VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXVI - # 11
DATE 19-01-2016

Summary:
- Cardinal Parolin to the Global Foundation: encourage an economy at the
service
of our common home, the world
- Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, sole
non-Muslim speaker at the First Arab Thinkers Forum
- In memoriam

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 Cardinal Parolin to the Global Foundation: encourage an economy at the service
of our common home, the world
 Vatican City, 19 January 2016 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin spoke yesterday at round table organised by the Global Foundation on
the
theme "Rejecting the globalisation of indifference - towards a more inclusive
and sustainable global economy". This initiative, he said, emphasises the
Foundation's "commitment to being a privileged place of dialogue between major
economic and political players, as well as a catalyst for ideas for the
construction of an economic system at the service of integral economic
development".
 Cardinal Parolin affirmed that since the beginning of his Pontificate, faced
with the many difficulties which afflict the world, the Pope has emphasised
"the
grave consequences of indifference and of the lack of responsibility", calling
for the correction of an economy that causes exclusion and inequality. "He
invites the rich and the poor, the powerful and simple, politicians and
entrepreneurs to put the creative power of human intelligence at the service of
the common good, with a spirit of solidarity and - I would add - mercy".
 "Without forgetting how much has been done in these first years of the third
millennium to help people escape from extreme poverty, Pope Francis continues
to
underscore his conviction that much more still needs to be done, and that in
times of crisis and economic hardship a spirit of global solidarity must not be
lost. It goes without saying - that part of this great effort is the creation
and distribution of wealth. The right use of natural resources, the proper
application of technology and the harnessing of the spirit of enterprise are
essential elements of an economy which seeks to be modern, inclusive and
sustainable. That will be possible, keeping in mind the definition of justice
of
the Roman jurist Ulpian and of St Augustine of Hippo - "Iustitia est constans
et
perpetua voluntas ius suum cuique tribuendi" (Justice is the constant and
perpetual will to render to every man his due), which the Pope quoted in his
address to the United Nations on 25th September 2015, with reference to the
"2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", in order to say to those responsible
for global affairs that our world demands of all government leaders a will
which
is effective, practical and constant, concrete steps and immediate measures for
preserving and improving the natural environment and thus putting an end as
quickly as possible to the phenomenon of social and economic exclusion".
 The Secretary of State concluded by highlighting the importance of the meeting
organised by the Global Foundation, which is "an important space for
encouraging
an increase in global awareness of the serious problems of environmental
degradation and exclusion. It will thus provide a stimulus to strengthen the
action which has already begun, and is starting to show positive and enduring
results. ... I reiterate the wish that these days might bring forth worthwhile
contributions to encourage an economy which is increasingly at the service of
our common home, which is the world as a whole".

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 Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, sole
non-Muslim speaker at the First Arab Thinkers Forum
 Vatican City, 19 January 2016 (VIS) - "Interreligious Dialogue and Extremism:
reasons and remedies" was the title of the First Arab Thinkers Forum, held in
Abu Dhabi from 17 to 18 January at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies
and
Research. The only non-Muslim speaker was Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot,
secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, who intervened
during the first session during which the Grand Mufti of Lebanon, Sheikh Abdul
Latif Daryan, also gave an address. In the other sessions there were
contributions from various figures from the Arab Emirates, Egypt and Morocco.
 Fr. Ayuso Guixot structured his discourse around five key points: extremism,
the culture of encounter, the key role of religious leaders, the need for
sincere dialogue and the importance of prayer. He emphasised that it was not
his
intention to pursue considerations on the economic, political, social and
cultural reasons for extremism, well known to those present, preferring to
focus
instead on Pope Francis' recommendations to the international community on how
to construct peace which can serve to counter extremism.
 He began by citing the Holy Father's address to the Diplomatic Corps on 11
January this year, in which he affirmed that "extremism and fundamentalism find
fertile ground not only in the exploitation of religion for purposes of power,
but also in the vacuum of ideals and the loss of identity - including religious
identity - which dramatically marks the so-called West. This vacuum gives rise
to the fear which leads to seeing the other as a threat and an enemy, to
closed-mindedness and intransigence in defending perceived notions. Yet the
greatest challenge we face is that overcoming indifference in order to work
together for peace, a good which must constantly be sought, by the promotion of
a 'culture of encounter'. ... Pope Francis believes that the motivation for
interreligious dialogue must rest in the mutual commitment to peace and
justice,
thus making them the basic principles for all exchanges".
 With reference to the key role of religious leaders, the secretary of the
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue underlined that "extremist
tendencies, irrespective of their origin, are actually among the most dangerous
threats to world peace and security", and are incompatible with a truly
religious ethic. Consequently, there is a need for "genuine effort by religious
leaders and opinion makers to identify those persons who portray false beliefs
and behaviours as part of their religious ideology". Political leaders "must
support this campaign of awareness in order to prevent extremism in society and
to lay the groundwork for moderation", has said, adding that "As religious
leaders, we are obliged to denounce all violations against human dignity and
human rights. Human life, a gift of God the Creator, possesses a sacred
character. As such, any violence that seeks religious justification warrants
the
strongest condemnation because the Omnipotent is the God of life and peace".
 In relation to the need for sincere interreligious dialogue, the prelate
underlined that believers are united in the path of life, starting from our own
identify for the good of our brothers and sisters. "Every one of us offers the
witness of our identity to others and engages in dialogue with others. Then
dialogue can move on to theological questions. But even more important and
beautiful is to walk together without betraying our own identity, without
disguising it, without hypocrisy".
 Finally he recalled that "we believers have no recipe for these problems, but
we have one great resource: prayer. As believers we pray. We must pray. Prayer
is our treasure, which we draw from according to our respective traditions, to
request the gifts for which humanity longs".

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 In memoriam
 Vatican City, 19 January 2016 (VIS) - The following prelates have died in
recent weeks:
 - Bishop Joseph Roduit, C.R.A, abbot-bishop emeritus of Saint-Maurice,
Switzerland, on 17 December 2015 at the age of 76.
 - Bishop Placidus Gervasius Nkalanga, O.S.B., emeritus of Bukoba, Tanzania, on
18 December 2015 at the age of 96.
 - Bishop Joseph Leopold Imesch, emeritus of Joliet in Illinois, United States
of America, on 22 December 2015 at the age of 84.
 - Archbishop GrΘgoire Haddad, emeritus of Beirut and Jbeil of the
Greek-Melkites, Lebanon, on 23 December 2015 at the age of 91.
 - Bishop Youhannes Ezzat Zakaria Badir, emeritus of Luxor of the Copts, Egypt,
on 27 December 2015 at the age of 66.
 - Bishop Daniel Leo Ryan, emeritus of Springfield in Illinois, United States
of
America, on 31 December 2015 at the age of 85.
 - Bishop Barnabas Rugwizangonga Halem 'Imana, emeritus of Kabale, Uganda, on 3
January 2016 at the age of 87.
 - Bishop Alberto Iniesta Jimenez, auxiliary emeritus of Madrid, Spain, on 3
January 2016 at the age of 92.
 - Bishop Raymond William Lessard, emeritus of Savannah, Georgia, United States
of America, on 3 January 2016 at the age of 85.
 - Bishop Carlos Milciades Villalba Aquino, emeritus of San Juan Bautista de
las
Misiones, Paraguay, on 8 January 2016 at the age of 91.
 - Bishop Paul-Marie Francois Rousset, Ist. del Prado, emeritus of
Saint-Etienne, France, on 9 January 2016 at the age of 94.
 - Archbishop Francis Thomas Hurley, emeritus of Anchorage, Alaska, USA, on 10
January 2016 at the age of 88.
 - Bishop Albert Onyembo Lomandjo, C.S.Sp., emeritus of Kindu, Democratic
Republic of Congo, 11 January 2016 at the age of 84.
 - Archbishop Daniel Joseph Bohan, of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, on 15
January 2016 at the age of 74.
 - Archbishop Francis Bible Schulte, emeritus of New Orleans, Louisiana, United
States of America, on 17 January 2016 at the age of 89.

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