Pope to Elderly: Power and Looks Are Mythicized; You Must Show What Truly Matters... from ZENIT of Roswell, Georgia, United States for Monday, 17 October 2016

Pope to Elderly: Power and Looks Are Mythicized; You Must Show What Truly Matters... from ZENIT of Roswell, Georgia, United States for Monday, 17 October 2016
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Pope to Elderly: Power and Looks Are Mythicized; You Must Show What Truly Matters by Kathleen Naab

Today’s world mythicizes power and looks, and thus the elderly have a special mission, Pope Francis says: To give witness to what really matters — the values that remain forever.
The Pope said this Saturday when he addressed some 7,000 elderly, including many grandparents, in Paul VI Hall.
The Holy Father emphasized that the Church looks at elderly people with “affection, gratitude and great esteem.”
“They are an essential part of the Christian community and of society,” he said, adding, “I don’t know if you heard well: The elderly are an essential part of the Christian community and of society!”
The role of the elderly is one of Francis’ favorite themes, particularly on papal visits, and in his address Saturday, he returned to an image he has often used.
The elderly, he said, “represent the roots and memory of a people.”
Experience is a “precious treasure,” he continued, “indispensable to look to the future with hope and responsibility.”
Better future
He said the witness of the elderly helps youth to look to the future with hope: “The elderly, in fact, witness that, even in the most difficult trials, one must never lose faith in God and in a better future.”
The Holy Father praised the role that elderly people carry out in parishes, and also in families, noting particularly how in countries that have suffered religious persecution, it is often the grandparents who transmit the faith.
“In a world such as the present, in which often strength and appearance are mythicized, you have the mission to witness the values that truly count and that remain for ever, because they are inscribed in the heart of every human being and guaranteed by the Word of God. Precisely as persons of the so-called third age, you, or better, we — because I am also part of it — are called to work for the development of the culture of life, witnessing that every stage of existence is a gift of God and has its beauty and importance, even if marked by frailty.”
Caregivers
Pope Francis went on to praise the “persons and structures” dedicated to caring for the elderly day by day.
Institutes that house the elderly are “called to be places of humanity and loving care, where the weakest individuals are not forgotten or neglected, but visited, remembered and protected as older brothers and sisters,” he said, adding that this is a way to show gratitude to those who “have given so much to the community.”
He said that protecting the dignity of the elderly means opposing the throwaway culture, since it marginalizes the elderly as non-producers.
“This idea of being disposable is awful,” he said, as he recounted a story told him by his grandmother. The story is about a grandpa who lived with his son and his family but was moved to the kitchen for meals since he was unable to eat without making a mess.
The father learned his lesson about ostracizing the grandfather when one day his young son was playing pretend, building a table which the boy explained would one day be for his father to eat, separate from the family.
“Children are naturally very attached to their grandparents and they understand things that only grandparents can explain with their life, with their attitude,” the Pope said. “The throwaway culture says: ‘You are old, get out.’ … You are old, yes, but you have so many things to say to us, to tell us, of history, of culture, of life, of values …”
Society needs your smile
The Pope also encouraged the elderly to seek out the younger generations.
Talk with your grandchildren, he encouraged them, even if they do things differently, listen to different music, etc.
“They are in need of the elderly, of this continuous dialogue; give them wisdom too,” he said, recalling how it was the elderly, the “wisdom of the people,” who received Jesus in the Temple.
“Read this [story of Simeon and Anna] in Luke’s Gospel, it’s very beautiful,” he invited.
He concluded: “Dear grandfathers and grandmothers, thank you for the example you give of love, of dedication and of wisdom. Continue to witness these values with courage! May society not lack your smile and the beautiful luminosity of your eyes: may society be able to see them! I accompany you with my prayer, and you too, do not forget to pray for me. And now I invoke the Lord’s blessing upon you and your intentions and plans for good.
“Now we pray to Jesus’ grandmother, Saint Anne; we pray to Saint Anne who is Jesus’ grandmother, and we do so in silence for a moment. Each one ask Saint Anne to teach us to be good and wise grandparents.”
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full text: https://zenit.org/articles/popes-address-to-senior-citizens-caregivers/
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Pope Visits Children’s Home for Year of Mercy Initiative by ZENIT Staff

On Friday afternoon, Pope Francis made another of his “Friday of mercy” visits, this time to the SOS Children’s Village, which uses a family model to provide a home for children in situations of risk due either to the loss of their parents or other conditions of personal, family and social hardship.
The Pope had lunch with the residents, who are referred to SOS Children’s Village by the courts or Social Services.
The Village visited by the Pope, in the Boccea area of Rome, is made up of five houses, each one of which is inhabited by a maximum of six children up to the age of 12, with an “SOS mother.”
The Village is structured to support children during their growth, accompanying them like a real family through the various phases of development and integration in society. The children are accompanied to school, attend the local parish church and participate in sports activities. The professionals who work in the centre – resident, non-resident and volunteers – follow the children for a period of several years, contributing to the creation of stable human relationships, which help them arrive at a suitable level of autonomy. Older boys and girls are also present, having chosen to stay close to the centre to continue to have support and a point of reference, as well as to lend a hand in daily activities.
The SOS Village follows the pedagogical and organisational model of the first SOS Village founded in Austria in 1949 by Hermann Gmeiner, a medical student who, profoundly affected by the situation of hundreds of children orphaned by the war, opened the first of these villages in Austria, developing an educational model close in terms of humanity and warmth to a true family, unlike the model of the orphanage, widespread at that time. The directors of the Rome Village, Paolo and Maria, explained the history of the SOS Villages to the Pope.
During the visit the children of the centre led the Pope to the green area available to the Village, which also hosts a football pitch and a small playground. They then showed their bedrooms and toys to the Holy Father, who listened to their stories and paused for a small snack with them.

After the visit to the children of the SOS Village in Rome, Pope Francis visited Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, hospitalised in the “Villa Betania” Clinic, and returned to the Vatican at around 5.30 p.m.
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Pope to Visit Milan and Genoa in 2017 by ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis will visit two prominent northern Italian cities in 2017.
First, on March 25, Francis will visit Milan, confirmed the Holy See Press Office Saturday. Initially, this visit was planned for May 7, 2016. However, on Dec. 10, 2015, the Vatican Secretariat of State announced that the Holy Father wished to postpone his official visits in Italy during the Holy Year, in order to fulfill his Jubilee commitments.
In statements to the media on Saturday afternoon, Cardinal Scola, Archbishop of Milan, said, “It’s a great gift the Pope is giving us.” He also said that they would formulate “the program well” and prepare themselves “in the parishes, seeking to dialogue with this great city, with this plural reality,” so that the Holy Father’s presence “is another factor of growth for Milan.”
When Cardinal Scola announced the Pope’s visit Saturday, he explained: “this is a sign of the Holy Father’s affection and esteem for the Ambrosian Church, the city of Milan and the whole of Lombardy.” “We want to show our gratitude to the Pope because he will come to confirm us in the faith,” he added.
The visit to the Archdiocese of Genoa on May 27, whose Archbishop is Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, was announced Sunday afternoon by the Holy See Press Office.
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Pope Francis Privately Meets With Argentine President by Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis has met privately with the President of Argentina, Mauricio Macri.
The Holy See Press Office confirmed the Argentine Pontiff met with the president Saturday morning in the Vatican. The president was accompanied by his wife and family.
While the Press Office didn’t release a statement regarding the meeting, according to Vatican Radio, the Argentine President told journalists it was “good” and “positive,” and that they discussed various issues.
President Macri was in Rome for the canonization of Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, the Argentinian known as the “the Gaucho priest,” who was canonized by Pope Francis on Sunday morning, Oct. 16, along with six others.
This morning, Pope Francis received in audience, the president, vice presidents and secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina.
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Bishops to Canadian Govt: Homes Are Ready. Where Are the Syrians? by ZENIT Staff

Canadians are ready and willing to sponsor Syrian refugees and have already put financial resources into the plan. The government needs to do its part to get the refugees into Canada, the leader of the country’s bishops is saying. The delay in processing is costing sponsors their limited resources.
The president of the Canadian episcopal conference, Bishop Douglas Crosby of Hamilton, sent a letter to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, John McCallum, concerning Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program (PSRP).
In his letter, Bishop Crosby thanked the Government of Canada for its efforts in assisting the resettlement of Syrian refugees. At the same time, he draws the Minister’s attention to the many ongoing difficulties encountered by the individuals, groups and organizations who have taken up the challenge and have invested many resources to sponsor these refugees.
Here is the letter:
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Dear Minister McCallum,
October 6, 2016
On September 2, 2015 the body of Syrian toddler, Aylan Kurdi, washed onto Turkish shores, making international headlines and galvanizing the global community, including Canadians across this country, to respond to the plight of the Syrian refugee crisis. What resulted was a Prime Ministerial initiative that responded to the interests of Canadians as well as propelled Canadians into action. What has culminated as Canada’s response to the plight of Syrian refugees, and by extension, refugees of many diverse nationalities, is nothing short of historical.
Please allow me to commend you and the Government of Canada for all actions that have been taken over the past 12 months to motivate, support and catapult the men and women of this country to become agents of hope and protection through Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program (PSRP). Canada’s identity as a humanitarian leader on the global stage has rightly been restored to the pedestal upon which it historically rested in years past. For this, I am grateful.
In parallel to the exciting expansion and rapid growth of Canada’s sponsorship program over the past year, however, there have been clear and evident growing pains. I am writing to you now on behalf of diocesan constituents and sponsorship stakeholders across the country, to draw your attention to some persisting concerns. I hope you will take the following issues seriously and take immediate remedial steps to address the gaps that have arisen.
With respect to the processing of pending Syrian refugee applications, I draw your attention to the fact that many sponsoring groups that submitted applications long ago are still waiting for refugees to arrive. Canadians were called to action during a time when the Government of Canada was promising arrival timelines of less than two months (i.e., the Government’s original goal of bringing 25,000 Syrians to Canada was expected to be met between November and the end of December 2015).
The expectations of Canadians were immediately framed in this short-term context and as such, decisions were taken accordingly. Settlement and integration planning, including arrangements for housing and accommodation, resulted in leases being signed and rent being paid in an applied context where arrival was expected to be imminent.
Processing delays have already resulted in significant financial losses for sponsoring groups and continued delays pose to undermine the prospect that sufficient resources will be in place once the sponsorship period actually begins, post-arrival. Needless to say, there has arisen a significant level of anxiety and concern within sponsoring groups, especially those with finite sponsorship resources at their disposal. Such delays are affecting the viability of pending sponsorship applications, many of which have now been put in jeopardy due to the additional cost associated with maintaining vacant accommodation.
The Government effectively capitalized on the kindness and generosity of the men and women of Canada for political gain. As a result, the Government succeeded in accomplishing its objective of welcoming 25,000 Syrians to Canada by the end of February 2016. This would not have been possible without the support of the Canadian public and the sponsorship community at large.
The Government of Canada must now be duly diligent and take immediate steps to respect and honour the Canadian interest by processing the cases that are still pending as quickly as possible.
Needless to say, delayed arrivals and the lack of clear and transparent communication about the status of pending cases, poses the risk of undermining the faith of Canadians in the Government’s ability to follow through on its promises. These realities also represent potential to undermine the Government’s ability to meet future immigration levels plans, as interest and confidence in the sponsorship program will continue to dissolve and wane as poor outcomes continue to manifest.
Ultimately, what I fear is that operational/procedural barriers and the lack of political will to ensure efficient processing will achieve the opposite of effectively building on the positive momentum that was born of the tragedy that was Aylan Kurdi’s stolen youth. The fact that the IRCC Central Processing Office in Winnipeg is no longer expediting Syrian application is a further betrayal of the momentum that the federal government assisted to build, which it is now stifling.
I kindly ask that you please take measures to expedite in all possible ways the processing of Syrian applications, given the applied context in which Canadians have been galvanized to respond to this population in particular. Further, in the spirit of fairness and non-discrimination, your Department must expedite processing for Syrians in parallel to all refugee groups. It is neither reasonable nor fair for an Afghan family in Pakistan to wait 75 months, or for an Eritrean refugee in Egypt to wait 55 months, to have their sponsorship applications processed to completion: this is both cruel and counterintuitive to the nature of a life-saving program.
While the new Government has commendably taken steps to shift Canada’s focus to humanitarian and family class immigration, I trust that the Government will take further steps to deepen the integrity of Canada’s resettlement program by addressing the above concerns. The Government must also take action to more transparently manage sponsor expectations in future, ensuring clear communication for program stakeholders and implementing fair and efficient processing for all refugees, as well as working closely with provincial and municipal governments to ensure the necessary infrastructure and support systems are in place and adequately funded. This is the expectation that Canadians will hold this new Government accountable for and we will be waiting with hope to see such results.
Link to the letter of Bishop Crosby (PDF)
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Holy See to UN: Weapons of All Sizes and Shapes Must Be Our Continuing Concern by ZENIT Staff

Here is the Oct. 11 address given by Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See, at the 71 Session of the United Nations General Assembly, First Committee General Debate.
Archbishop Auza notes the “conventional weapons” being used for crimes against humanity and reiterates a call for nuclear disarmament.
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Mr. Chair,
The Holy See delegation extends congratulations to you and your bureau and assures full cooperation in the work of this Committee.
Weapons of all sizes and shapes must be our continuing concern. While progress has been made in limiting the arms trade, land mines and cluster munitions, the continued use of small arms and incendiary weapons is deeply disturbing. The public is rightly repulsed by the growing use of incendiary weapons, which cause excruciatingly painful burns that lead to long-term physical and psychological injury. Innocent civilians experience terrible suffering. Protocol III of the Convention on Conventional Weapons is not strong enough to end the use of these weapons. The Protocol must be strengthened to stop their use.
The international community must strive harder to control severely the use of so-called conventional weapons that clearly violate international humanitarian law. Increasingly more powerful and sophisticated conventional weapons are devastating entire communities, hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure and must now be treated with the same condemnation we attach to weapons of mass destruction.
The tragedies we are witnessing make it a matter of urgency for the international community to review existing classifications and definitions of what constitutes a weapon of mass destruction. The Holy See recommends therefore that discussions on weapons of mass destruction go beyond the traditional categories of nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological weapons to include devastatingly powerful conventional weapons used to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity.
This is imperative if we are to implement successfully the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in zones of conflict. United Nations’ affirmations that development, peace and security and human rights are intimately connected and mutually reinforcing abound. In adopting the 2030 Agenda, Member States have expressed their determination “to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development.”[1]
This commitment can only be translated into reality if wars and conflicts are resolved, and they can only be resolved if there are strict controls on the arms trade both legal and illegal. Peace, security and stability cannot be gained strictly by the force of arms, nor by increasing military spending, since these are multidimensional objectives which include aspects that are not linked only to the political and military sphere, but also to those of human rights, the rule of law, economic and social conditions, and the protection of the environment.
Mr. Chair,
At this session, this Committee must pay special attention to the report issued by the recently concluded Open-Ended Working Group, which was tasked with taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations. This well-balanced report, the product of serious discussion, highlighted the Working Group’s recommendation that additional efforts should be pursued to elaborate concrete effective legal measures to attain and maintain a world without nuclear weapons. In reaffirming the importance of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the report noted majority support of the participating States for the General Assembly to convene a conference in 2017 “to negotiate a legally-binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination.”
In this respect, this Committee should adopt a resolution establishing a negotiating process open to all States, with a view to fulfilling the basic requirement of the NPT, which enjoins states parties “to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race.” It is incumbent upon this Committee to redouble its efforts to advance the recommendations of the Open-Ended Working Group, especially at a time when the disarmament machinery is at a standstill.
Last year, when Pope Francis addressed the General Assembly, he said: “There is urgent need to work for a world free of nuclear weapons, in full application of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, in letter and spirit, with the goal of a complete prohibition of these weapons.”
The Holy See believes that nuclear deterrence and the threat of mutually assured destruction cannot be the basis for an ethics of fraternity and peaceful coexistence. We must work urgently and without ceasing to find the legal path to the elimination of all nuclear weapons.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[1] Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Preamble (Peace) and SDG 16.
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Shrine Where Moses Saw the Promised Land Reopens in Jordan by ZENIT Staff

The Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, was in Jordan over the weekend, where he presided over a liturgy celebrating the official re-opening of the shrine atop Mt. Nebo.
The summit of Mt. Nebo is the place from which, according to ancient tradition, Moses saw the Promised Land before he died.
Here is the full text of Cardinal Sandri’s homily, in its official English translation
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Your Excellency, S.E. Msgr. Alberto Ortega, Apostolic Nuncio in Jordan,
Reverend Father Custos, Fr. Francesco Patton, Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador of Italy to the Kingdom of Jordan,
Reverend Friars of the Custody of the Holy Land, Distinguished Authorities,
Brothers and sisters in the Lord!
Yesterday [Saturday] evening, in the twilight of the day, the doors of this Sanctuary were reopened, and so many of us were able to contemplate the fruits of the labors of these years. Today we celebrate the Eucharist and bless the new altar of this sanctuary. Our thanksgiving rises to the Father of all mercies, and in the Holy Spirit we can feel the embrace of the communion of saints: those who heard the voice of God, believed his promise and set out along the Way. These are the descendants of Abraham, our father in faith, through Moses and the prophets, until the fullness of time, when God sent us his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. It is He, Whom our brothers of the early centuries followed and announced. This early church knew how to shine with a diversity of gifts and traditions, without ever tearing the tunic of Christ through schisms and scandalous divisions. Each tile of the beautiful mosaics seems to echo the song of praise to the Lord of our brothers and sisters: over the centuries, the light and the splendor of their faith has been preserved, and nothing has been able to erase it, neither the dust of centuries, nor the destruction of war. It was given back to us through the skillful work of those who sought out and were capable of hearing the song of this land and of these stones. We give thanks for the faith of all of these people: men and women of the First and the New Covenant, workers and pilgrims, such as Egeria and Peter the Iberian, the friar archaeologists, especially Michele Piccirillo, and also all the friars who have been praying here and continue to pray, welcoming also, with a sincere look and a kindly word, all those who climb this mountain in search of the meaning of history.
Pope Francis, in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium defines the believer, as essentially “one who remembers” (13). Suggestively the Sanctuary bears the name: the “Memorial of Moses”. The biblical tradition, of which Jesus himself was well aware when he celebrated the Passover, teaches us that a memorial – ziqqaron – is very different from a simple memory of a distant time that is no more. As a witness of our day, Thomas Merton, has described it, a memorial can be defined as “the ‘then’ that becomes ‘now’.” Caring for this shrine means desiring to remain now, today, in that singular experience that God granted to his servant Moses. Here it was that Moses closed his eyes to the life of this world, but not before having contemplated the fulfillment of the promise: the people would enter into the land “flowing with milk and honey.” What are the characteristics of the experience lived by Moses? Let the Word of God indicate them to us.
The passage of Deuteronomy just proclaimed described Moses as a great prophet, greater than all the others, because “the Lord knew him face to face”, even before the great wonders accomplished in the presence of Pharaoh. Seeing God face-to-face means being the recipient of a singular divine grace: it was not Moses who sought out the Lord, but rather it was God, Who found His servant and made him hear His voice. Thus, Moses entered into the mystery of the burning bush and became the guardian of the revelation of the living God. Only this profound intimacy with the Lord enables Moses to be the leader and guide of the people, and their powerful intercessor for achieving salvation and victory. From these traits of Moses arises a question for all of us who are consecrated ─ bishops, priests, and friars of the Custody of the Holy Land: how mindful are we of the gaze of God which has settled upon our lives? We pray today trough the intercession of Saint Francis of Assisi: he was also able to change his life’s course by heeding the voice of God, in a kind of experience of the burning bush that we can recognize in the dialogue with the Crucifix in San Damiano. Francis, too, like Moses, was an intercessor for the renewal of the Church and for peace between peoples. We must remain, and especially you, the “Friars of the Rope”, pilgrims ourselves, journeying towards the Absolute, free of any desire for personal achievement. Then, we will be able to accompany those who come here and everywhere in the world, and be authoritative guides and generous companions to mankind on the way. We could consider this trait of Moses as the brightness of his calling and of his confidence in God.
Moses dies here, outside the land into which the people enters. This is because he himself partook of their sin, protesting against God on account of the unbelief, the complaints and the distrust of those whom he had guided out of slavery to Pharaoh. Even the guide, the Lord’s anointed, is wounded by the experience of frailty and sin. We must have the courage to admit it and to call by name the evil we find in our own heart and in the world. If, like Moses, we stretch our gaze across the surrounding lands, we are reminded of many divisions and counter-witnesses; of the conflicts that for decades have set one people against another; of the cry of those fleeing war and persecution in Syria and Iraq to find refuge in the country of Jordan. Likewise, we recall the deafness of some those who hold the destiny of peoples and nations in their hands, but prefer to preserve markets and profits, instead of saving the innocent lives of women and children. We cannot ignore the sin of those who blaspheme the name of God by using violence against their fellow human beings. How deep is the mystery of evil! The first step to defeating it is to let God conquer it in us and for us! May this Shrine, which is being re-opened in the Holy Year of Mercy, remain a place where pilgrims learn to be merciful through having a concrete experience of it.
The foundation of hope and of the victory of grace is given to us in Christ, who came “not to condemn the world; but that the world might be saved through him.” We must raise our eyes and fix them on the Crucified One, who has been lifted up from the earth like the serpent of Moses, so that anyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. In the light of the Risen One, by which all Scripture should be read, the death of Moses is not a punishment and a defeat, but as the attainment of fulfillment. We, with, Moses really know that God is the God of life and of history, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. One can be great without a sense of accomplishment, but simply by reaching the threshold, like Moses on this mountain, and remaining there in peace.
In the communion of the saints of yesterday and today, may this sanctuary, O Lord, be a place to have a living experience of You. You continue to call us to follow you, as disciples and friends; you offer us the opportunity to witness to your love and to your mercy, which overcomes sin and death, foreshadowing the splendid fulfillment of your promise. We ask for this gift especially for the younger generation of this beloved Middle East, that they might be accompanied to the threshold of a life of peace in their countries. May they know the peaceful coexistence of religions and cultures in a reciprocal competition of charity, seeking to construct the common good. May there be no more violence, oppression and denial of the basic freedom to profess one’s faith. We ask these things with the trust and docility of Mary’s heart, especially for the ecumenical journey among the Churches. It was in the East that the major schisms took place; now, in the same East the blood of Christians of all denominations is being mixed. Along with Cardinal Martini, we ask ourselves: “What does it mean today to be on Mount Nebo? We felt somewhat like Moses, who arrived on the mountain after a long journey, but felt that the real journey remained ahead; he did not travel it, and yet he rejoiced to think that others would. Perhaps we will not see the hoped-for conclusion of the ecumenical journey, the perfect attainment of unity. Still, someone else will see it and this is our certainty, the certainty of Moses!” Amen
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Stats of the Church in Sweden by ZENIT Staff

In view of Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to Sweden (31 October to 2 November) to participate in the joint Lutheran-Catholic commemoration to mark 500 years since the Reformation, the Central Church Statistics Office has published the statistics relating to the Catholic Church in the country, last updated as of 31 December 2015.
Sweden has a surface area of 449,964 km2 and a population of 9,851,000 inhabitants, of whom 113,000 are Catholics, equivalent to 1.15% of the population.
There is one ecclesiastical circumscription and 45 parishes. There are currently two bishops, 141 priests, 253 religious (17 male and 235 female), and 419 catechists. There are 15 seminarians.
The Church has 13 centres for Catholic education, from pre-school to secondary level.
With regard to charitable and social centres belonging to the Church or directed by ecclesiastics or religious, in Sweden there are two homes for the elderly, sick or disabled.
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Prelate, Administrator Appointed for Jowai, Nongstoin, India by ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis appointed Bishop Victor Lyngdoh of Nongstoin, India, as bishop of Jowai.
The diocese has about 131,000 Catholics served by around 50 priests and 35 religious.
He also appointed Dominic Jala, S.D.B., archbishop of Shillong, India, as apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Diocese of Nongstoin, India.
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Prelates Appointed for Closing of Holy Doors in Rome by ZENIT Staff

One week before the feast of Christ the King, on Sunday 13 November, the Holy Doors of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls will be closed.
The cardinals to represent the Pope in the rites are the archpriests of the three basilicas, as follows:
Cardinal Agostino Vallini, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran
Cardinal Santos Abril y Castelló, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major
Cardinal James Michael Harvey, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls
The Year of Mercy will come to a close the next Sunday, the feast of Christ the King, Nov. 20.
In the bull announcing the jubilee, Pope Francis wrote:
The Jubilee year will close with the liturgical Solemnity of Christ the King on 20 November 2016. On that day, as we seal the Holy Door, we shall be filled, above all, with a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity for having granted us an extraordinary time of grace. We will entrust the life of the Church, all humanity, and the entire cosmos to the Lordship of Christ, asking him to pour out his mercy upon us like the morning dew, so that everyone may work together to build a brighter future. How much I desire that the year to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of God! May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the Kingdom of God is already present in our midst!
“It is proper to God to exercise mercy, and he manifests his omnipotence particularly in this way”. Saint Thomas Aquinas’ words show that God’s mercy, rather than a sign of weakness, is the mark of his omnipotence. For this reason the liturgy, in one of its most ancient collects, has us pray: “O God, who reveal your power above all in your mercy and forgiveness …” Throughout the history of humanity, God will always be the One who is present, close, provident, holy, and merciful.
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President of Slovenia Visits Pope by ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis received today in audience Borut Pahor, president of the Republic of Slovenia, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.
According to a communique from the Vatican press office, the discussions focused on “the positive bilateral relations” and the “upcoming 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Slovenia” among other themes.
“The parties then focused on the good relations existing between the Catholic Church and the State and on the importance of dialogue with the aim of fruitful collaboration for the good of Slovenian society, and in particular for the younger generations.
Finally, attention turned to the international situation, with special reference to the regional context and the challenges that Europe is required to face.”
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Poland: More Than 100,000 Faithful Participate in the Great Atonement by ZENIT Staff

The “Great Atonement” to ask forgiveness for sins and mercy for Poland, was celebrated on Saturday, October 15, at Jasna Góra, with the participation of over 100,000 pilgrims. The program of the day was dedicated to prayer of thanksgiving for what has been accomplished in the history of Poland, with a penitential part including testimonies, a time for Eucharistic adoration, and Holy Mass. The event was presided by Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.
Many of the participants received the sacrament of penance and expressed a great sense of common prayer. – “We want to show that Mary is the resort for Poland and for the world and, with her, we can do everything. Many times in the history of Poland prayer has been necessary, and that is the case today,” said one of the pilgrims.
The “Great Atonement,” was for both personal sins and for those of the nation, including in particular for the murder of unborn children, addictions, jealousies and divisions.
The lectures and prayers were led by the FF. Antonello Cadeddu and Henrique Porcu, both missionaries from Brazil, Superiors of the Covenant of Mercy Community, and Fr. Piotr Glas, exorcist.
“I think everyone here can get something for himself, finding himself through spiritual atonement, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” said Fr. Dominik Chmielewski, SDB.
The event was divided into three parts. It started with thanksgiving to the Creator for all the good that has been accomplished in the history of Poland. In the afternoon, Holy Mass was celebrated and Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, gave the homily. In this homily, he stressed the need to return to God’s people and communities, like the prodigal son. Then, in the evening, devoted to repentance, the assembly asked God’s forgiveness for personal and social sins.
The Great Atonement is the initiative of laity, in collaboration with the clergy. According to the organizers, this meeting was a profession of faith and the convinced affirmation that renewal is possible in God and with Mary.
In collaboration with KAI/Episkopat.pl
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More pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/episkopatnews/albums/72157675233112576
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INTERVIEW: 35th Anniversary of the John Paul II Foundation by Włodzimierz Rędzioch

On October 16, 1981, John Paul II celebrated his third anniversary of election on the Peter’s Seat in a special way – he established the Foundation which bears his name. It is a Foundation which is active not only on a religious field, but also on the cultural and science field. The Pope, in his long distance view, saw the need for Catholic education in countries of the former Soviet Union by providing fellowship awards to students from the Eastern Europe – up to this day approximately 1,000 students received the support. The Foundation also provides assistance to pilgrims in Rome for whom the Polish Home at via Cassia is available. However, enormous documentation of the pontificate of John Paul II and popularization of the Pope’s teachings around the world could be considered the most successful part of the Foundation’s activities. Teaching is popularized by the Foundation’s Chapters which are active in 18 countries around the world.
On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the John Paul II Foundation, I spoke with the Administrator, Fr. Krzysztof Wieliczko OSPPE, PhD.
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On October 16, 1981, exactly three years after the election on the Peter’s Seat John Paul II established the Foundation which bears his name. What were the goals of the Foundation which was established 35 years ago?
The John Paul II Foundation is a non-for-profit Church’s organization which the main goal is to support and carry out initiatives with educational, science, cultural, religious, and charitable character which are related to the Holy Father’s John Paul II pontificate. The main goals of the Foundation are: preservation and development of the spiritual heritage of John Paul II and Christian culture; educational and financial help for young people from Central and Eastern Europe and Asia on the Catholic University of Lublin and the John Paul II University of Krakow; documentation and research of the pontificate and dissemination of the John Paul II’s teaching; assistance to pilgrims in Rome – especially from Poland and Eastern Europe.
Where are the Foundation’s headquarters located and how the structure of the Foundation looks like?
The Headquarter is located in Vatican. However, due to the character of the activities, the Foundation by itself is located in several places. So, the secretariat is located in Rome by via di Porta Angelica 63, the Center for Documentation and Research of the John Paul II’s Pontificate as well as the Polish Home are located by via Cassia 1200, while the Foundation’s Home for students is located in Lublin on 2 Boczna Lubomelska Street. Each place serving different functions is an integral part of the Foundation.
The Center for Documentation and Research of the Pontificate of John Paul I plays a special place in the Foundation’s activities. What so far were you able to collect in the Center?
The Center for Documentation and Research of the Pontificate of John Paul II Pontificate is trying to preserve documentation related to the John Paul II pontificate and disseminate this heritage to the future generations. Documentation collected so far provides rich materials for research which is included in publications, symposiums, exhibitions as well as articles popularizing thoughts and teachings of John Paul II. The library contains approximately 30 thousands volumes which are available for research on the John Paul II’s teachings. Most of them were digitalized.
How does the fellowship award program look like and what are the results?
The John Paul II Foundation through the fellowship awards for students from the Catholic University of Lublin and the John Paul II University of Krakow, actively participates in education of future intellectual elites of Central and Easter Europe and Asia. The fellowship program exists since 1990. During the 26 years of its activity, the Foundation’s fellowship awards were granted to 1,000 individuals. The fellowship awardees were from the following countries: Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Russia, Rumania, Slovakia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Hungary. The most candidates for the fellowship award came from Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania (from the time of joining the European Union). Up to this date among the fellowship awardees we have 3 professors, 76 individuals with doctoral degree, 88 individuals with bachelor degree, and 522 with master degree.
Most of the Foundation’s alumni return to their homeland and work in various governmental and church institutions. They teach on governmental and Catholic universities, at seminaries, teach religion at schools. They also teach Polish language or work as translators at various companies. They work at embassies, consulates, family centers; conduct pre marriage counseling, work as journalists at religious and laic newspapers. Few of them have private companies. Two Foundation’s alumnus became bishops and currently works in Belarus.
In the current year, the John Paul II Foundation provides financial and educational help to 145 fellowship awardees. 36 individuals were enrolled (25 for master degree and 11 for doctoral degrees) as freshmen. Half of the awardees are from Ukraine and the rest is from Belarus, Uzbekistan and Indonesia.
For the fellowship awardees we provide accommodation at the Foundation’s House. The house in Lublin is multi-functional. 100 students live in the house where spiritual assistance is also provided to the fellowship awardees. At the Cyril and Methods and St. John Paul II Chapel, fellowship awardees meet at Masses and various religious celebrations; they participate in weekly religious teaching, celebrate religious holidays. At the House in Lublin fellowship recipients from various countries meet and have Masses which are celebrated in their own languages. At the Foundation’s House, on a weekly basis students are meeting in the following groups: Biblical Circle or Papal’s Religious Teachings. One of our fellowship awardees directs Foundation’s Choir which enriches Masses on various occasions. Annual religious retreats provide another opportunity not only to take care of the student’s knowledge, but also of their sprit. In a broad sense of their spiritual development we could include pilgrimages to Rome which are organized every few years, soccer matches, trips to country sides.
What assistance is provided to pilgrims in Rome?
The John Paul II Home by via Cassia continuously realizes its goals. It opens the doors of the house to pilgrims. It provides not only a roof and meals for body, but most of all, it takes care about the spiritual aspects of the pilgrimage to Rome. On a daily basis, at the Polish House Chapel there is a Mass with homily, confession and in the evening the Eucharistic celebration and Jasnogorski Appeal. In the prayers, the Foundation’s benefactors alive and deceased are included. Among them the first one is St. John Paul II. At the house there is rich collection related to St. John Paul II located at the Museum, and particularly the blood relics which are kept at the Chapel. At the Foundation’s Museum gifts offered by pilgrims to John Paul II are kept.
With which institutions does the Foundation collaborate to better fulfill the main goal to preserve the heritage of John Paul II?
As the activities of the Foundation are very broad thus it requires collaboration with various laic and secular institutions, in particular with Universities, Embassies, Foundations. Recently, along with the John Paul II Family Museum in Wadowice, we were able to realize few projects and we hope that this collaboration will be also fruitful in the future.
Who financially supports the Foundation?
The Foundation can function thanks to the generosity of the benefactors from around the world. Many of them are members of the local Foundation’s Chapters.
What are the Foundation’s Chapters?
Currently, there are 48 Chapters which are active on four continents, in 18 countries (England, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Spain, Swiss, France, Poland, Canada, USA, Mexico, Venezuela, Indonesia, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia, Australia).
Activities of the Chapters involve not only financial support for the Foundation, but most of all to disseminate teaching of John Paul II at their local environments. Multinational conferences, symposiums, speeches, concerts, exhibitions related to the person and teachings of John Paul II are organized.
The key aspect of the activities of the Chapters are cyclical prayer meetings often preceded by a Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as retreats, religious teachings or even walking pilgrimages to the places of the Marian’s Shrine. Among members of the Chapters there are many individuals who are involved in the Chapters of the Holy Rosary. Many members participated in the World Youth Days in Krakow not only as pilgrims, but also as volunteers. Most of the Chapters are also involved in activities for poor and homeless people. Young people from the Foundation’s Chapters in Jakarta or New York organize meals for poor people, while members of the Foundation’s Chapter in Mexico support an orphanage for children with birth defects.
How the Foundation will celebrate its 35th anniversary?
Each anniversary gives an opportunity to analyze its activities, so often statistics are provided or conferences are organized. We, however, would like to make this anniversary as a celebration of people, all who are involved in the activities for the wellbeing of the Foundation; people of good will who voluntarily work for the John Paul II Foundation disseminating its goals in their local places. For that reason, the program was designed in a way to have a time to meet as one big Family – as a meeting on joint prayer, conversation and joy of being together.
The anniversary celebrations will take place in Rome and Vatican from October 22-24, 2016. A solemn Mass at the St. Peter’s Basilica will be the main point of the celebration. We are planning to have a concert, symposium, blessing of the Gold Anniversary Book as well as meeting with the Holy Father Francis during the private audience.
(This interview is published in Polish by weekly “Niedziela”, Nr. 43 )
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Pope’s Address to Senior Citizens, Caregivers by ZENIT Staff

Below is a ZENIT translation of the address Pope Francis gave to more than 7,000 representatives of the elderly, including many grandparents and members of the National Association of Elderly Workers and the “Feder Anziani” Italian Senior Federation, in the Vatican on Saturday morning. The audience was the climax of a day of prayer and reflection by senior citizens in the context of the “Festa dei Nonni,” a celebration of grandparents
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Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning! I rejoice to live this day of reflection and prayer with you, inserted in the context of the Feast of Grandparents. I greet you all affectionately, beginning with the Presidents of the Associations, whom I thank for their words. I express my appreciation to all those who faced difficulties and hardships in order not to miss this meeting and, at the same time, I am close to all the elderly, lonely and sick persons who were unable to move from home, but who are spiritually united to us.
The Church looks at elderly people with affection, gratitude and great esteem. They are an essential part of the Christian community and of society. I don’t know if you heard well: the elderly are an essential part of the Christian community and of society. In particular, they represent the roots and memory of a people. You are an important presence, because your experience constitutes a precious treasure, indispensable to look to the future with hope and responsibility. Your maturity and wisdom, accumulated over the years, can help the younger, supporting them on the path of growth and of openness to the future, in the search for their way. The elderly, in fact, witness that, even in the most difficult trials, one must never lose faith in God and in a better future. They are like trees that continue to bear fruit: despite the weight of the years, they can make their original contribution for a society rich in values and for the affirmation of the culture of life.
Many elderly generously use their time and the talents God has given them, to open themselves to help and support others. I am thinking of all those who make themselves available in the parishes for truly valuable service: some dedicate themselves to the adornment of the Lord’s house; others are catechists, animators of the liturgy and witnesses of charity. And what to say of their role in the family realm? How many grandparents take care of their grandchildren, transmitting with simplicity to the littlest the experience of life, the spiritual and cultural values of a community and of a people! In countries that have suffered grave religious persecution, it was the grandparents that transmitted the faith to the new generations, taking children to receive Baptism in a context of secrecy.
In a world such as the present, in which often strength and appearance are mythicized, you have the mission to witness the values that truly count and that remain for ever, because they are inscribed in the heart of every human being and guaranteed by the Word of God. Precisely as persons of the so-called third age, you or better — we because I am also part of it — are called to work for the development of the culture of life, witnessing that every stage of existence is a gift of God and has its beauty and importance, even if marked by frailty.
While many elderly, within the limits of their possibilities, continue to spend themselves for their neighbor, there are so many who live with sickness, with motor difficulties and are in need of assistance. I thank the Lord today for the many persons and structures that are dedicated to the daily service of the elderly, to foster adequate human contexts, in which each one can live worthily this important stage of their life. The institutes that house the elderly are called to be places of humanity and loving care, where the weakest individuals are not forgotten or neglected, but visited, remembered and protected as older brothers and sisters. Expressed thus is gratitude to those who have given so much to the community and are its root.
Institutions and different social realities can still do much to help the elderly to express their capacity to the utmost, to facilitate their active participation, especially so that their dignity as persons is always respected and valued. To do this, it is necessary to oppose the toxic throwaway culture, which marginalizes the elderly, considering them non-productive. Public leaders, the cultural, educational and religious realities, as well as all men of good will, are called to commit themselves to the construction of an ever more hospitable and inclusive society.
And this idea of being disposable is awful! One of my grandmothers told me this story, that in a family the grandfather lived with the [children and grandchildren]; he was a widower but he began to get sick, to get sick …, and he didn’t eat properly at the table, and some of the food spilled. One day the father <of the family> decided that the grandfather could no longer eat with them at the table, but in the kitchen, and he made a small table for the grandfather. So the family ate without the grandfather. A few days later, when the father returned home from work, he found one of his children playing with wood, nails, hammers … “But what are you doing?” — [asked the father]. The child answered: “I’m making a table.” “But why?” “For you, so that when you become old you can eat here.”
Children are naturally very attached to their grandparents and they understand things that only grandparents can explain with their life, with their attitude. The throwaway culture says: “You are old, get out.” You are old, yes, but you have so many things to say to us, to tell us, of history, of culture, of life, of values … It is not necessary to let this throwaway culture advance; there must always be an inclusive culture.
It is also important to foster the bond between generations. The future of a people requires the encounter between young people and the elderly: young people are the vitality of a people on the way and the elderly reinforce this vitality with memory and wisdom. And talk with your grandchildren, talk <with them>. Let them ask you questions. They are of a different peculiarity of our own, they do other things, they like other music …, but they are in need of the elderly, of this continuous dialogue, give them wisdom too. It does me so much good to read when Joseph and Mary took the Baby Jesus – the Baby was 40 days old – to the Temple; and they found two grandparents there [Simeon and Anna], and these grandparents were the wisdom of the people; they praised God that this wisdom could go forward with this Baby. It was grandparents who received Jesus in the Temple, not the priest: he came later. <It was> the grandparents; read this in Luke’s Gospel, it’s very beautiful!
Dear grandfathers and grandmothers, thank you for the example you give of love, of dedication and of wisdom. Continue to witness these values with courage! May society not lack your smile and the beautiful luminosity of your eyes: may society be able to see them! I accompany you with my prayer, and you too, do not forget to pray for me. And now I invoke the Lord’s blessing upon you and your intentions and plans for good.
Now we pray to Jesus’ grandmother, Saint Anne; we pray to Saint Anne who is Jesus’ grandmother, and we do so in silence for a moment. Each one ask Saint Anne to teach us to be good and wise grandparents.
[Blessing] Thank you.
[Original text: Italian] [Translation by ZENIT]
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