FRANCIS TO WYD VOLUNTEERS: HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE HAPPY

Vatican City, 29 July 2013 (VIS) – On Sunday, 28 July, before the closing ceremony of Word Youth Day, Pope Francis met with a group of young volunteers. In the Congress Centre Pavilion he encountered 15,000 of the 60,000 volunteers who have worked during the two years of preparation for the Brazilian World Youth Day. The young welcomed him with songs and applause, and Pope Francis did not greeted them warmly with hugs and kisses.

He thanked them for their work and “the countless little ways by which you have made this World Youth Day an unforgettable experience of faith. With your smiles, your acts of kindness and your willingness to serve, you have shown that 'it is more blessed to give than to receive'”.

He compared them to St. John the Baptist, “who prepared the way for Jesus”, he said. “And this is the most beautiful service we can give as missionary disciples: to prepare the way so that all people may know, meet and love the Lord. … May you always be generous with God and with others: one loses nothing thereby, but gains great enrichment in life”.

He continued, “God … has a plan for each of you: to discover that plan and to respond to your vocation is to move toward personal fulfilment. … Some are called to holiness through family life in the sacrament of Marriage”, and he commented that in today's cultural of the ephemeral, many say that marriage is out of fashion. “Many preach the importance of 'enjoying' the moment”, he said; “they say that it is not worth making a life-long commitment, making a definitive decision, for ever, because we do not know what tomorrow will bring”. He urged the young volunteers “to be revolutionaries, to swim against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes that you are incapable of responsibility, that you are incapable of true love. ... Have the courage to be happy”.

The Pope went on to say that the Lord calls some to the priesthood or to the religious life, and shared with the young volunteers his experience at the age of 17 of first hearing God's call. “Do not be afraid of what God asks of you! It is worth saying 'yes' to God. In Him we find joy!”

Finally, he addressed those who “may not yet know what you will do with your lives”, and encouraged them to “ask the Lord, and He will show you the way. … Do not forget what you have experienced here! You can always count on my prayers, and I know I can count on yours”.

POPE FRANCIS “I SHALL MISS BRAZIL”

Vatican City, 29 July 2013 (VIS) – “I depart with many happy memories which I know will nourish my prayers. Already I am beginning to miss Brazil, this great people showing so much affection and friendship. … I shall miss the hope filling the eyes of the young people in the Hospital of Saint Francis. I shall miss the faith and joy shown by the residents of Varginha in the midst of their hardship. … Thank you for the warm welcome and the friendship that have been offered to me. This too I shall miss”.

And so, yesterday afternoon, Pope Francis said goodbye to Brazil. During the farewell ceremony at Galeao/Antonio Carlos Jobim airport, the Holy Father thanked President Dilma Roussef “for expressing the sentiments of the entire population of Brazil towards the Successor of Peter”, the bishops and their collaborators, the volunteers, the media workers and all those who in one way or another participated in the organisation and hosting of the event, and finally, “the many people who prayed ... for this World Youth Day to be an authentic experience of growth in faith”.

However, the young people were at the heart of the celebrations. “I will always place my hopes in the young people of Brazil and in the young around the world: through them, Christ is preparing a new springtime all over the earth. I have seen its first fruits and I know that others will joyfully reap the full harvest … Many of you came here as disciples; I have no doubt that all of you will leave as missionaries. Through your joyful witness and service, help to build a civilization of love. Show, by your life, that it is worth giving your time and talents in order to attain high ideals, it is worth recognizing the dignity of each human person, and it is worth taking risks for Christ and His Gospel”.

Finally, before embarking the aircraft, Francis recalled his visit to the shrine of Aparecida, where “I knelt to pray for the entire human family and in particular for all Brazilians”, and implored Mary to strengthen them in their Christian faith, “which forms part of the noble soul of Brazil, as indeed of many other countries; this faith is your culture’s treasure and serves as encouragement and support in the task of building a renewed humanity in harmony and solidarity”.

“As he departs, the Pope says to all of you affectionately: 'see you soon'. He asks you not to forget to pray for him. The Pope needs the prayers of all of you. I offer you an affectionate embrace. May God bless you!”

At 7.00 p.m. (local time) the aircraft carrying the Holy Father departed from Rio de Janeiro and, after a flight lasting eleven and a half hours, landed this morning at Rome's Ciampino military airport at 11.30. From there, the Pope proceeded to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to give thanks for the return journey, as he did previously before departing for Rio de Janeiro, and after a moment of prayer before the Marian image, he returned by car to the Vatican.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH ITALIAN FINANCIAL UNIT (UIF)

Vatican City, 29 July 2013 (VIS) – On 26 July the Financial Intelligence Authority (AIF) of the Holy See and Vatican City State signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its Italian counterpart, the Unità di Informazione Finanziaria (UIF) of the Bank of Italy, according to a memorandum published today.

The Memorandum was signed in Rome by Cardinal Attilio Nicora, President of AIF, and Dr. Claudio Clemente, director of UIF.

A Memorandum of Understanding is standard practice and formalizes the cooperation and exchange of financial information to fight money laundering and terrorist financing across borders between the competent authorities of both countries. It is based on the model Memorandum of Understanding prepared by the Egmont Group, the global organisation of national Financial Intelligence Units, and contains clauses on reciprocity, permitted uses of information and confidentiality.

“The Holy See and the Vatican City State take international responsibilities concerning Anti-Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism very seriously, and Italy is an especially important partner for us,” said AIF director Rene Bruelhart. “We look forward to continuing our work with the Italian Authorities in a constructive and fruitful manner. The Memorandum of Understanding is a clear commitment to strengthen our bilateral relationship and will facilitate the our joint efforts and fight against money laundering.”

AIF became a member of the Egmont Group in July of this year and over the last several months signed MOUs with the Financial Intelligence Units of the United States, Belgium, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands. More are expected to be signed in the course of this year.

AIF is the competent authority of the Holy See/Vatican City State to fight money laundering and financing of terrorism. It was established on Dec. 30, 2010.

TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL ERSILIO TONINI

Vatican City, 29 July 2013 (VIS) – The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolences to Archbishop Lorenzo Ghizzoni of Ravenna, Italy, for the death of Cardinal Ersilio Tonini, former archbishop of that archdiocese who died yesterday, Sunday, at the age of 99.

In the text, the Holy Father joins the community of Ravenna in mourning, and expresses his gratitude and admiration for his “fruitful and varied” apostolic activity, recalling that he was a “zealous and generous pastor … committed and amiable … inspired by the wish to proclaim Christ in simple and incisive language and to give authentic and coherent testimony to men and women of our time”.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 29 July 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Yaounde, Cameroon, presented by Bishop Simon-Victor Tonye Bakot, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Jean Mbarga of Ebolowa, Cameroon, as apostolic adminstrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the archdiocese of Yaounde.