Pope prays for the deceased in the Vatican Grottoes
 Vatican City, 3 November 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, as is traditional
on
All Souls' Day, the Holy Father went down to the Vatican Grottoes to pray
privately for the Popes buried there, and for all deceased.

___________________________________________________________

 Mass in Verano cemetery: the Beatitudes are the way to happiness
 Vatican City, 1 November 2015 (VIS) - This afternoon, on the Solemnity of All
Saints, Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass in the monumental cemetery of Verano,
followed by a prayer for the deceased and the blessing of the tombs. The
cardinal vicar of Rome, Agostino Vallini, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, vice
regent of the diocese of Rome and pastor of San Lorenzo Outside-the-Walls, and
Fr. Armando Ambrosi concelebrated with the Holy Father.
 The Pope dedicated his homily to the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus taught
the
Beatitudes, the way to true happiness, to the disciples and the multitude
gathered on the hill by the Sea of Galilee. "It is a difficult path to
understand as it goes against the grain, but the Lord tells us that he who
takes
this path is happy; sooner or later he finds happiness".
 "'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven'. We
might ask ourselves how a person who is poor of heart, whose only treasure is
the Kingdom of Heaven, can be happy. But the reason is precisely this: that
having a despoiled heart, free of many worldly things, this person is 'awaited'
in the Kingdom of Heaven".
 "'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted'. He who in life
has
not experienced sadness, anguish and pain will never know the strength of
consolation. Happy instead are all those who have the capacity to be moved, to
feel the pain that is in their life and in the life of others. They will be
happy, because the tender hand of God the Father will console and caress them".
 "'Blessed are the meek'. On the contrary, we are so often impatient, nervous,
ready to complain. We make so many demands of others, but when it is our turn,
we react by raising our voice, as if we were the owners of the world, while in
reality we are all children of God".
 "'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be
satisfied'. Those who have a strong sense of justice, and not only towards
others, but first of all towards themselves, they will be satisfied, because
they are ready to receive the greatest justice, which only God can give".
 "And then, 'blessed are the merciful, because they will obtain mercy'. Happy
are those who are able to forgive, who have mercy on others, who do not judge
everything and everyone, but who try to put themselves in the shoes of other
people. Forgiveness what we all need, without exception. This is why, at the
beginning of Mass we recognise ourselves for what we are, sinners".
 "'Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God'. Let
us
look at the faces of those who go around sowing discord: are they happy? Those
who always seek occasions to embroil, to take advantage of others, are they
happy? No, they cannot be happy. Instead those who every day seek with patience
to sow peace, are architects of peace, of reconciliation: these are blessed,
because they are true children of our Father in Heaven, who always and only
sows
peace, sending His Son into the world as a seed of peace for humanity".
 "This is the way of holiness, and it is the very way of happiness", concluded
the Holy Father. "It is the way that Jesus followed; or rather, He himself is
Way. Those who walk with Him and pass through Him enter into life, eternal
life.
Let us ask of the Lord the grace to be simple and humble persons, the grace to
be able to weep, the grace to be meek, the grace to work for justice and peace,
and above all the grace to allow ourselves to be forgiven by God so as to
become
instruments of His mercy. This is what all the Saints did, those who have
preceded us in the celestial homeland. May they accompany us on our earthly
pilgrimage and encourage us to go forward".

___________________________________________________________

 Angelus: love and compassion are stronger than death
 Vatican City, 1 November 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father appeared at the window
of
his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace at midday today to pray the Angelus
with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square on the solemnity of All
Saints.
"Today, we feel the reality of the communion of saints to be particularly alive
- our great family, made up of all the members of the Church, both those of us
who are still pilgrims on earth, and those - far more in number - who have
already left and gone on to Heaven".
 Francis recalled the characteristics of the saints, as they are presented in
the Book of Revelation. "They are people who belong totally to God, ... a
multitude of the 'chosen' clothed in white and marked with the 'seal of God'",
and explained the meaning of bearing this seal - that "in Jesus Christ we have
truly become children of God". He asked, "Are we aware of this great gift? We

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