DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

Vatican City, 28 June 2012 (VIS) - Today, during a private audience with Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Pope authorised the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees:

MIRACLES

- Servant of God Luca Passi, Italian diocesan priest and founder of the Congregation of the Teaching Sisters of St. Dorothy (1789-1866).

- Servant of God Francesca de Paula de Jesus, known as Nha Chica, Brazilian laywoman (1808-1895).

MARTYRDOM

- Servants of God Manuel Borras Ferre, auxiliary bishop of Tarragona, Spain, Agapito Modesto (ne Modesto Pamplona Falguera) of the Institute of Brothers of Christian Schools, and 145 companions, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain between 1936 and 1939.

- Servant of God Giuseppe Puglisi, Italian diocesan priest (1937-1993), killed in hatred of the faith in Palermo, Italy in 1993.

- Servants of God Ermenegildo of the Assumption (ne Ermenegildo Iza y Aregita) and five companions of the Order of the Blessed Trinity, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain in 1936.

- Servant of God Victoria de Jesus (nee Francesca Valverde Gonzalez), Spanish religious of the "Instituto Calasancio de Hijas de la Divina Pastora" (1888-1937), killed in hatred of the faith in Spain in 1937.

- Servant of God Devasahayam (Lazarus) Pillai, Indian layman (1712-1752), killed in hatred of the faith in India in 1752.

HEROIC VIRTUES

- Servant of God Sisto Riario Sforza, Italian archbishop of Naples and cardinal of Holy Roman Church (1810-1877).

- Servant of God Fulton Sheen, American archbishop, and former bishop of Rochester (1895-1979).

- Servant of God Alvaro del Portillo y Diez de Sollano, Spanish prelate of the Personal Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei (1914-1994).

- Servant of God Ludwig Tijssen, Dutch diocesan priest (1865-1929).

- Servant of God Cristobal of St. Catherine (ne: Cristobal Fernando Valladolid), Spanish priest and founder of the Congregation and the Hospital of Jesus of Nazareth in Cordoba (1638-1690).

- Servant of God Marie of the Sacred Heart (nee Marie Josephte Fitzbach), Canadian widow and founder of the Handmaidens of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, known as the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec (1806-1885).

- Servant of God Mary Angeline Teresa (nee Bridget Teresa McCrory), founder of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm (1893-1984).

- Servant of God Maria Margit (nee Adelaide Bogner), Hungarian professed nun of the Order of the Visitation (1905-1933).

- Servant of God Ferdinanda Riva, Italian professed sister of the Institute of Daughters of Charity (1920-1956).

On 10 May the Holy Father authorised the Congregation to promulgate the decree concerning the martyrdom of Servant of God Juan Huguet y Cardona, Spanish diocesan priest (1913-1936), killed in hatred of the faith in Spain in 1936.

Source:

VIS - Vatican Information Service

THE STATE MUST RECOGNISE THE SPECIFIC IDENTITY OF THE FAMILY FOUNDED UPON MARRIAGE

Vatican City, 3 June 2012 (VIS) - In the archbishopric of Milan yesterday afternoon, the Holy Father met with representatives from the civil and military authorities, industrialists and workers, and exponents of the world of culture in the Italian region of Lombardy.

Benedict XVI focused his remarks on the principles of good government as laid down by St. Ambrose who, based in Milan, governed the Roman provinces of Liguria and Aemilia in the fourth century. These principles "are still important" for leaders today, the Pope said. The first quality of people in power must be justice, "the public virtue par excellence because it concerns the good of the entire community". Justice has to be accompanied by love of freedom, something which distinguishes good governors from bad ones. "Freedom is ... a precious right which must be guaranteed by the civil authorities. However, freedom does not mean the will of the individual but the responsibility of everyone. One of the principle elements of the secular State is to ensure freedom so that everyone can present their own vision of social life, but always while respecting others and in the context of laws which seek the good of all".

In order to guarantee the common good the laws of State "must draw justification and strength from natural law, which is the foundation for a social order adapted to the dignity of the human person". An exclusively positivist view of law cannot provide ethical guidance. The State must serve and protect the individual in all aspects, "beginning with the right to life, which must never be deliberately suppressed". It is also called "to recognise the specific identity of the family, founded on marriage and open to life, and the right of parents freely to choose the education and formation of their children. ... The State fails to do justice to families if it does not support freedom of education for the good of all society", the Pope said.

The Church offers her collaboration to the State, each with their own role and their own goals, through her doctrine, traditions, institutions and activities, by virtue of which she places herself at the service of people. "Suffice it to think of the many shining figures of saints of charity, of schools and of culture, saints who cared for the sick and the marginalised with the same service and love with which we would serve and love the Lord. ... Christian communities promote these actions ... as a gratuitous superabundance of Christ's charity and of the all-embracing experience of their faith. Apart from courageous technical and political decisions, the crisis we are going through also has need of gratuitousness".

Finally Benedict XVI recalled the fact that St. Ambrose advised people in positions of power to ensure they were loved. "That which love does can never be done by fear", he said, quoting the saint. The reasons that move people to enter into public life "cannot but be", he told his audience, "the desire to dedicate yourselves to the good of citizens, and therefore a clear expression and evident sign of love. In this way politics is ennobled and becomes an exalted form of charity".

Source:

V.I.S - Vatican Information Service

Image from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pope_Benedictus_XVI_january,20_2006_%282%29_mod.jpg

NOTIFICATION FROM THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH Regarding the Book 'Just Love. A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics'

Yesterday, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a warning notification regarding the Book " Just Love. A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics' written by Sr. Margaret A. Farley. RSM.

The English-language warning notification which was approved by Pope Benedict XVI was signed by Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The warning was issued since the book was found to be "not in conformity with the teaching of the Church", and "cannot be used  "as a valid expression of Catholic teaching, either in counseling and formation or in ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue."

"The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith wrote to Sr. Farley in 2010 enclosing a preliminary evaluation of her book and indicating the doctrinal problems it contained, however her answer failed to clarify those issues in a satisfactory manner. The Congregation therefore proceeded to examine the volume following the procedure for "examination in cases of urgency". In June 2011 a commission of experts confirmed that the "book contained erroneous propositions, the dissemination of which risks grave harm to the faithful". Sr. Farley was sent a list of the erroneous propositions and invited to correct them, but her response "did not adequately clarify the grave problems contained in her book" and the Congregation decided to proceed with the publication of this Notification, extracts of which are given below."

"The author does not present a correct understanding of the role of the Church’s Magisterium as the teaching authority of the bishops united with the Successor of Peter, which guides the Church’s ever deeper understanding of the Word of God as found in Holy Scripture. ... In addressing various moral issues, Sr. Farley either ignores the constant teaching of the Magisterium or, where it is occasionally mentioned, treats it as one opinion among others. ... Sr. Farley also manifests a defective understanding of the objective nature of the natural moral law".

"Among the many errors and ambiguities of this book are its positions on masturbation, homosexual acts, homosexual unions, the indissolubility of marriage and the problem of divorce and remarriage".

"Sr. Farley writes: 'Masturbation… usually does not raise any moral questions at all'. ... This statement does not conform to Catholic teaching: “Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action. ... For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved".

"Sr. Farley writes: 'My own view ... is that same-sex relationships and activities can be justified according to the same sexual ethic as heterosexual relationships and activities'. ... This opinion is not acceptable. The Catholic Church, in fact, distinguishes between persons with homosexual tendencies and homosexual acts. Concerning persons with homosexual tendencies, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “they must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” . Concerning homosexual acts, however, the Catechism affirms: “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved”".

"The Church teaches that the respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of ... homosexual unions. The common good requires that laws recognise, promote and protect marriage as the basis of the family, the primary unit of society. ... The denial of the social and legal status of marriage to forms of cohabitation that are not and cannot be marital is not opposed to justice; on the contrary, justice requires it".

"Sr. Farley writes: 'My own position is that a marriage commitment is subject to release'. ... This opinion is in contradiction to Catholic teaching on the indissolubility of marriage: “By its very nature conjugal love requires the inviolable fidelity of the spouses. This is the consequence of the gift of themselves which they make to each other. Love seeks to be definitive; it cannot be an arrangement ‘until further notice’. The intimate union of marriage, as a mutual giving of two persons, and the good of the children, demand total fidelity from the spouses and require an unbreakable union between them. ... The Lord Jesus insisted on the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble. He abrogates the accommodations that had slipped into the old Law".

The Notification also assesses Sr. Farley's opinion that divorced people may remarry, saying: "This view contradicts Catholic teaching that excludes the possibility of remarriage after divorce. ... In fidelity to the words of Jesus Christ, ... the Church maintains that a new union cannot be recognised as valid, if the first marriage was'".

"With this Notification, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith expresses profound regret that a member of an institute of consecrated life, Sr. Margaret A. Farley R.S.M., affirms positions that are in direct contradiction with Catholic teaching in the field of sexual morality. ... Furthermore the Congregation wishes to encourage theologians to pursue the task of studying and teaching moral theology in full concord with the principles of Catholic doctrine".

Source:

V.I.S. - Vatican Information Service

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JUNE

Vatican City, 31 may (VIS).- Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for June is: “That believers may recognize in the Eucharist the living presence of the Risen One who accompanies them in daily life”. 

His missionary intention is: "That Christians in Europe may rediscover their true identity and participate with greater enthusiasm in the proclamation of and participate with more enthusiasm in the Gospel".

Source:

Vatican Information Service

Image from:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/index.htm

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MAY

Vatican City, 30 April 2012 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for May is: "That initiatives which defend and uphold the role of the family may be promoted within society".

His mission intention is: "That Mary, Queen of the World and Star of Evangelisation, may accompany all missionaries in proclaiming her Son Jesus".

Source:

Vatican Information Service 

Image from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Benedykt_XVI_%282010-10-17%29_4.jpg

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR APRIL

Vatican City, 30 March 2012 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for April is: "That many young people may hear the call of Christ and follow Him in the priesthood and religious life".

His mission intention is: "That the risen Christ may be a sign of certain hope for the men and women of the African continent".

Source:

Vatican Information Service 

Image from:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/index.htm

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MARCH

Vatican City, 1 March 2012 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for March is: "That the whole world may recognise the contribution of women to the development of society".

His mission intention is: "That the Holy Spirit may grant perseverance to those who suffer discrimination, persecution or death for the name of Christ, particularly in Asia".

Source:

Vatican Information Service

Image from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pope_Benedictus_XVI_january,20_2006_%282%29_mod.jpg

POPE'S LENTEN MESSAGE: CHARITY AS A MEANS TO SALVATION

VATICAN CITY, 7 FEB 2012 (VIS) - Made public today was the 2012 Lenten Message of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, the title of which is taken from the Letter to the Hebrews: "Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works". Extracts from the English-language version of the document are given below:

"The Lenten season offers us once again an opportunity to reflect upon the very heart of Christian life: charity. This is a favourable time to renew our journey of faith, both as individuals and as a community, with the help of the word of God and the Sacraments".

"This year I would like to propose a few thoughts in the light of a brief biblical passage drawn from the Letter to the Hebrews: 'Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works'".

(1) Let us be concerned for each other: responsibility towards our brothers and sisters.

"This first aspect is an invitation to be 'concerned'. ... The verb which introduces our exhortation tells us to look at others, first of all at Jesus, to be concerned for one another, and not to remain isolated and indifferent to the fate of our brothers and sisters. All too often, however, our attitude is just the opposite: an indifference and disinterest born of selfishness and masked as a respect for 'privacy'. ... Even today God asks us to be 'guardians' of our brothers and sisters, to establish relationships based on mutual consideration and attentiveness to the well-being, the integral well-being of others. The great commandment of love for one another demands that we acknowledge our responsibility towards those who, like ourselves, are creatures and children of God. Being brothers and sisters in humanity and, in many cases, also in the faith, should help us to recognise in others a true alter ego, infinitely loved by the Lord. If we cultivate this way of seeing others as our brothers and sisters, solidarity, justice, mercy and compassion will naturally well up in our hearts".

"Concern for others entails desiring what is good for them from every point of view: physical, moral and spiritual. Contemporary culture seems to have lost the sense of good and evil, yet there is a real need to reaffirm that good does exist and will prevail, because God is 'generous and acts generously'. The good is whatever gives, protects and promotes life, brotherhood and communion. Responsibility towards others thus means desiring and working for the good of others, in the hope that they too will become receptive to goodness and its demands. Concern for others means being aware of their needs. Sacred Scripture warns us of the danger that our hearts can become hardened by a sort of 'spiritual anaesthesia' which numbs us to the suffering of others. The Evangelist Luke relates two of Jesus' parables by way of example": the parable of the Good Samaritan and the parable of Dives and Lazarus. Both "show examples of the opposite of 'being concerned', of looking upon others with love and compassion. What hinders this humane and loving gaze towards our brothers and sisters? Often it is the possession of material riches and a sense of sufficiency, but it can also be the tendency to put our own interests and problems above all else. We should never be incapable of 'showing mercy' towards those who suffer. Our hearts should never be so wrapped up in our affairs and problems that they fail to hear the cry of the poor. ... Reaching out to others and opening our hearts to their needs can become an opportunity for salvation and blessedness.

"'Being concerned for each other' also entails being concerned for their spiritual well-being. Here I would like to mention an aspect of the Christian life, which I believe has been quite forgotten: fraternal correction in view of eternal salvation. Today, in general, we are very sensitive to the idea of charity and caring about the physical and material well-being of others, but almost completely silent about our spiritual responsibility towards our brothers and sisters. This was not the case in the early Church. ... Christ Himself commands us to admonish a brother who is committing a sin. ... The Church's tradition has included 'admonishing sinners' among the spiritual works of mercy. It is important to recover this dimension of Christian charity. We must not remain silent before evil. I am thinking of all those Christians who, out of human regard or purely personal convenience, adapt to the prevailing mentality, rather than warning their brothers and sisters against ways of thinking and acting that are contrary to the truth and that do not follow the path of goodness. Christian admonishment, for its part, is never motivated by a spirit of accusation or recrimination. It is always moved by love and mercy, and springs from genuine concern for the good of the other. ... In a world pervaded by individualism, it is essential to rediscover the importance of fraternal correction, so that together we may journey towards holiness. ... It is a great service, then, to help others and allow them to help us, so that we can be open to the whole truth about ourselves, improve our lives and walk more uprightly in the Lord's ways".

(2) Being concerned for each other: the gift of reciprocity.

"This 'custody' of others is in contrast to a mentality that, by reducing life exclusively to its earthly dimension, fails to see it in an eschatological perspective and accepts any moral choice in the name of personal freedom. A society like ours can become blind to physical sufferings and to the spiritual and moral demands of life. This must not be the case in the Christian community!"

"The Lord's disciples, united with Him through the Eucharist, live in a fellowship that binds them one to another as members of a single body. This means that the other is part of me, and that his or her life, his or her salvation, concern my own life and salvation. Here we touch upon a profound aspect of communion: our existence is related to that of others, for better or for worse. Both our sins and our acts of love have a social dimension. This reciprocity is seen in the Church, the mystical body of Christ: the community constantly does penance and asks for the forgiveness of the sins of its members, but also unfailingly rejoices in the examples of virtue and charity present in her midst. ... Christians can also express their membership in the one body which is the Church through concrete concern for the poorest of the poor. Concern for one another likewise means acknowledging the good that the Lord is doing in others".

(3) To stir a response in love and good works: walking together in holiness.

"These words of the Letter to the Hebrews urge us to reflect on the universal call to holiness. ... The time granted us in this life is precious for discerning and performing good works in the love of God. In this way the Church herself continuously grows towards the full maturity of Christ. Our exhortation to encourage one another to attain the fullness of love and good works is situated in this dynamic prospect of growth.

"Sadly, there is always the temptation to become lukewarm, to quench the Spirit, to refuse to invest the talents we have received, for our own good and for the good of others. All of us have received spiritual or material riches meant to be used for the fulfilment of God's plan, for the good of the Church and for our personal salvation. The spiritual masters remind us that in the life of faith those who do not advance inevitably regress".

"In a world which demands of Christians a renewed witness of love and fidelity to the Lord, may all of us feel the urgent need to anticipate one another in charity, service and good works. This appeal is particularly pressing in this holy season of preparation for Easter".

Source:

VIS - Vatican Information Service

NOTE FROM HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR ON LEAKED VATICAN DOCUMENTS

Vatican City, 14 February 2012 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a note written by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Frederico Lombardi S.J. and released late yesterday afternoon by Vatican Radio, concerning the recent leaking of a series of Vatican documents.

"Nowadays we must all have strong nerves, because no one can be surprised at anything. The American administration was affected by Wikileaks, now the Vatican too has its disclosures, its leaked documents, which tend to create confusion and bewilderment, and to throw a bad light on the Vatican, the governance of the Church and, more broadly, on the Church herself.

"We must, then, remain calm and keep our nerve, make use of reason, s omething which not all media outlets tend to do. The documents in question are of different kinds and importance, drawn up at various times and for differing situations. One thing is the discussion of the improved economic management of an institution such as the Governorate, which has many different activities; another are notes on current juridical and legislative questions, about which it is quite normal that there should be contrasting opinions; quite another are delirious and incomprehensible reports about plots against the Pope's life. Yet, putting them all together helps to create confusion. Serious reporting should be capable of distinguishing the issues and understanding their differing importance. It is obvious that the economic activities of the Governorate have to be managed wisely and rigorously. It is clear that the IOR and financial activities must be correctly integrated into international anti-recycling norms. These are of course the Pope's instructions. At the same time, it is evident that the story about a plot against the Pope, as I said immediately at the time, is nonsense, madness, and does not deserve to be taken seriously.

"There is something very sad in the fact that documents are dishonestly passed from the inside to the outside in order to create confusion. Both sides bear responsibility: firstly the suppliers of documents of this kind, but also those who undertake to use them for purposes that certainly have nothing to do with pure love of truth. We must, therefore, stand firm, not allowing ourselves to be swallowed up by the vortex of confusion, which is what ill-intentioned people want, and remaining capable of using our reason.

"In a certain sense - according to an ancient expression of human and spiritual wisdom - the emergence of more powerful attacks is a sign that something important is at stake. The series of attacks against the Church on the issue of sexual abuse has been justly met with serious and profound commitment to far-sighted renewal; not a myopic response but purification and rehabilitation. We have now taken control of the situation and are developing a powerful strategy of healing, renewal and prevention, for the good of society as a whole. At the same time, there is a serious commitment to ensure authentic transparency in the working of Vatican institutions, also from an economic perspective. New norms have been issued and channels have been opened for international monitoring. And yet a lot of the recently leaked documents tend to discredit precisely those efforts. This, paradoxically, constitutes another reason to continue them with determination, not allowing ourselves to be cowed. If many people insist on attacking us, the issue is obviously important. Whoever thinks he is discouraging the Pope and his collaborators in their commitment is mistaken.

"As for the issue of the supposed power struggles in view of the next conclave, I would invite everyone to note that all the Pontiffs elected during the last hundred years have been people of exalted and unquestioned spiritual merit. Cardinals have naturally sought, and still seek, to elect someone who deserves the respect of the people of God, someone who can serve humankind in our time with great moral and spiritual authority. Reading these events as an internal power struggle depends to a large extent on the moral coarseness of those who provoke them and those who see them as such, people often incapable of seeing anything else. Fortunately, those who believe in Jesus Christ know that - whatever may be written in today's newspapers - the true concerns of those with positions of responsibility in the Church are the serious problems facing the men and women of today and tomorrow. Not for nothing do we also believe in, and speak of, the assistance of the Holy Spirit".

Source:

VIS - Vatican Information Service

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR FEBRUARY

VATICAN CITY, 31 JAN 2012 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for February is: "That all peoples may have access to water and other resources needed for daily life". 

His mission intention is: "That the Lord may sustain the efforts of health workers assisting the sick and elderly in the world's poorest regions". 

Source:

Vatican Information Service

VIS 20120131 (70)

Image from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pope_Benedict_XVI.jpg

CHURCH HAS NO TECHNICAL SOLUTION, BUT CAN GUIDE MANKIND

VATICAN CITY, 6 JAN 2012 (VIS) - At midday today, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his private study overlooking St. Peter's square, to pray the Angelus with faithful gathered below. During his remarks he announced a forthcoming consistory, due to be held on 18 February, for the creation of twenty-two new cardinals.

Introducing the Marian prayer, Benedict XVI explained that the Epiphany "is an ancient feast, which ... highlights the mystery of Christ's manifestation to all peoples, represented by the Magi who came to adore the newborn King of the Jews in Bethlehem, as the Gospel of St. Matthew says".

"The entire period of Christmas and Epiphany is characterised by the theme of light", the Pope explained. "Jesus is the sun which rose on the horizon of humankind to illuminate the individual life of each one of us and guide us, all together, towards the goal of our pilgrimage, towards the land of freedom and peace in which we will forever live in full communion, with God and among ourselves".

The announcement of this mystery of salvation was entrusted by Christ to His Church. "The world, with all its resources, is unable to give humanity the light to guide it on its journey. This is clear also in our own day, when Western society seems to have lost direction and is feeling its way forward. Yet the Church, thanks to the Word of God, sees beyond these shadows. She does not possess technical solutions but she has her gaze turned to the final destination offering the light of the Gospel to all men and women of good will, of whatever nation or culture".

After the Angelus prayer, the Pope expressed his congratulations to the Eastern Churches which, in accordance with the Julian calendar, will celebrate Christmas tomorrow. "May each family and each community be filled with the light and peace of Christ the Saviour", he said.

He also recalled the fact that the Epiphany coincides with the Day of Missionary Children. "Dear children and young people", he said, "may your hearts, like the heart of Jesus, be open to the world. Yet also remain attentive to those who live near you and be ready to extend a hand to them".

Finally the Pope addressed greetings in a number of languages to the pilgrims gathered below his window. Speaking to Polish faithful he said: "To your prayers I entrust a countryman of yours [Marek Solczynski], a new nuncio who received episcopal ordination this morning".

ANG / VIS 20120107 (440

Source: Vatican Information Service

BISHOPS MUST SHOW MERCY AND CHARITY TO THE POOR

VATICAN CITY, 6 JAN 2012 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 10 a.m. today, the Pope presided at Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. During the ceremony he conferred episcopal ordination upon archbishops-elect Msgr. Charles John Brown, apostolic nuncio to Ireland, and Msgr. Marek Solczynski, apostolic nuncio to Georgia and Armenia. The Mass was con-celebrated by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.; Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the two new archbishops.


In his homily the Holy Father reflected on today's Gospel reading, the narrative of the Magi who came from the East to Bethlehem to adore the Baby Jesus, which he compared with the mission of bishops in the Church.


"The wise men from the East ... open up the path of the gentiles to Christ. During this holy Mass, I will ordain two priests to the episcopate, I will consecrate them as shepherds of God's people. According to the words of Jesus, part of a shepherd's task is to go ahead of the flock. So, allowing for all the differences in vocation and mission, we may well look to these figures, the first gentiles to find the pathway to Christ, for indications concerning the task of bishops".


The Magi "were, as we might say, men of science, but not simply in the sense that they were searching for a wide range of knowledge: they wanted something more. ... They were men with restless hearts, not satisfied with the superficial and the ordinary. They were men in search ... of God, ... watchful men, capable of reading God's signs, His soft and penetrating language. But they were also courageous, yet humble: we can imagine them having to endure a certain amount of mockery for setting off to find the King of the Jews, at the cost of so much effort. For them it mattered little what this or that person, what even influential and clever people thought and said about them. For them it was a question of truth itself, not human opinion. Hence they took upon themselves the sacrifices and the effort of a long and uncertain journey. Their humble courage was what enabled them to bend down before the child of poor people and to recognize in Him the promised King, the One they had set out, on both their outward and their inward journey, to seek and to know".


"How can we fail to recognize in all this certain essential elements of episcopal ministry? The bishop too must be a man of restless heart, not satisfied with the ordinary things of this world, but inwardly driven by his heart's unrest to draw ever closer to God, to seek His face, to recognize Him more and more, to be able to love Him more and more. The bishop too must be a man of watchful heart, who recognizances the gentle language of God and understands how to distinguish truth from mere appearance. The bishop too must be filled with the courage of humility, not asking what prevailing opinion says about him, but following the criterion of God's truth and taking his stand accordingly. ... He must be able to go ahead and mark out the path, ... in the footsteps of Him who went ahead of us all because He is the true shepherd: ... Jesus Christ. And he must have the humility to bend down before the God Who made Himself so tangible and so simple that He contradicts our foolish pride in its reluctance to see God so close and so small.


"The liturgy of episcopal ordination interprets the essential features of this ministry in eight questions addressed to the candidates. ... These questions direct the will and mark out the path to be followed. Here I shall briefly cite just a few of the most important words of this presentation, where we find explicit mention of the elements we have just considered in connection with the wise men of today's feast. ... Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, going ahead and leading, guarding the sacred heritage of our faith, showing mercy and charity to the needy and the poor, thus mirroring God's merciful love for us, and finally, praying without ceasing: these are the fundamental features of the episcopal ministry. Praying without ceasing means: never losing contact with God, letting ourselves be constantly touched by Him in the depths of our hearts. ... Only someone who actually knows God can lead others to God".


"Our heart is restless for God and remains so, even if every effort is made today, by means of most effective anesthetizing methods, to deliver people from this unrest. But not only are we restless for God: God's heart is restless for us. God is waiting for us. He is looking for us. He knows no rest either, until He finds us. ... That is why He set out on the path towards us, to Bethlehem, to Calvary, from Jerusalem to Galilee and on to the very ends of the earth. God ... looks out for people willing to 'catch' His unrest, His passion for us, people who carry within them the searching of their own hearts. ... This was the task of the Apostles: to receive God's unrest for man and then to bring God Himself to man. And this is your task as successors of the Apostles".


"The wise men followed the star. ... The wise men from the East, ... like all the saints,have themselves gradually become constellations of God that mark out the path. ... The saints are stars of God, by whom we let ourselves be led to Him for Whom our whole being longs. ... As you are ordained bishops, you too are called to be stars of God for men, leading them along the path towards the true light, towards Christ".

VIS 20120107 (1000)

Source: ; Vatican Information Service

Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2012

VATICAN CITY, 30 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for January 2012 is: "That the victims of natural disasters may receive the spiritual and material comfort they need to rebuild their lives".

His mission intention is: "That the dedication of Christians to peace may bear witness to the name of Christ before all men and women of good will".

Source:

VIS - Vatican Information Service 

Image From: 

http://romancatholicblog.typepad.com/roman_catholic_blog/2008/04/the-american-li.html

Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for December

VATICAN CITY, 30 NOV 2011 (VIS) - Benedict's general prayer intention for December is: "That all peoples may grow in harmony and peace through mutual understanding and respect".

His mission intention is: "That children and young people may be messengers of the Gospel and that they may be respected and preserved from all violence and exploitation".
BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/ VIS 20111130 (70)

Source:

VIS-Vatican Information Service

BENEDICT XVI'S Prayer Intentions for November

VATICAN CITY, 31 OCT 2011 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for November is: "That the terminally ill may be supported by their faith in God and the love of their brothers and sisters".
 

His mission intention is: "That the celebration of World Mission Day may foster in the People of God a passion for evangelization with the willingness to support the missions with prayer and economic aid for the poorest Churches".
 

Source: 

BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/VIS 20111031 (80)

Vatican Information Service

Public Office Must be Exercised with Dignity & Responsibility -- Benedict XVI

VATICAN CITY, 14 OCT 2011 (VIS) - "The exercise of civil authority is so important as to have an almost 'sacred' character; therefore it must be exercised with great dignity and a lively sense of responsibility". These words were pronounced this morning by the Holy Father to Italian provincial prefects, accompanied by Roberto Maroni, minister of the Interior, in an audience arranged as part of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of Italian unification.

In his address the Pope highlighted how throughout the country "we can see the traces which the Christian faith has left impressed in the customs of the Italian people, giving rise to noble and deep-rooted religious and cultural traditions, as well as to an artistic heritage unique in the world". Today too the Catholic Church "is an important presence among the people, aware of their deepest needs which she interprets in a logic of readiness and service".

"Conscious of the fact that, as John Paul II said, we depend upon one another, the Church wishes to unite with other institutions and with the various territorial organizations, in order to create a firm platform of moral virtues upon which to build a coexistence worthy of man. In this mission the Church knows she can rely on the effective and friendly collaboration of prefects, whose function it is to guarantee ... social cohesion and civil rights".

Benedict XVI recalled the position of the Social Doctrine of the Church vis-a-vis public administration, "which is not to be conceived as impersonal or bureaucratic, but rather as an act of generous assistance for citizens, undertaken with a spirit of service". He also noted how the work of prefects today has become more complex and arduous due to economic and social uncertainty, and exhorted them not to be disheartened by difficulties. "Handle the matters entrusted to you with prudence and a great sense of duty, never failing in your commitment to truth and or in your courage to defend the supreme good. ... As high-level representatives of State, you are called to combine authority and professionalism in the exercise of your responsibilities, especially at times of tension and discord", he said.

The Pope concluded by inviting the prefects to follow the example of their patron, St. Ambrose, "so that your work may always serve justice, peace, freedom and the common good. God will not fail to support your efforts, rewarding them with abundant fruits to spread the civilization of love".

Source:

AC/Vatican Information Service
20111014 (420)

Silence and Solitude Reveal the Presence of God -- Pope Benedict XVI

VATICAN CITY, 9 OCT 2011 (VIS) - Having addressed the local people of Serra San Bruno, the Holy Father entered the Carthusian monastery of Sts. Stephen and Bruno where he was greeted by the prior, Fr. Jacques Dupont. At 6 p.m. the Pope presided at Vespers with the monastic community in the monastery church.

In his homily the Pope explained that the aim of his visit was to confirm the Carthusian Order in its mission, "more vital and important today than ever before", he said. The spiritual core of the Carthusians, founded by St. Bruno, lies in the desire "to enter into union of life with God, abandoning everything which impedes such communion, allowing oneself to be seized by the immense love of God and living from that love alone", through solitude and silence.

Technological progress, the Holy Father noted, has made man's life more comfortable but also "more agitated, even convulsive". The growth of the communications media means that today we run the risk of virtual reality dominating reality itself. "People are increasingly, even unwittingly, immersed in a virtual dimension, thanks to the audiovisual images that accompany their lives from morning to evening. The youngest, having been born in this state, seem to fill each vacant moment with music and images, almost as if afraid to contemplate the void. ... Some people are no longer capable of remaining silent and alone".

This situation of modern society and culture "throws light on the specific charism of the Carthusian monastery as a precious gift for the Church and for the world, a gift which contains a profound message for our lives and for all humanity. I would summarize it in these terms: by withdrawing in silence and solitude man, so to speak, 'exposes' himself to the truth of his nakedness, he exposes himself to that apparent 'void' I mentioned earlier.

But in doing so he experiences fullness, the presence of God, of the most real Reality that exists. ... Monks, by leaving everything, ... expose themselves to solitude and silence so as to live only from what is essential; and precisely in living from the essential they discover a profound communion with their brothers and sisters, with all mankind".

This vocation, the Pope went on, "finds its response in a journey, a lifelong search. ... Becoming a monk requires time, exercise, patience. ... The beauty of each vocation in the Church lies in giving time to God to work with His Spirit, and in giving time to one's own humanity to form, to grow in a particular state of life according to the measure of maturity in Christ. In Christ there is everything, fullness. However we need time to possess one of the dimensions of His mystery. ... At times, in the eyes of the world, it seems impossible that someone should spend his entire life in a monastery, but in reality a lifetime is hardly sufficient to enter into this union with God, into the essential and profound Reality which is Jesus Christ".

"The Church needs you and you need the Church", the Holy Father told the monks at the end of his homily. "You, who live in voluntary isolation, are in fact at the heart of the Church; you ensure that the pure blood of contemplation and of God's love flows in her veins".

Following the celebration, the Holy Father met with the monastic community in the refectory, he signed the visitors book then visited a cell and the infirmary of the monastery. He then returned by helicopter to Lamezia Terme whence he departed by plane for Rome at 8 p.m.

Source:

PV-ITALY/Vatican Information Service
20111010 (610)

The Closeness of God Transforms Reality -- Pope Benedict the XVI

VATICAN CITY, 5 OCT 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father dedicated his catechesis during this morning's general audience to Psalm 23 which begins with the words: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want". "Addressing the Lord in prayer implies a radical act of confidence, the awareness of entrusting oneself to God Who is good", he said.

Psalm 23 is an example of such confidence. "The Psalmist expresses his tranquil certainty that he will be guided and protected, sheltered from all danger because the Lord is his shepherd. ... The image evokes an atmosphere of trust, intimacy, tenderness. The shepherd knows his sheep individually, he calls them by name and they follow him because they recognise and trust him. He takes care of them, protects them like a treasure, and is ready to defend them in order to guarantee their wellbeing, to ensure they live in peace. They shall want nothing if the shepherd is with them".

The Psalm describes the oasis of peace to which the shepherd leads his flock. The setting is a desert landscape, "yet the shepherd knows where to find pasture and water, which are essential for life, he knows the way to the oasis in which the soul can be 'restored' with new energies to start the journey afresh. As the Psalmist says, God guides him to 'green pastures' and 'still waters' where all things are in abundance. ... If the Lord is the shepherd, even in the desert, a place of scarcity and death, we do not lose our certainty in the radical presence of life".

The shepherd adapts his rhythms and his needs to those of his flock. "If we walk behind the 'Good Shepherd'", the Pope said, " however difficult, tortuous and long the paths of our life may seem, we too can be certain that they are right for us, that the Lord guides us and that He is always close".

Hence the Psalmist adds: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me". Benedict XVI explained how, although the Psalmist here uses a Hebrew expression which evokes the shadows of death, he nonetheless proceeds without fear because he knows the Lord is with him.  "This is a proclamation of unshakeable trust and encapsulates a radical experience of faith: the closeness of God transforms reality, the darkest valley loses all its perils".

This image concludes the first part of the Psalm and opens the way to a change of scene. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows". The Lord is now presented "as the One Who welcomes the Psalmist with generous hospitality. ... Food, oil, wine are the gifts that enable us to live, they bring joy because they lie beyond what is strictly necessary, an expression of the gratitude and abundance of love". In the meantime the enemies look on powerlessly because "when God opens His tent to welcome us, nothing can harm us".

The Psalmist goes on "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long". The Psalmist's journey "acquires fresh meaning and becomes a pilgrimage towards the Temple of the Lord, the holy place in which he wishes 'to dwell' forever". Likewise, living near God and His goodness is what all believers long for, the Holy Father said.

This Psalm has accompanied the entire history and religious experience of the People of Israel, but only in Jesus Christ is its evocative strength "fulfilled and fully expressed: Jesus is the 'Good Shepherd' Who goes in search of the lost sheep, Who knows His sheep and gives His life for them. He is the way, the way that leads to life, the light that illuminates the dark valley and overcomes all our fears. He is the generous host Who welcomes us and saves us from our enemies, preparing the banquet of His Body and His Blood for us, and the definitive banquet ... in heaven. He is the regal Shepherd, King in meekness and mercy, enthroned on the glorious seat
of the cross".

Psalm 23 invites us to renew our trust in God, the Pope concluded, "to abandon ourselves completely in His hands. Let us, then, trustingly ask the Lord to allow us always to walk on His paths, even along the difficult paths of our own times, as a docile and obedient flock; let us ask Him to welcome us into His house, at His table, and to lead us to 'still waters' so that, in welcoming the gift of His Spirit, we may drink from His spring, source of that living water which 'gushes up to eternal life'".


Source:

AG/Vatican Information Service
20111005 (810)

PAPAL, HOLY SEE HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2011: APRIL - JULY

VATICAN CITY, 29 JUL 2011 (VIS) - Given below is a list of the major events  involving Pope Benedict XVI and the Holy See which occurred between the months of April and July 2011.

APRIL

1: Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil C.SS.R., Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, India, dies at the age of 83.

1: Law 127 concerning the prevention and countering of the laundering of proceeds from criminal activities and of the financing of terrorism comes into force. The Law was published on 30 December 2010 together with the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI's "Motu Proprio" Apostolic Letter on the same subject.

7: The Holy Father receives in audience a group of bishops of the Syro-Malabar rite, at the end of their "ad limina" visit.

11: Benedict XVI receives the Letters of Credence of Filip Vucak, the new ambassador of Croatia to the Holy See.

11-13: Meeting of the Commission established by Benedict XVI in 2007 to study the most important issues regarding the Catholic Church in China.

12: Publication of a decree by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments establishing that the annual celebration of the Memorial of Blessed John Paul II be inserted into the calendar of the diocese of Rome and the dioceses of Poland, on 22 October.

13: Presentation of "Youcat", the Catechism of the Catholic Church aimed at the young, which will be distributed to participants in the twenty-sixth World Youth Day, to be held in Madrid from 16 to 21 August.

14: The Holy Father receives in audience Valdis Zatlers, president of the Republic of Latvia.

16: Benedict XVI, on his eighty-fourth birthday, receives the Letters of Credence of Maria Jesus Figa Lopez-Palop, the first woman to serve as Spain's ambassador to the Holy See.

18: Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini, archbishop emeritus of Turin, Italy dies at the age of 86.

29: Inauguration of the exhibition: "John Paul II: Homage of Benedict XVI for the Beatification" in the Charlemagne Wing under the colonnade of St. Peter's Square.

30: Prayer vigil in preparation for the beatification of John Paul II, held in Rome's Circus Maximus in the presence of 200,000 people.

MAY

1: Cardinal Agustin Garcia-Gasco Vicente, archbishop emeritus of Valencia, Spain, dies at the age of 80.

1: Second Sunday of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, Benedict XVI presides at
the rite of beatification of John Paul II.

2: Holy Father receives in audience Bronislaw Komorowski, president of the
Republic of Poland.

2: Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. presides at a Mass of
thanksgiving for the beatification of Pope John Paul II.

3: The mortal remains of Blessed John Paul II are laid in the Chapel of St. Sebastian in the Vatican Basilica.

7-8: Benedict XVI makes a pastoral visit to Aquileia and Venice, Italy.

13 Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" publishes an Instruction on the  application of Benedict XVI's Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum".

16: Holy Father receives a group of prelates from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India at the end of their "ad limina" visit.

21: Benedict XVI converses via satellite with the crew of the International Space Station, on the occasion of the space shuttle Endeavour's last mission.

24: Presentation of the document "Family: Work and Celebration", a preparatory catecheses for the seventh World Meeting of Families. The gathering will take place in Milan, Italy, from 30 May to 3 June 2012.

26: Benedict XVI presides at the Rosary in the basilica of St. Mary Major, together with the bishops of Italy, and entrusts the people of Italy to the Blessed Virgin Mary on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the country's political unification.

30: Holy Father receives a group of prelates from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India at the end of their "ad limina" visit.

JUNE

3: Benedict XVI receives in audience Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority.

4-5: Pope's Apostolic trip to Croatia.

9: The Holy Father receives the Letters of Credence of six new ambassadors to the Holy See: Stefan Gorda of Moldavia, Narciso Ntugu Abeso Oyana of Equatorial Guinea, Henry Llewellyn Lawrence of Belize, Hussan Edin Aala of Syria, Genevieve Delali Tsegah of Ghana, and George Robert Furness Troup of New Zealand.

11: The Holy Father receives two thousand Gypsies from various European countries, representing the 12 million Gypsies scattered across the
continent.

17: Benedict XVI receives a group of Indian prelates (from Madras-Mylapore, Madurai, Pondicherry and Raipur), who have just completed their "ad limina" visit.

19: Holy Father makes a pastoral visit to the diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro.

24: Benedict XVI receives in audience Igor Luksic, prime minister of Montenegro.

27: Presentation of the new Vatican internet portal "news.va", to be inaugurated by the Pope on 28 June, eve of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.

29: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, sixtieth anniversary of Benedict XVI's ordination to the priesthood.

30: Benedict XVI confers the first "Ratzinger Prize", an award established by the "Vatican Foundation: Joseph Ratzinger - Benedict XVI", to: Manlio Simonetti, an Italian layman and scholar of ancient Christian literature and Patrology; Olegario Gonzalez de Cardedal, a Spanish priest and professor of systematic theology, and Maximilian Heim, a German Cistercian, abbot of the monastery of Heiligenkreuz in Austria and professor of fundamental and dogmatic theology.

30: Cardinal Georg Maximilian Sterzinsky, archbishop emeritus of Berlin, Germany, dies at the age of 75.

JULY

4: The Holy Father inaugurates an exhibition in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, entitled: "The splendour of truth, the beauty of charity: Homage of sixty artists to Benedict XVI for the sixtieth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood".

5: The Pope visits the headquarters of the "Osservatore Romano" newspaper, currently celebrating the 150th anniversary of its foundation. Its first edition appeared on 1 July 1861.

13: Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation, announces a new pastoral initiative being promoted by his dicastery. The initiative has the name of "Metropolis Mission" and will begin in Lent 2012.


18: Benedict XVI receives in audience Najib Bin Abdul Razak, prime minister of Malaysia.

21: Cardinal Kazimierz Swiatek, archbishop emeritus of Minsk-Mohilev, Belarus, and former apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the diocese of Pinsk, dies at the age of 96.

24: Cardinal Virgilio Noe, archpriest emeritus of the Vatican Basilica, vicar general emeritus of the Pope for Vatican City State and president emeritus of the Fabric of St. Peter's, dies at the age of 89.

27: The Holy See and Malaysia decide by common accord to establish diplomatic relations at the level of apostolic nunciature on the part of the Holy See and of embassy
VATICAN CITY, 29 JUL 2011 (VIS) - Given below is a list of the major events  involving Pope Benedict XVI and the Holy See which occurred between the months of April and July 2011.

APRIL

1: Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil C.SS.R., Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, India, dies at the age of 83.

1: Law 127 concerning the prevention and countering of the laundering of proceeds from criminal activities and of the financing of terrorism comes into force. The Law was published on 30 December 2010 together with the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI's "Motu Proprio" Apostolic Letter on the same subject.

7: The Holy Father receives in audience a group of bishops of the Syro-Malabar rite, at the end of their "ad limina" visit.

11: Benedict XVI receives the Letters of Credence of Filip Vucak, the new ambassador of Croatia to the Holy See.

11-13: Meeting of the Commission established by Benedict XVI in 2007 to study the most important issues regarding the Catholic Church in China.

12: Publication of a decree by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments establishing that the annual celebration of the Memorial of Blessed John Paul II be inserted into the calendar of the diocese of Rome and the dioceses of Poland, on 22 October.

13: Presentation of "Youcat", the Catechism of the Catholic Church aimed at the young, which will be distributed to participants in the twenty-sixth World Youth Day, to be held in Madrid from 16 to 21 August.

14: The Holy Father receives in audience Valdis Zatlers, president of the Republic of Latvia.

16: Benedict XVI, on his eighty-fourth birthday, receives the Letters of Credence of Maria Jesus Figa Lopez-Palop, the first woman to serve as Spain's ambassador to the Holy See.

18: Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini, archbishop emeritus of Turin, Italy dies at the age of 86.

29: Inauguration of the exhibition: "John Paul II: Homage of Benedict XVI for the Beatification" in the Charlemagne Wing under the colonnade of St. Peter's Square.

30: Prayer vigil in preparation for the beatification of John Paul II, held in Rome's Circus Maximus in the presence of 200,000 people.

MAY

1: Cardinal Agustin Garcia-Gasco Vicente, archbishop emeritus of Valencia, Spain, dies at the age of 80.

1: Second Sunday of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, Benedict XVI presides at
the rite of beatification of John Paul II.

2: Holy Father receives in audience Bronislaw Komorowski, president of the
Republic of Poland.

2: Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. presides at a Mass of
thanksgiving for the beatification of Pope John Paul II.

3: The mortal remains of Blessed John Paul II are laid in the Chapel of St. Sebastian in the Vatican Basilica.

7-8: Benedict XVI makes a pastoral visit to Aquileia and Venice, Italy.

13 Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" publishes an Instruction on the  application of Benedict XVI's Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum".

16: Holy Father receives a group of prelates from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India at the end of their "ad limina" visit.

21: Benedict XVI converses via satellite with the crew of the International Space Station, on the occasion of the space shuttle Endeavour's last mission.

24: Presentation of the document "Family: Work and Celebration", a preparatory catecheses for the seventh World Meeting of Families. The gathering will take place in Milan, Italy, from 30 May to 3 June 2012.

26: Benedict XVI presides at the Rosary in the basilica of St. Mary Major, together with the bishops of Italy, and entrusts the people of Italy to the Blessed Virgin Mary on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the country's political unification.

30: Holy Father receives a group of prelates from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India at the end of their "ad limina" visit.

JUNE

3: Benedict XVI receives in audience Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority.

4-5: Pope's Apostolic trip to Croatia.

9: The Holy Father receives the Letters of Credence of six new ambassadors to the Holy See: Stefan Gorda of Moldavia, Narciso Ntugu Abeso Oyana of Equatorial Guinea, Henry Llewellyn Lawrence of Belize, Hussan Edin Aala of Syria, Genevieve Delali Tsegah of Ghana, and George Robert Furness Troup of New Zealand.

11: The Holy Father receives two thousand Gypsies from various European countries, representing the 12 million Gypsies scattered across the
continent.

17: Benedict XVI receives a group of Indian prelates (from Madras-Mylapore, Madurai, Pondicherry and Raipur), who have just completed their "ad limina" visit.

19: Holy Father makes a pastoral visit to the diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro.

24: Benedict XVI receives in audience Igor Luksic, prime minister of Montenegro.

27: Presentation of the new Vatican internet portal "news.va", to be inaugurated by the Pope on 28 June, eve of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.

29: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, sixtieth anniversary of Benedict XVI's ordination to the priesthood.

30: Benedict XVI confers the first "Ratzinger Prize", an award established by the "Vatican Foundation: Joseph Ratzinger - Benedict XVI", to: Manlio Simonetti, an Italian layman and scholar of ancient Christian literature and Patrology; Olegario Gonzalez de Cardedal, a Spanish priest and professor of systematic theology, and Maximilian Heim, a German Cistercian, abbot of the monastery of Heiligenkreuz in Austria and professor of fundamental and dogmatic theology.

30: Cardinal Georg Maximilian Sterzinsky, archbishop emeritus of Berlin, Germany, dies at the age of 75.

JULY

4: The Holy Father inaugurates an exhibition in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, entitled: "The splendour of truth, the beauty of charity: Homage of sixty artists to Benedict XVI for the sixtieth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood".

5: The Pope visits the headquarters of the "Osservatore Romano" newspaper, currently celebrating the 150th anniversary of its foundation. Its first edition appeared on 1 July 1861.

13: Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation, announces a new pastoral initiative being promoted by his dicastery. The initiative has the name of "Metropolis Mission" and will begin in Lent 2012.


18: Benedict XVI receives in audience Najib Bin Abdul Razak, prime minister of Malaysia.

21: Cardinal Kazimierz Swiatek, archbishop emeritus of Minsk-Mohilev, Belarus, and former apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the diocese of Pinsk, dies at the age of 96.

24: Cardinal Virgilio Noe, archpriest emeritus of the Vatican Basilica, vicar general emeritus of the Pope for Vatican City State and president emeritus of the Fabric of St. Peter's, dies at the age of 89.

27: The Holy See and Malaysia decide by common accord to establish diplomatic relations at the level of apostolic nunciature on the part of the Holy See and of embassy on the part of Malaysia.

Source: VIS-Vatican Information Service