VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 66
DATE 08-04-2014

Summary:
- POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE KING ABDULLAH II OF JORDAN
- THE POPE EMPHASISES THE AFFECTIVE AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNION OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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 POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE KING ABDULLAH II OF JORDAN
Vatican City, 8 April 2014 (VIS) ? His Majesty the King Abdullah II bin
Hussein of Jordan arrived in Vatican City shortly before 4 p.m. yesterday.
Upon arrival at the Domus Sanctae Marthae he was received by the prefect of
the Pontifical Household, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, and the head of
Protocol, Msgr. Jose Avelino Bettencourt, and in the entry hall he was
greeted by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop
Dominique Mamberti.
The Holy Father received His Majesty the King, accompanied by Prince Ghazi
bin Muhammed, his advisor on religious affairs, at the entrance of the
ground floor drawing room, where the meeting took place, attended also by a
Vatican English-language interpreter. The conversation lasted for a total
of just over forty minutes, and the atmosphere was cordial and informal.
The visit took place in the period precedingPope Francis' trip to the Holy
Land, where he will visit Jordan, and His Majesty reaffirmed the sentiments
with which the people of Jordan are preparing to welcome the Pope and their
open willingness to collaborate in the commitment for peace and
interreligious dialogue.
Finally, the Holy Father also greeted the other members of the retinue, and
the guests left the Vatican at around 4.45 p.m.

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 THE POPE EMPHASISES THE AFFECTIVE AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNION OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
Vatican City, 8 April 2014 (VIS) ? The Holy Father has written a message to
Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, on
the occasion of the elevation to the episcopal order of Msgr. Fabio Fabene,
under-secretary of the Synod.
?Almost fifty years have passed since the institution of the Synod of
Bishops?, the Pope writes, ?and aware that, for the exercise of the Petrine
Ministry it is necessary, as never before, to further revive the close bond
with all Pastors of the Church, I wish to enhance the value of this
valuable conciliar legacy. In this regard, there is no doubt that the
Bishop of Rome needs the presence of his brother Bishops, their counsel,
their prudence and their experience. ? Therefore, I am most grateful to
those who, with generous, diligent and competent work throughout these
years, have ensured thatthe Synod contributes to the indispensable dialogue
between Peter and his brethren. ? Now, in order to underline the valuable
service that this Organ carries out in promoting episcopal collegiality
with the Bishop of Rome, I have decided to confer the dignity of episcopal
rank to the under-secretary.
?Thereby the under-secretary, who already collaborates with Your Eminence
with regard to the development of synodal activity, by virtue of the
episcopal Order will reflect the affective and effective that is the main
objective of the Synod of Bishops. Also in coordinating work within the
secretariat general, the under-secretary will be required to express the
fertile and fruitful consequences of participation in the episcopal
'munus', a source of sanctification for those who surround it and the
foundation of the hierarchical communion with the Bishop of Rome, and with
the head and members of the Episcopal College?.

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 OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 8 April 2014 (VIS) ? The Holy Father has:
- appointed Bishop William Terrence McGrattan, auxiliary of Toronto,
Canada, as bishop of Peterborough (area 25,900, population 437,300, priests
83, permanent deacons 8, religious 104), Canada. He succeeds Bishop Nicola
De Angelis, C.F.I.C., whose resignation upon reaching the age limit was
accepted by the Holy Father.
- elevated Msgr. Fabio Febene, under secretary of the Synod of Bishops, to
the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Rome, Italy in 1959,
and was ordained a priest in 1984. He holds a doctorate in canon law from
the Lateran Pontifical University. He has served in a number of pastoral,
administrative roles, including priest of the parish of Santa Maria del
Giglio in Montefiascone and episcopal chancellor; office head of the
Congregation for Bishops; and external judge of the Tribunal of First
Instance for causes ofnullity of marriage for the Latium region, at the
Ordinary Tribunal of the diocese of Rome. He was named Prelate of His
Holiness in 2012, and was appointed as under-secretary of the Synod of
Bishops in 2014.

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