VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXVI - # 14
DATE 22-01-2016

Summary:
- Audience with the president of the Commonwealth of Dominica: concern for the
environment and climate change
- To the Tribunal of the Roman Rota: adequate preparation for marriage, "a new
catechumenate
- Communication and mercy: the Holy Father's Message for the fiftieth World Day
of Social Communications
- Presentation of the Pope's Message for the World Day of Social Communications
- Decrees for the Causes of Saints
- Audiences
- Note

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 Audience with the president of the Commonwealth of Dominica: concern for the
environment and climate change
 Vatican City, 22 January 2016 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic
Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the President of the
Commonwealth of Dominica, Charles Angelo Savarin, who subsequently met with
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul
Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.
 During the cordial discussions, reference was made to existing good bilateral
relations, expressing the opportunity for a fruitful joint collaboration
between
the State and the Catholic Church, who offers a significant contribution to the
promotion of the dignity of the person, as well as in the sectors of the
education of the young and assistance to those most in need.
 Finally, attention turned to various themes of regional and global relevance,
with particular reference to the protection of the environment and the theme of
climate change and natural disasters, which cause grave damages and claim many
victims among the Island's population.

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 To the Tribunal of the Roman Rota: adequate preparation for marriage, "a new
catechumenate
 Vatican City, 22 January 2016 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall the
Holy Father received in audience the members of the Apostolic Tribunal of the
Roman Rota for the inauguration of the Judicial Year, and reiterated to them
that their ministry has always been of great help to the Successor of Peter,
"so
that the Church, inseparably linked to the family, continues to proclaim the
plan of God the Creator and the Redeemer on the sacredness and beauty of the
family institution. A mission that is always current, but of special relevance
in our time".
 Along with the definition of the Roman Rota as the Tribunal of the Family, the
Holy Father emphasised another of its prerogatives as "the Tribunal of the
truth
of the sacred bond. And these two aspects are complementary. Indeed the Church
can show the merciful and indefectible love of God for families, espeically
those wounded by sin and by the trials of life, and at the same time, proclaim
the essential truth of marriage according to God's plan. This service is
entrusted principally to the Pope and the bishops".
 He went on toe refer to the synodal path on the theme of the family that
during
the last two years has made possible a "profound and wise discernment, thanks
to
which the Church, among other things, has indicated to the world that there can
be no confusion between the family beloved by God and any other type of union",
and highlighted that the activity of the Rota, "both in judging and in
contributing to permanent formation, assists and promotes the opus veritatis.
When the Church, by means of your service, proposes to declare the truth on
marriage in a concrete case, for the good of the faithful, she keeps in mind at
the same time those who, by their free choice or through unhappy circumstances
live in a state of objective error, continue to receive Christ's merciful love,
and therefore that of the Church herself".
 "The family and the Church, at different levels, contribute to accompanying
the
human being up to the end of his or her existence. And they do so certainly
with
the teachings that they transmit, but also with their very nature as
communities
of love and life. Indeed, if the family can be described as a 'domestic
church',
to the Church we might justly apply the title of the family of God. ...
Precisely
because she is a mother and a teacher, the Church knows that among Christians
some have a strong faith, formed by charity, strengthened by good catechesis
and
nurtured in prayer and sacramental life, whereas others have a weak and
neglected faith, unformed, uneducated or forgotten".
 "It should be clearly affirmed that the quality of faith is not an essential
condition for matrimonial consent, which according to the longstanding
doctrine,
can be undermined only at a natural level. Indeed, the habitus fidei is infused
in the moment of Baptism and continues to flow mysteriously into the soul, even
when the faith is not developed or psychologically appears to be absent. It is
not unusual for newly-weds, drawn to marriage by the instinctus naturae, at the
moment of celebration have a limited awareness of the fullness of God's plan,
and only later, in family life, discover all that God the Creator and Redeemer
has established for them. The lack of formation in faith and also an error
regarding the unity, indissolubility and sacramental dignity of marriage may
vitiate matrimonial consent only if they determine will. It is precisely for
this reason that errors regarding the sacramental nature of marriage must be
evaluated very carefully".
 "The Church, therefore, with a renewed sense of responsibility, continues to
propose marriage in its essential elements - offspring, the good of spouses,
unity, indissolubility, sacramentality - not as an ideal for the few, despite
modern models centred on the ephemeral and transitory, but as a reality that,
in
Christ's grace, can be lived by all baptised faithful. And therefore this gives
greater importance to the pastoral urgency that involves all structures of the
Church in convergence towards a common intention, an adequate preparation for
marriage, as a sort of new catechumenate, greatly hoped for by some Synod
Fathers".

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 Communication and mercy: the Holy Father's Message for the fiftieth World Day
of Social Communications
 Vatican City, 22 January 2016 (VIS) - "Communication and mercy" is the title
of
Pope Francis' Message for the fiftieth World Day of Social Communications, to
be
held on 8 May. The Message is symbolically signed by the Holy Father on Sunday
24 January 2016, feast of St. Francis of Sales, patron of journalists. The
following is the full text of the Message:
 "Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 The Holy Year of Mercy invites all of us to reflect on the relationship
between
communication and mercy. The Church, in union with Christ, the living
incarnation of the Father of Mercies, is called to practise mercy as the
distinctive trait of all that she is and does. What we say and how we say it,
our every word and gesture, ought to express God's compassion, tenderness and
forgiveness for all. Love, by its nature, is communication; it leads to
openness
and sharing. If our hearts and actions are inspired by charity, by divine love,
then our communication will be touched by God's own power.
 As sons and daughters of God, we are called to communicate with everyone,
without exception. In a particular way, the Church's words and actions are all
meant to convey mercy, to touch people's hearts and to sustain them on their
journey to that fullness of life which Jesus Christ was sent by the Father to
bring to all. This means that we ourselves must be willing to accept the warmth
of Mother Church and to share that warmth with others, so that Jesus may be
known and loved. That warmth is what gives substance to the word of faith; by
our preaching and witness, it ignites the 'spark' which gives them life.
 Communication has the power to build bridges, to enable encounter and
inclusion, and thus to enrich society. How beautiful it is when people select
their words and actions with care, in the effort to avoid misunderstandings, to
heal wounded memories and to build peace and harmony. Words can build bridges
between individuals and within families, social groups and peoples. This is
possible both in the material world and the digital world. Our words and
actions
should be such as to help us all escape the vicious circles of condemnation and
vengeance which continue to ensnare individuals and nations, encouraging
expressions of hatred. The words of Christians ought to be a constant
encouragement to communion and, even in those cases where they must firmly
condemn evil, they should never try to rupture relationships and communication.
 For this reason, I would like to invite all people of good will to rediscover
the power of mercy to heal wounded relationships and to restore peace and
harmony to families and communities. All of us know how many ways ancient
wounds
and lingering resentments can entrap individuals and stand in the way of
communication and reconciliation. The same holds true for relationships between
peoples. In every case, mercy is able to create a new kind of speech and
dialogue. Shakespeare put it eloquently when he said: 'The quality of mercy is
not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place
beneath.
It is twice blessed: it blesseth him that gives and him that takes' (The
Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene I).
 Our political and diplomatic language would do well to be inspired by mercy,
which never loses hope. I ask those with institutional and political
responsibility, and those charged with forming public opinion, to remain
especially attentive to the way they speak of those who think or act
differently
or those who may have made mistakes. It is easy to yield to the temptation to
exploit such situations to stoke the flames of mistrust, fear and hatred.
Instead, courage is needed to guide people towards processes of reconciliation.
It is precisely such positive and creative boldness which offers real solutions
to ancient conflicts and the opportunity to build lasting peace. 'Blessed are
the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God'.
 How I wish that our own way of communicating, as well as our service as
pastors
of the Church, may never suggest a prideful and triumphant superiority over an
enemy, or demean those whom the world considers lost and easily discarded.
Mercy
can help mitigate life's troubles and offer warmth to those who have known only
the coldness of judgement. May our way of communicating help to overcome the
mindset that neatly separates sinners from the righteous. We can and we must
judge situations of sin - such as violence, corruption and exploitation - but
we
may not judge individuals, since only God can see into the depths of their
hearts. It is our task to admonish those who err and to denounce the evil and
injustice of certain ways of acting, for the sake of setting victims free and
raising up those who have fallen. The Gospel of John tells us that 'the truth
will make you free'. The truth is ultimately Christ himself, whose gentle mercy
is the yardstick for measuring the way we proclaim the truth and condemn
injustice. Our primary task is to uphold the truth with love. Only words spoken
with love and accompanied by meekness and mercy can touch our sinful hearts.
Harsh and moralistic words and actions risk further alienating those whom we
wish to lead to conversion and freedom, reinforcing their sense of rejection
and
defensiveness.
 Some feel that a vision of society rooted in mercy is hopelessly idealistic or
excessively indulgent. But let us try and recall our first experience of
relationships, within our families. Our parents loved us and valued us for who
we are more than for our abilities and achievements. Parents naturally want the

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