who,in transmitting the life of faith, support Christian communities and, in
particular, our parishes in a decisive way. On June 12, we will have a large
gathering for the sick and disabled, as well as for those who care for them
with
such love and dedication. On November 6, we will celebrate the Jubilee for
those
in prison. This will be held not only in prisons but we have been studying the
possibility of giving many of those in prison the opportunity to celebrate
their
own Holy Year with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica.
"Secondly, there will significant efforts to enact Pope Francis vision and
witness of reaching out to those on the existential 'peripheries' of society,
in
order to give a direct testimony to the Church's affinity and care for the
poor,
the suffering, the marginalised, and all those who need a sign of tenderness.
These moments will have a symbolic meaning, but we will also ask bishops and
priests to perform in their own dioceses similar symbolic gestures of communion
with Pope Francis so that everyone may receive a concrete sign of the Church's
ministry of mercy and closeness. As a concrete sign of the Pope's charitable
love, which is an essential component of this Jubilee, effective measures will
be taken to meet real needs in the world that will express mercy through
tangible assistance.
"Thirdly, we must meet the needs of the many pilgrims who will come alone to
Rome apart from any organised tour or tour group. For these individuals, there
will be a number of churches in the historic centre of Rome where they will
feel
welcome, where they can have moments of reflective prayer and prepare
themselves
thoroughly to walk through the Holy Door in an atmosphere of genuine spiritual
devotion. All the pilgrims who will come to Rome, however, will have a
privileged route through which to walk through the Holy Door. This is necessary
in order to ensure that the event is lived in a religious way, safe from any
climate of abuse that can easily confront millions of people making a
pilgrimage
to Christian holy sites.
"The official website for the Jubilee has already been launched:
www.iubilaeummisericordiae.va, and can be accessed also at www.im.va. The site
is available in seven languages: Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French,
German, and Polish. On the site you will find official information regarding
the
calendar of the major public events, information for participating in the
events
with the Holy Father, and all of the official communications regarding the
Jubilee. Also, through the site,dioceses will be able to receive information
and
pastoral suggestions, register pilgrimage groups, andrelay to us their local
diocesan projects. The website uses a number of social networks (Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus and Flickr) through which we will be able to
provide updates on the Holy Father's initiative and follow in real time the
major events as they take place. We have also been studying the possibility of
an app with which to better integrate all this information".
Archbishop Fisichella concluded, "We are convinced that the path of mercy on
which Pope Francis has placed the Church in this journey of the Jubilee will be
a moment of true grace for all Christians and a reawakening to the path of the
new evangelisation and the pastoral conversion the Pope has indicated. As Pope
Francis wrote: 'In this Jubilee Year, may the Church echo the word of God that
resounds strong and clear as a message and a sign of pardon, strength, aid, and
love. May she never tire of extending mercy, and be ever patient in offering
compassion and comfort. May the Church become the voice of every man and woman,
and repeat confidently without end: Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and your
steadfast love, for they have been from of old'".
___________________________________________________________
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri: signs of light in the churches of Iraq
Vatican City, 5 May 2015 (VIS) - Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the
Congregation for the Oriental Churches, concluded his visit to Iraq with a
meeting with the bishops of the country with the entities that form the Roaco
(Riunione Opere Aiuto Chiese Orientali", "Reunion of Aid Agencies for the
Oriental Churches") in Erbil.
The cardinal, in his second trip to Iraq, brought Pope Francis' blessing to
Iraqi Christians the acknowledgement and encouragement of the Authorities for
their work in the difficult current context of Iraq in favour of Christians,
other minorities and those who suffer as a result of the violence. From 1 to 3
May Cardinal Sandri visited Baghdad where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy in
the Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph and lunched with refugees assisted by
various ecclesial institutions. In Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, he
met
with the Roaco delegation which is planning aid projects in various areas of
pastoral life and in the assistance of refugees.
In his final address to the bishops in Erbil, the cardinal referred to the
"signs of light" he had seen in the Churches of Iraq during his visit: "The
liturgy, the hymns, the trust in Mary, but above all the splendour of charity,
through ordinary works and those linked to the various forms of welcome and
pastoral assistance to displaced and persecuted people. I have encountered
first
hand the heroic dedication of the many priests who are truly good pastors, who
do not flee, who stay beside their flock; I have been moved by the profound
communion that goes before any theological discussion, although the latter is
necessary, and any other form of ecumenical agreement, when priests of
different
Christian churches wish well to each other and, along with the laypeople,
organise aid activities for displaced persons, or guide educational paths in
schools and parishes. It is also good to see the collaboration that the various
agencies of the Roaco have offered in the planning and implementation phases
for
the good of all of you".
"You are all members of the Synods of the respective patriarchal Churches", he
affirmed, addressing the bishops. "Along with the patriarchs and in communion
with them, seek to ensure that the ecclesial body grows with collaboration at
every juncture. And I add: especially in this time of difficulty that Iraq is
experiencing requires ever deeper communion between the Churches. I hope that
this may occur between the Chaldean and Syro-Catholic Churches, which represent
the majority, and between these two and the smaller Churches. Let us reject any
form of isolation or self-referentiality, and I invite you to recognise and
enhance the value of the assembly of Catholic bishops of Iraq and the assembly
in which you gather with your brethren in the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
Indeed, ensure that the logic of majority and minority that is causing so much
harm to the country does not have implications within the confines of the
Church, although I am sure that this danger is far removed from reality".
Cardinal Sandri concluded his address by invoking the protection of Our Lady
and of St. Peter for Pope Francis, "always so close to the Christians of the
Middle East and to all those who are persecuted", and for their Beatitudes the
Patriarchs Louis Raphael I Sako of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and Ignatius
Joseph III Younan of the Syro-Catholic Church.
___________________________________________________________
Audiences
Vatican City, 5 May 2015 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, Monday 4 May, the Holy
Father received in audience Bishop Nunzio Galantino, secretary of the Italian
Episcopal Conference.
___________________________________________________________
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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