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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday met in the Vatican with Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.

The two also met in the Vatican on 10 December 2014.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is composed of 188 countries, was established in 1944 to help manage countries’ balance of payments. According to its website, it  is “working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.”

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Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, said the Catholic Church of Indonesia join all religions in the country in denouncing the deadly terror attacks that hit Central Jakarta on Jan. 14.  "All religions surely disagree with the use of violence for any purposes," Archbishop Suharyo, the  president of the Indonesian bishops' conference told UCANEWS Jan. 15 in reference to the attack, which left eight people dead — four perpetrators and four civilians — and at least 20 injured.  Archbishop Suharyo commended the government for its quick response to the attack but suggested that the government should now put more energy into creating a just and civilized society.   The archbishop made his comments following a series of interfaith meetings and prayer services where thousands of Indonesians of all faiths gathered to heal and show their opposition to the deadly attacks.

Bishop Yohanes Harun Yuwono of Tanjungkarang in Lampung province joined more than 10,000 people who gathered at Central Jakarta's Banteng Square for an interfaith event on Sunday.  Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin told attendees: "Togetherness of all social elements in Indonesia, which is framed in Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity), is something certain."  A smaller candle light vigil was held a night earlier outside the Sarinah department store where the attack occurred.  (Source: UCAN)

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(Vatican Radio) Christian Churches around the world and especially in the northern hemisphere on Monday celebrate the start of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. During the eight day period, churches and communities hold joint worship services, bible studies and other encounters aimed at promoting greater understanding and closer cooperation among members of the different denominations.

The theme for this year’s celebration, jointly published by the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches’ Commission on Faith and Order, is drawn from the first letter of Peter: ‘Called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord’. The resources, available on both the Vatican and WCC websites, have been prepared by Christians in Latvia, once a religious and political battleground, but today a crossroads where Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists and Orthodox work and pray together.

Here in Rome, Pope Francis will lead Vespers with members of other Christian Churches next Monday in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, an important ecumenical celebration during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. To find out more about what’s on ecumenical agenda for the coming year, Philippa Hitchen spoke with Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Council for Christian Unity..

Listen: 

The Cardinal said that though the main ecumenical event for the Year of Mercy here in Rome will be Monday’s celebration of Vespers marking the end of the week of prayer for Christian unity, in some countries there will be common celebrations of mercy.

Regarding the forthcoming celebration between Catholics and Lutherans of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, spoke about recent publications from the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and the World Lutheran Federation, including the document ‘From Conflict to Communion’ and the recent liturgical guidelines on how to commemorate this special anniversary together.

He noted that his Council and the WLF are planning a “liturgical encounter” , to take place in October in Lund, Sweden where the WLF was founded in 1947. He welcomed the fact that the WLF made it clear from the start that, together with the Catholic Church, they were inviting other Churches and communities to attend the event, adding that hopefully, the occasion will mark a “beautiful step” towards full union between Catholics and Lutherans.

Asked about how he would encourage Catholics who regard the Reformation as a historic period of conflict and division to celebrate this event, Cardinal Koch pointed to three main aspects of the commemoration: firstly, repentance for the divisions in the Church and for the many wars that ravaged Europe. Secondly, thanksgiving for the fifty years of dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans, remembering that in this time we have discovered many things that we share in common. Thirdly, the cardinal said the focus is on hope, that we can come closer to full unity.

Regarding the Pope’s recent visit to the Lutheran church in Rome and the question of Eucharistic sharing which was raised by one of the parishioners there, the cardinal said Pope Francis cannot give permission for this development since he does not have the authority, but he did stress that an individual’s personal relationship with Christ is fundamental for the question. The cardinal said that following the Joint Declaration on justification, he proposed that a further common declaration should be made concerning “Church, Eucharist and ministry” and he is grateful that two countries (Finland and the USA) have already been working together on this.

Regarding the upcoming pan-Synod that is set to take place later in the spring, Cardinal Koch said he hoped the meeting will be a good opportunity for the Orthodox Church to show the world that how to put synodality into practise. It will also “hopefully be a beautiful opportunity for dialogue”, he added.

Finally the cardinal spoke of the upcoming meeting with representatives of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in Cairo, during the first week of February. This third phase of the dialogue will be focused on the Sacraments, especially Initiation, but, he noted, the question of Baptism is not an easy one since some Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Copts and Ethiopians, have a very different understanding of Baptism and commonly re-baptise those being received into their Churches. A common understanding of Baptism is the basis of ecumenical relations, the cardinal said, adding that he hoped the forthcoming meeting with produce a greater consensus on this important issue. 

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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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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday welcomed an ecumenical delegation from the Lutheran Church of Finland, marking the Feast of St. Henrik.

The Nordic country of 5 ½ million people is mostly Lutheran, but 1.1% is Orthodox Christian. The Catholic population numbers a little over 12,000 people.

“Your ecumenical pilgrimage is an eloquent sign of the fact that, as Lutherans, Orthodox and Catholics, you have recognized what unites you and together you wish to bear witness to Jesus Christ, who is the foundation of unity,” Pope Francis said.

“In our dialogue, differences still remain in doctrine and in practice,” he continued.

This must not discourage us, but instead spur us along our journey towards ever greater unity, not least by working to overcome old ideas and suspicions,” said the Holy Father. “In a world frequently torn by conflict and marked by secularism and indifference, we are called to join in professing our faith in Jesus Christ, and thus to become ever more credible witnesses of unity and promoters of peace and reconciliation.”

The full text of Pope Francis’ prepared remarks are below

Greeting of the Holy Father

to an Ecumenical Delegation from Finland

Monday, 18 January 2015

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

                I offer you a cordial welcome, as once again this year you visit the Bishop of Rome in the course of your traditional pilgrimage for the feast of St. Henrik.  I thank the Lutheran Bishop of Helsinki, Irja Askola, for her kind greeting on your behalf.

                Your ecumenical pilgrimage is an eloquent sign of the fact that, as Lutherans, Orthodox and Catholics, you have recognized what unites you and together you wish to bear witness to Jesus Christ, who is the foundation of unity.

                In a special way, we can thank the Lord for the fruits of the dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics.  Here I think in particular of the common document on Justification in the Life of the Church.  Building on these foundations, your dialogue is making promising progress towards a shared understanding, on the sacramental level, of Church, Eucharist and Ministry.  These steps forward, made together, lay a solid basis for a growing communion of life in faith and spirituality, as your relations develop in a spirit of serene discussion and fraternal sharing.

                The common calling of all Christians is brought out well by the biblical text for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins today: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet 2:9).

                In our dialogue, differences still remain in doctrine and in practice.  This must not discourage us, but instead spur us along our journey towards ever greater unity, not least by working to overcome old ideas and suspicions.  In a world frequently torn by conflict and marked by secularism and indifference, we are called to join in professing our faith in Jesus Christ, and thus to become ever more credible witnesses of unity and promoters of peace and reconciliation.

                Dear brothers and sisters, I am also appreciative of your shared commitment to the care of creation, and I thank you for the symbolic sign of hospitality which you have offered me in the name of Finnish people.

                In the hope that this visit will strengthen ever greater cooperation between your respective communities, I invoke upon all of you God’s abundant graces and I cordially offer you my blessing.

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