Price € 1,50. Back issues € 3,00 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO WEEKLY EDITION IN ENGLISH Unicuique suum Non praevalebunt

Fifty-fourth year, number 3 (2.680) Vatican City Friday, 15 January 2021

MessageMessage of of His His Holiness Holiness Pope Pope Francis Francis for for the the 2021 2021 World World Day Day of of the the Sick Sick InvestingInvesting resourcesresources inin carecare andand assistanceassistance

In his message for the 29th those in need of care, we can World Day of the Sick, which find “an unfailing source of will be celebrated on 11 motivation and strength in February, the Pontiff recalled the charity of Christ, as that “sickness always has shown by the witness of those more than one face: it has the men and women who down face of all the sick, but also the millennia have grown in those who feel ignored, ex- holiness through service to cluded and prey to social in- the infirm” justices that deny their funda- mental rights”. To approach PAGE 3

Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Motu Proprio by Pope Francis Distribution of ashes in time of pandemic Ministries of

The following is the English text of the ber that you are dust, and to dust Lector and Acolyte Note on Ash Wednesday of the Congrega- you shall return”. tion for Divine Worship and the Disci- The Priest then cleanses his open to women pline of the Sacraments on how Catholic hands, puts on a face mask and priests are to distribute ashes in the time of distributes the ashes to those who pandemic. come to him or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in Prot. N. 17/21 their places. The Priest takes the ashes and sprinkles them on the NOTE ON ASH WE D N E S D AY head of each one without saying Distribution of Ashes in Time of a n y t h i n g. Pa n d e m i c From the Congregation for Di- The Priest says the prayer for vine Worship and the Discipline blessing the ashes. He sprinkles of the Sacraments, 12 January the ashes with holy water, without 2021. saying anything. Then he address- es all those present and only once ROBERT CA R D. SARAH With a Motu Proprio Pope Francis estab- says the formula as it appears in P re f e c t lished that from now on the ministries of the Roman Missal, applying it to Lector and Acolyte are to be open to wom- all in general: “Repent, and be- ARTHUR RO CH en, in a stable and institutionalized form lieve in the Gospel”, or “Remem- Archbishop Secretary through a specific mandate. There is nothing new about women pro- claiming the Word of God during liturgical celebrations or carrying out a service at the altar as altar servers or as Eucharistic minis- ters. In many communities throughout the General Audience An g e l u s Pope sends condolences ‘Fratelli Tutti’: interview world these practices are already authorized Time for praise National Reconciliation Card. Schwery dies With Archbishop Welby by local bishops. The Pope explains his de- cision in a letter to Cardinal Ladaria. PAGE 2 PAGE 2 PAGE 7 GISOTTI ON PA G E 8 PAGE 4/5 page 2L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 15 January 2021, number 3

GENERAL AUDIENCE

Holy Father's catechesis on Prayer Even dark moments are a time for praise

As he continued his series of catech- shall we look for another?” First and foremost, he prais- ple, these humble people who eses on prayer at the General Audi- (Mt 11:3). He feels this an- es Him for who He is:“Fa t h e r, go on pilgrimages, who go to ence on Wednesday morning, 13 Jan- guish of not knowing whether Lord of heaven and earth”. Je- pray, who sing, who praise, uary, Pope Francis highlighted the he is mistaken in his proclama- sus rejoices in his spirit be- people who perhaps lack importance of praising God “not only tion. There are always dark cause he knows and feels that many things but whose humil- when life fills us with happiness, but moments, moments of spiritu- his Father is the God of the ity leads them to praise God. above all in difficult moments”. The al nighttime, and John is go- Universe, and vice versa, the In the future of the world and following is a translation of the Holy ing through this moment. Lord of all that exists is the Fa- in the hopes of the Church Fa t h e r ’s words which he shared in There is hostility in the vil- ther, “My Father”. Praise there are always the “little Italian from the Private Library of lages along the lake, where Je- springs from this experience of ones”: those who do not con- the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. sus had performed so many feeling that he is “Son of the sider themselves better than prodigious signs (cf. Mt 11:20- Most High”. Jesus feels he is others, who are aware of their Dear Brothers and Sisters, 24). Now, precisely in this dis- Son of the Most High. own limitations and their sins, Good morning! appointing moment, Matthew And then Jesus praises the who do not want to lord it Let us continue our catechesis relates a truly surprising fact: Father for favouring the little ones. over others, who, in God the on prayer, and today we will Jesus does not raise a lament It is what he himself experi- Father, recognize that we are give space to the dimension of to the Father but, rather, a ences, preaching in the vil- all brothers and sisters. no way to stop it. Jesus, who says this: “Although you have praise. hymn of jubilation: “I thank lages: the “learned”and the Therefore, in that moment highly recommended the no need of our praise, yet our We will take our cue from a thee, Father, Lord of heaven “wise”remain suspicious and of apparent failure, where ev- prayer of asking, at the very thanksgiving is itself your gift, critical passage in the life of and earth that thou hast hid- closed; they make calcula- erything is dark, Jesus prays, moment when he would have since our praises add nothing Jesus. After the first miracles den these things from the wise tions; while the “little ones” praising the Father. And his had reason to ask the Father to your greatness, but profit us and the involvement of the and understanding and re- open themselves and welcome prayer also leads us, readers of for explanations, instead be- for salvation”(Roman Missal, disciples in proclaiming the vealed them to babes”(Mt his message. This can only be the Gospel, to judge our per- gins to praise him. It seems to Common Preface IV). By giv- Kingdom of God, the mission 11:25). Thus, in the midst of a the will of the Father, and Je- sonal defeats in a different be a contradiction, but therein ing praise, we are saved. of the Messiah undergoes a crisis, amid the darkness of the sus rejoices in this. We too way, to judge differently the lies the truth. The prayer of praise is help- crisis. John the Baptist has soul of so many people, such must rejoice and praise God situations in which we do not To whom is praise helpful? ful to us. The Catechism defines doubts and makes Him receive as John the Baptist, Jesus because humble and simple see clearly the presence and To us or to God? A text of the it this way: it “shares in the this message —John is in jail: blesses the Father, Jesus prais- people welcome the Gospel. action of God, when it seems Eucharistic liturgy invites us blessed happiness of the pure “Are you he who is to come, or es the Father. But why? When I see these simple peo- that evil prevails and there is to pray to God in this way, it of heart who love God in faith before seeing him in glory” (no. 2639). Paradoxically it must be practised not only when life fills us with happi- ANGELUS •Pop e’s appeal for protection of democratic values following the siege on US Capitol ness, but above all in difficult moments, in moments of dark- ness when the path becomes an uphill climb. That too is National Reconciliation the time for praise, like Jesus who in the dark moment prais- In his reflection at the Angelus on Sunday, 10 need it. In fact, John the Baptist tries to Moses: ‘Think: what people has its —they lost it in those dramatic mo- es the Father. Because we learn January, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, to prevent it, but Jesus insists. Why? gods as close as you have me?’. Close- ments. I reiterate that violence is al- that, through that ascent, that Pope Francis recalled that “even before we do Because he wants to be with the sin- ness is God’s way with us. ways self-destructive. Nothing is difficult path, that wearisome anything, our life is marked by the mercy that ners: for this reason he gets in line After this gesture of compassion by earned with violence and so much is path, those demanding pas- was laid upon us”through God’s freely given with them and does the same thing Jesus, an extraordinary thing hap- lost. I exhort the government author- sages, we get to see a new gift. “S a c ra m e n t a l l y ”, the Pope said, “this is they do. He does so with the attitude pens: the heavens open and the Trin- ities and the entire population to panorama, a broader horizon. done on the day of our Baptism”and thus is of the people, with their attitude [of ity is finally revealed. The Holy Spirit maintain a deep sense of responsibili- Giving praise is like breathing part of our very identity. The following is a the people] who, as a liturgical hymn descends from the heavens in the ty, in order to calm souls, to promote pure oxygen: it purifies the translation of the Holy Father’s reflection, says, approached “with bare soul and form of a dove (cf. Mk 1:10) and the national reconciliation and to protect soul, it makes you look far which he shared from the library of the Apos- bare feet”. A bare soul, that is, with- Father says to Jesus: “Thou art my the democratic values rooted in ahead, it does not leave you tolic Palace. out anything covered, like this, a sin- beloved Son; with thee I am well American society. May the Immacu- imprisoned in the difficult and ner. This is the gesture Jesus makes, pleased”(v. 11). God manifests him- late Virgin, Patroness of the United dark moment of hardship. Dear Brothers and Sisters, and he goes down into the river to im- self when mercy appears. Do not for- States of America, help keep alive the There is a great teaching in Buongiorno! merse himself in the same condition get this: God manifests himself when culture of encounter, the culture of that prayer that for eight cen- Today we are celebrating the Baptism we are in. Indeed, baptism actually mercy appears, because that is his care, as the royal road to build the turies has never lost its beat, of the Lord. A few days ago, we left means “immersion”. On the first day face. Jesus becomes the servant of sin- common good together; and may she that Saint Francis composed Baby Jesus being visited by the Magi; of his ministry, Jesus thus offers us his ners and is proclaimed the Son; he do so with all those who live in that at the end of his life: the “Can- today we find him as an adult on the “programmatic manifesto”. He tells lowers himself upon us and the Spirit land. ticle of Brother Sun”or “of the banks of the Jordan. The Liturgy has descends upon him. Love calls upon And now I offer a heartfelt greeting c re a t u re s ”. The P o v e re l l o did us take a leap of some 30 years, 30 love. It also applies to us: in each act to all of you, who are linked via the not compose it in a moment of years about which we know one of service, in every work of mercy we media. As you know, due to the pan- joy, of well-being, but on the thing: they were years of hidden life, perform, God manifests himself; God demic, today I was unable to cele- contrary, in the midst of diffi- which Jesus spent with his family — sets his gaze upon the world. This ap- brate Baptisms in the Sistine Chapel, culty. Francis was by then al- some, firstly in Egypt, as a migrant to plies to us. as customary. However, all the same, I most blind, and he felt in his escape Herod’s persecution, the oth- But even before we do anything, wish to assure my prayers for the chil- soul the weight of a solitude ers in Nazareth, learning Joseph’s our life is marked by the mercy that dren who were enrolled and for their he had never before experi- trade —with family, obeying his par- was laid upon us. We have been saved parents, godfathers and godmothers; enced: the world had not ents, studying and working. It is strik- freely. Salvation is free. It is the freely and I extend it to all children who in changed since the beginning ing that the Lord spent most of his given gesture of God’s mercy toward this period receive Baptism, receive of his preaching, there were time on Earth in this way: living an us. Sacramentally this is done on the the Christian identity, receive the still those who let themselves ordinary life, without standing out. day of our Baptism; but even those grace of forgiveness, of redemption. be torn apart by quarrels, and We think that, according to the who are not baptized always receive May God bless everyone! in addition he was aware that Gospels, there were three years of Go d’s mercy, because God is there, And tomorrow, dear brothers and death was approaching ever preaching, of miracles and many waiting, waiting for them to open the sisters, with Christmas Time conclud- n e a re r. things. Three. And the others, all the doors of their hearts. He draws near, ed, we will resume with the liturgy, It may have been a moment others, were of a hidden life with his allow me to say, he caresses us with the journey of Ordinary Time. Let us of disillusionment, of that ex- family. It is a fine message for us: it re- his mercy. not tire of invoking the light and treme disillusionment and the veals the greatness of daily life, the impor- May Our Lady, to whom we now strength of the Holy Spirit, so that he perception of his own failure. tance in God’s eyes of every gesture us that he does not save us from on pray, help us to cherish our baptismal may help us to experience ordinary But at that instant of sadness, and moment of life, even the simplest, high, with a sovereign decision or act i d e n t i t y, that is, the identity of being things with love and thereby render in that dark instant Francis even the most hidden. of force, a decree, no: he saves us by shown mercy, which lies at the base of them extraordinary. It is love that prays. How does he pray? After these 30 years of hidden life, coming to meet us and taking our sins faith and life. transforms: ordinary things seem to “Praised be You, my Lord…”. Jesus’public life begins. And it be- upon himself. This is how God con- continue being ordinary, but when He prays by giving praise. gins precisely with his baptism in the quers the world’s evil: by humbling After the Angelus, the Holy Father continued: they are done with love they become Francis praises God for every- River Jordan. But Jesus is God; why himself, taking charge of it. It is also extraordinary. If we remain open, thing, for all the gifts of cre- does Jesus get baptized? John’s bap- the way that we can lift up others: not Dear brothers and sisters, I offer an docile, to the Spirit, he inspires our ation, and even for death, tism consisted in a penitential rite; it by judging, not by suggesting what to affectionate greeting to the people of daily thoughts and actions. which he courageously calls was a sign of one’s willingness to con- do, but by drawing near, empathiz- the United States of America, shaken I wish you all a happy Sunday. “sister”,“sister death”. These vert, to be better, asking forgiveness ing, sharing God’s love. Closeness is by the recent siege on the Congress. I Please, do not forget to pray for me. of one’s sins. Jesus surely did not Go d’s way with us; he himself says so pray for those who lost their life —five Enjoy your lunch. Ar r i v e d e rc i ! CONTINUED ON PA G E 3 number 3, Friday, 15 January 2021 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 3

WORLD DAY OF THE SICK 2021

“Christ heals the man with d ro p s y” (14th century), Visoki Dečani Monastery, Kosovo

In his message for the 29th World Day our neighbours. “Serving means of the Sick, which will be celebrated on 11 caring … for the vulnerable of February, Pope Francis recalled that our families, our society, our peo- “sickness always has more than one face: ple” (Homily in Havana, 20 it has the face of all the sick, but also September 2015). In this out- those who feel ignored, excluded and prey reach, all are “called to set aside to social injustices that deny their funda- their own wishes and desires, mental rights”. To approach those in need their pursuit of power, before the of care, we can find “an unfailing source concrete gaze of those who are of motivation and strength in the charity most vulnerable… Service always of Christ, as shown by the witness of those looks to their faces, touches their men and women who down the millennia flesh, senses their closeness and have grown in holiness through service to even, in some cases, ‘suffers’ that the infirm”. The following is the English closeness and tries to help them. text of the Holy Father's message. Service is never ideological, for we do not serve ideas, we serve p eople” (ibid.). 4. If a therapy is to be effective, it must have a relational aspect, for this enables a holistic ap- proach to the patient. Emphasiz- Pop e’s Appeal in his Message for World Day of the Sick ing this aspect can help doctors, nurses, professionals and volun- teers to feel responsible for ac- companying patients on a path of Investing resources in healing grounded in a trusting in- terpersonal relationship (cf. New Charter for Health Care Workers [2016], 4). This creates a covenant care and assistance between those in need of care and those who provide that care, a covenant based on mutual trust “You have but one teacher and you are is why Jesus uses strong language before God in faith. In seeking a healthcare systems and exposed and respect, openness and avail- all brothers” (Mt 23:8). about the peril of falling into self- new and deeper direction in our inefficiencies in the care of the ability. This will help to overcome A trust-based relationship to guide idolatry. He tells us: “You have but lives, we may not find an immedi- sick. Elderly, weak and vulnerable defensive attitudes, respect the care for the sick one teacher and you are all brothers” ( v. ate answer. Nor are our relatives people are not always granted ac- dignity of the sick, safeguard the 8). and friends always able to help us cess to care, or in an equitable professionalism of healthcare Jesus’ criticism of those who in this demanding quest. manner. This is the result of polit- workers and foster a good rela- Dear brothers and sisters, “preach but do not practise” (v. 3) The biblical figure of Job is ical decisions, resource manage- tionship with the families of pa- The celebration of the XXIX is helpful always and everywhere, emblematic in this regard. Job’s ment and greater or lesser com- tients. World Day of the Sick on 11 since none of us is immune to the wife and friends do not accompa- mitment on the part of those Such a relationship with the February 2021, the liturgical grave evil of hypocrisy, which pre- ny him in his misfortune; instead, holding positions of responsibili- sick can find an unfailing source memorial of the Blessed Virgin vents us from flourishing as chil- they blame him and only aggra- ty. Investing resources in the care of motivation and strength in the Mary of Lourdes, is an opportu- dren of the one Father, called to vate his solitude and distress. Job and assistance of the sick is a pri- charity of Christ, as shown by the nity to devote special attention to live universal fraternity. feels forlorn and misunderstood. ority linked to the fundamental witness of those men and women the sick and to those who provide Before the needs of our broth- Yet for all his extreme frailty, he principle that health is a primary who down the millennia have them with assistance and care ers and sisters, Jesus asks us to re- rejects hypocrisy and chooses the common good. Yet the pandemic grown in holiness through service both in healthcare institutions spond in a way completely con- path of honesty towards God and has also highlighted the dedica- to the infirm. For the mystery of and within families and commu- trary to such hypocrisy. He asks others. He cries out to God so in- tion and generosity of healthcare Christ’s death and resurrection is nities. We think in particular of us to stop and listen, to establish sistently that God finally answers personnel, volunteers, support the source of the love capable of those who have suffered, and con- a direct and personal relationship him and allows him to glimpse a staff, priests, men and women re- giving full meaning to the experi- tinue to suffer, the effects of the with others, to feel empathy and new horizon. He confirms that ligious, all of whom have helped, ence of patients and caregivers worldwide coronavirus pandemic. compassion, and to let their suf- Job’s suffering is not a punish- treated, comforted and served so alike. The Gospel frequently To all, and especially to the poor fering become our own as we seek ment or a state of separation from many of the sick and their fami- makes this clear by showing that and the marginalized, I express to serve them (cf. Lk 10:30-35). God, much less a sign of God’s lies with professionalism, self-giv- Jesus heals not by magic but as my spiritual closeness and assure 2. The experience of sickness indifference. Job’s heart, wound- ing, responsibility and love of the result of an encounter, an interper- them of the Church’s loving con- makes us realize our own vulnera- ed and healed, then makes this vi- neighbour. A silent multitude of sonal relationship, in which God’s cern. bility and our innate need of oth- brant and touching confession to men and women, they chose not gift finds a response in the faith 1. The theme of this Day is ers. It makes us feel all the more the Lord: “I had heard of you by to look the other way but to share of those who accept it. As Jesus drawn from the Gospel passage in clearly that we are creatures de- word of mouth, but now my eye the suffering of patients, whom often repeats: “Your faith has which Jesus criticizes the pendent on God. When we are has seen you” (42:5). they saw as neighbours and mem- saved you”. hypocrisy of those who fail to ill, fear and even bewilderment 3. Sickness always has more bers of our one human family. 5. Dear brothers and sisters, the practise what they preach (cf. Mt can grip our minds and hearts; we than one face: it has the face of all Such closeness is a precious commandment of love that Jesus 23:1-12). When our faith is re- find ourselves powerless, since the sick, but also those who feel balm that provides support and left to his disciples is also kept in duced to empty words, uncon- our health does not depend on ignored, excluded and prey to so- consolation to the sick in their our relationship with the sick. A cerned with the lives and needs of our abilities or life’s incessant cial injustices that deny their fun- suffering. As Christians, we expe- society is all the more human to others, the creed we profess worries (cf. Mt 6:27). damental rights (cf. Fratelli Tutti, rience that closeness as a sign of the degree that it cares effectively proves inconsistent with the life Sickness raises the question of 22). The current pandemic has the love of Jesus Christ, the Good for its most frail and suffering we lead. The danger is real. That life’s meaning, which we bring exacerbated inequalities in our Samaritan, who draws near with members, in a spirit of fraternal compassion to every man and love. Let us strive to achieve this woman wounded by sin. United goal, so that no one will feel to Christ by the working of the alone, excluded or abandoned. Holy Spirit, we are called to be To Mary, Mother of Mercy merciful like the Father and to and Health of the Infirm, I en- Even dark moments are a time for praise love in particular our frail, infirm trust the sick, healthcare workers and suffering brothers and sisters and all those who generously as- CONTINUED FROM PA G E 2 is always beside us. He always speaking faithful. May the Feast of (cf. Jn 13:34-35). We experience sist our suffering brothers and awaits us. It has been said that “he the Baptism of the Lord, which we this closeness not only as individ- sisters. From the Grotto of Lour- examples of saints, of Christians, is the sentinel who is close to you have just celebrated, remind us of uals but also as a community. In- des and her many other shrines and also of Jesus, of praising God and keeps you going forward with our own baptism and inspire us to deed, fraternal love in Christ gen- throughout the world, may she in difficult moments, open to us confidence”. In difficult and dark follow Jesus Christ more faithfully erates a community of healing, a sustain our faith and hope, and the gates of a great road towards moments, let us have the courage each day. Upon you and your fam- community that leaves no one be- help us care for one another with the Lord, and they always purify to say: “Blessed are you, O Lord”. ilies I invoke the joy and peace of hind, a community that is inclu- fraternal love. To each and all, I us. Praise always purifies. Praising the Lord. This will do us the Lord. God bless you! sive and welcoming, especially to cordially impart my blessing. The Saints show us that we can much good. Lastly, as usual my thoughts those most in need. always give praise, in good times turn to the elderly, to young people, to Here I wish to mention the im- Rome, Saint John Lateran, and bad, because God is the faith- the sick and to newlyweds. Each day, portance of fraternal solidarity, 20 December 2020, ful Friend. This is the foundation SPECIAL GREETINGS draw strength from the Lord to which is expressed concretely in Fourth Sunday of Advent of praise: God is the faithful move forward and to be witnesses service and can take a variety of Friend, and his love never fails. He I cordially greet the English- of peace and love. forms, all directed at supporting page 4, number 3, Friday, 15 January 2021 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO number 3, Friday, 15 January 2021, page 5

ACCESS OF WOMEN TO THE MINISTRIES OF LECTOR AND ACOLY TE

Ministries of Lector and Acolyte open to women Spiritus D omini

trinally, so that it may respond to the nature of the aforementioned Pope Francis’ decision to modify the “forms of exer- charisms and the needs of the times, cise of non-ordained ministries is not the simple con- offering appropriate support to the sequence, on the sociological level, of the desire to role of evangelization that is incum- adapt to the sensibility or to the culture of periods bent upon the ecclesial community. and places”, but rather, seeks to enable each local Accepting these recommenda- and particular Church “to live the liturgical action, tions, a doctrinal development has service to the poor and the proclamation of the taken place in recent years which Gospel in fidelity to the mandate of the Lord Jesus has highlighted how certain min- Christ”. The following is a translation of his letter istries instituted by the Church are on the subject to the Prefect of the Congregation for based on the common condition of the Doctrine of the Faith and to the Ministries of being baptized and the royal priest- Lectors and Acolytes. hood received in the Sacrament of APOSTOLIC LETTER Baptism; they are essentially distinct To my Venerable Brother ISSUED “MOTU PROPRIO” from the ordained ministry received C a rd i n a l LUIS F. LADARIA, S J, in the Sacrament of Orders. A con- Prefect of the Congregation for the SPIRITUS DOMINI solidated practice in the Latin Doctrine of the Faith BY THE SUPREME PONTIFF Church has also confirmed, in fact, FRANCIS that these lay ministries, since they The Holy Spirit, the bond of Love be- are based on the Sacrament of Bap- tween the Father and the Son, builds up Modifying Canon 230 § 1 of the tism, may be entrusted to all suit- and innervates the communion of the en- Code of Canon Law able faithful, whether male or fe- tire People of God, bringing forth in it a Regarding access of Women to the male, in accordance with what is al- wealth and variety of gifts and charisms Ministries of Lector and Acolyte ready implicitly provided for by (cf. Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Evan- Canon 230 § 2. gelii Gaudium, n. 117). Through the Sacra- The Spirit of the Lord Jesus, the Consequently, after having heard ments of Baptism, Confirmation and the perennial source of the Church’s life the opinion of the competent Dicas- Eucharist, the members of the Body of and mission, distributes to the mem- teries, I have decided to modify Christ receive from the Spirit of the Risen bers of the People of God the gifts Canon 230 § 1 of the Code of Canon One, in various measures and with a di- that enable each one, in a different L a w. I therefore decree that Canon versity of expressions, those gifts that al- way, to contribute to the edification 230 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law shall low them to offer the necessary contribu- of the Church and to the proclama- in future have the following formu- tion to the edification of the Church and tion of the Gospel. These charisms, lation: to the proclamation of the Gospel to every called ministries because they are “Lay persons who possess the age and b eing. publicly recognized and instituted qualifications established by decree of the In this regard, the Apostle Paul distin- by the Church, are made available conference of bishops can be admitted on a guishes between gifts of grace — charisms to the community and to her mis- stable basis through the prescribed liturgical (“charismata”) and services (“diakoniai”— Letter to the Prefect of the sion in a stable form. rite to the ministries of lector and acolyte. “minsteria” [cf. Rom 12:4ff and 1 Cor In some cases this ministerial Nevertheless, the conferral of these ministries 12:12ff]). According to the tradition of the contribution has its origin in a spe- does not grant them the right to obtain sup- Church the diverse forms that charisms as- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith cific sacrament, Holy Orders. Other port or remuneration from the Church”. sume when they are publicly recognized tasks, throughout history, were insti- I also order the amendment of and are made available to the community tuted in the Church and entrusted the other provisions having the and to its mission in stable form are called through a non-sacramental liturgical force of law which refer to this ministries. of them in its own special way is a partic- rite to individual members of the canon. In some cases a ministry has its origin ipation in the one priesthood of Christ” faithful, by virtue of a particular I order that the provisions of this in a specific sacrament, the Sacred Order: (LG, n. 10). Ecclesial life is nourished by form of exercise of the baptismal Apostolic Letter issued Motu Pro- it pertains to the “o rd a i n e d” ministries, of this reciprocal reference and is fostered by priesthood, and in aid of the specif- prio have firm and stable effect, the bishop, the priest, the deacon. In other the fruitful tension of these two poles of ic ministry of bishops, priests and notwithstanding anything to the cases the ministry is entrusted, with a litur- the priesthood, ministerial and baptismal, deacons. contrary, even if worthy of special gical act of the bishop, to a person who which despite the distinction are rooted in Following a venerable tradition, mention, and be promulgated by has received Baptism and Confirmation the one priesthood of Christ. the reception of “lay ministries”, publication in L’Osservatore Romano, and in whom specific charisms are recog- In line with the Second Vatican Coun- which Saint Paul VI regulated in the entering into force on the same day, nized, after an appropriate journey of cil, the Supreme Pontiff Saint Paul VI Motu Proprio Ministeria Quaedam (17 and then published in the official preparation: we then speak of “instituted” wished to review the practices relative to August 1972), preceded in a prepara- commentary of the Acta Apostolicae ministries. Many other ecclesial services or non-ordained ministries in the Latin tory manner the reception of the Sedis. offices are in fact exercised by many mem- Church — until then called “minor orders” Sacrament of Holy Orders, al- bers of the community, for the good of the — adapting them to the needs of the times. though such ministries were con- Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on Church, often for a long period and with This adaptation, however, must not be in- ferred on other suitable male faith- the tenth day of January in the year great efficacy, without the expectation of a terpreted as surpassing prior doctrine, but ful. 2021, Feast of the Baptism of the particular rite for the bestowal of the as the implementation of the dynamism A number of Assemblies of the Lord, the eighth of my Pontificate. ro l e . that characterizes the nature of the Synod of Bishops have highlighted In the course of history, with the chang- Church, always called with the aid of the the need to deepen the subject doc- ing of ecclesial, social, cultural situations, Spirit of Truth to respond to the chal- the exercise of ministries in the Catholic lenges of every era, in obedience to Reve- Church has assumed different forms, while lation. The Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio the distinction, not only of degree, re- Ministeria Quaedam (15 August 1972) config- mains intact between “instituted” (or ures two offices (duties), that of the Lector “lay”) ministries and the “o rd a i n e d” min- and that of the Acolyte, the first strictly istries. The former are particular expres- connected to the ministry of the Word, the sions of the priestly and royal condition of second to the ministry of the Altar, with- every baptized person (cf. 1 Pt 2:9); the out excluding that other “offices” may be latter are proper to certain members of the instituted by the Holy See upon the re- People of God who as bishops and priests quest of the Episcopal Conferences. “receive the mission and capacity to act in The modification of the forms of exer- the person of Christ the Head” or as dea- cise of non-ordained ministries, moreover, cons “are empowered to serve the People is not the simple consequence, on the so- of God in the ministries of the liturgy, the ciological level, of the desire to adapt to word and charity” (Benedict XVI, Apos- the sensibility or to the culture of periods tolic Letter Motu Proprio Omnium in and places, but is determined by the need Me n t e m, 26 October 2009). To indicate this to allow each local/particular Church, in distinction expressions such as baptismal communion with all the others and having priesthood and ordained priesthood (or ministe- as the centre of unity the Church which is rial) are used. In any case it is good to re- in Rome, to live the liturgical action, ser- iterate, with the Dogmatic Constitution vice to the poor and the proclamation of Lumen Gentium of the Second Vatican the Gospel in fidelity to the mandate of Council, that they are “interrelated: each the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the duty of the page 4, number 3, Friday, 15 January 2021 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO number 3, Friday, 15 January 2021, page 5

ACCESS OF WOMEN TO THE MINISTRIES OF LECTOR AND ACOLY TE

that the exercise of the munus of reader in Am a z o n i a , n. 103). The “baptismal priest- liturgical celebrations, and particularly the ho o d”and “service to the community” ministry of Lector as such, is a lay ministry thus represent the two pillars on which the in the Latin Rite (cf. n. 58). institution of the ministries is founded. For centuries the “venerable tradition of In this way, in addition to responding the Church”has considered those that to what is required for the mission in the were called “minor orders”— including, present time and to welcome the witness precisely, the Lector and the Acolyte —as given by many, many women who have at- steps on a path that was to lead to the tended to and attend to service to the “major orders”(Subdiaconate, Diaconate, Word and to the Altar, it will appear more Presbyterate). Being that the Sacrament of evidently —also for those who are oriented Orders is reserved to men only, this was a toward the ordained ministry —that the valid fact for the minor orders as well. ministries of Lector and Acolyte are rooted A clearer distinction between the re- in the sacraments of Baptism and Confir- sponsibilities of those that today are called mation. As such, on the path that leads to “non-ordained (or lay) ministries”and the diaconal and priestly ordination, those “ordained ministries”allows a loosening of who are instituted as Lectors and Acolytes the reservation of the former to men only. will better understand they are partici- While, with regard to the ordained min- pants in a ministry shared with other bap- istries, the Church “does not consider her- tized, men and women. Such that the self authorized to admit women to priestly priesthood proper to every faithful (com- o rd i n a t i o n ”(cf. Saint John Paul II, Apos- mune sacerdotium) and the priesthood of or- tolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, 22 May dained ministers (sacerdotium ministeriale seu 1994), for the non-ordained ministries it is h i e ra rc h i c u m ) may be seen even more clearly possible, and today it seems opportune to interrelated (cf. LG, n. 10), for the edifica- surpass this reservation. This reservation tion of the Church and for the witness to had its meaning in a specific context but the Gospel. may be reconsidered in new contexts, It will be the responsibility of the Epis- however, always having as a criterion fi- copal Conferences to establish appropriate delity to the mandate of Christ and the criteria for the discernment and prepara- will to live and proclaim the Gospel im- tion of men and women candidates for the parted by the Apostles and entrusted to ministries of Lector or Acolyte, or for oth- the Church so that it may be religiously er ministries that may be deemed to be in- heeded, devoutly safeguarded, faithfully stituted, according to what has already pro claimed. been provided for in the Motu Proprio Not without reason, Saint Paul VI re f e r s Ministeria Quaedam, subject to the approval Letter to the Prefect of the to a v e n e ra b i l i s tradition, not a v e n e ra n d a tra- of the Holy See and according to the ne- dition, in the strict sense (namely, it cessities of evangelization in their territo- “must”be observed): it can be recognized r y. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as valid, and for a long time it has been The Congregation for Divine Worship so; however it does not have a binding and the Discipline of the Sacraments shall character, since the reservation to men on- provide for the implementation of the ly does not pertain to the Pastors of the Church to recognize the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, n. nature proper to the min- gifts of each baptized person, also to 40). In this dynamic one can truly under- istries of Lector and guide them toward specific ministries, pro- stand the significance of a “Church that Acolyte. To offer lay people moting and coordinating them, in order to goes forth”. of both genders the oppor- ensure that they contribute to the good of In the horizon of renewal outlined by tunity to enter the ministries the communities and to the mission en- the Second Vatican Council, one feels ever of Acolyte and Lector, by trusted to all disciples. greater today the urgency to rediscover the virtue of their participation The commitment of the lay faithful, co-responsibility of all the baptized in the in the baptismal priesthood, who “are, put simply, the vast majority of Church, and particularly the mission of will increase recognition, al- the people of God”(Francis, Apostolic the laity. The Special Assembly of the so through a liturgical act Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, n. 102), can- Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Re- (institution), of the precious not and certainly must not exhaust itself in gion (6-27 October 2019), in the fifth contribution that for a long the exercise of non-ordained ministries (cf. chapter of the final document indicated time many, many lay people, Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii the need to think of “new paths for including women, have of- Gaudium, n. 102), but one of their best con- Church ministries”. Not only for the fered to the life and mission figurations and a more precise reference to Church of the Amazon, but rather for the of the Church. the responsibility that arises, for each entire Church, in the variety of situations, For these reasons, I found Christian, from Baptism and from Confir- “it is urgent for the Church in the Amazon it opportune to establish mation, will be able to help the Church re- to promote and confer ministries for men that not only men but also discover the meaning of the communion and women.... It is the Church of baptized women —in whom, through that characterizes her and to implement a men and women that we must consolidate the discernment of pastors renewed commitment in the catechesis and by promoting ministries and, above all, an and after an appropriate the celebration of the faith (Francis, Apos- awareness of baptismal dignity”(Final Doc- preparation, the Church rec- tolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, n. 102). ument, n. 95). ognizes “the steadfast will to And it is precisely in this rediscovery that In this regard, it is known that the Mo- faithfully serve God and the the fruitful synergy born of the reciprocal tu Proprio Ministeria Quaedam reserves the Christian people”, as written ordination of ordained priesthood and ministries of Lector and Acolyte to men in the Motu Proprio Ministe- baptismal priesthood can find a better only and thus as a result establishes can. ria Quaedam, by virtue of the translation. This reciprocity, from service 230 § 1 of the CIC. However, in recent times Sacrament of Baptism and to the sacrament of the altar, is called to and in many ecclesial contexts, it has been of Confirmation —may be instituted as aforementioned reform with the amend- flow back, in the distinction of tasks, in observed that dissolving such a reservation Lectors and Acolytes. ment of the Editio typica of the Pontificale ro- that service to “make of Christ the heart of could help to better manifest the common The choice to confer also to women manum or of the “De Institutione Lectorum et the world”which is the particular mission baptismal dignity of the members of the these offices, which entail stability, public Ac o l y t h o r u m ”. of the whole Church. Precisely this People of God. Previously on the occasion recognition and a mandate on the part of In renewing to you the assurance of my unique, although distinct, service in favour of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Bishop, renders more effective in the prayers, I impart my heartfelt Apostolic of the world, expands the horizons of the the Synod of Bishops on The Word of Church everyone’s participation in the Blessing to Your Eminence, which I will- ecclesial mission, preventing her from God in the Life and Mission of the work of evangelization. “This would also ingly extend to all the Members and Col- withdrawing into sterile logic aimed above Church (5-26 October 2008) the Synod allow women to have a real and effective laborators of the Congregation for the all at claiming spaces of power and help- Fathers hoped “that the ministry of the impact on the organization, the most im- Doctrine of the Faith. ing her to experience herself as a spiritual Lector would also be open to women (cf. portant decisions and the direction of From the Vatican, 10 January 2021, community that “goes forward together P ro p o s i z i o n e n. 17); and in the Post-Synodal communities, while continuing to do so in Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. with humanity and experiences the same Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini (30 a way that reflects their womanhood” earthly lot which the world does”(Paul VI, September 2010), Benedict XVI explained (Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Querida FRANCIS page 6 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 15 January 2021, number 3

VAT I C A N BULLETIN

AUDIENCES pointment as Bishop of Christ- as titular Bishop of Hólar and Auxil- Bishop of the Metropolitan Archdio- VICAR APOSTOLIC c h u rc h . iary of Warszawa-Praga. cese of Cuzco, Peru. Until now he The Holy Father appointed Bishop The Holy Father appointed Bishop has served as episcopal vicar for con- The Holy Father appointed Fr Friday, 8 January Ignace Bessi Dogbo as Metropolitan Michael Miabesue Bibi as Bishop of secrated life in the Archdiocese of Khalid Rehmat, OFM Cap., as Vicar Bishop José Ornelas Carvalho, Archbishop of Korhogo, Côte the Diocese of Buéa, Cameroon. Un- Trujillo, and President of the Federa- Apostolic of Quetta, Pakistan. Until S C ,J of Setúbal, Portugal, President d’Ivoire. Until now he has served as til now he has served as titular Bish- tion of Augustinians of the Vicariates now he has served as Custos of the of the Portuguese Episcopal Confer- Bishop of Katiola, Côte d’Ivoire (3 op of Amudarsa and Auxiliary Bish- of Peru (9 Jan.). Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in ence, with Bishop Virgílio do Nasci- Jan.). op of the Metropolitan Archdiocese Bishop-elect Estrada Herrera, 47, Pakistan (1 Jan.). mento Antunes of Coimbra, Vice Bishop Bessi Dogbo, 59, was born of Bamenda, Cameroon (5 Jan.). was born in Cotabambas, Peru. A President, and Fr Manuel Joaquim in Niangon-Adjamé, Côte d’I v o i re . Bishop Miabesue Bibi, 49, was member of the Order of Saint Au- Gomes Barbosa, S C ,J Secretary Gen- He was ordained a priest on 2 Au- born in Bamessing, Cameroon. He gustine, he was ordained a priest on 7 APOSTOLIC NUNCIO eral gust 1987. He was ordained a bishop was ordained a priest on 26 April August 2005. He holds a licence in Hon. Mr Nicola Zingaretti, Presi- moral theology, a licence in educa- The Holy Father appointed Archbish- dent of the Lazio region tion, and a doctorate in pastoral the- op Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal, titu- Hon. Ms Virginia Raggi, Mayor ology; he studied pedagogy, and in lar Archbishop of Ratiaria, as Apos- of Rome 2020 he attended a postgraduate tolic Nuncio to Algeria. Until now he course in the social doctrine of the has served as Apostolic Nuncio to Saturday, 9 January Church and social pastoral ministry. Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Cardinal Marc Ouellet, PSS, Pre- The Holy Father accepted the resig- Islands (1 Jan.). fect of the Congregation for Bishops nation presented by Archbishop The Holy Father appointed Archbish- H.E. Mr Guzmán Miguel Car- Jean-Pierre Cattenoz from the pas- op Eugene Martin Nugent, titular riquiry Lecour, Ambassador of toral care of the Archdiocese of Avi- Archbishop of Domnach Sechnaill, as Uruguay to the Holy See, for the gnon, France (11 Jan.). Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait and to presentation of his Letters of Cre- The Holy Father appointed Bishop Qatar. Until now he has served as dence Bernabé de Jesús Sagastume Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti, (7 Jan.). Bishop Stefano Russo, Bishop Lemus, OFM Cap., as Bishop of San emeritus of Fabriano-Matelica, Sec- Marcos, Guatemala. Until now he retary General of the Italian Episco- has served as Bishop of the Diocese NECROLO GY pal Conference of Santa Rosa de Lima, Guatemala H.E. Mr Miodrag Vlahović, Am- (11 Jan.). Archbishop Floribert Songasonga bassador of Montenegro to the Holy Bishop de Jesús Sagastume Mwitwa, Archbishop emeritus of See Lemus, 59, was born in San Esteban, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic on 4 July 2004, subsequent to his ap- 2000. He was ordained a bishop on Guatemala. A member of the Order of Congo, at age 83 (31 Dec. 2020) Monday, 11 January pointment as Bishop of Katiola. 25 March 2017, subsequent to his ap- of Friars Capuchins, he was or- Cardinal Henry Schwery, Bishop Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect The Holy Father accepted the resig- pointment as titular Bishop of Amu- dained a priest on 31 January 1987. emeritus of Sion, Switzerland, at age of the Congregation for the Oriental nation presented by Metropolitan darsa and Auxiliary of Bamenda. He was ordained a bishop on 6 Oc- 88 (7 Jan. 2021) C h u rc h e s Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz The Holy Father, in response to the tober 2007, subsequent to his ap- Bishop Cástor Oswaldo Azuaje Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Arch- from the pastoral care of the request made by Bishop Adolfo pointment as Bishop of Santa Rosa Pérez, O CD, of Trujillo, Venezuela, at priest of Saint Peter’s Basilica; Vicar Metropolitan Archdiocese of Minsk- González Montes of Almería, Spain de Lima. age 69 (8 Jan.). General of His Holiness for Vatican Mohilev, Belarus, in accordance with for a coadjutor bishop, appointed City State canon 401 § 1 of the CIC, at the same Bishop Antonio Gómez Cantero as Archbishop Gabriele Giordano time appointing Bishop Kazimierz Coadjutor. Until now he has served Caccia, titular Archbishop of Sepino, Wielikosielec, O P, titular Bishop of as Bishop of Teruel y Albarracín, Permanent Observer of the Holy See Blanda and Auxiliary Bishop of Pin- Spain (8 Jan.). Indiana execution to the United Nations in New York sk, as Apostolic Administrator sede Bishop Gómez Cantero, 64, was (UN) vacante of the same Metropolitan See born in Quijas, Spain. He was or- Bishop Fabio Fabene, titular Bish- (3 Jan.). dained a priest on 17 March 1981. He op of Montefiascone, Undersecretary The Holy Father accepted the resig- was ordained a bishop on 21 January US Bishops condemn of the Synod of Bishops nation presented by Cardinal John 2017, subsequent to his appointment H.E. Ms Grace R. Princesa, Am- Njue from the pastoral care of the as Bishop of Teruel y Albarracín. bassador of the Philippines, on a Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nairo- The Holy Father accepted the resig- the death penalty farewell visit bi, Kenya (4 Jan.). nation presented by Bishop Michel The Holy Father accepted the resig- Santier from the pastoral care of the At approximately 1:30 a.m. on The Archbishops noted that nation presented by Bishop Henryk Diocese of Créteil, France (9 Jan.). Wednesday, 13 January, Lisa Mont- 2020 marked the first year in which CHANGES IN EP I S C O PAT E Marian Tomasik from the pastoral The Holy Father appointed Bishop gomery, 52, became the first woman “the federal government executed care of the Diocese of Radom, Dominique Blanchet, Ist. del Prado, in the United States to be executed more people than all fifty states The Holy Father appointed Bishop Poland (4 Jan.). as Bishop of Créteil. Until now he by the US federal government since combined. Unfortunately”, they Paul Martin, SM, as Coadjutor Arch- The Holy Father appointed Bishop has served as Bishop of Belfort- 1953. On Tuesday her death by continued, “there are three more bishop of the Metropolitan Archdio- Marek Solarczyk as Bishop of Montbéliard, France (9 Jan.). lethal injection had been briefly federal executions scheduled this cese of Wellington, New Zealand. Radom. Until now he has served as Bishop Blanchet, 54, was born in stayed by the US Court of Appeals week”. The request was thus made Until now he has served as Bishop of Auxiliary Bishop of Warszawa-Pra- Cholet, France. He was ordained a for the Eighth Circuit for issues re- to outgoing President Trump and Christchurch, New Zealand (1 Jan.). ga, Poland, and titular Bishop of priest on 27 June 1998. He was or- lated to Montgomery's mental ca- Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Bishop Martin, 53, was born in Hólar (4 Jan.). dained a bishop on 12 July 2015, sub- pacity, an order that was lifted later Rosen to block the executions, and Hastings, New Zealand. A member Bishop Solarczyk, 53, was born in sequent to his appointment as Bish- that evening by the US Supreme to the incoming administration of of the Society of Mary, he was or- Wo łomin, Poland. He was ordained op of Belfort-Montbéliard. Court, which also rejected a final President-elect Joseph R. Biden, dained a priest on 4 September 1993. a priest on 28 May 1992. He was or- The Holy Father appointed Fr Lizar- stay petition filed on Mont- who will be inaugurated as Presi- He was ordained a bishop on 3 dained a bishop on 19 November do Estrada Herrera, OSA, as titular gomery’s behalf. dent of the United States on 20 March 2018, subsequent to his ap- 2011, subsequent to his appointment Bishop of Ausuccura and Auxiliary Montgomery had been sen- January, to make the abolition of tenced to death after being convict- the death penalty a priority of his ed of the particularly odious mur- mandate. In this regard, the two der of Bobbie Jo Stinnett in Skid- Archbishops called on President- more, Missouri in 2003. The 23- elect Biden to “declare a moratori- year-old Stinnett was 8 months um on federal executions and to pregnant at the time. After stran- commute current federal death sen- Australia changes national anthem gling Stinnett, Montgomery re- tences to terms of imprisonment” moved her victim’s live foetus, in- by way of the Federal Death Penal- By proclamation of the “For we are young and free” national ancestries and lan- change was “small in na- tending to raise the child as her ty Prohibition Act. Governor-General in con- to “For we are one and guage groups”, he contin- ture but significant in pur- own. The letter also recalled Pope sultation with the Federal f re e” , recognising that ued. p ose” ... “it is an acknowl- In the lead up to Tuesday’s final Fr a n c i s’ words as he spoke out Executive Council, as of 1 Australia had been inhab- Mr Ken Wyatt, the first edgement that Aboriginal legal maneuverings, on Monday, 11 against the death penalty in a January 2021, Australians ited for tens of thousands Indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander January, an appeal to abolish the speech to the US Congress during are singing a slightly dif- of years before it was elected to the Federal Par- cultures date back 65,000 death penalty was submitted in a his Apostolic Journey in 2015, as ferent version of their na- colonised in the 18th cen- liament, said the one-word years”. joint letter to the Senate and House well as the thoughts expressed tional anthem, “Ad v a n c e tury by the British. In December, rugby of Representatives by Archbishop many times by Saint John Paul II Australia Fair”. Mr Morrison added that players for the national Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, and by Benedict XVI. In addressing Prime Minister Scott he hopes the change will team sang the national an- OK, Chairman of the Committee on this issue, the appeal emphasizes, Morrison made the an- create a “... spirit of unity, them in an indigenous lan- Domestic Justice and Human De- “the terrible loss suffered by vic- nouncement on New it is only right that we also guage for the first time. velopment, and Archbishop Joseph tims’ families must be considered as Ye a r’ s Eve. The anthem now acknowledge this and The team sang in the lan- F. Naumann of Kansas City, KS , well”. Thus, the prelates state, “we will no longer refer to Aus- ensure our national an- guage of the Eora nation — Chairman of the US Conference of encourage lawmakers to redirect tralia as “young and free”. them reflects this truth and a group of peoples from Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Com- the energy and resources that cur- “While Australia as a mod- shared appreciation. the Sydney area — b efore mittee on Pro-Life Activities. In a rently go towards executions to ern nation may be relative- Changing ‘young and free’ to performing the anthem in separate joint statement, in re- provide compassionate and profes- ly young, our country’s ‘one and free’ takes nothing English. sponse to three executions expect- sional assistance to the families of story is ancient, as are the away, but I believe it adds Advance Australia Fair was ed to be carried out by the US fed- victims”. Recalling that “every per- stories of the many First much,” he wrote in an op- composed by Scottish- eral government this week, the son is created in the image and like- Nations peoples whose ed for the Sydney Morning born Peter Dodds Mc- prelates called on the current ad- ness of God”, the prelates “encour- stewardship we rightly ac- H e ra l d. “It recognises the Cormick and first per- ministration to halt the proceed- age everyone to work to rid the knowledge and respect”, distance we have travelled formed in 1878. It replaced ings, and asked the incoming ad- death penalty from our state and he said. This acknowledge- as a nation. It recognises Advance Australia Fair, front cover God Save the Queen as the of- ministration to deliberate, along federal laws and to develop greater ment is reflected in the de- that our national story is of sheet music (The Institute of ficial national anthem in with Congress, the abolition of the appreciation for the sacred dignity cision to change the verse, drawn from more than 300 Australian Culture) 1984. death penalty. of every human life”. number 3, Friday, 15 January 2021 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 7

Pop e’s Interview with Canale 5 Remembering Cardinal Henri Schwery The world needs Pope Francis sends unity and fraternity condolences After receiving the news of the passing of Cardinal Henri Schwery, Bishop emeritus of Sion, on Thursday, 7 January, Pope Francis sent a telegram of n an interview with Italian condolences to Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey of Sion, Switzerland. The following is Te l e v i s i o’ sn Canale 5, which a translation of the Pope’s telegram which was written in French, accompanied aired on Sunday evening, 10 by a short biography of the late Cardinal. January, Pope Francis shared Ihis views on several current issues Having learned with sadness of the death of Cardinal Henri and highlighted the importance of Schwery, Bishop emeritus of Sion, I extend my deepest condo- rediscovering unity, closeness to lences to you and his family, to Bishop emeritus Norbert Brun- those who suffer, and fraternity in ner and to the faithful of the diocese of Sion. I ask the Father of order to overcome the global crisis all mercy to welcome into his peace and his light this man of sci- caused by the pandemic. He point- ence and this Pastor who was deeply dedicated to guiding his ed out once again that we are never diocese. Attentive to the pastoral needs of the faithful, he was the same after a crisis: we either committed to priestly vocations and to the formation of priests. emerge better or worse. Although He was also engaged in the search for unity in the Church on there are always great values in the various occasions. As a token of comfort, I impart my Apostolic world, he said, these should be Blessing to you, as well as to Bishop Emeritus Norbert Brunner, translated into the historical context to the priests, to consecrated persons, to the family of the de- of the time. The Holy Father then ceased Cardinal and to his loved ones, to the diocese of Sion, listed a series of tragic situations in- and to all those who will participate in the celebration of the fu- cluding children who suffer from neral services. hunger, children who cannot attend school, the many wars raging FRANCIS P P. throughout the world, describing UN statistics on these matters as Cardinal Henri Schwery, Bish- 1972 until 1977. He was ap- “frightening”. If we emerge from the the capacity to say ‘we’ instead of democracy. However, he added, op emeritus of Sion, Switzer- pointed Bishop of Sion on 22 crisis “without seeing these things”, “I” is not rising up to the chal- there is always something wrong land, was born on 14 June 1932 July 1977 and was ordained a he noted, then we would be emerg- lenge”. Although “conflicts in life when “people take a path against in Saint-Léonard, Diocese of bishop the following 17 Sep- ing in defeat and things will be are necessary”, he continued, at this the community, against democracy, Sion, a small agricultural cen- tember. In addition to serving worse. time they must make room for unity against the common good”. Francis tre in the Rhone Valley, a few as a member of the Congrega- “of the country, the Church, soci- condemned the violence and kilometres from the city of tion for Catholic Education Vaccination: an ethical action ety”. warned, “we have to reflect and un- Sion. (1978-1983), he participated in Responding to a question on vac- derstand well” in order not to repeat The last of 11 children, he numerous meetings on voca- cination against Covid-19, Pope Abortion is first a human issue but rather “to learn from history”. studied theology at the major tions and evangelization in Francis said he believes everyone then a religious one seminary of Sion, then contin- Europe and in the extraordi- should agree to be vaccinated from The Holy Father stressed that the Faith, a gift to be asked from an ethical point of view. “It is not crisis created by the pandemic has the Lord an option; it is an ethical action, be- exacerbated the “throwaway culture” Lastly, the Holy Father spoke cause you are playing with your with regards to the weakest ones in- about his personal experience of the health, you are playing with your cluding the poor, migrants and the restrictions resulting from the pan- life, but you are also playing with elderly and especially children who demic. He said he feels “caged in”, the lives of others”. Now is the time are victims of abortion. “The prob- citing trips that were cancelled to to think about “us”, rather than our lem of abortion is not a religious prevent large gatherings, and ex- individual selves, he stressed, problem, it is a human problem, pressing his hope that he will be adding that the Vatican would pre-religious, it is a problem of hu- able to visit Iraq. He added that shortly begin administering vaccines man ethics”, he said. “Is it right to these days he dedicates more time to and that he was scheduled to receive erase a human life to resolve a prob- prayer and speaking on the tele- one. lem, any problem? Is it right to hire phone. He then offered a reflection a hitman to solve a problem?”. on faith. “For me faith is a gift; nei- It is the “time for ‘we’” in order to ther you nor I nor anyone can have overcome the crisis Capitol Hill, lessons from history: faith by their own strength: it is a “Indifference kills us because it never violence gift that the Lord gives you”. Refer- distances us”, he said. The keyword Asked to comment on the tragic ring to a passage from Deuterono- to emerge from the crisis is “close- events that occurred at the US my, he said we should invoke the ness”. Lack of unity and of close- Capitol on Wednesday, 6 January, “closeness of God”. Pope Francis ness creates social tensions within the Holy Father said he had been concluded the interview by express- ued his studies in Rome at the nary Synod of 1985. He was States. At this time, “a politician, a “astonished” considering the disci- ing his hope that “there will be no French seminary of Saint also Canon of honor of the pastor, a Christian, a Catholic even pline of the people of the United selfish attitudes” in 2021, and that Clare and the Pontifical Gre- territorial Abbey of Saint a bishop, priest who does not have States and the maturity of their unity may prevail over conflict. gorian University. He re- Maurice d’Agaune. turned to Switzerland in 1957 Cardinal Schwery also to continue his formation, and served in the Bishops’ Confer- was ordained a priest on 7 July ence, in school committees, of the same year. seminaries and university de- Congregation for the Causes of Saints He was then sent to contin- partments, military chaplain- ue his studies in Fribourg cies, health-care ministry, rela- where he obtained a university tions with dioceses outside Promulgation of Decrees degree in mathematics and in Switzerland and European physics, after which he re- Bishops’ Conferences. From 1 On 21 December 2020, the Holy Father received — the heroic virtues of the Servant of on 21 May 1945; turned to Sion, and in 1961 be- January 1983 to 31 December in audience Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect God Bernardino Piccinelli (in the world: — the heroic virtues of the Servant of gan teaching physics, mathe- 1988, he served as President of of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Dur- Dino) of the Order of the Servants of God Bernardo Antonini, a diocesan matics, history of science and the Swiss Bishops’ Confer- ing the audience the Supreme Pontiff authorized Mary, titular Bishop of Gaudiaba and priest, born on 20 October 1932 in re l i g i o n . ence. the said Congregation to promulgate Decrees re- Auxiliary of Ancona, Italy, born on 24 Cimego, Italy, and died in Karaganda, In 1958 he began eight He was a created a Cardinal g a rd i n g: January 1905 in Madonna dei Fornelli, a Kazakhstan on 27 March 2002; years of service as diocesan by Pope John Paul II in 1991 fraction of San Benedetto Val di Sambro, chaplain of the Young Catho- and participated in the con- — the martyrdom of the Servant of God Italy, and died in Ancona on 1 October — the heroic virtues of the Servant of lic Students organization. The clave of April 2005, which Rosario Angelo Livatino, a faithful lay- 1984; God Ignazio Stuchlý, a professed priest same year he also began serv- elected Pope Benedict XVI. man, born on 3 October 1952 in Canicat- of the Society of Saint Francis de Sales, ing as a military chaplain For health reasons, he re- ti, Italy, and killed in hatred of the faith — the heroic virtues of the Servant of born on 14 December 1869 in Bolesła w, which he continued to do un- tired as bishop of Sion in 1995 on the road between Canicatti and Agri- God Antonio Vincenzo González now Poland, and died in Lukov, Czech til 1977. Also, in 1958 he was at the age of 62, but he contin- gento, Italy on 21 September 1990; Suárez, a diocesan priest, born on 5 April Republic on 17 January 1953; chaplain to Our Lady of Sion ued to participate as a mem- 1817 in Agüimes, Spain, and died in Las c h i l d re n’ s choir and councillor ber of several Vatican dicas- — the heroic virtues of the Servant of Palmas, Spain on 22 June 1851; — the heroic virtues of the Servant of of the Swiss Committee of teries. God Vasco de Quiroga, Bishop of Mi- God Rosa Staltari, a professed nun of the children choirs. Cardinal Schwery’s funeral choacán, Mexico, born circa 1470 in — the heroic virtues of the Servant of Congregation of the Daughters of Mary From 1968 to 1972 he served took place on 11 January in Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Spain, and God Antonio Seghezzi, a diocesan Most Holy Co-Redemptrix, born on 3 as director of the minor semi- Sion without the presence of died in Pátzcuaro, Mexico on 14 March priest, born on 25 August 1906 in Premo- May 1951 in Antonimina, Italy, and died nary of Sion and then rector the faithful due to the ongo- 1565; lo, Italy, and died in Dachau, Germany in Palermo, Italy on 4 January 1974. of the College in Sion from ing Covid-19 pandemic.

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FRATELLI TUTTI

Interview with Archbishop of Canterbury May Christians face pandemic in unity

Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby in how they live together as civilizations is a notion that live day to day in an ecumeni- speaks with Vatican Media about communities. The message of ignores the cosmos transform- cal community as, from early the challenges facing Christians due hope in Christ looks beyond ing reality of the birth, life, on in my time at Lambeth to the pandemic, the ecumenical im- the here and now to that death, resurrection and ascen- Palace we have had a resident portance of the encyclical “Fra t e l l i which is to come —to eternity sion of Christ: a transforma- group from the Chemin Neuf Tu t t i ”, and his hopes for peace in and the promise of eternal tion which enables the cre- Community living with us. South Sudan. life. Human life is fragile, and ative work of the Father There have been Catholics, widespread sickness and through the Son to be contin- Anglicans and Lutherans ALESSANDRO GISOTTI death brings this home to us ued in the power of the Spirit among them over the years. I in a stark and tragic way. But making God’s Kingdom visi- have a Catholic spiritual di- ust over one year ago, eternal life is just that, eternal. ble. rector, with whom I recently on 13 November 2019, God calls us also to make life collaborated on a preface for the Archbishop of Can- on earth reflect better the life “Fratelli Tutti”concludes with an ec- a French publication of Fra t e l l i Jterbury, Justin Welby, of heaven for the one leads in- umenical prayer. What contribution Tu t t i . In all these relation- met Pope Francis in the Vati- to the other. In following the can the ecumenical movement give to ships, the other is not a can for a private audience. example of Jesus and his build a better future in a fragmented stranger, but a fellow pilgrim; In that short space of time, teaching to love our neigh- world, shaken by wars and acts of a friend; a sister or brother. the global situation has dras- bour we can help to do this. terrorism such as those we have wit- tically changed due to the If we live out our faith in nessed recently in Europe? You wrote in a recent letter to the pandemic. However, the dra- Christ and put the vulnerable, One of the problems that British nation that there are three matic arrival of Covid-19 has the poor and the marginalised many Christians suffer from is answers to the questions that the only reinforced the impor- at the centre then we are liv- the notion that their Church pandemic has posed to all of us: let’s tance of those themes —soli- ing out the message of hope. is the only Christian body out be calm, let’s be courageous, let’s be darity, ecology, religious free- there or, if they do acknowl- compassionate. Why did you empha- dom, and peace —which have During this time of pandemic, Pope edge the presence of other size these three aspects? found particular resonance Fra n c i s ’latest Encyclical, “Fra t e l l i Christians, they consider that There is something about with both the Bishop of Tu t t i ’” was published. What im- they are generally wrong. This an unseen enemy that inspires Rome and the Primate of the pressed you about the message the is true, from time to time, of fear. But fear is not defeated and stressing their interde- changed. But if we want to Anglican Communion. One Pope wishes to convey with this doc- Anglicans as well as others. by panic, rather it is amplified pendence. The seventeenth- see things change, we start year after their most recent ument whose focus is fraternity and When we look out at brother by it. Calm, however, gives us century Anglican priest and with prayer —not sending a meeting, and one month after social friendship? and sister Christians from the space to take stock and to poet John Donne famously list of requests to the sky, but the publication of Fratelli Tutti, Fratelli Tutti is a deeply mov- whom we are separated by act deliberately. It links to the wrote that ‘No man is an is- allowing God to change us — historical accident or doctri- Hebrew term ‘shalom’and land, entire of itself.’Each to make us more like Christ. nal questions, we see true calls to mind the ‘great calm’ person is connected to others people of Christ, fellow pil- after Jesus has calmed the and when one suffers so oth- Peace, ecology and social justice are Jesus didn’t come to bring hope to a world where grims on the way and people, storm in Matthew 8:26. The ers suffer with them. The among the points to which you and things were going well, but to a fragile and loved by God and served by absence of calm in their Holy Father shows through- Pope Francis are most committed. God, from whom we can hearts leads to his rebuke. But out the encyclical that this is What is your hope for the future of broken world —one full of fragile, damaged and learn. An English hymn says we do need to be courageous. just as true now as it was four your relationship with the Pope sinful people. this: There were many headlines hundred years ago, and whom you have met many times, during the periods of lock- throughout human history. and with whom you share the desire And what Jesus says to us is ‘do not fear’. In Christ there is no east or west, down that said that the In the Encyclical, there is a to travel together to South Sudan He is our hope. in him no south or north, Churches were closed. The very moving section looking expressed after the meeting with the but one great fellowship of love buildings may have been, and at the parable of the Good South Sudanese leaders in Santa throughout the whole wide earth. the sacramental life of the Samaritan. The Good Samar- Marta in April 2019? church was disrupted, but the itan overrode nationalism and I value very deeply my In him shall true hearts everywhere Church itself was open. prejudice with unconditional friendship with Pope Francis. Archbishop Justin Welby ing document and offers a their high communion find; Christians of all denomina- love. In that relationship of We came into office at almost granted a wide-ranging inter- systematic, ambitious and his service is the golden cord tions were seeking out and love and care there was no the same time and we share view to Vatican News and brave vision for a better fu- close-binding humankind. helping others —their neigh- Jew or Samaritan but two hu- many of the same concerns. L’Osservatore Romano to talk ture world. It is grounded bours and others in need. It is man beings —one in need For both of us peace and rec- about the issues currently fac- throughout in Christology — Join hands, then, children of the clear that, in the face of a and one providing for that onciliation are central. The re- ing the world. He focused his with Christ at the centre. It is faith, coronavirus pandemic we are need. The Christian response treat in which the Holy Fa- reflection on the contribution also a letter which takes seri- whate’er your race may be; all in it together. to selfishness is love —a mes- ther and I took part with the Christians can make in this ously the breadth and com- who serves my Father as his child sage that weaves through His various political leaders of moment, which is so deeply plexity of humanity. The is surely kin to me. Pope Francis has said many times Holiness’s letter. South Sudan was one of the affected by suffering. Pop e’s references to his meet- (Hymn by John Oxenham, this year that we will emerge from most profoundly moving ex- ings with such figures as the 1908) this crisis only if we take care of the You said in an interview that you periences of my life to date. It Your Grace, the last time you met Ecumenical Patriarch and the other and acknowledge that we are pray every day for the British Prime remains a real hope that we the Holy Father was just over a Grand Imam, the inspiration Human beings have a ten- all in the same boat. Yet in Europe, Minister Boris Johnson. During a will be able to travel together year ago, on November 13, in the he draws from Mahatma dency to build barriers and and not only in Europe, we see pop- Mass in Santa Marta, Pope Francis to South Sudan. This has not Vatican. Yet the world has changed Gandhi and his references to demarcate territory. This hap- ulism and nationalism gaining asked for prayers for political leaders been possible so far, but the radically since then due to the out- Dr Martin Luther King Jr pens in the church and it hap- ground. What is the Christian re- who have to make difficult decisions churches, Catholic, Anglican break of the pandemic. What can and Archbishop Desmond pens in the political realm. sponse to this selfishness fueled by during this period. In your opinion, and Presbyterian in South Su- Christian leaders like you and the Tutu emphasize that his vi- Frontiers imply, or sometimes the fear we are experiencing? what place does prayer have today, dan and internationally have Pope do to foster hope in a time of sion is not a vision only for falsely impose, difference. I, too, have said that we are or a relationship with God, for that continued to work for peace global fear and suffering? the Catholic Church but for What the ecumenical move- in the same boat (or, even if matter, in an increasingly secularized and a lasting and just future Fundamentally, our hope is the whole of humanity —this ment has done and continues we are in different boats, we w o rl d ? for that country. My hope is in Jesus Christ, ‘the same yes- is one of the reasons why his to do is to chip away slowly at are on the same sea and fac- I do pray daily for the that, once travel is possible terday, today and forever’ vision is both ambitious and those frontiers. Occasionally ing the same storm) and that Prime Minister and for every- again, there will have been (Hebrews 13:8). Whilst the comp elling. there is a major step forward we should seek to look after one else who has to make al- such progress in the South world may change the love of The Holy Father takes very as we found with the Catholic ourselves and our communi- most impossible political de- Sudan peace process that we God through Jesus Christ is seriously all aspects of human —Lutheran ‘Joint Declaration ties, drawing strength and cisions every day. Some social will be able to visit to cele- unchanging. ‘The steadfast life from the individual to the on the Doctrine of Justifica- courage from one another and media headlines in the after- brate this and to encourage a love of the Lord endures for multi-national, from the fami- tion’to which Anglicans, walking together. Fear causes math of that interview said deepening of peace and ever’(Lamentations 3:22). ly to the world of commerce Methodists and the Reformed us to put up the barriers that that I ‘admitted’that I prayed growth in society there. The task of those who lead and industry or the world of have now signed up. From I was talking about earlier. for the Prime Minister. I At the end of one of my the Church is to testify to politics. He sets out the twin time to time the frontier is The more people are gripped don’t admit it as if it is a meetings with the Pope he hope in difficult times. Jesus dangers of communitarianism opened up and the border be- by fear, and the more those guilty secret, it is my duty and told me to remember the didn’t come to bring hope to and individualism, the Scylla comes permeable. fears are played on and ma- something that I readily and “‘three Ps’: prayer, peace and a world where things were go- and Charybdis of politics and One of the real and tangi- nipulated by political leaders, happily do for him and for p overty’”. I hope that as our ing well, but to a fragile and philosophy. Both lead to ble benefits of the ecumenical the more the Church is called others. friendship continues so these broken world —one full of tyranny and anarchy. movement is that, at an indi- to demonstrate something Prayer is the lifeblood of ‘three Ps’can continue to fragile, damaged and sinful In his contacts with those vidual level, relationships of else: hospitality, service and our relationship with God. bind us together —mutual people. And what Jesus says such as the Grand Imam, trust and friendship have love. Prayer is beautiful, intimate prayer for each other and for to us is ‘do not fear’. He is whom I also know, he demon- been built up across denomi- Throughout Fratelli Tutti and always surprising. Prayer the world, and a commitment our hope. strates that there is no in- national divides —barriers Pope Francis weaves together is participation in creation both to peace and reconcilia- Christians are called to be evitability in inter-religious or have been broken down by the individual and the social, and recreation: in prayer we tion and to striving to im- people of hope demonstrated cultural conflict. The clash of friendship (or ‘fraternity’). I rejecting the extremes of both are changed and the world is prove the lives of the poor.