DIALOGUE DOESN'T DISTANCE US FROM TRUTH BUT LEADS US TO WHOLE TRUTH

Vatican City, 28 June 2013 (VIS) - “Your presence is the sign of the profound bond that unites the Church of Constantinople with the Church of Rome in faith, in hope, and in charity,” Pope Francis said this morning on receiving the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarch, which had arrived in Rome to celebrate the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. The tradition of exchanging visits for the occasions of the respective patronal feasts dates back to 1969. The Pope emphasized that “fraternal gathering is an essential part of the journey towards unity.”

“The search for unity among Christians is an urgent task—you have said that 'it is not a luxury, but an imperative'—from which, today more than ever, we cannot prescind. In our world that hungers and thirsts for truth, love, hope, peace, and unity, our witness demands that we should at last be able to proclaim, with one voice, the good news of the Gospel and celebrate together the Divine Mysteries of our new life in Christ. We are well aware that unity is primarily a gift from Gift that we must pray for unceasingly, but we all have the task of preparing the conditions, of cultivating the soil of the heart so that this extraordinary grace may be received.”

Francis praised the Mixed International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches'—which is headed by Metropolitan Ioannis and Cardinal Kurt Koch—fundamental contribution to the search for full communion. “The Commission has already produced many common texts and is now studying the theological and ecclesiological relationships between primacy and synodality in the life of the Church.” In this regard, the Pope commented on the significance of, today, “being able to reflect together in truth and charity on these issues, starting from what we have in common without, however, concealing that which still separates us. This isn't a theoretical exercise: it demands in-depth knowledge of one another’s traditions in order to understand them and sometimes also to learn from them. I am speaking, for example, of the Catholic Church's reflection on the meaning of episcopal collegiality and the tradition of synodality that is so characteristic of the Orthodox Churches.”

“It comforts me,” he added, “knowing that Catholics and Orthodox share the same conception of dialogue that doesn't seek a theological minimalism on which to reach a compromise, but that rather is based on the deepening of the truth that Christ has given to his Church and that we, moved by the Holy Spirit, never cease to understand better. This is why we shouldn't be afraid of encounter and true dialogue. It doesn't distance us from the truth but rather, through an exchange of gifts, leads us, under the guidance of the Spirit of truth, to the whole truth.”

The Holy Father concluded his address to the ecumenical delegation, which tomorrow will attend a Eucharistic celebration presided by the Pope, by calling upon Sts. Peter and Paul, patrons of the Church of Rome, and the Apostle Andrew, patron of the Church of Constantinople, to intercede “for our faithful and for the needs of the whole world, especially the poor, the suffering, and those who are unjustly persecuted for their faith.”

POPE'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY

Vatican City, 28 June 2013 (VIS) - The Pope's general prayer intention for July is: “That World Youth Day in Brazil may encourage all young Christians to become disciples and missionaries of the Gospel.”

His mission intention is: “That throughout Asia doors may open to messengers of the Gospel.”

PRESS RELEASE ON ARREST OF CURIA PRELATE

Vatican City, 28 June 2013 (VIS) – This morning, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, issued the following communique regarding the arrest, in Italy, of Msgr. Nunzio Scarano, director of accounting analysis service of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), in the context of an investigation on corruption and fraud.

“As has been made known in the past few days, Msgr. Nunzio Scarano was suspended from his position at the APSA over a month ago, as soon as his superiors were informed that he was under investigation. This is in compliance of the Regulations of the Roman Curia, which require the precautionary suspension of persons against whom prosecution has been initiated.”

“The Holy See has still not received any request from the competent Italian authorities on the matter, but has confirmed its willingness to cooperate fully.”

“The competent Vatican authority, the AIF (the Vatican Financial Information Authority), is following the issue in order to take, if necessary, appropriate measures within its competence.”

AUDIENCES

Vatican City, 28 June 2013 (VIS) – This morning, the Holy Father received:

   - Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid, Spain, and

   - Dr. Carl A. Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 28 June 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father:

   - appointed Fr. Bruno Feillet as auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Reims (area 6,931, population 619,000, Catholics 571,000, priests 127, permanent deacons 36, religious 260), France, assigning him the Titular See of Gaudiaba. The bishop-elect was born in Cauderan, Bordeaux, France in 1959 and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cambrai in 1988. Since ordination, he has served in several pastoral, academic, and diocesan-level roles, most recently, since 1998, as professor of Philosophy and Moral Theology, since 2007, as professor at the Universite Catholique d'ete for the Church of Morocco, since 2009, as pastor-dean of Valenciennes and its consortium, and, since 2010, as the diocesan director of permanent formation.

   - appointed Msgr. Angel Fernandez Collado as auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Toledo (area , population , Catholics , priests , permanent deacons , religious ), Primate of Spain, assigning him the Titular See of Iliturgi. The bishop-elect was born in Los Cerralbos, Toledo, Spain in 1952 and was ordained a priest in 1977. Since ordination he has served in several pastoral, administrative, academic, and diocesan-level roles, most recently: since 2001, as canon chaplain of the Primate Cathedral; since 2008, as vice-director and co-ordinator of the Biennial of Ecclesial History for the San Ildefonso Superior Institute of Theological Studies in Toledo; since 2003, as archivist of the Primate Cathedral and the Chapter Libraries; since 2010 as vicar general and moderator of the Curia; and, since 2012, as co-ordinator of the Historical Section of the Organization of Hispanic-Mozarabic Studies.

   - appointed Fr. Varghese Thottamkara, CM, as coadjutor of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemele (area 98,972, population 7,241,000, Catholics 55,453, priests 28, religious 85), Ethiopia, assigning him the Titular See of Chullu. The bishop-elect was born in Thottuva, Kerala, India, in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1987. Since ordination, he has served in several pastoral, academic, administrative, missionary, and institutional roles, most recently, since 2010, as assistant to the superior general of the Congregation of Vincentian Fathers. From 1990-1993 He was vice rector and professor in the minor seminary of Ambo, Ethiopia, from 1993-1995 he was rector and professor of the Vincentian major seminary in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, and from 1998-2005 he was the councillor of the Vincentian Ethiopian Province and professor at the St. Francis Theological Institute of Addis Abeba.

   - confirmed the election of Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M., as Custos of the Holy Land and Guardian of Mount Zion for another three-year term.

   - appointed Msgr. Pietro Milite as promoter of justice of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota. Msgr. Milite, of the clergy of the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, Italy, was previously notary of the same tribunal.