Vatican News Update

SUMMARY OF POPE'S APOSTOLIC TRIP TO AUSTRALIA:

- Young People: Build a Future of Hope for All Humanity

- WYD 2011 to Be Held in the Spanish Capital, Madrid

- Thanks for the Confidence Shown in Young People

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YOUNG PEOPLE: BUILD A FUTURE OF HOPE FOR ALL HUMANITY

VATICAN CITY, 20 JUL 2008 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father was taken by helicopter from the heliport of Victoria Barracks to Centennial Park, a public park in Sydney founded in the year 1888. From the park he travelled by popemobile to Randwick Racecourse, making a circuit of the area as he greeted and blessed the 350,000 young people from all over the world who were gathered there to attend the closing Mass of 23rd World Youth Day. During the Eucharistic celebration, the Holy Father administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 24 catechumens.

  Referring in his homily to the theme of this World Youth Day - "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses" - the Holy Father affirmed that "as the source of our new life in Christ, the Holy Spirit is also, in a very real way, the soul of the Church, the love which binds us to the Lord and one another, and the light which opens our eyes to see all around us the wonders of God's grace".

  Benedict XVI indicated that "the power of the Spirit never ceases to fill the Church with life", explaining that "this power, the grace of the Spirit, is not something we can merit or achieve, but only receive as pure gift".

  "God's love can only unleash its power when it is allowed to change us from within. We have to let it break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age. Only then can we let it ignite our imagination and shape our deepest desires. That is why prayer is so important: daily prayer, private prayer in the quiet of our hearts and before the Blessed Sacrament, and liturgical prayer in the heart of the Church".

  The Pope gave thanks to the Lord for the gift of faith, "which has come down to us like a treasure passed on from generation to generation", and especially for "all those heroic missionaries, dedicated priests and religious, Christian parents and grandparents, teachers and catechists who built up the Church in these lands". In this context he mentioned the names of Blessed Mary MacKillop, St. Peter Chanel and Blessed Peter To Rot.

  "Dear young people, let me now ask you a question. What will you leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure? Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects Him in the name of a falsely-conceived freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given, the 'power' which the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you?"

  "Empowered by the Spirit, and drawing upon faith's rich vision, a new generation of Christians is being called to help build a world in which God's gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished - not rejected, feared as a threat and destroyed. A new age in which love is not greedy or self-seeking, but pure, faithful and genuinely free, open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, radiating joy and beauty. A new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-absorption which deaden our souls and poison our relationships. Dear young friends, the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of His love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity.

  "The world", he added, "needs this renewal! In so many of our societies, side by side with material prosperity, a spiritual desert is spreading: an interior emptiness, an unnamed fear, a quiet sense of despair. How many of our contemporaries have built broken and empty cisterns in a desperate search for meaning, the ultimate meaning that only love can give?"

  "The Church also needs this renewal!" the Holy Father exclaimed. "She needs your faith, your idealism and your generosity, so that she can always be young in the Spirit!"

  Pope Benedict encouraged the young people to open their hearts to the power of the Holy Spirit. "I address this plea in a special way", he said, "to those of you whom the Lord is calling to the priesthood and the consecrated life. Do not be afraid to say 'yes' to Jesus, to find your joy in doing His will, giving yourself completely to the pursuit of holiness, and using all your talents in the service of others!"

  Referring then to the Sacrament of Confirmation which he was about to impart upon a number of young people, he asked those present to reflect upon the significance of receiving the "seal" of the Holy Spirit. "It means", he explained, "being indelibly marked, inalterably changed, a new creation". It means "not being afraid to stand up for Christ, letting the truth of the Gospel permeate the way we see, think and act, as we work for the triumph of the civilisation of love".

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WYD 2011 TO BE HELD IN THE SPANISH CAPITAL, MADRID

VATICAN CITY, 20 JUL 2008 (VIS) - In the Angelus prayer following this morning's Mass, Benedict XVI presented young people with certain reflections upon the Virgin Mary, a young woman who received "the Lord's summons to dedicate her life to Him in a very particular way, a way that would involve the generous gift of herself, her womanhood, her motherhood.

  "Imagine how she must have felt", he added. "She was filled with apprehension, utterly overwhelmed at the prospect that lay before her. The angel understood her anxiety and immediately sought to reassure her. 'Do not be afraid, Mary. The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you'. It was the Spirit Who gave her the strength and courage to respond to the Lord's call, ... Who helped her to understand the great mystery that was to be accomplished through her".

  The Pope went on: "This scene is perhaps the pivotal moment in the history of God's relationship with His people. During the Old Testament, God revealed Himself partially, gradually, as we all do in our personal relationships. ... The Covenant with Israel was like ... a long engagement. Then came the definitive moment, the moment of marriage, the establishment of a new and everlasting covenant. As Mary stood before the Lord, she represented the whole of humanity. In the angel's message, it was as if God made a marriage proposal to the human race. And in our name, Mary said yes.

  "In fairy tales, the story ends there, and all 'live happily ever after'. In real life it is not so simple. For Mary there were many struggles ahead, as she lived out the consequences of the 'yes' that she had given to the Lord. Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce her heart. When Jesus was twelve years old, she experienced every parent's worst nightmare when, for three days, the child went missing. And after His public ministry, she suffered the agony of witnessing His crucifixion and death. Throughout her trials she remained faithful to her promise, sustained by the Spirit of fortitude. And she was gloriously rewarded".

  "We too must remain faithful to the 'yes' that we have given to the Lord's offer of friendship. We know that He will never abandon us, ... that He will always sustain us through the gifts of the Spirit. Mary accepted the Lord's 'proposal' in our name. So let us turn to her and ask her to guide us as we struggle to remain faithful to the life-giving relationship that God has established with each one of us".

  After the Angelus, the Holy Father pronounced greetings in Italian, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. He then bid farewell to the young people with these words: "The time has come for me to say good-bye - or rather, to say arrivederci! I thank you all for your participation in World Youth Day 2008, here in Sydney, and I look forward to seeing you again in three years' time. World Youth Day 2011 will take place in Madrid, Spain. Until then, let us continue to pray for one another, and let us joyfully bear witness to Christ before the world".

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THANKS FOR THE CONFIDENCE SHOWN IN YOUNG PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, 20 JUL 2008 (VIS) - At 6 p.m. today, Benedict XVI met with organisers and benefactors of World Youth Day in a two-stage encounter that took place first in the reception hall and then in the chapter house of Cathedral House in Sydney.

  "I thank you personally", said the Pope, "not only for those sacrifices, but even more for the confidence you have shown in our young people and your trust in God's grace at work in their hearts. Let us pray that the investment which so many of you have made in them will bear fruit in their own lives, for the life of Christ's Church and for the future of our world!"

  "St. Paul, who devoted his entire life to the service of the Gospel, reminds us that 'it is more blessed to give than to receive'. Your generosity and sacrifice have been an essential, yet often hidden, ingredient in the success of this World Youth Day. May the spiritual joy, the satisfaction and the fulfilment that we have all experienced in these days, be an unfailing source of blessings in your own lives. May you never doubt the truth of our Lord's promise that, whenever we give our creativity, energy, resources, and our very selves to Him, we will gain them back abundantly".

  Following the meeting, the Holy Father dined in private and spent the night in Cathedral House.

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SUMMARY OF POPE'S APOSTOLIC TRIP TO AUSTRALIA:

- Renewal for the Whole Church in Australia

- Transform Your Lives by Accepting the Holy Spirit

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RENEWAL FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA

VATICAN CITY, 19 JUL 2008 (VIS) - At 9.30 a.m. today, the Pope celebrated Mass for bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians and religious at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. The cathedral is dedicated to Our Lady Help of Christians, patroness of Australia.

  In his homily the Pope made reference to the new altar, which he dedicated during the ceremony, pointing out that "in today's liturgy the Church reminds us that, like this altar, we too have been consecrated, set 'apart' for the service of God and the building up of His Kingdom. All too often, however, we find ourselves immersed in a world that would set God 'aside'. In the name of human freedom and autonomy, God's name is passed over in silence, religion is reduced to private devotion, and faith is shunned in the public square. At times this mentality, so completely at odds with the core of the Gospel, can even cloud our own understanding of the Church and her mission.

  "We too", he added, "can be tempted to make the life of faith a matter of mere sentiment, thus blunting its power to inspire a consistent vision of the world and a rigorous dialogue with the many other visions competing for the minds and hearts of our contemporaries.

  "Yet history", he continued, "shows that the question of God will never be silenced, and that indifference to the religious dimension of human existence ultimately diminishes and betrays man himself. Is that not the message which is proclaimed by the magnificent architecture of this cathedral? Is that not the mystery of faith which will be proclaimed from this altar at every celebration of the Eucharist?"

  "Wherever man is diminished, the world around us is also diminished; it loses its ultimate meaning and strays from its goal. What emerges is a culture, not of life, but of death. How could this be considered 'progress'? It is a backward step, a form of regression which ultimately dries up the very sources of life for individuals and all of society".

  After indicating that "today's liturgy offers an eloquent symbol of that progressive spiritual transformation to which each of us is called", the Pope expressed the hope that "this celebration, in the presence of the Successor of Peter, may be a moment of rededication and renewal for the whole Church in Australia".

  He went on: "Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. Indeed, I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured, and I assure them that, as their pastor, I too share in their suffering. These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pain and have damaged the Church's witness. I ask all of you to support and assist your bishops, and to work together with them in combating this evil. Victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people".

  Turning then to address young religious and seminarians, the Pope encouraged them to "enter sincerely and deeply into the discipline and spirit of your programmes of formation. Walk in Christ's light daily through fidelity to personal and liturgical prayer, nourished by meditation on the inspired word of God. ... Make the daily celebration of the Eucharist the centre of your life".

  "Model your lives daily", he told them, "on the Lord's own loving self-oblation in obedience to the will of the Father. You will then discover the freedom and joy which can draw others to the Love which lies beyond all other loves as their source and their ultimate fulfilment.

  "Never forget that celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom means embracing a life completely devoted to love, a love that enables you to commit yourselves fully to God's service and to be totally present to your brothers and sisters, especially those in need. The greatest treasures that you share with other young people - your idealism, your generosity, your time and energy - these are the very sacrifices which you are placing upon the Lord's altar. May you always cherish this beautiful charism which God has given you for His glory and the building up of the Church!"

  Following Mass, Benedict XVI returned to Cathedral House where he had lunch with Australian bishops and his entourage.

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TRANSFORM YOUR LIVES BY ACCEPTING THE HOLY SPIRIT

VATICAN CITY, 19 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Shortly before 7 p.m. today, Benedict XVI arrived at Randwick Racecourse, the largest in Australia, where he presided at the World Youth Day prayer vigil with thousands of young people. The site, which has capacity for 300,000 people, has also hosted events with Paul VI (in 1970) and John Paul II (in 1986). The beatification ceremony Sr. Mary MacKillop, presided by John Paul II, was also held here in 1995.

  The prayer vigil began with the racecourse in darkness, gradually illuminated by torches borne by dancers on the podium, representing the opening to the Holy Spirit. Subsequently, the World Youth Day cross and flag were positioned on the stage in anticipation of the Pope's arrival, who entered accompanied by 12 pilgrims while the assembly sang the hymn "Our Lady of the Southern Cross".

  An indigenous woman lit the candles carried by the 12 pilgrims, who in their turn lit those of the assembly and of the bishops. Seven young people then invoked the Holy Spirit through the intercession of the patrons of WYD.

  "Tonight we focus our attention on how to become witnesses", the Pope told the young people in his address. "You are already well aware that our Christian witness is offered to a world which in many ways is fragile. The unity of God's creation is weakened by wounds which run particularly deep when social relations break apart, or when the human spirit is all but crushed through the exploitation and abuse of persons. Indeed, society today is being fragmented by a way of thinking that is inherently short-sighted, because it disregards the full horizon of truth, the truth about God and about us. By its nature, relativism fails to see the whole picture. It ignores the very principles which enable us to live and flourish in unity, order and harmony".

  "Unity and reconciliation cannot be achieved through our efforts alone. God has made us for one another and only in God and His Church can we find the unity we seek. Yet, in the face of imperfections and disappointments - both individual and institutional - we are sometimes tempted to construct artificially a 'perfect' community. That temptation is not new. The history of the Church includes many examples of attempts to bypass or override human weaknesses or failures in order to create a perfect unity, a spiritual utopia".

  Yet, the Pope went on, "such attempts to construct unity in fact undermine it. To separate the Holy Spirit from Christ present in the Church's institutional structure would compromise the unity of the Christian community, which is precisely the Spirit's gift! ... Unfortunately the temptation to 'go it alone' persists. Some today portray their local community as somehow separate from the so-called institutional Church, by speaking of the former as flexible and open to the Spirit and the latter as rigid and devoid of the Spirit.

  "Unity is of the essence of the Church", he added, "it is a gift we must recognise and cherish. Tonight, let us pray for the resolve to nurture unity: contribute to it! resist any temptation to walk away! For it is precisely the comprehensiveness, the vast vision, of our faith - solid yet open, consistent yet dynamic, true yet constantly growing in insight - that we can offer our world".

  "Be watchful! Listen!" the Holy Father told his audience. "Through the dissonance and division of our world, can you hear the concordant voice of humanity?" he asked them. What emerges, he said, is "the same human cry for recognition, for belonging, for unity. Who satisfies that essential human yearning to be one, to be immersed in communion, ... to be led to truth? The Holy Spirit! This is the Spirit's role: to bring Christ's work to fulfilment. Enriched with the Spirit's gifts, you will have the power to move beyond the piecemeal, the hollow utopia, the fleeting, to offer the consistency and certainty of Christian witness!"

  "The Holy Spirit has been in some ways the neglected person of the Blessed Trinity. A clear understanding of the Spirit almost seems beyond our reach", said Pope Benedict, going on to explain, however, that St. Augustine comes to our aid with his three "particular insights" about the Holy Spirit "as the bond of unity within the Blessed Trinity: unity as communion, unity as abiding love, and unity as giving and gift".

  St. Augustine affirms, Benedict XVI recalled, "that the two words 'Holy' and 'Spirit' refer to what is divine about God; in other words what is shared by the Father and the Son: their communion. So, if the distinguishing characteristic of the Holy Spirit is to be what is shared by the Father and the Son, Augustine concluded that the Spirit's particular quality is unity".

  "True unity could never be founded upon relationships which deny the equal dignity of other persons. Nor is unity simply the sum total of the groups through which we sometimes attempt to 'define' ourselves. In fact, only in the life of communion is unity sustained and human identity fulfilled: we recognise the common need for God, we respond to the unifying presence of the Holy Spirit, and we give ourselves to one another in service".

  Augustine's second insight concerns love, the Pope explained. "Ideas or voices which lack love - even if they seem sophisticated or knowledgeable - cannot be 'of the Spirit'", he said. "Furthermore, love has a particular trait: ... to abide. By its nature love is enduring". Thus "we catch a further glimpse of how much the Holy Spirit offers our world: love which dispels uncertainty; love which overcomes the fear of betrayal; love which carries eternity within; the true love which draws us into a unity that abides!"

  As for the third insight, "the Holy Spirit as gift", Benedict XVI said: "The Holy Spirit is God eternally giving Himself; like a never-ending spring He pours forth nothing less than Himself. In view of this ceaseless gift, we come to see the limitations of all that perishes, the folly of the consumerist mindset. We begin to understand why the quest for novelty leaves us unsatisfied and wanting. Are we not looking for an eternal gift? The spring that will never run dry?"

  "Dear young people, we have seen that it is the Holy Spirit Who brings about the wonderful communion of believers in Jesus Christ. True to His nature as giver and gift alike, He is even now working through you. Inspired by the insights of St. Augustine: let unifying love be your measure; abiding love your challenge; self-giving love your mission!"

  "Let us invoke the Holy Spirit: He is the artisan of God's works", the Pope concluded. "Let His gifts shape you! Just as the Church travels the same journey with all humanity, so too you are called to exercise the Spirit's gifts amidst the ups and downs of your daily life. Let your faith mature through your studies, work, sport, music and art. Let it be sustained by prayer and nurtured by the Sacraments. ... In the end, life is not about accumulation. It is much more than success. To be truly alive is to be transformed from within, open to the energy of God's love. In accepting the power of the Holy Spirit you too can transform your families, communities and nations. Set free the gifts! Let wisdom, courage, awe and reverence be the marks of greatness!"

  Having concluded his remarks, 24 catechumens was presented to the Holy Father, upon whom he will impart the Sacrament of Confirmation tomorrow. The prayer vigil will continue through the night, with the Eucharist adoration alternating with moments of silence in preparation for tomorrow's Mass.

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SUMMARY OF POPE'S APOSTOLIC TRIP TO AUSTRALIA:

- Inauguration of World Youth Day

OTHER NEWS:

- Water: an Essential Good Given by God to Maintain Life

- Other Pontifical Acts

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INAUGURATION OF WORLD YOUTH DAY

VATICAN CITY, 15 JULY 2008 (VIS) - Today, Cardinal George Pell, archbishop of Sydney, Australia, initiated the World Youth Day, which will culminate in the vigil and Mass presided by Benedict XVI this 19 and 20 July at the city's Randwick Racecourse.

  The Eucharistic celebration, which took place at the port of Barangaroo on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, gathered thousands of pilgrims who had arrived from various countries from all over the globe.

  The inaugural act began with the arrival of the great wooden cross that many young people had helped carry in pilgrimage to Sydney in a trip that spanned the country.

  Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., yesterday affirmed that the Holy Father was "absolutely serene and rested", thus denying reports that had appeared in the press saying that he was "exhausted" after the more than 20 hour flight.

  Father Lombardi showed the journalists a video of the Pope praying, strolling and talking with his secretaries at Kenthurst Study Centre, the residence near Richmond where he is spending a few days.

  He noted that the Pope, arriving at the residence this past Sunday after the flight, celebrated a private Mass at 18:00, then had supper and rested.

  Yesterday morning, 14 July, he celebrated Mass with his personal retinue and a dozen persons, took an early walk, and retired to his work as he does every morning. Shortly before 13:00, Cardinal George Pell and Bishop Anthony Fisher, coordinator of the WYD, arrived for lunch with the Pope and to talk of the preparations.

  After lunch the Holy Father took his typical afternoon walk with his secretaries. Afterward he returned to work and at 16:00, Fr. Lombardi said, he met again with Cardinal Pell.

  The director of the Holy See Press Office stated that around the residence there is a pond, a little lake, and a small chapel where the Pope stopped to pray the rosary.

  At five in the evening there was a concert with pieces from Schumann, Mozart, and Schubert followed by dinner at 19:00.

  Benedict XVI will remain at the Kenthurst Study Centre until Thursday morning when his visit to Australia officially begins with a welcoming ceremony given by the Australian authorities.

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WATER: AN ESSENTIAL GOOD GIVEN BY GOD TO MAINTAIN LIFE

VATICAN CITY, 15 JULY 2008 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father's message to Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, representative of the Holy See for the "Day of the Holy See" at the International Expo of Saragossa (Spain), was made public. The message, written in Spanish, is dated 10 July.

  "I am pleased to send a message of faith and hope", the Pope writes, "to those who are visiting the 2008 Saragossa Expo dedicated to the complex themes tied to the importance of water for human life and the maintenance of equilibrium among the diverse elements of our world. The Holy See wanted to be present at the Expo with a pavilion that was jointly prepared with the archdiocese of Saragossa, which I thank for their generous commitment to promoting proper cultural initiatives that draw the visitor closer to the immense patrimony of spirituality, art, and social wisdom that is inspired by water and which has been safeguarded by the Catholic Church".

  "We have to be aware that, regrettably, water - an essential and indispensible good that the Lord has given us to maintain and develop life -, because of incursions and pressures from various social factors, is today considered a good that must be especially protected through clear national and international policies and used according to sensible criteria of solidarity and responsibility. The use of water - which is seen as a universal and inalienable right - is related to the growing and urgent needs of those living in poverty, keeping in mind that the 'limited access to drinkable water affects the wellbeing of an enormous number of people and is frequently the cause of illness, suffering, conflict, poverty, and also death'".

  "Those who consider water today to be a predominantly material good", the Pope concludes, "should not forget the religious meanings that believers, and Christianity above all, have developed from it, giving it great value as a precious immaterial good that always enriches human life on this earth. How can we not recall in this circumstance the suggestive message that comes to us from Sacred Scripture, which treats water as a symbol of purification and life? The full recovery of this spiritual dimension is ensured and presupposed for a proper approach to the ethical, political, and economic problems that affect the complex management of water on the part of all concerned, as well as in the national and international spheres".

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 15 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father elevated the apostolic prefecture of Galapagos, Ecuador, to the rank of apostolic vicariate, with the same name and territorial configuration. He appointed Bishop Manuel Valarezo Luzuriaga O.F.M., apostolic prefect of Galapagos, as the first apostolic vicar of the new apostolic vicariate.

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SUMMARY OF POPE'S APOSTOLIC TRIP TO AUSTRALIA: 12 - 14 JULY

- Twenty-Third World Youth Day: Stimulus to a Mature Faith

- Message to the Australian People and to Youth

OTHER NEWS: 12 - 14 JULY

- World Mission Day: Urgent Need for Evangelisation

- Other Pontifical Acts

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TWENTY-THIRD WORLD YOUTH DAY: STIMULUS TO A MATURE FAITH

VATICAN CITY, 12 JUL 2008 (VIS) - As has become traditional on his apostolic trips abroad, during his flight to Australia Holy Father answered questions from the journalists accompanying him on the papal aircraft. The central themes of the interview were the forthcoming 23rd World Youth Day (WYD) and the situation of the Church in Australia where the event is being hosted.

  The Pope answered five questions, the first of which concerned the significance of WYD and the message he wishes to transmit to young people. Benedict XVI replied by recalling the theme of the event - "You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit" - and indicating that it is the Spirit that converts young people into Christ's witnesses. Thus his hope is that WYD may be a stimulus to participants to live their faith maturely, shouldering all the responsibilities the faith brings with it, towards Creation, towards society and in all aspects of life.

  The second question dealt with the problem of secularisation, and the Pope was asked about his optimism or pessimism concerning the future of the Church in Australia. Benedict XVI replied by highlighting the enduring importance of religious experience. "God is in the human heart and can never disappear", he said. All the same Australia is - in its historical makeup - part of the Western world which over the last 50 years has seen great scientific and economic progress, with religion being left to one side. Hence it is necessary to find a way to excite a desire for the experience of God and to make this known to human beings of today, even in a secularised society.

  Sexual abuse by members of the clergy was the focus of the third question. Benedict XVI reaffirmed what he had said during his recent apostolic trip to the United States, that the Church in no way accepts such abuses. He underlined the need for clarity in the Church's Magisterium and for commitment in the formation of the clergy to prevent abuses happening again. The Pope also reiterated the importance of undertaking pastoral activities to heal victims' wounds, and of remaining close to their families.

  The fourth question concerned climate change, a topic of great concern in Australian society. The Holy Father indicated that he would be dealing with the subject during his meeting with young people, focusing on people's moral responsibility towards the Creation. He also made it clear that it is not his role to take technical measures - which is rather the responsibility of governments and scientists - but that the question of human responsibility towards Creation is of great interest to him.

  The final question to be put to the Holy Father concerned the Anglican Communion and his views on the forthcoming Lambeth Conference, in the wake of the General Synod of the Church of England's vote in favour of the episcopal ordination of women. Benedict XVI affirmed that he will pray for the participants in the Lambeth Conference that they may, in the best possible way, tackle the great question of faithfulness to the Gospel in today's world, which is the challenge facing all Christians.

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MESSAGE TO THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE AND TO YOUTH

VATICAN CITY, 13 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Pope to the people of Australia and to young pilgrims taking part in World Youth Day.

  In the English-language Message, the Pope explains how in a few days time, on 17 July, his apostolic trip to Australia to celebrate the 23rd World Youth Day will begin.

  "First of all", he writes, "I want to express my appreciation to all those who have offered so much of their time, their resources and their prayers in support of this celebration".

  After then recalling the theme of the forthcoming event - "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you will be my witnesses" - the Pope says: "How much our world needs a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit! There are still many who have not heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, while many others, for whatever reason, have not recognised in this Good News the saving truth that alone can satisfy the deepest longings of their hearts".

  "Many young people today lack hope. They are perplexed by the questions that present themselves ... and they are often uncertain which way to turn for answers. They see poverty and injustice and they long to find solutions. They are challenged by the arguments of those who deny the existence of God and they wonder how to respond. They see great damage done to the natural environment through human greed and they struggle to find ways to live in greater harmony with nature and with one another.

  "Where", the Pope asks, "can we look for answers? The Spirit points us towards the way that leads to life, to love and to truth. The Spirit points us towards Jesus Christ. ... In Him we find the answers that we are seeking, ... we find the strength to pursue the path that will bring about a better world".

  The Holy Father concludes his Message by saying: "My prayer is that the hearts of the young people who gather in Sydney for the celebration of World Youth Day will truly find rest in the Lord, and that they will be filled with joy and fervour for spreading the Good News among their friends, their families, and all whom they meet".

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WORLD MISSION DAY: URGENT NEED FOR EVANGELISATION

VATICAN CITY, 12 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Made public today was the text of the Holy Father's Message for the 82nd World Mission Day, which is due to be celebrated on Sunday 19 October on the theme: "Servants and Apostles of Jesus Christ".

  In the Message, which is dated 11 May, Solemnity of Pentecost, the Pope invites people "to reflect on the urgent need to announce the Gospel, also in our own times", and he identifies the Pauline Year as "an opportunity to propagate the announcement of the Gospel unto the ends of the earth".

  "Humanity is suffering, it awaits true liberty, it awaits a new and better world, it awaits 'redemption'", writes Pope Benedict, recalling that the current international situation gives rise to "deep concerns regarding the very future of mankind". In this context he mentions violence, poverty "which oppresses millions of people, discrimination and sometimes even persecution for racial, cultural and religious reasons, ... a constant threat in the relationship between man and the environment, ... and attacks on human life, that take on various forms and methods".

  "Is there", the Pope asks, "hope for the future? Or rather, is there a future for humanity? ... For we believers, the answer to these questions comes from the Gospel. Christ is our future. ... St. Paul understood that only in Christ can humanity find redemption and hope".

  The Pope highlights how "for love of Christ" the Apostle of the Gentiles "tramped the roads of the Roman empire as herald, apostle, announcer and master of the Gospel, of which he proclaimed himself to be 'an ambassador in chains'".

  "Only from this source can we draw the concentration, the tenderness, the compassion, the openness, the readiness, the concern for the problems of people, and those other virtues that messengers of the Gospel need in order to leave everything and devote themselves completely and unconditionally to spreading the perfume of Christ's charity in the world".

  Despite such difficulties as a shortage of priests and a lack of vocations, "Christ's mandate to evangelise all people remains a priority" Pope Benedict writes.

  "Let us cast out our nets without fear, trusting in His constant help", says the Pope. Bishops, "like the Apostle Paul, are called to reach out to those who are far off and who do not yet know Christ", he writes, noting that prelates have the duty of "willingly contributing, each according to his capacities, in sending priests and lay people to other Churches for the service of evangelisation".

  The Holy Father encourages priests "to be generous pastors and enthusiastic evangelisers", expressing the hope that "this missionary commitment in local Churches does not diminish despite the lack of priests".

  The Pope calls on religious to carry "the announcement of the Gospel to everyone, especially to those furthest away, by a coherent witness in Christ and a radical adherence to the Gospel.

  "You too, dear lay people", he adds, "are called to play an ever more important role in spreading the Gospel".

  Benedict XVI concludes his Message with an expression of appreciation for "the contribution of the Pontifical Missionary Works to the evangelising activities of the Church. ... May the collection gathered in all parishes on World Mission Day be a sign of reciprocal communion and solicitude between Churches. Finally, may Christians intensify their prayers, the indispensable spiritual means for spreading the light of Christ among all peoples, 'the true light' that illuminates 'all the shadows of history'".

MESS/WORLD MISSION DAY/...                                                 VIS 080714 (590)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 14 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. John LeVoir of the clergy of the archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, U.S.A., pastor of the parish of St. Michael and Mary in Stillwater as bishop of New Ulm (area 25,535, population 284,793, Catholics 66,785, priests 58, permanent deacons 3, religious 60), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Minneapolis in 1946 and ordained a priest in 1981.

  On Sunday 13 July, it was made public that he erected the new diocese of Anse-a-Veau et Miragoane (area 1,100, population 370,000, Catholics 221,000, priests 13, religious 54) Haiti, with territory taken from the diocese of Les Cayes, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan church of Port-au-Prince. He appointed Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas, auxiliary of Port-au-Prince, as first bishop of the new diocese.

  On Saturday 12 July, it was made public that he appointed:

 - Cardinal Godfried Danneels, archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Belgium, as his special envoy to celebrations marking the millennium of the pilgrimage in honour of "Notre-Dame du Saint-Cordon", due to take place in Valenciennes, France, on 14 September.

 - Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, apostolic nuncio to Kazakhstan, as apostolic nuncio to Kyrgyzstan.

 - As members of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and itinerant peoples: Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, archbishop of Khartoum, Sudan; Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris, France; His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, Egypt; Archbishop Paul R. Ruzoka of Tabora, Tanzania, and Bishop Paul Hinder O.F.M. Cap., apostolic vicar of Arabia, United Arab Emirates.

NER:ECE:NA:NN/.../...                                                                  VIS 080714 (260)

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SUMMARY:

- Benedict XVI to Depart for Australia Tomorrow

___________________________________________________________

BENEDICT XVI TO DEPART FOR AUSTRALIA TOMORROW

VATICAN CITY, 11 JUL 2008 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. tomorrow, Benedict XVI is due to depart from Rome's Fiumicino airport bound for Sydney, Australia, thus beginning his ninth apostolic trip outside Italy.

  Following a flight of 13,269 kilometres lasting 15 hours and 45 minutes, the Pope's plane is due to land at Darwin in northern Australia. After a brief stopover, the flight will continue to Richmond airbase near Sydney, in the Australian state of New South Wales, where the Holy Father is expected to land at 3 p.m. local time (7 a.m. in Rome) on Sunday 13 July.

  Descending from the aircraft, the Pope will be greeted on the tarmac by Kevin Rudd, prime minister of Australia, Cardinal George Pell, archbishop of Sydney, and other civil and religious authorities. He will then travel by car to the Kenthurst Study Centre, a private house for retreats and formation belonging to the Prelature of Opus Dei, where he will spend the time privately until the evening of Wednesday 16 July.

  On the morning of Thursday 17 July, the Pope's visit to Australia will officially begin with the welcome ceremony in the presence of the authorities at Government House in Sydney, where he will deliver his first discourse. Following the ceremony he will travel to the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel for a moment of prayer, before moving on to Admiralty House for a meeting with the Australian prime minister.

  Early that afternoon the Pope will go to Rose Bay Quay in Sydney where he will be greeted with a display of traditional Aboriginal dances and songs. He will then board the vessel "Sydney 2000" and cross the bay to the city's Bangaroo East Darling Harbour where he will be welcomed by tens of thousands of young people.

  Events scheduled for Friday 18 July include an ecumenical meeting and an encounter with representatives of other religions in St. Mary's Cathedral of Sydney.

  The culminating moment of this apostolic trip to Oceania will be the prayer vigil and Mass to be presided by the Pope at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday 20 July and Sunday 21 July, in the presence of thousands of young people gathered from all over the world for 23rd World Youth Day.

.../APOSTOLIC TRIP SYDNEY/...                                           VIS 080711 (380)

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SUMMARY:

- Holy See Financial Statements for 2007

___________________________________________________________

HOLY SEE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2007

VATICAN CITY, 10 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See held its 42nd meeting in the Vatican on 3 and 4 July, under the presidency of Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.

  A communique published yesterday afternoon explains that the consolidated financial statements of the Holy See in 2007 - presented to the assembled cardinals by Archbishop Velasio De Paolis C.S., president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See - showed a deficit of nine million euro: the difference between an income of 236,737,207 euro and outgoings of 245,805,167. This follows a three year period (2004, 2005 and 2006) that had showed a total surplus of 15,206,587 euro.

  As regards the institutional activity of the Holy See (Secretariat of State, congregations, councils, tribunals, the Synod of Bishops and various other offices), the communique recalls that this produces no revenue.

  The sector of financial activities (seven consolidated administrations, the most important of which is the Extraordinary Section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, APSA) showed a surplus of 1.4 million euro, as compared with the 2006 surplus of 13.7 million euro. This decrease of about 12 million euro, the note explains, "is due above all to a sudden very strong reversal of trend in fluctuations of the rate of exchange, especially of the US dollar."

  The real estate sector closed with a net gain of 36.3 million euro, higher than that of 2006 which stood at around 32.3 million.

  The activity of the five media institutions connected with the Holy See (Vatican Radio, the Vatican Printing Office, the Osservatore Romano newspaper, the Vatican Publishing House and the Vatican Television Centre), closed with a deficit of 14.6 million euro, "substantially due to the deficit of Vatican Radio and the publication costs of the 'Osservatore Romano'". Nonetheless, the Vatican Printing Office and the Vatican Television Centre closed with a surplus of 1 million euro and 458,754 euro respectively. The Vatican Publishing House also closed the year with a surplus of 1.6 million euro.

  The Roman Curia employs a totals of 2,748 people (44 more than in 2006), of whom 778 are clergy, 333 religious and 1,637 lay people (including 425 women). Pensioners number 929.

  The communique goes on to announce that the consolidated financial statements of the Governorate of Vatican City State in 2007 closed with a surplus of 6.7 million euro, a drop with respect to last year's surplus of 21.8 million. "There has been", says the note, "a considerable and sustained economic and financial commitment to the protection, maintenance and restoration of the artistic patrimony of the Holy See (restoration of the Pauline Chapel, interventions on the basilicas of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls and St. Mary Major), as well as elevated costs for the internal security of Vatican City State".

  "For the financial year 2007, the Governorate of Vatican City State undertook to support the costs of Vatican Radio, contributing to covering half its deficit (12.2 million euro)", says the communique.

  Offers from the faithful to Peter's Pence, the fund which goes to the Holy Father's works of evangelical solidarity, fell considerably with respect to the preceding year. In 2006 they stood at 74.6 million euro, while in 2007 they only reached 50.8 million. The communique mentions a single individual "who has chosen to remain anonymous" who made an offer of 9.09 million euro to the Holy See.

  Finally, contributions from dioceses in accordance with canon 1271 of the Code of Canon Law, reached the sum of 18.7 million euro in 2007.

OP/FINANCES HOLY SEE/DE PAOLIS                               VIS 080710 (620)

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SUMMARY:

- Pope Receives the King of Bahrain

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

POPE RECEIVES THE KING OF BAHRAIN

VATICAN CITY, 9 JUL 2008 (VIS) - This morning in the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, Benedict XVI received in audience King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, according to a communique released by the Holy See Press Office. The sovereign subsequently went on to meet with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

  "In the course of the discussions, which took place in a cordial atmosphere", the text reads, "the Vatican authorities had the opportunity to thank the king for the welcome he has shown to many Christian immigrants.

  "Emphasis was given to the shared commitment in favour of inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue, and to the importance of collaboration between Christians, Muslims and Jews for the promotion - in the Middle East and throughout the world - of peace, justice and spiritual and moral values. The king invited the Holy Father to visit his country".

OP/AUDIENCE/BAHRAIN:AL-KHALIFA                                  VIS 080709 (160)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 9 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Bishop David L. Ricken of Cheyenne, U.S.A., as bishop of Green Bay (area 27,775, population 1,008,000, Catholics 373,000, priests 293, permanent deacons 137, religious 698), U.S.A.

 - Appointed Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He succeeds Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., whose resignation from the same office the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Fr. Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer S.J., professor of dogmatic theology at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University and secretary general of the International Theological Commission, as secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Manacor, Spain in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1973.

NER:NA/.../...                                                                              VIS 080709 (160)

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SUMMARY:

- Statistics Concerning the Church in Australia

- Archbishop Migliore: Investing in Sustainable Agriculture

- Communique on Results of a Vote in Anglican Church

___________________________________________________________

STATISTICS CONCERNING THE CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA

VATICAN CITY, 8 JUL 2008 (VIS) - For the occasion of Benedict XVI's forthcoming apostolic trip to Sydney, Australia, due to take place from 12 to 21 July for the 23rd World Youth Day, statistics concerning the Catholic Church in that country have been published. The information, updated to 31 December 2006, comes from the Central Statistical Office of the Church.

  Australia has a population of 20,700,000 of whom 5,704,000 (27.56 percent) are Catholic. There are 33 ecclesiastical circumscriptions, 1,390 parishes and 109 pastoral centres of other kinds. Currently, there are 65 bishops, 3,125 priests, 7,950 religious, 40 lay members of secular institutes and 8,192 catechists. Minor seminarians number 83, and major seminarians 244.

  A total of 736,288 children and young people attend 2,252 centres of Catholic education, from kindergartens to universities. Other institutions belonging to the Church, or run by priests or religious in Australia include 58 hospitals, 5 clinics, 407 homes for the elderly or disabled, 164 orphanages and nurseries, 210 family counselling centres and other pro-life centres, 480 centres for education and social rehabilitation, and 24 institutions of other kinds

OP/STATISTICS AUSTRALIA/...                                                 VIS 080708 (190)

ARCHBISHOP MIGLIORE: INVESTING IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

VATICAN CITY, 8 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations in New York, participated on 2 July in the High-Level Segment of the 2008 Economic and Social Council, which was meeting to reflect upon the importance of addressing the development needs of rural communities.

  In his English-language talk, the prelate recalled how a recent resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on the "Right to Food" highlights "the obligation of States, with the assistance of the international community, to make every effort to meet the food needs of their populations through measures which respect human rights and the rule of law".

  "The roots of the current food crisis seem to stem from a series of concomitant causes. Short-sighted economic, agriculture and energy policies which caused a clash between the increasing demand for food items and the insufficient production of food on the one hand, and the increase in financial speculations on commodities, uncontrollable increase of oil prices and adverse climate conditions on the other".

  "While today's debate", he added, "will rightly focus on the structural defects of the world economy and on the causes of the emergency, we must work to ensure that this discussion is accompanied by immediate and effective action.  Failure to take action will result in this meeting being merely an exercise in rhetoric and procrastination of our responsibilities".

  "At the outset, immediate action must be taken to assist those in immediate danger and suffering from malnutrition and starvation. It is difficult to think that in a world which spends over 1.3 trillion dollars (851 billion euro) per year in armaments, the necessary life-saving funds to address the immediate needs of people are unavailable", said Archbishop Migliore.

  "In the medium- to long-term, the initial economic emergency aid must be accompanied by a concerted effort of all to invest in long-term and sustainable agriculture programs at the local and international levels. ... To this end, agrarian reforms in developing countries must be sped-up in order to give smallholder farmers the tools for increasing production in a sustainable manner as well as access to local and global markets".

  "My delegation", Archbishop Migliore concluded, "welcomes the recommendations of the recent High-level Conference on World Food Security held in Rome at the FAO. These recommendations offer a practical guide on how to deal with short- and long-term consequences of the food crisis and gives guidance on how to guard against future crises".

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COMMUNIQUE ON RESULTS OF A VOTE IN ANGLICAN CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, 8 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a communique released late this morning by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, concerning recent events within the Anglican Communion.

  "We have regretfully learned the news of the Church of England vote that paves the way for the introduction of legislation which will lead to the ordaining of women to the episcopacy.

  "The Catholic position on the issue has been clearly expressed by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. Such a decision signifies a break with the apostolic tradition maintained by all of the Churches since the first millennium and is, therefore, a further obstacle to reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

  "This decision will have consequences on the future of dialogue, which had up until now borne fruit, as Cardinal Kasper clearly explained when on 5 June 2006 he spoke to all of the bishops of the Church of England at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

  "The Cardinal has been invited once again to express the Catholic position at the next Lambeth Conference at the end of July".

CON-UC/ANGLICAN ORDINATIONS/KASPER                      VIS 080708 (200)

SUMMARY: 5 - 7 JULY

- Perceiving the Splendour of Faith through Music

- Plenary Indulgence for 23rd World Youth Day

- Populorum Progressio Studies 230 New Projects

- Audiences

- Twenty-third World Youth Day: a Renewed Pentecost

- Making Decisions for Integral Human Development

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

PERCEIVING THE SPLENDOUR OF FAITH THROUGH MUSIC

VATICAN CITY, 5 JUL 2008 (VIS) - This morning in Castelgandolfo, the Holy Father received a group of pilgrims from Regensburg, Germany.

  In brief remarks to them, the Pope recalled the "marvellous day" in September 2006 when he blessed the new organ - the "Benedikt-Orgel" - in the "Alte Kapelle" of Regensburg, of which his brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, was once director.

  "I have an indelible memory", said the Holy Father, "of how - in the harmony of that wonderful organ, of the choir conducted by Mr Kohlhaufel, and the luminous beauty of the church - we experienced the joy that comes from God. Not just the 'spark of the Gods' of which Schiller speaks, but truly the flame of the Holy Spirit which brought us to feel in our innermost being what we also know from the Gospel of St. John: that He Himself is joy. And this joy was communicated to us".

  Benedict XVI spoke of his contentment "that this organ continues to play and so helps people to perceive something of the splendour of our faith; a splendour ignited by the Holy Spirit Himself. Thus the organ has an evangelising role, in its own way it announces the Gospel".

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PLENARY INDULGENCE FOR 23RD WORLD YOUTH DAY

VATICAN CITY, 5 JUL 2008 (VIS) - According to a decree made public today and signed by Cardinal James Francis Stafford and Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv., respectively penitentiary major and regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Benedict XVI will grant the faithful Plenary Indulgence to faithful who "gather at Sydney, Australia, in the spirit of pilgrimage" to participate in celebrations for 23rd World Youth Day, and Partial Indulgence to "all those who, wherever they are, will pray for the spiritual goals of this meeting and for its happy outcome".

  The English-language decree reads: "The youth meeting held in the year 2005 in Cologne, offered the Apostolic Penitentiary an opportune occasion, with the authority of the Supreme Pontiff, to open wide to youth the spiritual treasures of the Church, with the aim of gathering singular fruits of sanctification.

  "Hence, this year, from 15 to 20 July, in Sydney, 'in the great southern land of the Holy Spirit' (according to the expression of John Paul II), will celebrate the 23rd World Youth Day, with the theme: 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses'.

  "Indeed", the decree adds, "young people gathered around the Vicar of Christ will participate in the sacred functions and above all have recourse to the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. In the Sacraments received with a sincere and humble heart, they will earnestly desire to strengthen themselves in the Spirit, and, confirmed by the Chrism of salvation, will openly witness the faith before others even to the ends of the earth. May God grant that the very presence of the Supreme Pontiff among the young people gathered in Sydney express and render it such".

  The indulgences may be gained in the following ways:

  "The Plenary Indulgence is granted to the faithful who will devotedly participate at some sacred function or pious exercise taking place during the 23rd World Youth Day, including its solemn conclusion, so that, having received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and being truly repentant, they receive Holy Communion and devoutly pray according to the intentions of His Holiness.

  "The Partial Indulgence is granted to the faithful, wherever they are during the above-mentioned meeting, if, at least with a contrite spirit, they will raise their prayer to God the Holy Spirit, so that young people are drawn to charity and given the strength to proclaim the Gospel with their life.

  "So that all the faithful may more easily obtain these heavenly gifts, priests who have received legitimate approval to hear sacramental confessions, should welcome them with a ready and generous spirit and suggest public prayers to the faithful, for the success of the same World Youth Day".

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POPULORUM PROGRESSIO STUDIES 230 NEW PROJECTS

VATICAN CITY, 5 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The members of the administrative council of the "Populorum Progressio" Foundation are due to meet in Guadalajara, Mexico, from 9 to 12 July to consider the financing of development projects in support of poor indigenous mixed race and Afro-American rural communities of Latin America and the Caribbean, according to a communique published today by the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum".

  This year more than 230 projects have been presented, covering 17 countries and various different sectors including: manufacturing, healthcare, professional training, creation of community centres, school education, construction of rural dwellings, and integral human formation.

  Among the countries that have presented the greatest number of projects are Colombia (44), Peru (30), Brazil (40), Mexico (11) and Ecuador (21). They are followed by Bolivia (11), Haiti (13), Guatemala (5), Nicaragua (5), Chile (11), El Salvador (11), Paraguay (4), Costa Rica (12), Panama (3), Dominican Republic (2), Argentina (6) and Cuba (1).

  "Populorum Progressio", says the communique, "was instituted by Pope John Paul II on 22 February 1992 to mark the fifth centenary of the beginning of evangelisation in Latin America, in keeping with the intentions of Pope Paul VI who, following the conference of Puebla, Mexico, established a fund that was later transformed into the foundation. Populorum Progressio was entrusted to the Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum', presided by Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes. In a meeting with the administrative council in June 2007, the Holy Father Benedict XVI gave renewed encouragement to the foundation's activities".

  The administrative council is currently led by the following Latin American prelates: Archbishop Fabio Betancur Tirado of Manizales, Colombia (president) and Archbishop Alberto Taveira Correa of Palmas, Brazil (vice-president), and has the following members: Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico; Archbishop Edmundo Luis Flavio Abastoflor Montero of La Paz, Bolivia; Archbishop Antonio Arregui Yarza of Guayaquil, Ecuador; Bishop Jose Luis Astigarraga Lizarralde C.P., apostolic vicar of Yurimaguas, Peru, and Msgr. Segundo Tejado Munoz, representative of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum. Also participating in the meeting will be a delegation from the Italian Episcopal Conference's committee for charitable initiatives in favour of the Third World, which is the main supporter of the foundation.

CON-CU/POPULORUM PROGRESSIO/...                                 VIS 080707 (370)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 5 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.

AP/.../...                                                                                            VIS 080707 (30)

TWENTY-THIRD WORLD YOUTH DAY: A RENEWED PENTECOST

VATICAN CITY, 6 JUL 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, Benedict XVI appeared at the balcony overlooking the inner courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, where he is currently spending a few days rest, in order to pray the Angelus with pilgrims gathered there.

  Before the Marian prayer, the Pope spoke of his forthcoming trip to Sydney, Australia, for the 23rd World Youth Day, recalling how "over past months the 'Cross of Youth' has been carried across all Oceania, and in Sydney it will once more stand as silent witness to the covenant between the Lord Jesus Christ and the new generations. ... I invite the Church to participate in this latest stage of the great youth pilgrimage across the world, which was begun in 1985 by Servant of God John Paul II".

  The Holy Father described 23rd World Youth Day as "a renewed Pentecost", because "for a year Christian communities have been preparing themselves in accordance with the indications I gave in my Message on the theme: 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses'".

  This promise of Jesus to His disciples following the Resurrection "always retains its validity and importance for the Church", said the Pope. "The Holy Spirit, which we hope for and welcome in prayer, infuses believers with the capacity to be witnesses to Jesus and to His Gospel. Blowing into the sails of the Church, the divine Spirit encourages her 'to put out into the deep', ever and anew, generation after generation, so as to carry to everyone the good news of God's love, fully revealed in Jesus Christ".

  "I am certain that Catholics from all corners of the earth will join me and the young people gathered, as in a Cenacle, in Sydney, calling upon the Holy Spirit to inundate hearts with inner light, with love for God and for neighbour, with the courage to introduce Jesus' eternal message into the various languages and cultures".

  The Pope concluded his reflections by invoking Mary's intercession, especially in this season "that the summer may offer everyone the chance for a period of rest and of physical and spiritual renewal".

ANG/WORLD YOUTH DAY/...                                                     VIS 080707 (380)

MAKING DECISIONS FOR INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

VATICAN CITY, 6 JUL 2008 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus today, the Pope recalled that tomorrow, 7 July, heads of State of the G8 nations, accompanied by other world leaders, will meet in Japan for their annual summit.

  "Over recent days", said the Holy Father, "many voices have been raised - among them those of the presidents of episcopal conferences in the countries concerned - to call for the implementation of commitments assumed at earlier G8 meetings, and for the courageous adoption of all measures necessary to defeat the scourges of extreme poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy which still affect such a large part of humankind.

  "I too add my voice to this urgent appeal for solidarity!" Pope Benedict cried. "I address myself, then, to participants in the meeting in Hokkaido-Tokyo, that they may focus their deliberations on the needs of the weakest and poorest peoples, whose vulnerability is greater today because of speculation and financial turbulence and their perverse effects on the cost of food and energy. I hope that generosity and farsightedness may help make decisions aimed at re-launching a just process of integral development, in order to safeguard human dignity".

  Turning then to address a group of children participating in the 2008 International Festival of Child Artists organised by the Soong Ching Ling Foundation of Italy, the Holy Father said: "Love, harmony and solidarity are the values you wish to promote in China and in other countries of the would. Art and culture can unite peoples. Children represent the future of the human family and, for that reason, are called to build a more beautiful and more humane world. Your presence gives me the chance to send my hopes for peace and joy to all your contemporaries in China and in the world".

ANG/CHILDREN G8/...                                                                 VIS 080707 (310)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 7 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Msgr. Herbert A. Bevard of the clergy of the archdiocese of Philadelphia, U.S.A., pastor of St. Athanasius parish, as bishop of Saint Thomas (area 352, population 108,612, Catholics 30,000, priests 15, permanent deacons 27, religious 27), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Baltimore, U.S.A. in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1972.

 - Appointed Bishop William Francis Malooly, auxiliary of Baltimore, U.S.A., as bishop of Wilmington (area 13,916, population 1,270,734, Catholics 230,000, priests 214, permanent deacons 94, religious 380), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

  On Saturday 5 July it was made public that he appointed Cardinal Paul Poupard, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture, as his special envoy to preside at the International Mariological Marian Congress due to be held in Lourdes, France from 4 to 8 September.

NER:RE:NA/.../...                                                                            VIS 080707 (170)

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SUMMARY:

- Benedict XVI to Visit France in September

___________________________________________________________

BENEDICT XVI TO VISIT FRANCE IN SEPTEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 4 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Benedict XVI will make an apostolic trip to France from 12 to 15 September, for the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes.

  The Holy Father will depart from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 9 a.m. on Friday 12 September, landing at Orly airport in Paris two hours later. The welcome ceremony and courtesy visit to Nicolas Sarkozy, president of France, will he held in the Elysee Palace at 12.25 p.m., followed by a meeting with the authorities of State to whom the Pope will pronounce a discourse. At 5 p.m. he is due to meet with delegates from the local Jewish community at the apostolic nunciature in Paris, after which he will travel to the city's College des Bernardins where he will encounter representatives from the world of culture. At 5 p.m. he will preside at Vespers in the cathedral of Notre-Dame with priests, religious, seminarians and deacons, and greet young people gathered in front of the building.

  On Saturday 13 September, the Holy Father will make a brief visit to the Institut de France before going on to celebrate Mass at 10 a.m. on the Esplanade des Invalides. At 4.30 p.m. he is scheduled to travel by plane to Lourdes where, at 6.30 p.m., he will visit the church of the Sacred Heart and the Cachot (house of the Soubirous family), then proceed to the Grotto. At 9.30 p.m. he is due to close the torchlight Marian procession on the esplanade of the Shrine of Lourdes.

  On Sunday 14 September, on the Meadow in Lourdes, Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass for the 150th anniversary of the apparitions, then pray the Angelus. At 5.15 p.m. he is due to meet with French bishops in the Hemicycle Sainte-Bernadette and, an hour later, to address participants in a Eucharistic procession on the Meadow.

  At 8.45 a.m. on Monday 15 September the Pope will visit the Oratory of the Hospital in Lourdes, then celebrate Mass for the sick in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. The departure ceremony is due to take place at 12.30 p.m. in the airport of Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees and the Pope's plane is scheduled to arrive at Rome's Ciampino airport at 5.15. p.m.

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SUMMARY:

- Pope Receives Governor of the Solomon Islands

- Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints

- Joy at Liberation of Ingrid Betancourt and Other Hostages

- Audiences

- other Pontifical Acts

- In Memoriam

___________________________________________________________

POPE RECEIVES GOVERNOR OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the following communique at midday today:

  "Today in the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo today, the Holy Father received in audience Sir Nathaniel Rahumaea Waena, governor general of the Solomon Islands, who subsequently went on to meet Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

  "In the course of the cordial meeting, discussions focused on the current political and social situation of the country, and on the significant contribution of the Catholic Church, especially in the fields of education, healthcare and human promotion. In the name of the Holy See, the secretary for Relations with States thanked the governor general and the authorities of the Solomon Islands for their generous outreach to young people who wish to participate in the forthcoming celebration of World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, recognising the formative importance of the event".

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DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in private audience Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and authorised the promulgation of decrees concerning the following causes:

MIRACLES

 - Blessed, Fr. Damian de Veuster, Belgian professed priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (1840-1889).

 - Blessed Bernardo Tolomei, Italian founder of the Olivetan Benedictine Congregation (1272-1348).

 - Blessed Nuno di Santa Maria Alvares Pereira (ne: Nuno), Portuguese professed layman of the Order of Friars of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (1360-1431).

 - Servant of God Ludovico Martin, French lay man (1823-1894) and Servant of God Maria Zelia Guerin Martin, French lay woman (1831-1877).

MARTYRDOM

 - Servant of God Francesco Giovanni Bonifacio, Italian, killed in hatred of the faith at Villa Gardossi, Italy (1912-1946).

HEROIC VIRTUES

 - Blessed Nuno di Santa Maria Alvares Pereira (ne: Nuno), Portuguese professed layman of the Order of Friars of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (1360-1431).

 - Servant of God Stephen Douayhy, Lebanese patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites (1630-1704).

 - Servant of God Bernardino Dal Vago da Portogruaro (ne: Giuseppe), Italian archbishop of the Order of Friars Minor (1822-1895).

 - Servant of God Giuseppe Di Donna, Italian bishop of Andria, of the Order of the Blessed Trinity (1901-1952).

 - Servant of God Maria Barbara of the Blessed Trinity Maix (nee: Barbara), Austrian foundress of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1818-1873).

 - Servant of God Pius Keller (ne: Hans), German professed priest of the Order of St. Augustine (1825-1904).

 - Servant of God Andres Hibernon Garmendia (ne: Francisco Andres), Spanish professed brother of the Institute of Brothers of Christian Schools (1880-1969).

 - Servant of God Chiara Badano, young Italian lay woman (1971-1990).

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JOY AT LIBERATION OF INGRID BETANCOURT AND OTHER HOSTAGES

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Yesterday evening, Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. expressed the Holy See's contentment at the liberation of 15 hostages held by the FARC group in Colombia, among them former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

  "This is good news", Fr. Lombardi affirmed, "that creates much satisfaction and gives reasons for hope for the country".

  "It is", he went on, "a sign of hope for so many other people" and for "the pacification of a country that has suffered from so much violence".

  The liberation of the hostages, he concluded, "is also a positive response to the hopes expressed by the Pope, by the bishops and by the Church".

  The director of the Holy See Press Office also recalled how Benedict XVI has made numerous calls for the liberation of all hostages held by the FARC guerrillas.

  In a Message sent yesterday to Colombian bishops to mark the first centenary of their episcopal conference, the Holy Father highlighted the care with which the country's prelates seek to be "men of harmony", and their "continual exhortations for an end to the violence, kidnapping, and extortion which affect so many sons and daughters of that beloved land". In this context the Pope concluded his Message by asking God "for an end to these situations which have caused so much suffering, and for a stable and just peace in Colombia, in a climate of hope and prosperity".

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Today in the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

 - Donald W. Smith, ambassador of Canada, on his farewell visit.

 - Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral carte of the diocese of Le Mans, France, presented by Bishop Jacques Faivre, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

 - Appointed Bishop Pierre-Andre Fournier, auxiliary of Quebec, Canada, as metropolitan archbishop of Rimouski (area 20,225, population 147,508, Catholics 142,832, priests 107, permanent deacons 13, religious 668), Canada. The archbishop-elect was born in Plessisville, Canada in 1943 he was ordained a priest in 1967 and consecrated a bishop in 2005. He succeeds Archbishop Bertrand Blanchet, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Bishop Pierre Morissette of Baie-Comeau, Canada, as bishop of Saint-Jerome (area 2,156, population 426,000, Catholics 415,000, priests 145, permanent deacons 18, religious 251), Canada. He succeeds Gilles Cazabon O.M.I., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Msgr. Gualtiero Sigismondi, vicar general of Perugia - Citta della Pieve, Italy, as bishop of Foligno (area 350, population 67,950, Catholics 65,450, priests 78, permanent deacons 12, religious 157), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Ospedalicchio di Bastia Umbra, Italy in 1961 and ordained a priest in 1986. He succeeds Bishop Arduino Bertoldo, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Fr. Mauro Parmeggiani of the clergy of the diocese of Rome, secretary general of the Vicariate of Rome, as bishop of Tivoli (area 892, population 182,864, Catholics 175,907, priests 120, permanent deacons 4, religious 231), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Reggio Emilia, Italy in 1961 and ordained a priest in 1985.

 - Appointed Msgr. Ambrogio Spreafico of the clergy of the diocese of Rome, rector of the Pontifical Urban University, as coadjutor of Frosinone - Veroli - Ferentino (area 804, population 190,300, Catholics 189,000, priests 142, permanent deacons 1, religious 282), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Garbagnate Monastero, Italy in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1975.

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

 - Archbishop Adalberto Almeida Merino, emeritus of Chihuahua, Mexico, on 21 June at the age of 92.

 - Bishop Louis Kuehn, emeritus of Meaux, France, on 25 June at the age of 86.

 - Archbishop Gregory Yong Sooi Ngean, emeritus of Singapore, on 28 June at the age of 83.

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SUMMARY:

- St. Paul: Dedication to Christ, Openness to Humanity

- Colombia: Pope Calls for an End to Kidnappings

- Audiences

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

ST. PAUL: DEDICATION TO CHRIST, OPENNESS TO HUMANITY

VATICAN CITY, 2 JUL 2008 (VIS) - At this morning's general audience, Benedict XVI began a new cycle of catecheses, turning his attention to St. Paul the Apostle to whom the current Pauline Year is dedicated. The Year began on 28 June 2008 and is due to conclude on 29 June 2009. The audience, celebrated in the Paul VI Hall, was attended by 8,000 people.

  Paul, said the Pope, is "an example of complete dedication to the Lord and to His Church, as well as of great openness to humanity and its cultures". In order "to understand what he has to say to we Christians of today, ... let us pause to consider the environment in which he lived and worked ... which in many ways ... is not so very different" from our own.

  The Apostle of the Gentiles "came from a specific and definable culture, clearly a minority culture, that of the people of Israel and their tradition". They were "plainly distinguished from the surrounding environment, and this could have two results: either derision, which could lead to intolerance, or admiration", said the Holy Father. He also identified two factors that helped Paul in his efforts: firstly, the spread of "Hellenistic culture which, after Alexander the Great, had become a shared heritage of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East"; secondly, "the political and administrative structure of the Roman empire" which "represented a shared and unifying fabric".

  "The universalistic outlook typical of St. Paul's personality", Pope Benedict commented, "certainly owes its original impulse to faith in Jesus Christ. ... Nonetheless, the historical and cultural situation of his time and his environment also cannot but have influenced his decisions and his actions".

  The Pope recalled how Paul has also been called "'the man of three cultures', bearing in mind his Jewish origins, his Greek language and his privilege of being 'civis romanus', as also evinced by his name of Latin origin. Another factor to bear in mid is the Stoic philosophy which was dominant in Paul's day" and which contains "exalted values of humanity and wisdom that were naturally taken up by Christianity. ... St. Paul's time was also marked by a crisis in traditional religion, at least in its mythological and civic aspects".

  At the end of this "first rapid excursion into the cultural environment of the first century of the Christian era", Benedict XVI affirmed: "It is not possible to understand St. Paul adequately without seeing him against the background - both Judaic and pagan - of his time. In this way his figure acquires a historical ... profundity that reveals how he both shared in his environment and brought original elements to it.

  "This also holds true for Christianity in general", the Holy Father added in conclusion, "of which the Apostle Paul is an important model from whom we still have much to learn. And this is the objective of the Pauline Year: to learn from St. Paul, to learn the faith, to learn Christ".

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COLOMBIA: POPE CALLS FOR AN END TO KIDNAPPINGS

VATICAN CITY, 2 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a Message to prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, who are meeting from 29 June to 5 July in a plenary assembly during which they will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of their institution.

  In his Message, the Pope highlights how the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, which came into being in 1908, "has constantly supported the evangelising mission of the Church in that beloved nation, seeking adequate ways and means to reinforce ecclesial life in those lands, and to encourage the baptised to respond generously to their vocation of sanctity".

  Referring to the challenges facing the Church in Colombia, Benedict XVI gives the prelates assurances of his "prayers and spiritual closeness in the efforts you are making to ensure the Gospel rings out in all parts of Colombian territory, through initiatives in the fields of pastoral care in education and in universities, and in the concern you show for the imprisoned, the sick, the elderly, indigenous peoples, workers, the displaced, the young and families".

  "In the certainty that you are laying solid foundations for a promising future, and for the good of the whole Church", he continues, "I encourage your to redouble your attention towards priests, seminarians, missionaries and religious, and to give renewed impetus to the various formational programmes for catechists, lay people and pastoral care workers".

  After highlighting the care with which the prelates seek to be "men of harmony", and their "continual exhortations for an end to the violence, kidnapping, and extortion which affect so many sons and daughters of that beloved land", the Pope concludes his Message by asking God "for an end to these situations which have caused so much suffering, and for a stable and just peace in Colombia, in a climate of hope and prosperity".

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 2 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Archbishop-elect Bernardito C. Auza, apostolic nuncio to Haiti, accompanied by members of his family.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 2 JUL 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Erected the new diocese of Montenegro (area 4,395, population 335,521, Catholics 268,417, priests 35, religious 147) Brazil, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Porto Alegre, making it a suffragan of the same metropolitan church. He appointed Bishop Paulo Antonio De Conto of Criciuma, Brazil, as first bishop of the new diocese.

 - Appointed Msgr. Romualdo Matias Kujawski of the clergy of the diocese of Poznan, Poland, "fidei donum" priest to the archdiocese of Palmas, Brazil, as coadjutor of Porto Nacional (area 96,488, population 332,000, Catholics 286,000, priests 36, permanent deacons 4, religious 39), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Poznan in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1973.

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SUMMARY:

- Pope to Travel to Castelgandolfo Tomorrow

- Combating Poverty. Building Peace

- Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for July

___________________________________________________________

POPE TO TRAVEL TO CASTELGANDOLFO TOMORROW

VATICAN CITY, 1 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Tomorrow afternoon, Benedict XVI is due to travel to his summer residence at Castelgandolfo, located some 30 kilometres south of Rome.

  During the summer period, all private and special audiences will be suspended, says a communique released today by the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household.

  On Sunday 6 July and Sunday 27 July, the Pope will pray the Angelus from the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo.

  The Wednesday general audiences of 9, 16, 23 and 30 July are suspended.

  From 12 to 21 July, the Holy Father will travel to Australia for the 23rd World Youth Day.

  On 21 July, Benedict XVI will return to Castelgandolfo. Then, from 28 July to 11 August, he will spend a period of vacation at the seminary of Bressanone, a small city of 20,000 inhabitants located in the Italian province of Bolzano, in the Alpine region of Trentino-Alto Adige. During this period, the Holy Father is scheduled to hold just two public meetings: on Sunday 3 August and Sunday 10 August, when he will pray the Angelus from that location.

  General audiences will resume again regularly from Wednesday 13 August.

  On Sundays and Solemnities over the summer, the Pope will pray the Angelus from the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo.

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COMBATING POVERTY. BUILDING PEACE

VATICAN CITY, 1 JUL 2008 (VIS) - "Combating poverty. Building peace" is the theme chosen by Benedict XVI for his Message for the 42nd World Day of Peace, due to be celebrated on 1 January 2009.

  "The theme chosen by the Holy Father", says a communique published today, "highlights the need for the human family to find an urgent response to the serious question of poverty, seen as a material problem but above all as a moral and spiritual one".

  The communique recalls how the Pope - in a Message addressed to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation on 2 June - denounced the scandal of world poverty in the following terms: "Poverty and malnutrition are not a simple fatality, provoked by adverse environmental situations or by disastrous natural calamities. ... Purely technical and economic considerations must not prevail over the duties of justice towards people suffering from hunger".

  The communique continues: "The scandal of poverty reveals the inadequacy of current systems of human coexistence in promoting the realisation of the common good. This imposes the need for reflection on the deep roots of material poverty and, consequently, also on spiritual poverty which makes man indifferent to the suffering of others. The answer, then, is to be sought first and foremost in the conversion of the human heart to the God of charity, so as to achieve poverty of spirit in the terms of the Message of salvation announced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven".

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BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY

VATICAN CITY, 1 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for July is: "That there may be an increase in the number of those who, as volunteers, offer their services to the Christian community with generous and prompt availability".

  His mission intention is: "That the World Youth Day held in Sydney, Australia, may awaken the fire of divine love in young people and make them sowers of hope for a new humanity".

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SUMMARY: 28 - 30 JUNE

- Pauline Year Helps Renew Ecumenical Commitment

- Audience with President of Portugal

- Benedict XVI Inaugurates the Pauline Year

- Christians Must Unite to Render Valid Witness of Christ

- Mission of Pastors Is a Consequence of Love for Christ

- Audiences

- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

PAULINE YEAR HELPS RENEW ECUMENICAL COMMITMENT

VATICAN CITY, 28 JUN 2008 (VIS) - In the Vatican at midday today, the Holy Father received His Holiness Bartholomew I, ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, who has come to Rome to participate in the opening of the Pauline Year and in the celebration of Mass for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.

  In his remarks, Benedict XVI spoke of his happiness at learning that the patriarch had also called a Pauline Year to commemorate the 2000th anniversary of the birth of the Apostle of the Gentiles. "This happy coincidence", he said, "highlights the roots of our shared Christian vocation and the significant harmony of feelings and of pastoral commitment we are experiencing. For this I give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, Who guides our path to unity with the strength of His Spirit.

  "St. Paul", the Pope added, "reminds us that full communion between all Christians has its foundation in 'one Lord, one faith, one Baptism'. ... To the Christians of Corinth, among whom discord had arisen, St. Paul did not hesitate to make a strong call for them all to remain in agreement, for there to be no divisions among them, and for them to unite in the same mind and purpose".

  The Holy Father noted how in our world, with its "persistent divisions and conflicts, men and women feel a growing need for certainty and peace. However, at the same time, they remain lost, as if ensnared by a certain form of hedonist and relativist culture which throws doubt upon the very existence of truth. The Apostle's guidance in this matter is extremely helpful in encouraging efforts aimed at seeking full unity among Christians, which is so necessary in order to offer humankind of the third millennium an ever more resplendent witness of Christ, Way, Truth and Life. Only in Christ and in His Gospel can humanity find the answer to its deepest hopes".

  "May the Pauline Year", he concluded, "help Christian people to renew their ecumenical commitment, and may there be an intensification of joint efforts on the journey to the full communion of all Christ's disciples. And as part of that journey, your presence here today is certainly an encouraging sign".

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AUDIENCE WITH PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL

VATICAN CITY, 28 JUN 2008 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received in audience Anibal Cavaco Silva, president of the Republic of Portugal, who subsequently went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for relations with States, according to a communique released today by the Holy See Press Office.

  "During the cordial discussions", the text reads, "attention turned to various questions of common interest, concerning the current situation of the country. Highlighting the good relations that exist between the Catholic Church and Portugal, attention dwelt on the implementation of the 2004 Concordat.

  "The discussions also touched on certain current aspects of international affairs, with particular reference to Europe and to Portugal's commitment towards certain African and Asian countries".

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BENEDICT XVI INAUGURATES THE PAULINE YEAR

VATICAN CITY, 28 JUN 2008 (VIS) - At 6 p.m. today in the basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, Benedict XVI presided at the celebration of first Vespers for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul Apostles, which also marked the opening of the Pauline Year. Among those participating in the ceremony were the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and representatives from other Churches and Christian communities.

  The Holy Father, Bartholomew I, delegates from other Christian confessions, and monks from the abbey of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls walked in procession to the portico of the basilica where, before the statue of the saint, the Pope lit a candle from a brazier which will remain burning for the entire Pauline year. After the Pope the ecumenical patriarch and the representative of the primate of the Anglican communion also lit candles. The procession then entered the basilica through the Pauline Door.

  "We are gathered around the tomb of St. Paul, who was born 2000 years ago in Tarsus in Cilicia, in modern-day Turkey", said the Pope in his homily. "For us, Paul is not a figure of the past whom we recall with veneration. He is also our master, the Apostle and announcer of Jesus Christ to us too. Hence we are gathered here not to reflect upon a past history which has been left irrevocably behind. Paul wishes to speak to us today". Thus, the Pope explained, the Pauline Year serves "to listen to him and to learn from him, as from a master, the faith and the truth in which the reasons for the unity of Christ's disciples are rooted".

  "It is of great joy to me", said the Holy Father, "that the opening of the Pauline year should have a particularly ecumenical character, thanks to the presence of many delegates and representatives of Churches and ecclesial communities, whom I welcome with all my heart". They include "the Patriarch Bartholomew I, ... fraternal delegates of Churches that have especially close ties to the Apostle Paul (Jerusalem, Antioch, Cyprus, Greece) and that form the geographical setting of the Apostle's life before his arrival in Rome, ... and brethren from various Churches and ecclesial communities of East and West".

  "We are gathered here to ask ourselves about the great Apostle of the Gentiles. We ask ourselves not just who Paul was, but above all who he is. ... His faith was the experience of being loved by Jesus Christ with an entirely personal love; it was an awareness of the fact that Christ faced death not for some unidentified cause, but for love of him - of Paul - and that, being Risen, He loves him still. Christ gave Himself for him. ... His faith was not a theory, an opinion on God and on the world, His faith was the impact of God's love on his heart. And so this faith was love for Jesus Christ".

  The Holy Father then recalled how many people see Paul as "combative" noting that, "in fact, there was no lack of disputes on the Apostle's path. He did not seek superficial harmony. ... The truth was too great for him to be disposed to sacrifice it in the name of exterior success. The truth he experienced in his encounter with the Risen One was, for him, well worth struggle, persecution and suffering. But his deepest motivations were the fact that he was loved by Jesus Christ and his desire to transmit this love to others. ... Only on this basis can the fundamental concepts of his message be understood".

  Focusing then on one of Paul's "keywords: freedom", the Pope explained that "Paul, as a man loved by God, was free. ... This love was the 'law' of his life and, thus, it was the freedom of his life". Paul "spoke and acted moved by the responsibility of love. Freedom and responsibility are inseparably united. ... Those who love Christ as Paul loved Him can truly do as they please, because their love is united to the will of Christ and thus to the will of God; because their will is anchored in truth and because their will is not simply their own will - the decisions of an autonomous 'I' - but is integrated into the freedom of God".

  The Pope then went on to consider Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus, when the Risen Christ proclaimed "I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting". By "persecuting the Church", said Benedict XVI, "Paul was persecuting Jesus" Who "identifies Himself with the Church as one single subject". This exclamation which transformed Saul's life "contains the entire doctrine of the Church as the Body of Christ. Christ has not withdrawn to heaven, leaving a group of followers on earth to pursue 'His cause'. the Church is not an association that seeks to promote a particular cause" but "the person of Jesus Christ Who, even when Risen remained as 'flesh'. ... He has a body. He is personally present in His Church".

  "Through all this we glimpse the Eucharistic mystery, in which Christ continually gives His Body and makes us His Body", said the Pope and, noting with regret the laceration of this Body, asked Christ to overcome all divisions so that union "may once again become reality".

  Finally, the Holy Father recalled Paul's words to Timothy shortly before his heath: "Join with me in suffering for the Gospel". The Pope went on to note that the "duty of announcement and the call to suffer for Christ are inseparable. ... In a world where lies are so powerful, truth is paid with suffering. Those who wish to avoid suffering, to keep it away, keep away life itself and its greatness; they cannot be servants of truth or servants of the faith. ... Where there is nothing worth suffering for, life itself loses value. The Eucharist - the focus of our being Christian - is founded on Jesus' sacrifice for us, it was born of the suffering of love".

  "It is of this self-giving love that we live. It gives us the courage and the strength to suffer with Christ and for Him in this world, knowing that this is the way our lives become great, and mature, and true".

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CHRISTIANS MUST UNITE TO RENDER VALID WITNESS OF CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, 29 JUN 2008 (VIS) - At 9.30 a.m. today, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, Benedict XVI celebrated the Eucharist in the Vatican Basilica. Concelebrating with the Holy Father were 40 new metropolitan archbishops, upon whom he imposed the pallium. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I was also present at the ceremony.

  The Pope and Bartholomew I entered St. Peter's Square together, preceded by an Orthodox and a Latin deacon bearing the Gospel.

  Following the reading of the Gospel in Latin and Greek the Holy Father presented the Ecumenical Patriarch to the assembly, after which each of them pronounced a homily.

  In his homily Benedict XVI spoke of the two Apostles, patrons saints of Rome. "Through their martyrdom", he said, "through their faith and their love, the two Apostles show where true hope lies. They founded a new kind of city, one that must be formed ever and anew in the midst of the old human city which is threatened by the opposing forces of sin and human selfishness".

  "We could say that their martyrdom was, in the deepest sense, like giving a fraternal embrace. They died for the one Christ and, in the witness for which they gave their lives, they became one single entity. In the New Testament we can, so to say, follow the development of that embrace, the creation of unity in witness and in the mission".

  The Pope highlighted the fact that although Paul "usually went only to places in which the Gospel had not already been announced, Rome was an exception. There he found a Church the faith of which was the talk of the world. Going to Rome was part of the universality of his mission as an envoy to all peoples, ... it was an expression of the catholicity of his mission. Rome must make the faith visible to the whole world, it must be a place of encounter in the one faith".

  Turning to consider Peter, the Holy Father recalled how "he left the presidency of the Christian-Judaic Church to James the Less in order to dedicate himself to his true mission, the ministry for the unity of the one Church of God made up of Jews and pagans".

  "The perpetual mission of Peter", he went on, is "to ensure the Church never becomes identified with a single nation, with a single culture or a single State. That she always remains the Church of everyone. That she unites humankind beyond all frontiers and, amidst the division of this world, brings God's peace, the reconciliatory power of His love".

  Addressing the archbishops who were about to receive the pallium, the Holy Father told them that the gesture of imposing it upon their shoulders "reminds us of the shepherd who takes the lost sheep across his back, the sheep that cannot find its way home, and brings it back to the fold. In this sheep the Fathers of the Church saw the image of the entire human race, of all human nature, which is lost and no longer knows the way home"; and the Pastor that brings it home "is the eternal Word of God Himself". Yet nonetheless, God "also wants men 'to carry' alongside Him. Being a pastor of the Church of Christ means sharing in this task".

  In this way, he said, "the pallium becomes a symbol of our love for Christ the Shepherd, and of our loving together with Him. ... It becomes a symbol of the call 'to love them all' with the power of Christ ... that they might find Him and, in Him, themselves".

  Benedict XVI concluded his homily by expressing the view that the pallium "speaks to us of the catholicity of the Church, of the universal communion of Pastor and flock, just as it is a reference to apostolicity, to communion with the faith of the Apostles upon which the Church is founded".

  At the end of the Mass and before praying the Angelus, the Holy Father pointed out that since this year the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul falls on a Sunday, "the entire Church, and not just the Church of Rome, celebrates it solemnly".

  "Of course", said the Pope referring to the Pauline Year which he officially inaugurated yesterday, "its focal point will be Rome, in particular the basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls and the place of the saint's martyrdom at the Three Fountains. But it will involve the entire Church, beginning with Tarsus where Paul was born, and the other Pauline sites ... in what is now Turkey, as well as the Holy Land and the island of Malta where the Apostle arrived after having been shipwrecked and sowed the fertile seed of the Gospel.

  "The truth is", he added, "that the horizon of the Pauline year cannot but be universal, because St. Paul was, par excellence, the Apostle to those who were 'far off' from the Jews and who 'by the blood of Christ' were 'brought near'. Hence, even today, in a world that has become 'smaller' but where many have still not met the Lord Jesus, the Jubilee of St. Paul invites all Christians to become missionaries of the Gospel".

  "As the liturgy says, the charisms of the two great Apostles are complementary in the edification of the one People of God, and Christians cannot render valid witness of Christ if they are not united among themselves".

  Benedict XVI concluded by inviting everyone to pray "for these great intentions: the Pauline Year, evangelisation, communion in the Church and full unity among all Christians, entrusting them to the celestial intercession of Most Holy Mary Mother of the Church and Queen of the Apostles".

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MISSION OF PASTORS IS A CONSEQUENCE OF LOVE FOR CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, 30 JUN 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, the Pope received 40 metropolitan archbishops accompanied by members of their families. The archbishops yesterday received the pallium during a Eucharistic celebration held in the Vatican basilica.

  The Holy Father greeted each of the metropolitan archbishops in their respective languages. Then, addressing them as a group, he affirmed that "the image of an organic body applied to the Church is one of the powerful and characteristic elements of the doctrine of St. Paul. In this Jubilee Year dedicated to him, I wish to entrust each of you to his celestial protection. May the Apostle of the Gentiles help each of you to make the communities entrusted to your care grow in unity and mission, in harmonious and co-ordinated pastoral activity, animated by constant apostolic zeal".

  "The condition of service for all pastors is love for Christ, which must come before everything", said the Pope. He then recalled Jesus' question to Peter: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" saying "may it ever resound in our hearts and stimulate our ever fresh and passionate response: 'Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you'. It is from this love for Christ that the mission to 'feed my sheep' arises, a mission that may be summarised above all in His own testimony: ... 'follow me'".

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 30 JUN 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Stanislaw Tillich, minister-president of the Free State of Saxony, Germany, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.

 - Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil C.SS.R., major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars, India.

 - Nevine Simaika Halim Abdalla, ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, on her farewell visit.

  On Saturday, 28 June, he received in separate audiences:

 - Giovanni Alemanno, mayor of Rome.

 - Leonida L. Vera, ambassador of the Philippines on her farewell visit.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 30 JUN 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Bishop Juan del Rio Martin of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, as military ordinary archbishop for Spain. The archbishop-elect was born in Ayamonte, Spain in 1948, he was ordained a priest in 1974 and consecrated a bishop in 2000.

 - Accepted the resignation from the diocese of Wabag, Papua New Guinea, presented by Bishop Hermann Raich S.V.D., upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Arnold Orowae.

  On Saturday, 28 June, it was made public that he:

 - Appointed Bishop Anthony Muheria of Embu, Kenya as bishop of Kitui (area 36,246, population 1,128,000, Catholics 250,000, priests 61, religious 119), Kenya.

 - Appointed Bishop Jozef Wrobel S.C.I. of Helsinki, Finland, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Lublin (area 9,108, population 1,069,136, Catholics 1,039,879, priests 1,314, religious 903), Poland.

 - Appointed Fr. Basilio Athai, rector of the major seminary of St. Michael in the archdiocese of Taunggyi, Myanmar, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area 26,850, population 1,540,000, Catholics 7,450, priests 33, religious 92). The bishop-elect was born in Kyekadaw, Myanmar in 1956 and ordained a priest in 1984.

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