Archbishop of Krakow writes screenplay about life with John Paul II
Krakow, Poland, Sep.20, 2007 (CIS/CNA).- The archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who was John Paul II’s personal secretary, will contribute to a film entitled, “A Life with Karol,” which will recount his more than four decades with the Polish Pope.
According to the cardinal’s spokesman, Father Robert Necek, the script for the movie was written by the cardinal himself, with the help of Catholic writer Gian Franco Svidercoschi and Polish filmmaker Pawel Pitera, who will be the director.
The film scheduled to be released next year, is a 140-minute fictional documentary. A TV version will also be made, with the film split into three 50-minute episodes.
The film’s title will be same as the book by Cardinal Dziwisz, which is being sold in Rome and Krakow. The script is in the form of interview carried out by Svidercoschi.
“Who is my Neighbour?”: A Statement issued by the Catholic Bishops of Australia
Sydney, Australia, Sep.20,2007(CINS/Fides) - A Statement on the themes of justice, development and peace has been issued by the Catholic Bishops of Australia in view of Social Justice Sunday on 30 September which the local Church celebrates every year. The Statement, titled this year “Who is my Neighbour?”, is prepared by the Bishops' Commission for Social presided by Bishop Christopher Sauders of the diocese of Broome.
The Statement is call to reflect on “diversity” in the community, in order to see “in every face the holy face of Christ”, insisting on multiculturalism, typical of Australia, as a source of enrichment and calling all Australians to show solidarity with those who are poor and marginalised and in need of help.
In these times “of hunger, war, terrorism and disease we are called to help our others and not act as people unable to share prosperity, ”, Bishop Saunders says in the introduction. Citing the passage in the Gospel of Luke which introduces the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10, 29-37), Bishop Saunders urges Australians to ask themselves the same question and to reflect on the answer Jesus gives.
In his letter to present Social Justice Sunday Statement, Archbishop Philip Wilson, President of the Bishops' Conference says, "Australia and Australians have a responsibility to be good global citizens: we have responsibilities beyond our national borders. This year's Social Justice Sunday Statement is a call for us Australians to act more in the interest of our neighbours who do not share our prosperity and security, an invitation to consider the way we live and as individuals and as a nation”. The Archbishop says the statement focuses on global issues of social justice which Australians can help to face in order to promote common good.
Italy in "moral crisis," bishops' leader says
Rome, Italy, Sep. 19, 2007 (CINS/CWN) - The president of the Italian bishops' conference has described Italy as "a country in a state of moral crisis."
Speaking on September 17 to the executive committee of the episcopal conference, Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco defended the right of the Church to speak out on public issues involving the dignity of human life, and said that Church leaders have an obligation to provide moral guidance in a society that has drifted away from fundamental principles.
The archbishop responded directly to a new flurry of public discussion about euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, saying that the Church would continue to insist on the preservation of human life until natural death.
Archbishop Bagnasco decried the decision by Amnesty International to support legal abortion. Echoing the words of Pope Benedict XVI, in his address to the diplomatic corps in Vienna, the Italian prelate said that "abortion cannot be a human right."
Addressing one internal Catholic issue, the archbishop said that he is "reasonably optimistic" about the prospects for a successful implementation of Summorum Pontificum, the papal moto proprio authorizing wider use of the 1962 Roman Missal. The aim of that initiative, he told his brother bishops, is to "preserve the riches developed through the faith and prayer of the Church." Proper implementation of the motu proprio, he added, will require "an inclusive rather than confrontational" approach.
22 Chaldean Bishops and Priests completed their spiritual exercises
Ahmadiya,Iraq,Aug.24,2007 (CINS/AsiaNews) – Priests in Iraq are a “sign of hope for the persecuted Church”, but also for national reconciliation; this was the theme at the centre of prayers and reflection shared by 18 Chaldean priests and 4 bishops from the North of the country who spent three days from August 20 to 23 gathered at the retreat centre of Komané –Ahmadiya Diocese – for their spiritual exercises. The Dominican priest Nageeb Merkhael led the retreat.
Coordinator Fr.Imad Khochab, gave an account of the three days in an official press release in Arabic. “We focused on the 4 dimensions of the life of a priest – the statement reads – spiritual, intellectual, social and pastoral, in order to renew our image of the priest, of the priest’ service and sacrifice so that he may truly be a sign of hope”. The occasion – continues the statement – allowed us to strengthen our faith and our commitment to our mission despite the difficult circumstances and the sacrifices”.
Among the bishops participating in the retreat was Msgr. Louis Sako, archbishop of Kirkuk, Msgr. Rabban al Qas, from Ahmadiya, Msgr. Petros Hanna Issa Al-Harboli, from Zahko, msgr. Mikha Pola Mandassi, from Alqosh. Speaking to AsiaNews Msgr. Sako said: “For all of us this was a very special moment of prayer and mediation on the situation and our role as a Church”. Among participants there was the shared awareness that: “the Chaldean Church is a persecuted Church, whose strength lies in the power of its faith and its spirit. This is how it conserves its prophetic freedom and its hope”. The archbishop of Kirkuk, had words of admiration for the “courage of young priests who with great personal sacrifice nurture hope and dream of a strong Iraqi Church, which defends human dignity and denounces injustice against the weakest members of society. A Church called to work for peace and reconciliation”.
On the sidelines of the spiritual exercises the 4 bishops decided also made some technical decisions, such as how to adopt the salary system: the diocese will finance the work and travel of priests within and outside of their own parishes, This procedure “frees the priest from material concerns and safeguards his dignity, allowing him to completely dedicate himself to his mission”.
Moreover, in the aftermath of the retreat in Komanè a series of conferences on theological, liturgical and pastoral themes has been planned, so that the priests may “absorb all that is new, putting it to work in their service and unify, as far as possible, the various points of view of the different aspects of the 5 Northern dioceses”.
Archbishop announces schedule of Pope’s trip to Loreto
Rome,Italy,Aug.16, 2007 (CINS/CNA) - Archbishop Gianni Danzi of Loreto has announced details of the Pope’s schedule for his visit to Loreto on September 1 and 2, where he will meet with young people and will visit the Marian shrine there.
The Pope is scheduled to arrive at 4:30 p.m. local time, and he will travel to Montorso to meet with young people gathered for the Agora National Encounter. Afterwards, the Pope will go to the pontifical palace and visit the Basilica “for a moment of true silence.”
On September 2 the Pope will celebrate Mass with the young people at Montorso and later he will have lunch at the apostolic palace with leaders of the Italian Bishops’ Conference and other religious leaders.
Speaking to Vatican Radio, Msgr. Paolo Giulietti, general secretary of the committee charged with organizing the Agora encounter, explained that the purpose of the event is to attract many young people. “This encounter at Loreto is an event that is part of a three-year journey the Italian bishops have proposed to our Christian communities in order to reach out to the youth. This journey has as its central theme the mission, and I can say that Sydney 2008 is a central stage in this journey because in Sydney the theme will again focus on the missionary vocation of every Christian, who receives the strength of the Holy Spirit in order to bear witness to Jesus,” he said.
Msgr. Giulietti said that for this reason, “this entire three-year journey has been marked by this theme and therefore it is preparing us for the World Youth Day at Sydney (…) noting another connection between the two events, he also said that “a large Australian delegation will be present at Loreto.”