Pope Benedict to visit Rome Synagogue
Rome, Italy, Oct.03,2009 – On the eve of the Jewish New Year, which was celebrated on September 19 this year, Benedict XVI sent the chief rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, a telegram of good wishes and friendship. In it, he confirmed that he will soon visit the synagogue of Rome, "animated by the profound desire to manifest my personal closeness and that of the whole Catholic Church" to the Jewish community.
The synagogue in Rome will be the third one visited by Benedict XVI, after the synagogue in Cologne in August of 2005 and the Park East synagogue in New York, in April of 2008. Before him, John Paul II had visited the synagogue in Rome on April 13, 1986.
Pope Meets New U.S. Ambassador to Vatican
Vatican City, Oct.02, 2009 - Welcoming the new U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI outlined wide areas of potential cooperation with the administration of President Barack Obama, but drew a sharp line on the issues of abortion and the rights of conscience.
The pope called for "a clear discernment with regard to issues touching the protection of human dignity and respect for the inalienable right to life from the moment of conception to natural death, as well as the protection of the right to conscientious objection on the part of health care workers, and indeed all citizens."
He made the remarks at a ceremony Oct. 2 to accept the credentials of Miguel Diaz, named in May by Obama as the ninth U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. After the encounter at the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo south of Rome, Diaz held talks at the Vatican with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
The pope's comments on the right to life touched on a current debate in the United States over provisions of health care reform and how they would affect abortion policies.
Leading U.S. bishops have insisted that any final health reform bill exclude mandated coverage of abortion and protect conscience rights. Obama has said that under his plan "no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place," but the bishops say none of the proposals under congressional consideration have met that challenge.
The pope smiled and greeted Diaz warmly at the papal villa, chatting with the ambassador before greeting members of the U.S. embassy staff and Diaz's family. Diaz also prepared a speech, but the pope and the ambassador handed each other their texts instead of reading them.
In his text, the pope said he recalled "with pleasure" his encounter last July with Obama, and expressed his confidence that U.S.-Vatican relations would continue to be marked by fruitful dialogue and cooperation in favor of human rights and human dignity.
The pope praised the founding U.S. ideals of freedom, dignity and pluralism and, in a reference to Obama's short time in office, said that "in recent months the reaffirmation of this dialectic of tradition and originality, unity and diversity has recaptured the imagination of the world."
In his own speech, Diaz spoke of the need for the United States to act cooperatively to resolve international problems, saying that "more than ever the United States realizes that we cannot act alone."
The pope strongly endorsed that orientation toward "a greater spirit of solidarity and multilateral engagement," saying today's crises cannot be resolved on individualistic or even national terms. As a prime example, he pointed to the global economic crisis, and said it calls for a revision of financial structures in the light of ethics.
The pope said multilateralism should also be applied to "the whole spectrum of issues linked to the future of humanity," including basic health care, immigration policies, climate control and secure access to food and water.
He expressed his particular satisfaction for the results of a recent U.N. summit on nuclear disarmament, chaired by Obama, which unanimously approved a resolution on nuclear disarmament and set the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.
The second half of the pope's address examined the necessary connection between genuine progress and "fidelity to the truth." The pope defended the right and responsibility of church leaders in the United States to weigh in on ethical and social questions by "proposing respectful and reasonable arguments grounded in the natural law and confirmed by the perspective of faith."
The pope repeated a point he made during his visit to the United States in 2008: that freedom is also a continual summons to personal responsibility. He said that requires discernment and reasoned dialogue, and the church has a rightful voice in this process.
In explaining why the church insists on the unbreakable link between an "ethics of life" and every other aspect of social ethics, he quoted Pope John Paul II's encyclical, "The Gospel of Life," which said a society lacks solid foundations when it asserts values like human dignity but then "radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued or violated."
Diaz began his speech by saying Obama had been "deeply touched" to meet with and listen to the pope last July.
The ambassador, citing the pope's recent encyclical on economic justice, listed several areas of mutual U.S.-Vatican concern, including interreligious dialogue, environmental protection, the financial crisis, global poverty and the migration of peoples.
"Your urgent priorities coincide with those set forth by President Obama, and as ambassador of the United States I look forward to working with the Holy See to advance our common interests," he said.
He said the United States deeply respects the Vatican as "a sovereign entity, as a humanitarian actor and as a unique moral voice in the world." He noted past U.S.-Vatican partnerships in favor of religious freedom and human rights, and pledged to continue along that path.
The new ambassador closed his remarks by promising to be a "bridge-builder" between the United States and the Vatican, and strengthening their "indispensable relationship."
Diaz, 46, who taught at St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota, is the first Hispanic and the first theologian to represent the United States at the Vatican. Born in Havana, he came to the United States from Cuba as a child with his parents.
Pakistani President's discussion with Pope Benedict XVI
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, Oct.02, 2009 - Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Benedict XVI have discussed anti-Christian violence in Pakistan, emphasizing the need to overcome discrimination.
The leader of the Islamic republic visited the Pope today in Castel Gandolfo.
A communiqué from the Vatican press office characterized the discussion as "cordial," saying it "provided an opportunity to examine the current situation in Pakistan, with particular reference to the fight against terrorism and the commitment to create a society more tolerant and harmonious in all its aspects."
The communiqué added: "Talk then turned to the positive role played by the Catholic Church in the social life of the country through her educational, health care and aid activities.
"Evoking recent episodes of violence against Christian communities in some localities, and the elements that have favored such serious incidents, emphasis was given to the need to overcome all forms of discrimination based on religious affiliation, with the aim of promoting respect for the rights of all citizens."
Christians and Hindus combined make up only 5% of Pakistan's 176 million people.
Pretext
A series of violent incidents in the last few months have resulted in the death of several Christians at the hands of Muslim fundamentalists.
In this regard, Christians are urging the repeal of an anti-blasphemy law, which they claim gives Muslims "an invisible sword."
These laws were at the heart of a conflict in September, for example, when a Muslim mother, enraged at her adolescent daughter's romance with a Christian, accused the young man of desecrating the Quran. The boy was arrested and executed in prison.
The anti-blasphemy regulation went into effect in 1986; it calls for life imprisonment or death for those who blaspheme Mohammed or desecrate the Quran. Most of those who have been prosecuted under the law are Muslims.
However, the World Council of Churches says the law keeps minorities living in a "state of fear and terror" since it is often invoked as a way to punish minorities in business disputes.
In 2000, then President Pervez Musharraf tried to reform the law but failed under the pressure of fundamentalist groups.
Zardari, in office for just over a year, has announced that his government would work against the abuse of the legislation and increase vigilance.
Pope: Little way of St.Therese is the humble path of love
Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Oct 02, 2009 - As the Catholic Church celebrated the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI offered his reflections on what her life can teach the faithful. The French saint's “little way,” he said, is the “humble path of love, capable of enveloping and giving meaning and value to all human affairs."
The Holy Father made his comments on Thursday as he bid farewell to Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano—the diocese in which the papal summer residence is located—as well as the numerous personnel that made the Pontiff's two month stay possible.
After thanking everyone for their service, the Pope recalled the fact that today marks the Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, a Carmelite nun of the convent of Lisieux.
"Her witness," he said, "shows that only the Word of God, accepted and understood in its concrete requirements, can become the source for renewed life.”
“To our society, often permeated by a rationalist culture and widespread materialism, St. Therese of Lisieux shows, as a response to the great questions of life, the 'little way' which looks to the essence of things. It is the humble path of love, capable of enveloping and giving meaning and value to all human affairs," Benedict XVI remarked.
Pope Benedict will depart to Vatican City on Saturday.
Pope's cyprus visit scheduled
Rome, Italy, Oct 2, 2009 - The government of Cyprus announced on Thursday that Pope Benedict XVI has accepted an invitation to visit the country made by President Demetris Christofias during an audience with the Holy Father at the Vatican on March 27.
The papal trip could take place in June of 2010, according to a story published by Vatican Radio.
According to the report, Maronite Archbishop Josef Souaef of Cyprus, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem, and Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Custodian of the Holy Land, have expressed their joy at the announcement of the Pope’s visit.