CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: CUSTODIAN OF THE TRUE FAITH

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2007 (VIS) - This morning the Pope returned to the Vatican Apostolic Palace at the end of his period of summer residency at Castelgandolfo. Upon his arrival he went to St. Peter's Square where he held his weekly general audience, dedicating his catechesis today to the figure of St. Cyril of Alexandria. The audience was attended by around 40,000 people.

  Cyril, the Pope explained, was known in the ancient Church as "the 'custodian of accuracy,' in other words, custodian of the true faith," and always sought "to show the continuity of his theology with tradition. He deliberately and explicitly identified himself with Church tradition, which he recognized as a guarantee of continuity with the Apostles and with Christ Himself."

  Elected as bishop of Alexandria in the year 412, he governed that see for 30 years, combating the preaching of Nestorius, bishop of Constantinople who, separating Christ's human nature from His divine nature, considered Mary as "mother of Christ" and not "mother of God." In Nestorius' Antiochean Christology a concern for "safeguarding the importance of Christ's humanity led to the assertion that it was divided from His divinity, thus denying the true union between God and man in Christ."

  Cyril immediately rejected this idea reaffirming "the duty of pastors to protect the faith of the People of God." This criterion, the Pope explained, "remains valid today" because "the faith of the People of God is an expression of the tradition" of the Church. For this reason Cyril reminded Nestorius that "the teaching of the faith must be presented to people irreprehensibly ... and that whoever disturbs the smallest of those who believe in Christ will suffer unbearable punishment."

  St. Cyril defines his faith in Christ when he writes "the natures which came together into true unity are different, but from both there arose the One Christ and Son, not because by their unity the difference between human and divine nature has been eliminated, but because humanity and divinity, inexpressibly united, ... have produced the One Lord, Christ, the Son of God."

  "What Cyril especially teaches us," said Benedict XVI, "is that the Christian faith is, above all, the meeting with Christ, 'an event, a Person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.' And of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, St. Cyril was a tireless and staunch witness, highlighting above all His unity. ... One only is the Son, One only is the Lord Jesus Christ, both before and after His incarnation. ... We believe that what existed from the beginning, was born of woman ... and will, in keeping with His promises, remain ever present.

  "This is important," the Pope concluded, "the eternal God was born of a woman and remains with us always. We live with this trust and in it we find the direction of our lives."
AG/CYRIL ALEXANDRIA/...                    VIS 20071003 (490)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2007 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Zanoni Demettino Castro of the clergy of the archdiocese of Vitoria da Conquista, Brazil, pastor of the parish of "Sao Jose" at Itapetinga and diocesan administrator "sede vacante" of the same archdiocese, as bishop of Sao Mateus (area 14,966, population 437,229, Catholics 315,000, priests 35, religious 50), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Vitoria da Conquista in 1962 and ordained a priest in 1986. He succeeds Bishop Aldo Gerna M.C.C.I., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
NER:RE/.../CASTRO:GERNA                    VIS 20071003 (110)

ENSURE THAT THE RIGHT TO LIFE IS RESPECTED EVERYWHERE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 2007 (VIS) - Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, yesterday participated in the general debate of the 62nd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which is currently being held in New York.

  At the beginning of his English-language talk, Archbishop Mamberti pointed out that "forgetting, or partially and selectively accepting," the principle of respect for human dignity "is what lies at the origin of conflicts, of environmental degradation and of social and economic injustices."

  He went on: "The Holy See welcomes the initiative to hold the High-Level Dialogue on Inter-religious and Inter-cultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace which, ... will take place here shortly. Indeed, dialogue among peoples of different cultures and religions is not an option; it is something indispensable for peace and for the renewal of international life."

  Referring to conflict prevention and to efforts aimed at achieving and maintaining peace, the secretary for Relations with States indicated that the Holy See looks forward "to the day that peacekeeping efforts in Darfur will finally be fully operational." Furthermore, "there is need for a renewed commitment, involving all member countries, in the pacification and reconstruction of long-suffering Iraq," and "in the search for a solution, through dialogue, of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians."

  "Renewed commitment is needed in assuring that Lebanon will continue to be a free and independent country," the archbishop added, while on the subject of Myanmar, he reiterated Benedict XVI's appeal of last Sunday: "Through dialogue, good will and a spirit of humanity, may a solution to the crisis be found quickly for the good of the country and a better future for all its inhabitants."

  Recalling that the year 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Archbishop Mamberti said "the most important part of our work in this context is to ensure that the inherent right to life is respected everywhere."

  "We must work to stop and reverse the culture of death embraced by some social and legal structures that try to make the suppression of life acceptable by disguising it as a medical or social service. In this sense, the abolition of the death penalty should also be seen as a consequence of full respect for the right to life."
SS/HUMAN RIGHTS/UN:MAMBERTI                VIS 20071002 (400)

INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION HOLDS ITS PLENARY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 2007 (VIS) - The International Theological Commission is holding its annual plenary session in the Vatican's "Domus Sanctae Marthae" from October 1 to 5, under the presidency of Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

  The meeting, under the chairmanship of Fr. Luis Ladaria S.J., secretary general of the commission, will examine plans for a document on natural moral law which has, according to a communique, "the aim of ... advancing the search for the foundations of a universal system of ethics." Attention will also be given to a draft document concerning the "nature of theology, its meaning and methods."

  The Holy Father will meet the members of the International Theological Commission on October 5, at the conclusion of their plenary session.
.../THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION/LEVADA            VIS 20071002 (140)

POPE EXPRESSES HIS PROFOUND GRATITUDE TO MARIO AGNES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Benedict XVI to Mario Agnes, director emeritus of "L'Osservatore Romano." Mario Agnes headed the Vatican newspaper from 1984 until his recent retirement.

  In the text of his Letter the Pope praises, as John Paul II had before him, "the coherent Christian commitment, love for the Church and exemplary faithfulness to the Magisterium" that have accompanied Agnes' "testimony as a believer." The Pope also recalls how the former director "had always showed particular interest for the written communication of the Christian message." As diocesan president of Catholic Action he strove "to give the Catholic lay presence a higher profile in the mass media forum." As president of the "Avvenire" publishing group he distinguished himself for his competence "in dealing with the various themes associated with Italian ecclesial, cultural and political life."

  The Holy Father concludes his Letter by expressing his "sincere respect and profound gratitude" to Mario Agnes, whom he has chosen to include among the Gentlemen of His Holiness "thus introducing you permanently into the Pontifical Family."
BXVI-LETTER/THANKS/AGNES                    VIS 20071002 (190)