VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 194
DATE 04-11-2015

Summary:
- General audience: the importance of forgiveness in the family
- Fr. Federico Lombardi on the discussions on economic issues of the Holy See
- Cardinal Parolin appoints new counsellors for the Bambino Gesu Foundation
- On current investigations in Vatican City

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 General audience: the importance of forgiveness in the family
 Vatican City, 4 November 2015 (VIS) - Giving and mutual forgiveness, without
which no love can be lasting, were the theme of the Pope's catechesis during
this Wednesday's general audience.
 Before examining this issue in depth, the Holy Father recalled that the
recently concluded assembly of the Synod of Bishops had reflected at length on
the vocation and mission of the family in the life of the Church and in
contemporary society. "It was an event of grace. At the end the Synod Fathers
submitted to me the text containing their conclusions. I wanted this text to be
published, so that everyone could participate in the work we have been devoted
to together for two years. This is not the moment to examine the conclusions,
on
which I myself have to reflect".
 "In the meantime, however, life does not come to a halt, and in particular the
live of families does not stop! You, dear families, are always journeying. And
you already continually write in the pages of concrete life the beauty of the
Gospel of the family. In a world that at times becomes arid of life and love,
every day you speak of the great gift that is marriage and the family".
 The Pope went on to introduce the central theme of his catechesis, reciting
the
words of the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us". "It is not possible to live without forgiveness, or at
least you cannot live well, especially in the family. Every day we wrong each
other. We must take account of these errors that we make due to our fragility
and our selfishness. However, what is required of us is to heal the wounds we
make straight away, to immediately weave again the threads we have broken. If
we
wait too long, it all becomes more difficult. And there is a simple secret for
healing wounds and undoing accusations: never let the day finish without
apologising. ... If we learn to say we are sorry immediately and to offer
mutual
forgiveness, the wounds are healed, the marriage is strengthened, and the
family
becomes an increasingly solid home, that resists the shocks of our evils, great
and small".
 "If we learn to live this way within the family, we will also do so outside,
wherever we find ourselves. It is easy to be sceptical about this. Many -
Christians included - think it is an exaggeration. ... But thanks to God this
is
not the case. Indeed, it is precisely by receiving God's forgiveness that, in
turn, we are able to forgive others. ... And it is essential that, in an at
times
pitiless society, there be places such as the family where we can learn to
forgive each other".
 "The Synod also revived our hope in this regard: the capacity to forgive
others
and oneself forms part of the vocation and mission of the family. ... The
Church,
dear families, is always beside you to help you build your home on the rock
Jesus spoke of", exclaimed Francis. "And I assure you that if you are capable
of
journeying ever more decisively along the path of the Beatitudes, learning and
teaching to forgive each other, then in all the great family of the Church the
capacity to bear witness to the renewing power of God's forgiveness will grow".
 "Otherwise, we will give beautiful sermons and perhaps even cast out the odd
demon, but in the end the Lord will not recognise us as His disciples, as we
have not been able to forgive or to allow ourselves to be forgiven. Christian
families can truly do much for today's society, and also for the Church. ...
Let
us pray that families may be increasingly able to live and build concrete roads
to reconciliation, where no-one feels abandoned to the burden of his own
trespasses".
 Finally the Pope, accompanied by the with the thousands of faithful gathered
in
St. Peter's Square, repeated the phrase from the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us".

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 Fr. Federico Lombardi on the discussions on economic issues of the Holy See
 Vatican City, 4 November 2015 (VIS) - The following are reflections by Fr.
Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, regarding a new
chapter in discussions on the economic matters of the Holy See.
 "As is known, a significant part of what has been published is the result of
the disclosure of reserved information and documents, and therefore of an
illicit activity that must therefore be prosecuted forthwith by the competent
Vatican authorities. But this is not what we now wish to speak about, given
that
it is already the object of much attention.
 Now, instead, we are interested in considering the content of the disclosures.
It can be said that it consists mostly of information that is already known,
although often less widely and with less detail, but above all it must be noted
that the documentation published relates mostly to an significant effort to
gather data and information, initiated by the Holy Father himself in order to
carry out a study and reflection on the reform and improvement of the
administrative situation of Vatican City State and the Holy See.
 The COSEA (Commission for Reference on the Organisation of the
Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See), from whose archive the
majority of the published information originates, was instituted by the Pope
for
the purpose on 18 July 2013 and then dissolved after the fulfilment of its
task.
 This is not, therefore, information obtained against the will of the Pope or
of
the heads of the various institutions, but generally information obtained or
provided with the collaboration of these same institutions, for a common
positive purpose.
 Naturally, a great deal of information of this type must be studied,
understood
and interpreted with care, equilibrium and attention. Often the same data can
give rise to different readings.
 An example is that of the situation of the Pension Funds, in relation to which
a series of very different evaluations has been expressed, from those who speak
with concern of a large "gap", to those that provide instead a reassuring
interpretation (as resulted from the official Communiqués published
authoritatively through the Holy See Press Office).
 Clearly there is then the issue of the destination and use of goods belonging
to the Holy See. Although regarded in their entirety they appear extremely
extensive, they are in fact aimed at supporting over time the vast range of
service activities managed by the Holy See or connected institutions both in
Rome and in different parts of the world.
 The origins of the ownership of these goods are varied, and the suitable
instruments for knowing their history and development have been available for
some time (for example, it would be useful to refer to the economic agreements
between Italy and the Holy See in the context of the Lateran Pacts and the work
of establishing an effective administration carried out by Pius XI with the
assistance of excellent and expert collaborators, a work commonly recognised as
wise and far-sighted, also in terms of investments abroad and not only in Rome
or Italy).
 With regard to Peter's Pence it is necessary to observe that it is employed
for
various purposes, also in situations, according to the judgement of the Holy
Father, in which it may be given trustfully by the faithful in support of his
ministry. The Pope's works of charity for the poor are certainly one of the
essential uses, but is certainly not the intention of the faithful to exclude
the possibility that the Pope himself may evaluate situations of urgency and
the
way of responding, in the light of his service for the good of the universal
Church. The Pope's service also includes the Roman Curia, as an instrument of
his service; his initiatives outside the Diocese of Rome; communication of his
teaching to the faithful in different parts of the world, including the poor
and
distant; and the support of the 180 Pontifical diplomatic representations
throughout the world, which serve the local Churches and intervene as the main
agents for distributing the Pope's charity in the various countries, as well as
the Pope's representatives in local governments. The history of Peter's Pence
illustrates this clearly.
 These issues return to the fore periodically, but are always occasions for
curiosity and polemics. It is necessary to study the situations and specific
problems in detail and with professionalism, so as to be able to recognise much
that is entirely justified, normal and well-managed (much more than is
generally
assumed and systematically excluded from the type of publication under
consideration here) including the payment of taxes due, and to distinguish
where
there are problems to be corrected, ambiguities to be clarified, and genuine
improprieties or illegal acts to be eliminated.
 This was precisely the aim of the arduous and complex task initiated at the
Pope's behest with the constitution of the COSEA, which completed its work some
time ago, and with the decisions and initiatives which are still in the process
of development and implementation (or which are at least in part followed up by
recommendations from the same COSEA at the end of its work). The reorganisation
of the economic Dicasteries, the appointment of the Reviser general, and the
regular working of the competent institutions for the supervision of economic
and financial activities, etc., are an objective and incontrovertible reality.
 The publication in bulk of a large quantity of different forms of information,
in large part linked to a phase of work by now complete, without the necessary
possibility of further clarification and objective evaluation instead produces
the result - unfortunately largely intentional - of creating the contrary
impression, that of a permanent reign of confusion, lack of transparency or
indeed the pursuit of particular or inappropriate interests.
 Naturally this does not in any way account for the courage and commitment with
which the Pope and his collaborators have faced and continue to face the
challenge of improving the use of temporal goods in the service of the
spiritual. This, instead, is what would be more greatly appreciated and
encouraged in the correct work of providing information to respond
appropriately
to the expectations of the public and the needs of truth. The path of good
administration, correctness and transparency continues and proceeds without
uncertainties. The is evidently Pope Francis' wish and the Holy See has no lack
of those who collaborate loyally and to the best of their abilities".

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 Cardinal Parolin appoints new counsellors for the Bambino Gesu Foundation
 Vatican City, 4 November 2015 (VIS) - The new executive board of the
Foundation
for the Holy See "Bambino Gesu" Paediatric Hospital met this morning for the
first time following the appointment of the new executives by Cardinal
Secretary
of State Pietro Parolin. During the meeting, held in Rome, the board approved
the new statutes of the "completely renovated" foundation, which aim "to
guarantee transparency, solidarity and innovation", according to the president
Mariella Enoc.
 There are seven new counsellors: the president Enoc, Pietro Brunetti,
Ferruccio
De Bortoli, Maria Bianca Farina, Caterina Sansone, Anna Maria Tarantola and
Antonio Zanardi Landi.

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 On current investigations in Vatican City
 Vatican City, 4 November 2015 (VIS) - The following is the full text of the
response given by Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press
Office, to questions from journalists regarding the investigations currently
underway in Vatican City.
 "The Office of the Promoter of Justice of Vatican City State Tribunal,
following a report from the Financial Intelligence Authority, initiated
investigations in February 2015 regarding operations of the purchase and sale
of
bonds and transactions attributable to Gianpietro Nattino.
 The same Office has requested the collaboration of the Italian and Swiss
judicial authorities by letters rogatory sent via diplomatic channels on 7
August 2015".

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