POPE FRANCIS GREETS AMERICA, “A GENEROUS LAND”, ON THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Vatican City, 11 December 2013 (VIS) – Tomorrow is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of all America and therefore, in his greetings in Spanish during today's general audience, the Pope addressed all brothers and sisters from the Continent, considering the Virgin of Tepeyac.

“When Our Lady appeared to Saint Juan Diego, her face was that of a woman of mixed blood, a mestiza, and her garments bore many symbols of the native culture. Like Jesus, Mary is close to all her sons and daughters; as a concerned mother, she accompanies them on their way through life. She shares all the joys and hopes, the sorrows and troubles of God’s People, which is made up of men and women of every race and nation.

“When the image of the Virgin appeared on the tilma of Juan Diego, it was the prophecy of an embrace: Mary’s embrace of all the peoples of the vast expanses of America – the peoples who already lived there, and those who were yet to come. Mary’s embrace showed what America – North and South – is called to be: a land where different peoples come together; a land prepared to accept human life at every stage, from the mother’s womb to old age; a land which welcomes immigrants, and the poor and the marginalized, in every age. A land of generosity.

“That is the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe”, concluded the Pope, “and it is also my message, the message of the Church. I ask all the people of the Americas to open wide their arms, like the Virgin, with love and tenderness. I pray for all of you, dear brothers and sisters, and I ask you to pray for me! May the joy of the Gospel always abide in your hearts. May the Lord bless you, and may Our Lady be ever at your side.

POPE FRANCIS SELECTED AS PERSON OF THE YEAR BY TIME MAGAZINE

Vatican City, 11 December 2013 (VIS) – The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., has commented on the nomination of Pope Francis as “person of the year” by Time magazine.

“ This fact is unsurprising, considering the resonance and very widespread attention given to the election of Pope Francis and the beginning of his pontificate. It is a positive sign that one of the most prestigious acknowledgements in the field of the international press has been attributed to one who proclaims spiritual, religious and moral values in the world, and who speaks effectively in favour of peace and greater justice.

“With regard to the Pope, for his part, he does not seek fame and success, since he carries out his service for the proclamation of the Gospel and the love of God for all. If this attracts men and women and gives them hope, the Pope is content. If this nomination as “Person of the Year” means that many have understood this message, at least implicitly, he will certainly be glad”.

THE NECROPOLIS OF VIA TRIUMPHALIS REOPENS TO THE PUBLIC

Vatican City, 11 December 2013 (VIS) – The Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis reopens to the public next year, following excavation works which have lasted two years and which have made it possible to unite the two sectors of the burial ground, previously separated. The necropolis, which extends from the north-easterly part of the Vatican hill, covers an area of one thousand square metres containing tombs, mosaics, mouldings and frescoes, which date from the first century before Christ to the fourth century of our era.

The extension of the areas of the necropolis that may be visited by the public is the result of excavation works carried out by the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities of the Vatican Museums, generously funded by the Canada Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts, an international community of benefactors which has for three decades “adopted” and given economic support to projects for the conservation, restoration and appreciation of the treasures of the Vatican Museums.

During the works, the central area of the Necropolis was investigated and an ancient path excavated, uniting the two previously divided sectors, and bringing to light a zone intended for cremations (ustrino), which is rarely conserved in a complex of this type. It is characterised by two superimposed layers of baked clay and earth deposits, with fragments of charcoal and burnt pine cones, used to light the pyre. The grave goods accompanying the deceased are conserved in two recently installed display cabinets, while a third illustrates the most recent excavations, using a stratographic archaeological method, showing a synthetic panorama of the sections excavations carried out since 1956, the year in which the necropolis was discovered.

The tombs belong mostly to freemen or common people, such as Alcimus, slave of Nero and scene painter for the theatre of Pompey, or Tiberius Claudius Optatus, an imperial bookkeeper. The necropolis, as explained by Giandomenico Spinola, director of the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities of the Vatican Museums, was “multi-ethnic”, in that people of Asiatic and Palestinian origin were also buried there, as is revealed by the inscriptions on the tombstones.

Thanks to the new display itinerary, including walkways and a multimedia installation, visitors accompanied by a guide may admire small mausoleums, sarcophagi, statues and bas-reliefs. The director of the Vatican Museums, Professor Antonio Paolucci, explained that “The aim is to create an excavation laboratory, open to the public. A place where people are able to view the area and the works while they are being carried out”.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 11 December 2013 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Stephen Robson as bishop of Dunkeld (area 8,495, population 408,300, Catholics 43,800, priests 46, religious 42), Scotland. Bishop Robson, previously auxiliary of the archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, was born in Carlisle, England in 1951 and received episcopal ordination in 2012.

MONEYVAL APPROVES THE REPORT ON THE HOLY SEE'S PROGRESS IN COMBATING MONEY-LAUNDERING AND THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM

Vatican City, 10 December 2013 (VIS) - Today, the Plenary Meeting of MONEYVAL (the “Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism”, established by the Council of Europe) has approved the Progress Report of the Holy See/ Vatican City State. The Progress Report follows the adoption of the Mutual Evaluation Report on 4 July 2012 and is part of the ordinary process in compliance with to the Rules of Procedure of MONEYVAL, according to a press communique published in the evening of Monday, 9 December by the Holy See Press Office.

The progress report, submitted for review during the Plenary, confirms that significant progress has been made. Upon request by the Holy See and the Vatican City State the MONEYVAL Secretariat agreed to carry out a full progress review. Therefore, the report contains an analysis of progress against the core and key recommendations of the FATF (Financial Action Task Force), regarding international standards on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

“The adoption of the Progress Report confirms the significant efforts undertaken by the Holy See and the Vatican City State to strengthen its legal and institutional framework”, said Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, Under Secretary for Relations with States, and Head of Delegation of the Holy See and Vatican City State to MONEYVAL. “The Holy See is fully committed to continuing to improve further the effective implementation of all necessary measures to build a well functioning and sustainable system aimed at preventing and fighting financial crimes.”

In accordance with the MONEYVAL Rules of Procedure, the Progress Report will be published in full by the MONEYVAL Secretariat on its website on Thursday.

At the legislative level, and among the principal results following the Mutual Evaluation report of 4 July 2012, Financial Intelligence Authority (AIF) has been strengthened by the amendment on 14 December 2012 of the Law on the Prevention and Countering of Laundering of Proceeds of Crimes and Financing of Terrorism. In addition to the Motu Proprio of Pope Francis on the Laws on Criminal Matters of 11 July 2013, the new laws cover all terrorist offences set forth in the Conventions annexed to the Terrorist Financing Convention as well as a new approach to the civil liability of legal persons arising from crime. In particular, a modern scheme on confiscation, freezing and seizure has been adopted. The Motu Proprio extended the jurisdiction of the Vatican Tribunal over criminal offences - including the financing of terrorism and money laundering - committed by public officials of the Holy See in the context of the exercise of their functions, even if outside Vatican territory.

A further step was the Motu Proprio of His Holiness, Pope Francis, of 8 August 2013 and the Decree of 8 August 2013 introducing norms relating to transparency, supervision and financial intelligence, confirmed by the Law of 8 October 2013 introducing norms relating to transparency, supervision and financial intelligence. This new Act of the Holy See and the Vatican City State introduces a comprehensive system in accordance with the international standards to fight money-laundering and financing of terrorism and is a further step towards strengthening the system to actively combat any potential misuse of financial activities within the Vatican City State. It deals with financial transparency, supervision and financial intelligence, clarifying and consolidating the functions, powers and responsibilities of the AIF.

The framework is completed by the Motu Proprio of 18 November 2013, by which Pope Francis, established a new organisational structure for the AIF.

In terms of operational achievements, important results have been achieved regarding international cooperation of financial supervisory organs. In July 2013, the AIF was admitted to the Egmont Group and over the last months has signed memoranda with Belgium, Spain, USA, Italy, Slovenia, the Netherlands and, most recently, Germany, and will continue to broaden its international network to fight money laundering and terrorism financing.

With regard to the procedures for review and remediation processes in institutions under supervision of AIF, the MONEYVAL analysis takes note of a preliminary review of the customer data base of the Istituto per le Opere di Religione (IOR) concluded at the end of 2012. It acknowledges an in-depth audit of customer records and remediation, including analysis of transactions, based on the findings of this first phase and under the supervision of AIF that was launched at the beginning of 2013. Furthermore it was noted that the IOR has redefined the categories of customers entitled to IOR services.

In relation to the functioning of the reporting system for the combating of money-laundering and financing of terrorism, since the adoption of the Mutual Evaluation Report, an ongoing trend may be observed towards increased reporting of suspicious activity from different reporting entities, with a significant growth in 2013. Investigations based on reports of suspicious transactions have been undertaken and freezing orders initiated. Due to the remediation process and improved transaction monitoring processes the AIF recorded a significant rise in suspicious transaction reports.