(Vatican Radio) A communiqué released on Wednesday by the Holy See Press Office said that in the past few days partial and imprecise information has appeared in the secular press regarding the content of confidential documents pertaining to APSA, the Office that administrates the patrimony of the Holy See.
Reiterating that APSA continues to and always has collaborated with the competent authorities, the communiqué explains that leaked information appears to suggest that the institution has been used for illegal financial activities.
The Vatican Judiciary Authority – it continues – has opened an investigation into the leaking of these documents, and that APSA, which is not under investigation, continues to carry out its activities within full respect of the rules and regulations in force.
Also on Wednesday, a press release published by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples describes the insinuations proffered by some media as “unacceptable.”
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples – also known as Propaganda Fide – says it is perfectly in line with Pope Francis’ reform of the Curia and it is committed to respect the will of donors who throughout the years have contributed to the funding of its missionary mandate.
It denies accusations of renting out luxury apartments or of owning smart hotels and points out that all of its properties, which were donated to the Congregation in favour of Missions, are rented at market rate value, or even at lower rates for those in difficulty, and in full respect of Italian real estate legislation.
It also specifies that the Congregation complies with Italian legislation regarding property taxation.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) “The Lord did not follow the world’s ‘marketing’ plan with all its loud and annoying methods. He did not write a book, rather he founded a community, the Church, which is his body” Those were the words of Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, at the inaugural Mass of the 110th Plenary Assembly of the Chilean Episcopal Conference on Tuesday.
The Assembly is taking place in a retreat house at Punta de Tralca until November 13th.
Beginning his homily with the surprising history of the early Christian Church, Cardinal Müller said Jesus refused to follow the ‘loud and annoying marketing methods’ of the world, founding instead a community.
“Jesus never wrote a book, neither did he leave any object related with his person. Rather, he directed his teachings to his disciples, specifically to twelve regular men of his day, and he told them to evangelize the whole world.”
“Whatever his reasons may have been, the Lord did not follow the world’s ‘marketing’ plan with all its loud and annoying methods. He did not write a book, rather he founded a community, the Church, which is his body. Much confidence is required to understand how such an improbable method could have succeeded,” he said.
Decreasing numbers of Catholics
He then addressed the decreasing numbers of the Catholic Church in Chile, down from 70% of the population in 2002 to only 55% in 2015.
“Today, a painful purification is in course,” he said, “but it is the same as when Jesus overturned the tables. Purification is painful and disquieting. May it do its work. Let us remain faithful and not become discouraged. Some left, but we must remain faithful in dialogue with Jesus in his Church.”
Concluding his homily, Cardinal Müller declared that “the work of the Church is not to reflect the opinions of its members. The Church’s job is to reflect the point of view of her Head and founder: Jesus Christ.”
The Prefect of the CDF is also in Chile to participate in two conferences on the challenges facing families today and on the role of the county’s Catholic universities.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See has urged greater efforts to educate people, especially the young, about the impact of climate change, saying we need an ecological education. The appeal was made by the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to UNESCO, Archbishop Francesco Follo, in an address this week to the UN agency. Referring to Pope Francis’ recent encyclical where he issued “an urgent invitation for a new dialogue on the way in which we are building the future of our planet,” Arcbishop Follo explained that the Pope is inviting us to adopt “an ecological education” that must take into account the ethics of life and dialogue.
He stressed that the way in which “mankind treats the environment has a clear influence on the way in which it treats itself and vice-versa. For this reason, said Archbishop Follo, there is “an ethical dimension to ecology” and we must all take care of our planet, manage its resources and cultivate it wisely.
Turning to the issue of responsibility, Archbishop Follo said each generation has inherited a cultural and natural heritage and our task is to hand our planet over intact (or even enriched) to our successors. We also need to educate our children about the importance of this responsibility as they will become the citizens of tomorrow.
Archbishop Follow warned that “no cultural and natural heritage is possible if our common home, the planet where we live, ceases to become habitable.” We all know what our goal is, he said, “to leave the earth habitable or to make it habitable again if we have pillaged it.” In conclusion, Archbishop Follo reminded his listeners of Pope Francis’ appeal for us to respect our common home because in so doing, we will show our love towards our neighbours, be they near or far, or not yet born.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dragan Čović, on Wednesday morning. Čović is the current occupant of the head position in a rotating collegial presidency, composed of three members: a Bosnian, a Croat, and a Serb, who serve together for a four-year term.
The rotating system was put in place in 1996, as part of the constitutional settlement that brought an end to the 1992-1995 conflict in the former Yugoslavia, which was the worst fighting in Europe since the end of World War II.
In remarks to the President, Pope Francis said that the example of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one from which the Holy Father himself has learned much: about the capacity to suffer; to forgive and to strive for forgiveness; to come together and work for the common good; to dialogue. “Thank you so much for these examples, which you give to humanity,” said Pope Francis.
The Holy Father also asked the chairman of the Presidency to bring greetings to his colleagues in the office, and to extend a special word of greeting to the young people of the country. “Greet the good young people for me,” he said, recalling the questions they put to him during his visit to the city of Sarajevo earlier this year. “They are,” he said, “the promise of your homeland.”
Pope Francis concluded his remarks with a promise of prayer and with a blessing: “Now we ask God, the God of all, God the Father of all, that He bless us, bless our lives, bless our homes, bless our families, bless our children and bless the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis during his General Audience on Wednesday in St Peter’s Square continued his catechesis on the family, this week focusing on the importance of togetherness.
Below are the Pope remarks read out in English
Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis on the family, today we consider the importance of togetherness. Sitting at table for the family dinner, sharing our meal and the experiences of our day, is a fundamental image of togetherness and solidarity. Because Jesus gave us the Eucharist as a meal, there is a close relationship between families and the Mass. The togetherness we experience in our families is meant, in the family of the Church, to extend to all as a sign of God’s universal love. In this way the Eucharist becomes a school of inclusion, in which we learn to be attentive to the needs of everyone. Sadly, the family meal, this great symbol of togetherness, is disappearing in some societies. Food itself, the very sign of our sharing with other, is wantonly wasted in some places, while our brothers and sisters go hungry in others. The Eucharist reminds us that our bread is meant to be shared with all. May our families, and the entire Church, be signs of togetherness and solidarity for the good of the whole human family, especially during the coming Jubilee of Mercy.
(from Vatican Radio)…