BENEDICT XVI RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA

VATICAN CITY, 7 MAY 2010 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the following communique at midday today:

  "This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Mikheil Saakashvili, president of Georgia. The president subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

  "The meetings provided an opportunity to examine various bilateral questions, and other important matters concerning life in Georgia, restating the commitment of the parties in favour of intercultural exchange. In particular, The positive humanitarian contributions made by Caritas to the population were noted, and encouragement given to the peaceful coexistence of believers from various religions, for the sake of the common good. As regards the situation in the region, the hope was expressed that all difficulties will be overcome through dialogue and negotiation among the parties concerned".

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SWISS GUARDS: VISIBLE GUARDIANS OF A RICH TRADITION

VATICAN CITY, 7 MAY 2010 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, the Holy Father received the thirty new members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard who were sworn in as members of the corps in a ceremony held yesterday afternoon. The guards were accompanied in their meeting with the Pope by their parents.

  Speaking German, Benedict XVI evoked the history of the Swiss Guard, recalling how, from now on, the new recruits will be "visible guardians" of that history. He likewise encouraged them to continue with "generous commitment" the tradition of service to Peter's Successor who, down the centuries, has placed his trust in them. The Pope also expressed the hope that, through their work, the new recruits "may mature as individuals and as Christians".

  Then, in French, the Pope explained how the members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard are, "in an indirect but very real way, associated with Peter's service to the Church". Referring to the mission entrusted to the Apostle following the resurrection (that of showing real solicitude to everyone), the Pope highlighted the fact that Peter's Successor "wishes to show that solicitude to all Churches and to each of the faithful, and to everyone who expects something from the Church".

  For this reason, the Holy Father told the new Guards, "by being close to Peter's Successor, the charity that animates you is called to become universal, and your hearts are called to expand. Your service will bring you to discover, in the face of each man and woman, a pilgrim seeking another face through which to receive a living sign of the Lord".

  The Pope concluded his brief remarks in Italian. "We know", he said, "that everything we do in Jesus' name, however humble it may be, transforms us and makes us a little more like the new man regenerated in Christ. Thus your service to the Petrine ministry will give you a livelier sense of Catholicism, together with a more profound perception of the dignity of all mankind".

  In closing, Benedict XVI entrusted the new Guards to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and to their patron saints: Sebastian, Martin and Nicholas of Flue.

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DAYS OF RUSSIAN CULTURE AND SPIRITUALITY IN THE VATICAN

VATICAN CITY, 7 MAY 2010 (VIS) - At midday today in the Holy See Press Office, Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, presented two initiatives due to take place on 19 and 20 May: the "Days of Russian Culture and Spirituality in the Vatican", and a concert in honour of Benedict XVI.

  The events are being promoted by the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and the Pontifical Council for Culture.

  Archbishop Ravasi explained how between 14 and 20 May, Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk, president of the Department for External Church Affairs of the Patriarchate of Moscow, will head a delegation as it visits various Italian cities: Ravenna, Milan, Turin, Bologna and Rome.

  In Rome on the evening of 19 May, Archbishop Hilarion will inaugurate a photographic exhibition by Valdimir Chodakov on the Russian Orthodox Church today. He will also attend a symposium on the theme: "Orthodox and Catholics in Europe today. The Christian roots and the shared cultural heritage of East and West". Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Archbishop Ravasi are also due to participate in the symposium.

  At 9 a.m. on 20 May, Archbishop Hilarion will preside at the divine liturgy in Rome's Russian Orthodox church of St. Catherine Martyr. At 6 p.m. on the same evening, the Russian national orchestra and the synodal choir of Moscow will give a concert in honour of the Pope. The concert, promoted by Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, will be held in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 7 MAY 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Two prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Belgium, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Lucas Van Looy S.D.B. of Ghent.

    - Msgr. Koen Vanhoutte, diocesan administrator of Bruges.

 - Bishop Valentino Di Cerbo of Alife-Caiazzo, Italy, accompanied by members of his family.
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VISITE DU PRESIDENT GEORGIEN

CITE DU VATICAN, 7 MAI 2010 (VIS). Ce matin, le Pape a reçu M.Mikhail Saakashvili, Président de la Géorgie, qui s'est ensuite entretenue avec le Cardinal Secrétaire d'Etat et le Secrétaire pour les rapports avec les états. "Ces entretiens ont permis d'aborder diverses questions bilatérales et nationales, et de réaffirmer la volonté commune de développer des échanges culturels. On a salué le travail de la Caritas auprès des populations et encouragé les bons rapports entre fidèles de diverses confessions au profit de la nation. Les parties ont exprimé le voeu de voir les difficultés régionales résolues par le dialogue et la négociation des réalités intéressées".

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AUDIENCE AUX NOUVEAUX GARDES SUISSES

CITE DU VATICAN, 7 MAI 2010 (VIS). Le Saint-Père a reçu ce matin les 30 Gardes Suisses assermentés hier, avec leurs familles. Evoquant la longue histoire de la Garde pontificale, Benoît XVI a dit à ses hôtes qu'ils étaient désormais des gardiens du Successeur de Pierre qui, depuis des siècles, place en eux sa confiance, les encourageant à profiter de leur service pour mûrir chrétiennement aussi: "D'une façon indirecte mais réelle, vous êtes associés au service de Pierre dans l'Eglise". Comme Pierre, le Pape porte "la même attention à chaque Eglise comme à chaque fidèle, à tout homme qui attend quelque chose de l'Eglise. Auprès du Successeur de Pierre, la charité qui vous anime doit devenir universelle, et votre coeur doit se dilater. Ainsi votre service vous poussera-t-il à découvrir en chacun un pèlerin en attente de rencontrer en autrui celui qui donne un signe vivant du Seigneur". Le Pape a conclu en disant: "Nous savons que tout ce que nous faisons pour le Seigneur, si humble soit-il, nous transforme et nous rapproche de l'homme nouveau, régénéré dans le Christ. C'est pourquoi le service que vous rendez au ministère pétrinien accroît en vous le sens de la catholicité, avec une plus profonde perception de la dignité de qui s'approche de vous et cherche en lui même le chemin de la vie éternelle". Benoît XVI a recommandé les nouveaux Gardes à la protection de leurs patrons, saint Martin, saint Sébastien et Nicolas de Flue.

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CULTURE ET SPIRITUALITE RUSSE

CITE DU VATICAN, 7 MAI 2010 (VIS). Ce midi près la Salle-de-Presse du Saint-Siège, Mgr.Gianfranco Ravasi, Président du Conseil pontifical pour la culture, a présenté les Journées de culture et spiritualité russe au Vatican et le concert qui sera offert au Pape (19 - 20 mai). Ces manifestations sont organisées en collaboration avec le Patriarcat de Moscou et le Conseil pontifical pour l'unité des chrétiens. A partir du 14 mai, le Métropolite Hilarion de Volokolamsk, Président du Département pour les relations extérieures du Patriarcat, conduira une délégation de Ravenne à Milan, puis de Turin à Bologne, et enfin à Rome.

  Le 19 mai, il inaugurera l'exposition du photographe Vladimir Chodakov sur l'Eglise orthodoxe russe, puis participera au symposium "Orthodoxes et catholiques dans l'Europe d'aujourd'hui", aux côtés de Mgr.Ravasi et du Cardinal Walter Kasper, Président du Conseil pontifical pour l'unité. A 9 h le lendemain, le Métropolite Hilarion présidera la divine liturgie en l'église orthodoxe russe Ste.Catherine. A 18 h sera exécuté Salle Paul VI le concert de l'Orchestre national russe et du Choeur synodal de Moscou, offert à Benoît XVI par SS le Patriarche Cyrille I.
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AUDIENCES

CITE DU VATICAN, 7 MAI 2010 (VIS). Le Saint-Père a reçu ce matin en audiences séparées:

-Deux prélats de la Conférence épiscopale belge en visite Ad Limina:

    -Mgr.Lucas Van Looy, Evêque de Gand.

    -Mgr.Koen Vanhoutte, Administrateur apostolique de Bruges.

-Mgr.Valentino Di Cerbo, Evêque d'Alife-Caiazzo (Italie).
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