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VIS - At midday on 29 May, the Pope met with members of the Italian Episcopal Conference, who are currently holding their general assembly in the Vatican's Synod Hall. The central theme of their deliberations has been evangelisation and education among the new generations.

The Pope opened his address to them by affirming that the "educational emergency" he has referred to on a number of previous occasions "assumes a very specific form: that of the transmission of the faith to the new generations". In this field "we must negotiate the obstacles placed in our way by relativism, by a culture that puts God within parenthesis and discourages all truly committed choices, and in particular definitive choices, rather privileging ... self-affirmation and immediate satisfaction".

To face these difficulties, said the Pope, bishops have at their disposal "many charisms and forms of evangelising energy" which they must "accept with joy". Particularly important, he went on, "are personal relationships, especially sacramental confession and spiritual guidance. Each of these moments represents an opportunity given to us to help our young people see the face of the God Who is the true friend of mankind".

"The current educational emergency raises the question of an education that is truly educational", an education that "re-establishes full and integral formation of the person as the centre of its focus. ... It is, in fact, fair to ask whether the quality of teaching would not be improved by a simulating comparison between educational centres established - while respecting universally valid teaching programmes - by popular groups concerned with interpreting the educational choices of individual families".

Benedict XVI indicated that Italy "needs to overcome a difficult period in which economic and social dynamism seemed to weaken, faith in the future diminished, and the poverty of many families led to a growing sense of insecurity". In this context, he also noted "signs of a new climate" due to "a more serene relationship between political forces and the institutions" which has been inspired by "a more acute sense of a shared responsibility for the future of the nation. ... There exists, in fact, a widespread desire to resume the journey, to face and resolve at least the most urgent and pressing problems, to open a new season of economic (but also civic and moral) growth".

"As bishops we cannot fail to make our own specific contribution, so that Italy may see a period of progress and harmony", he said. "To this end we must first of all bear frank witness to the fact that ... the fundamental problem of mankind today remains the problem of God. No other human and social problem can truly be solved if God does not return to the centre of our lives".

"Within the framework of a healthy and well-understood laicism, it is important to resist all tendencies to consider religion, and in particular Christianity, as a purely private matter", said the Holy Father.

He laid particular emphasis on the prelates' concern for "the family founded on marriage, ... in order to encourage a culture favourable, and not hostile, to the family and to life, and to ask public institutions for coherent policies that recognise the central role families play in society, especially in generating and educating children". Furthermore, he added, "our commitment to the dignity and protection of human life in all moments and conditions must remain strong and constant".

"We cannot close our eyes and remain silent in the face of the poverty, discomfort and social injustice that afflict such a large part of humankind, and that require generous commitment from everyone. ... Of course, our readiness to help must come about while respecting the laws which undertake to ensure the well-ordered progress of social life, both within a State and towards those who come from outside".

Pope: Joy at new cultural atmosphere in Italy

Pope Praises `New Political Climate' After Italian Elections

AP

AP - The Shroud of Turin, revered by many Christians as Jesus Christ's burial cloth _ will go on rare public display in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday. The Pope made the announcement at a special audience at the Vatican for 7,000 pilgrims from Turin. it was last displayed in 2000.

«If the Lord gives me life and health I, too, hope to attend the display,» said Benedict, who is 81.
The shroud bears an imprint believed by some to be the image of Christ. Kept in Turin's Roman Catholic cathedral, the strip of linen is about 14 feet (4 meters) long and 3½ yards (1 meter) wide. Believers say the image on the cloth was left by Christ's body after he was taken off the cross....

«I am happy to meet your great hopes and to accept the desire of your archbishop by consenting to another solemn display of the Shroud,» Benedict said. He said it will be an occasion to «to contemplate the mysterious face, which silently speaks to the heart of men, inviting them to recognize in it the face of God,»
Pope Benedict XVI says Shroud of Turin will go on rare public display in 2010

Professor Revives Shroud Of Turin Riddle

Shroud of Turin to be displayed to public in 2010

CNA - On Tuesday morning in Rome, 50 leaders from around the world gathered at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The heads of state listened as the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone read a message from the Pope, which stressed that the world is more than capable of providing enough food for all.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote that, "hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable in a world which has, in fact, levels of production, resources and knowledge sufficient to put an end to such dramas and their consequences."

The solution, which the Pope said is also a challenging one, "is to 'globalize,' not just economic and commercial interests, but also the call for solidarity, while respecting and taking advantage of the contribution of all components of society."

Benedict XVI also repeated his hope that he expressed before the U.N. General Assembly in April: that of overcoming "the obvious paradox of a multilateral consensus that continues to be in crisis because it is still subordinated to the decisions of a few."

After calling on leaders "to collaborate in an increasingly transparent way with ... organizations committed to closing the growing divide between rich and poor," the Holy Father said that they must also "continue with structural reforms which, at the national level, are indispensable in order to face the problems of underdevelopment, of which hunger and malnutrition are direct consequences."

"Poverty and malnutrition are not a simple fatality, provoked by adverse environmental situations or by disastrous natural calamities," wrote the Pope, noting at the same time that "purely technical and economic considerations must not prevail over the duties of justice towards people suffering from hunger."

Fight against hunger must become globalized, Pope asserts

This afternoon the Holy See's Press Office clarified Pope Benedict's decision to not grant an audience to the various heads of state who are in Rome for the U.N. food security meeting, saying that it was due to the large number of requests, the small window of time available and prior commitments.

A statement issued today by the Press Office notes that "certain journalistic suppositions that have been circulating in the media over the last few days," and that these caused it to issue a clarification on the Pope's inability to grant an audience.

According to the statement this Holy Father could not meet with the world leaders because of "the number of requests, the limited time available, and prior commitments."

Vatican speaks about papal audiences during food summit

Vatican explains Pope's decision not to meet visiting leaders

CNS - Christians must read sacred Scripture with humility and the desire to gain spiritual nourishment, not "theoretical knowledge" of God's word, Pope Benedict XVI said.

"Intellectual humility is the most important rule for whoever seeks to penetrate supernatural reality starting with sacred writings," he said during his June 4 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Delving into Scripture solely to "satisfy one's own desires for knowledge means to give in to the temptation of pride and to expose oneself to the risk of slipping into heresy," he said.

The pope's remarks continued his catechesis on the life and teachings of St. Gregory the Great. The sixth-century pope and doctor of the church "was a passionate reader of the Bible," Pope Benedict said.

He said St. Gregory believed Christians ought to glean from sacred Scripture "not so much theoretical knowledge but rather daily nourishment for their soul."

Reading and contemplating sacred writings with humility is indispensable for "really entering deeply into the text" and reaping spiritual benefits, he said.

Pope, at audience, says Scripture must be read with humility

AFP Getty

Times Online - Pope Benedict XVI is proving such a bestselling author that his entire literary output before he became Pope is to be issued in thirteen volumes, with the first volume to appear in bookshops at the end of this year.

The pontiff's last book, Jesus of Nazareth - his first major publication written as Pope - has sold 2,500,000 copies so far worldwide. But there is growing demand for the works he produced as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, when he was the Vatican's chief expert on doctrine, and even for his writings as a German theology professor in Bavaria.
"Benedict is a cerebral theologian, but far from dry" one Vatican source said. "He writes simply and lucidly, with human insight as well as profound spirituality".
On a more worldly note, two years ago the Vatican reinforced copyright on all the Pope's speeches and writings, partly to prevent them being pirated but also because his words - like those of John Paul II, his predecessor - have a huge market value.

Father Giuseppe Costa, head of the Vatican publishing house Libreria Editrice Vaticana said that in the three years since Benedict was elected Pope, income earned from sales of his books amounted to €2 million (£1.6 million).

Father Costa said that the collected works would total 132 titles, including books, monographs and meditations, beginning in 1950 and ending with his Good Friday meditations for Easter 2005, on the eve of his election at the secret conclave which followed the death of John Paul II.
The collection will be published by the Vatican jointly with the German Catholic publishing house Helder in several languages, including German, Italian and English.
Father Costa said that many of the Pope's early works were hard to track down or even "unfindable", including his meditations on St Augustine (1954) and St Bonaventure (1959). He told La Repubblica that it had "not been easy" to persuade the Pope to sanction the venture, but success of his book sales "speaks for itself".

Vatican to publish entire work by bestselling author Pope Benedict XVI

CWN - Church leaders in Asia must find ways to touch the "innate spiritual insight and moral wisdom in the Asian soul," Pope Benedict XVI said during a June 6 meeting with bishops from Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

The Pope told the Asian prelates, who were finishing their ad limina visit to Rome, that "you are sowing the seeds of evangelization on fertile ground." He explained that "the peoples of Asia display an intense yearning for God," leaving Christian evangelists with the challenge of bringing the Gospel message into the context of Asian traditions.

"In particular," the Pope said, "you need to ensure that the Christian Gospel is in no way confused in their minds with secular principles associated with the Enlightenment."

Asia yearns for God, Pope says

Pope says Gospel must be shared in ways that resonate with Asian soul

Reuters - Pope Benedict will unusually host talks with U.S. President George W. Bush in a restored medieval tower on Friday, to repay him for a warm reception at the White House, the Vatican said.

The pope usually receives heads of state in his private study in the Apostolic Palace, overlooking St Peter's Square.

But Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the change was to repay Bush for "the cordiality of the meeting at the White House" when the pope visited the United States in April.

St. John's Tower is a round structure on a hilltop inside the Vatican gardens that is sometimes used as a residence for important guests.

After their private talks, Bush and the pope will stroll in the gardens to see a statue of the Madonna.

Pope to host Bush in unusual Vatican setting

CNS - When Pope Benedict XVI and U.S. President George W. Bush meet at the Vatican June 13, they will scrap the usual formal protocol and instead hold talks and take a leisurely stroll in the Vatican Gardens.

The Vatican opted for the "particular" and "unusual" setting as a way to show its appreciation for "the cordial welcome and meeting held at the White House" during the pope's April 15-20 visit to the United States, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said June 9.

Normally heads of state visiting the pope at the Vatican are taken with much fanfare to the pope's library in the main Apostolic Palace.

But "in light of the (pope's) recent pastoral visit to the United States and the United Nations" and for the warm welcome and hospitality shown the pope during his meeting with Bush on the pope's birthday, April 16, an informal setting at the Vatican was chosen instead, said Father Lombardi.

Vatican to scrap formal protocol when pope meets president