MEMORIAL OF BLESSED JOHN PAUL II - 22 OCTOBER

VATICAN CITY, 12 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments has issued a decree establishing that the celebration of the memorial of Blessed John Paul II be inserted into the calendar of the diocese of Rome and the dioceses of Poland, and that it be celebrated every year.

  The text, signed by cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera and archbishop Giuseppe Agostino Di Noia, O.P., respectively prefect and secretary of the dicastery, states that "during the year following the beatification of John Paul II, that is, until 1 May 2012, A a Mass of Thanksgiving to God may be celebrated in certain places and on certain days. Responsibility for establishing the day or days, as well as the place or places of the gathering of the people of God, shall be the competence of the diocesan bishop for his diocese. Considering local needs and pastoral conveniences, it is granted that a Holy Mass be celebrated in honour of the new blessed on a Sunday during the year, and on a day between Nos. 10 and 13 of the table of liturgical days.

  "For religious families, it shall be the competence of the superior general to indicate the days and locations (for the Thanksgiving Mass) for the entire religious family".

  On the other hand, the decree continues, "with regard to other local calendars, the request to place an optional memorial to Blessed John Paul II may be presented to this congregation by a conference of bishops for its territory, by the diocesan bishop for his diocese, or by a superior general for a religious family".

  "An indult of the Apostolic See is required to dedicate a church in honour of Blessed John Paul II (cf. Ordo dedicationis ecclesiae, Praenotanda, No. 4) except when his liturgical memorial has been inserted into the local calendar; in this case the indult is not necessary, and in the church dedicated to the blessed, the memorial is raised to a liturgical feast (cf. Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum, Notificatio de cultu Beatorum, 21 May 1999, No.9)."
CCD/                                VIS 20110412 (360)

MEETING OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS SPECIAL COUNCIL ON MIDDLE EAST

VATICAN CITY, 12 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Special Council for the Middle East of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops met for the third time on 30 and 31 March.

  The agenda included an update on the current situation of the various churches of Council members, and the preparation of a study with a view to forming a working draft on the proposals of the Special Assembly of the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, held in October 2010.

  A press release issued today affirmed that "the general situation in the Middle East and North Africa provided the context for the exchange of opinions and information. The precarious situation caused by to socio-political movements directly involves the Churches which share in the joys and worries of citizens, in many cases forced to emigrate due to violence, lack of work, restriction of religious freedom and limited democracy. However, the need for free and constructive dialogue with other religions and with the legitimate representatives of civil authorities remains imperative".

  The next meeting will take place on 17-18 May 2011.

SE/                                VIS 20110412 (190)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 12 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Msgr. Joseph J. Tyson, auxiliary bishop of Seattle, as bishop of Yakima (area 46,051, population 649,840, Catholics 79,317, priests 81, permanent deacons 26, religious 43), USA. The bishop-elect was born in Yakima, USA in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1989. He succeeds Msgr. Carlos A. Sevilla, S.J., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Erected the new ecclesiastical province of Malanje (area 107,000, population 1,090,000, Catholics 500,000, priests 49, religious 140) Angola, raising it to the rank of Metropolitan Church. The new ecclesiastical province will have as suffragans the dioceses of Uije and Ndalatando. He appointed bishop Lius Maria Perez de Onraita Aguirre of the same diocese as metropolitan archbishop of the new circumscription.

 - Erected the new ecclesiastical province of Saurimo (area 77,600, population 420,000, Catholics 61,700, priests 11, religious 28) Angola, raising it to the rank of Metropolitan Church. The new ecclesiastical province will have as suffragans the dioceses of Lwena and Dundo. He appointed bishop Jose Manuel Imbamba of the same diocese as metropolitan archbishop of the new circumscription.

 - Appointed Fr. Inacio Saure, I.M.C., as bishop of Tete (area 100,725, population 2,000,000, Catholics 270,000, priests 31, religious 65), Mozambique. The bishop-elect was born in Balama, Mozambique in 1960 and ordained a priest in 1998.
NER:ECE/                            VIS 20110412 (240)

MEETING ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHINA

VATICAN CITY, 9 APR 2011 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office published the following communique at midday today:

  "The Commission established by Benedict XVI to study the most important issues regarding the Catholic Church in China will meet in the Vatican from 11 to 13 April. The Commission shall be made up of the Superiors of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia competent in these matters, and various representatives of the Chinese Episcopate and religious congregations.

  "The first plenary meeting, held on 10-12 March 2008, took as its theme the letter Benedict XVI addressed to Chinese Catholics on 27 May 2007. The two subsequent meetings (30 March-1 April 2009 and 22-24 March 2010) were dedicated to the themes of the human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral formation of seminarians and consecrated persons, as well as the permanent training of priests.

  "The next plenary meeting will examine the pastoral situation of the ecclesiastical circumscriptions in China, with particular reference to the challenges the Church encounters in incarnating the Gospel under current social and economic conditions".

OP/                                    VIS 20110411 (180)

PRAYER AND MISSIONARY ZEAL: JOHN PAUL II'S "TWO PILLARS"

VATICAN CITY, 9 APR 2011 (VIS) - On Saturday afternoon Benedict XVI attended a screening of the documentary "Pilgrim in White", by the Polish director Jaropslaw Szmidt and produced by Artrama. The film narrates key moments during the pontificate of John Paul II, with accounts from religious leaders and figures from the media and the fields of culture, science and politics. The screening was also attended by various cardinals and other guests, including the makers of the documentary, who the Holy Father thanked.

  He said, "For the seriousness with which it has been prepared and the quality of its production, this documentary constitutes one of the most valid contributions offered to the public on the occasion of my beloved predecessor's upcoming beatification".

  He continued, "There are by now numerous audiovisual works on the life of John Paul II ... This film ... sets out to faithfully render both the personality of the Pope and his tireless work throughout his long pontificate".

  Benedict XVI emphasised the "two pillars" of the life and ministry of the Polish Pope:  "prayer and missionary zeal. John Paul II was a great scholar and great apostle of Christ. God chose him for the Chair of Peter and granted him long life in order that he might accompany the Church into the third millennium. By his example, he guided us all in this pilgrimage and continues to do so from above".
BXVI-film/                                VIS 20110411 (240)