Media reports spiritual revival in Germany triggered by Benedict XVI
Berlin, Germany, Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - The
German newspaper Handelsblatt is reporting that Pope Benedict XVI has
triggered a spiritual revival in his native country, which he will
visit for the second time in September.
In a special
edition for the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s pontificate,
the German daily noted that in visiting his native country twice in
such a short period of time, the Pontiff has set off a spiritual
awakening among many Germans.
The article in
Handelsblatt points out that the September trip is “not an official
visit, but rather a visit to the roots of his life.” While there
exists among Germans a general euphoria about having the Pope so close,
the article adds that “there is another perspective that many
previously thought impossible and that must be pointed out: this 79
year-old wise man could spark in this moment a revival in the Church in
Germany.”
The newspaper
also points out the impact that Pope Benedict XVI’s visit for World
Youth Day had on young people in Germany “in speaking to them about
frustration, dissatisfaction and love in a way perhaps unlike any other
pastor of the Catholic Church in Germany before.”
“He awoke in
young people especially, who see in the person of the Pope a true
father and pastor, a true wave of optimism,” the article states.
‘Pray to God to allow me to be a meek and steady pastor of his Church’, asks Pope on first anniversary of election
Vatican City, Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) -
Gathered with more than 60,000 pilgrims in Saint Peters
square today, Pope Benedict celebrated the one year anniversary of
being elected successor of Peter, and asked the faithful to “continue
to sustain me and to pray to God to allow me to be a meek and steady
pastor of his Church.”
The
pontiff vividly recalled the day, one year ago, in which “the conclave
ofcardinals decided to choose my poor person to succeed the lamented
and loved great Pope John Paul II”, something he called
“absolutely unexpected and surprising for me.”
“I
recall with emotion the first impression I had as I looked down from
the central balcony of the basilica, of pilgrims gathered in this very
square; it has stayed in my mind and heart,” he continued.
Pope
Benedict then directly addressed those present saying, “The support of
God and the Saints cannot be substituted by anything, and your
closeness, dear friends, comforts me, you who never cease to offer me
the gift of your indulgence and your love.”
“I
thank from my heart all those are by my side in various ways,” he said,
emotionally, “from near and also from far, spiritually, with their
affection and their prayers: to each of you, I ask that you continue to
sustain meand to pray to God to allow me to be a meek and steady pastor
of his Church.”
Benedict
XVI chose to place today’s festive feeling in the context of Easter. He
reminded the faithful of the first moments the Risen Lord spent with
the women and the apostles. The Gospel message, “the nucleus of which
is the Easter mystery”, was spread “with courage” to the ends of the
earth, by them and their successors.
And
still today, he added, “each Christian is called to proclaim the
Gospel”. Particularly addressing young people who were present, he
said, “Christ exhorts and invites you too to be his witnesses,” and
asked that “the Virgin Mary help us understand this great mystery of
love that changes hearts and allows us to enjoy the joy of Easter.”
Following the general audience, Benedict XVI returned to Castelgandolfo, where he will stay until Friday.
Archbishop Chaput praises role of permanent deacons in building up both priests and lay
Denver, Colo., Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - Permanent
deacons offer a unique witness to lay people, priests and bishops as
well as a constant reminder of the Christian vocation to charity, said
Archbishop Charles Chaput this week.
“With laypeople,
they often share the experience of marriage, families and secular jobs.
With priests and bishops, they share the vocation of ordained ministry
— a sacramental configuring to the work of the Lord,” the archbishop
said in his latest column, published in the Denver Catholic Register.
The archbishop’s
comments coincide with the convention of the National Association of
Deacon Directors, which is being held in Denver, from April 19 to 22.
“It’s a privilege for us to welcome them,” the archbishop said.
“It’s a
privilege for priests and bishops to serve alongside our deacons and
draw strength from their unselfish witness of charity,” he added.
“Deacons embody a special commitment to servanthood as a keystone of
the entire ordained ministry.”
The archbishop
explained that diaconal ordination is the “first and foundational part”
of priestly ordination, “where the person ordained is configured to
‘Christ, the servant’ who comes to serve and not to be served.”
He conceded that
many Catholics today have no memory of the Church before the Second
Vatican Council, when there weren’t any deacons.
“One of the key
reasons the U.S. bishops advanced in asking the Holy See to restore the
permanent diaconate after Vatican II was to provide an ‘impetus for the
Church to adapt herself to the changing needs of society,’” the
archbishop explained.
While the
ministry of deacons is often taken for granted today, the archbishop
said, the faithful must “remember that without them…the Church would be
a far weaker and much less effective leaven in the world than she is.”
“In the midst of
so many challenges facing the Church in our day, our permanent deacons
are another reminder that Jesus Christ is with us — always,” he stated.
He commended the
work and commitment of Deacon Jim Doyle and other deacons in the battle
against two bills that seek to lift the statutes of limitation on sex
abusers in the Church — House Bill 1090 and Senate Bill 143.
Deacons have
worked hard to prevent these bills from “selectively and retroactively
punish the Catholic community today for events that happened decades
ago and in which the vast majority of Catholics played no part,” he
said. “In doing so, they’ve taken up an important task of their
vocation: serving Jesus Christ by defending their parishes and their
Church.”
Pope Benedict firmly condemns Tel-Aviv bombing
Vatican City, Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - Earlier
today, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his "firmest condemnation" of
Monday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, praying that relations between
Israelis and Palestinians would not take a "tragic turn,” but rather,
that the two sides will once again take the steps that will allow for
peace and security.
The Pontiff
continued his message, stressing that even the "legitimate" rights of
the Palestinians could not justify such attacks. The attack on a
crowded fast food restaurant--said to be the deadliest in 20
months--killed nine people.
Benedict made
the comments at the end of his weekly general audience, which fell on
the first anniversary of his election as pontiff.
He added that he
is continually praying that the two sides will make substantial efforts
to “live in peace and security, one next to the other, as children of
the same father in heaven."
Catholic magazine apologizes over Mohammed cartoon
Rome, Italy, Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - The
editor of a religious magazine apologized Sunday for publishing a
cartoon that angered several Muslim organizations in Italy, reported
the Middle East Times.
The cartoon
appeared in the March issue of Studi Cattolici. It was based on Dante
Aleghieri's epic poem "The Divine Comedy" in which the Roman poet
Virgil guides the Italian poet through the various circles of Hell. The
cartoon shows Prophet Mohammed among the damned, cut in two for
"bringing divisions to society".
The editor,
Cesare Cavalleri, said it was not his intention to offend anyone and
asked for forgiveness. He said he was surprised by the reaction to the
cartoon, adding that the cartoon had been "interpreted as anti-Islamic
when it was a condemnation of the cultural identity crisis of the
West".
Cavalleri is a
member of Opus Dei, and the magazine is published by the same company
that puts out the works of Opus Dei founder St. Josemaria Escriva.
The prelature of Opus Dei however, issued a recent statement saying that Studi Cattolici is not one of its publications.
Priest warns: Hawaii set to become abortion state
Front Royal, Va., Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - A
Virginia-based pro-life group is urging Hawaii’s governor to veto a
bill that would allow late-term abortions in the aloha state.
HB 1242 would
allow late term abortions in a clinic or physician’s office. It would
also remove residency requirements, paving the way for abortion tourism
to flourish on the island-state.
“A small group
of powerful elites are pushing the most radical abortion legislation in
world history on the beautiful people of Hawaii,” said Fr. Thomas
Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, in a statement.
“Hawaiian
culture is world renowned for its respect for the dignity of human life
and celebration of family, Ohana in Hawaiian,” he said.
“If Hawaii’s
Republican Governor fails to veto this radical abortion bill … Hawaii
will go from the Aloha State to the Abortion State in nine short days,”
he warned.
Catholic teens take faith door-to-door
, Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - Nearly
150 teens traveled to the Diocese of Arlington last week for the ‘Youth
for the Third Millennium Mega Mission’--an outreach of Regnum
Christi--for a week of door-to-door evangelization.
According to
Arlington’s Catholic Herald newspaper, the teens were sponsored by five
parishes — St. John Parish, McLean; St. Catherine of Siena, Great
Falls; St. Louis, Alexandria; St. Anthony of Padua, Falls Church; and
St. Mary of Sorrows, Fairfax.
St. Mary of
Sorrows hosted nearly 30 young men for the mission. Many of the
participants came from Maryland or Washington and were joined by
members of local youth groups.
The participants
went door-to-door several times during Holy Week, from Wednesday to
Saturday. They explained that they were Catholic missionaries and
invited people to attend Holy Week activities at the parish, including
a Living Stations of the Cross, performed by young people from St. Mary
of Sorrows. Some attended.
The teens
returned with stories. Some people had welcomed them into their homes
and listened to what they had to say. They met people who didn’t know
how to return to the Church or didn’t realize they were welcome back.
Others were less positive, slamming the door in the young people’s
faces or expressing their anger toward the Church.
The teens also
participated in service projects for their host parish. During the
Stations of the Cross, the young people carried a tall wooden cross
around the block. On the main highways along their route, people honked
their horns in support.
Moscow newspaper publishes Russian translation of ‘Deus caritas est’
Moscow, Russia, Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - Coinciding
with the celebration of Easter Sunday, the Catholic newspaper “Svet
Evangelja” (The Light of the Gospel) has published the first Russian
translation of the new encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, “Deus caritas
est.”
The
Russian-language translation, which is not an official Vatican edition,
was included as a supplement in the Sunday edition of the
newspaper. The bishops of Russia have announced they will seek
the Vatican’s approval to publish the translation as a book.
Humanity’s progress linked to the Resurrection of Christ, says argentine bishop
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - Archbishop
Jose Maria Arancibia of Mendoza, Argentina, said this week that the
Christian vision of progress is not pessimistic, but rather proposes to
the human family a high ideal of life that encourages it to struggle
with strength and hope for the sake of the good.
The archbishop
expressed lament that for many, “the mysteries of the death and
resurrection of Jesus have nothing to do with the problems that the
family and society are facing today and that are of concern to the
community and its leaders.”
The problems
facing the world require a renewed focus on the meaning of Easter, he
continued, because faith in the risen Christ is connected with
humanity’s progress. Overcoming such problems means enduring
purification through the cross and resurrection of Christ and seeking
perfection in all human activities which, because of pride and
selfishness, are constantly at risk, the archbishop stated.
In speaking
about Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Deus caritas est,” Archbishop
Arancibia called it a “beautiful teaching about human love, which finds
its healing and perfection in the grace of God.” The Pope,
he continued, speaks even of “a love that is capable of questioning all
human activity and making the fundamental obligations of justice
possible.”
The archbishop
recalled that for Christians, “the striving to establish universal
brotherhood is not a utopia.” Rather, “love expressed through
respect should not be practiced only in important moments, but also in
the hundreds of occasions of daily life,” he said.
“This vital
certainty has as its center the Paschal mystery, which becomes a source
of wisdom and hope in these days as Jesus Christ, suffering death for
all of us, teaches us to carry the cross that the flesh and the world
place upon the shoulders of those who seek peace and justice,” the
archbishop said in conclusion.
Third edition of historic Cuban magazine published
Havana, Cuba, Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - The
Catholic Press Union in Cuba has published the third edition of the
magazine Verdad y Esperanza in order to commemorate the 20th
anniversary of the National Cuban Ecclesial Encounter (NCEE) and to
highlight the challenges that the Church faces today.
The first
edition of the magazine was published in 1998 on the occasion of Pope
John Paul II‘s visit. Five years later the second edition was
published, featuring articles from diverse Catholic publications in
Cuba.
The 72-page third edition is dedicated entirely to the NCEE, an historic event which took place February 17-23, 1986.
Father Antonio
Rodriguez, one of the contributors to the new edition, said the
magazine is important because “a large number of the Catholic faithful
today, including people involved in ministry—both Cubans and
foreigners—do not know the letter, and therefore, the spirit of the
NCEE.”
Father Jose
Conrado Rodriguez, another contributor, said the NCEE continues to be
relevant because it highlights questions and problems that are still
unresolved.
The magazine
also features interviews with important leaders from the laity and the
clergy in Cuba, as well as a transcript of a talk given by Auxiliary
Bishop Felipe de Jesus Estevez of Miami, a letter sent by Pope John
Paul II through the late Cardinal Eduardo Pironio, the inaugural
address of then-president of the Bishops’ Conference of Spain, Bishop
Adolfo Rodriguez, and the final statement of the NCEE and a pastoral
instruction published by the bishops.
The editors of
the magazine also noted the new edition leaves room to discuss to the
challenges of the present and the future for the Church in Cuba, such
as the role of the laity, Catholic media, and national reconciliation.
Catholic leaders always appreciate proposals for dialogue, cooperation, says Apostolic Nuncio to Russia.
Moscow, Russia, Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - Archbishop
Antonio Mennini, the Holy See’s official representative in Moscow,
recently answered questions from the Interfax news agency on the state
of the Catholic Church in Russia. He affirmed that “the current Russian
legislation provides a real opportunity for the communities and
structures of the [Russian Church] to exist normally and to develop.”
The Nuncio also
addressed the next World Summit of Religious Leaders to be held in
Moscow saying “It was with great and well-deserved interest that the
Holy Sea responded to the Russian Orthodox Church's initiative to
convene a World Summit of Religious Leaders early this July.”
Referring to the
event, Archbishop insisted that “Catholic Church leaders have always
appreciated proposals for dialogue and cooperation in overcoming the
major problems of humanity today. There will be a high-level
representation,” at the event, he said.
The Nuncio said
that another important concern is religious freedom in Russia. “I am
delighted to testify that the current Russian legislation provides for
a real opportunity for the communities and structures of the Catholic
Church in Russia to exist normally and to develop,” he said.
“My experience
of the present Russian reality allows me to hope that the Catholic
communities may, together with other Christians, bear witness to the
truth before the world which needs it more than ever,” Archbishop
Mennini continued.
Finally, he was
asked about the controversy of the Da Vinci Code movie. He stated that
“this is exactly a clear case of search for a false sensation, already
mentioned, aimed against the Church and Christianity to discredit
them.”
Church celebrates 500th Birthday of St. Peter’s Basilica
Vatican City, Apr 19, 2006 (CNA) - Yesterday,
the Catholic Church began celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the
largest church in Christendom--St. Peter’s Basilica. Construction on
the massive structure began in 1506.
The Vatican recently announced a series of exhibits and ceremonies continuing throughout the year to mark the occasion.
The Basilica was
dedicated in 1626 by Pope Urban VIII. It stands on the site where St.
Peter himself was crucified in the first century. The body of the first
Pope is buried directly underneath the main altar.
