are all children of God! Do we remember that in Baptism we have received the
'seal' of our Heavenly Father and became His children? ... Here is the root of
the vocation to holiness. The saints we remember today are indeed those who
lived in the grace of their Baptism, who kept the 'seal' intact, behaving as
children of God, seeking to imitate Jesus; and now they have reached their goal
because they finally 'see God as he really is'".
Their second characteristic is that they are "examples to imitate. ... Not
only
those who are canonised, but, so to speak, the saints 'next door' who, with the
grace of God, made the effort to practice the Gospel in the ordinariness of
their life. ... To imitate their gestures of love and mercy is rather like
perpetuating their presence in this world. Indeed, those evangelical gestures
are the only ones that resist the destruction of death: an act of tenderness, a
generous help, time spent listening, a visit, a good word, a smile. ... To our
eyes these gestures might seem insignificant, but in God's eyes they are
eternal, because love and compassion are stronger than death".
___________________________________________________________
Francis to open the Holy Door of the cathedral of Bangui
Vatican City, 1 November 2015 (VIS) - After today's Marian Angelus prayer, the
Pope referred to the delicate situation in the Central African Republic
following the painful events of recent days, and launched an appeal to the
parties involved to put an end to this cycle of violence. "I am spiritually
close to the Combonian Fathers of the parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Bangui,
which is welcoming many displaced people. I express my solidarity with the
Church, other religious confessions and the entire nation, so sorely tried, as
they make every effort to overcome divisions and to re-embark on the path of
peace".
"To show the prayerful closeness of all the Church to this afflicted and
tormented nation, and to exhort all Central Africans increasingly to be
witnesses of mercy and reconciliation, I intend to open the Holy Door of the
Cathedral of Bangui on Sunday 29 November, during the apostolic trip I hope to
make to this nation".
___________________________________________________________
Pope's telegram of condolences for the victims of the Sinai air crash
Vatican City, 1 November 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin has sent a telegram of condolences to the president of the Russian
Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin on behalf of the Holy Father, following
the crash of a Russian airliner in the Egyptian Sinai peninsula yesterday, 31
October, causing over 200 deaths.
In the text, the Pope expresses his sadness at learning of the tragic event,
and conveys his condolences to the president and the Russian people. He assures
his prayers for all the deceased and for those who mourn their loss, and
invokes
the strength and peace of Almighty God upon the nation and all those involved
in
the recovery efforts.
___________________________________________________________
Audience with the president of Macedonia
Vatican City, 31 October 2015 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father Francis
received in audience in the Vatican Apostolic Palace His Excellency Mr. Gjorge
Ivanov, president of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, who
subsequently
met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied
by
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.
During the discussions, which took place in a cordial atmosphere, the Parties
expressed their satisfaction at the existing good bilateral relations, and
their
hope for the realisation of the country's aspirations and increasing efforts to
join the European Union.
Attention then turned to various themes of international politics in the
current global context, also in relation to persistent difficulties of an
economic and social nature, and the need for joint efforts to offer assistance
to the great number of refugees arriving in the region.
Finally, the Parties recognised the importance of further encouraging the
co-existence of and dialogue between the various ethnic and religious groups in
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
___________________________________________________________
The Pope to business leaders: increase an entrepreneurial spirit of
subsidiarity
Vatican City, 31 October 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall, the
Pope received seven thousand members of the Christian Union of Business
Executives (UCID), a group of Catholic entrepreneurs who seek to be agents of
development for the common good, inspired above all by the Social Doctrine of
the Church. The UCID, which is an ecclesial association recognised by bishops,
grants great importance to Christian formation and carries out its apostolate
in
the field of work and enterprise.
In his address, the Holy Father exhorts the members of UCID to live their
entrepreneurial vocation in the spirit of the lay mission, emphasising that
businesses and their managing offices can become "places of sanctification"
through common commitment to building fraternal relations between
entrepreneurs,
managers and workers, promoting co-responsibility and collaboration in mutual
interest. "It is fundamental to pay special attention to the quality of the
working life of employees, who are the most precious resource of a business,
and
in particular to favour harmonisation between work and family life", he added.
"I think especially of female workers: the challenge is to protect both their
right to fully recognised work and and their vocation to maternity and presence
within the family". Another important aspect, Francis remarked, is the
"responsibility of businesses in the defence and care of creation and the
realisation of progress that is 'healthier, more human, more social, more
integral'".
The call to be missionaries of the social dimension of the Gospel in the world
of work, the economy and enterprise implies "openness and evangelical closeness
to the many situations of poverty and fragility", encouraging programmes for
development and assistance. However, it is not enough to provide charitable
aid,
the Pope adds. "It is necessary to guide economic activity in an evangelical
sense, that is, at the service of the person and the common good. From this
point of view you are called upon to cooperate to promote the growth of an
entrepreneurial spirit of subsidiarity, to face ethical and market challenges
together, and above all the challenge of creating good work opportunities".
"The business is an asset of common interest. While it may be a private asset,
managed privately, for the simple fact that it pursues aims of general interest
and relevance, such as economic development, innovation and employment, it must
be protected as an asset in its own right. This protection must be provided
firstly by the institutions, but also by entrepreneurs, economics, financial
bodies and banks, and all those involved must act with competence, honesty and
a
sense of responsibility. The economy and business need ethics in order to
function correctly; and not merely any ethical code, but rather one that places
the person and the community at the forefront", the Holy Father concluded.
___________________________________________________________
Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Pope's special envoy to the 500th anniversary of
the arrival of the sacred image of the Madonna at Lask
Vatican City, 31 October 2015 (VIS) - In a letter published today, written in
Latin and dated 12 October, the Holy Father appoints Cardinal Zenon
Grocholewski, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Catholic Education, as
his special envoy to the closing celebration of the 500th anniversary of the
arrival from Rome of the sacred image of the "Madonna of Lask" in the sanctuary
of the same name in the archdiocese of Lodz, Poland, to take place on Sunday 8
November.
The mission accompanying the cardinal will be composed of Msgr. Tadeusz
Ciupinski, canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Lask, and Msgr. Zbigniew Tracz,
canon of the Cathedral Chapter in Lodz.
___________________________________________________________
The Pope ordains the new auxiliary bishop of Rome in the Basilica of St. John
Lateran
Vatican City, 3 November 2015 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff today announced that on Monday 9 November at 5 p.m. in the
papal Basilica of St. John Lateran the Pope will confer episcopal ordination to
Msgr. Angelo De Donatis of the clergy of the diocese of Rome. Appointed as
auxiliary bishop of Rome on 14 September 2015, Msgr. De Donatis was born in
1954
in Casarano, Italy.
___________________________________________________________
Audiences
Vatican City, 31 October 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in
separate audiences:
- Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith;
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
___________________________________________________________
Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 3 November 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
- Bishop Pedro Maria Laxague, auxiliary of Bahia Blanca, Argentina, as bishop
of Zarate-Campana (area 5,924, population 728,000, Catholics 660,000, priests
88, permanent deacons 13, religious 178), Argentina. He succeeds Bishop Oscar
Domingo Sarlinga, whose resignation in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the
Code of Canon Law was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Fr. Carlos Azpiroz Costa, O.P., as coadjutor archbishop of Bahia
Blanca (area 82,625, population 757,000, Catholics 647,000, priests 83,
permanent deacons 18, religious 202), Argentina. Fr. Azpiroz Costa, O.P., was
born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1956, gave his religious vows in 1984 and
was ordained a priest in 1987. He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from
the University of the North "Santo Tomas de Aquino" (UNSTA) in the Argentine
Dominican province, a bachelor's degree in theology from the Pontifical
Argentine Catholic University, and a doctorate in canon law from the University
of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome. He has served in a number of roles
within his order, most notably as Master General, and as a lecturer at the
University FASTA of Mar del Plata, Argentina. He is currently superior of the
Dominican community of Mar del Plata.
On Saturday, 31 October, the Holy Father:
- appointed Fr. Abel Szocska, O.S.B.M., as apostolic administrator sede
vacante
of the eparchy of Nyiregyhaza, Hungary, for Catholis of Byzantine rite, without
episcopal rank. Fr. Szocska was born in Vinohradiu, Nagyszolos, Ukraine in
1972,
gave his religious vows in 2001 and was ordained a priest in the same year. He
is currently provincial superior of the Basilian Fathers in Hungary, pastor of
the parish of Mariapocs, and protosyncellus of the eparchy of Miskolc.
- gave his assent to the canonical election by the Synod of Bishops of the
Maronite Church of Fr. Joseph Tobji as archbishop of Aleppo of the Maronites,
Syria. The bishop-elect was born in 1971 and was ordained a priest in 1996. He
holds a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Urbanian University and has
served as chaplain and parish priest, and as promoter of justice and defender
of
the bond in a number of ecclesiastical tribunals. He is currently secretary of
the Assembly of Catholic Bishops.
- accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of
Elblag, Poland, presented by Bishop Jozef Wysocki upon reaching the age limit.
___________________________________________________________
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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