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

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE

TWENTIETH YEAR - N. 225
ENGLISH
FRIDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2010

SUMMARY:

- Pope Meets with Roman University Students
- Apostolic Vigour and Drive for Naples Jubilee Year
- Holy Father Bestows a Prize on Marian Academy of India
- Italian Culture Profoundly Marked by Catholic Church
- Vatican Christmas Tree to Be Lit in a Ceremony Today
- Communique Concerning Chinese Catholic Assembly
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

POPE MEETS WITH ROMAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

VATICAN CITY, 17 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Yesterday at 5 p.m., in keeping with a
pre-Christmas tradition of meeting with university students, the Holy Father
presided at Vespers in the Vatican Basilica with students from Roman
universities.

  "The God of Abraham", he said in his homily, "revealed
Himself, He showed
His face and came to dwell in our flesh, in Jesus the Son of Mary - true God
and true man - Whom we will meet once again at the Manger in Bethlehem. To
return there, to that humble and cramped place, is not simply a mental
journey; it is a path we are called to follow by experiencing the closeness
of God here and now, and His action which renews and sustains our lives".

  "The road to the Manger of Bethlehem is a journey of inner liberation, an
experience of profound freedom, because it encourages us to emerge from
ourselves and to move towards God, Who has come close to us. ... He wishes
to infuse courage into our lives, especially when we are tired and weary,
when we need to rediscover the serenity of the journey and joyfully to feel
that we are pilgrims on our way to eternity. ... The Child we will find
between Mary and Joseph is the Logos-Love, the Word which can give full
consistency to our lives. ... In Bethlehem, the today of God and the today
of man meet, and together they begin a journey of dialogue and intense
communion.

 "Dear friends", the Holy Father added, "you who are following the
fascinating and demanding journey of research and cultural endeavour, the
Incarnate Word asks you to share with Him the patience 'to build'. Building
your lives, building society, is not an undertaking that can be achieved by
distracted and superficial minds and hearts. ... In our own time we feel the
need for a new class of intellectuals capable of interpreting social and
cultural dynamics, and of proposing solutions that are not abstract, but
concrete and realistic. Universities are called to play this vital role, in
which the Church will provide her committed and effective support".

  The Roman university community - which is made up of State, private,
Catholic and Pontifical institutions - must, said Benedict XVI, "play an
important historical role: that of overcoming the misunderstandings and
prejudices which at times hinder the development of authentic culture.
Working together, especially with faculties of theology, Roman universities
can show that it is possible to implement a new dialogue and new
collaboration between Christian faith and the various fields of knowledge,
without confusion or separation but sharing the same aspiration to serve man
in his entirety".

  At the end of the ceremony, an African university delegation consigned the
image of "Maria Sedes Sapientiae" to a delegation of Spanish students. The
image will be taken on pilgrimage to all Spanish universities in preparation
for World Youth Day, due to be held in the Spanish capital Madrid in August
next year.
HML/                                                                    VIS
20101217 (510)

APOSTOLIC VIGOUR AND DRIVE FOR NAPLES JUBILEE YEAR

VATICAN CITY, 17 DEC 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a Message to
Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, Italy, for opening of the
archdiocese's Jubilee Year which began recently and is due to last for all
of 2011.

  Naples, the Pope writes, "has a rich religious heritage, and this calls
for coherence of faith and courage of witness. In keeping with this opulent
tradition, Christian sanctity has flowered abundantly, finding expre
ssion in
famous figures who left profound traces in the Church and in society. These
shining examples have handed down the responsibility to continue the history
of faith and charity in your land, showing the same vigour and apostolic
drive as they did.

  "Of course", the Holy Father adds, "today's social and
cultural context is
very different from the past and, although we may joy in the Lord for the
genuine and persisting faith of so many Christians, it is painful to note
the spread of a secularised view of life and the emergence of evils
afflicting the body public, which is threatened by individualism.

  "In this atmosphere, negative and deviant models also exercise their
influence, having a strong impact on family and social life, especially on
the new generations. Thus I wish to reiterate the urgent need for the human
and Christian formation of children and young people, because they are
seriously exposed to the risks of deviancy".

  "Christians are called to work for truth and to bear courageous witness to
the Gospel in all areas of life. Each individual can and must strive to
ensure that spiritual and ethical values, translated into life choices, make
a decisive contribution to the creation of a more just and fraternal
society. To this end we must work to create ... relationships of authentic
charity which give concrete expression to solidarity and service, so as to
provide alternative life examples that are accessible to all and, at the
same time, emblematic".

  The Holy Father concludes his message: "In this way we will reinforce the
awareness that today, as always, the seed of the Kingdom of God is present
and active. A seed of the future, capable, if welcomed personally and
generously, of transforming even the most difficult situations and of
renewing the heart and countenance of Naples".
MESS/                                                                   VIS
20101217 (390)

HOLY FATHER BESTOWS A PRIZE ON MARIAN ACADEMY OF INDIA

VATICAN CITY, 17 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Yesterday evening at the Palazzo of San
Pio X, the Pontifical Academies held their fifteenth public session on the
theme: "The Assumption of Mary, a sign of consolation and of sure hope".

  During the session Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.
read out a Message sent by the Pope to Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president
of the Co-ordinating Council of the Pontifical Academies, and to
participants.

  "The fifteenth public session", the Pope writes, "was
organised by the
Pontifical International Marian Academy and the Pontifical Academy of Mary
Immaculate which, most opportunely, wanted this solemn meeting to recall the
sixtieth anniversary of the promulgation of the Dogma of the Assumption".

  Benedict XVI recalls how "Vatican Council II, in its Dogmatic Constitution
'Lumen gentium', teaches that Mary is a sign of sure hope and consolation
for the People of God on their pilgrimage through history".

  "The Fathers and Doctors of the Church, echoing the shared feeling of the
faithful and reflecting upon what the liturgy celebrates, proclaimed Mary's
singular privilege and illustrated her shining beauty, which supports and
nourishes our hope", the Pope writes.

  "Theological and spiritual reflections", he goes on, "the
liturgy, Marian
devotion, and artistic representations are really all part of the same
thing, a complete and effective message capable of arousing wonder in our
eyes, of touching our heart, of stimulating our mind to an even deeper
understanding of the mystery of Mary, in whom we see our own destiny and
hope clearly reflected and announced".

  In this context, the holy Father invites the scholars "to follow the 'via
pulchritudinis'", expressing the hope that, "even in our own day, thanks to
greater collaboration between theologians, liturgists and artists, more
incisive and effective messages may be presented for people's contemplation
and admiration".

  Accepting a suggestion made by the Co-ordinating Council of the Pontifical
Academies, Benedict XVI also announces that his year he is assigning the
Pontifical
 Ecclesiastical Academies Prize to the Marian Academy of India,
represented by its president Fr. Kulandaisamy Raya, and to Luis Alberto
Esteves dos Santos Casimiro, for his doctoral dissertation on the
Annunciation in sixteenth century Portuguese painting.

  The Holy Father concludes by saying: "Furthermore, as a sign of
appreciation and encouragement, I wish to present the pontifical medal to
the 'Gen Verde' Group, part of the 'Focolari' Movement, for its artistic
undertakings so strongly impregnated with Gospel values and open to dialogue
between peoples and cultures".
MESS/                                                                   VIS
20101217 (420)

ITALIAN CULTURE PROFOUNDLY MARKED BY CATHOLIC CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, 17 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI
received the Letters of Credence of Francesco Maria Greco, the new Italian
ambassador to the Holy See.

  In his address to the diplomat, the Pope spoke of the preparations
underway for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Italian unity,
affirming that "one of the most important aspects of the long and sometimes
tiring and difficult journey which led to the modern Italian State, was the
search for a just distinction between the civil and religious communities,
and for correct forms of collaboration between them. This need is more
deeply felt in a county like Italy, whose history and culture are so
profoundly marked by the Catholic Church, and the capital of which is the
episcopal see of the visible head of that community, which has spread
throughout the world.

  "These characteristics", he added, "which have been part of Italy's
historical and cultural heritage for centuries, cannot be denied, forgotten
or marginalised. The experience of these 150 years teaches us that when
attempts have been made to do so, they have led to dangerous imbalances and
painful fractures in the social life of the country".

  In this context the Pope underlined the importance of the Lateran Pacts
and of the Villa Madama Agreement, which "set the co-ordinates for
well-balanced relations, which are of benefit to the Apostolic See just as
they are to the State and Church in Italy".

  "These international agreements are not the expression of a desire for
power, privilege or economic and social advantage on the part of the Church
or the Holy See, nor do they aim to encroach into the area of the mission
which the Divine Founder entrusted to His community on earth. Quite the
contrary, the basis of these agreements lies in the State's just desire to
ensure that individuals and the Church can fully exercise their religious
freedom. This right has dimensions that are not only personal. ... Religious
freedom is, in fact, a right not just of individuals, but of families,
religious groups and the Church, and the State is called to safeguard not
only believers' right to freedom of conscience and religion, but also the
legitimate role of religion and of religious communities in the public
sphere".

  Benedict XVI continued: "The correct exercise and reciprocal recognition
of this right enables society to make use of the moral resources and
generous service of believers. Thus, we cannot hope to achieve authentic
social progress by the marginalisation or even the explicit rejection of the
religious factor, something which is happening in various ways in our time.
One of these, for example, is the attempt to eliminate religious symbols
from public places, first among them the Crucifix which is certainly the
symbol par excellence of the Christian faith but which, at the same time,
speaks to all men and women of good will and, as such, does not
discriminate".

  The Holy Father went on to thank the Italian government for having
operated in this field "in accordance with a correct view of laicism, in the
light of its own history, culture and traditions, finding positive support
therein also from other European nations. While some societies attempt to
marginalise the religious dimension", he said, "recent news stories
demonstrate how, in our own time, even flagrant violations 
of religious
freedom take place. Faced with this painful truth, Italian society and
government have shown particular sensitivity towards the fate of those
Christian minorities who suffer violence and discrimination because of their
faith, or are forced to emigrate from their homeland.

  "My hope is", the Pope concluded, "that awareness of this
problem may
increase and, as a consequence, efforts may be intensified to ensure full
respect for religious freedom, everywhere and for everyone. I am certain the
Holy See's commitment in this field will not lack Italian support in the
international arena".
CD/                                                                     VIS
20101217 (660)

VATICAN CHRISTMAS TREE TO BE LIT IN A CEREMONY TODAY

VATICAN CITY, 17 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received a delegation
from the town of Luson in the province of Bolzano, part of the Italian
region of Alto Adige, which has donated the Christmas tree which will
decorate St. Peter's Square during the festive season this year.

  The tree, which will be lit this evening during a public ceremony to be
presided by Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, president of the Governorate of
Vatican City State, is a Norway spruce, thirty-four metres high and
ninety-three years old. Apart from the main tree, Luson has also donated
fifty smaller trees which will be used to decorate various sites in the
Vatican.

  The Holy Father noted that the spruce, "which stood at an altitude of 1500
metres and was cut down without damaging the forest environment, will stand
next to the nativity scene until the end of the Christmas festivities".

  "The Christmas tree", he went on, "enriches the symbolic
value of the
nativity scene, which is a message of fraternity and friendship, an
invitation to unity and peace, an invitation to make space for God in our
life and society. He offers us His omnipotent love through the fragile
figure of a child, because He wants us to respond freely with our own love.
Thus the nativity scene and the tree bear a message of hope and love, and
help to create an environment in which to experience the mystery of the
birth of the Redeemer in the right spiritual and religious context".
AC/                                                                     VIS
20101217 (270)

COMMUNIQUE CONCERNING CHINESE CATHOLIC ASSEMBLY

VATICAN CITY, 17 DEC 2010 (VIS) - At midday today the Holy See Press Office
released the following English-language communique concerning the Eighth
Assembly of Chinese Catholic Representatives, which took place in Beijing
from 7 to 9 December.

  "With profound sorrow, the Holy See laments the fact that from 7 to 9
December there was held in Beijing the Eighth Assembly of Chinese Catholic
Representatives. This was imposed on numerous bishops, priests, religious
and lay faithful. The manner in which it was convoked and its unfolding
manifest a repressive attitude with regard to the exercise of religious
liberty, which it was hoped had been consigned to the past in present-day
China. The persistent desire to control the most intimate area of citizens'
lives, namely their conscience, and to interfere in the internal life of the
Catholic Church does no credit to China. On the contrary, it seems to be a
sign of fear and weakness rather than of strength; of intransigent
intolerance rather than of openness to freedom and to effective respect both
of human dignity and of a correct distinction between the civil and
religious spheres.

  "On several occasions the Holy See had let it be known, first and foremost
to the bishops, but also to all the faithful, and publicly, that they should
not take part in the event. Each one of those who were present knows to what
extent he or she is responsible before God and the Church. The bishops in
particular and the priests will also have to face the expectations of their
respective communities, who look to their own pastor and have a right to
receive from him sure guidance in the faith and in the moral life.

  "It is known, moreover, that many bishops and priests were forced to take
part in th
e assembly. The Holy See condemns this grave violation of their
human rights, particularly their freedom of religion and of conscience.
Moreover, the Holy See expresses its deepest esteem for those who, in
different ways, have borne witness to their faith with courage and it
invites the others to pray, to do penance and, through their works, to
reaffirm their own will to follow Christ with love, in full communion with
the universal Church.

  "Addressing those whose hearts are full of dismay and profound suffering,
those who are wondering how it is possible that their own bishop or their
own priests should have taken part in the assembly, the Holy See asks them
to remain steadfast and patient in the faith; it invites them to take
account of the pressures experienced by many of their pastors and to pray
for them; it exhorts them to continue courageously supporting them in the
face of the unjust impositions that they encounter in the exercise of their
ministry.

  "During the assembly, among other things, the leaders of the so-called
Episcopal Conference and of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association were
appointed. Concerning these two entities, and concerning the assembly
itself, the words written by Pope Benedict XVI in his 2007 Letter to the
Church in China continue to apply.

  "In particular, the present college of Catholic bishops of China cannot be
recognised as an episcopal conference by the Apostolic See: the
'clandestine' bishops, those not recognised by the government but in
communion with the Pope, are not part of it; it includes bishops who are
still illegitimate, and it is governed by statutes that contain elements
incompatible with Catholic doctrine. It is deeply deplorable that an
illegitimate bishop has been appointed as its president.

  "Furthermore, regarding the declared purpose to implement the principles
of independence and autonomy, self-management and democratic administration
of the Church, it should be remembered that this is incompatible with
Catholic doctrine, which from the time of the ancient Creeds professes the
Church to be 'one, holy, catholic and apostolic'. It is therefore lamentable
also that a legitimate bishop has been appointed president of the Chinese
Catholic Patriotic Association.

  "This is not the path that the Church must follow in the context of a
great and noble nation, which attracts the attention of world opinion for
its significant achievements in so many spheres, but still finds it hard to
implement the demands of genuine religious freedom, despite the fact that it
professes in its Constitution to respect that freedom. What is more, the
assembly has rendered more difficult the path of reconciliation between
Catholics of the 'clandestine communities' and those of the 'official
communities', thereby inflicting a deep wound not only upon the Church in
China but also upon the universal Church.

  "The Holy See profoundly regrets the fact that the celebration of the
abovementioned assembly, as also the recent episcopal ordination without the
indispensable papal mandate, have unilaterally damaged the dialogue and the
climate of trust that had been established in its relations with the
government of the People's Republic of China. The Holy See, while
reaffirming its own wish to dialogue honestly, feels bound to state that
unacceptable and hostile acts such as those just mentioned provoke among the
faithful, both in China and elsewhere, a grave loss of the trust that is
necessary for overcoming the difficulties and building a correct
relationship with the Church, for the sake of the common good.

  "In the light of what has happened, the Holy Father's invitation -
addressed on 1 December 2010 to all the Catholics of the world to pray for
the Church in China which is going through a particularly difficult time -
remains pressing".
OP/                                                                     VIS
20101217 (920)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 17 DEC 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate
audiences:

 - Carl A. Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Col
umbus, accompanied
by Bishop William Edward Lori of Bridgeport, U.S.A.

 - Cardinal Agostino Vallini, his vicar general for the diocese of Rome.

  This evening he is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal Marc Ouellet
P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
AP/                                                                     VIS
20101217 (70)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 17 DEC 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Peter Paul
Angkyier, former vicar general and diocesan consultant of Damongo, Ghana, as
bishop of the same diocese (area 29,000, population 440,000, Catholics
22,700, priests 42, religious 32). The bishop-elect was born in Nandon,
Ghana in 1961 and ordained a priest in 1992.
NER/                                                                    VIS
20101217 (60)
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