VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXV - # 223
DATE 14-12-2015

Summary:
- Audience with the president of Sri Lanka: may the process of peace and
reconciliation promote stable social harmony
- The Policoro Project: in search of dignified and liberating work
- Francis opens the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran
- Angelus: joy, gift of the Lord Who receives with conversion
- Joint commitment to caring for the climate
- The Pope to visit Guadalupe on 13 February
- Programme of the Pope's apostolic trip to Mexico
- Rescriptum ex audientia for the institution of the Pontifical Commission for
activities of public legal persons of the Church in the healthcare sector
- Identity and mission of the religious brother in the Church
- The Holy Father attends the twelfth meeting of the Council of Cardinals
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

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 Audience with the president of Sri Lanka: may the process of peace and
reconciliation promote stable social harmony
 Vatican City, 14 December 2015 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace
the Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of Sri Lanka,
Maithripala Sirisena, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State
Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for
Relations with States.
 The cordial discussions, which began with a recollection of the Holy Father's
visit to Sri Lanka last January, focused on certain aspects of the country's
recent history and the process of peace and reconciliation that is underway,
with the hope that it may contribute to promoting stable social harmony.
Furthermore, the contribution of the Catholic Church in various sectors of
society and the importance of interreligious dialogue were shown to be
important.
 There was also an exchange of opinions on the theme of the environment and an
evaluation of the results of the Conference on climate change, recently
concluded in Paris.

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 The Policoro Project: in search of dignified and liberating work
 Vatican City, 14 December 2015 (VIS) - Finding answers to the existential
question of many young people who risk passing from a lack of employment to
detachment from life in general is the aim of the Policoro Project undertaken
twenty years ago in the ecclesial Convention of Palermo. This morning, in the
Vatican's Paul VI Hall, its members were received by the Holy Father who
remarked that, in seeking to combine the Gospel with the reality of life, the
Project represented an important initiative for the promotion of youth and a
true opportunity for local development at national level. "Its key ideas have
guided its success: the formation of the young, the establishment of
cooperatives, the creation of mediation figures such as 'community animators'
and a long series of concrete gestures, a visible sign of commitment throughout
these twenty years of active presence".
 "With its concrete attention to the territory and the search for shared
solutions, the Policoro Project has shown how the quality of 'free, creative,
participatory and mutually supportive labour that human beings express and
enhance the dignity of their lives'. Let us not lose sight of the urgency of
reaffirming this dignity! It belongs to each and every one of us. .. When there
is no work, dignity is at risk, as unemployment not only prevents you from
putting food on the table; it also makes you feel unworthy of earning a living.
Today young people are victims of this. How many of them have given up looking
for work, resigned to continual rejection or the indifference of a society that
rewards only the usual privileged few - even if they are corrupt - and
obstructs
those who deserve affirmation. The reward seems to go to those who are sure of
themselves, even if this security is gained through corruption. Work is not a
gift to be kindly granted to the select few: it is a right for all!"
 He added, "You represent without doubt a sign of real hope for many people who
have not resigned themselves but have instead decided to commit themselves
courageously to creating or improving their opportunities for work", and he
invited them to "continue to promote initiatives for participation for young
people in a community and participatory form. ... Here you can play your role.
To
the question, 'what has the Church to do with my situation?', that you have
said
and heard many times, the answer is 'witness'. And here you are able to provide
your witness, face to face with those who are in need of courage and support".
 Francis concluded by emphasising that his task is not simply that of helping
the young to find a job but rather "a responsibility of evangelisation through
the sanctifying value of work. But not any form of work: not work that
exploits,
crushes, humiliates and abuses, but work that makes man truly free, in
accordance with his noble dignity".

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 Francis opens the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran
 Vatican City, 13 December 2015 (VIS) - On the third Sunday of Advent the Pope
opened the third Holy Door of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Following the Holy
Door
of the Cathedral of Bangui in the Central African Republic on 29 November and
that of St. Peter's Basilica on 8 December, today he opened the Holy Door of
the
Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, the Basilica of St. John Lateran. On "Gaudete
Sunday", the Sunday of Joy, Francis reaffirmed that the reason for this joy is
expressed in the readings with words infused with hope and which allow us to
look to the future with serenity, as "the Lord has annulled every condemnation
and chose to live among us".
 This third Sunday of Advent draws our gaze towards Christmas, which is now
close, said the Pope in his homily. "We cannot let ourselves be taken in by
weariness; sadness in any form is not allowed, even though there may be good
reason, with our many concerns and the many forms of violence that harm our
humanity. The coming of the Lord, however, must fill our hearts with joy".
 The Pope cites the first reading of the prophet Zephaniah, who taught that "in
a historical context of great abuse and violence, especially by men of power,
God knows that He will reign over his people, who would never leave them at the
mercy of the arrogance of their leaders, and will free them from all anxiety.
Today, we are asked not to let our 'hands grow weak' because of doubt,
impatience or suffering. St. Paul returns to the teaching of Zephaniah and
reiterates: 'The Lord is near'. Because of this we should rejoice always, and
with our affability give all witness of closeness and care that God has for
each
person".
 "We have opened the Holy Door, here and in all the cathedrals of the world.
Even this simple sign is an invitation to joy. It begins a time of great
forgiveness. It is the Jubilee of Mercy. It is time to rediscover the presence
of God and his fatherly tenderness. God does not love rigidity. He is Father;
He
is tender; everything done with the tenderness of the Father. We too are like
the crowds who asked John, 'What do we do?'. The Baptist's response was
immediate. He invites us to act justly and to attend to the needs of those in
need. What John demands of his representatives is already in the law. We,
however, are prompted toward a more radical commitment. Before the Holy Door we
are called to pass through, we are asked to be instruments of mercy, knowing
that we will be judged on this. He who is baptised knows he has a greater
commitment. Faith in Christ leads to a journey that lasts a lifetime: to be
merciful, like the Father. The joy of crossing through the Door of Mercy is
accompanied by a commitment to welcome and bear witness to a love that goes
beyond justice, a love that knows no boundaries. For this infinite love, in
spite of our contradictions, we are responsible".
 "Let us pray for us and for all those who pass through the Door of Mercy, that
we may understand and welcome the infinite love of our Heavenly Father, that
recreates, transforms and reforms life", said the Pope at the end of his
homily.
 Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, also
opened
the Holy Door of the Basilica today, while throughout the rest of the world, as
the Pope had requested, all the Holy Doors of churches and cathedrals were
opened for the Year of Mercy.

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 Angelus: joy, gift of the Lord Who receives with conversion
 Vatican City, 13 December 2015 (VIS) - At midday today the Holy Father
appeared
at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus
with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. Before the
Marian
prayer, the Pontiff addressed some words to those present.
 "In today's Gospel, there is a question repeated three times: 'What should we
do?'. Three categories of people pose this question to John the Baptist: first,
the crowd in general; second, the publicans, or tax collectors; and, third,
some
soldiers, to know what must be done to convert in the way he preaches. John's
reply to the crowd is to share basic necessities: 'Whoever has two cloaks,
should share with the person who has none, and whoever has food should do
likewise'. He tells the second group, the tax collectors, to stop collecting
more than is due. What does this mean? No 'kickbacks': John the Baptist is
clear. And to the third group, the soldiers, he says do not exhort anyone for
anything, and be content with your pay".
 These three answers refer to an identical path of conversion, which is
manifested in concrete commitments to justice and solidarity. "It is the road
that Jesus indicates in all His preaching: the active path of love for one's
neighbour. From these admonitions of John the Baptist, we understand what were
the general trends of those who at that time held power, in various forms.
Little has changed. However, no group of people is excluded from the path of
conversion for salvation, not even tax collectors who were considered sinners
by
definition. ... God does not preclude for anyone the possibility of salvation.
He
is eager to show mercy to all, and welcome everyone in the tender embrace of
reconciliation and forgiveness".
 Francis went on to explain that "today's liturgy tells us, with John's words,
that is necessary to repent, to change direction and take the path of justice,
solidarity and sobriety: these are the essential values of a fully human and
genuinely Christian life. Repent! This sums up John the Baptist's message. The
liturgy of this Third Sunday of Advent helps us rediscover a special dimension
of conversion: joy. Whoever converts and approaches the Lord experiences joy".
 He also emphasised that nowadays "it takes courage to speak of joy, which,
above all, requires faith. The world is beset by many problems, the future
weighed down by uncertainties and fears. And yet, the Christian is a joyful
person, and his joy is not something superficial and ephemeral, but deep and
stable, because it is a gift from God that fills life. Our joy comes from
knowing that 'the Lord is near', that He is close by with His tenderness, His
mercy, His forgiveness and His love".
 He concluded, "May the Virgin Mary help us to strengthen our faith, so that we
may welcome the God of joy, the God of mercy, who always wants to live in the
midst of her children. May our Mother teach us to share tears with those who
weep, but also to be able to share a smile".


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