Pope Benedict XVI : I come to encourage you
Amman, Jordon, May 11, 2009 - May Christ “give you his courage”: that was Benedict XVI’s wish and mandate to the 20 thousand Catholics who filled the International Stadium of Amman for mass this morning which gave the Pope the opportunity to underline “prophetic chrism” of women, particularly in this region.It is the only public mass to be celebrated by the Pope in this nation. Jordan – which conceded a holiday to Christians today – is in a certain way a oasis for the regions Christians, who count a little over 100 thousand, 2% of the entire population, but who are free to profess their faith, build churches and schools and now even universities. All around the situation is completely different: from tight control in Syria to violence in Iraq. And there are 70 thousand Christians among the 700,000 Iraqi refugees in Jordan. They too were present at the mass, calling out loud in greeting to their Pope. Among the 200 children receiving their first Holy Communion today were 4 ...Read More
To believe in God is to uphold the dignity of every person
Amman, Jordan, May 11, 2009 - To believe in God is to pray, to be merciful and compassionate, to witness to the truth and to uphold the dignity of every person, Pope Benedict XVI said after visiting a monumental new mosque in Amman.Acknowledging that much of the history of Christian-Muslim relations has been marked by misunderstanding and tension, the pope said it is faith that calls members of both communities to respect each other and join together to promote the common good.The pope visited the King Hussein Mosque in Amman May 9, the second day of his eight-day trip to the Holy Land. It was his second visit as pope to a mosque; he made history in 2006 when he entered the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, and stood praying next to the imam.Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters in Amman, "It would not be precise to say the pope prayed in the mosque (today), but it would be right to say he paused in respectful meditation in a place wh ...Read More
Jewish leaders know Pope Benedict's teaching about Jews and Judaism
Vatican City, May 11, 2009 - As Pope Benedict XVI prepared to visit Israel in early May, Jewish leaders involved in dialogue appeared to be hopeful and not particularly wary about what the pope would say.On the other hand, many members of the Jewish community and Catholics sensitive to their feelings appeared to be holding their breath, praying that the pope would not inadvertently offend his hosts.The difference stems from the fact that Jewish leaders know Pope Benedict 's teaching about Jews and Judaism from his theological speeches and articles.Speaking in Rome in March, Rabbi Michael Schudrich, the U.S.-born chief rabbi of Poland, said the Holy Land trip can be "very enlightening and help Pope Benedict show in a very clear way" the sensitivity and respect that has been clear in his writings for decades.In evaluating the pope's work, Jewish leaders appreciate several facts: Pope Benedict explicitly recognizes that God chose the Jewish people as his own ...Read More
DRAW ON JOHN PAUL II'S TEACHING TO FACE CURRENT PROBLEMS
Vatican City, May 08, 2009 - The Holy Father has sent a Message to Archbishop Ioan Robu of Bucharest, Romania, for celebrations taking place to mark the tenth anniversary of John Paul II's visit to that country from 7 to 9 May 1999. The Message was delivered by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States and the Pope's special envoy to the event.In his Message the Pope praises the current initiative, which has been promoted by the Catholic Church in Romania, the Romania Orthodox Church and the State, saying that it "brings together the Catholic and Orthodox faithful of that country which, for its geographical location and its long history, for its culture and its traditions, has a unique ecumenical vocation inscribed in its very roots".The Pope expresses the hope "that believers in Christ will not only treasure the memory of those unforgettable days, but that, drawing from the teaching of my venerated predecessor John Paul II, they will commit th ...Read More
PROMOTING STABLE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Vatican City, May 8, 2009 - The Holy Father departed from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 9.50 a.m. today. Following a four-hour flight, his plane landed at the Queen Alia airport in the Jordanian capital Amman, thus beginning his apostolic pilgrimage to the Holy Land which is due to last until 15 May. This is the twelfth trip outside Italy of his pontificate.King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan welcomed the Pope as he descended from his aircraft. Also present to greet the Holy Father were the political and civil authorities of the country, the ordinaries of the Holy Land, patriarchs, bishops and a group of faithful."I come to Jordan as a pilgrim", said the Pope in his address, "to venerate holy places that have played such an important part in some of the key events of biblical history".He then went on to express his appreciation for the "opportunity that Jordan's Catholic community enjoys to build public places of worship", describing it as "a sign of this c ...Read More
Basis of human rights has been the message of Christ
Vatican City, May 08, 2009 - “The basis of human rights has been the message of Christ that the Church has interpreted with various notions that have arisen in the Christian world, like the idea of the person, the idea of freedom as the essential component of man.” This is what Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, affirmed in presenting the conclusions from the 15th Plenary Assembly of the Academy, whose theme was: “Catholic Social Doctrine and Human Rights.”In the press conference held in the Holy See Press Office, also present were Mary Ann Glendon, President of the Academy, and Ombretta Fumagalli Carulli, Professore of Canon Law at the University of Milan. Glendon highlighted the fact that in today's world there are still many problems with the protection of human rights, and mentioned that next year, the workshops will be centered on the economic crisis and its social consequences.The Holy Father Benedict XVI rece ...Read More
Benedict XVI expressed his deep respect for the Muslim community
Amman, Jordan, May 08, 2009 - Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Jordan on the first leg of a Holy Land pilgrimage and praised the country's efforts to oppose conflict and violence between the West and the Islamic world.At an airport welcoming ceremony in Amman May 8, the pope expressed his "deep respect for the Muslim community" and paid tribute to interfaith dialogue initiatives launched by Jordanian leaders."We can say that these worthy initiatives have achieved much good in furthering an alliance of civilizations between the West and the Muslim world, confounding the predictions of those who consider violence and conflict inevitable," he said in a speech.He commended Jordan for curbing extremism and protecting the religious freedom of the country's Christian minority and said its leaders had promoted "a better understanding of the virtues proclaimed by Islam."The 82-year-old pontiff appeared energetic, quickly descending from the plane on the first stop on ...Read More
Holy Father Benedict XVI appointed seven Cardinals as his Special Envoys
Vatican City, April 29, 2009 – On the occasion of the close of the Year dedicated to the Apostle Saint Paul, which will take place simultaneously on June 29, 2009 in various “Pauline sites,” the Holy Father Benedict XVI appointed seven Cardinal s as his Special Envoys, for each of the celebrations. In the Holy Land, Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; in Malta, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family; in Cyprus, Cardinal Renato R. Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; in Greece, Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Emeritus Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; in Syria, Cardinal Antonio M. Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid; in Lebanon, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris.-Agenzia Fides ...Read More
Pope Benedict XVI canonized five new saints
Pope Benedict XVI canonized five new saints and said their dedication to the Eucharist, the poor and the world of work made them models for today's Christians in an era of economic crisis.By orienting their lives to Christ, the five men and women showed that "it is possible to lay the foundations for construction of a society open to justice and solidarity, overcoming that economic and cultural imbalance that continues to exist in a great part of our planet," the pope said.The pope celebrated the canonization Mass in St. Peter's Square April 26, joined by tens of thousands of pilgrims who held up photos or drawings of the saints. Four of the new saints were Italian and one was Portuguese.Dressed in bright gold vestments, the 82-year-old pontiff listened as biographies of the five were read aloud, and then pronounced the canonization formula, drawing applause from the crowd. Afterward, relics of the new saints were brought to the altar.In his homily, the p ...Read More
Memorandum of Understanding signed at the Vatican Apostolic Palace
Vatican City, April 26, 2009 - According to a communique published yesterday, April 23, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretariat of State and the League of Arab States was signed at the Vatican Apostolic Palace. It was signed for the Secretariat of State by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, and for the League of Arab States by Amr Moussa, secretary general of that organisation.Among those present at the signing ceremony were Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. And Monsignors Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Alberto Ortega, Christophe El-Kassis, Nicolas Thevenin, Lech Piechota, and from the League of Arab States: Walid Al Gargani, Head of the Arab League mission to the Holy See, El Fateh El Naciry, Head of the European Department and Euro-Arabian Affairs, and Dina Douay, Desk Officer for Europe in the Cabinet of the General Secretariat. Also present were Ambassadors from several member-countries of the League of Arab States ...Read More
Doctrina Christiana first book written in Taglog
Manila, Philippines, April 26, 2009 - "Doctrina Christiana, en lengua española y tagala" Is the first book written in the local language to be printed in the Philippines. Published in 1593, it is the first example of the country's distinctive alphabet. Today the precious volume is available online, in the catalogue of the World Digital Library.The Tagalog Doctrina Christiana went to the presses in 1593, and was based on the teachings of Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, an illustrious theologian and doctor of the Church. The volume was intended to spread Christianity among the population, using the local language, of which it became the text of reference. The work came a few months after the first book ever printed in the country, the Chinese language version of the same "Doctrina."The only existing copy of the "Doctrina Christiana" in Tagalog is held at the Library of Congress in the United States, in Washington; internet users can read a copy of it by clicking on the cover ...Read More
Pope's upcoming Middle East visit can build hope among Arabs
Amman, Jordan, April 26, 2009 - Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to the Middle East can serve as an opportunity to build hope among Arabs while broadening interreligious understanding, said Jordan's Prince El Hassan bin Talal.Speaking with Catholic News Service, the prince said the May 8-11 papal visit "should not be seen as a passing, calming serene visit that is transient or just another visit to the region, but should rather focus in our minds that we can revive the heritage of trust and good faith" that Catholics and Muslims share.In an extensive interview in advance of Pope Benedict 's visit, Prince Hassan said he has high hopes for the trip."There is a sort of combination of hope, expectation and nostalgia for a golden age -- for a Camelot, if you will -- which I think invites Arabs to hope for a better future when such a visit takes place, as with many other visits the pope has made to other parts of the world," the prince told CNS.Pope Benedict 's ...Read More
Benedict XVI at the General Audience, speaking on Ambrose Autpert
Vatican City, April 23, 2009 – In his Wednesday Audiences, the Holy Father Benedict XVI has been for some time now reflecting on “people from whom we can learn what the Church is.” On April 22, he reflected on Ambrose Autpert, a relatively unknown author of whom little definite information is known, although “careful reading of the works that critics gradually recognized as his authorship allows for the discovery in his teaching of a theological and spiritual treasure precious also for our times.”Born in Provence, Ambrose Autpert entered the court of the King of the Franks, Pepin the Short, where he was also given the role of tutor of the future emperor Charlemagne. Traveling to Italy, he visited the famous Benedict ine abbey of St. Vincent, located at the source of the Volturno, in the Duchy of Benevento, and not long afterwards, he decided to take up religious life and entered the monastery, where he could train in an appropriate manner, especially in matters of theology and ...Read More
Archbishop of Chennai calls for international pressure on the government of Colombo
Chennai, India, April 23, 2009 - "It has become a mass graveyard - the bloody war in Sri Lanka has led to a mass massacre, and nothing can justify this military option." Malayappan Chinnappa, archbishop of Chennai, comments to AsiaNews on the reports from Sri Lanka, where the army has launched a military operation to wipe out the resistance of the Tamil Tigers.All over the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, there are demonstrations against the war that is making hundreds of thousands of refugees, and a growing number of victims among civilians. A general strike called by Tamil associations and groups in the state is receiving support from some local political groups, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, an ally of the Congress Party, but as India goes through the second of five rounds in the national elections, many parties prefer to steer clear.The archbishop of Chennai calls for international pressure on the government of Colombo, and says: "World leaders should utilize ...Read More
Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to celebrate Mass in a new amphitheater in Nazareth
NAZARETH, Israel, April 21, 2009 - With just over three weeks to go before Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to celebrate Mass in a new municipal amphitheater in Nazareth, bulldozers were working around the clock.Nizar Muammar, a Catholic and one of the project architects, said April 20 that the site will be ready: It will include a stage, 7,000 permanent seats and more than 30,000 temporary chairs set up on what is becoming a terraced hillside.The covered stage, which will serve as the platform for the altar with seating for 500 cardinals, bishops and priests, was still a hole with concrete forms and reinforced beams sticking up.The only Mass Pope Benedict is scheduled to celebrate in northern Israel during his May 8-15 pilgrimage to the Holy Land is the May 14 Mass in the amphitheater on Mount Precipice in Nazareth.Muammar said there are three access roads to the site; there will be two big parking lots for pilgrim buses and seating for more than 40,000 pe ...Read More
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