Catholic News 2

Mexico City, Mexico, Feb 14, 2016 / 04:15 pm (CNA).- Madam First Lady, Madam Secretary for Health, Director, Members of the Board of Governors, Families here present, Dear Children, Friends one and all, Good afternoon.

 

I thank God for granting me this opportunity to come and visit you, to join you and your families in this hospital. To share a little of your life and of those who work here: the doctors, nurses, personnel, and volunteers who help. Thank you.

 

There is a very brief passage in the Gospel which tells us something of Jesus’ childhood. He was very small, just like some of you. One day, his parents, Joseph and Mary, took him up to the Temple to present him to God. And while there they met an old man called Simeon who, upon seeing Jesus, was very moved and filled with joy and gratitude. He took Jesus in his arms and held him close, and began to bless the Lord. Looking at Jesus inspired him in two ways: the feeling of gratitude and the desire to bless.

 

Simeon is “the uncle” who teaches us these two attitudes: gratitude and then blessing.

 

For my part (and not only because of my age), I feel I can relate well with these two lessons of Simeon. On the one hand, entering here and seeing your eyes, your smiles, your faces, has filled me with a desire to give thanks. Thank you for the kind way that you welcomed me, thank you for recognizing the tenderness with which you are cared for and accompanied. Thank you for the efforts of many who are doing their best so that you can get better quickly.

 

It is very important that we feel cared for and accompanied, to feel loved and to know that all these workers here are looking for the best way to care for us. To each of these people, I say, “Thank you”.

And at the same time, I wish to bless you. I ask God to bless you, and to accompany you and your families, and all those people who work in this home and try to ensure that your smiles grow day by day. May God bless each person… not only doctors but also those who provide “kindness-therapy” thus making the time spent here more enjoyable.

Have you ever heard of the Indian Juan Diego? When his uncle was sick, he was quite worried and distressed. Then, the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to him and said, “Let not your heart be disturbed or upset by anything. Am I not here with you, I who am your mother?”

 

We have Mary as our Mother, and so let us ask her to give us the gift of her son, Jesus. Let us close our eyes and ask her to give us what our hearts seek today, and then let us pray together,

 

Hail Mary…

 

May the Lord and the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe remain with you always. Thank you very much. And please, do not forget to pray for me.

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Vatican City, Feb 14, 2016 / 06:27 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Slovenia-born Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic will be the Holy See’s next Permanent Observer to the United Nations in Geneva, a significant appointment given his experience in diplomacy.

Archbishop Jurkovic has served as nuncio to Russia and Uzbekistan since 2011. The announcement of his new role came on Feb. 13, just one day after Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill met in Cuba for the historic first encounter of a Pope and a Russian Patriarch.

Given Archbishop Jurkovic’s diplomatic experience, some believe his appointment aims to assist in the rapprochement between the Catholic Church and Moscow. He will have several roles, including Permanent Observer to the Office of the United Nations and Specialized Agencies in Geneva and Permanent Observer to the World Trade Organization

The archbishop was born in Kocevje, Slovenia. He served as a priest in Ljubljana for 24 years before beginning his diplomatic career.

He represented the Holy See in Moscow from 1992-1996. Then in 2001 he was named archbishop and appointed as nuncio to Belarus. Just three years later, in 2004, he was appointed nuncio to Ukraine.

He continued the legacy of Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the former nuncio to Ukraine who is now nuncio to the United Kingdom. Archbishop Mennini helped to normalize relations between Russia and the Holy See, up to the point of the full establishment of diplomatic relations.

Archbishop Jurkovic’s nomination as nuncio to Russia and Uzbekistan took place immediately after the February 2011 visit between the then-president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, and Pope Benedict XVI.

In his role as nuncio to Russia, the archbishop participated in all of the steps that culminated in the historic Feb. 12, 2016 meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill. The two Christian leaders signed a joint declaration at the meeting.

Archbishop Jurkovich will now take over for Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi, who will retire this year when he turns 75. Archbishop Tomasi served as Permanent Observer to the Office of the United Nations and Specialized Agencies in Geneva for more than 10 years.

Archbishop Tomasi first began his diplomatic service in 1996 when he was named archbishop and nuncio to Ethiopia and Eritrea. In 2000 he was named nuncio to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. In 2003 he was moved to Geneva.

On Saturday the Vatican also announced additional responsibilities for the American priest Monsignor Bryan Wells. He has now been named as nuncio to the southern African countries of Lesotho and Namibia. He was recently appointed nuncio to South Africa and Botswana.

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 WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one" on January 14. His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason - though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others."

"Even as Americans remain troubled by abortion," wrote Cardinal Dolan, a powerful and well-funded lobby holds "that abortion must be celebrated as a positive good for women and society, and those who cannot in conscience provide it are to be condemned for practicing substandard medicine and waging a 'war on women'." He said this trend was seen recently when President Obama and other Democratic leaders prevented passage of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, "a modest measure to provide for effective enforcement" of conscience laws.

"While this is disturbing," said Cardinal Dolan, "it is also an opportunity." Pro-life Americans should reach out to "the great majority of Americans" who are "open to hearing a message of reverence for life." He added that "we who present the pro-life message must always strive to be better messengers. A cause that teaches the inexpressibly great value of each and every human being cannot show disdain or disrespect for any fellow human being." He encouraged Catholics to take part, through prayer and action, in the upcoming "9 Days for Life" campaign, January 16-24. More information on the campaign is available online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxJwfcefUiU

He also cited the Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis as a time for women and men to find healing through the Church's Project Rachel post-abortion ministry.

The full text of Cardinal Dolan's message is available online.
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Keywords: Roe v. Wade, anniversary, Pro-Life, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, 9 Days for Life, USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Year of Mercy, Project Rachel, Pope Francis
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