Pope Francis receives in audience the president of Georgia

Vatican City, 10 April 2015 (VIS) – This morning the Holy Father Francis received in audience Giorgi Margvelashvili, president of Georgia, who subsequently met with Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, under-secretary for Relations with States, at the Secretariat of State.

The cordial discussions enabled appreciation of the development of bilateral relations and further consideration of various themes of mutual interest, with particular reference to the positive contribution of the local Catholic community in the fields of charitable activity and education.

Attention then turned to concerns regarding the tensions that affect the region and, with emphasis on the importance of full respect for international law, the hope was expressed that every solution may be sought through peaceful negotiation between the interested Parties. Finally, mention was made of what has recently been achieved by Georgia regarding its own role in Europe.

The Pope to officially convoke the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy tomorrow

Vatican City, 10 April 2015 (VIS) – At 5.30 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday 11 April, the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, in St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope will officially convoke the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy with the publication of the Bull of Indiction, “Misericordiae vultus”. The Jubilee Bull, aside from indicating the duration, opening and closing dates, and the main ways in which the Holy Year will unfold, constitutes the basic document for understanding the spirit in which it was convoked, as well as Pope Francis' intentions and the fruit he hopes the Year will bear.

For the proclamation, the Holy Father, accompanied by the cardinals, will proceed to the entrance of the Vatican Basilica. At the side of the Holy Door the Bull of Indiction will be handed to the four cardinal archpriests of the papal basilicas of Rome: Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican; Cardinal Agostino Vallini, archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran; Cardinal James Michael Harvey, St. Paul Outside-the-Walls; and Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

To express his wish that the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy will be celebrated in Rome and throughout the world, Pope Francis will consign a copy of the Bull, to present it symbolically to all bishops, to Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops; to Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples; and to Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. A copy will be received by Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, born in Hong Kong and now secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, on behalf of all the East. The African continent will be represented by Archbishop Bartolome Adoukonou, from Benin and currently secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture. For the Oriental Churches, the Holy Father will present the Bull to Msgr. Khaled Ayad Bishay of the Patriarchal Church of Alexandria of the Copts.

The Regent of the Papal Household, Msgr. Leonardo Sapienza, as apostolic protonotary, will read various extracts from the official document convoking the extraordinary Holy Year. Finally, the Holy Father will preside at the celebration of First Vespers of Divine Mercy Sunday.

Audiences

Vatican City, 10 April 2015 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;

- Professor Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Sant’Egidio Community;

- Archbishop Robert Bezak, emeritus of Trnava, Slovak Republic;

- Marita Perceval, permanent representative of Argentina at the United Nations;

- Archbishop Mouradian Kissag, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Argentina, and entourage.