" Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised"

Pope stresses Christian roots of Spain

Rome, 23 (NE) This morning the Holy Father received in audience Jose Maria Aznar, president of the Spanish government, accompanied by his wife and an entourage. During his brief remarks to Aznar, the Pope recalled his apostolic trip to Spain last May. "On that memorable occasion -said the Pope-, I was able to recognize the deep Christian roots of the Spanish people and the dynamism of the Church in your noble country. These two qualities have marked the most brilliant moments of your history, and with them the new generations will be able to embark upon an ever-more promising future."

"While I am pleased with the sincere and loyal collaboration between the Church and the authorities at the service of the Spanish people, from respect to independence, I thank you for your visit, and I renew my encouragement for the spiritual and material progress of the Spanish people, for their peaceful coexistence in harmony and liberty, and at the same time I invoke the Almighty's every blessing for His beloved sons and daughters in Spain."

In a declaration released in the late morning, the Holy See Press Office indicated that after the audience with John Paul II, President Aznar was received by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State. "In a very cordial conversation, the Pope and President Aznar spoke about Europe. The Holy Father expressed appreciation for the position of the president of the Spanish government particularly on the question of the recognition of the historical Christian roots of Europe", said the communiqué. "The conversation extended to the topics of the current situations in the world, especially in the Middle East".

"The world yearns for peace", says Pope during general audience

Rome, 23 (NE) "The world yearns for peace, needs peace", were Pope John Paul II's words, during this week's general audience held in the Paul VI Hall. In his address, the Pope recalled that this week is dedicated to prayer and reflection for Christian unity on the theme, "I leave you my peace," taken from Jesus' words at the Last Supper. "In a certain way," he said, "it is a spiritual testament."

The Holy Father said that "the world yearns for peace, needs peace - today like yesterday - but it often seeks it with improper means, even to the point of resorting to force or by the balance of opposing powers. In these situations man lives with a troubled heart in fear and uncertainty. Christ's peace, however, reconciles souls, purifies hearts and brings about conversion."

"Deep spirituality is ever more necessary," he continued, "not only for those who are directly involved in ecumenical work but for all Christians. The cause of unity concerns all believers, called to form part of the one people of those redeemed by the blood of Christ on the Cross."

The Pope concluded by assuring those present that "peace and unity among Christians, who can offer a decisive contribution so that humanity will overcome the reasons for division and conflict, comes from reciprocal charity and love. Together with prayer, dear brothers and sisters, let us feel strongly stimulated to make an effort to be authentic 'peace workers' in the environments in which we live."

Church in Italy prepares celebration for day of consecrated life

Rome, 16 (NE - eclesiales.org) The Bishop's Commission for the clergy and consecrated life released yesterday a message for the VIII World Consecrated Life Day, which will take place on February 2. The Bishops indicated that "living intensely the present time, the consecrated are able to say a word of courage to the Church and to men, testifying that we shall not live in the fear of a world that finishes, but wait in the Lord who comes". Likewise, the Bishops stressed their duty "to make alive the consecrated life watching and maintaining it, supporting the discernment of the charisma and favoring the vocations".

Church in Chile starts solidarity campaign for victims of earthquake in Iran

Santiago de Chile, 15 (NE - eclesiales.org) Caritas Chile started a solidarity campaign, which is being carried out in all the parishes this Sunday, January 18th, in favor of the victims of the recent earthquake in Iran. The campaign consists in raising funds to go in aid of the earthquake victims, which desolated the city of Bam, southeast of Teheran, last December 27, and left 50 thousand dead persons and 70 percent of the buildings destroyed. According to the information received, Caritas Chile will send on next January 30 all the collected funds to the Bishop's Conference of Iran, through Caritas Internationalis.

Bishops from Europe and America hold meeting of solidarity in Holy Land

Rome, 10 (NE - eclesiales.org) Over the next days, Bishops from the European and American continents will have a meeting in the city of Bethlehem. The encounter will be carried out from January 12th to 15th and will focus on the theme "The universal Church in solidarity with the Church in Holy Land". Prelates coming from Germany, France, England, Italy, Spain, United States, as well as representatives from Caritas in Latin America, among others, will meet in Bethlehem. It expects likewise that a participating delegation of Bishops may visit the president of the national Palestinian Authority, as well as the president of Israel.

German bishops release letter for the World Youth Day in Colony

Rome, 9 (NE - eclesiales.org) Next Sunday in Germany will be read in all the liturgical celebrations the German bishops' letter for the World Youth Day that will take place in Colony on August 2005. The Permanent Council for the German Bishops Conference approved the document on last November 24th. In the letter the bishops point that the WYD in Colony will be "an important moment where youths will deepen in their love for Jesus, participate in the Holy Mass and they find the forgiveness in the sacrament of penance".

Milan prepares an exposition about Saints Ambrose and Agustin's contributions to Europe

Rome, 7 (NE - eclesiales.org) From May 2nd, we will be able to see this year in Milan the Exposition "387 d.C. Ambrose and Agustin, sources of Europe". The Expo has been prepared in the past three years and has as its aim to bring to light the main contributions of these two saints to Europe's identity. The Exhibition counts on 400 objects and documents that seek to give visitors an idea of the biography and the historical background of these two magnificent Western saints. The Exhibition will offer visitors two paths. The first one will document Saint Agustín's Africa, as well as Germany and ancient Milan in Saint Ambrose's times. The second path shows the biographies of the two holy Bishops of Hipona and Milan. The year 387 to which the Expo's title refers, recalls the year in which Saint Agustin was baptized by Saint Ambrose, then Archbishop of Milan.

Cardinal Poupard calls to "evangelize cultures and inculturate the Gospel"

Rome, 6 (NE - eclesiales.org) Cardinal Paul Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, in a recent article published in the newspaper "L' Espresso", spoke about the challenges that the Church will face in the field of culture's evangelization in these new times. The article -titled "the challenges of the Church"- indicates that "the future of a Church in mission would be worrying if it were that of an entrenched Church, that is to say, a Church that has raised barricades and lived in permanent defense".

Nevertheless, he affirmed, "her reason of being is the mission received from Christ: to participate the good news of God's love to all men, of all the cultures, to the end of times, arriving up to the extremities of land". Likewise, pointed the Cardinal, all the Catholics at their situation and possibilities should try to "evangelize cultures and inculturate the Gospel, to find each man there where lives, transmitting the divine word of hope and salvation in an understandable language to him ".

«Church News» authorizes the complete or partial reproduction of the information offered to our readers in this page, quoting the source (CN). Publication of the information in this page does not imply any compromise.

All rights reserved (©) Church News