OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 11 JAN 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, apostolic nuncio to Brazil, as secretary of the Congregation for Bishops.
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MODIFICATIONS TO RITES FOR THE CREATION OF NEW CARDINALS

VATICAN CITY, 10 JAN 2012 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has introduced certain modifications to the ordinary public consistories for the creation of new cardinals. The rites followed until now have been revised and simplified, with the Holy Father's approval. The modifications chiefly involve the unification of the three phases: the imposition of the biretta, the consignment of the ring and the assignation of the title or diaconate. The collect and the concluding prayer have been modified, and the proclamation of the Word of God made shorter.

  On 6 January Benedict XVI announced his intention to create twenty-two new members of the College of Cardinals, on 18 February, in what will be the fourth consistory of his pontificate.

  In its announcement the Office of Liturgical Celebrations explains that the liturgical reform which began with Vatican Council II also covered the rites for imposing the biretta and assigning a title to new cardinals during consistories, and that the modified form of the celebration was first used by Paul VI in April 1969. In preparing those new rites the main criterion adopted was that of giving a liturgical setting to a process which, of itself, is not part of the liturgy. The creation of new cardinals had to be inserted into a context of prayer, while at the same time avoiding anything that could give rise to the idea of a "cardinalatial Sacrament". Historically speaking, in fact, consistories have never been considered as a liturgical rite but as a meeting of the Pope with cardinals as part of the governance of the Church.

  Bearing in mind these historical aspects, and in continuity with the current form and main elements of consistories, the existing practice has been reviewed and simplified. In the first place, the collect and concluding prayer of the 1969 rite have been recouped, because they are particularly rich and derive from the great Roman tradition of prayer. The two prayers, in fact, speak explicitly of the powers the Lord gave to the Church, in particular that of Peter. The Pope also prays directly for himself, that he may carry out his duties well.

  The proclamation of the Word of God will also take a shorter form, as used in the 1969 rite, with a single Gospel reading (Mk 10, 32-45) which is the same in the two rites. Finally, the consignment of the cardinalatial ring will be integrated into a single rite. Prior to the 1969 reform, the red hat was imposed during the public consistory, which was followed by a secret consistory in which the ring was consigned and the title or diaconate assigned. Nowadays the distinction between public and secret consistory is no longer observed and it was deemed more coherent to bring the three phases of the creation of new cardinals together into a single rite. What remains unchanged is the following day's concelebration of Mass by the Pope and the new cardinals, which begins with an expression of homage and gratitude addressed to the Pope by the first of the new cardinals in the name of all the others.
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ADEQUATE PASTORAL CARE FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, 10 JAN 2012 (VIS) - The latest edition of the magazine "Migranti Press" contains an article by Archbishop Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, for the forthcoming World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The Day is to be celebrated on Sunday 15 January under the theme: "Migrations and New Evangelisation".

  Archbishop Veglio highlights the fact that the phenomenon of migration, which involves many different individuals and peoples with their various social, cultural and religious characteristics, is "a process which opens unique opportunities for evangelisation. It offers Christian communities the chance to bear witness to Jesus Christ, especially through respectful dialogue and the concrete witness of solidarity. Migrants can also reawaken drowsy Christian consciences, calling people to a more coherent Christian life".

  For this reason the Holy Father's Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees "invites us to ensure that migrants are given adequate pastoral care. Thus they may remain firm in their faith, coherent in their Christian life and powerful witnesses of the Gospel, in order to become authentic announcers of the evangelical 'kerygma'".

  Referring to the Pope's Message, Archbishop Veglio notes that "the mass media, because of the immediate impact they have on public opinion, must seriously undertake to supply correct and ample information, avoiding demagogic terminology which is offensive to the image of forced migrants. The contribution of the media is necessary in order to make society aware of new situations, and of the real violations of refugees' rights".
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THE POPE BAPTISES SIXTEEN CHILDREN IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL

VATICAN CITY, 8 JAN 2012 (VIS) - This morning in the Sistine Chapel the Pope presided at the celebration of the Eucharist for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, during which he baptised sixteen newborn infants.

  In his homily Benedict XVI commented on today's responsorial psalm from the Book of Isaiah, to which the faithful respond: "With joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation". He explained: "As adults, we have undertaken to draw from good wells, for our own benefit and that of the people entrusted to our care. You in particular, dear parents and godparents, do so for the benefit of these children. And what are the 'wells of salvation'? They are the Word of God and the Sacraments.

  "Adults", the Pope added, "are the first who should draw from these wells, in order to guide young people in their development. Parents must give a great deal, but in order to give they must also receive, otherwise they become empty and dry. Parents are not the well, just as we priests are not the well: we are the channels through which the vital lymph of God's love must pass. If we detach ourselves from the well, ... we are no longer able to educate others".

  "The first and most important form of education comes about through witness", the Holy Father went on, turning his attention to the Gospel reading. "John the Baptist was a great educator of his disciples, because he led them to the encounter with Jesus, to Whom he bore witness. ... True educators do not bind people to themselves, they are not possessive. They want their children or disciples to learn to know the truth, and to establish a personal relationship therewith. Educators carry out their responsibilities to the full by maintaining an attentive and faithful presence, but their objective is to ensure that their pupils hear the voice of truth, ... and follow that voice on an individual journey".

  St. John the Evangelist writes: "the Spirit is the one that testifies". For this reason "it is very important for parents and godparents to believe strongly in the presence and action of the Holy Spirit, to invoke and accept Him ... through prayer and the Sacraments. It is, in fact, He Who illuminates the minds of educators and warms their hearts, enabling them to transmit knowledge and love of Jesus. Prayer is the main premise for education, because through prayer we put ourselves in a position whereby we leave the initiative to God. ... At the same time, when we pray we listen to God Who inspires us to play our role well, that role which is in any case ours and which we must carry out. The Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Penance, enable us to undertake our educational activity in union with Christ, in communion with Him and continually renewed by His forgiveness".

  The Pope concluded by entrusting the newly baptised infants to the Blessed Virgin, "that they may grow in age, wisdom and grace, and become true Christians, faithful and joyful witnesses of the love of God".
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ANGELUS: GOD WANTS AND LOVES EACH ONE OF US

VATICAN CITY, 8 JAN 2012 (VIS) - This morning, after celebrating Mass in the Sistine Chapel during which he administered the Sacrament of Baptism to a group of infants, the Pope appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.

  "Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord", he said. "I would like to reflect briefly upon our status as children of God, but I would begin first of all by highlighting the simple fact that we are children, a fundamental condition which unities us all. ... Coming into the world is never our choice. ... Yet during our existence we can develop a positive attitude towards life, we can welcome it as a gift. ... This is a sign of maturity in our being, and in our relationship with our parents which is thus filled with recognition".

  "All of us are likewise children of God. God is the origin of the existence of all creatures, He is the Father of each individual human being, with each of whom He has a unique personal relationship. God wants and loves each one of us. ... Thanks to the faith, thanks to a profound and personal 'yes' to God as the origin and foundation of my existence, ... I welcome life as a gift of the Father Who is in heaven; a Parent ... Who, in the depths of my heart, I feel to be my Father, the Father or all my brothers and sisters in humanity, a Father Who is intensely good and faithful".

  "This faith in God the Father rests upon Jesus Christ. His person and His history reveal the Father to us. ... To believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, enables us 'to be reborn from above', in other words from God Who is Love. ... This is the significance of the Sacrament of Baptism: it is a new birth which comes about thanks to the Holy Spirit".

  "This Sunday concludes the period of Christmas. Let us give thanks unto God for this great mystery. ... God became the child of man that man might become the child of God. Let us then renew our joy at being children, ... born of the love of a father and a mother, and reborn in God's love through Baptism".

  Following the Angelus, the Pope addressed greetings to the pilgrims in various languages.
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