coming from Libya are likewise encouraging and offer the hope of a renewed
commitment to ending violence and re-establishing the country's unity. On the
other hand, it appears increasingly evident that only a common and agreed
political action will prove able to stem the spread of extremism and
fundamentalism, which spawn terrorist acts which reap countless victims, not
only in Syria and Libya, but in other countries like Iraq and Yemen".
 "May this Holy Year of Mercy also be the occasion of dialogue and
reconciliation aimed at consolidating the common good in Burundi, in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in South Sudan. Above all, may it be a
favourable time for definitively ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Of
fundamental importance is the support which the international community,
individual states and humanitarian organisations can offer the country from a
number of standpoints, in order to surmount the present crisis. Yet the
greatest
challenge we face is that of overcoming indifference and working together for
peace, which remains a good which must constantly be sought. Sadly, among the
many parts of our beloved world which long fervently for peace, there is the
land for which God showed a particular love and chose to show to all the face
of
his mercy. I pray that this new year can heal the deep wounds dividing Israelis
and Palestinians, and enable the peaceful coexistence of two peoples who - of
this I am sure - in the depths of their heart ask only for peace".
 The Pope concluded his address by reiterating that on the diplomatic level,
the
Holy See "will never cease its efforts to enable the message of peace to be
heard to the ends of the earth. I thus reiterate the complete readiness of the
Secretariat of State to cooperate with you in favouring constant dialogue
between the Apostolic See and the countries which you represent, for the
benefit
of the entire international community. I am certain that this Jubilee year will
be a favourable occasion for the cold indifference of so many hearts to be won
over by the warmth of mercy, that precious gift of God which turns fear into
love and makes us artisans of peace. With these sentiments I renew to each of
you, to your families and your countries, my heartfelt good wishes for a
blessed
New Year".

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 Baptisms in the Sistine Chapel: offer your children the legacy of faith
 Vatican City, 10 January 2016 (VIS) - "Give your children the legacy of
faith",
said the Pope this morning in the Sistine Chapel to the parents and godparents
of 26 children (13 boys and 13 girls) he baptised during the Holy Mass
celebrated on the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord.
 In his brief homily the Holy Father explained to those present that Mary and
Joseph took Jesus to the temple forty days after His birth to present Him to
God, just as today parents take their children to receive Baptism and to
receive
the faith as they show in their reply to the question at the beginning of the
rite. "In this way, faith is transmitted from one generation to another, like a
chain through time. These boys, these girls, over the years, will take your
place with their children, your grandchildren, and they too will ask for faith.
The faith that is given in Baptism, the faith that the Holy Spirit brings today
to the heart, the soul and the life of these children of yours".
 "You have ask for faith. The Church, when she gives you the lighted candle,
will tell you to safeguard the faith in these children. And, in the end, do not
forget that the greatest legacy you can give your children is faith. Take care
that it is not lost, to make it grow and to leave it as a legacy. This I wish
to
you today, on this day that is joyful for you: I hope that you will be able to
raise these children in faith and that the greatest legacy they will receive
from you will be faith".
 The Pope concluded by commenting that when a baby cries it may be because he
or
she is hungry, and so he invited mothers to feel free to feed their babies in
the Sistine Chapel if necessary.

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 Angelus: the importance of celebrating the day of our Baptism
 Vatican City, 10 January 2016 (VIS) - Today at midday, following Mass in the
Sistine Chapel, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study in the
Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims
gathered in St. Peter's Square. Before the Marian prayer, the Pontiff asked all
those present to pray for the 25 babies he had just baptised, and remarked that
the Gospel of the day "presents Jesus to us, in the waters of the river Jordan,
at the centre of a wonderful divine revelation". In the words of the apostle
Luke, "after all the people had been baptised, and Jesus also had been baptised
and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in
bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased".
 "In this event - attested to by all four Gospels - the transition from the
baptism of John the Baptist, based on the symbol of water, to the baptism of
Jesus happens 'in the Holy Spirit and fire'", the Pope continued. "The Holy
Spirit, in fact, in the Christian Baptism is the principal architect: it is He
who burns and destroys Original Sin, restoring to the baptised the beauty of
divine grace; It is He who delivers us from the dominion of darkness, that is,
of sin, and transfers us into the realm of light, that is, of love, truth and
peace. This is the realm of light".
 Francis explained that "the Holy Spirit, received for the first time on the
day
of our Baptism, opens our hearts to the truth, the whole truth. The Spirit
guides our life along a demanding path, but one joyous in charity and
solidarity
toward our brothers. The Spirit gives us the tenderness of God's forgiveness
and
pervades us with the invincible strength of the Father's mercy. Let us not
forget that the Holy Spirit is a living and life-giving presence in those who
welcome Him, that prays with us and fills us with spiritual joy".
 He invited all present to give thanks for this gift and to seek out the date
of
their own Baptism. "It is very important to know, because it is a date to
celebrate: it is the date of our rebirth as children of God. So, this week's
homework is to find out the date of your baptism. Celebrating that day means
reaffirming our our attachment to Jesus, with the commitment to live as
Christians, members of the Church and new humanity, in which we are all
brothers". Following the Marian prayer, the Pope gave a special blessing to
"all
those children who have been baptised recently, as well as young people and
adults who have recently received the Sacraments of Christian initiation or who
are preparing. May Christ's grace accompany them always!".

___________________________________________________________

 Holy Father's calendar for January and February
 Vatican City, 11 January 2016 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff has published the following calendar of liturgical
celebrations at which the Holy Father will preside in the months of January
2016
and February 2016:
 JANUARY
 Monday 25: Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul. At 5.30 p.m., in the
Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, celebration of Vespers.
 FEBRUARY
 Tuesday 2: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 20th World Day of
Consecrated
Life. At 5.30 p.m., Holy Mass, Jubilee of Consecrated Life and closure of the
Year of Consecrated Life.
 Wednesday 10: Ash Wednesday. At 5 p.m., in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass,
blessing and imposition of the Ashes, sending of Missionaries of Mercy.
 Friday 12 - Thursday 18: Apostolic trip in Mexico.
 Monday 22: Solemnity of the Chair of St. Peter. At 10.30 a.m. in the Vatican
Basilica, Jubilee of the Roman Curia.

___________________________________________________________

 Audiences
 Vatican City, 9 January 2016 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience:
 - Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops;
 - Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, archbishop of Santiago de Chile, Chile,
president of the Episcopal Conference of Chile, with Bishop Alejandro Goic
Karmelic of Rancagua, deputy president, and Bishop Cristian Contreras
Villarroel
of Melipilla, general secretary;
 - Fr. Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, prepositor general of the Society of Jesus, with
Fr. Mauro Johri, minister general of the Franciscan Order of Capuchin Friars
Minor, president of the Union of Superiors General (U.S.G.).;
 - Nicola Zingarelli, president of the Latium region, Italy.

___________________________________________________________

 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 9 January 2016 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Msgr.
Antonio Augusto de Oliveira Azevedo as auxiliary of the diocese of Porto (area
3,010, population 2,106,000, Catholics 1,906,000, priests 423, permanent
deacons
82, religious 892), Portugal. The bishop-elect was born in Sao Pedro de Avioso,
Portugal in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1986. He has served in a number
of
pastoral roles, including parish vicar, military chaplain, parish priest,
parish
administrator and diocesan assistant in the pastoral ministry of workers. He is
currently rector of the major seminary of Nossa Senhora da Conceidao, diocesan
assistant at the Centre for Preparation for Marriage, professor in the faculty
of theology of the Catholic University of Porto, judge at the ecclesiastical
tribunal and secretary of the presbyteral council.

___________________________________________________________

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