www.Radiovaticana.org http://www.radiovaticana.va The voice of the Pope in dialogue with the world Webteam en 2005 Vatican Radio. All rights reserved. Vatican Radio webteam@vaticanradio.org webteam@vaticanradio.org webteam@vaticanradio.org 60 No Audio reports from Vatican Radio in Podcast http://www.radiovaticana.va/EN1/articolo.asp?c=694586 (Vatican Radio) It’s exactly one month since two Syrian Orthodox archbishops were kidnapped near the city of Aleppo. The Greek Orthodox archbishop of Aleppo Yohanna Ibrahim and his Syriac Orthodox counterpart Boulos Yazaji were seized by gunmen while travelling back from the Turkish border. No group has claimed responsibility for their abduction. The Catholic Chaldean bishop of Aleppo, Antoine Audo spoke to Susy Hodges about their growing concern over the fate of the two prelates. Listen to the extended interview with Bishop Antoine Audo: 00:01:59:98 Bishop Audo describes how he and other Catholic churchmen attended an ecumenical prayer service last weekend in Aleppo’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral to pray for the safe release of the two kidnapped prelates. He said it was a “sad” occasion …with “some people crying” or with “tears in their eyes.” Bishop Audo says the Christian community in Syria is highly concerned and baffled as to why the two archbishops were kidnapped but doesn’t believe it was because their captors are seeking a ransom for their release. “It’s not a question of money” , he says, as no demand has been put forward for a ransom. webteam@vaticanradio.org News 00:01:59:98 Wed, 22 May 2013 16:15:20 GMT 694586 http://www.radiovaticana.va/EN1/articolo.asp?c=694330 (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has called Christians worldwide to prayer this Friday for our brothers and sisters in China. Speaking at the end of his general audience in Italian, the Holy Father noted that Friday, May 24th, is the day dedicated to the liturgical memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, who is venerated with great devotion at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. Emer McCarthy reports listen: 00:06:26:30 He said : “I urge all Catholics around the world to join in prayer with our brothers and sisters who are in China, to implore from God the grace to proclaim with humility and joy Christ, who died and rose again; to be faithful to His Church and the Successor of Peter and to live everyday life in service to their country and their fellow citizens in a way that is consistent with the faith they profess. Making our own a few words of prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan, together with you I would like to invoke Mary : " Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China, who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love. May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus". Mary, Virgin most faithful, support Chinese Catholics, render their commitments, which are not easy, more and more precious in the eyes of the Lord, and nurture the affection and the participation of the Church in China in the journey of the Universal Church”. In May 2008 Pope-emeritus, Benedict XVI, composed a special prayer for the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians (May 24), venerated at the shrine of Sheshan, near Shanghai. He also designated May 24 as the yearly World Day of Prayer for China and asked that we recite this prayer. Below we publish the full text of the prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother, venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan under the title "Help of Christians", the entire Church in China looks to you with devout affection. We come before you today to implore your protection. Look upon the People of God and, with a mother’s care, guide them along the paths of truth and love, so that they may always be a leaven of harmonious coexistence among all citizens. When you obediently said "yes" in the house of Nazareth, you allowed God’s eternal Son to take flesh in your virginal womb and thus to begin in history the work of our redemption. You willingly and generously cooperated in that work, allowing the sword of pain to pierce your soul, until the supreme hour of the Cross, when you kept watch on Calvary, standing beside your Son, who died that we might live. From that moment, you became, in a new way, the Mother of all those who receive your Son Jesus in faith and choose to follow in his footsteps by taking up his Cross. Mother of hope, in the darkness of Holy Saturday you journeyed with unfailing trust towards the dawn of Easter. Grant that your children may discern at all times, even those that are darkest, the signs of God’s loving presence. Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China, who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love. May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus. In the statue overlooking the Shrine you lift your Son on high, offering him to the world with open arms in a gesture of love. Help Catholics always to be credible witnesses to this love, ever clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built. Mother of China and all Asia, pray for us, now and for ever. Amen! webteam@vaticanradio.org News 00:06:26:30 Wed, 22 May 2013 13:47:56 GMT 694330 http://www.radiovaticana.va/EN1/articolo.asp?c=694304 (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis visited the "Gift of Mary" soup kitchen and women’s shelter run by the Missionaries of Charity on Tuesday evening, to mark the 25th anniversary of the facility's opening in the Vatican. In remarks to staff and guests, the Holy Father praised the work of the sisters, noting the many mouths they have fed, and the wounds both spiritual and bodily, that they have helped to heal. “In these years,” said Pope Francis, “like the good Samaritan, you have so many times bent low to [serve] those in need." Listen: 00:01:52:34 The facility is inside the walls of Vatican city, situated in the vicinity of the building that houses the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The house feeds roughly 60 people every day, and offers accommodation to 25 women. Pope Francis said the shelter should be “a strong reminder” to the Christian community, to the whole city and citizenry of Rome, “to be ever more a family, a ‘home’ that is ready to welcome, to attend, to foster brotherhood.” The importance of freely giving of self and substance was another theme of the Holy Father’s remarks to staff and guests. “We all,” he said, “must recover the sense of gift, of free and generous giving [it. gratuità], of solidarity. webteam@vaticanradio.org News 00:01:52:34 Wed, 22 May 2013 11:02:40 GMT 694304 http://www.radiovaticana.va/EN1/articolo.asp?c=694271 (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a telegram to Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City to express his deep concern for the victims, injured and homeless in the wake of a devastating tornado: The Holy Father has followed with deep concern the aftermath of the devastating tornado which has struck Oklahoma and he asks you convey to the entire community the assurance of his solidarity and closeness in prayer. Conscious of the tragic loss of life and the immensity of the work of rebuilding that lies ahead, he asks Almighty God to grant eternal rest to the departed, comfort to the afflicted, and strength and hope to the homeless and the injured. In a particular way he commends to the Father of mercies the many young children among the victims and their grieving families. Upon the local civil and religious leaders, and upon all involved in the relief efforts, His Holiness invokes the Risen Lord’s gifts of consolation, strength and perseverance in every good. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone Secretary of State Archbishop Coakley spoke with Vatican Radio on Tuesday about how Catholics are helping in relief efforts in the aftermath of the tragedy: 00:06:05:14 webteam@vaticanradio.org News 00:06:05:14 Tue, 21 May 2013 19:13:41 GMT 694271 http://www.radiovaticana.va/EN1/articolo.asp?c=694246 (Vatican Radio) The legal procedure against former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, has been plunged into chaos, after Guatemala's Constitutional Court overturned the verdict and ruled the trial has to be re-activated, due to a lack of legal counsel for the ex-General at one point. Indigenous groups, human rights organizations and former opponents – to name but a few – thought justice had been served, when a trial ended with the conviction of former General and Dictator Efrain Rios Montt for grave human rights violations and crimes against humanity. From May 10th, when the conviction and sentence were announced, eighty six year old Rios Montt, started serving an 80 year sentence. But now the Constitutional Court has ruled 3-2, that the trial has to rewind back to April 19th. The day before that, his defence lawyer walked out claiming bias by the Judges, and a court appointed lawyer was put in place, who Rios Montt promptly rejected. His original and chosen lawyer was again excluded, after challenging the Judges for refusing to consider his legal representations. This latest law hiccoup does very little credit to Guatemala's fledgling justice system, which if nothing else should have seen procedural inevitability staring it in the face. Although legal experts argue that the case is not lost, but must be reheard in part, it does tend to seriously undermine many Guatemalans confidence in their courts' competence or even basic common sense. Listen to James Blears’ report: 00:01:31:34 webteam@vaticanradio.org News 00:01:31:34 Tue, 21 May 2013 17:51:56 GMT 694246 http://www.radiovaticana.va/EN1/articolo.asp?c=694218 (Vatican Radio) How can the Church boost its pastoral assistance to the victims of forced migration, especially at a time when more and more people worldwide are being forced to flee their homes largely because of conflict or persecution? This is the main topic being discussed by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People at its meeting in the Vatican this week. The Council’s Secretary is Bishop Joseph Kalathiparambil who spoke to Susy Hodges. Listen to the extended interview with Bishop Joseph Kalathiparambil: 00:04:26:06 The Pastoral Solicitude of the Church in the context of Forced Migrations is the official theme of the Council’s Plenary Assembly which opens on Wednesday and Bishop Kalathiparambil explains how forced displacement of people is a “huge and growing” problem, especially as a result of the war in Syria, and says we must “try to help these poor victims.” Asked about the problem of growing intolerance towards refugees among the host population when the influx is so large, Bishop Kalathiparambil says unfortunately this is sometimes the case when “increasing numbers of refugees” flee to neighbouring countries: ,”Naturally,” he says, "there will be a kind of fear and anxiety” (in the host countries) as to how to “handle this problem.” The bishop says that in order to help “overcome this xenophobia, we have to conscientize the (local) people.” Bishop Kalathiparambil says although the Church is doing “its utmost” to reach out to the victims of forced migrations, one practical problem they face all the time is “lack of funds” and he told us how many visiting bishops from the local churches often mention this problem. webteam@vaticanradio.org News 00:04:26:06 Tue, 21 May 2013 17:02:23 GMT 694218 http://www.radiovaticana.va/EN1/articolo.asp?c=694181 (Vatican Radio) What is the Catholic Church teaching on suffering? Why do we anoint the sick and why is it one of the seven Sacraments? What is the difference between Anointing of the Sick and Last Rites? Is this Sacrament reserved for those who are dying or can people who are ill also avail of it? What does viaticum mean? Who can minister this Sacrament and what are its effects? Why is this one of the misunderstood Sacraments so important? These are just some of the questions sent in by listeners that our very own official from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Msgr. John Kennedy , answers in this week’s episode of Questions of Faith, as he helps us to navigate the modern world and rediscover what we believe and why we believe. Listen 00:25:33:84 So if you have any questions, big or small, why not ask the official? You can do this by submitting them to Vatican Radio’s – English Section Facebook page as a post or private message and tuning in each week to find out the answers to your Questions of Faith. webteam@vaticanradio.org News 00:25:33:84 Tue, 21 May 2013 15:54:10 GMT 694181 http://www.radiovaticana.va/EN1/articolo.asp?c=694087 (Vatican Radio) For a Christian, true progress lies in humbling ourselves as Jesus did. This was the focus of Pope Francis’ homily at morning Mass in the Casa Santa Marta. The Pope also reiterated that true power is in service and that there is no room for power struggles within the Church. During the prayers of the faithful Pope Francis also prayed for the victims of the Oklahoma tornado tragedy. Emer McCarthy reports: 00:01:47:81 In the readings of the day, the source of the Holy Father’s reflections, Jesus speaks of his passion. However his disciples, begin arguing about who is the greatest among them. Commenting on this ‘bitter episode’ the Pope noted: "The struggle for power in the Church nothing new", in fact "it began then with Jesus”. The Pope said: "In the Gospel of Jesus, the struggle for power in the Church must not exist" because true power, that which the Lord "by his example has taught us," is "the power of service". "Real power is service. As He did, He who came not to be served but to serve, and His service was the service of the Cross. He humbled Himself unto death, even death on a cross for us, to serve us, to save us. And there is no other way in the Church to move forward. For the Christian, getting ahead, progress, means humbling oneself. If we do not learn this Christian rule, we will never, ever be able to understand Jesus’ true message on power. " The Pope said that progress "means humbling ourselves", it means "always being of service” to others. In the Church, he added, "the greatest is the one who serves most, the one who is at the service of others." "This is the rule." Yet, noted Pope Francis, from the beginning until now there have been "power struggles in the Church," even "in our manner of speech": "When a person is given a job, one that the eyes of the world is a superior role, they say: 'Ah, this woman has been promoted to president of that association, or this man was promoted ...'. This verb, to promote: yes, it is a nice verb and one we must use in the Church. Yes, He was promoted to the Cross, He was promoted to humiliation. That is true promotion [advancement], that which makes us seem more like Jesus! " The Pope then recalled that St. Ignatius of Loyola who, in his Spiritual Exercises, asked the Crucified Lord for "the grace of humiliation." This, he reiterated, is "the true power of the service of the Church." This is the true path of Jesus, true and not worldly advancement: "The path of the Lord is being in His service: as He carried out His service, we must follow Him, on the path of service. That is the real power in the Church. I would like today to pray for all of us, so that the Lord give us the grace to understand that: that real power in the Church is service. And also to understand the golden rule that He taught us by His example: for a Christian, progress, advancement, means being humble. We ask for this grace. " Staff from Vatican Radio and the Office of the Governatorate were present at Mass Tuesday morning. Also present were the director of Civiltà Cattolica, Father Antonio Spadaro S.J., and Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti, president and vice-president of the Focolare Movement. webteam@vaticanradio.org News 00:01:47:81 Tue, 21 May 2013 13:52:51 GMT 694087 http://www.radiovaticana.va/EN1/articolo.asp?c=694048 (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ decision to place his hands on the head of a sick child and pray over him on Pentecost Sunday stirred speculation he might have performed an exorcism. The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, clarified on Tuesday that the Holy Father did not perform an exorcism on the occasion. "The Holy Father did not intend to perform any exorcism," said Fr Lombardi. "Rather," he explained, "as he frequently does with the sick and the suffering who come his way, he intended simply pray for a suffering person who had been brought before him." Exorcism is, in the strict sense, the “casting out” of evil spirits. The power to exorcise was conferred by Jesus on the apostles, and it is understood that this power passes to the bishops who are the successors to the apostles, and priests the co-workers. That said, the Church has had – for many hundreds of years, it ought to be added – a very precise ritual of exorcism: there are no evangelical-style tent revival theatrics, but careful, even methodical attention and faithful following of the prescribed prayers, gestures and use of sacramental such as holy water and the crucifix. Fr. Bernd Hagenkord, SJ, clarifies further: Listen: 00:02:54:17 CRA: Who can perform exorcisms? BHSJ: Though every priest can perform exorcisms – in fact, there is an exorcism that is part of the Rite of Baptism, so priests perform exorcisms on a fairly regular basis – Church law requires that every diocese have at least one specially trained exorcist, who knows how to distinguish the signs of demonic possession from those of mental or physical illness. In fact, even today, when some voices claim that demonic possession is on the rise, exorcism remains very, very rare. The vast majority of cases investigated turn out to be cases of mental illness. CRA: So, there is a prescribed ritual: is exorcism a sacrament? BHSJ: No, exorcism is most definitely not a sacrament. CRA: What about the Pope’s gesture on Sunday? BHSJ: Well, I wasn’t there, but I can tell you that the “laying on of hands” is a practice of very ancient standing. It goes back to the Old Testament, where it could signify election as heir – think of Isaac blessing Jacob, or ordination – as when Moses ordained Joshua. In Christian tradition, it continues to be an act of blessing, and is part of the priestly and episcopal ordination rites. It has the sense of an act of healing, as well – spiritual healing, primarily, but also of healing in body (miracles have precedents). Again, however, it is something usually done by an ordained priest or bishop – and “quietly” if you will – without spectacle. The gesture itself is also one that parents might use, in blessing their children. -- Fr. Bernd Hagenkord, SJ, is head of Vatican Radio’s German section. He was speaking with Vatican Radio’s Chris Altieri. webteam@vaticanradio.org News 00:02:54:17 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:14:45 GMT 694048 http://www.radiovaticana.va/EN1/articolo.asp?c=693973 (Vatican Radio) At least 91 people are now known to have died, including 20 children, when a massive tornado swept through the suburbs of Oklahoma City. Search and rescue operations are continuing throughout the night in the US.The mile-wide storm destroyed a primary school, sparked fires, and flattened homes. Worst hit was Moore, south of Oklahoma City, where whole neighbourhoods were leveled by winds of up to 200mph. It is the second day in a row the Midwestern state of Oklahoma has been slammed by twisters. About 120 people are being treated in hospitals. President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma. Listen: 00:01:08:26 webteam@vaticanradio.org News 00:01:08:26 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:15:51 GMT 693973