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

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE

TWENTY-FIRST YEAR - N. 4
ENGLISH
FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY 2011

SUMMARY: 5 - 7 JANUARY

- Benedict XVI Visits Sick Children in Rome's Gemelli Hospital
- The Word of God Is the True Star in Our Lives
- Mission of Christians Is to Reflect the Light of Christ
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

BENEDICT XVI VISITS SICK CHILDREN IN ROME'S GEMELLI HOSPITAL

VATICAN CITY, 5 JAN 2011 (VIS) - This afternoon, to mark tomorrow's
Solemnity of the Epiphany, the Holy Father travelled to the Agostino Gemelli
hospital in Rome where he visited the department for children afflicted with
spina bifida.

  Having greeted the young patients, he went on to visit the post-natal
intensive care unit and the Paul VI International Scientific Institute for
research, diagnosis and therapy of marital sterility.

  Addressing the medical staff, the sick children and their parents the Holy
Father explained that he had cone to the Gemelli hospital to tell the young
ones "that I love you and remain at your side with my prayers and affection,
also to give you the strength to face your sickness. ... I bless the
personnel, their commitment and these places in which they give concrete
expression of love for the weakest and those most in need", he said.

  "Dear children and young people, one reason I wanted to come here to visit
you was to be like the Magi, whom we celebrate on this Feast of the
Epiphany. They brought Jesus gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh as an
expression of their adoration and affection. Today I too have brought you
some gifts so that, through this small sign, you may feel the closeness and
affection of the Pope. Yet I would like everyone, adults and children alike,
at this Christmastime, to recall the greatest gift which God gave to each
one of us".

  In conclusion Benedict XVI encouraged "the various charitable and
voluntary initiatives, as well as those institutions which bring their
expertise to the service of life. In this context I am thinking in
particular of the Paul VI International Scientific Institute, which aims to
promote responsible procreation. Once again, thank you all! The Pope loves
you!"
BXVI-VISIT/                                                             VIS
20110107 (310)

THE WORD OF GOD IS THE TRUE STAR IN OUR LIVES

VATICAN CITY, 6 JAN 2011 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 10 a.m. today,
the Pope presided at Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

  In his homily Benedict XVI explained that the Magi "were probably wise men
who studied the skies, but not in an attempt to read the future in the
stars; ... rather, they were men who sought something greater, who sought
the true light, the light capable of indicating the path to follow in life.
They were individuals who were certain that the creation contains what we
could describe as God's signature, a signature that man can and must seek to
discover and decipher".

  Referring to King Herod, the Pope described him as a "a man of power", to
whom "even God appeared as a rival; indeed, a particularly dangerous rival
Who sought to deprive men of their living space, of their autonomy, of their
power. ... Herod is a unsympathetic figure to us, one we instinctively judge
negatively because of his brutality. Yet we should ask ourselves whether
there is not perhaps something of Herod in us too. Perhaps we too, at times,
see God as a kind of rival. Perhaps we too are blind to His signs, deaf to
His words, because we believe that He puts limitations on our lives and does
not allow us to dispose of our existence as we wish".

  "When we see God in this way", the Holy Father continued, "we end up
feeling dissatisfied and discontented, because we do not allow ourselves to
be guided by the One Who is the foundation of all things, We must remove all
idea of rivalry from our minds and hearts, the idea that giving space to God
is a limit to the self. We must open ourselves to the certainty that God is
omnipotent love which takes away nothing, which threatens nothing. Quite the

contrary, He is the only One capable of offering us the chance to live a
full life and to experience true joy".

  The Magi, the Pope went on, "being wise men, also knew that it is not with
a mere telescope but with the eyes of profound reason which searches for the
ultimate meaning of reality, with the desire for God moved by the faith,
that it is possible to meet Him. Or rather, this is what makes it possible
for God to approach us. The universe is not the result of chance, as some
people would have us believe, and contemplating it we are called to read
something more profound therein: the wisdom of the Creator, God's endless
imagination, His infinite love for us.

  "We must not", Benedict XVI added, "allow our minds to be
constrained by
theories which are always limited and which - if we study them well - are
not in any way in competition with the faith as they cannot explain the
ultimate meaning of reality. In the beauty of the world, in its mystery, its
greatness and its rationality we cannot fail to read the eternal
rationality. And we cannot but allow ourselves to be guided by the world to
the One God, Creator of heaven and earth. If we see things in this way, we
will see that the One Who created the world, and the One Who was born in a
grotto in Bethlehem and continues to live among us in the Eucharist, are the
same living God Who calls us, Who invites us, Who wants to lead us to
eternal life".

  For the Magi "it seemed logical to seek the new king in the royal
palace".
Yet "the star guided them to Bethlehem, a small town; it guided them among
the poor, among the humble, to find the King of the world. God's criteria
are different to those of mankind. God does not show Himself among the
powerful of this world, but in the humility of His love, the love which asks
us to welcome it in our freedom, in order to transform us and enable us to
reach the One Who is Love".

  "In the end, for the Magi, it was vital to listen to the voice of Holy
Scripture; only that could show them the way. The Word of God is the true
star which, in the uncertainty of human discourse, offers us the immense
splendour of divine truth", said the Pope.

  And he concluded: "Let us allow ourselves to be guided by the star, which
is the Word of God, let us follow it in our lives, walking with the Church
where the Word has pitched its tent. Our path will always be illuminated by
a light which no other sign can give us. And we too will be able to act as
stars for other people, a reflection of that light which Christ caused to
shine upon us".
HML/                                                                    VIS
20110107 (820)

MISSION OF CHRISTIANS IS TO REFLECT THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, 6 JAN 2011 (VIS) - Following this morning's Mass in the
Vatican Basilica, at midday the Pope appeared at the window of his study
overlooking St. Peter's Square to pray the Angelus with thousands of
faithful gathered below.

  On the subject of today's feast, the Holy Father explained how "Epiphany
means the manifestation of Jesus to all people, today represented by the
Magi who came to Bethlehem from the East to pay homage to the King of the
Jews, of Whose birth they had learned by the appearance of a star in the
sky".

  "Epiphany", he went on, "announced the universal openness
of the Church,
her call to evangelise all people. But the Epiphany also tells us how the
Church accomplishes this mission: by reflecting the light of Christ and
announcing His Word. Christians are called to imitate the service the star
offered to the Magi. We must shine like children of light to attract
everyone to the beauty of the Kingdom of God".

  After the Angelus Benedict XVI expressed his congratulations "to our
brothers and sisters of the Eastern Churches who will celebrate Christmas
tomorrow. May the goodness of God, Who appeared in Jesus Christ, the Word
incarnate, strengthen everyone in faith, hope and charity, and bring comfort
to communities suffering trials".

  The Pope also recalled how "the Epiphany is the Day of Missionary
Children, promulgated by the Pont
ifical Work of the Holy Childhood. Children
and young people, organised in their parishes and schools, form a network of
spirituality and solidarity to help their peers in difficulties. It is very
beautiful and important that children should grow up with their minds open
to the world, with feelings of love and fraternity, overcoming selfishness
and consumerism, Dear children and young people, with your prayers and your
commitment you help in the Church's mission. For this I thank you and bless
you!"
ANG/                                                                    VIS
20110107 (330)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 7 JAN 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Msgr. Leonardo Bonanno of the clergy of the archdiocese of
Cosenza-Bisignano, Italy, vicar general, moderator of the archdiocesan Curia
and judge of the regional ecclesiastical tribunal, as bishop of San Marco
Argentano-Scalea (area 1,142, population 113,672, Catholics 111,000, priests
88, permanent deacons 3, religious 91), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in
San Giovanni in Fiore, Italy in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1971. He
succeeds Bishop Domenico Crusco, whose resignation from the pastoral care of
the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age
limit.

 - Appointed Bishop Hector Luis Morales Sanchez, prelate of Huautla, Mexico,
as bishop of Netzahualcoyotl (area 513, population 3,637,000, Catholics
3,314,000, priests 136, religious 133), Mexico.
NER:RE/                                                         VIS 20110107
(130)

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 - Origin: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede (1:396/3) 
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