(Vatican Radio) Cardinal László Paskai, O.F.M., Archbishop emeritus of Esztergom-Budapest, died on Monday at the age of 88 after a long battle with cancer.
He was born on 8 May 1927 in Szeged, in the south-eastern zone of Hungary. He entered the Order of Friars Minor and studied theology in Gyoongyos and at the seminary of Budapest. He was ordained a priest on 3 March 1951, and began his pastoral ministry in the diocese of Nagyvárad.
On 2 March 1978, Paul VI appointed him titular Bishop of Bavagaliana and apostolic administrator of Veszprém. He received episcopal ordination on 5 April 1978.
Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Veszprém on 31 March 1979, and then eight years appointed him Primate of Hungary and Archbishop of Esztergom. He was created Cardinal the following year.
He retired in 2002, but participated in the 2005 conclave which elected Pope Benedict XVI.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Peter Turkson, on Monday sent greetings to a two-day Islamic Climate Change Symposium taking place in Istanbul.
In a Message presented by Fr. John T. Brinkman, Cardinal Turkson called the on-going ecological crisis “the gravest and most intractable of all” the problems facing the modern world.
“A great motivation which unites Christians, Muslims and many others is the firm belief in God,” the Message reads.
“This faith compels us to care for the magnificent gift he has bestowed upon us – and, God-willing, upon those, who will follow us. Our urgent action will surely be more effective if we believers of different religious communities find ways to work together.”
The full text of the Message is below
Solidarity Message from the Catholic Faith
to the Islamic Climate Change Symposium
Istanbul, 17-18 August 2015
To all gathered here in Istanbul to launch the Islamic Climate Change Declaration, it gives me great pleasure to convey the warm greetings and solidarity of H.E. Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Vatican City.
It is clear that we are living at a particularly turbulent and decisive moment in world history. Humanity faces a number of urgent challenges which demand our prayers and action. The on-going ecological crisis is the gravest and most intractable of all.
Earlier this year, Pope Francis issued an encyclical letter, Laudato si’, in which he invites each living person to undergo an ecological conversion of heart. We have to re-imagine our commitment to what he calls “the care of our common home”, this planet, the earth, in the light of our faith. It is not enough, he says, to propose merely technical solutions, for they are “powerless to solve the serious problems of our world if humanity loses its compass, if we lose sight of the great motivations which make it possible for us to live in harmony, to make sacrifices and to treat others well.” (LS, 200)
A great motivation which unites Christians, Muslims and many others is the firm belief in God. This faith compels us to care for the magnificent gift he has bestowed upon us – and, God-willing, upon those, who will follow us. Our urgent action will surely be more effective if we believers of different religious communities find ways to work together.
So, it is with great joy and in a spirit of solidarity that I express to you the promise of the Catholic Church to pray for the success of your initiative and her desire to work with you in the future to care for our common home and thus to glorify the God who created us.
Presented by
Fr. John T. Brinkman, M.M.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The website of the Holy See’s Pavilion at the Expo Milan 2015 has released an English version . The theme of the Universal Exhibition taking place in Milan is Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life . The theme of the Holy See Pavilion is Not by bread alone .
2015 is the second time Milan has hosted the Universal Exposition; the first was in 1906. This year’s Expo opened on May 1, and will close on October 31.
The website – which was launched in Italian at the beginning of the Expo – includes many features, including a history of the Holy See’s involvement in the International Exposition movement , from the time of Pius IX and the era of the Papal States. It also has a video tour of the Holy See’s Pavilion.
The Pavilion has been organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture, whose President is Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi.
“We want to be the ‘thorn in the flesh’ of this exhibition, and stir consciences with uncomfortable questions,” Cardinal Ravasi said on June 11th.
“One of these is the need of everyone for their daily bread, where bread takes on a symbolic meaning as well, of beauty,” he continued. “I often quote the Indian parable of the hyacinth: if one has two loaves to spare, the first should be donated to the poor, and the second sold to buy a hyacinth that is also donated to the poor, because they have a right to beauty, too.”
The website can be found at the following address: http://www.expoholysee.org/eng-home
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican Secretary State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, concluded his visit to Singapore on Monday with a farewell dinner at the Tower Club.
Cardinal Parolin said his two-day visit to the country gave him the opportunity to “understand and appreciate something of the vitality of Singapore and of this local church,” adding that he was “truly grateful” for the many encounters he had while there.
“This beautiful island stands as a beacon among the nations of the region, and it is my hope that Singapore might continue to shine as an example in fostering harmonious and respectful relations among the different constituents of this religiously diverse, multi-cultural society,” said Cardinal Parolin.
Earlier on Tuesday, Cardinal Parolin attended a luncheon hosted by Singapore’s Foreign Minister, K. Shanmugam.
“Singapore is able to stand shoulder to shoulder with many first world countries and contribute to the global quest for peace and prosperity, especially at this time, when the world is faced with enormous challenges, such as religious fundamentalism and terrorism,” Cardinal Parolin said during the luncheon.
“I am pleased to learn that Singapore is a harmonious multi-religious society and I would like to encourage the commitment to an effective Inter-Religious Dialogue and a real Freedom of Religion,” he said.
The full text of Cardinal Parolin’s speeches on his final day in Singapore are below.
Speech at Luncheon
Hosted by Foreign Minister
Singapore, 17 August 2015
Your Excellency Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law,
Distinguished guests,
It is indeed a great joy for me to be in Singapore and I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received. I feel honoured to be in the Istana and I wish to thank Your Excellency for hosting this lunch in my honour. I wish particularly to convey to you, and to all Singaporeans, my best wishes as Singapore celebrates her fiftieth anniversary of independence.
Though Singapore is a small country, it has emerged as a modern state city and a thriving metropolis in this part of South East Asia.
As you know, “small is beautiful!”. Singapore and Vatican City shares the same situation of being a little dot! Red dot for Singapore. Yellow dot for the Vatican!
Singapore is able to stand shoulder to shoulder with many first world countries and contribute to the global quest for peace and prosperity, especially at this time, when the world is faced with enormous challenges, such as religious fundamentalism and terrorism.
I am pleased to learn that Singapore is a harmonious multi-religious society and I would like to encourage the commitment to an effective Inter-Religious Dialogue and a real Freedom of Religion.
The “Garden City” seems to me to be an appropriate expression, not only to describe the green and pleasant surroundings in which you live, but also to depict Singapore in the endeavour to safeguard the environment, and increase consciousness with regard to the fragility of our world. Pope Francis in his recent Encyclical Letter “Laudato Si’ On Care for Our Common Home”, highlights the connection between ecology, individual freedom and community responsibility.
Your Excellency,
Over the past 34 years, the Holy See has had fruitful engagement and has enjoyed good relations with the Republic of Singapore and we look forward to greater growth in our relationship and in mutual support in our effort at fostering a global culture of respect, equity, love and peace.
Majulah Singapura!
Speech at Farewell Dinner
Tower Club
Singapore, 17 August 2015
Your Excellences,
Distinguished guests,
Although my stay has been but a brief two days, it has nevertheless afforded me the opportunity to understand and appreciate something of the vitality of Singapore and of this local church. I am truly grateful for the many encounters I have had.
It was a particular honour for me to be welcomed by the President of the Republic of Singapore, as well as the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law.
This beautiful island stands as a beacon among the nations of the region, and it is my hope that Singapore might continue to shine as an example in fostering harmonious and respectful relations among the different constituents of this religiously diverse, multi-cultural society.
I have been especially heartened by the warm welcome extended by His Grace, Archbishop William Goh. Thank you for the hospitality and friendship you have shown.
The priests, religious men and women, and the laity of Singapore have shown the strength of the bonds of communion and love between Singapore and the Holy See.
What’s more, the Church in Singapore has the privilege of having many qualified individuals and some of them, here present, are involved in the Holy See entities and in the international Catholic organisations. This wonderful sign of the active participation of the laity augurs well for the future of this Church. I thank you all for continuing to be of service to the Church and to society.
Thank you once again for your kind hospitality!
(from Vatican Radio)…
La Paz – Thanks to mediation on the part of Pope Francis, who on July 10 during his apostolic visit to Bolivia had a meeting with prison delegates, the “daily sum” has risen to 8 bolivianos. The rise will affect all 13,573 detainees in the country’s penitentiaries prison director general Jorge Lopez has announced. “During the meeting with Bolivia’s prison delegates in Palmasola, Pope Francis’ request for intervention was presented, so then we worked together with government delegates to meet these needs “, Lopez said in a press conference, according to a report sent to Fides. “Our debate ended – he said- with the approval of administrative resolution number 62/2015 for an increase in the “daily keep” for prison inmates in Bolivia, from 6,60 bolivianos to 8 bolivianos, as from the month of August”. According to today’s exchange rates 8 bolivianos amount to about 1 euro. Besides the rise in the “daily keep” it was also decided to improve prison health care services. …