THE POPE RECEIVES THE PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND: INTERCULTURAL AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IN DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Vatican City, 12 September 2013 (VIS) – This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Holy Father Francis received in audience the Prime Minister of Thailand, Her Excellency Mrs Yingluck Shinawatra. The Head of Government then 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 colloquial discussions made reference to the good relations between Thailand and the Holy See, as well as the mutual understanding and co-operation between the Church and the State, especially in the fields of education and social welfare.

The Parties went on to discuss various matters of current international interest and the political situation in Asia, focusing in particular on the importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue for the promotion of human rights, peace and justice throughout the region.

HOLY FATHER'S CALENDAR FROM SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER 2013

Vatican City, 12 September 2013 (VIS) – The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has published the following calendar of liturgical celebrations over which the Holy Father will preside from September to November:

SEPTEMBER

Sunday, 22: Pastoral visit to Cagliari and to the Shrine of Our Lady of Bonaria.

Sunday, 29: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. At 10.30 a.m., Holy Mass in St. Peter's Square, on the occasion of the Day for Catechists.

Monday, 30: At 10 a.m., Consistory Hall, Ordinary Public Consistory on several causes of canonisation.

OCTOBER

Friday 4: Pastoral visit to Assisi.

Saturday 12: 5 p.m., Marian prayer in St. Peter's Square.

Sunday 13: Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. At 10.30 a.m., Holy Mass in St. Peter's Square, on the occasion of the Marian Day.

Sunday 27: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. At 10.30 a.m., Holy Mass in St. Peter's Square, on the occasion of the Family Day.

NOVEMBER

Friday 1: Solemnity of All Saints. At 4 p.m. Holy Mass at the Cemetery of Verano.

Saturday 2: All Souls Day. At 6 p.m. in the Vatican Grottoes, a moment of prayer for deceased Supreme Pontiffs.

Monday 4: At 11.30 a.m. in the altar of the Cathedra in the Papal Chapel of the Vatican Basilica, Mass for the souls of cardinals and bishops who died during the year.

Sunday 24: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe; at 10.30 a.m., in the Papal Chapel, St. Peter's Square, closing of the Year of Faith.

AUDIENCES

Vatican City, 12 September 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Cardinal Manuel Monteiro De Castro, major penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary.

- Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.

- Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary general of the Organisation of American States, with his wife and entourage.

- Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, archbishop of Florence, Italy.

- Eduardo Delgrado Bermudez, ambassador of Cuba to the Holy See, on his farewell visit.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 12 September 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Christopher Charles Prowse as archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn (area 88,000, population 620,000, Catholics 176,500, priests 121, permanent deacons 7, religious 203), Australia. Bishop Prowse, previously bishop of Sale, Australia, was born in East Melbourne, Australia in 1953, was ordained to the priesthood in 1980, and received episcopal ordination in 2003.