The Vigil of Prayer in Circus Maximus begins at 20:00 hrs, local time, but pilgrims will be granted access to the arena starting from 17:30 hrs. The Vigil – divided into two parts – will include a live link up for the praying of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary with five Marian Shrines around the world and will conclude with a final benediction from Pope Benedict XVI, who will link up live from the Apostolic Palace.
Following the Vigil, pilgrims are invited to take part in the “White Night of Prayer” organised by the Diocese of Rome. Teams of young people will be on the streets in front of eight Churches that line the route from Circus Maximus to the St Peter’s area, to invite faithful to join in a moment of prayer and mediation before the Blessed Sacrament. Priests will also be on hand to hear confessions in each of the Churches which will remain open throughout the night. The Churches are: Sant' Agnese in Agone, Piazza Navona; San Marco al Campidoglio; Santa Anastasia; Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina; Santa Maria in Vallicella; San Giovanni dei Fiorentini; San Andrea della Valle; and San Bartolomeo on Tiber Island.
The Vigil will be broadcast and streamed live by Vatican Radio and CTV. Just click on the Vatican Player icon on our homepage: www.vaticanradio.org or alternatively www.vatican.va/video .
Those attending the beatification events and own iphones or smartphones can avail of English language news updates by accessing the http address : http://rv.va/5 .
PROVIDING CORRECT AND BALANCED INFORMATION
VATICAN CITY, 30 APR 2011 (VIS REPORTS) - This afternoon at Castelgandolfo the Pope received the participants in the XVII Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union gathered these days in Rome as guests of Vatican Radio, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.
The Holy Father emphasized that through radio, "pontiffs have been able to transmit, across borders, messages of great importance for humanity. ... It can be said that the entire teaching of the Church in this area - beginning with the addresses of Pius XII, through the documents of the Second Vatican Council, up to my most recent messages on new digital technologies - is marked by a current of optimism, hope, and sincere compassion with those who dedicate themselves in this field to promoting encounter and dialogue, to serve the human community and to contribute to the peaceful development of society".
"In today's society", he continued, "the basic values of the good of humanity are in play, public opinion ... is often found disoriented and divided". In this context he noted that "it is a duty to provide every day, correct and balanced information and a profound debate that seeks the best shared solutions regarding these questions in a pluralistic society. It is a task that requires great professional honor, correction and respect, an openness to different perspectives, clarity in treating problems, freedom from ideological barriers, and an awareness of the complexity of problems".
Benedict XVI recalled that the Catholic Church "intends to offer by witnessing to her adherence to the truth that is Christ, yet doing so in a spirit of openness and dialogue. ... Religion contributes by 'purifying' reason, helping it not to fall prey to distortions, such as manipulation by ideology or partial application that fails to take full account of the dignity of the human person". In this sense the Pope invited the professionals in communications to "seek ways of promoting and encouraging dialogue between faith and reason, with a view to serving the common good of the nation".
While emphasizing the difficulties that need to be faced in their service, the Pope stressed that "the challenges of the modern world on which you have to report are too great and too urgent for you to become discouraged or tempted to give up in the face of such difficulties".
The Holy Father concluded by encouraging them to put their "contacts and activities at the service of reflection and commitment" with the aim of "ensuring that the instruments of social communication promote dialogue, peace and development of peoples in solidarity, overcoming cultural separation, uncertainties and fears".
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BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MAY
VATICAN CITY, 30 APR 2011 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for May is: "That those working in communication media may respect the truth, solidarity, and dignity of all people ".
His mission intention is: "That the Lord may help the Church in China persevere in fidelity to the Gospel and grow in unity".
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AGREEMENT BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
VATICAN CITY, 30 APR 2011 (VIS) - Yesterday, Friday 29 April, in the offices of Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Associations, Baku, Azerbaijan, an accord was signed between the Holy See and the Republic of Azerbaijan that regulates juridical relations between the Catholic Church and that Nation as made public in a communique published today.
Signing for the Holy See as plenipotentiary was Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, apostolic nuncio to that country, and signing on behalf of the Republic of Azerbaijan was Hidayat Orujov, president of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations.
The agreement, which entails eight articles, regulates the juridical situation of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan and, among other things, guarantees the freedom to publicly profess and practice the Catholic faith as well as the right of the Catholic Church to organize and exercise her mission in conformity with ecclesiastic legislation. At the same time it recognizes and registers the juridical person of the Catholic Church and all its institutions, ensuring free communication between the local Catholic community and the Holy See as well as access to the means of communication and the free election, on the part of the Holy See, of an Ordinary with the responsibility of her ecclesiastical constituency. Finally, it regulates the concession of residence and work visas for ecclesiastical personnel.
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VATICAN CITY, 30 APR 2011 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Milan, Italy.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 30 APR 2011 (VIS) - Today The Holy Father appointed:
- Bishop Saul Figueroa Albornoz, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Caracas, as bishop of Puerto Cabello (area 729, population 331,000, Catholics 298,000, priests 25, religious 19), Venezuela.
- Bishop Piero Coccia, archbishop of Pesaro, as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.
- Johan Ketelers, secretary general of the International Catholic Migration Commission, as a consultant of the same council.
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