VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 102
DATE 02-06-2014

Summary:
- TO THE BISHOPS OF ZIMBABWE: GUIDE YOUR PEOPLE TOWARDS UNITY AND RECONCILATION
- TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL LOURDUSAMY
- FRANCIS AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM: REMEMBER THAT THE CHURCH WAS BORN ON THE
PENTECOST TO REACH OUT
- REGINA COELI: JESUS' LAST WORD TO THE DISCIPLES WAS THE ORDER TO GO FORTH
- CONCLUSION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MARY IS OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOUR
- THE POPE ON THE CHILDREN'S TRAIN
- THE POPE: SILENCE WEAPONS IN SYRIA
- EPISCOPAL ORDINATION IN ST. PETER'S: PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE, LIKE MOSES
- DECLARATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE FOR THE
LIBERATION OF THE MISSIONARIES ABDUCTED IN CAMEROON
- HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF
CILICIA, TO VISIT ROME
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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 TO THE BISHOPS OF ZIMBABWE: GUIDE YOUR PEOPLE TOWARDS UNITY AND RECONCILATION
 Vatican City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) - "The Church in your country has
stood fast with her people both before and after independence, now also in
the years of overwhelming suffering as millions have left the country in
frustration and desperation, as many lives have been lost, so many tears
shed", writes Pope Francis in the address he handed to the prelates of
the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference this morning, at the end of their
"ad limina" visit.
 The Holy Father writes about the growth of the Church in the country,
comparing it to a young, strong tree, full of life and bearing fruit, and
mentions that "generations of Zimbabweans - including many political
leaders - have been educated in Church schools. He then goes on to praise
the prelates for the exercise of their prophetic ministry, in which they
have given voice to all the struggling people of their country, especially
to the downtrodden and refugees. He refers to their 2007 Pastoral Letter,
"God Hears the Cry of the Oppressed", which describes "the
origins of the spiritual and moral crisis, stretching from colonial times
through the present moment", and how the "structures of sin"
embedded in the social order "are ultimately rooted in personal sin,
requiring of all a profound personal conversion".
 "Christians find themselves on all sides of the conflict in Zimbabwe,
and so I urge you to guide everyone with great tenderness towards unity and
healing", he continues. "This is a people both black and white,
some richer but most exceedingly poorer, of numerous tribes; the followers
of Christ belong to all political parties, some in positions of authority,
many not. But together as the one pilgrim People of God, they need
conversion and healing, in order to become ever more fully 'one Body, one
Spirit in Christ'. Through preaching and works of the apostolate, may your
local Churches demonstrate that 'reconciliation is not an isolated act but
a lengthy process by which all parties are re-established in love - a love
that heals through the working of God's word'".
 "While Zimbabweans' faithfulness is already a balm on some of these
national wounds, I know that many people have reached their human limit,
and do not know where to turn. In the midst of all this, I ask you to
encourage the faithful never to lose sight of the ways in which God is
hearing their supplications and answering their prayers, for, as you have
written, he cannot fail to hear the cry of the poor. In this Easter season,
as the Church throughout the world celebrates the victory of Christ over
the power of sin and death, the Gospel of the resurrection which you are
entrusted to proclaim must be clearly preached and lived in Zimbabwe. Let
us never forget the lesson of the resurrection: 'on razed land life breaks
through, stubbornly yet invincibly. However dark things are, goodness
always re-emerges and spreads". Pope Francis concluded by quoting from
his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium: "Each day in our world
beauty is born anew, it rises transformed through the storms of
history".

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 TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL LOURDUSAMY
 Vatican City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a telegram of
condolences to Archbishop Anthony Anandarayar of Ponticherry and Cuddalore,
India, for the death last night in Rome of Cardinal Simon D. Lourdusamy,
aged 90, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and
archbishop emeritus of Bangalore, India. In his text, the Pope expresses
his gratitude for the cardinal's "priestly life spent in spreading the
Gospel first in India and subsequently in service to the Universal
Church" and commends his noble soul to the Lord.
 Cardinal Lourdusamy's funeral will be held on 5 June at 11.30 a.m. at the
altar of the Vatican Basilica, and will be presided by Cardinal Angelo
Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals. At the end of the Eucharist, Pope
Francis will administer the rites of "Ultima Commendatio" and
"Valedictio".

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 FRANCIS AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM: REMEMBER THAT THE CHURCH WAS BORN ON THE
PENTECOST TO REACH OUT
 Vatican City, 2 June 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon fifty-two thousand
people gathered for the National Convocation of "Renewal in the
Spirit", from 55 countries, applauded Pope Francis' entry into the
Olympic Stadium in Rome where he joined in with the chorus in Spanish of
"Vive Jesus, el Senor", a hymn that the bishop of Rome said he
enjoyed greatly when he celebrated Mass in the cathedral of Buenos Aires
with members of this movement. Two bodies for the coordination of Catholic
Charismatic Renewal throughout the world: ICCRS (International Catholic
Charismatic Renewal Services) and CFCCCF (Catholic Fraternity of
Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships).
 The Pope answered the questions posed to him by priests, young people,
families, the sick and the elderly, asking the first among them to remain
close to Christ and to his faithful, and warning the second not to keep
their youth "locked away in a safe" but rather to "bet on
great things". He reminded families of their roles as a domestic
church, and commented that the sick imitate Jesus in the difficult moments
of life, and that the elderly are the wisdom and memory of the Church.
Finally, he prayed that God might grant to all the "holy intoxication
of the Spirit, that enables us to speak many languages, the languages of
charity, always close to those brothers and sisters who need us. Teach us
not to fight between ourselves over a little more power, ... teach us to
increasingly love the Church that is our 'team', and to keep our hearts
open to receive the Holy Spirit".
 In his address, he affirmed that Renewal in the Spirit is "a great
force in the service of the proclamation of the Gospel in the joy of the
Holy Spirit. ... In the early times, it was said that you always carried a
Bible with you, a New Testament. ... If not, return to this first love,
always carry the Word of God with you, in your pocket, in your bag!"
 He urged them never to lose the freedom that the Holy Spirit gives us,
warning them of the danger of "excessive organisation".
"Yes, you need organisation, but do not lose the grace of letting God
be God!". He also warned them of the danger of becoming
"controllers" of God's grace, administrators of race who decide
who may receive the prayer of effusion or baptism in the Spirit, and who
instead may not. "If any of you do this, I beg you, do not do this any
more. You are dispensers of God's grace, not controllers!", he
underlined.
 "Evangelisation, spiritual ecumenism, attention to the poor and needy
and welcome to the marginalised, and all on the basis of adoration; the
foundation for renewal is adoring God": thus Pope Francis defined the
path of Renewal in the Spirit, to explain the future direction he hoped
they would take.
 "First of all", he said, "conversion to the love of Jesus,
that changes life and makes a Christian a witness to God's love. I hope
that you will share with all in the Church the grace of Baptism in the Holy
Spirit. I expect from you an evangelisation with the Word of God that
proclaims that Jesus lives and loves all humankind. May you give witness of
spiritual ecumenism with all those brothers and sisters of other Churches
and Christian communities who believe in Jesus as the Lord and Saviour. May
you remain united in the love that the Lord Jesus asks of all for all
mankind, and in prayer to the Holy Spirit to reach this unity, necessary
for evangelisation in the name of Jesus. Be close to the poor and needy to
touch in their flesh the wounded flesh of Jesus. Seek unity in Renewal
because unity comes from the Holy Spirit and is born of the unity of the
Trinity. Where does division come from? The devil! Division comes from the
devil. Flee from internal struggles, please!".
 In conclusion, Francis called upon them to "Go forth onto the streets
and evangelise, proclaim the Gospel. Remember that the Church was born to
go forth, that morning of Pentecost. ... Let yourselves be guided by the
Holy Spirit, with that same freedom. And please, do not cage the Holy
Spirit! With freedom!".

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 REGINA COELI: JESUS' LAST WORD TO THE DISCIPLES WAS THE ORDER TO GO FORTH
 Vatican City, 1 June 2014 (VIS) - At midday today, Pope Francis appeared
at the window of his study to pray the Regina Coeli with the faithful
gathered below in St. Peter's Square and, before the Marian prayer, he
mentioned that today in Italy and in other countries we celebrate the
Ascension of Jesus Christ, which takes place forty days after the
Resurrection. On that day, Jesus returns to His Father and commands the
disciples to proclaim His message of salvation to the world.
 "Jesus leaves and goes up to Heaven", he explains; "He
returns to the Father Who sent Him to the world. He had finished his work
and returned to His Father. But this is not a separation, because he
remains with us always, in a new form. With His ascension, the Risen Lord
lifts the gaze of the Apostles - and also ours - to the heights of Heaven
to show us that our path leads us to the Father. However, Jesus remains
present and at work in the vicissitudes of human history with the power and
gifts of His Spirit; this accompanies each one of us, even though we do not
see Him with our eyes. He accompanies us and guides us, He gives us His
hand and lifts us up when we fall. The resurrected Jesus is close to those
Christians who are persecuted and discriminated against; He is close to
every man and woman who suffers.
 "And Jesus, when He returns to Heaven, takes a gift to His Father:
his wounds. His body is beautiful, without the wounds of flagellation, but
the wounds are still present. And when He returns to the Father, He says:
Look, this is the price of the forgiveness you give. And when the Father
looks upon Christ's wounds, He always forgives. Not because we are good:
no. Looking at Jesus' wounds, the Father becomes more merciful".
 "But Jesus is also present through the Church, which He sent to
continue His mission. Jesus' last word to His disciples is the order to go
forth: 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations'. It is a precise
mandate - it is not optional! The Christian community is a community that
is on the move, that goes out. More than this: the Church was born
outgoing. And you will ask me, but what about cloistered communities? Yes,
it applies to them too, as they always reach out through prayer, with their
hearts open to the world, to God's horizons. And the elderly, the sick?
They too are in prayer and union with Jesus' wounds".
 Following the Regina Coeli, the Pope said, "It is with a heavy heart
that I pray for the victims of the continuing tension in some areas of
Ukraine, and also in the Republic of Central Africa. I renew my urgent
appeals to all the parties involved to overcome their misunderstandings and
to seek patiently dialogue and pacification. May Mary Queen of Peace help
all of us by her maternal intercession".
 He went on to mention that today is World Social Communications Day, the
theme of which this year is communication in the service of the culture of
encounter: "Social communication media may promote a sense of unity
within the human family, solidarity and commitment to a dignified life for
all. Let us pray that communication, in every form it takes, may be
effectively at the service of encounter between people, communities,
families, nations; an encounter based on respect and mutual
listening".
 Finally, he mentioned the beatification on Saturday afternoon in
Collevalenza, Italy, of Mother Maria Esperanza of Jesus (Maria Josefa
Alhama Valera), foundress of the Congregations of the Handmaids and the
Sons of Merciful Love, and expressed his hope that "her witness may
help the Church to proclaim everywhere, with concrete daily gestures, the
infinite mercy of the heavenly Father towards every person".

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 CONCLUSION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MARY IS OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOUR
 Vatican City, 1 June 2014 (VIS) - The ceremony concluding the Marian month
took place yesterday at 8 p.m. in the Vatican Gardens. The faithful prayer
the rosary in procession from the church of St. Stephen of the Abyssinians
to the grotto of the Virgin of Lourdes. At 9 p.m., Pope Francis arrived at
the grotto and, before imparting his apostolic blessing, addressed the
following words to those present:

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