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 Joint commitment to caring for the climate
 Vatican City, 13 December 2015 (VIS) - After today's Angelus prayer, Pope
Francis spoke about the agreement adopted during the Climate Conference which
recently ended in Paris. "Its implementation will require concerted commitment
and generous dedication by all. In the hope that it will ensure special
attention to the most vulnerable populations, we urge the international
community to continue with care on the path it has taken, in an spirit of
increasingly active solidarity".
 He remarked that next Tuesday, December 15, the Ministerial Conference of the
World Trade Organisation will commence in Nairobi. Addressing the participating
countries, he urged them to I take into account the needs of the poor and the
most vulnerable in their decisions, as well as the "legitimate aspirations of
the least developed countries and the common good of the entire human family".
 The Holy Father also commented that in all the cathedrals of the world, the
Holy Doors are being opened so that the Jubilee of mercy may be fully
experienced in the particular churches. "I hope that this moment encourages
many
to become instruments of God's tenderness. As an expression of the works of
mercy, 'Doors of Mercy' are being opened in places of discomfort and
alienation.
I thus greet the inmates of prisons around the world". Finally, he greeted all
the pilgrims and faithful present.

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 The Pope to visit Guadalupe on 13 February
 Vatican City, 13 December 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday, on the liturgical solemnity
of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, patroness of Latin America, the Holy
Father celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. The celebration was preceded by
the Holy Rosary and hundreds of people, mostly from the American continent,
where the devotion to Our Lady extends from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. In the
homily he pronounced, the Pope emphasised Mary's mercy, asking that we might
understand how much God loves us through her.
 Francis began by citing the phrases of the prophet Zephaniah in the first
reading: "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one Who will save; He
will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; He will
exult over you with loud singing. "These words, addressed to Israel, can also
be
referred to the Virgin Mary, the Church, and every person, all of whom are
loved
by God's merciful love. Yes, God loves us so much that he even rejoices and
takes pleasure in us. He loves us with gratuitous love, love without limits,
and
without expecting anything in return. This merciful love is the most striking
attribute of God, the synthesis of which is condensed the Gospel message, the
faith of the Church".
 He went on to explain that the word "mercy" - "misericordia" - is composed of
two words: misery and heart. The heart indicates the capacity to love; mercy is
that love, which embraces the misery of the person. It is a love that "feels"
our poverty as if it were its own, so as to free us of it. ... . "The Word
became
flesh," with the intention of sharing all our frailties - with the intention of
experiencing our human condition, even unto taking upon himself the Cross, with
all the pain of human existence. Such is the abyss of compassion and mercy.
... No
sin can cancel his merciful closeness or prevent him from unleashing the grace
of conversion, provided we invoke it. Indeed, sin itself makes more radiant the
love of God who, to ransom a slave, sacrificed his Son. That mercy of God comes
to us with the gift of the Holy Spirit in Baptism. ... For, however great and
grave the sins of the world, the Spirit, who renews the face of the earth,
makes
possible the miracle of a life that is more human, more full of joy and hope".
 "'The Lord is near', says the apostle Paul, and nothing should make us
anguished. He and His Mother are near. The greatest mercy lies in his being in
our midst, in our being in his presence and company. He walks with us, he shows
us the path of love, lifts us up when we fall, sustains us in our labours,
accompanies us in all circumstances of our existence. He opens our eyes to our
own misery and that of the world, but also fills us with hope. ... This is the
source of a peaceful and happy life; nothing can rob us of this peace and joy,
despite the sufferings and trials of life. The Lord with His tenderness opens
up
His heart to us, He opens up His love. The Lord is allergic to rigidities. ...
Announcing the Good News to the poor, like John the Baptist, performing works
of
mercy, is a good way to look for the coming of Jesus at Christmas".
 "In one of the prayers most cherished by Christians, the Salve Regina, we call
Mary 'mother of mercy'", continued the Holy Father. "She who always lived
intimately united with her Son, knows better than anyone what He wants: that
all
men be saved, and that God's tenderness and consolation exclude no-one. ... To
Blessed Mary we entrust the sufferings and joys of people throughout the
Americas, who love her as a mother and recognise her as Patroness under the
beloved title of Our Lady of Guadalupe".
 "May the sweetness of her gaze be with us in this Holy Year, so that we might
rediscover the joy of God's tenderness", concluded the Pope. "We ask that this
jubilee year sow merciful love in the hearts of individuals, families and
nations. Let us convert and become merciful people, and let all Christian
communities be oases and sources of mercy, witnesses to a charity without
exclusion. To ask this in a special way, I will travel to venerate her in her
Shrine on 13 February. I will ask for this for all America, for whom she is a
special Mother. Let us implore her to guide the footsteps of the American
people, a pilgrim people looking for the Mother of mercy, and let us ask her
just one thing: to show them her Son Jesus".
 After his homily and during the prayer of the faithful, the Pope prayed for
his
parents Mario and Regina, "who gave me life and transmitted faith to me", he
said, and who were married eighty years ago.
 Like last year, all those present concluded by singing "La Guadalupana", the
hymn to Our Lady of Guadalupe, known throughout the world.

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 Programme of the Pope's apostolic trip to Mexico
 Vatican City, 12 December 2015 (VIS) - The programme of the Holy Father's
apostolic trip to Mexico, to take place from 12 to 18 February, was published
today.
 On Friday 12 February at 12.30 p.m. the Holy Father will depart by air from
Rome's Fiumicino airport, to arrive at the "Benito Juarez" International
airport
in Mexico City at 19.30 p.m. local time, where he will be welcome by the
authorities. At 9.30 a.m. on the morning of Saturday 13 February the welcome
ceremony will take place in the National Palace, and the Pope will pay a
courtesy visit to the president of the Republic of Mexico, followed by a
meeting
with the authorities, civil leaders and the diplomatic corps. At 11.30 a.m. he
will meet with the bishops in the Cathedral. In the afternoon, at 5. p.m., he
will celebrate Holy Mass in the Basilica of Guadalupe.
 The following day, Sunday 14 February, he will transfer by helicopter to
Ecatepec where, at 10.30 a.m. he will celebrate Holy Mass in the area of the
Ecatepec Study Center. He will return by helicopter to Mexico City where he is
expected to arrive at 1.10 p.m. In the afternoon he will visit the "Federico
Gomez" paediatric hospital and will meet with cultural figures in the National
Auditorium.
 On Monday 15 February at 7.30 a.m., the Pope will depart by air for Tuxtla
Gutierrez, and will then transfer by helicopter to San Cristobal de Las Casas
where he is expected to arrive at 9.15 a.m. He will celebrate Mass with the
indigenous Chiapas communities in the municipal sports centre at 10.15 a.m.,
followed by lunch with indigenous peoples and the papal entourage. At 3 p.m. he
will visit the Cathedral of San Cristobal de las Casas and will then return by
helicopter to Tuxtla Gutierrez, where he will meet with families in the "Victor
Manuel Reyna" stadium. At 6.10 p.m. he will depart by air for Mexico City where
he is expected to arrive at 8 p.m.
 On Tuesday 16 February at 7.50 a.m. he will travel by air to Morelia where, at
10 a.m., he will celebrate Mass with priests, consecrated persons and
seminarians. Following a visit to the Cathedral at 3.15 p.m., he met with young
people in the "Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon" stadium. At 6.55 p.m. he will return
by air to Mexico City, arriving at 8 p.m.
 On the sixth and final day of the trip, Wednesday 17 February, at 8.35 a.m.
the
Holy Father will depart by air for Ciudad Juarez, where he is scheduled to
arrive at the city's "Abraham Gonzalez" international airport at 10 a.m. He
will
first visit the CeReSo No. 3 detention centre, and will then meet with
representatives of the world of work at the Colegio de Bachilleres of the State
of Chihuahua at midday. At 4 p.m. he will celebrate Mass at the Ciudad Juarez
trade centre. Following a farewell ceremony at 7 p.m. at the international
airport, he will leave Mexico at 7.15 p.m., destined for Rome's Ciampino
airport, where he is expected to arrive at 2.45 p.m. on Thursday 18 February.

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 Rescriptum ex audientia for the institution of the Pontifical Commission for
activities of public legal persons of the Church in the healthcare sector
 Vatican City, 12 December 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father, after receiving in
audience Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on 7 December, provided for
the institution of the Pontifical Commission for the activities in the
healthcare sector of public legal persons of the Church. The following is the
full text of the document:
 "The Holy Father Francis, in the audience granted to the undersigned Secretary
of State on 7 December 2015, having obtained the necessary information relating
to the particular difficulties of public legal persons of the Church working in
the healthcare sector, for the purpose of contributing to the more efficient
management of these activities and the conservation of assets maintaining and
promoting the charism of the Founders, and until other provisions are made, has
mandated the Secretary of State to appoint a Special Commission for the
purpose,
entitled 'Pontifical Commission for the Activities of Public Juridical Persons
of the Church in the Healthcare Sector'.
 Therefore, the Cardinal Secretary of State shall provide for the erection of
the 'Pontifical Commission for the Activities of Public Juridical Persons of
the
Church in the Healthcare Sector', which will be governed by the following
rules.
 1. The principles and rules established in the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor
bonus' and in the General Regulations of the Roman Curia shall be applied to
the
Commission, insofar as they are applicable and not incompatible. The Commission
shall adopt its own regulations.
 2. The Commission shall be composed of a President and six experts in the
fields of healthcare, real estate, management, economic and administrative
issues, and finance. The Commission shall be able to delegate part of its
functions to one or more Members and shall be assisted by a Secretariat.
 3. With regard to the appointment and term of office of the members and
experts
of the Commission, the regulations governing the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia
shall be applied.
 4. The Commission, which shall report directly to the Secretary of State, may

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