VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 149
DATE 08-09-2014

Summary:
- POPE'S TELEGRAM FOR THE THREE NUNS KILLED IN BURUNDI
- INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR PEACE: WE CANNOT BE INDIFFERENT TO WAR
- ANGELUS: THE STEPS OF FRATERNAL CORRECTION
- NEW APPEAL FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE
- THE POPE WRITES TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF
CUBA: REJOICE, RISE AND PERSEVERE
- THE POPE TO THE BISHOPS OF CAMEROON: EVANGELISATION IS CLOSELY LINKED TO
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
- 28 SEPTEMBER: DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY
- CARDINAL ORTEGA Y ALAMINO, POPE'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE
"MOTHER CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA"
- AUDIENCES
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

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 POPE'S TELEGRAM FOR THE THREE NUNS KILLED IN BURUNDI
 Vatican City, 8 September 2014 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin has sent a telegram of condolences on behalf of the Holy Father to
Archbishop Evariste Ngoyagoye of Bujumbura, Burundi, for the killing of three
Italian Xaverian Missionary sisters yesterday, Sunday 7 September, in their
convent in Kamenge, north of the capital Bujumbura.
 Cardinal Parolin writes, "His Holiness Pope Francis has learned with great
sadness of the murder of three nuns, Sister Bernadetta Bogiann, Sister Lucia
Pulici and Sister Olga Raschietti, who were in the pastoral service of the
parish of Saint Guido Maria Conforti in Bujumbura. The Holy Father begs the
Lord to welcome into his kingdom of peace and light these three faithful and
devout nuns. In these tragic circumstances, he expresses his closeness to their
religious community, to the families of the victims, and the entire diocesan
community. He imparts the comfort of a heartfelt and affectionate apostolic
blessing to all those affected by their sudden loss. I join the Holy Father in
offering my condolences and wish to assure those close to the departed Sisters
of my fervent prayers".
 The Secretary of State also sent another telegram to Sister Ines Frizza,
superior general of the Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary, in which he
expresses his sadness for the tragic death of the missionaries and "assures his
heartfelt participation in the profound suffering of the Congregation for the
loss of such dedicated sisters". The Holy Father, "in the hope that the blood
they have shed may become the seed of hope to build true fraternity between
peoples, raises fervent prayers for the eternal repose of their souls and for
their generous witness of the Gospel. To their families, the entire Institute
and those who mourn their loss, he imparts the comfort of his apostolic
blessing", the Cardinal concludes.

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 INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR PEACE: WE CANNOT BE INDIFFERENT TO WAR
 Vatican City, 8 September 2014 (VIS) - This Sunday the Holy Father sent a
video message to all the representatives of the Christian Churches, ecclesial
communities and all heads of world religions who will meet in the Belgian city
of Antwerp from 7 to 9 September for the International Meeting for Peace
organised by the Sant'Egidio Community. This year's theme, "Peace is the
Future", commemorates the dramatic outbreak of the First World War one hundred
years ago, and evokes a future in which mutual respect, dialogue and
cooperation will help banish the sinister phantom of armed conflict.
 "In these days, in which many people throughout the world need help to find
the way to peace, this anniversary teaches us that war is never a satisfactory
means of redressing injustice or reaching balanced solutions to social and
political discord. In the final analysis every war, as Pope Benedict XV stated
in 1917, is a 'useless massacre'. War drags populations into a spiral of
violence that is then shown to be difficult to control; it demolishes what
generations have worked to build and paves the way for injustice and even worse
conflicts".
 Pope Francis stressed that "we cannot remain passive" when faced with "the
innumerable conflicts and wars, declared and undeclared, that nowadays afflict
the human family and ruin the lives of the youngest and of the elderly,
poisoning long-standing relationships of co-existence between different ethnic
groups and religions". He remarked that with the power of prayer "our various
religious traditions are able, in the the spirit of Assisi, to offer a
contribution to peace. ... I hope that these days of prayer and dialogue will
serve to remind us that the search for peace and understanding through prayer
can create lasting bonds of unity and prevail over the passions of war. War is
never necessary, nor is it inevitable. There is always an alternative: the path
of dialogue, encounter and the sincere search for truth".
 "The moment has arrived for the heads of all religions to cooperate
effectively in the task of healing wounds, of resolving conflicts and seeking
peace. Peace is the sure sign of commitment to God's cause". The Pontiff
concluded by encouraging all those present to be "builders of peace" and to
convert communities into "schools of respect and dialogue with those of other
ethnic or religious groups, places in which we learn to overcome tensions,
promote equitable and peaceful relations among peoples and social groups, and
build a better future for the generations to come".

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 ANGELUS: THE STEPS OF FRATERNAL CORRECTION
 Vatican City, 7 September 2014 (VIS) - Fraternal correction, as it is
presented by St. Matthew in this Sunday's Gospel reading, was the theme of the
Pope's reflection during today's Angelus, at midday. "Jesus teaches us that if
my Christian brother wrongs me or offends me, I must be charitable towards him
and, first of all, speak to him personally, explaining that what he has said or
done is not good. And what if my brother does not listen to me? Jesus suggests
a way of intervening gradually: first, to speak to him again with another two
or three people, so that he is more aware of the mistake he has made. If, in
spite of this, he does not accept this exhortation, it is necessary to tell the
community, and if he does not even listen to the community, then we have to let
him know of the fracture and detachment that he himself has caused, by failing
in communion with his brothers and sisters in the faith".
 "The steps in this itinerary show the strength that the Lord asks of the
community to support those who err, so that they are not lost. Above all it is
necessary to avoid the clamour of news and gossip in the community. The
attitude must be that of gentleness, prudence, humility and care in relation to
those who have erred, avoiding words that may harm or kill our brother. Because
even words can kill! When I gossip or when I unjustly criticise, when I curse a
brother with my tongue, this means destroying the reputation of the other
person. ... At the same time, this discretion in speaking to him alone has the
aim of not pointlessly mortifying the sinner. ... In view of this need, we can
understand the following series of interventions, which include the involvement
of other witnesses and finally even the community. The aim is to help the
person to understand what they have done, and to be aware that they have
thereby offended not just one person, but everyone. But it also helps us to rid
ourselves of anger and resentment ... that bitterness of the heart that leads
to anger and resentment leads us to insult and offend. It is very unpleasant to
see insults and aggression from a Christian. ... To insult is not Christian".
 "In reality", he continued, "before the Lord we are all sinners and all in
need of forgiveness. All of us. Indeed, Jesus told us not to judge. Fraternal
correction is an aspect of the love and the communion that should reign in the
Christian community; it is a mutual service that we can and must render to each
other ... and it is possible and effective only if each person recognises
himself as a sinner and in need of the Lord's forgiveness. The same awareness
that enables me to recognise the errors of the other, first of all reminds me
that I myself have made, and make mistakes, many times".
 "Therefore, at the beginning of Mass, we are invited each time to acknowledge
ourselves as sinners before the Lord, expressing with words and gestures the
sincere repentance of the heart", he concluded. "And Jesus Himself invites all
of us, saints and sinners, to his table, bringing us together at the various
crossroads in in the different situations of our lives. And among the
conditions that unite all the participants in the Eucharistic celebration, two
are fundamental: we are all sinners, and God offers His mercy to us all".

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 NEW APPEAL FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE
 Vatican City, 7 September 2014 (VIS) - After today's Angelus prayer, the Pope
launched an appeal for peace in Ukraine. "In recent days, significant steps
have been taken to reach a truce in the regions affected by the conflict in
eastern Ukraine, even though today we have received news that gives little
cause for comfort", he said.
 "However", he added, "I hope that this may bring relief to the population and
contribute to efforts towards lasting peace. Let us pray that, in the logic of
encounter, the dialogue that has begun may continue and bear the hoped-for
fruit. Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us".
 He also joined the bishops of Lesotho in making a plea for peace in their
country. "I condemn every act of violence and pray to the Lord that the peace
may be re-established in the Kingdom of Lesotho, in justice and fraternity".
 Pope Francis also recalled that this Sunday a convoy of thirty Italian Red
Cross volunteers leaves for Iraq, headed for the area of Dohuk near Erbil,
where there are tens of thousands of displaced Iraqis. "I express my heartfelt
appreciation for this generous and valid work, and impart my blessing to all of
them and all those who seek to offer concrete assistance to our persecuted and
oppressed brothers. May the Lord bless you".
 Finally, he commented that on Monday will be the liturgical feast of the
Nativity of Mary. "It means it would be her birthday. And what do we do when
our it is our mother's birthday? We greet her and offer her our best wishes.
Tomorrow remember, in the early morning, to greet the Virgin from your heart,
and say to her, 'Best wishes!'. And say a Hail Mary from your heart, as a son
or a daughter".

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 THE POPE WRITES TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF
CUBA: REJOICE, RISE AND PERSEVERE
 Vatican City, 6 September 2014 (VIS) - On 8 September, the festivity of the
Nativity of Mary, Cubans also celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Charity of
El Cobre, the patroness of the island. To commemorate the occasion, the Pope
has written a letter to the metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de Cuba,
Dionisio Guillermo Garcia Ibanez, president of the Conference of Catholic
Bishops of Cuba (C.O.O.C.), extensive extracts from which are published below:

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