VATICAN : POPE : SPIRITUAL ROLE OF EDUCATORS AND OTHER NEWS

VIS REPORTS\: MIGRANTS, PROTAGONISTS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE  GOSPEL

VATICAN  CITY, 15 JAN 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI dedicated his remarks preceding the  Angelus to the theme of vocation as it emerged in this Sunday's Gospel  readings.(IMAGE SOURCE: RADIO VATICANA)

   The first reading described the Prophet Samuel's response to God, following  the advice of Eli, the Temple priest, while the second underscored the  importance of St. John the Baptist who told his disciples that Jesus was the  Messiah.

   The Holy Father laid emphasis on "the decisive role spiritual guidance  has for the journey of faith and, in particular, for responding to a vocation  of special consecration to serve God and His people. Christian faith itself  presupposes announcement and witness", he said, "and thus the call  to follow Jesus more closely, renouncing the idea of forming a family of  one's own to dedicate oneself to the great family of the Church, normally  involves the witness and suggestion of an 'elder brother', often a priest.  Nor must we forget the fundamental role of parents, who ... show their  children that it is beautiful and possible to construct an entire life upon  the love of God".

   The Pope concluded by entrusting "all educators, especially priests and  parents", to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, "that they may  become fully aware of the importance of their spiritual role to foment, not  only young people's human development but also their response to the call of  God".

   Following the Angelus the Pope spoke of today's celebration of the World Day  of Migrants and Refugees. "Millions of people are involved in the  phenomenon of migration", he said, "but they are not just numbers!  They are men, women and children, the young and the old who seek a place in  which to live in peace. In my message for this Day I called people's  attention to the theme of 'migrations and new evangelisation', underlining  the fact that migrants are not just recipients but also active protagonists  of the announcement of the Gospel to the modern world".

   Finally the Holy Father referred to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,  which is celebrated annually from 18 to 25 January, inviting everyone,  "as individuals and in communities, to participate spiritually, and  where possible practically, to ask God for the gift of full unity among the  disciples of Christ".
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN  CITY, 16 JAN 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience:

 -  Nine prelates of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on their  "ad limina" visit:

     - Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, accompanied by  Auxiliary Bishops Martin David Holley and Barry C. Knestout, and by Cardinal  Theodore Edgar McCarrick, archbishop emeritus.

     - Bishop Herbert A. Bevard of Saint Thomas.

     - Archbishop Timothy Broglio, military ordinary, accompanied by Auxiliary  Bishops Richard Brendan Higgins, F. Richard Spencer and Neal J. Buckon.

 -  Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa, Italy, president of the  Italian Episcopal Conference.

   On Saturday 14 January he received in audience:

 -  Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

 -  Archbishop Rainer Maria Woelki of Berlin, Germany.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN  CITY, 16 JAN 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 -  In accordance with canon 185 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern  Churches, gave his assent to the canonical election carried out by the Synod  of Bishops of the Maronite Patriarchal Church of Fr. Michel Aoun,  "sincellus" for the clergy of Beirut of the Maronites, Lebanon, as  bishop of Jbeil-Byblos of the Maronites (Catholics 250,000, priests 94,  religious 78), Lebanon. The bishop-elect was born in Damour, Lebanon in 1959  and ordained a priest in 1984. He has worked as a pastor and educator in  Lebanon and as rector at seminaries in Cairo and in Rome. He is also vice  president of "La Sagesse" University in Beirut.

 -  In accordance with canon 185 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern  Churches, gave his assent to the canonical election carried out by the Synod  of Bishops of the Maronite Patriarchal Church of Fr. Elias Slaiman Slaiman,  professor and judge in the Lebanese ecclesiastical tribunals, as bishop of  Lattaquie of the Maronites (Catholics 33,000, priests 28, religious 51),  Syria. The bishop-elect was born in Hekr Semaan, Syria in 1951 and ordained a  priest in 1987. He studied in France where he also served as vicar at a  parish in Paris. He has worked as chaplain of "La Sagesse"  University in Beirut and vicar general of Damascus, Syria.

 -  In accordance with canon 185 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern  Churches, gave his assent to the canonical election carried out by the Synod  of Bishops of the Maronite Patriarchal Church of Fr. Mounir Khairallah,  "protosincellus" of Batrun of the Maronites, Lebanon, as bishop of  Batrun (Catholics 69,800, priests 56, religious 95). The bishop-elect was  born in Mtah-Ezziat in 1953 and ordained a priest in 1977. He studied in  France where he also worked in pastoral care in Parisian parishes. On his  return to Lebanon he served as secretary of the Maronite Patriarchal Synod,  as seminary professor and as pastor in a number of parishes.

 -  Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of  Zielona Gora-Gorzow, Poland, presented by Bishop Pawel Socha C.M., upon  having reached the age limit.

   On Saturday 14 January it was made public that he:

 -  Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Beira,  Mozambique, presented by Archbishop Jaime Pedro Goncalves, upon having  reached the age limit, appointing Bishop Joao Carlos Hatoa Nunes, auxiliary  of the archdiocese of Maputo, Mozambique, as apostolic administrator "sede  vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of Beira.

 -  Erected the new diocese of Ifakara, (area 14,245, population 322,779,  Catholics 287,000, priests 62, religious 201) Tanzania, with territory taken  from the diocese of Mahenge, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan church  of Dar-es-Salaam. He appointed Bishop Salutaris Melchior Libena, auxiliary of  Dar-es-Salaam, as first bishop of the new diocese.

 -  Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of  Bombay, India, presented by Bishop Bosco Penha, upon having reached the age  limit.
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