* Original message posted in: VATICAN.
* Crossposted in: IN_CATHOLIC.

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE

TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 9
ENGLISH
FRIDAY, 14 JANUARY 2011

SUMMARY:

- Support for Families, Elderly People and the Unemployed
- Benedict XVI Will Beatify John Paul II on 1 May
- Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES, ELDERLY PEOPLE AND THE UNEMPLOYED

VATICAN CITY, 14 JAN 2011 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, the Pope
received Gianni Alemanno, mayor of the City of Rome; Renata Polverini,
president of the Region of Lazio, and Nicola Zingaretti, president of the
Province of Rome, each accompanied by an entourage, for the traditional
exchange of New Year greetings.

  Speaking on the subject of the family, which he described as the "the
primary cell of society, ... founded on marriage between a man and a woman",
the Pope noted how "it is in the family that children learn the human and
Christian values which enable constructive and peaceful coexistence. It is
in the family that we learn solidarity between generations, respect for
rules, forgiveness and acceptance of others". In this context he also noted
how "the family must, then, be supported by policies ... which aim at its
consolidation and development, accompanied by appropriate educational
efforts".

  "The approval of forms of union which pervert the essence and goal of the
family ends up penalising those people who, not without effort, seek to
maintain stable emotional ties which are juridically guaranteed and publicly
recognised. In this context, the Church looks with favour upon all
initiatives which seek to educate young people to experience love as a
giving of self, with an exalted and oblational view of sexuality. To this
end the various components of society must agree on the objectives of
education, in order for human love not to be reduced to an article of
consumption, but to be seen and lived as a fundamental experience which
gives existence meaning and a goal".

  Noting then that many couples desire to have children "but are forced to
wait", the Holy Father emphasised the importance "of giving
concrete support
to maternity, and of guaranteeing working women the chance to conciliate the
demands of family and work".

  "Since 'openness to life is at the centre of true development' the large
number of abortions that take place in our region cannot leave us
indifferent", the Pope warned. "The Christian community, through its many
care homes, pro-life centres and similar initiatives, is committed to
accompanying and supporting women who encounter difficulties in welcoming a
new life. Public institutions must also offer their support so that family
consultancies are in a position to help women overcome the causes that may
lead them to interrupt their pregnancy".

  Benedict XVI then went on to explain how "the ageing population raises new
problems. ... Although many old people can reply on the support and care of
their own families, growing numbers are alone and have need of medical and
healthcare assistance". In this context he also expressed his joy at the
collaboration that exists "with the great Catholic healthcare institutions
such as, for example, in the field of paediatrics, the 'Bambino Gesu'
hospital. I hope these structures may continue to collaborate with local
organisations in order to guarantee their services to everyone who needs
them, at the same time renewing my call to promote a culture of respect for
life until its natural end".

  On the subject of the economic crisis, the Pope highlighted how "parishes
in the diocese of Rome are, through Caritas, making prodigious efforts" to
help suffering families. "I trust that adequate measures in support of
low-income families may be adopted, especially for large families with are
too often penalised", he said

  The Holy Father noted how unemployment affects above all young people who,
following years of education and training, cannot find professional
openings. "They often feel disillusioned and are tempted to reject socie
ty
itself. The persistence of such situations causes social tensions which are
exploited by criminal organisations to further their illegal activities. For
this reason", he concluded, "it is vital, even in this difficult time, to
make every effort to promote policies that favour employment and dignified
assistance, which is indispensable in order to give life to new families".
AC/                                                                     VIS
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BENEDICT XVI WILL BEATIFY JOHN PAUL II ON 1 MAY

VATICAN CITY, 14 JAN 2011 (VIS) - On 1 May, the second Sunday of Easter and
Divine Mercy Sunday, Benedict XVI will preside at the rite of beatification
for John Paul II in the Vatican.

  According to a note released by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints,
"today 24 January, Benedict XVI, during an audience granted to Cardinal
Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints,
authorised the dicastery to promulgate the decree of the miracle attributed
to the intercession of Venerable Servant of God John Paul II (Karol
Wojtyla). This concludes the process which precedes the rite of
beatification.

  "It is well known that, by pontifical dispensation, his cause began before
the end of the five-year period which the current norms stipulate must pass
following the death of a Servant of God. This provision was solicited by the
great fame of sanctity which Pope John Paul II enjoyed during his life, in
his death and after his death. In all other ways, the normal canonical
dispositions concerning causes of beatification and canonisation were
observed in full.

  "Between June 2005 and April 2007 the principal diocesan investigation was
held in Rome, accompanied by secondary investigations in various other
dioceses, on his life, virtues, fame of sanctity and miracles. The juridical
validity of these canonical processes was recognised by the Congregation for
the Causes of Saints with a decree of 4 May 2007. In June 2009, having
examined the relative 'Positio', nine of the dicastery's theological
consultors expressed their positive judgement concerning the heroic nature
of the virtues of the Servant of God. The following November, in keeping
with the usual procedure, the 'Positio' was submitted for the judgement of
the cardinals and bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, who
gave their approval.

  "On 19 December 2009, Benedict XVI authorised the promulgation of the
decree on John Paul II's heroic virtues.

  "With a view to the beatification of the Venerable Servant of God, the
postulator of the cause invited the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to
examine the recovery from Parkinson's disease of Sr. Marie Simon Pierre
Normand, a religious of the 'Institut des Petites Soeurs des Maternites
Catholiques'.

  "As is customary, the voluminous acts of the regularly-instituted
canonical investigation, along with detailed reports from medical and legal
experts, were submitted for scientific examination by the medical consultors
of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on 21 October 2010. The experts
of the congregation, having studied the depositions and the entire
documentation with their customary scrupulousness, expressed their agreement
concerning the scientifically inexplicable nature of the healing. On 14
December the theological consultors, having examined the conclusions reached
by the medical experts, undertook a theological evaluation of the case and
unanimously recognised the unicity, antecedence and choral nature of the
invocation made to Servant of God John Paul II, whose intercession was
effective in this prodigious healing.

  "Finally, on 11 January 2011 the ordinary session of the cardinals and
bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints took place. They
expressed their unanimous approval, believing the recovery of Sr. Marie
Simon Pierre to be miraculous, having been achieved by God in a
scientifically inexplicable manner following the intercession of the Supreme
Pontiff John Paul II, trustingly invoked both by Sr. Simon herself and by
many other 
faithful".
CCS/                                                                    VIS
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DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, 14 JAN 2011 (VIS) - Today, during a private audience with
Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints, the Pope authorised the congregation to promulgate the following
decrees:

MIRACLES

 - Venerable Servant of God John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla), Polish Supreme
Pontiff (1920-2005).

 - Venerable Servant of God Antonia Maria Verna, Italian foundress of the
Institute of the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception
(1773-1838).

 - Venerable Servant of God Giuseppe Toniolo, Italian layman and father
(1845-1918).

MARTYRDOM

 - Servants of God Marija Jula (nee Kata Ivanisevic), Marija Bernadeta (nee
Terezija Banja,) Marija Krizina (nee Jozefa Bojanc), Marija Antonija (nee
Jozefa Fabjan) and Maria Berchmana (nee Karoline Anna Leidenix), professed
religions of the Institute of Daughters of Divine Charity, killed in hatred
of the faith in Bosnia-Herzegovina between 15 and 23 December 1941.

HEROIC VIRTUES

 - Servant of God Antonio Franco, Italian bishop of Santa Lucia del Mela
(1585-1626).

 - Servant of God Franziskus Maria vom Kreuze (ne Johann Baptist Jordan)
German priest and founder of the Society of the Divine Saviour and of the
Congregation of Sisters of the Divine Saviour (1848-1918).

 - Servant of God Nelson Baker, American diocesan priest (1842-1936).

 - Servant of God Faustino Perez-Manglano Magro, Spanish student and
postulant of the Marianist Fathers (1946-1963).

 - Servant of God Francisca de Paula de Jesus, (also called Nha Chica),
Brazilian laywoman (1810-1895).
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 14 JAN 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate
audiences:

 - Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes
of Saints.

 - Renata Polverini, president of the Region of Lazio, Italy.

 - Gianni Alemanno, mayor of the City of Rome.

 - Nicola Zingaretti, president of the Province of Rome.

 - Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Sant'Egidio Community.

  This evening he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal William
Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 14 JAN 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Fr. Christopher J. Coyne of the clergy of the archdiocese of
Boston, U.S.A., pastor of the parish of St. Margaret Mary in Westwood, as
auxiliary of the archdiocese of Indianapolis (area 35,768, population
2,550,000, Catholics 242,000, priests 257, religious 791), U.S.A. The
bishop-elect was born in Woburn, U.S.A. in 1958 and ordained a priest in
1986.

 - Appointed Msgr. Mark L. Bartchak of the clergy of the diocese of Erie,
U.S.A., judicial vicar, as bishop of Altoona-Johnstown (area 17,279,
population 663,000, Catholics 107,000, priests 201, permanent deacons 29,
religious 154), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Cleveland, U.S.A. in
1955 and ordained a priest in 1981. He succeeds Bishop Joseph V. Adamec,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father
accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese Rotterdam,
Netherlands, presented by Bishop Adrianus Herman van Luyn S.D.B., upon
having reached the age limit.
NEA:NER:RE/                                                     VIS 20110114
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 - Origin: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede (1:396/3) 
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