LATIN AMERICA: SAFEGUARDING FAITH AND CULTURAL DYNAMISM

VATICAN CITY, 13 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon Benedict XVI presided at Mass in the Vatican Basilica for the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron of Latin America. The ceremony, which was intended to mark the two hundredth anniversary of the independence of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, was concelebrated by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.; Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America; Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrasco, archbishop of Mexico, Mexico, and Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis, archbishop of Aparecida, Brazil.

  Before the Eucharistic celebration Guzman Carriquiry, secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, read out a number of texts on the anniversary and the Virgin of Guadalupe, while Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, archbishop of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, recited a prayer for Our Lady of Guadalupe.

  In his homily the Pope said that everyone celebrating the bicentenary, apart from recalling "the historical, social and political aspects of those events, should renew their gratitude to the Almighty for the great gift of faith they have received, a faith which announces the redeeming mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that all peoples of the earth might have life in Him. Peter's Successor could not let this anniversary pass without expressing the Church's joy at the copious gifts which God, in His infinite goodness, has poured upon those beloved nations over the years".

  "The venerated image of 'la Morenita del Tepeyac' ... with simplicity and a mother's heart, continues to show us the one Light, the one Truth: her Son Jesus Christ. He is the definitive response to the question about the meaning of life and to the fundamental doubts which, today too afflict, so many men and women of the American continent".

  "Integration on that beloved continent is currently proceeding hand in hand with its emerging importance on the world stage. ... It is important for its various peoples to safeguard their rich store of faith and their historical and cultural dynamism, always defending human life from conception to natural end, and promoting peace. Likewise, they must protect the family in its genuine form and mission, and intensify their educational efforts. ... They are also called to foment initiatives ... aimed at bringing reconciliation and fraternity, increasing solidarity and protecting the environment, while making greater efforts to overcome poverty, illiteracy and corruption, and eradicating all injustice, violence, criminality, urban insecurity, drug trafficking and extortion".

  "When the Church was preparing to celebrate the 'plantatio' of the Cross of Christ in the good earth of the American continent, Blessed John Paul II went to that land where, for the first time, he formulated plans for a new evangelisation, new 'in its ardour, its methods and its expression'", Pope Benedict recalled. "It is my responsibility to confirm people in the faith, and I too wish to encourage the apostolic efforts currently driving ... the 'continental mission' promoted at Aparecida, that Christianity may sink its roots deeper into the hearts of individuals and peoples in Latin America".

  "May the light of Christ shine ever more brightly in the face of each of the sons and daughters of that beloved land, and may His redeeming grace guide their decisions, that they may unwaveringly continue to build a society founded on the triumph of goodness, the proliferation of love and the spread of justice. With these desires, and supported by divine Providence, before Easter I intend to make an apostolic trip to Mexico and Cuba, in order to proclaim the Word of Christ there, and convince people that this is the time to evangelise with strong faith, living hope and burning charity".

  "All these intentions", Benedict XVI concluded, "along with the destiny of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean and their journey towards a better future, I entrust to the loving mediation of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I also invoke the intercession of the many saints and blesseds, aroused by the Spirit over the centuries to offer heroic models of Christian virtues in their various life states and social environments, that their example may favour a new evangelisation under the gaze of Christ, the Saviour of man".
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EXCELLENT BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN CHILE AND HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, 13 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, is currently visiting Chile in response to an official invitation from the government. Yesterday he met with Alfredo Moreno Charme, foreign minister, and with ministerial officials, before going on to meet with Sebastian Pinera at the Palacio de la Moneda in the nation's capital, Santiago de Chile.

  A communique made public this morning explains that during the meetings "satisfaction was expressed at the excellent state of bilateral relations between Chile and the Holy See, and at the positive contribution Catholic institutions make to Chilean society, especially in the fields of education, social work and the integration of indigenous peoples.

  "Further attention was given to themes discussed during the official visit of the Chilean president to the Vatican in March this year, when he met with His Holiness Benedict XVI. Questions of mutual interest include the defence of life from conception to natural demise, and of the family; respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion and education; adherence to the principles of international law; the protection of the environment, and support for integral development and social peace. In all of these matters, the views of the Holy See and the government of Chile converged on the fundamental values of human coexistence. Opinions were also exchanged on various international issues, including the situation on Latin America".

  The secretary for Relations with States will today travel to Valparaiso, site of the National Congress, where he will meet with the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. He will also visit the shrines of St. Alberto Hurtado and St. Terestia de los Andes.
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THE MARKET MUST NEVER NEGLECT SOLIDARITY

VATICAN CITY, 10 DEC 2011 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received representatives from the Confederation of Italian Cooperatives, and from the Italian Federation of Cooperative Credit Banks, who were accompanied by their ecclesiastical assistant Msgr. Adriano Vincenzi.

  In his remarks to them the Pope dwelt on the importance Catholic cooperatives have had in Italy since their emergence in the wake of Leo XIII's Encyclical "Rerum novarum". That document, the 120th anniversary of which falls this year, "favoured the fruitful presence of Catholics in Italian society through the promotion of cooperative and mutual societies, the development of social enterprises and many other public works characterised by various forms of participation and self-management. The purpose of such activity has always been to provide material support for people and constant attention to families, drawing inspiration from the Magisterium of the Church", he said.

  "The heart of cooperative efforts has always lain in the search for harmony between the individual and community dimensions. This is a concrete expression of the complementarity and subsidiarity which Church social doctrine has always sought to promote between citizens and the State, a balance between safeguarding the rights of the individual and promoting the common good, in order to develop a local economy capable of responding to community needs. Cooperative activities are likewise characterised by their great concern for solidarity, while still respecting the due autonomy of the individual".

  "In a period of great change, of persistent economic uncertainty, and of difficulties in the world of work, the Church feels the need to announce Christ's message with renewed vigour. ... And you, dear friends, must be aware that Catholic cooperatives have an important role to play in this field", the Holy Father told his audience.

  Benedict XVI invited members of cooperatives to make their specific contribution "to ensure that the economy and the market never neglect solidarity", in order "to promote a culture of life and the family, and to favour the creation of new families with access to dignified work which respects the creation that God has entrusted to our responsibility and care". He also invited them "to value man in his entirety, irrespective of any difference in race, language or religion".

  Finally, the Pope recalled how Catholic cooperatives are characterised by their "Christian inspiration, which must constantly guide them", because "for Christians loving others is not mere philanthropy but an expression of the love of God. ... Never forget the importance of developing this spiritual dimension as you seek to respond to contemporary challenges and social emergencies, in order to continue to work in the logic of gratuitousness and responsibility, promoting wise and sober consumption".
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JOY IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY BECAUSE GOD IS WITH US

VATICAN CITY, 11 DEC 2011 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. today, Benedict XVI travelled to the parish of "Santa Maria delle Grazie" at Casal Boccone, in the northern sector of the diocese of Rome. There, in the courtyard of the parish complex which were inaugurated last year, he was greeted with dances and songs by children from the local primary school. The Holy Father expressed his thanks for the welcome and pronounced some off-the-cuff remarks.

  "I wish everyone a happy Sunday. We know that Christmas is approaching so let us prepare ourselves, not just with gifts but with our hearts. Let us think that Christ the Lord is close to us, that He enters our lives and brings us light and joy. 'Pray incessantly' says St. Paul today in his Letter to the Thessalonians. ... What this means is that we must not lose contact with God in our hearts. If such contact exists then we have a reason to be joyful. To all of you I wish the joy of Christmas, the presence of the Baby Jesus Who is the God of our hearts".

  Mass began at 9.30 a.m. with a greeting delivered by the parish priest, Fr. Domenico Monteforte. Excerpts from Benedict XVI's homily are given below:

  "Advent is a time of waiting, hope and preparation for the visit of the Lord. As we heard in the Gospel reading, the person and preaching of John the Baptist invite us to take up this commitment". John the Baptist "is the precursor, a mere witness, entirely subject to the One Whom he announces. He is voice in the desert, just as today, in the desert of the great cities of this world, in the great absence of God, we need voices which tell us simply that God exists, that He is always close even when He seems distant".

  John the Baptist "is a witness of the light. This fact touches our hearts, because in a world so full of shadows and darkness, we are all called to be witnesses of the light. This is the mission of Advent: being witness of the light, and we can do this only if we carry the light within us. ... In the Church, in the Word of God, in the celebration of the Sacraments, in the Sacrament of Confession and the forgiveness we receive, in the Eucharist where the Lord gives Himself into our hands and hearts, in of all this we touch the light and receive our mission: the mission of bearing witness to the fact that the light exists, of bringing that light into our world".

  "This 'Gaudete' Sunday is the Sunday of joy. It tells us that, even amidst our doubts and difficulties, joy exists because God exists and He is with us".

  "Looking at this church and the parish buildings, I see the fruits of patience, dedication and love. At the same time, by my presence here, I wish to encourage you also to raise that Church of living stones, which you yourselves represent. Each of you should feel yourselves to be an element of this living structure. A community is constructed with the contribution each person makes, with the commitment of everyone. I am thinking in particular of the field of catechesis, the liturgy and charity, the columns which support Christian life".

  "I also wish to draw your attention to the importance and the central role of the Eucharist. May the Mass be the focus of your Sunday, which must be rediscovered and lived as the day of the Lord and of the community, a day on which to praise and celebrate the One Who was born for us, Who died and rose again for our salvation, and Who asks us to live together joyfully, to be a community open and ready to welcome anyone who is alone and in difficulty. Do not lose your understanding of the significance of Sundays, and remain faithful to your appointment with the Eucharist. Early Christians were ready to give their lives for this".

  "Another point I would like to raise is that of the witness of charity, which must characterise your life as a community. Over recent years you have seen a rapid growth in numbers, but you have also witnessed the arrival of many people in situations of difficulty and want. These people need you, they need your material aid but also and above all of your witness as believers. Ensure that your community always remains a concrete expression of the love of God Who is rich in mercy, and that it invites people to approach Him with trust".

  Following the Mass, the Pope held a brief meeting with the members of the parish council. Before returning to the Vatican for the Angelus prayer, he addressed some remarks to faithful waiting outside the church to bid him farewell.

  "Thank you for your presence and the warmth of your welcome", he said. "Your beautiful, open and heartfelt cordiality reminded me of my visit to Africa. It is a great joy to me to see how, ... in this new parish, people actively participate in the Eucharist and prepare for Christmas.

  "Today, preparing for Christmas is very difficult", the Holy Father added. "I know that people have many commitments, but getting ready for Christmas does not only mean shopping and making preparations, it means being in contact with the Lord, going out to meet Him. I feel it is important not to forget this dimension. ... This is not an additional burden, but the power that enables us to do all we need to do. I hope you maintain permanent contact with Jesus, that His joy and strength might help you to live in this world".
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ADVENT: OPENNESS TO THE ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS

VATICAN CITY, 11 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Having returned to the Vatican following his pastoral visit to the Roman parish of "Santa Maria delle Grazie" at Casal Boccone, at midday today Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

  Following a Roman tradition of this third Sunday of Advent, the Pope blessed statuettes of the Baby Jesus which were brought to the square by children from local oratories and which are destined to be placed in nativity scenes in homes, schools and parishes.

  "The liturgical texts of Advent" said the Holy Father, "invite us to live in expectation of Jesus, always to await His coming and to remain open and ready to meet Him. The vigilance Christians are called to show every day of their lives is particularly characteristic of this period in which we ready ourselves for the joy of the Christmas mystery. The external environment presents its usual commercial messages, though perhaps somewhat subdued due to the economic crisis, but Christians are called to experience Advent without allowing themselves to be distracted by the lights, giving things their correct value and fixing their inner gaze on Christ".

  "The liturgy today, 'Gaudete' Sunday, invites us to happiness, to await not sadly but joyfully", the Pope explained. "True joy is not the result of diversion, of avoiding life's responsibilities. True joy is linked to something more profound. Of course, in an often frenetic daily life it is important to find time for rest and relaxation, but true joy is linked to the relationship with God. People who have encountered Christ in their lives, experience a calmness of heart and a joy which no worldly situation can take from them. ... In this time of Advent, let us reinforce our certainty that the Lord came among us, and that He continually renews His presence of consolation, love and joy".

  Following the Angelus, Benedict XVI greeted the children of Rome asking them, when they prayed before their nativity scenes, to remember the Pope, just as the Pope remembered them.

  He also welcomed members of the Movement for Life who have come to Rome from all over Europe for the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Prize, awarded in memory of Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolari Movement. "On this anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights", he said, "let us remember that the first of all rights is the right to life".

  Finally he addressed Croatian pilgrims who are participating in a symposium on Fr. Ruder Josip Boskovic. "That Jesuit scientist and diplomat", the Pope said, "personified and bore witness to the bond between faith and science".
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