TELEGRAM ON THE DEATH OF NELSON MANDELA

Vatican City, 6 December 2013 (VIS) – The Holy Father sent a telegram of condolence to Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, on the death of Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela yesterday.

In the text, the Pope extended his condolences to the Mandela family, members of government, and all South Africans. Pope Francis recalled “the steadfast commitment shown by Nelson Mandela in promoting the human dignity of all the nation's citizens and in forging a new South Africa built on the firm foundations of non-violence, reconciliation, and truth.”

“I pray,” the message continues, “that the late president's example will inspire generations of South Africans to put justice and the common good at the forefront of their political aspirations. With these sentiments,” the telegram concludes, “I invoke upon all the people of South Africa the divine gifts of peace and prosperity.”

FIRST ADVENT SERMON

Vatican City, 6 December 2013 (VIS) – This morning in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel the Holy Father attended the first Advent sermon, which was preached by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., and had the theme “Toward the Lord's Nativity in the Company of St. Francis of Assisi”.

Pope Francis' recent pilgrimage to Assisi and the theme of the next World Day of Peace (“Fraternity, the Foundation, and the Pathway to Peace”) offer the opportunity to reflect on what the poor have to say to the Church today.

In particular, the homily focused on the themes of:

1. Francis of Assisi and Church reform by way of holiness

2. Francis of Assisi's holiness, the evangelical path to fraternity and peace, and

3. With St. Francis before the mystery of the Incarnation: the poverty of Christ and of Francis.

ARCHBISHOP MAMBERTI TO THE OSCE: INTOLERANCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS ALSO EXISTS IN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES

Vatican City, 6 December 2013 (VIS) - Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, spoke at the 20^th gathering of the Council of Ministers of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) that concluded today in Kiev, Ukraine. That country currently holds the Organization's chairmanship.

The archbishop spoke about the various areas of action that OSCE participated in during the past year, referring with appreciation to how the Organization's political-military dimension has successfully updated its document on the non-proliferation of weapons. In spite of this result, the Holy See expresses its concern for the lack of progress in the actualization of the Vienna Document, which “is essential for ensuring a greater transparency as regards the activities and military outfitting of the participant States, and which is a prerequisite for the region's stability and security.”

As concerns the economic-environmental dimension, the prelate encouraged the Organization to “a greater political will and a greater commitment, similar to that seen in the other dimensions”. He reasserted the Holy See's interest in safeguarding creation and its appreciation for the emphasis that the Ukrainian chairmanship has given the Organization's activities related to energy conservation and the sources of renewable energy.

Another topic touched upon was that of migration. “According to the Holy See,” the archbishop said, “migrants' rights must be of primary consideration. Even at times of financial crisis, migrants must not be considered merely in terms of their economic role as a temporary work force or as permanent residents. Their dignity as humans must have precedence over any other consideration.” In this context he also condemned “the persistent problem of human trafficking. It is a hateful crime that must be fought with all legal means available.”

In the sphere of the Organization's “human” dimension and of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, Archbishop Mamberti affirmed that it was disturbing to observe that, seventeen centuries after the Edict of Milan established religious toleration within the Roman Empire, “in the OSCE region that are ever more numerous acts against Christians motivated by prejudice. When we speak of the denial of religious freedom and of intolerance, particularly against Christians, we immediately think of certain countries outside of the OSCE region or in its vicinity. We must not forget that there are episodes of intolerance and marginalization against religion and believers even in traditionally democratic societies where, fortunately, there is not violent persecution.”

AUDIENCES

Vatican City, 6 December 2013 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments,

- Cardinal Karl Josef Becker, S.J.,

- Mr. Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,

- Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, titular of Serta, Apostolic Nuncio to the Ivory Coast, and

-Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, titular of Thelepte, Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 6 December 2013 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father:

- appointed Bishop Monfort Stima as Bishop of Mangochi (area 11,385, population 1,483,000, Catholics 523,000, priests 84, religious 197), Malawi. Bishop Stima, previously auxiliary of Blantyre, Malawi, succeeds Bishop Alessandro Pagani S.M.M., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Mangochi, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- appointed Fr. Rutile Felipe Pozos Lorenzini as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Puebla (area 20,932, population 4,780,000, Catholics 4,447,000, priests 548, permanent deacons 2, religious 928), Mexico. Bishop-elect Pozos Lorenzi was born in 1967 in Rancho San Diego, Mexico and was ordained to the priesthood in 1993. He has served as pastor of some parishes in the city of Puebla, as a diocesan assistant of Family Catechesis and coordinator of Family Pastoral Care, as a professor at the Major Seminary, and as chaplain of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Sisters. He has served as rector of Puebla's Palafox Major Seminary since 2008 and is also president of the diocesan commission for Ministries.

- appointed Fr. Tomas Lopez Duran as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Puebla, Mexico. Bishop-elect Lopez Duran was born in 1961 in Atoyatempan, Mexico, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1991. He has served as assessor of discipline and professor of Canon Law at Puebla's Palafox Major Seminary. He is an instructor judge of the Ecclesiastical Tribune and works in various parishes. Since 2010 he has held the office of Judicial Vicar of the First Instance in the archdiocese's 5^th Ecclesiastical Tribune.