IN BRIEF

THE HOLY FATHER has sent a message to Jacques Diouf, director general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, for the occasion of World Food Day 2011. In the text Benedict XVI makes particular mention of the dramatic situation in the Horn on Africa, affirming that "immediate aid is essential, but it is also necessary to prepare medium- and long-term projects so that international activity is not reduced merely to responding to emergencies. ... Feelings of compassion and humanity towards others, accompanied by the duty to show solidarity and ensure justice, must be reinstated as the foundation for all activities, including those of the international community".

MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT SYNOD OF THE SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH, led by His Beatitude George Alencherry, major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars, India, were received in audience by the Pope on Monday 17 October. The Holy Father noted that "the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala continues to enjoy the respect of the local community for its work in education and for its social and charitable institutions at the service of the whole community. I know that life for Christians has been complicated by sectarian mistrust and even violence, but I would urge you to continue to work with people of good will of all religions in the area, in order to maintain the peace and harmony of the region, for the good of the Church and that of all citizens".

THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR PROMOTING NEW EVANGELISATION has held a meeting on the theme: "The Word of God grows and spreads". On the evening of Saturday 15 October participants were received in audience by the Pope who told them that "the world today needs people who announce and bear witness to the fact that it is Christ Who teaches us the art of living, Who shows us the path to true happiness, because He Himself is the path of life. It needs people who first and foremost keep their own gaze fixed on Jesus, Son of God. Announcement must always be immersed ... in an intense life of prayer. The world today needs people who speak to God in order to be able to speak of God".

BENEDICT XVI has written a message marking the fiftieth anniversary of "Adveniat" Episcopal Action. The message was addressed to Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen, Germany, president of "Adveniat". "Thanks to their generous donations and their disinterested commitment in the field", the Pope writes, "German Catholics have been able to implement many ecclesial aid projects in Latin American countries. This generous expression of Christian charity merits sincere recognition". He also invites "Adveniat" Episcopal Action to "care for men and women in their totality, with a view to their natural and their supernatural needs. If we do this, the Kingdom of God will truly grow among us".

THE VATICAN MUSEUMS, as it has in previous years, participated in the Frankfurt Book Fair, which took place from 12 to 16 October and brought together 7,500 exhibitors from 111 countries. The "Edizioni Musei Vaticani" presented a number of new books including an important historical-artistic work in four volumes: "The Sistine Chapel. The Word of God in Human Images" by Timothy Verdon. The catalogue of the "Edizioni Musei Vaticani" includes academic, instructional and popular works, both series and monographs, all featuring high-quality text and images, and many available in various languages.
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