VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXIV - # 80
DATE 02-05-2014

Summary:
- POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF ANGOLA: FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AND
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
- TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE ECONOMY: TRANSPARENCY IN THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL
- POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE "PAPAL FOUNDATION"
- FOOTBALLERS: SET AN EXAMPLE BOTH ON AND OFF PITCH
- HOLY SEE, VATICAN CITY AND THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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 POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF ANGOLA: FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AND
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
 Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the
Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of the Republic of
Angola, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who subsequently met 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 the Holy See
and the Republic of Angola were evoked. In particular, mention was made of
the planned bilateral Agreement regarding the legal state of the Catholic
Church in the country. In this context, reference was also made to the
important contribution offered by the Catholic Church to the country
through its educational and healthcare institutions.
 Finally, attention focused on various challenges relating to the Country
and the Region, such as the fight against poverty and social inequality,
the full development of the person, reconciliation, justice and peace, with
particular attention to the different situations of conflict that affect
the African Continent.

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 TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE ECONOMY: TRANSPARENCY IN THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL
 Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received in
audience the members of the Council for the Economy on the occasion of
their first meeting. After greeting Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of
Munchen und Freising, Germany and coordinator of the Council for the
Economy, the Pope underlined the Church's "awareness of her
responsibility to protect and manage prudently her assets in the light of
her mission of evangelisation, with particular care for the needy",
and added that "We must not stray from this path. Everything,
transparency, efficiency, everything is for this purpose. It is all for
this".
 Pope Francis emphasised that the Holy See is called upon to carry out this
mission, paying special attention to its responsibility to the universal
Church, and without forgetting that this challenge reflects the wish to
implement the necessary reform of the Roman Curia to serve better the
Church and Peter's mission. "A significant challenge that takes
loyalty and prudence. The path will not be easy and will require courage
and determination".
 Before concluding, the Pope reiterated that the Council is made up of
eight cardinals and seven laypersons, and that the latter are fully-fledged
members of the new council. "They are not second class members",
he remarked. "The work of the Council is of great weight and
importance, and will offer a fundamental contribution to the service
performed by Roman Curia and the various administrations of the Holy
See".

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 POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE "PAPAL FOUNDATION"
 Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) - Today at midday, in the Vatican's Sala
Clementina, the Pope received two hundred members of the "Papal
Foundation" during its annual visit to Rome. The "Papal
Foundation" is an American Catholic association founded in
Philadelphia, U.S.A. in 1990 by the late Cardinal John Krol, which provides
funds to meet the needs of the Church throughout the world.
 The Bishop of Rome thanked the Foundation for the help it offers the
Church in developing countries by supporting educational, charitable and
apostolic projects, and also for the scholarships it makes available to
laity, priests and religious for study in Rome. "In this way, you help
to ensure the training of a new generation of leaders whose minds and
hearts are shaped by the truth of the Gospel, the wisdom of Catholic social
teaching and a profound sense of communion with the universal Church in her
service to the entire human family".
 He concluded by mentioning the momentousness of these days marked by the
canonisation of John XXIII and John Paul II, and assured the members of the
Papal Foundation of his prayers that they may "be confirmed in the
grace of your Baptism and in your commitment to be missionary disciples
filled with the joy born of a personal encounter with the Risen
Jesus".

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 FOOTBALLERS: SET AN EXAMPLE BOTH ON AND OFF PITCH
 Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) - "Football is a social entity, and
requires social responsibility on the part of players, both on and off the
pitch, and by national and local managers", said Pope Francis this
morning at the beginning of his address to the Fiorentina and Napoli
football clubs, and a delegation from the Football Federation and the Serie
A League. The Pope shared some "joyful moments" from his youth,
when he used to visit the stadium with his family on Sundays, and commented
that he would like football and every other popular sport to rediscover a
celebratory dimension.
 "Today, even football is caught up in the world of business,
advertising, television and so on", he continued. "But the
economic aspect must not prevail in sport, as it risks contaminating it
all, at international, national and also local levels. It is therefore
necessary to react positively from above, restoring sporting dignity to
events".
 The Pontiff reminded the footballers of the great responsibility inherent
in being the focus of attention and role models to many young people:
"bear this in mind, and consider that your behaviour is resonant, both
positively and negatively. Always be true sportsmen!". In conclusion,
the Pope emphasised that sport has great educative value, for the growth of
the person: personal growth, in the harmony of body and spirit, and social
growth, in terms of solidarity, loyalty and respect. May football always
enable the development of this potential!".

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 HOLY SEE, VATICAN CITY AND THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE
 Vatican City, 2 May 2014 (VIS) - The following is the full text of the
informative note from Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., for Vatican Radio:
 The "Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment or punishments" is one of the important
international Conventions implemented within the ambit of the activities of
the United Nations, and which has been signed voluntarily by numerous
member States of the international community, the so-called "State
Parties" to the Conventions.

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