equitable and completely at the service of the battle against poverty and
exclusion. Commercial relationships between States, as an indispensable part of
relations between peoples, can do as much to harm the environment as to renew
it
and preserve it for future generations".
 "I would especially like to echo the concern of all those groups engaged in
projects of development and health care - including those religious
congregations which serve the poor and those most excluded - with regard to
agreements on intellectual property and access to medicines and essential
health
care. Regional free trade treaties dealing with the protection of intellectual
property, particularly in the areas of pharmaceutics and biotechnology, should
not only maintain intact the powers already granted to States by multilateral
agreements, but should also be a means for ensuring a minimum of health care
and
access to basic treatment for all. Multilateral discussions, for their part,
should allow poorer countries the time, the flexibility and the exceptions
needed for them to comply with trade regulations in an orderly and relatively
smooth manner. Interdependence and the integration of economies should not bear
the least detriment to existing systems of health care and social security;
instead, they should promote their creation and good functioning. Certain
health
issues, like the elimination of malaria and tuberculosis, treatment of
so-called
orphan diseases, and neglected sectors of tropical medicine, require urgent
political attention, above and beyond all other commercial or political
interests".
 "Africa offers the world a beauty and natural richness which inspire praise of
the Creator. This patrimony of Africa and of all mankind is constantly exposed
to the risk of destruction caused by human selfishness of every type and by the
abuse of situations of poverty and exclusion. In the context of economic
relationships between States and between peoples, we cannot be silent about
forms of illegal trafficking which arise in situations of poverty and in turn
lead to greater poverty and exclusion. Illegal trade in diamonds and precious
stones, rare metals or those of great strategic value, wood, biological
material
and animal products, such as ivory trafficking and the relative killing of
elephants, fuels political instability, and fuels organised crime and
terrorism.
This situation too is a cry rising up from humanity and the earth itself, one
which needs to be heard by the international community".
 "Once again I express the support of the Catholic community, and my own, to
continue to pray and work that the fruits of regional cooperation, expressed
today in the African Union and the many African agreements on commerce,
cooperation and development, may be vigorously pursued and always take into
account the common good of the sons and daughters of this land".

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 In a Kangemi slum: thank you for reminding us that there are other types of
culture
 Vatican City, 27 November 2015 (VIS) -This morning the Holy Father transferred
to the Church of St. Joseph the Worker, situated in one of the poorest quarters
of the city of Kangemi. "I feel very much at home sharing these moments with
brothers and sisters who, and I am not ashamed to say this, have a special
place
in my life and my decisions", said the Pope to the inhabitants of the area. "I
am here because I want you to know that your joys and hopes, your troubles and
your sorrows, are not indifferent to me. I realise the difficulties which you
experience daily! How can I not denounce the injustices which you suffer?"
 He began by speaking about the wisdom found in poor neighbourhoods, "'A wisdom
which is born of the stubborn resistance of that which is authentic', from
Gospel values which an opulent society, anaesthetised by unbridled consumption,
would seem to have forgotten. You are able 'to weave bonds of belonging and
togetherness which convert overcrowding into an experience of community in
which
the walls of the ego are torn down and the barriers of selfishness overcome'".
 "The culture of poor neighbourhoods, steeped in this particular wisdom, 'has
very positive traits, which can offer something to these times in which we
live;
it is expressed in values such as solidarity, giving one's life for others,
preferring birth to death, providing Christian burial to one's dead; finding a
place for the sick in one's home, sharing bread with the hungry (for there is
always room for one more seat at the table), showing patience and strength when
faced with great adversity, and so on'. Values grounded in the fact each human
being is more important than the god of money. Thank you for reminding us that
another type of culture is possible".
 "I want in first place to uphold these values which you practice, values which
are not quoted in the stock exchange, are not subject to speculation, and have
no market price. I congratulate you, I accompany you and I want you to know
that
the Lord never forgets you. The path of Jesus began on the peripheries, it goes
from the poor and with the poor, towards others".
 "To see these signs of good living that increase daily in your midst in no way
entails a disregard for the dreadful injustice of urban exclusion. These are
wounds inflicted by minorities who cling to power and wealth, who selfishly
squander while a growing majority is forced to flee to abandoned, filthy and
run-down peripheries".
 "This becomes even worse when we see the unjust distribution of land (if not
in
this neighbourhood, certainly in others) which leads in many cases to entire
families having to pay excessive and unfair rents for utterly unfit housing. I
am also aware of the serious problem posed by faceless 'private developers' who
hoard areas of land and even attempt to appropriate the playgrounds of your
children's schools. This is what happens when we forget that 'God gave the
earth
to the whole human race for the sustenance of all its members, without
excluding
or favouring anyone'".
 He emphasised the very serious problem of the lack of access to
infrastructures
and basic services. "By this I mean toilets, sewers, drains, refuse collection,
electricity, roads, as well as schools, hospitals, recreational and sport
centres, studios and workshops for artists and craftsmen. I refer in particular
to access to drinking water. 'Access to safe drinkable water is a basic and
universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is
a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Our world has a grave
social
debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are
denied
the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity'. To deny a
family
water, under any bureaucratic pretext whatsoever, is a great injustice,
especially when one profits from this need".
 "This situation of indifference and hostility experienced by poor
neighbourhoods is aggravated when violence spreads and criminal organisations,
serving economic or political interests, use children and young people as
'canon
fodder' for their ruthless business affairs. I also appreciate the struggles of
those women who fight heroically to protect their sons and daughters from these
dangers. I ask God that that the authorities may embark, together with you,
upon
the path of social inclusion, education, sport, community action, and the
protection of families, for this is the only guarantee of a peace that is just,
authentic and enduring".
 "These realities which I have just mentioned are not a random combination of
unrelated problems. They are a consequence of new forms of colonialism which
would make African countries 'parts of a machine, cogs on a gigantic wheel'.
Indeed, countries are frequently pressured to adopt policies typical of the
culture of waste, like those aimed at lowering the birth rate, which seek 'to
legitimise the present model of distribution, where a minority believes that it
has the right to consume in a way which can never be universalised'".
 The bishop of Rome went on to propose "renewed attention to the idea of a
respectful urban integration, as opposed to elimination, paternalism,
indifference or mere containment. We need integrated cities which belong to
everyone. We need to go beyond the mere proclamation of rights which are not
respected in practice, to implementing concrete and systematic initiatives
capable of improving the overall living situation, and planning new urban
developments of good quality for housing future generations. The social and
environmental debt owed to the poor of cities can be paid by respecting their
sacred right to the "three Ls": Land, Lodging, Labour. This is not a question
of
philanthropy; rather it is a duty incumbent upon all of us".
 He launched an appeal to all Christians, and their pastors in particular, to
renew their missionary zeal, "to take initiative in the face of so many
situations of injustice, to be involved in their neighbours' problems, to
accompany them in their struggles, to protect the fruits of their communitarian
labour and to celebrate together each victory, large or small. I realise that
you are already doing much, but I ask to remember this is not just another
task;
it may instead be the most important task of all, because 'the Gospel is
addressed in a special way to the poor'".
 "Dear neighbours, dear brothers and sisters", he concluded, "let us together
pray, work and commit ourselves to ensuring that every family has dignified
housing, access to drinking water, a toilet, reliable sources of energy for
lighting, cooking and improving their homes; that every neighbourhood has
streets, squares, schools, hospitals, areas for sport, recreation and art; that
basic services are provided to each of you; that your appeals and your pleas
for
greater opportunity can be heard; that all can enjoy the peace and security
which they rightfully deserve on the basis of their infinite human dignity.
Mungu awabariki! God bless you".

___________________________________________________________

 The Pope leaves Kenya for Uganda
 Vatican City, 27 November 2015 (VIS) - After visiting the shantytown of
Kangemi, Francis transferred by car to the Karasani stadium, situated 22 km
outside Nairobi, in order to meet with the young people of Kenya. He gave an
extemporaneous address in Spanish, in the form of answers to questions from
those present, on issues such as tribalism, the recruitment of child soldiers,
and the abandonment of families, and urged them not to give up when faced with
difficulties but instead to consider them as an opportunity to overcome the
situations that gave rise to them, emphasising the two pillars essential in
this
respect: education and work.
 After his discourse, to be published tomorrow, Saturday, the Pope met with the
bishops of Kenya in the stadium and then proceeded to the apostolic nunciature
of Nairobi where he lunched. From there he travelled to the airport, where he
was awaited by President Uhuru Kenyatta, and boarded his flight for Entebbe,
the
capital of Uganda, the second country to be visited by the Pope on his
apostolic
trip in Africa. This afternoon he is expected to visit the Ugandan president
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in his official residence, and will then address the
civil and religious authorities and the diplomatic corps. The Holy Father's day
will conclude with an encounter with catechists and teachers at the shrine of
Munyonyo, where Uganda's first four martyrs were killed in 1886.

___________________________________________________________

 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 27 November 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
 - Fr. Hector Vila as bishop of Whitehorse (area 732,515, population 43,000,
Catholics 9,600, priests 6, permanent deacons 2, religious 5), Canada. The
bishop-elect was born in Lima, Peru in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1995.
He studied at the University of Toronto, Canada, and the Redemptoris Mater
seminary in Rome, and has served in pastoral roles in the Roman parishes of St.
Ireneo and St. Patrizio and in the parish of St. Norbert in Toronto, and is
currently rector of the Redemptoris Mater seminary in Toronto.
 - Fr. Emmanuel Nguyen Hong Son as coadjutor of the diocese of Ba Ria (area
1,988, population 1,427,024, Catholics 254,302, priests 172, religious 799),
Vietnam. The bishop-elect was born in Bien Hoa, Vietnam in 1952 and was
ordained
a priest in 1980. He holds a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Institut
Catholique de Paris, France, and has served in a number of pastoral roles in
the
diocese of Ba Ria, including parish priest, dean forane, rector of the minor
seminary, head of continuing formation of diocesan clergy, member of the
episcopal commission for the doctrine of the faith. He is currently vicar
general of the same diocese.

___________________________________________________________

 Notice
 Vatican City, 27 November 2015 (VIS) - We inform our readers that, due to the
Holy Father's apostolic trip to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic,
an extraordinary edition of the Vatican Information Service bulletin will be
published on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November.

___________________________________________________________

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

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