VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 106
DATE 06-06-2014

Summary:
- THE HOLY FATHER TO PRAY ON 13 SEPTEMBER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN IN ALL WARS
- AUDIENCE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN: UNDERSTANDING AND
COLLABORATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE
- BRIEFING OF PRESENTATION FOR INVOCATION OF PEACE
- AUDIENCES

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 THE HOLY FATHER TO PRAY ON 13 SEPTEMBER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN IN ALL WARS
 Vatican City, 6 June 2014 (VIS) - On 13 September Pope Francis will pray
at the military monument of Redipuglia, Italy, for those who have fallen in
all wars, to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World
War, "an enormous tragedy about which I heard many painful stories
from my grandfather, who fought in the Battle of the Piave". He
announced this at the end of his meeting in St. Peter's square with the
Carabinieri, Italy's military police corps, celebrating the bicentenary of
its foundation.
 "Between the Carabinieri and the people there exists a bond of
solidarity, trust and dedication to the common good"; said the Pope in
his address. "The Carabinieri 'stations', present throughout the
national territory, are points of reference for collectivity, even in the
most remote and peripheral towns and villages. And this capillary presence
requires you to participate in the life of the community to which you
belong, seeking to be close to the problems faced by the people, especially
the weakest and those in difficulty. Your vocation is service".
 This vocation is made manifest in "the protection of individuals and
the environment, in action for security, the respect for the rules for
civil co-existence and the common good; it is a concrete and constant
commitment to the defence of the rights and duties of individuals and
communities. The maintenance of public order and personal safety is an
increasingly current issue in a dynamic, open society committed to the
protection of civil rights and liberties, such as Italy, where you
serve".
 Pope Francis went on to speak about the history of the Carabinieri Corps,
mentioning that it numbers among its members the Servant of God Salvo
d'Acquisto, who at the age of 23 in Palidoro, near Rome, "offered his
young existence to save the lives of innocent people from Nazi
brutality". He also commented on their notable efforts beyond national
borders as "peacemakers, to ensure security, respect for human dignity
and the defence of human rights in countries racked by conflicts and
tensions of every type". He concluded, "Never cease to give
everywhere, in your homeland and elsewhere, a clear and joyful witness of
humanity, especially towards the neediest and least fortunate".

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 AUDIENCE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN: UNDERSTANDING AND COLLABORATION
BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE
 Vatican City, 6 June 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic
Palace the Holy Father Francis received in audience the prime minister of
Japan, Shinzo Abe, 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 good relations between Japan and the
Holy See were evoked, as well as the understanding and collaboration
between the Church and State in the fields of education, social welfare and
healthcare.
 The conversation then turned to several current regional and international
themes, with particular reference to initiatives aimed at promoting peace
and stability in the Asian continent, Japan's commitment to cooperation for
development, especially in Africa, attention to the environment, and
nuclear disarmament.

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 BRIEFING OF PRESENTATION FOR INVOCATION OF PEACE
 Vatican City, 6 June 2014 (VIS) - During a briefing held this morning, Fr.
Pierbattista Pizzaballa O.F.M., custodian of the Holy Land, and Fr.
Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, presented
the details of the "Invocation for Peace" initiative scheduled to
take place in the Vatican on Sunday. Pope Francis has invited the
presidents of Israel and Palestine, Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas, to join
him in a prayer encounter.
 Peres and Abbas will arrive at the Vatican within a few minutes of each
other (the former at 6.15 p.m. and the latter at 6.30). The Holy Father
will receive them at the entrance of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, and will
then speak briefly with each. All three will then join together, along with
the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and will then proceed by car to the
Vatican Gardens where the event will take place, beginning with a musical
introduction and an explanation in English of the structure and form of the
celebration, which will follow the chronological order of the three
religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
 At around 7 p.m. there will be a prayer (creation) in Hebrew, a brief
musical interlude, a prayer invoking forgiveness, another musical
interlude, a prayer invoking peace, and finally, a Jewish musical
meditation. The Christian part will follow the same structure, but the
first prayer will be in English, the second in Italian, and the third in
Arabic. Finally the Muslim part of the celebration will proceed as above,
in Arabic.
 The reader will then introduce in English the final part of the
celebration, beginning with Pope Francis' discourse invoking peace. The
Holy Father will then invite each of the two presidents to formulate his
own invocation. Shimon Peres will begin, followed by Mahmoud Abbas. As a
gesture of peace, in which the Patriarch Bartholomew will also participate,
they will all shake hands and the Pope will then accompany them in planting
an olive tree, symbol of peace.
 At the end of the celebration the four will remain side by side while the
delegations pass by to greet them. The Holy Father, the two presidents and
the Patriarch will then proceed to the Casina Pio IV to speak in private.
 Finally, Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas will leave the Vatican, while Pope
Francis and the Patriarch Bartholomew will return to the Domus Sanctae
Marthae.

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 AUDIENCES
 Vatican City, 6 June 2014 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in audience:
 - Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith.
 - Lech Walesa, former president of Poland, and entourage.
 - Archbishop Brian Udaigwe, apostolic nuncio in Benin and Togo.
 - Bishop Domenico Mogavero of Mazara del Vallo, Italy.

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