VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 164
DATE 25-09-2014

Summary:
- Catholics and Orthodox to the international community: listen to religious
leaders in the Middle East
- Other Pontifical Acts
- Note regarding the succession of the bishop of Ciudad del Este, Paraguay
- Audiences

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 Catholics and Orthodox to the international community: listen to religious
leaders in the Middle East
 Vatican City, 25 September 2014 (VIS) - The eighth meeting of the Joint
International Commission for dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman
Catholic Church was held in Amman, Jordan from 15 to 23 September. It was
hosted by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Theophilos
III, and attended by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan who
participated in the plenary session held on the afternoon of Monday, 22
September. The meeting was attended by twenty-three members representing the
Catholic Church and all the Orthodox Churches, with the exception of the
Patriarchate of Bulgaria. The meetings were chaired by Cardinal Kurt Koch,
president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and by the
Metropolitan of Pergamon Ioannis (Zizioulas) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
 On the first day of the meeting, as is customary, the Roman Catholic and
Orthodox members met separately to coordinate their work and to discuss, among
other things, the draft text of the document "Synodality and Primacy", drawn up
by the Coordinating Committee in 2012 during the two meetings held in Rome in
2011 and Paris in 2012. Because of the many questions raised about the text,
the Commission proposed the drafting of a new one, to be referred to the next
Coordinating Committee for further elaboration and improvement, in view of the
next plenary session of the Joint Commission.
 The Commission members, assembled near the holy sites connected with the
baptism of Jesus Christ, united their voices to express their deep concern for
and solidarity with the Christians and members of other religious traditions of
this entire region who are being persecuted, displaced and murdered. They
categorically rejected the idea that such horrifying crimes can be justified in
the name of God or of religion, and expressed their profound gratitude to all
those engaged in bringing relief to millions of refugees and displaced persons.
Furthermore, they prayed for all the religious leaders of the region, so that
they might continue to comfort their people and keep alive their vision of
their return to their lands and homes, which in recent times have been occupied
and often profaned. The Commission implored the international community to
listen seriously to those leaders regarding the most useful ways to intervene
and protect those who are being persecuted, and to ensure the continuing vital
presence of Christianity in the Middle East. They also launched a fresh appeal
for the liberation of the Metropolitans of Aleppo, Mar Gregorios Yohanna
Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi, and all others who have been kidnapped, including
priests and religious.
 The meeting of the Joint Commission was marked by a spirit of friendship and
trustful collaboration. The members greatly appreciated the generous
hospitality of the host Church, and they strongly commend the continuing work
of the dialogue to the prayers of the faithful.

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 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 25 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has proceeded with the
replacement of Bishop Rogelio Ricardo Livieres Plano of Ciudad del Este,
Paraguay, appointing Bishop Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios of Villarrica del
Espiritu Santo as apostolic administrator Sede Vacante.

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 Note regarding the succession of the bishop of Ciudad del Este, Paraguay
 Vatican City, 25 September 2014 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today
published the following note regarding the succession of the bishop of Ciudad
del Este, Paraguay, Msgr. Rogelio Ricardo Livieres Plano.
 "Following a careful examination of the conclusions drawn following the
apostolic visits carried out by the Congregation for Bishops and the
Congregation for the Clergy to the bishop, the diocese and the seminarians of
Ciudad del Este, the Holy Father has decided to substitute Bishop Rogelio
Livieres Plano and has appointed Bishop Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios of
Villarrica del Espiritu Santo as apostolic administrator of the diocese of
Ciudad del Este.
 "This was a difficult decision on the part of the Holy See, taken for serious
pastoral reasons and for the greater good of the unity of the Church in Ciudad
del Este and the episcopal communion in Paraguay.
 "The Holy Father, in the exercise of his ministry as the 'perpetual and
visible foundation of the unity of both the bishops and the multitude of the
faithful', asked the clergy and all the People of God of Ciudad del Este to
accept the Holy See's decision with a spirit of obedience and docility and
without prejudice, guided by faith.
 "On the other hand, the Church in Paraguay, guided by her pastors, is invited
to embark on a serious process of reconciliation in order to overcome any form
of sectarianism or discord, so as not to harm the countenance of the one
Church, 'born of the blood of His Son' and so that Christ's flock may not be
deprived of the joy of the Gospel".

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 Audiences
 Vatican City, 25 September 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in
audience:
 - Miroslava Rosas Vargas, the new ambassador of Panama to the Holy See,
presenting her credential letters;
 - Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, Italy;
 - Cardinal Andrew Yeom-Soo-jung, archbishop of Seoul, Korea;
 - Archbishop Giacinto Berloco, apostolic nuncio in Belgium and Luxembourg;
 - Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, apostolic nuncio in Belorus;
 - Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, apostolic nuncio in Colombia;
 - Marcos Aguinis.

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