NOTICE

Vatican City, 16 April 2014 (VIS) – During Holy Week, from Thursday 17 to Tuesday 22 April, and on the name day of the Holy Father (St. George) on Thursday 23 April, no daily VIS bulletin will be transmitted. The service will resume on Thursday 24 April.

TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCES FOR THE VICTIMS OF VALPARAISO

Vatican City, 15 April 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on behalf of the Holy Father, sent a telegram of condolences to Bishop Gonzalo Duarte Garcia de Cortazar of Valparaiso, Chile, for the fire that over the last 48 hours has devastated the nearby forest, spreading to various zones of the city. It has so far claimed twelve victims and over 10,000 people have had to be evacuated from their homes.

“Upon hearing the sad news of the fire that is affecting the city of Valparaiso, Pope Francis wishes to express his spiritual closeness to all the inhabitants, raising prayers for the eternal repose of the souls of the victims of this grave disaster, and sharing in the sorrow of those who have lost their homes and property.

“Likewise, offering the support of prayer for the efforts of the emergency services, the Holy Father urges the authorities and all the people to stay firm in the face of adversity, so that through the spirit of fraternal solidarity and charity, the necessary help may reach all those affected”.

At the end of the telegram Cardinal Parolin asks the bishop to transmit his most heartfelt condolences to the families of the departed and expresses his paternal care for those afflicted.

PRESENTATION OF THE HOLY SEE'S REPORT ON THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE

Vatican City, 15 April 2014 (VIS) – The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., responding to questions from journalists, today declared that next May, the Holy See – along with Cyprus, Lithuania, Guinea, Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Thailand and Uruguay – will present its Initial Report on the Convention Against Torture (CAT) to the relevant Committee.

“It is a standard procedure adhered to by all States party to the Convention”, said Fr. Lombardi. “Considering the types of obligations included in the Convention, the Holy See signed the Convention in 2002 exclusively in the name of and on the part of Vatican City State. For this reason, the Holy See continues to fulfil its obligations on the part of Vatican City State and to present periodical reports, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Convention”.

DURING HOLY WEEK THE POPE WILL DISTRIBUTE POCKET-SIZED GOSPELS IN A ROMAN PRISON

Vatican City, 15 April 2014 (VIS) – Tomorrow, Holy Wednesday, the detainees in the Roman prison of “Regina Coeli” will receive, as an Easter gift from the Pope, 1200 pocket-sized copies of the Gospel .It is the same volume, also containing the Acts of the Apostles, that the Pope handed out to the participants in the Angelus of Sunday 6 April in St. Peter's Square, and to the faithful who on the same day attended Mass celebrated by the Pope in the church of St. Gregory the Great. Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of His Holiness, will be responsible for distributing the Gospels during a visit to the prison.

On Holy Thursday, 17 April, Archbishop Krajewski will celebrated Mass “In Cena Domini” at the “Isola dell'Amore Fraterno”, a voluntary association founded in 1996 that works to provide preventative measures, solidarity and assistance for detainees, ex-convicts and those who are socially marginalised or estranged from their families.

CARDINAL ORLANDO B. QUEVEDO TAKES POSSESSION OF HIS TITULAR CHURCH

Vatican City, 15 April 2014 (VIS) – The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff today announced that on Thursday, 24 April, at 6.00 a.m., Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I., archbishop of Cotabato, Philippines, will take possession of the title of St. Mary “Regina Mundi” in Torre Spaccata (Via Alessandro Barbosi, 6).