News from the Holy See News from the Holy See
Christus Rex Information ServiceTotal incomes stand at 310.210 million lire (approx. US$ 206,806,000) and spending at 309.221 million lire (approx. US$ 206,153,000).
According to Cardinal Szoka, the Vatican relies greatly on contributions from its Dioceses, which since 1992 have increased from 10,398 million lire (approx. US$ 6,950,000) to 30,582 million lire (approx. US$ 20,300,000). Szoka said that he hoped to see this trend continue.
The Cardinal added however, that the Vatican City's magazine 'Osservatore romano' and Vatican Radio have an increased deficit since 1995. He put this down partly to a raise in wages last year and to an unsatisfactory income from radio publicity.
Overall though, the Vatican's finances are in good form, commented Cardinal Szoka, as our basic expenditures have increased very little next to Italy's inflation.
VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 1996 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Basilica the Pope received 3,500 pilgrims from Slovakia, in Rome to repay the pastoral visit he made to their country from June 30 to July 3, 1995, and told them that "witnessing to Christ in daily life is an obligation of every believer."
"Divine Providence," he said, "wanted the Successor of Peter to visit Slovakia at the time of rebirth, after the sad experience of suffering and persecution."
Referring to the role of Catholics, the Holy Father pointed out that "they should not remain on the fringes of social and political life. Indeed, the contribution that they can and should make, finding inspiration in the social doctrine of the Church, without ever clinging to preconceived positions, is great. ... How important in this sector is mutual respect, according to the old and golden principle: "In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas' ('in the necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, freedom; in all things, charity')."
John Paul II said that "Europe is living a difficult moment of its history," and added: "Slovakia has its own specific role in the building of the Europe of the third millennium: be conscious of this! With her traditions and culture, with her martyrs and confessors, with the vibrant strength of her new generations, she is called to offer a highly meaningful contribution to the authentic progress of the continent."
VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 1996 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from the Holy Father to Bishop Elio Sgreccia, director of the Institute for Bioethics of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome, in which he expresses his keen pleasure regarding the international congress on the theme: "At the origins of life."
The congress is sponsored by this university's Center for Study and Research on Natural Fertility Regulation.
"The crisis of values and ideals that assaults contemporary society," writes the Pope in the message dated yesterday, "challenges believers to take on a broad and tenacious activity of formation: this is the principal goal of the new evangelization, to which it is necessary to make a commitment on the threshold of the third Christian millennium."
John Paul II points out that the spread of the natural methods that this center has effected for the past 20 years is an initiative that "today enjoys great scientific recognition and finds its confirmation in the serenity and peace of the couples who commit themselves to living periodic abstinence, understanding its value and spirit."
"These are results," he concludes, "that can infuse new courage in the face of the worrisome consequences produced in the sexual sphere because of a false freedom, for which contraception provides incentive and instrument, increasing the flattening of consciences and the eclipse of values."
VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 1996 (VIS) - Following is the telegram sent in Pope John Paul's name by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano to Brother Rubiol Benito Arbues, superior general of the Marist Brothers, upon learning of the death of three Brothers:
"Having learned of the sad news of the tragic death of Brothers Servando Mayor, Miguel Angel Isla and Fernando de la Fuente, of this Congregation of Marist Brothers, barbarously slaughtered during their heroic pastoral service at the refugee camp in the region of Bukavu in Zaire, the Supreme Pontiff wishes to deliver to you and your confreres his deep condolences for the deplorable event, hoping that in this way their faithful and evangelical example will serve to strengthen this institute in its commitment to Christian witness toward all those who suffer, and while he exhorts all to persevere with generosity in the long-lasting missionary work at the service of solidarity and the untiring building of peace, he raises fervent prayers for the eternal rest of these chosen souls, and sends, in the certainty of resurrection in Christ, his comforting apostolic blessing."
VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 1996 (VIS) - Cardinal Edmund Szoka, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, today announced at a press conference that his office projects a consolidated budget with a small gain for the Holy See for fiscal year 1997.
The cardinal was accompanied by Bishop Luigi Sposito and Ivan Ruggiero, respectively secretary and accountant general of the prefecture.
He indicated that the projected gain for 1997 of 980 million lire (about $642,600) is a "very small gain," being "less than one-third of one percent (0.316 percent)" of the total budget.
In predicting a small gain, Cardinal Szoka pointed out that the Holy See has "not had a deficit since 1992." He said that this continues a trend of gains that began in 1993 after 23 years of deficit. He also remarked that "costs are not so difficult to project. ... Predicting income, however, is much more problematic."
"The income from canon 1271 (of the Code of Canon Law) has become very important for having a balanced budget," stated the president of the prefecture. "This income from the dioceses, however, is not completely predictable. It has been steadily increasing since we appealed to the bishops of the world for their contributions in 1991. ... Predicting income from investments is also difficult because of changes in the market as well as fluctuations in the exchange rates."
Cardinal Szoka outlined how "the consolidated budget is divided into four main sections": institutional activities (Roman Curia, papal embassies); financial activities (stocks, bonds, securities); real estate activities and those of four institutions connected with the Holy See (Vatican Radio, L'Osservatore Romano, Vatican Publishing House, Vatican Polyglot Press).
A communique released after today's press conference indicated that yesterday a meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economic Questions of the Holy See was held in the Vatican under the presidency of Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state.
Participants included Cardinals Michael Michai Kitbunchu, Joachim Meisner, John Joseph O'Connor, Jose Freire Falcao, Simon Ignatius Pimenta, Edward Bede Clancy, Frederic Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, Antonio Quarracino, Roger Michael Mahony, Camillo Ruini, Henry Schwery, Jean-Claude Turcotte, Ricardo Maria Carles Gordo, Juan Sandoval Iniguez, Edmund Casimir Szoka and Rosalio Jose Castillo Lara. Also present was Archbishop Lorenzo Antonetti, pro-president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.
VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 1996 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke yesterday in New York before the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the announcement of voluntary contributions to the 1997 programs of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
"I am here this morning," he stated, "to express the deep appreciation of the Holy See for the humanitarian efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and her dedicated staff."
"Today, as we are all aware," Archbishop Martino continued, "there is a particular, immediate and on-going tragedy that is taking place in Zaire. The international community is confronted by a catastrophic situation which has already claimed too many innocent victims, among whom is Archbishop Christophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo of Bukavu. For this reason, the Holy See has decided that this year it shall be sending the funds ordinarily offered to the UNHCR directly to its clergy and missionaries who are at work in that area, in order to add to the on-going efforts of the Catholic Church in the midst of these refugees, offering them both humanitarian and spiritual assistance."
VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 1996 (VIS) - At the end of this evening's torchlight procession from Pius XII Square to the obelisk in St. Peter's Square, during which the jubilee priests, bishops and cardinals, joined by the faithful, prayed the rosary, Pope John Paul appeared at his study window to greet all those gathered below.
"Dear brothers priests, I thank you for your presence, for the common prayer, for the participation in this 50th anniversary of the priestly ordination of the Pope in Rome. I want to offer you only one gift: the gift of blessing for you, for your faithful, for your communities, for your Churches, for your people, for your continents. See you tomorrow for the great concelebration. Praised be Jesus Christ!"
VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 1996 (VIS) - The Holy Father made the following nominations:
- Bishop Angelo Comastri, emeritus of Massa Marittima-Piombino, Italy, as prelate of Loreto (area 17, population 11,053, Catholics 11.053, priests 43, religious 279) and pontifical delegate of the shrine of Loreto, Italy, elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Sorano, Italy, in 1943, ordained a priest in 1967 and a bishop in 1990.
- Bishop Virgil Bercea, auxiliary of Fagaras e Alba Iulia, as coadjutor of Oradea-Mare of the Romanians (Catholics 30,100, priests 98, religious 32), Romania. Bishop Bercea was born in Hubic-Mures, Romania, in 1957, was ordained a priest in 1982 and bishop in 1994.
- Fr. Florentin Crihalmean, "Protosincello" (vicar general) of the eparchy of Cluj-Gherla of the Romanians, Romania, as auxiliary to the bishop of that same eparchy (Catholics 505,000, priests 143, religious 107) in Romania. The bishop- elect was born in Iasi, Romania, in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1990.
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