Foster Peace and Reconciliation in the US and the World
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Price € 1,50. Back issues € 3,00 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO WEEKLY EDITION IN ENGLISH Unicuique suum Non praevalebunt Fifty-fourth year, number 4 (2.681) Vatican City Friday, 22 January 2021 Holy Father sends Message to President Joe Biden Foster peace and reconciliation in the US and the world The following is the message sent on Wednesday, 20 January, by the Holy Father to the 46th President of the United States of America, Mr Joseph R. Biden, on the occasion of his inau- g u ra t i o n . The Honorable JOSEPH R. BIDEN President of the United States of America The White House Washington, DC On the occasion of your inaugu- ration as the forty-sixth Presi- dent of the United States of America, I extend cordial good wishes and the assurance of my prayers that Almighty God will grant you wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high of- fice. Under your leadership, may the American people continue to draw strength from the lofty po- litical, ethical and religious val- ues that have inspired the nation since its founding. At a time when the grave crises facing our human family call for farsighted and united responses, I pray that your decisions will be guided by a concern for building a society marked by authentic justice and freedom, together with unfailing respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those who have no voice. I likewise ask God, the source of all wis- dom and truth, to guide your ef- forts to foster understanding, reconciliation and peace within the United States and among the nations of the world in order to advance the universal com- mon good. With these senti- ments, I willingly invoke upon you and your family and the beloved American people an abundance of blessings. President Biden at the foot of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC FRANCISCUS PP Pope Francis deeply saddened to learn of the bomb attacks in Baghdad General Audience Fraternity wins over violence Fighting for unity Deeply saddened by the news of the bomb attack in Tayaran Square in PAGE 2 Baghdad, on Thursday, 21 Janaury, the Holy Father sent a telegram to H.E. Mr Barham Salih, President of the Republic of Iraq. A “senseless An g e l u s act of brutality”, writes the Pope, as he urges Iraqis to keep working to re- place violence with fraternity and peace. At least 32 people were killed in Seeking to be one the twin bombing attack and more than 110 were wounded, officials said. The following is the English text of the Pope’s telegram. PAGE 2 His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of Christian Unity Week the bomb attacks on Tayaran Square in Baghdad this morn- ing. In deploring this senseless act of brutality, he prays for Mutual understanding the deceased victims and their families, for the injured and for the emergency personnel in attendance. BISHOP FARRELL ON PA G E 4/5 Trusting that all will continue work to overcome violence with fraternity, solidarity and peace, Pope Francis invokes Christian Unity Week upon the nation and its people the blessing of the Most High. Vaccine of peace C a rd i n a l PIETRO PAROLIN CARDINAL BO ON PA G E 5 Secretary of State page 2 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 22 January 2021, number 4 REFLECTIONS OF THE HOLY FATHER GENERAL AUDIENCE • Pope continues catechesis on prayer Fighting for unity and does not tempt us with high theology, but with the weak- rejecting particularism nesses of our brothers and sis- ters. He is astute: he magnifies others’ mistakes and defects, “During this time of serious hard- his disciples be united. No, he 10). Therefore, the solution to sows discord, provokes criti- ship, the prayer that unity may pre- p ra y e d to the Father for us, so these divisions is not to op- cism and creates factions. God vail over conflict is even more neces- that we might be one. This pose someone, because dis- has another way: He takes us sary”, Pope Francis said at the Gen- means that we are unable to cord generates more discord. as we are, he loves us so much, eral Audience on Wednesday morn- achieve unity by our own The true remedy begins by but he loves us as we are and ing, 20 January. Continuing his se- strength. Unity is above all a asking God for peace, recon- takes us as we are; he takes ries of catecheses on prayer, he reflect- gift, it is a grace to be request- ciliation, unity. those of us who are different, ed on the prayer for Christian unity, ed through prayer. This is true, first of all, for he takes sinners, and he al- as Christians around the world are Each one of us needs it. In Christians. Unity can be ways spurs us towards unity. observing the Week of Prayer for fact, we know that we are inca- achieved only as a fruit of We can evaluate ourselves Christian Unity. The following is a pable of preserving unity even prayer. Diplomatic efforts and and ask ourselves if, in the translation of the Holy Father’s within ourselves. The Apostle academic dialogue are not places in which we live, we words which he shared in Italian Paul, too, felt a painful con- enough. Jesus knew this and nurture conflict or fight for an from the Library of the Vatican’s flict within himself: wanting opened the way for us by increase of unity with the tools Apostolic Palace. the good but being inclined praying. Our prayer for unity that God has given us: prayer toward evil (cf. Rm 7:19). He is thus a humble but trusting it with good arguments, but without lacking trust nor tir- and love. What fuels conflict, Dear Brothers and Sisters, had thus grasped the root of participation in the prayer of the rather if we will have borne ing. It is a path that the Holy instead, is gossip, always talk- Good morning! so many divisions that sur- L o rd, who promised that any witness to the love that unites Spirit gave rise to in the ing behind peoples’ backs. In this catechesis, we will re- round us — between people, in prayer said in his name would us and draws all of us near. Church, in Christians and in Gossip is the most handy flect on the prayer for Christian families, in society, between be heard by the Father (cf. Jn During this time of serious us all, from which there is no weapon the devil has to divide u n i t y. In fact, the week of the nations and even between be- 15:7). At this point, we can ask hardship, the prayer that unity turning back. Ever onward! the Christian community, to 18th to the 25th of January is lievers — it is inside us. The ourselves: “Do I pray for uni- may prevail over conflict is To pray means to fight for divide families, to divide dedicated specifically to this — Second Vatican Council stat- ty?”. It is Jesus’ will but, if we even more necessary. It is ur- unity. Yes, fight, because our friends, to always divide. The to ask God for the gift of uni- ed, “the imbalances under inspect the intentions for gent that we set aside particu- enemy, the devil, is the one Holy Spirit always inspires us ty to overcome the scandal of which the world labors are which we pray, we will proba- larism in order to promote the who divides, as the word itself to unity. division among believers in linked with that more basic bly realize that we have common good, and our good says. Jesus asks for unity in The theme of this Week of Jesus. After the Last Supper, imbalance which is rooted in prayed little, perhaps never, example is fundamental to the Holy Spirit, to create uni- Prayer specifically regards he prayed for his own, “that the heart of man. For in man for Christian unity. And yet, this: it is essential that Chris- ty. The devil always divides. love: “Abide in my love and they may all be one” (Jn himself many elements wrestle the world’s faith depends on tians pursue the path toward He always divides because it is you shall bear much fruit” (cf. 17:21). This was his prayer be- with one another.[…] Hence it; in fact, the Lord asked for full visible unity. In the last convenient for him to divide. Jn 15:5-9). The root of com- fore the Passion; we could call he suffers from internal divi- unity among us “so that the decades, thanks be to God, He fosters division every- munion is love of Christ who it his spiritual testament. Let sions, and from these flow so world might believe” (Jn there have been many steps where, and in any way, while makes us overcome our preju- us note, however, that the many and such great discords 17:21). The world will not be- forward, but we need to perse- the Holy Spirit always joins in dices to see in others a brother Lord did not command that in society” (Gaudium et Spes, lieve because we will convince vere in love and in prayer, unity. In general, the devil or sister to be loved always. Then we will discover that the Christians of other confes- sions — with their traditions, with their history — are gifts ANGELUS • Closeness to the Indonesian people struck by the earthquake from God, they are gifts pre- sent within the territories of our diocesan and parish com- munities.