(Vatican Radio) Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a message on the Pope’s behalf to the Co-Presidents and Secretary General of Pax Christi International on the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the foundation of Pax Christi International which is being marked in Bethlehem.
Please find below the message in English
His Holiness Pope Francis was pleased to be informed of the seventieth anniversary of the foundation of Pax Christi International, to be observed during the Global Assembly in Bethlehem from 13 to 17 May 2015. He sends cordial greetings to all those present for the celebration and he assures them of his spiritual closeness. Recalling that “to the extent that [Christ] reigns within us, the life of society will be a setting for universal fraternity, justice, peace and dignity” (Evangelii Gaudium, 180), His Holiness prays that the Assembly will be an occasion for all members of Pax Christi to open anew their hearts to Christ and to see their union in him as their greatest offering to the communities they serve. Commending all the Assembly participants to the intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace, the Holy Father willingly imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and joy in Risen Lord.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Philippines has been elected as the new president of Caritas Internationalis. He was nominated at the confederation’s 20th General Assembly in Rome.
Following his election, the Cardinal, speaking by phone to the delegates from over 130 member organisations from all over the world said “Buona sera a tutti!” ” Thank you for your trust. I’m limited in my capacities but with all of you, with the love that Jesus has poured into our hearts and in the name of all of the poor people in the world, I accept this election.”
He added, “let us together strengthen the church of the poor so our witness can help guide us to a world of understanding, justice, true freedom and peace.”
Cardinal Tagle is the first Caritas Internationalis President to be elected from Asia and was congratuted by the outgoing President Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga.
Alexander Bodmann from Austria was also elected as the new Caritas Internationalis Treasurer.
The Caritas Internationalis 20th General Assembly runs until the 17th May
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a message on the Pope’s behalf to the Co-Presidents and Secretary General of Pax Christi International on the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the foundation of Pax Christi International which is being marked in Bethlehem. Please find below the message in English His Holiness Pope Francis…
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(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Philippines has been elected as the new president of Caritas Internationalis. He was nominated at the confederation’s 20th General Assembly in Rome. Following his election, the Cardinal, speaking by phone to the delegates from over 130 member organisations from all over the world said “Buona sera a tutti!”…
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(Vatican Radio) In a message to participants at an international seminar on the role of sports coaches, Pope Francis spoke of the crucial role that trainers play, especially in the lives of young people. The two day seminar has been organised by the Sports department of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and is focusing on the professional, personal and spiritual formation of sports coaches as role models for the next generation.
Philippa Hitchen reports:
In the message to seminar participants, Pope Francis said we all need wise, mature and well-balanced people in our lives to help us grow in faith, in family relationships and in our working lives. A true educator, he continued, is a person who encourages us to take on a new activity without fear, helps to have confidence in ourselves and our companions and supports us in times of difficulty as well as at moments of joy and success.
During childhood and adolescence, he said, this is particularly important as we look for role models and feel the need to be affirmed and appreciated. During this delicate phase, Pope Francis said, the responsibility of trainers is huge since they can have great influence over both the behaviour and the development of a child’s personality. Above all, he said, coaches must be models of integrity and impartiality, joy and patience, since young people will be influenced more by a person’s behaviour than by his or her words.
Finally, Pope Francis spoke of the importance of faith and spirituality which help us to preserve the authentic values of sport, rather than letting them be driven by the rowing pressure of economic interests. Trainers, he said, can play a vital role in creating a climate of solidarity and inclusion, reaching out to young people at risk on the margins of society.
(from Vatican Radio)…