POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF ANGOLA: FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY

Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) – Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of the Republic of Angola, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Angola were evoked. In particular, mention was made of the planned bilateral Agreement regarding the legal state of the Catholic Church in the country. In this context, reference was also made to the important contribution offered by the Catholic Church to the country through its educational and healthcare institutions.

Finally, attention focused on various challenges relating to the Country and the Region, such as the fight against poverty and social inequality, the full development of the person, reconciliation, justice and peace, with particular attention to the different situations of conflict that affect the African Continent.

TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE ECONOMY: TRANSPARENCY IN THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL

Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) – This morning the Holy Father received in audience the members of the Council for the Economy, on the occasion of their first meeting. After greeting Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munchen und Freising, Germany and coordinator of the Council for the Economy, the Pope underlined the Church's “awareness of her responsibility to protect and manage prudently her assets in the light of her mission of evangelisation, with particular care for the needy”, and added that “We must not stray from this path. Everything, transparency, efficiency, everything is for this purpose. It is all for this”.

Pope Francis emphasised that the Holy See is called upon to carry out this mission, paying special attention to its responsibility to the universal Church, and without forgetting that this challenge reflects the wish to implement the necessary reform of the Roman Curia to serve better the Church and Peter's mission. “A significant challenge that takes loyalty and prudence. The path will not be easy and will require courage and determination”.

Before concluding, the Pope reiterated that the Council is made up of eight cardinals and seven laypersons, and that the latter are fully-fledged members of the new council. “They are not second class members”, he remarked. “The work of the Council is of great weight and importance, and will offer a fundamental contribution to the service performed by Roman Curia and the various administrations of the Holy See”.

POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE “PAPAL FOUNDATION”

Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) – Today at midday, in the Vatican's Sala Clementina, the Pope received two hundred members of the “Papal Foundation” during its annual visit to Rome. The “Papal Foundation” is an American Catholic association founded in Philadelphia, U.S.A. in 1990 by the late Cardinal John Krol, which provides funds to meet the needs of the Church throughout the world.

The Bishop of Rome thanked the Foundation for the help it offers the Church in developing countries by supporting educational, charitable and apostolic projects, and also for the scholarships it makes available to laity, priests and religious for study in Rome. “In this way, you help to ensure the training of a new generation of leaders whose minds and hearts are shaped by the truth of the Gospel, the wisdom of Catholic social teaching and a profound sense of communion with the universal Church in her service to the entire human family”.

He concluded by mentioning the momentousness of these days marked by the canonisation of John XXIII and John Paul II, and assured the members of the Papal Foundation of his prayers that they may “be confirmed in the grace of your Baptism and in your commitment to be missionary disciples filled with the joy born of a personal encounter with the Risen Jesus”.

FOOTBALLERS: SET AN EXAMPLE BOTH ON AND OFF PITCH

Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) – “Football is a social entity, and requires social responsibility on the part of players, both on and off the pitch, and by national and local managers”, said Pope Francis this morning at the beginning of his address to the Fiorentina and Napoli football clubs, and a delegation from the Football Federation and the Serie A League. The Pope shared some “joyful moments” from his youth, when he used to visit the stadium with his family on Sundays, and commented that he would like football and every other popular sport to rediscover a celebratory dimension.

“Today, even football is caught up in the world of business, advertising, television and so on”, he continued. “But the economic aspect must not prevail in sport, as it risks contaminating it all, at international, national and also local levels. It is therefore necessary to react positively from above, restoring sporting dignity to events”.

The Pontiff reminded the footballers of the great responsibility inherent in being the focus of attention and role models to many young people: “bear this in mind, and consider that your behaviour is resonant, both positively and negatively. Always be true sportsmen!”. In conclusion, the Pope emphasised that sport has great educative value, for the growth of the person: personal growth, in the harmony of body and spirit, and social growth, in terms of solidarity, loyalty and respect. May football always enable the development of this potential!”.

HOLY SEE, VATICAN CITY AND THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE

Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) – The following is the full text of the informative note from Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., for Vatican Radio:

The “Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishments” is one of the important international Conventions implemented within the ambit of the activities of the United Nations, and which has been signed voluntarily by numerous member States of the international community, the so-called “State Parties” to the Conventions.

To confirm the implementation of the Conventions and the progress they have made, Committees of independent experts have been instituted by the Conventions themselves and therefore by the mandate of the “State Parties”. These Committees have the task of examining the periodical reports that the States Party are required to present regarding the implementation of the Convention. During its sessions in Geneva, the Committee meets with the delegations of the State Parties to discuss their reports and the state of implementation of and enforcement of the Convention, along with any questions that may arise in relation to its interpretation. This is a normal procedure of open dialogue, in which civil society may also play a role through the presentation of comments or recommendations on the part of NGOs of various orientations.

The Convention against torture (usually abbreviated to CAT) dates from 1984. The Holy See became a signatory in 2002, “on behalf of Vatican City State” and presented its “initial” report in December 2012.

The United Nations Committee on the CAT is composed of ten members and is holding its 52nd Session in the Palais Wilson, Geneva from 28 April to 23 May, during which it will examine the reports presented by eight countries: Uruguay, Thailand, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Montenegro, Cyrus, Lithuania and the Holy See. The meeting of the Committee with the Delegation of the Holy See will take place on 5 and 6 May.

Firstly, on the morning of 5 May, there will be a brief presentation of the report by the Delegation, followed by comments from the Speakers chosen by the Committee. In the afternoon of 6 May the Delegation will be able to answer the questions posed on the previous day, and any other questions from members of the Committee.

On 23 May the Committee will conclude the session with a press conference, and will then publish its “Concluding Observations”. The State Parties and therefore also the Holy See will be able to issue a further formal written response.

To clarify the meaning of this event and the nature of the dialogue that will take place, it is first necessary to specify that, given the nature of this Convention (which relates principally to matters regarding criminal legislation, criminal procedure, the prison system, international relations in the legal domain, etc.), the Holy See has signed the Convention on behalf of Vatican City State (SVC), and so its legal responsibility for implementation regards the territory and competences of Vatican City State.

Naturally the Holy See also proposes important teaching with regard to matters of torture and cruel and inhuman treatment, which is of great importance for the diffusion of the principles inspiring the Convention and for its implementation. Indeed, it is true that the Report offers an extensive compilation of references and citations from the Church’s teaching and a broad review of the significant activity of Vatican media on this theme, although this goes beyond the commitments assumed through adherence to the Convention, inasmuch as this is limited to SCV territory.

Readers of the Report presented by the Holy See in December 2012 (which is public) will immediately notice that in various important points reference is made to the current revision of the criminal legislation of Vatican City State. In the meantime this review has been completed with the new laws promulgated on 11 July 2013, which entered into force on 1 September of the same year (Laws VIII and IX), and which effectively ensure that the Vatican’s criminal and criminal procedure legislation is in accordance with the Convention.

As was fully explained at the time (cf. Press Office Communiqué, 11.7.2013; comment by Archbishop D. Mamberti in the Osservatore Romano, 12.7.2013), the review was broad-ranging and profound, and adapted Vatican legislation to the requirements of the various international Conventions to which the Holy See had adhered throughout the years: not only against torture, but also against criminality in the fields of economics and finance, against racial discrimination, and on the rights of the child.

The progress made in adapting to the requirements of the Convention in the legislative domain was therefore very significant.

At the same time, during the dialogue with the State Parties, not infrequently the Committees pose questions deriving from issues not strictly linked to the text of the Convention, but rather connected to it indirectly or based on an extensive interpretation. For instance, this occurred last January during the dialogue with the Committee for the Convention on the rights of the child. A contributory factor is often the pressure exercised over the Committees and public opinion by NGOs with a strong ideological character and orientation, to bring the issue of the sexual abuse of minors into the discussion on torture, a matter which relates instead to the Convention on the rights of the child. The extent to which this is instrumental and forced is clear to any unbiased observer.

It should also be noted that the experts who form the Committees are mostly committed with great determination and merit to the causes of the promotion of rights, and therefore tend to broaden the spaces for and forms of defence. However, this must necessarily be balanced with the correct rules for legal interpretation, so that the debate, in a pluralistic, multicultural and international world, may take place in a constructive fashion, favouring the growth of consensus in the international community for the effective protection of essential values for the dignity of the person.

It is therefore to be hoped that a serene and objective dialogue may take place, pertinent to the text of the Conventions and their objectives. Otherwise, the Conventions may be distorted and the Committees risk losing authority and being reduced to tools of ideological pressure rather than a necessary stimulus towards the desired progress in promoting respect for human rights.

This is our sincere hope in view of the forthcoming dialogue on 5 and 6 May in Geneva, and we once again emphasise the Holy See’s strong commitment against any form of torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.

AUDIENCES

Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, apostolic nuncio in Lebanon.

- A delegation from the Islamic Centre of the Argentine Republic.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed Professor Guzman M. Carriquiry Lecour, as secretary vice-president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Professor Carriquiry was previously secretary of the same Pontifical Commission.