VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXIV - # 89
DATE 15-05-2014

Summary:
- THE POPE TO NEW AMBASSADORS: ARMS TRADE AND FORCED MIGRATION CHALLENGE PEACE
- FRANCIS RECEIVES THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND
- TELEGRAM FOR THE ASIAN CONFERENCE ON THE FAMILY
- POPE'S VISIT TO THE "DIVINO AMORE" SANCTUARY POSTPONED
- JOINT APPEAL IN AMMAN FOR WORLD SOLIDARITY
- FIFTY YEARS OF PROMOTING INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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 THE POPE TO NEW AMBASSADORS: ARMS TRADE AND FORCED MIGRATION CHALLENGE PEACE
 Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis received the
credential letters of seven new ambassadors to the Holy See: Pierre Yves
Fux, Switzerland; Rudolf P. von Balimoos, Liberia; Nega Tsegaye Tessema,
Ethiopia; Nasreldin Ahmed Wali Abdeltif, Sudan; Margaret Ann Louise Jobson,
Jamaica; Claudinah Ntini Ramosepele, South Africa; and Mysore Kapanalah
Lokesh, India.
 The Holy Father focused his address to the diplomats on the challenges
posed to peace by the arms trade and forced migration.
 "Peace: this word summarises all the assets to which every person and
all human societies aspire", he said. "Also the effort with which
we seek to promote diplomatic relations has, in the final analysis, the
sole aim of allowing peace to grow in the human family, in development and
justice. It is a target that is never fully reached, and that must be
continually sought after by every generation, facing the challenges
presented in every age".
 "Everyone talks about peace", he observed; "everyone claims
to want it, but unfortunately the proliferation of weapons of every type
leads in the opposite direction. The arms trade has the effect of
complicating and distancing us from a solution to conflicts, all the more
so since it takes place to a great extent outside the boundaries of the
law. Therefore I consider that, while we are gathered in this Apostolic
See, which by nature is invested in a special service to the cause of
peace, we can unite our voices in expressing hope that the international
community may make new, concerted and courageous efforts against the
proliferation of weapons and to promote their reduction".
 The Holy Father mentioned that another challenge to peace, which
"unfortunately takes on, in certain regions and in certain moments,
the nature of a full-blown human tragedy", is that of forced
migration. He commented that it is a very complex phenomenon, and
recognised that important efforts are being made by international
organisations, States, and social bodies, as well as religious communities
and volunteer groups, to respond "in a civil and organised way to the
most critical aspects, emergencies, and situations of greatest need".
However, also in this case, "we are aware that we cannot limit
ourselves to reacting to emergencies. This phenomenon has fully manifested
its epochal character. The moment has arrived to face it with a serious and
responsible political outlook, involving all levels: global, continental,
macro-regional, in relations between nations, and finally at national and
local levels".
 In relation to this problem we see examples of a contrary nature: on the
one hand, "marvellous cases of humanity, of welcome, of encounter:
people and families who have succeeded in leaving behind these inhuman
situations and have rediscovered dignity, freedom and security.
Unfortunately, on the other hand there are stories that make us weep for
shame: human beings, our brothers and sisters, children of God who,
inspired by the wish to live and work in peace, face harrowing journeys and
are subjected to blackmail, torture and harassment of every kind, and at
times end up dying in the desert or at the bottom of the sea".
 The phenomenon of forced migration is "closely linked to conflicts
and wars, and therefore also to the problem of the proliferation of
weapons. ... They are the wounds of a world that is our world, in which God
has placed us to live today, and He calls us to be responsible for our
brothers and sisters, so that the violation of no human being be violated.
It would be an absurd contradiction to speak about peace, to negotiate
peace, and at the same time promote and permit the arms trade. We could
also consider it to be in a certain sense cynical to proclaim human rights
and at the same time ignore or fail to take account of the men and women
who, forced to leave their homeland, die in the attempt or are not welcomed
by international solidarity".
 The Pope concluded, "The Holy See today declares to you and to the
governments of your respective countries its firm resolve to continue to
collaborate to take steps forward in these areas and along all the roads
that lead to justice and peace, on the basis of universally recognised
human rights".

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 FRANCIS RECEIVES THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND
 Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father Francis received
in audience the governor general of New Zealand, Sir Jerry Mateparae, who
subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for
Relations with States.
 During the cordial discussions the Parties focused on a number of aspects
of the social and economic life of the country, as well as the valuable
contribution of the Catholic Church in various sectors of New Zealand
society. There was also an exchange of opinions on the international
situation, with particular reference to regional cooperation in various
development programmes and participation in peace missions in different
parts of the world.

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 TELEGRAM FOR THE ASIAN CONFERENCE ON THE FAMILY
 Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin has sent a telegram to the archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Socrates
P. Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the
Philippines, on the occasion of the "Asian Conference on the
Family", which is being held from 13 to 16 May on the theme
"Families of Asia: Lights of Hope".
 "Recalling that the 'family is the fundamental cell of society where
we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one
other'", he continues, "His Holiness calls upon all the lay
faithful gathered to deepen their experience of faith and communion, under
the guidance of the Successor of Peter and the Bishops, so as to be a
leaven of Christ's love in the midst of humanity".

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 POPE'S VISIT TO THE "DIVINO AMORE" SANCTUARY POSTPONED
 Vatican City, 15 May 2014 (VIS) - Pope Francis' visit to the Sanctuary and
Roman parish of "Divino Amore", planned for Sunday 18 May, has
been cancelled to lighten the burden of the Pope's activities in view of
preparations for his imminent apostolic journey in the Holy Land. The visit
to the sanctuary will be rescheduled at a later date.

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 JOINT APPEAL IN AMMAN FOR WORLD SOLIDARITY

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