VATICAN CITY, 5 JUL 2009 (VIS) – At midday
today, before praying the Angelus, Benedict XVI recalled how the
first
Sunday of July was once dedicated to devotion to the Most Precious
Blood
of Christ, a tradition confirmed “by Blessed John XXIII who, in
his
Apostolic Letter ‘Inde a primis’ of 30 June 1960, explained its
significance and approved its litanies”.
Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the
Pope
pointed out that “the theme of blood, associated with that of the
Pascal
Lamb, is of primary importance in Sacred Scripture”, and he
recalled
Christ’s words at the Last Supper: “this is my blood of the
covenant,
which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of
sins”.
“It is written in Genesis that the blood of Abel killed by
his
brother Cain calls to God from the earth. Unfortunately, today as
yesterday, this cry has not ceased as human blood continues to
flow
because of violence, injustice and hatred. When will men learn
that life
is sacred and belongs only to God? When will they understand that
we are
all brothers? To the cry for spilt blood which rises from so many
parts of
the earth, God responds with the blood of His Son Who gave His
life for
us. Christ did not respond to evil with evil, but with good, with
His
infinite love.
“The Blood of Christ is the pledge of God’s faithful love
for
humankind. By gazing at the wounds of the crucified Christ each
man, even
in conditions of abject moral poverty, can say: ‘God has not
abandoned me,
He loves me, He gave his life for me’, and thus rediscover
hope”.
Pope Benedict on Devotion to the Blood of Christ
Report on Vatican 2008 Finances
VATICAN CITY, 4 JUL 2009 (VIS) – The 63rd
meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of
Organisational and
Economic Problems of the Holy See was held in the Vatican from 1
to 3
July, under the presidency of Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio
Bertone
S.D.B.
A
communique published this afternoon explains that the Holy See
consolidated financial statements for 2008, presented to the
cardinals
during the meeting by Archbishop Velasio De Paolis C.S., president
of the
Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, show a
deficit of
911,514 euro, the difference between an income of 253,953,869 euro
and
outgoings of 254,865,383 euro.
The outgoings are due above all to the ordinary and
extraordinary
expenses of the dicasteries and offices of the Holy See, which
employ
2,732 people of whom 761 are ecclesiastics, 334 religious and
1,637 lay
people.
The meeting also examined the consolidated financial
statements of
the Governorate of Vatican City State for 2008, which show a
deficit of
slightly more than 15 million euro. A total of 1,894 people work
under the
jurisdiction of the Governorate.
The communique explains how, during the period in question,
the
Governorate began to study an integrated communications
infrastructure
including telephone and internet services, and installed
photoelectric
panels on the roof of the Paul VI Hall. It also mentions the
“notable
economic and financial burden of protecting, evaluating and
restoring the
artistic heritage of the Holy See (restoration of the Pauline
Chapel and
work on the papal basilicas of St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls and
St. Mary
Major)”.
Finally the consolidated financial statements of Peter’s
Pence were
also presented. This fund consists of offers made to the Holy
Father by
the particular Churches, especially for the Solemnity of Sts.
Peter and
Paul, and contributions by institutes of consecrated life,
societies of
apostolic life, foundations and various members of the faithful.
In
2008
a total of 54,387,714 euro was raised and, although
the number of donations went up, the total fell slightly due to
the
general economic situation.OP/FINANCES HOLY SEE/DE PAOLIS
VIS 090706
(350)
Pope Benedict XVI’s Prayer Intentions for July
His general intention is “That the Christians of the Middle East may live
their faith in full freedom and be an instrument of peace and
reconciliation.”
His mission intention is “That the Church may be the seed and nucleus of a
humanity reconciled and reunited in God’s one and only family,
thanks to the testimony of all the faithful in every country in the
world.”
